The role of microRNA in regulation of the body’s immune responses

Abstract

A complete characterization of microRNA (miRNA) and a scheme of its biogenesis are given. Special attention is paid to the involvement of miRNAs in the regulation of immune responses. It is implemented by their binding to specific sites of targeted messenger RNA (mRNA) in the cell cytoplasm, which results in the translation repression or degradation of target RNA transcripts. MicroRNA regulates the expression of 30–50% genes; it is thus involved in all fundamental cellular processes. The role of miRNA in the regulation of inflammation and antiviral protection, including involvement in the direct suppression of viruses, is shown; the possibility of its use as a predictor of a number of pathological processes, particularly in the diagnostics and prognosis of septic complications in surgery, is also demonstrated.