ABSTRACT
MicroRNA (miRNA) is a short noncoding RNA, which can regulate gene expression.miR-21 is one of the human miRNAs identified earlier.As an oncovirus, it is involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene and plays important roles in cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation.In addition, miR-21 promotes inflammatory responses and also plays a key role in regulating the function of immune system.Recent studies have shown that miR-21 could be detected in corneal fibroblasts cells, retinal pigment epithelial cells, retinal microvascular endothelial cells, retinal microglia and other eye-derived cells.Furthermore, miR-21 plays an important part in the development of various eye diseases including retinoblastoma, uveal melanoma, corneal alkali burn, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, diabetic retinopathy and uveitis.Further studies have shown that inhibited expression of miR-21 can treat retinoblastoma and rescue vision loss caused by corneal neovascularization and diabetic retinopathy, while overexpression of miR-21 can promote corneal epithelial healing and treat primary open-angle glaucoma and retinal degeneration.This review summarized the recent research progress of the role of miR-21 in eye diseases.
ABSTRACT
Dry eye disease is a multifactorial disease affecting the ocular surface, lacrimal glands and meibomian glands.Its incidence is gradually increasing and tends to occur in the younger.Its main features are ocular surface inflammation caused by tear film instability and high osmotic pressure of tears.Moreover, there is a vicious circle between inflammation and ocular surface damage.Immune-related inflammatory responses play a key role in this process.Regulatory T cell (Treg) is a subset of T cells with immunoregulatory functions, which are closely related to the occurrence and development of dry eye, and can inhibit the inflammation of dry eyes by acting on antigen-presenting cells and T helper cell (Th)1/Th17.Recent studies have shown that Treg in dry eye is abnormal in number or function and closely related to the risk factors of dry eye such as age and gender.In addition, by increasing the number of Tregs and promoting their differentiation to alleviate inflammatory response can provide new treatment strategies in dry eye.The correlation between Treg and dry eye and its related research in the pathogenesis and treatment of dry eye were reviewed in this article.