InflammamiRs in focus: Delivery strategies and therapeutic approaches

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-protein-coding RNAs which are essential regulators of host genome expression at the post-transcriptional level. There is evidence of dysregulated miRNA expression patterns in a wide variety of diseases, such as autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. These miRNAs have been termed "inflammamiRs." When working with miRNAs, the method followed, the approach to treat or diagnosis, and the selected biological material are very crucial. Demonstration of the role of miRNAs in particular disease phenotypes facilitates their evaluation as potential and effective therapeutic tools. A growing number of reports suggest the significant utility of miRNAs and other small RNA drugs in clinical medicine. Most miRNAs seem promising therapeutic options, but some features associated with miRNA therapy like off-target effect, effective dosage, or differential delivery methods, mainly caused by the short target's sequence, make miRNA therapies challenging. In this review, we aim to discuss some of the inflammamiRs in diseases associated with inflammatory pathways and the challenge of identifying the most potent therapeutic candidates and provide a perspective on achieving safe and targeted delivery of miRNA therapeutics. We also discuss the status of inflammamiRs in clinical trials.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs which regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Dysregulated expression of miRNAs has been linked to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. miRNAs that play a role in inflammatory pathways have been termed inflammamiRs. Agonists or antagonists of these miRNAs may be therapeutically useful. Implementation of these molecules into clinical application requires the identification of disease-related inflammamiRs, identifying suitable delivery methods through in vitro and in vivo studies, and then advancement into clinical trials.image