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Perturbations of Circulating miRNAs in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Detected Using a Multiplexed High-throughput Gene Expression Platform
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Perturbations of Circulating miRNAs in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Detected Using a Multiplexed High-throughput Gene Expression Platform

Published on: November 30, 2016

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MicroRNAs in the Diagnosis of Digestive Diseases: A Comprehensive Review

Mirela Livia Popa1, Cristian Ichim1, Paula Anderco1

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 550169 Sibiu, Romania.

Journal of Clinical Medicine
|March 27, 2025
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators in digestive diseases like IBD and cancer. While promising for diagnostics and therapy, challenges in delivery, targeting, and dynamic expression hinder clinical use.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally.
  • miRNAs are implicated in digestive pathologies such as inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
  • Specific miRNAs like miR-31, miR-155, miR-21, miR-598, miR-494, miR-192, and miR-122 are linked to these conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of microRNAs in digestive pathologies.
  • To highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of miRNAs.
  • To discuss the challenges hindering the clinical application of miRNAs in gastroenterology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on microRNAs in digestive diseases.
  • Analysis of miRNA roles in inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
  • Examination of current research on miRNA-based biomarkers and therapeutics.

Main Results:

  • miRNAs show significant potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in digestive diseases.
  • miRNA expression is dynamic and varies significantly across patients and disease contexts.
  • The dual role of miRNAs as oncogenes and tumor suppressors complicates therapeutic strategies.
  • Challenges include off-target effects, immune responses, and inefficient delivery methods for miRNA therapies.
  • The interaction between miRNAs and gut microbiota adds complexity to disease mechanisms and treatment.

Conclusions:

  • MicroRNAs offer novel avenues for diagnosing and managing digestive diseases.
  • Further research is essential to overcome existing challenges and optimize clinical applications of miRNAs.
  • Refining miRNA-based diagnostics and therapies requires addressing issues of specificity, delivery, and biological complexity.
Keywords:
colorectal cancerinflammatory bowel diseasemiRNAnon-alcoholic fatty liver disease

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