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Review
. 2016 May;73(10):2041-51.
doi: 10.1007/s00018-016-2167-4. Epub 2016 Mar 4.

Contribution of MicroRNAs to autoimmune diseases

Lucien P Garo  1 , Gopal Murugaiyan  2
Affiliations
Review

Contribution of MicroRNAs to autoimmune diseases

Lucien P Garo et al. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2016 May.

Abstract

MicroRNAs are a class of evolutionarily conserved, short non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally modulate the expression of multiple target genes. They are implicated in almost every biological process, including pathways involved in immune homeostasis, such as immune cell development, central and peripheral tolerance, and T helper cell differentiation. Alterations in miRNA expression and function can lead to major dysfunction of the immune system and mediate susceptibility to autoimmune disease. Here, we discuss the role of miRNAs in the maintenance of immune tolerance to self-antigens and the gain or loss of miRNA functions on tissue inflammation and autoimmunity.

Keywords: Dendritic cells; Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE); Immune tolerance; MicroRNA therapeutics; Multiple sclerosis (MS); Th17; miR-146a; miR-155; miR-21.

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