New challenges for microRNAs in acute pancreatitis: progress and treatment

Abstract

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common clinical abdominal emergency, with a high and increasing incidence each year. Severe AP can easily cause systemic inflammatory response syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction and other complications, leading to higher hospitalization rates and mortality. Currently, there is no specific treatment for AP. Thus, we still need to understand the exact AP pathogenesis to effectively cure AP. With the rise of transcriptomics, RNA molecules, such as microRNAs (miRNAs) transcribed from nonprotein-coding regions of biological genomes, have been found to be of great significance in the regulation of gene expression and to be involved in the occurrence and development of many diseases. Increasing evidence has shown that miRNAs, as regulatory RNAs, can regulate pancreatic acinar necrosis and apoptosis and local and systemic inflammation and play an important role in the development and thus potentially the diagnosis and treatment of AP. Therefore, here, the current research on the relationship between miRNAs and AP is reviewed.

Predictive and Prognostic Potentials of Lymphocyte-C-Reactive Protein Ratio Upon Hospitalization in Adult Patients with Acute Pancreatitis

“…According to the revised Atlanta classification (2012), the diagnosis of AP was established when at least two of the three diagnostic criteria, namely clinical presentation (typical epigastric abdominal pain), laboratory parameters (serum amylase/lipase levels at least three times higher than the upper limit of normal), and abdominal cross-sectional radiographic evidences (including abdominal ultrasound [US], computed tomography [CT], or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), were met. 20 , 21 Subsequently, adult patients with AP were divided into three groups: mild AP (MAP), moderately severe AP (MSAP), and severe AP (SAP) based on the absence of organ dysfunction and the duration of organ dysfunction less than 48 hours and more than 48 hours. 3 For adult AP patients with changes in disease severity, the most severe classification of AP during hospitalization was taken as the final one.…”

The Role of MicroRNAs in Pancreatitis Development and Progression

“…Multiple studies showed that modulation of the expression levels of miRs in vitro and animal models ameliorates the effects of AP [ 179 ]. Overexpression of miR-148a, miR-92b-3p, miR-399-3p, and miR-802 reduced the injury to the pancreas by inhibiting inflammatory pathways, apoptosis, or reducing acinar-to-ductal metaplasia [ 54 , 64 , 82 , 180 ].…”

The potential use of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes as microRNAs delivery systems in different diseases

“…MiRNAs control cell proliferation, differentiation, renewal, and apoptosis [2]. In addition, with the quick progress of next-generation sequencing (NGS), investigators have understood that miRNA interposition can alter associated physiological roles, causing inflammation of cell penetration, cancer, infectious diseases, neurological and immunological disorders, and other diseases [3][4][5]. Currently, some miRNA medications are undergoing clinical phases, and excellent advance has been made in the investigation and progress of miRNA medication patents and miRNA treatment.…”