The role of microRNA in the pathogenesis of bronchoobstructive diseases

Abstract

The review analyzes the role of microRNAs in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary diseases. The universality of the mechanisms underlying epigenetics causes a continuously growing interest in research in this field in various fields of medicine. Research in the field of epigenetics not only allows us to expand knowledge in the field of etiology and pathogenesis, but also helps to explain the heterogeneity of the disease. Currently, biomarkers used in determining the phenotype of bronchial asthma or COPD are not able to display the variety of pathological processes involved in the pathogenesis of the disease at the molecular level. It is noteworthy that microRNAs retain their stability in various body environments, are resistant to high temperatures, pH fluctuations, and freeze-thaw cycles, which greatly simplifies the process of detecting these molecules in biological fluids. The amount of detected microRNA is highly specific for a particular pathological process occurring intracellularly. Currently, biomarkers used in determining the phenotype of bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are not able to reflect the variety of pathological processes involved in the pathogenesis of the disease at the molecular level. For both diseases, the key links are known to be inflammation, airway remodeling, and an abnormal response of epithelial cells to external stimuli. Thus, there is a great potential for using microRNAs in clinical practice: as noninvasive biomarkers reflecting key points of pathogenesis, as a prognostic biomarker predicting response to therapy, and possibly in the future as new therapeutic targets.