MicroRNA News and Research

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In genetics, microRNAs (miRNA) are single-stranded RNA molecules of 21-23 nucleotides in length, which regulate gene expression. miRNAs are encoded by genes from whose DNA they are transcribed but miRNAs are not translated into protein (i.e. they are non-coding RNAs); instead each primary transcript (a pri-miRNA) is processed into a short stem-loop structure called a pre-miRNA and finally into a functional miRNA. Mature miRNA molecules are partially complementary to one or more messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, and their main function is to down-regulate gene expression.

Advances in chemistry and delivery are taking oligonucleotide medicines beyond rare diseases

A review in Cell Reports Medicine examines how advances in oligonucleotide chemistry and delivery have established ASOs and RNA interference therapies as a class of genetic medicines, with 21 oligonucleotides approved at the time of writing. It also identifies extrahepatic delivery, safety, target validation, individualized treatment, and data quality as priorities as the field expands into common diseases and explores AI-assisted development.

24 Sep 2026

Celastrol reduces cholestatic liver injury by inhibiting specific protein

Cholestasis occurs when bile formation, secretion, or flow is impaired, causing toxic bile acids to accumulate and trigger inflammation and liver-cell damage.

17 Sep 2026

Blocking a naturally occurring molecule reverses deadly lung disease in preclinical models

Researchers blocked a naturally occurring molecule to reverse pulmonary arterial hypertension in preclinical models, a finding that could point to a new treatment approach for people with a rare and often fatal lung disease.

2 Sep 2026

Two scientists win Horwitz Prize for Rett syndrome breakthrough

Columbia University will award the 2026 Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize to Adrian Bird and Huda Zoghbi for their pioneering work on epigenetic regulation in the nervous system and its role in human neurological disease, particularly Rett syndrome.

2 Sep 2026

Maternal obesity alters fetal liver metabolism via placental molecular signals

A mother's obesity during pregnancy may send molecular signals across the placenta that permanently alter her son's liver metabolism, according to a new study in mice published in Nature Communications.

26 Aug 2026

Penn State team lays groundwork to 3D print spheroids for regenerating bone tissue

An interdisciplinary team of engineers and chemists at Penn State has laid the groundwork to 3D print spheroids - tiny clusters of living cells - capable of regenerating bone tissue in response to severe trauma or infections.

18 Aug 2026

Review highlights the importance of miR-23b in shaping cancer development and progression

A new review highlights the growing importance of miR-23b, a small but powerful regulator of gene expression, in shaping the development and progression of a wide range of cancers.

5 Aug 2026

New study links specific microRNAs to cancer-associated cachexia

Cachexia-a syndrome characterized by progressive muscle wasting-affects both humans and dogs with chronic diseases such as cancer.

22 Jul 2026

New portable strip test accurately detects mosquito-borne viruses

A research team has developed a multisite bridging-mediated lateral flow immunoassay (mbLFIA) that enables highly sensitive, portable detection of mosquito-borne viruses, using Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) as a model target.

17 Jul 2026

Targeting CMPK2-intervened redox metabolism to mitigate hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

HIRI is a major clinical challenge that occurs when blood supply to the liver is temporarily interrupted and then restored, as commonly seen in liver resection and liver transplantation.

16 Jul 2026

Computational framework identifies synergistic compound pairs in herbal medicines

Herbal medicines have long been used in disease treatment, often through formulas that combine multiple herbs to enhance therapeutic effects and reduce side effects.

16 Jul 2026

Molecular changes in the liver of space travelers provide clues about aging

What happens to the human body in space may help scientists create new anti-aging therapies.

7 Jul 2026

Study reveals how manufacturing methods affect herbal medicine potency

In a study published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, the researchers used MIR2911, a plant microRNA enriched in honeysuckle, as a proof-of-concept example.

3 Jul 2026

Evolutionary noncoding RNAs reveal new targets for cancer therapy

In cancer research, one person's junk is increasingly becoming another person's treasure. Scientists have now uncovered new evidence showing how recently evolved "junk DNA" genetic elements can become integrated into ancient cellular pathways that regulate cancer.

1 Jul 2026

Natural bioactive compounds target miR-29a molecule to prevent cancer development

A study published in Current Molecular Pharmacology provides a comprehensive analysis of microRNA-29a (miR-29a) as a pivotal regulator in cancer development, and examines how natural bioactive compounds may offer a promising strategy for cancer prevention by modulating its expression.

25 Jun 2026

Age-related muscle loss linked to increased tumor growth

Duke-NUS scientists have discovered that aging muscle may contribute to cancer growth by releasing fewer extracellular vesicles, tiny particles that cells use to communicate with one another.

16 Jun 2026

Researchers isolate intact tumor microRNAs using antibody-conjugated nanowires

A research team in Japan has developed an efficient and minimally invasive cancer detection device that uses high-performance zinc oxide nanowires to selectively capture extracellular vesicles (EVs) from bodily fluids.

11 Jun 2026

Targeting microRNA pathway helps overcome cancer immunotherapy resistance

Immune checkpoint therapy, a type of cancer immunotherapy that helps the immune system recognize and attack tumors, has transformed cancer treatment.

1 Jun 2026

Study reveals how immune cells alter vascular plaque formation

A new LMU study shows how differently immune cells influence the formation of dangerous vascular deposits - and identifies miR-147 as a potential starting point for future therapies.

27 May 2026

Ohio State study unlocks the long-standing mystery of RNA interference

While scientists have known for over two decades that all cells use a strategy called RNA interference to regulate gene expression, a new study is the first to describe how a specific protein manages the step-by-step process of assembling the molecular complex that performs the regulatory job.

26 May 2026