miRNA in Human Diseases
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 1
Special Issue Editor
Interests: drug delivery system; bioactive molecules; green chemistry; molecular biology; biochemistry; exosomes-like vesicles; microRNAs regulation; epigenetics; in vitro inflammation/oxidation and cancer cell models
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, non-coding RNA molecules approximately 20–24 nucleotides in length that play a critical role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Since their discovery in the early 1990s, miRNAs have emerged as key regulators of diverse biological processes, including development, cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune response. They function primarily by binding to the 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), leading to mRNA degradation or translational repression.
The dysregulation of miRNA expression has been increasingly recognized as a hallmark of various human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndromes, and autoimmune conditions. In cancer, for instance, specific miRNAs may act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors depending on their target genes and cellular context. Similarly, in cardiovascular diseases, altered miRNA profiles have been linked to myocardial infarction, heart failure, and atherosclerosis, offering new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
The importance of miRNA research lies not only in its potential to deepen our understanding of disease mechanisms but also in its promise for clinical translation. miRNAs are remarkably stable in body fluids, making them attractive candidates for non-invasive biomarkers. Moreover, advances in RNA-based therapeutics have fueled efforts to develop miRNA mimics or inhibitors as novel treatments for a variety of conditions.
This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in the study of miRNAs in human disease, showcasing cutting-edge research that elucidates the roles of miRNAs in pathophysiology, explores their utility in diagnosis and prognosis, and evaluates their potential as therapeutic targets. By bringing together contributions from diverse disciplines, we seek to foster a deeper understanding of miRNA biology and its clinical relevance in the context of human health and disease.
We are pleased to invite you to submit an innovative work that highlights the importance of these small non-coding RNAs in different pathological states.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Cancer miRNAs;
- Cardiovascular miRNAs;
- Neurodegenerative diseases;
- Autoimmune disorders;
- Personalized medicine;
- Epigenetics;
- RNA-based diagnostics;
- miRNA-based therapy.
Dr. Anna Valentino
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- microRNA
- gene regulation
- disease biomarkers
- miRNAs expression profiling
- miRNA-based therapy
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