Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Perturbations of Circulating miRNAs in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Detected Using a Multiplexed High-throughput Gene Expression Platform
Published on: November 30, 2016
Target potential of miRNAs in ulcerative colitis: what do we know?
Peeyush Kumar1, Saurabh Kedia1, Vineet Ahuja1
1Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition, All India Institute of Medical sciences, New Delhi, India.
Introduction:
The global rise in ulcerative colitis (UC) incidence highlights the urgent need for enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Recent advances in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic loci associated with UC, providing insights into the disease's molecular mechanisms, including immune modulation, mucosal defense, and epithelial barrier function. Despite these findings, many GWAS signals are located in non-coding regions and are linked to low risk, suggesting that protein-coding genes alone do not fully explain UC's pathophysiology. Emerging research emphasizes the potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) as biomarkers and therapeutic targets due to their crucial role in UC. This review explores the current understanding of miRNAs in UC, including their mechanisms of action and their potential as both biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The present review provides the latest update on their potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target.
Areas Covered:
This review synthesizes an extensive literature search on miRNAs in UC, focusing on their roles in the mucosal barrier, innate and adaptive immunity, and their potential applications as biomarkers and therapeutic modalities.
Expert Opinion:
While miRNAs present promising opportunities as biomarkers and novel therapeutic agents in UC, challenges in validation, specificity, delivery, and clinical application need to be addressed through rigorous, large-scale studies.
Related Concept Videos
MicroRNAs
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Prostaglandin Analogs as Mucosal Protective Agents
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can induce peptic ulcers by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, decreasing...
Pathophysiology of Peptic Ulcer Disease: Mucosal Defense Factors

