MicroRNAs (
miRNAs) are a class of
small non-coding RNA which exert post-transcriptional
gene regulation activity by targeting messenger RNAs.
miRNAs have been found involved in a great variety of fundamental
biological processes, and deregulation of
miRNAs is known to be closely related to
morbidity. Recent studies have confirmed that severalmiRNAs were differentially expressed after renal
ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), and some of them might be involved in IRI
regulation.
miRNAs can influence the expression of inflammatory mediators in
endothelial cells,
dendritic cells and
macrophages, and thus regulate inflammatory response during renal IRI.
miRNAs might also influence
genes related to
apoptosis and proliferation, and thus regulate
apoptosis and proliferation of tubular
epithelial cells.
miRNAs could also induce accumulation of
endothelial progenitor cells in renal
tissue and facilitate
angiogenesis and
injury repair. Extracellular studies have also showed that instant change of some
miRNAs in
serum and
urine might reflect the degree of renal IRI. Therefore,
miRNAs might serve as new
biomarkers aswell as potential
therapeutic targets for renal IRI.