sa-miR-142-5p miREIA (microRNA, miRNA)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules, approximately 22 nucleotides in length that regulate gene translation through silencing or degradation of target mRNAs. They are involved in multiple biological processes, including differentiation and proliferation, metabolism, hemostasis, apoptosis or inflammation, and in the pathophysiology of many diseases. Numerous studies have suggested circulating miRNAs as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of many diseases.

The gene encoding hsa-miR-142-5p is located on the human chromosome 17. hsa-miR-142-5p is highly specific for hematopoietic cells and is overexpressed in pathological conditions such as cancer, immunologically related disorders, small bowel inflammation, renal fibrosis where inflammation occurs and in biopsies from renal transplant patients with acute rejection. It has been suggested that overexpression of hsa-miR-142-5p in patients with chronic antibody-mediated rejection is associated with immunological disorders rather than renal dysfunction. Furthermore, hsa-miR-142-5p may play an onco-miRNA role in progression of renal cell carcinoma.

hsa-miR-142-5p was shown to be downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and to suppress hepatocelullar carcinoma cell migration. Moreover hsa-miR-142-5p is related to recurrence risk in gastric cancer patients. miRNAs are also implicated in normal heart development and function as well as in cardiac disorders. Downregulation of hsa-miR-142-5p was described in cardiac hypertrophy. Moreover, altered levels of hsa-miR-142-5p in blood were described in dilated cardiomyopathy.