Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Μεταβολικά Νοσήματα των ΟστώνLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Evangelatos Gerasimos
Supervisors info:
Γεώργιος Π. Λυρίτης, Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Ισμήνη Νίκη Δοντά, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Ιωάννης Τριανταφυλλόπουλος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Ο ρόλος των microRNAs στη ρευματοειδή αρθρίτιδα
Translated title:
The role of microRNAs in rheumatoid arthritis
Summary:
Over the last decade, many epigenetic mechanisms that contribute in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders have been revealed. One of the most studied fields of the epigenetics is the microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs are small, non-coding, RNA molecules that bind to messenger RNAs and disturb the transcription of target genes. Thus, miRNAs indirectly affect the levels of specific proteins. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease during whom a plethora of epigenetic changes take place. Current research on RA epigenetics has focused mainly on miRNAs. Genetic variance of some miRNA genes might predispose an individual to RA development. Additionally, altered concentration of many miRNAs has been discovered in several cells, tissues and body fluids in patients with RA and these changes play a critical role in RA pathophysiology. MiRNAs expression also differs depending on disease’s stage, activity and clinical manifestations. What is more, the level of specific miRNAs was shown to correlate with some drugs that are used in the treatment of RA. Finally, miRNA analogs or antagonists have been used as treatment in experimental arthritis models and have demonstrated promising results. In conclusion, the research on the miRNA alterations in RA sheds light to the genetic susceptibility for RA, to RA pathogenesis and offers the opportunity to discover new biomarkers and invent new drugs for the patients with RA.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
MicroRNA, Epigenetics, Rheumatoid arthritis
Number of references:
224
