The MicroRNAs in the Pathophysiology of Chronic Diseases
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 12787
Special Issue Editors
Interests: stem cell; bioactive molecules; pulmonary disease; aging related disease; senescence; miRNA
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: stem cells; cell culture; apoptosis; authophagy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules. MiRNAs block translation and/or promote mRNA degradation by binding to the 3′-untranslated regions of messenger RNAs. A consistent body of literature has acknowledged the key role of miRNAs in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
MiRNAs target multiple mRNAs that could be altered in disease conditions. This makes these molecules interesting candidates as therapeutics or as targets of therapeutics. Advances in RNA chemistry and delivery technologies, including nanoparticle systems, have now enabled the first miRNA-based agents to move into the clinic. MiRNAs can also be useful tools to dissect the molecular pathways involved in disease progression. Much evidence has shown that natural products such as paclitaxel, curcumin, resveratrol, genistein and epigallocatechin-3-gallate exert their anti-proliferative and/or pro-apoptotic effects through regulating one or more miRNAs.
Moreover, the presence of circulating miRNAs in serum, plasma and other body fluids has meant that their potential usefulness as biomarkers for different diseases could be explored. As most studies have focused on the association between the changes in miRNAs and the clearly defined stage of a disease, it is intriguing to investigate both the physiological and miRNA changes in patients suffering with many chronic diseases.
This Special Issue welcomes original research and critical reviews on the role of miRNAs (long non-coding RNAs; circular-RNAs are also accepted) in physiological and pathological processes. The topics of this Special Issue include but are not limited to the following: i. the molecular mechanisms and regulatory pathways influenced by non-coding RNAs; ii. the prognostic and therapeutic relevance of these molecules and iii. their role in chronic diseases (such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, immune-related diseases and metabolic disorders) and in response to unhealthy habits and environmental stressors.
Dr. Mauro Finicelli
Dr. Tiziana Squillaro
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- miRNA
- lncRNA
- circRNA
- circulating miRNAs
- cancer
- cardiovascular disease
- neurological diseases
- metabolic diseases
- immunological diseases
- nutraceutical
- nanodelivery systems
- environmental stressors
- unhealthy habits
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