MicroRNAs in Non-Malignant Diseases

Researchers have continued to explore the functional role of human miRNAs in the wider context of human illnesses other than cancer. However, the correlation of miRNAs with various diseases has proved to be a major undertaking. Moreover, patterns of miRNA expression are often tissue-specific, and in several cases depend on the physiological status of the cells. For instance, one report suggested that the gene expression profile of a non-neuronal cell became more similar to the expression pattern of a neuron after the artificial over-expression of the neuron-specific miR-124 [1]. In addition, specific miRNA expression patterns may be diseasespecific, can therefore be of high prognostic significance. Several miRNAs contribute to vital processes like cell division, cell death, intra-cellular signaling, immunity, cell movement, and cellular metabolism [2]. Hence, it is clear that abnormal expression of miRNAs must influence critical cellular functions, and changes in the miRNAs expression have a crucial part in the disease development.