哺乳动物乳汁miRNA的研究进展

作为真核生物体内重要的调控分子,miRNA可存在于包括血清、血浆、唾液、尿液在内的多种动物体液之中。最近的研究表明哺乳动物的乳汁中也分泌miRNA,表明miRNA有可能通过哺乳传递给新生个体,从而调控新生个体发育过程中的某些关键生理、生化途径,协助其正常发育。这一发现很可能揭开了哺乳动物世代间miRNA进行功能基因表达调控的研究序幕。文章对哺乳动物乳汁中miRNA的发现过程,这些miRNA在乳汁中的存在形态及其分离技术,以及其中数个重要miRNA的已知功能作简要概述,并探讨了相关的后续研究任务及其面临的挑战。

Progress on miRNA in mammal breast milk

As an important regulator in eukaryote,miRNAs could be in the animal body fluids,including serum,blood plasma,saliva,urine and so on.More recently,it was reported that miRNAs were also in the breast milk of human or cow,which indicates that miRNAs could probably be transferred into the body of the next generation by lactation and play their key roles.This might be the prelude of studies on the regulation function of miRNAs in generations.Here,we introduced the process of finding miRNAs in mammal milk,the format of miRNAs in milk and the method for isolating miRNAs,and reviewed the main functions of several miRNAs in milk.We also discussed the research task and challenge associated with miRNAs in milk at the next.