microRNA biomarkers in cystic diseases

Abstract

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulategene expression by targeting the 3’-untranslated region of multipletarget genes. Pathogenesis results from defects in several genesets; therefore, disease progression could be prevented usingmiRNAs targeting multiple genes. Moreover, recent studiessuggest that miRNAs reflect the stage of the specific disease, suchas carcinogenesis. Cystic diseases, including polycystic kidneydisease, polycystic liver disease, pancreatic cystic disease, andovarian cystic disease, have common processes of cyst formationin the specific organ. Specifically, epithelial cells initiate abnormalcell proliferation and apoptosis as a result of alterations to keygenes. Cysts are caused by fluid accumulation in the lumen.However, the molecular mechanisms underlying cyst formationand progression remain unclear. This review aims to introduce thekey miRNAs related to cyst formation, and we suggest thatmiRNAs could be useful biomarkers and potential therapeutictargets in several cystic diseases. [BMB Reports 2013; 46(7):338-345]

Keywords

• Biomarker
• Cyst formation
• Cystic disease
• microRNA