Research progress of microRNA-146 in autoimmunity disease and thyroid associated ophthalmopathy / 中华实验眼科杂志

ABSTRACT

MicroRNA (miRNA) is newly discovered,a class of small non-coding RNA which plays critical roles in the regulation of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level by either degrading or blocking translation of messenger RNA targets.Growing evidence that some miRNAs have crucial roles in controlling and modulating immunity,while dysregulation of miRNAs can lead to autoimmunity,and miRNA-146 seems to be a popular topic discussed much.Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an organ specificity autoimmune disease which is closely associated with Graves disease.Although many clinical and experimental investigations have been done,the precise aetiology and pathogenesis of TAO remain largely unclear.Here we review the roles of miRNA-146 regulation in immune functions and in the development of autoimmunity and autoimmune disease,and outlook for the roles of miRNA-146 in the pathogenesis of TAO.