MicroRNA and their implications in dental pulp inflammation: current trends and future perspectives

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, 19-23 nucleotide non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by silencing or degrading the target mRNA gene. Since their discovery in the nineties of the last century, they have emerged as key inflammatory regulators. Inflammation induces the synthesis of various miRNAs that modulate the expression of multiple molecules involved in orchestrating the inflammatory response. This review aims to provide an insight into the role of miRNAs as potential biomarkers, mediators, and potential therapeutic targets of dental pulp inflammation. A literature search was conducted using the keywords; biogenesis of microRNA, human dental pulp cells, pulpitis, and inflammation in PubMed and Scopus index databases for all the published articles dealing with the role of miRNAs in pulp inflammation in the last 10 years. According to the literature, there is a clear correlation between miRNAs and several physiological events, as well as their role as mediators of innate immune response and inflammation in dental pulp cells. Our narrative review stipulates that numerous miRNAs play a key role in modulating inflammation, delaying or enhancing cell repair, cell differentiation, and survival in dental pulp diseases. However, further studies are required for the validation of miRNAs as reliable biomarkers in dental pulp pathology and their targeted therapy.