miRNAs as the important regulators of myasthenia gravis: involvement of major cytokines and immune cells

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a type of muscle paralysis created by immune responses against acetylcholine receptor proteins in neuromuscular synapses. This disease is characterized by muscle weakness, especially ocular weakness symptoms that could be ptosis (fall of the upper eyelid) or diplopia (double vision of a single object). Some patients also identified with speech and swallowing problems. The main goals of MG therapeutic approaches are to achieve remission, reduce symptoms, and improve life quality. Recently, other studies have revealed the potential role of various microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development of MG through different mechanisms and have proposed these molecules as effective biomarkers for the treatment of MG. This review was aimed at providing an overview of the critical regulatory roles of various miRNAs in the pathogenesis of this autoimmune disease focusing on human MG studies and the interaction between different miRNAs with important cytokines and immune cells during the development of this autoimmune disease.

Keywords: Cytokines; Immune cells; MicroRNAs (miRNAs); Myasthenia gravis.