MicroRNA networks in regulatory T cells
- PDF / 417,012 Bytes
- 7 Pages / 547.087 x 737.008 pts Page_size
- 43 Downloads / 206 Views
MINI REVIEW
MicroRNA networks in regulatory T cells Xuehua Tang & Ruijing Tang & Yujun Xu & Qingling Wang & Yayi Hou & Sunan Shen & Tingting Wang
Received: 11 March 2014 / Accepted: 8 July 2014 / Published online: 10 August 2014 # University of Navarra 2014
Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs that bind directly to complementary sequences on target messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts, resulting in translational repression and/or target mRNA degradation. MiRNAs have been proven to play critical roles on the development, differentiation, and function of immune cells. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are of importance in maintaining immune homeostasis and self-tolerance. Although many transcription factors and cytokines are known to regulate Tregs, scientists began to focus on the role of noncoding RNA on the regulation of Treg cells. This review provides an overview of the entire microRNA network and specific miRNAs in the development, differentiation, and function of Tregs. Keywords MicroRNAs . Treg cells
Introduction A network of regulatory mechanisms is needed to ensure immune homeostasis and tolerance toward uncontrolled, harmful inflammation. By suppressing the X. Tang : R. Tang : Y. Xu : Q. Wang : Y. Hou : S. Shen : T. Wang The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, 210093 Nanjing, China X. Tang : R. Tang : Y. Xu : Q. Wang : Y. Hou : S. Shen (*) : T. Wang (*) Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]
activation of effector T cells, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are of great importance in maintaining immune homeostasis and self-tolerance. Foxp3, the specific transcription factor of this T-cell subset, has been proven to be a master regulator of Treg development and function. Although many transcription factors and cytokines are known to regulate Tregs, scientists began to focus on the role of noncoding RNA on the regulation of Treg cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of evolutionarily conserved small noncoding RNAs which contain about 22 nucleotides in length. MiRNAs could regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level by degrading or blocking messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Since the first miRNA-lin-4 was identified in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in 1993 [20], over 1,000 miRNAs have been discovered in humans and mice. It is estimated that about 60 % of human protein-coding genes are under the regulation of miRNAs, which clearly indicates miRNAs’ powerful role in gene regulation [8]. Studies in human cells have revealed that miRNAs are key regulators in cellular processes, such as differentiation, maturation, and apoptosis. In a clinical setting, miRNAs are critically involved in a range of human diseases and potentially serve as good diagnostic and prognostic markers or therapeutic targets [38]. MiRNAs also participate in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity. Genetic ablation of miRNA machinery and der
Data Loading...
