MiRNAs involved in the signaling pathways associated to the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Abstract

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and multifactorial interstitial lung disease whose pathophysiology remains unclear. The process initiates by repeated epithelial lung injuries followed by basal membrane destruction occasioning the activation of the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and myofibroblasts which carry out an excessive synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Several studies have associated microRNAs (miRNAs) to the biogenesis and development of IPF because miRNAs participate in the processes of apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation and interaction between cells thanks to their role as activators or inhibitors of different receptors in the signaling pathways of TGF-β, Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K-Akt-FOXO3a-mTOR, which are the main and most studied pathways involved in lung fibrosis. In this context, the knowledge on the altered miRNAs expression and even more their role in the different signaling pathways in IPF will shed light on new therapeutic targets for this lung disease.

Keywords

• miRNAs. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Epithelial mesenchymal transition. Myofibroblasts.