MicroRNAs in Systemic Sclerosis: Involvement in Disease Pathogenesis and Potential Use as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets

Shumnalieva, Russka; Monov, Simeon; Velikova, Tsvetelina

doi:10.3390/biomedicines13051216

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MicroRNAs in Systemic Sclerosis: Involvement in Disease Pathogenesis and Potential Use as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets

by

Russka Shumnalieva

^1,2,*

,

Simeon Monov

¹ and

Tsvetelina Velikova

²

¹

Department of Rheumatology, Clinic of Rheumatology, University Hospital “St. Anna” Sofia, Medical University-Sofia, Dimitar Mollov Street 1, 1709 Sofia, Bulgaria

²

Medical Faculty, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, 1 Kozyak Street, 1407 Sofia, Bulgaria

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Biomedicines 2025, 13(5), 1216; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13051216

Submission received: 23 January 2025 / Revised: 22 April 2025 / Accepted: 8 May 2025 / Published: 16 May 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rheumatology Diseases: Advances in the Understanding of Pathogenesis, Biomarker Research and Treatment Target)

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Abstract

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by three main pathological features: microangiopathy, immunological alterations, and excessive synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, leading to fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Although the etiology of SSc is still unknown, recent studies have revealed the potential role of genetic and epigenetic factors in disease pathogenesis. They are involved in the regulation of cell metabolism, cell hyperactivity, and the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Short endogenous noncoding RNA molecules (microRNAs; miRNAs) negatively regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level and play a significant role in disease pathogenesis. Altered miRNA expression in circulation and disease-specific tissues could serve as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in SSc.

Keywords: systemic sclerosis; autoimmune; microangiopathy; extracellular matrix; epigenetic; miRNA; biomarkers; therapeutic targets

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MDPI and ACS Style

Shumnalieva, R.; Monov, S.; Velikova, T. MicroRNAs in Systemic Sclerosis: Involvement in Disease Pathogenesis and Potential Use as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Biomedicines 2025, 13, 1216. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13051216

AMA Style

Shumnalieva R, Monov S, Velikova T. MicroRNAs in Systemic Sclerosis: Involvement in Disease Pathogenesis and Potential Use as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Biomedicines. 2025; 13(5):1216. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13051216

Chicago/Turabian Style

Shumnalieva, Russka, Simeon Monov, and Tsvetelina Velikova. 2025. "MicroRNAs in Systemic Sclerosis: Involvement in Disease Pathogenesis and Potential Use as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets" Biomedicines 13, no. 5: 1216. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13051216

APA Style

Shumnalieva, R., Monov, S., & Velikova, T. (2025). MicroRNAs in Systemic Sclerosis: Involvement in Disease Pathogenesis and Potential Use as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Biomedicines, 13(5), 1216. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13051216

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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MicroRNAs in Systemic Sclerosis: Involvement in Disease Pathogenesis and Potential Use as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets

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