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microRNAs: Critical Players during Helminth Infections.

Maura Rojas-PirelaDiego Andrade-AlviárezWilfredo QuiñonesMaria Verónica RojasChristian CastilloAna LiempiLisvaneth MedinaJesus Guerrero-MuñozAlejandro Fernández-MoyaYessica Andreina OrtegaSebastián AranedaJuan Diego MayaUlrike Kemmerling
Published in: Microorganisms (2022)
microRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally through their interaction with the 3' untranslated regions (3' UTR) of target mRNAs, affecting their stability and/or translation. Therefore, miRNAs regulate biological processes such as signal transduction, cell death, autophagy, metabolism, development, cellular proliferation, and differentiation. Dysregulated expression of microRNAs is associated with infectious diseases, where miRNAs modulate important aspects of the parasite-host interaction. Helminths are parasitic worms that cause various neglected tropical diseases affecting millions worldwide. These parasites have sophisticated mechanisms that give them a surprising immunomodulatory capacity favoring parasite persistence and establishment of infection. In this review, we analyze miRNAs in infections caused by helminths, emphasizing their role in immune regulation and its implication in diagnosis, prognosis, and the development of therapeutic strategies.
Keyphrases
  • cell death
  • gene expression
  • infectious diseases
  • plasmodium falciparum
  • signaling pathway
  • poor prognosis
  • dna methylation
  • endoplasmic reticulum stress
  • climate change
  • trypanosoma cruzi
  • long non coding rna
  • pi k akt