微小RNA-21在眼科疾病发生和发展中的作用

Role of microRNA-21 in the occurrence and development of ophthalmic diseases

微小RNA(miRNA)是可以调节基因表达的短链非编码RNA。miR-21是较早发现的人类miRNA之一,其作为癌基因参与转录后基因调控,在细胞增生、凋亡和分化中都起着重要作用;此外,miR-21可促进炎症反应,在免疫系统功能的调节中也起着关键作用。近年来研究发现,miR-21不仅可在角膜成纤维细胞、视网膜色素上皮细胞、视网膜微血管内皮细胞、视网膜小胶质细胞等细胞中检测到,也在视网膜母细胞瘤、葡萄膜肿瘤、角膜碱烧伤、增生性玻璃体视网膜病变、糖尿病视网膜病变和葡萄膜炎等眼科疾病的发生和发展中起重要作用。抑制miR-21可以治疗视网膜母细胞瘤及由角膜新生血管、糖尿病视网膜病变引起的视力丧失,过表达miR-21能够促进角膜上皮愈合,治疗原发性开角型青光眼和视网膜变性等疾病。本文将对国内外近年来有关miR-21在眼科疾病中的研究进展进行综述。

MicroRNA(miRNA)is a short noncoding RNA,which can regulate gene expression.miR-21 is one of the human miRNAs identified earlier.As an oncovirus,it is involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene and plays important roles in cell proliferation,apoptosis and differentiation.In addition,miR-21 promotes inflammatory responses and also plays a key role in regulating the function of immune system.Recent studies have shown that miR-21 could be detected in corneal fibroblasts cells,retinal pigment epithelial cells,retinal microvascular endothelial cells,retinal microglia and other eye-derived cells.Furthermore,miR-21 plays an important part in the development of various eye diseases including retinoblastoma,uveal melanoma,corneal alkali burn,proliferative vitreoretinopathy,diabetic retinopathy and uveitis.Further studies have shown that inhibited expression of miR-21 can treat retinoblastoma and rescue vision loss caused by corneal neovascularization and diabetic retinopathy,while overexpression of miR-21 can promote corneal epithelial healing and treat primary open-angle glaucoma and retinal degeneration.This review summarized the recent research progress of the role of miR-21 in eye diseases.