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MicroRNAs and cystic fibrosis – an epigenetic perspective
Author(s) -
Xu Wenming,
Hui Chen,
Yu Sidney Siu Bun,
Jing Chen,
Chan Hsiao Chang
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1042/cbi20100664
Subject(s) - cystic fibrosis , cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator , epigenetics , microrna , phenotype , disease , inflammation , regulator , biology , infertility , bioinformatics , mutation , immunology , medicine , genetics , pathology , gene , pregnancy
CF (cystic fibrosis) is a recessive genetic disease caused by mutations of the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator), a cAMP‐activated anion channel, exhibiting a multitude of clinical manifestations including lung inflammation/infection, pancreatic insufficiency/diabetes, intestinal obstruction and infertility in both sexes. While mutation DF508 is found in 70% of CF patients, large variation in disease phenotypes and severity is observed among the patients. This review discusses current theories accounting for the disease variations and puts forth an epigenetic hypothesis involving microRNAs.