MicroRNA-29 family, a crucial therapeutic target for fibrosis diseases

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of approximately 20-nucleotides single-stranded endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs have recently been known to regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Fibrosis is the leading cause of organ dysfunction in diseases and results from an imbalance in the turnover of extracellular matrix components. Accumulating studies have demonstrated that miR-29 family participates in the development of liver fibrosis, renal fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis. In this review, we are discussing the comprehensive role of miR-29 family in moderating profibrotic effect and its potential as therapeutic approach to fibrosis diseases.