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miRNA Signatures in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Implications for Biomarkers, Pathogenesis, and Therapeutic Options
Hajime Maeda1,2, Xiaoyun Li1,3,4,5, Hayato Go2
1Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
Insights
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) development in premature infants. Dysregulated miRNAs offer potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for this chronic lung disease.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease affecting premature infants, characterized by abnormal lung development.
- Life-saving treatments like supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation may contribute to BPD pathogenesis.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression and cellular processes crucial to BPD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of dysregulated miRNAs in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
- To explore the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers for BPD diagnosis and prognosis.
- To highlight therapeutic strategies targeting miRNAs for BPD treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating miRNA expression and function in BPD.
- Analysis of miRNA involvement in key cellular processes implicated in BPD pathogenesis.
- Examination of current and emerging miRNA-based therapeutic approaches for BPD.
Main Results:
- miRNAs are significantly dysregulated in BPD lungs of premature infants and animal models.
- Altered miRNA expression impacts critical cellular pathways including oxidative stress, inflammation, and angiogenesis in BPD.
- miRNAs demonstrate potential as reliable biomarkers for BPD detection and monitoring.
Conclusions:
- Dysregulated miRNAs play a key role in the development and progression of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
- Targeting miRNAs presents a promising therapeutic avenue for managing BPD in premature infants.
- Further research into miRNA biomarkers and therapies is warranted for improved BPD outcomes.
Abstract:
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease in premature infants characterized by alveolar dysplasia, vascular simplification and dysmorphic vascular development. Supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation commonly used as life-saving measures in premature infants may cause BPD. microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small, non-coding RNAs, regulate target gene expression mainly through post-transcriptional repression. miRNAs play important roles in modulating oxidative stress, proliferation, apoptosis, senescence, inflammatory responses, and angiogenesis. These cellular processes play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of BPD. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that miRNAs are dysregulated in the lung of premature infants with BPD, and in animal models of this disease, suggesting contributing roles of dysregulated miRNAs in the development of BPD. Therefore, miRNAs are considered promising biomarker candidates and therapeutic agents for this disease. In this review, we discuss how dysregulated miRNAs and their modulation alter cellular processes involved in BPD. We then focus on therapeutic approaches targeting miRNAs for BPD. This review provides an overview of miRNAs as biomarkers, and highlights potential pathogenic roles, and therapeutic strategies for BPD using miRNAs.
