Affiliation: | 1. Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Hematology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;2. Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;3. Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Pune, Maharashtra, India |
Abstract: | Epigenetics refers to a set of regulatory mechanisms that affect gene expression, while the original sequence of the DNA remains unchanged. Because the advance of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been gradually highlighted in the regulation of numerous cellular processes. A bulk of studies has identified that ncRNAs might be divided into several subtypes. On the one hand, investigations have disclosed the role of these molecules in normal physiological conditions of the cells. On the other hand, there is sufficient evidence that ncRNAs participate in the pathogenesis of diseases. Through this review article, we attempted to gain a comprehensive understanding of the role of ncRNAs, long ncRNAs, miRNAs, and other subtypes in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Research demonstrated aberrant expression of several miRNAs in various cell and tissue types of patients with RA in comparison to the healthy individuals as well as in animal studies. Furthermore, plausible molecular mechanisms of alterations in ncRNAs expression has been discussed in causing the disease state. These alterations seem promising to be used as biomarkers in RA diagnosis. Alternately, they might be targeted by drugs to interrupt inflammation and other disease complications to treat patients with RA. |