MicroRNAs in kidney development and disease
Débora Malta Cerqueira, … , Maliha Tayeb, Jacqueline Ho
Débora Malta Cerqueira, … , Maliha Tayeb, Jacqueline Ho
Published May 9, 2022
Citation Information: JCI Insight. 2022;7(9):e158277. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.158277.
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Review

MicroRNAs in kidney development and disease

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to a class of endogenous small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level, through both translational repression and mRNA destabilization. They are key regulators of kidney morphogenesis, modulating diverse biological processes in different renal cell lineages. Dysregulation of miRNA expression disrupts early kidney development and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of developmental kidney diseases. In this Review, we summarize current knowledge of miRNA biogenesis and function and discuss in detail the role of miRNAs in kidney morphogenesis and developmental kidney diseases, including congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract and Wilms tumor. We conclude by discussing the utility of miRNAs as potentially novel biomarkers and therapeutic agents.

Authors

Débora Malta Cerqueira, Maliha Tayeb, Jacqueline Ho

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Figure 1

Biogenesis of miRNAs.

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Biogenesis of miRNAs. MiRNA-encoding genes are transcribed by RNA polyme...
MiRNA-encoding genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase II into a primary miRNA (pri-miRNA). Next, a complex formed by the RNA-binding protein DGRC8 and the RNase III enzyme Drosha cleaves the pri-miRNA, generating precursor miRNA (pre-miRNA), which is exported into the cytoplasm through exportin 5. Once in the cytoplasm, the Dicer/TRBP complex cleaves the pre-miRNA, releasing mature miRNA. Finally, the mature miRNA is loaded onto the RISC, driving target mRNA recognition through Watson-Crick base pairing, culminating in gene silencing through translational repression or mRNA degradation. DGRC8, DiGeorge syndrome critical region 8; RISC, RNA-induced silencing complex; TRBP, TAR RNA-binding protein. Created with BioRender.com.