MicroRNAs in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: involvement in pathogenesis and potential use in diagnosis and therapeutics

MicroRNAs(miRNAs) are a class of phylogenetically conserved, non-coding short RNAs,19–22 nt in length which suppress protein expression through base-pairing with the 30-untranslated region of target m RNAs. mi RNAs have been found to participate in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and high lethality fibrotic lung disease for which currently there is no effective treatment. Some mi RNAs have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. In this review, we discuss the role of mi RNAs in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of IPF.