前列腺疾病相关miRNA表达的研究进展

Expressions of microRNAs in prostatic diseases: Advances in studies

miRNA是一类具有约22个核苷酸的非编码RNA,可以调控各种生物学过程,并调节细胞和基因表达,在细胞和疾病发展过程中发挥巨大作用。近年来,miRNA在前列腺疾病中发挥的作用成为研究热门。通过研究miRNA表达与前列腺疾病之间的关系,可以帮助我们更好的从分子生物学角度认识前列腺疾病,阐释其发病机制,并指导临床治疗及预后。目前,对于前列腺癌相关的miRNA研究较多,涉及疾病的发生、发展、发病机制、诊断、预后和治疗等多个方面。而在前列腺炎和良性前列腺增生方面,相关miRNA表达的研究则相对较少。本文简述miRNA的起源、生物学作用,并回顾了近年来相关miRNA在前列腺炎、良性前列腺增生及前列腺癌中的表达的研究进展,旨在帮助进一步了解miRNA在前列腺疾病中所发挥的作用及相关机制,为临床诊疗前列腺疾病提出新思路,并为未来miRNA在前列腺疾病中的研究提出新见解。

MicroRNAs （miRNAs） are a class of non-coding RNAs with about 22 nucleotides, whieh regulate a variety of biological processes, cells and gene expressions, playing significant roles in cells and disease progression. An insight into the relation-ship between the miRNA expressions and prostatic diseases may contribute to a better understanding of prostatic diseases from the per-spective of molecular biology, explanation of their pathogenesis, and guidance for their clinical treatment and prognosis. At present, many studies are reported on prostate cancer-related miRNAs, involving the development, progression, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prog- nosis, and treatment of the disease. However, relatively fewer studies are seen on the miRNA expressions relating to prostatitis and BPH. This article briefly describes the origin and biological role of miRNAs and reviews the advances in the studies of the expressions of related miRNAs in prostatitis, BPH and prostate cancer, aiming for a deeper insight into the roles of miRNAs in prostatic diseases and some new ideas for their clinical diagnosis and treatment as well as for the future studies of miRNAs in prostatic diseases.