Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
Nat Rev Neurol. 2011 Jan;7(1):56-9. doi: 10.1038/nrneurol.2010.179. Epub 2010 Dec 14.
Several hundred microRNAs (miRNAs) fine-tune the expression of approximately half of all human genes. Recent studies have revealed that miRNA profiles in blood cells become altered in multiple sclerosis (MS), and that active and inactive MS lesions have distinct miRNA expression patterns. The dysregulated miRNAs in MS lesions seem to be associated with astrocytes and infiltrating immune cells, and might unleash local macrophages through downregulation of the self-recognition signal CD47. The expression of miRNA-326 in blood cells has been reported to increase during relapses. This miRNA promotes T helper 17 cell differentiation and is highly abundant in active MS lesions. miRNAs are needed for maintenance of the myelin sheath, and the absence of such molecules results in axonal damage in mice. miRNA-219 and other miRNAs promote oligodendrocyte differentiation. Here, we discuss the possible contribution of miRNAs to MS pathogenesis. An improved understanding of this contribution should help to identify novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers for this disease.
数百种 microRNAs（miRNAs）可精细调节约一半人类基因的表达。最近的研究表明，多发性硬化症（MS）患者的血细胞 miRNA 谱发生改变，且活动期和非活动期 MS 病变具有不同的 miRNA 表达模式。MS 病变中失调的 miRNA 似乎与星形胶质细胞和浸润的免疫细胞有关，并且可能通过下调自我识别信号 CD47 来释放局部巨噬细胞。有报道称，血细胞中 miRNA-326 的表达在复发期间增加。这种 miRNA 促进辅助性 T 细胞 17 分化，并且在活动期 MS 病变中含量丰富。miRNAs 是髓鞘维持所必需的，这些分子的缺失会导致小鼠轴突损伤。miRNA-219 和其他 miRNAs 促进少突胶质细胞分化。在这里，我们讨论了 miRNAs 对 MS 发病机制的可能贡献。对这种贡献的深入了解应有助于为这种疾病确定新的治疗靶点和生物标志物。
