MicroRNAs, mecanismo epigenético para estudiar la enfermedad celiaca

Abstract

© 2014 Arán Ediciones, S. L. This article summarizes recent findings on the role of microRNAs in biological processes associated with the regulation of chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that have been recently emerged as a new class of modulators of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. MiRNAs bind to complementary sequences of specific targets of messengers RNA, which can interfere with protein synthesis. We reviewed studies that evaluated the expression patterns of miRNAs in different autoimmune diseases, especially in celiac disease (CD). CD is a chronic enteropathy triggered by gluten proteins, characterized by altered immune responses in genetically susceptible individuals that results in damage to the bowel mucosa. CD has a high prevalence and an effective treatment by a specific diet (“gluten free diet”). Genetic factors confer susceptibility but do not explain the whole disease, suggesting that environmental factors do