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MicroRNAs and Other Non-Coding RNAs as Regulators, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Targets, 2nd Edition

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A Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067) belonging to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2026) | Viewed by 7940

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Prof. Dr. Wan Lee

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1. Department of Biochemistry, Dongguk University School of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Republic of Korea
2. Channelopathy Research Center (CRC), Dongguk University School of Medicine, Ilsan 10326, Republic of Korea
Interests: mechanotransduction; cytoskeleton remodeling; proliferation; differentiation; myogenesis; sarcopenia; insulin resistance; diabetes; metabolism; glucose metabolism; lipid metabolism; metabolic diseases; energy metabolism
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Dear Colleagues,

RNA biology has seen significant advances over the preceding decades. Non-coding RNAs, which are divided into small non-coding RNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) on the basis of length, are becoming a hot topic in molecular and cellular biology and have received extensive attention. Non-coding RNAs orchestrate cell-to-cell communication and regulate biological processes epigenetically as "key regulators" of physiological and pathological processes. A rapidly increasing body of research demonstrates that microRNAs and lncRNAs play crucial roles in cellular homeostasis and human health. Furthermore, non-coding RNAs have also been linked to a wide range of human diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders, and they can be used as biomarkers to diagnose or predict the severity of a disease.

This Special Issue will explore the novel functions and mechanisms of non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, in diverse cells and tissues. The Issue will also discuss advances in the discovery of non-coding RNAs as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for human disorders. We encourage the submission of original research articles, as well as review articles covering all aspects of non-coding RNAs as regulators, biomarkers, or therapeutic targets.

More published papers can be found in the closed Special Issue: MicroRNAs and Other Non-coding RNAs as Regulators, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Targets.

Prof. Dr. Wan Lee
Guest Editor

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Keywords

non-coding RNAs
microRNA
lncRNA
circRNA
piRNA
biomarker
therapeutic target

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 9125 KB

Open AccessArticle

Differential Expression of microRNAs in Obese Mexican Children: Links to Insulin Resistance and Dyslipidemia

by Alejandra Contreras-Ramos, Guadalupe Díaz-Rosas, Miguel Cruz, Ana Nava-Cabrera, Miguel Vazquez-Moreno, Omar Gómez-Acuña, Ana María Guerrero-Ortiz, Carmen Domínguez-Hernández, Aleyda Pérez-Herrera, Rosalinda Jiménez-Aguilar, Jaime Goméz-Zamudio, Francisco Javier Gaytán-Cervantes, Miguel Ángel Cid-Soto, Carolina González-Torres and Clara Ortega-Camarillo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(8), 3396; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27083396 - 10 Apr 2026

Viewed by 705

Abstract

To analyze, in an analytical cross-sectional observational study, the relationship between the plasma microRNA (miRNA) expression profile in children living with obesity and their metabolic health status. Based on body mass index percentiles (BMIp), the children were grouped into a control group (C) or an obesity group (Ob). Glucose, insulin, and low- and high-density lipoproteins (LDLs and HDLs, respectively), triacylglycerols (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) were measured. RNA from plasma was used for miRNA sequencing analysis (NextSeq 2000 platform). Differential miRNA expression was determined using counts obtained from the reference genome. Fifty controls (BMIp: 50.4 ± 23) and fifty children with obesity (BMIp: 97.54 ± 1.46) were included. The obese group presented hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. Sequencing revealed nine underexpressed and six overexpressed miRNAs in the obese group. In silico analysis suggested that these miRNAs may participate in regulating insulin secretion, protein synthesis, apoptosis, and the glycolytic pathway in pancreatic β-cells. Childhood obesity was associated with altered circulating levels of microRNAs linked to glucose metabolism, insulin resistance (IR) and β-cell survival. Reduced plasma levels of miR-126-3p, let-7a-5p, and miR-16-5p showed a high predictive value for hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance, indicating their potential relevance as early biomarkers or therapeutic targets in pediatric metabolic dysfunction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue MicroRNAs and Other Non-Coding RNAs as Regulators, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Targets, 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 913 KB

Open AccessArticle

Circulating MicroRNA Profiles in Pregnant South African Women with Different Types of Diabetes Mellitus

by Matladi Masete, Stephanie Dias, Nompumelelo Malaza, Sumaiya Adam, Hygon Mutavhatsindi, Carmen Valverde-Tercedor, Begoña Vega-Guedes, Ana Maria Wägner and Carmen Pheiffer

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(19), 9337; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26199337 - 24 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1411

Abstract

Diabetes in pregnancy increases the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes for mother and child, with severity influenced by the type of diabetes and degree of hyperglycemia. This study aimed to identify circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with different types of diabetes in pregnancy. Serum miRNAs were profiled in pregnant South African women with type 1 diabetes (T1DM), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), gestational diabetes (GDM), and normoglycemia using PCR arrays (n = 15). Differentially expressed miRNAs were validated in pregnant South African women (n = 167), and a separate cohort of Spanish pregnant women with T1DM and T2DM (n = 48). PCR arrays showed significant differential expression for miR-19b-3p (↓ 9.8-fold; p = 0.033) in GDM, miR-20a-5p (↓ 4.5-fold; p = 0.047) in T1DM, and miR-29a-3p (↑ 1.8-fold; p = 0.002) in T2DM compared to normoglycemia. Screening in the larger cohort showed lower expression of miR-20a-5p (↓ 2-fold; p = 0.013) in GDM and miR-30d-5p (↓ 2.1-fold; p = 0.032) in T1DM compared to normoglycemia. Additionally, miR-20a-5p levels were higher in women with T2DM compared to those with GDM (↑ 2.5-fold; p = 0.019). Our findings show that miRNA profiles are largely consistent across different types of diabetes in pregnancy, suggesting that hyperglycemia plays a key role in shaping miRNA expressions. Moreover, the identification of several shared gene targets suggests common underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue MicroRNAs and Other Non-Coding RNAs as Regulators, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Targets, 2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 2103 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of Gene and MicroRNA Expression in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Obesity

by Natalia O. Markina, Georgy A. Matveev, Ksenia A. Zasypkina, Natalia V. Khromova, Alina Yu. Babenko and Evgeny V. Shlyakhto

