microRNAs: the art of silencing in the ear

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Anya Rudnicki¹ 

[1] Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

关键词: auditory;    cochlea;    deafness;    mice;    vestibule;   

DOI  :  10.1002/emmm.201100922

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression through the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway and by inhibition of mRNA translation. miRNAs first made their appearance in the auditory and vestibular systems in 2005, with the discovery of a triad of hair cell-specific miRNAs later found to be involved in both human and mouse deafness. Since then, miRNAs have been implicated in other medical conditions related to these systems, such as cholesteatomas, vestibular schwannomas and otitis media. Due to the limitations in studying miRNAs and their targets derived from human inner ears, animal models are vital in this field of research. Therefore their role in inner ear development and function has been demonstrated by studies in zebrafish and mice. Transcriptomic and proteomic approaches have been undertaken to identify miRNAs and their targets. Finally, it has been suggested that miRNAs may be used in the future in regeneration of inner ear hair cells and ultimately play a role in therapeutics.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
Copyright © 2012 EMBO Molecular Medicine

Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.