immune system

Study of MicroRNA Helps NIH Scientists Unlock Secrets of Immune Cells

by Chris on June 9, 2010

From NIH News – Researchers at the NIH looked at mouse immune cells and examined the types, amount, and activity of microRNAs, genetic components that help regulate the production of proteins. Their study provides a map to the variety of microRNAs contained within mouse immune cells and reveals the complexity of cellular protein regulation. The study appears online in the journal Immunity.

The NIH scientists used a new microsequencing technology to comprehensively identify all of the different miRNAs existing in mouse immune cells. In addition to increasing the number of known miRNAs, the scientists also discovered several cellular mechanisms that regulate miRNA abundance. The study found that some miRNA constructs exist in a dormant state within the nucleus until they receive signals from the epigenome to become active. The epigenome regulates transcription and comprises all of the non-genetic material in the nucleus. Other miRNAs, the researchers determined, are not hampered by these epigenetic mechanisms and are controlled simply through transcription. However, for some of these miRNAs, abundance depends upon the amount of target messenger RNA available in the cell. (read more… )

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MicroRNAs play a critical role in immune system by regulating/fine tuning inflammatory response

by Chris on September 8, 2009

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have proven to be an extremely important part of the gene expression regulation mechanism. Expression profiling and functional studies indicate that miRNAs participate in the regulation of almost every cellular process investigated and that changes in their expression have a profound effect on their gene targeting activities. While the role of miRNAs in cell development and tumorigenesis was recognized early on, the importance of these small RNAs on immune system development and function has only been touched on recently. Initial studies have indicated that miRNAs have a role in the regulation of immune response and inflammation. Although inflammation protects against pathogenic stimuli and promotes healing, it may actually cause more damage than the activating event if not strictly controlled by essential, internal negative regulators. Out of control immune response causes various forms of chronic inflammatory diseases. [click to continue…]

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