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(17), 8212; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178212 - 24 Aug 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1686

Abstract

Metabolically healthy (MHO) and unhealthy obesity (MUO) exhibit distinct molecular genetic mechanisms underlying metabolic disorders. Studying gene and microRNA expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) may reveal key pathogenetic differences between these phenotypes. We compared the expression of genes (ADIPOQ, HIF1A, CCL2) and microRNAs (miR-142-3p, miR-155, miR-378) in SAT between MHO and MUO patients and assessed their association with metabolic parameters. The study included 39 obese patients (19 MHO, 20 MUO) and 10 healthy controls. SAT biopsies were analyzed using real-time PCR. Correlations with clinical and metabolic markers were evaluated. Obese patients showed decreased ADIPOQ (p = 0.039) and miR-142 (p = 0.008) expression and increased CCL2 (p = 0.004), miR-155 (p = 0.017), and miR-378 (p = 0.04) expression compared to the controls. MUO patients exhibited higher HIF1A expression (p = 0.03) and strong correlations between CCL2 and dyslipidemia (total cholesterol, triglycerides)/dysglycemia (fasting glucose) (r = 0.45, p = 0.03; r = 0.52, p = 0.01; r = 0.63, p = 0.001, respectively). miR-142 negatively correlated with fibrosis markers, while miR-378 was linked to insulin resistance. The differential gene and microRNA expression highlights the role of inflammation, hypoxia, and fibrosis in MUO pathogenesis. miR-142-3p, miR-155, and miR-378 may serve as potential biomarkers for metabolic risk stratification and therapeutic targets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue MicroRNAs and Other Non-Coding RNAs as Regulators, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Targets, 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 3076 KB

Open AccessArticle

MicroRNA-181a Targets GNAI2 and Affects the Proliferation and Induction Ability of Dermal Papilla Cells: The Potential Involvement of the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

by Mingliang He, Xiaoyang Lv, Joram M. Mwacharo, Yutao Li, Shanhe Wang and Wei Sun

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(14), 7950; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147950 - 20 Jul 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2416

Abstract

Wool is generated by hair follicles (HFs), which are crucial in defining the length, diameter, and morphology of wool fibers. However, the regulatory mechanism of HF growth and development remains largely unknown. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) are a specialized cell type within HFs that play a crucial role in governing the growth and development of HFs. This study aims to investigate the proliferation and induction ability of ovine DPCs to enhance our understanding of the potential regulatory mechanisms underlying ovine HF growth and development. Previous research has demonstrated that microRNA-181a (miR-181a) was differentially expressed in skin tissues with different wool phenotypes, which indicated that miR-181a might play a crucial role in wool morphogenesis. In this study, we revealed that miR-181a inhibited the proliferation and induction ability of ovine DPCs by quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU), flow cytometry, and alkaline phosphatase staining. Then, we also confirmed G protein subunit alpha i2 (GNAI2) is a target gene of miR-181a by dual luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and Western blot, and that it could promote the proliferation and induction ability of ovine DPCs. In addition, GNAI2 could also activate the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway in ovine DPCs. This study showed that miR-181a can inhibit the proliferation and induction ability of ovine DPCs by targeting GNAI2 through the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue MicroRNAs and Other Non-Coding RNAs as Regulators, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Targets, 2nd Edition)

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28 pages, 2533 KB

Open AccessReview

Piezo1 Mechanotransduction in Skeletal Muscle: Convergence with Noncoding RNA Regulation in Myogenesis, Regeneration, and Sarcopenia

by Thanh Huu Phan Ngo, Jiwon Oh, Hyeong Jun Kim and Wan Lee

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(16), 7084; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27167084 - 7 Aug 2026

Viewed by 515

Abstract

Skeletal muscle is a continuously load-bearing tissue whose growth, repair, and age-related decline are governed by mechanical signals; failure of this mechano-regulation underlies disuse atrophy and sarcopenia. Piezo1, a mechanically activated cation channel, has emerged as a tractable transducer of these signals in muscle, contributing to satellite-cell quiescence and senescence, regenerative division, myoblast fusion, and the response to loading and unloading. In parallel, the myogenic noncoding RNA program is among the best defined in any lineage, with myomiRs miR-1/133/206, the long noncoding RNA LINC-MD1, and the circular RNA circ-ZNF609 being established regulators of the proliferation-to-differentiation transition. These layers are linked because Piezo1-evoked calcium influx feeds the RhoA/ROCK-actin-MRTFA-SRF and YAP/TAZ axis that drives myogenic transcription, yet no direct coupling between Piezo1 and noncoding RNAs has been demonstrated in skeletal myocytes. Drawing on validated precedents from vascular, cardiac, and tendon tissues, this review consolidates the two pillars, frames their convergence as a testable question, distinguishes validated relationships from hypotheses, and proposes three falsifiable predictions using an unbiased candidate selection strategy. The contribution of this review is this testable framework rather than any specific candidate list. Mechanically tunable noncoding RNAs may thus represent an underexplored node for counteracting disuse atrophy and sarcopenia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue MicroRNAs and Other Non-Coding RNAs as Regulators, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Targets, 2nd Edition)

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