微小RNA与脏器纤维化的研究进展

Progress in research of microRNA and organ fibrosis

微小RNA（miRNA）是一类长18～24个核苷酸的内源性非编码小RNA，在转录后水平调控靶基因的表达。miRNA参与细胞增殖、分化、凋亡及肿瘤形成等生物学过程。近年来发现，miRNA也参与心肌、肾脏和肝脏的纤维化过程，该文对miRNAs生物学特征及其在脏器纤维化过程中的作用的相关研究进展作一综述。

MicroRNA （miRNA） are endogenous noncoding small RNA about 18- 24 nucleotides in length, which can regulate the gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, miRNA play important roles in many biological processes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and carcinogenesis. Recent studies indicated that miRNA also participated in the process of organ fibrosis, such as myocardial fibrosis, renal fibrosis and hepatic fibrosis. In this paper, the recent advances in miRNA biological characteristics and the roles of miRNA in organ fibrosis were reviewed.