Progress in imaging in vivo based on microRNA / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

ABSTRACT

The microRNA (miRNA) is a novel class of small noncoding RNA that regulate gene expression by targeting mRNA.It has been shown to play important roles in a broad range of biological processes,especially in the occurrence,development,invasion and metastasis of malignant tumors.Conventional detection methods,such as Northern blot and realtime PCR have been used to assess endogenous miRNA expression.However,these techniques are invasive and cannot be used repetitively in living animals.Recent remarkable advances of in vivo imaging techniques have provided the capability of noninvasive imaging of miRNA in vivo.The recent progress about the reporter gene,antisense luminescence,nanoparticle and multimodal imaging for visualizing miRNA expression in vivo was reviewed.