miRNAによるmRNA発現制御とその異常による疾患

MicroRNAs in biological processes and diseases

miRNA(microRNA)はnon-coding RNA(蛋白質をコードしないRNA)の1つであり，その構造と機能は，線虫から植物，ヒトに至るまでよく保存されている．miRNAは，標的mRNAの3′UTRにミスマッチをもって結合し，蛋白質の発現を調節している．本稿では，miRNAの基本やmiRNAによるmRNAの発現制御機構に加えて，疾患，特に癌とのかかわりについてこれまでの知見を紹介する．

MicroRNA (miRNA)-encoding small non-coding RNA has been recognized as an important regulator of a number of biological processes that inhibit the expression of hundreds of genes.　Accumulating evidence also strongly indicates that miRNAs play a significant role in health and diseases.　The present review focuses on recent findings in this exciting new area of research, with special emphasis on the involvement of miRNAs in cancer development and progression.　Further studies are clearly warranted to elucidate the molecular and biological roles of miRNAs, which may ultimately provide both a better understanding of disease development, as well as a foundation for novel strategies for cancer diagnosis and therapy.