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The emerging role of microRNAs in regulating immune and inflammatory responses in the lung |
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| Authors: | Paul S. Foster Maximilian Plank Adam Collison Hock L. Tay Gerard E. Kaiko JingJing Li Sebastian L. Johnston Philip M. Hansbro Rakesh K. Kumar Ming Yang Joerg Mattes |
| Affiliation: | 1. Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Disease, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia Correspondence to: Paul Foster Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases Faculty of Health and Hunter Medical Research Institute University of Newcastle Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia Tel.: + 61 240420163 Fax: +61 240420036 e-mail: Paul.Foster@newcastle.edu.au;2. Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Disease, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia;3. Priority Research Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Disease, Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia;4. Airway Disease Infection, National Heart and Lung Institute, Medical Research Council & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Imperial College London, London, UK;5. Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia |
| Abstract: | Chronic inflammatory diseases of the lung are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many of these disorders can be attributed to abnormal immune responses to environmental stimuli and infections. As such, understanding the innate host defense pathways and their regulatory systems will be critical to developing new approaches to treatment. In this regard, there is increasing interest in the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of pulmonary innate host defense responses and the inflammatory sequelae in respiratory disease. In this review, we discuss recent findings that indicate an important role for miRNAs in the regulation in mouse models of various respiratory diseases and in host defense against bacterial and viral infection. We also discuss the potential utility and limitations of targeting these molecules as anti-inflammatory strategies and also as a means to improve pathogen clearance from the lung. |
| Keywords: | microRNAs inflammatory disease infection lung immune system |