2.22 – Physiological and Pathological Functions of Mammalian MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 19- to 26-nucleotide RNAs that regulate gene expression. Over 700 human miRNA genes have been identified, with one report predicting close to 1000. Recent computational methods indicate that up to 92% of human genes may be regulated by miRNA. In this chapter, we discuss recent progress in miRNA biology and their roles in human disease pathogenesis, as well as opportunities and challenges of miRNA-based therapies.