ABSTRACT
Since the initial discovery in 1993, the tiny microRNAs (miRNAs) have grown into major players in many arenas of life science. Recent studies have shown that miRNAs are involved in divergent biological processes, from cell cycle progression to apoptosis, from developmental timing to the nervous system patterning, and from cellular growth to hematopoiesis. The involvement of miRNAs in disease has also been investigated intensively in cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system (CNS) disorders, metabolic diseases, and various types of cancer. The new findings from these miRNA studies not only offer insight into an important mechanism of regulating gene expression and cell function but also open new possibilities for targeted therapy of disease.
