MicroRNAs在晶状体中的功能

Functions of MicroRNAs in lens

MicroRNAs（ miRNAs）是一类包含21～23个碱基的非编码单链小分子RNA。通过与靶基因3＇端非翻译区（ UTR ）不完全碱基配对，使mRNA降解或抑制靶mRNA的翻译，进而发挥基因调控作用。 miRNAs广泛参与生物体内的多种生理和病理过程，通过其表达量的上调或下调，影响细胞发育和疾病的进程。近年来许多研究表明， miRNAs在眼部的多种组织，包括晶状体、视网膜和角膜中均有表达，其异常表达可能与某些眼部疾病的发生、发展有密切关系。本文综述近年来miRNAs在晶状体中的表达、功能及研究进展，以期寻求可用于临床诊断、治疗晶状体混浊的新型靶点。

MicroRNAs （ miRNAs） are a class of single-stranded, small non-coding RNAs with 21 to 23 nucleotides, which can promote the degradation of mRNA or suppress their translation to regulate the expression of target gene through their incomplete combination with non-coding region at 3＇terminal of target mRNAs.miRNAs are widely involved in the physiological and pathological processes in vivo and affect the cell development, the processes of diseases by changing their expression levels.In recent years, more researchers have found that miRNAs are identified widely and specifically in eyes including the lens, retina and cornea and their abnormal expressions may be associated with some eye diseases.This review summarizes the current information about expressions and functions of miRNAs in the lens, in order to seek for new targets for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of the lens opacity.