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MicroRNAs in Oral Bio-Fluids as Predictive Biomarkers of Orthodontic Tooth Movement: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review was designed to assess scientific evidence of the association of microRNA expression during orthodontic tooth movement through various time points. A systematic review was performed in accordance with the PRISMA checklist. A search strategy was developed in electronic databases including Med Line, Scopus, EBSCO Host and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global until June 2025. Eligibility criteria included studies that investigated microRNA expression in saliva/GCF during orthodontic treatment. The risk of bias of the included studies was analysed using the QUADAS-2 and RoB-2 tools. The search retrieved 2800 records, of which nine studies were selected. Minor variations in GCF collection were noted, while stimulated saliva was collected in one study. RT-PCR and the Fluro meter accounted for the majority of miRNA estimation. Thirteen miRNAs were identified as target biomarkers for OTM regulation. Despite the high risk of bias, the evidence from the current systematic review indicates that microRNAs can be considered as potential biomarkers of orthodontic tooth movement in oral biofluids. Trial Registration: Prospero ID-CRD420251153064.

Humans↗

Relief of microRNA-mediated translational repression in human cells subjected to stress.

In metazoans, most microRNAs imperfectly base-pair with the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of target mRNAs and prevent protein accumulation by either repressing translation or inducing mRNA degradation. Examples of specific mRNAs undergoing microRNA-mediated repression are numerous, but whether the repression is a reversible process remains largely unknown. Here we show that cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT-1) mRNA and reporters bearing its 3'UTR can be relieved from the microRNA miR-122-induced inhibition in human hepatocarcinoma cells subjected to different stress conditions. The derepression of CAT-1 mRNA is accompanied by its release from cytoplasmic processing bodies and its recruitment to polysomes. The derepression requires binding of HuR, an AU-rich-element binding protein, to the 3'UTR of CAT-1 mRNA. We propose that proteins interacting with the 3'UTR will generally act as modifiers altering the potential of miRNAs to repress gene expression.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

MicroRNA biogenesis: drosha can't cut it without a partner.

The ribonuclease Drosha requires a dedicated double-stranded RNA binding protein to convert long, nuclear primary microRNA transcripts into shorter pre-microRNA stem-loops, the cytoplasmic precursors from which mature microRNAs are ultimately excised.

Animals↗

MicroRNA binding sites in Arabidopsis class III HD-ZIP mRNAs are required for methylation of the template chromosome.

Dominant mutations in the Arabidopsis PHABULOSA (PHB) and PHAVOLUTA (PHV) transcription factor genes cause transformation of abaxial to adaxial leaf fates by altering a microRNA complementary site present in processed PHB and PHV mRNAs but not in the corresponding genomic DNA. phb-1d mutants accumulate excess PHB transcript throughout the leaf primordium, indicating defective regulation of PHB transcript synthesis and/or stability. We show that PHB and PHV coding sequences are heavily methylated downstream of the microRNA complementary site in most wild-type plant cells and that methylation is reduced in phb-1d and phv-1d mutants. Decreased methylation is limited to the chromosome bearing the dominant mutant allele in phb-1d heterozygotes. Low levels of methylation are detected in wt PHB DNA isolated from undifferentiated tissues. These results suggest a model in which the microRNA interacts with nascent, newly processed PHB mRNA to alter chromatin of the corresponding PHB template DNA predominantly in differentiated cells.

Alleles↗

Prediction and validation of microRNAs and their targets.

MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that inhibit translation of target genes by binding to their mRNAs, and have been shown to play a central role in gene regulation in health and disease. Sophisticated computer-based prediction approaches of microRNAs and of their targets, and effective biological validation techniques for validating these predictions, now play a central role in discovery of microRNAs and elucidating their functions.

Algorithms↗

MicroRNAs: a developing story.

Considering the intense genetic efforts applied to understanding development, it is surprising that a relatively large class of regulatory genes has newly surfaced. The first microRNA gene and its developmental role were described more than ten years ago, but only recently have we fully appreciated the broad and abundant presence of such genes. MicroRNAs are approximately 22 nucleotide RNAs that use antisense complementarity to inhibit expression of specific mRNAs. Recent studies of restricted expression patterns and functional roles have implicated specific microRNAs in complex genetic pathways regulating embryogenesis, hematopoiesis, neuronal differentiation and Hox-mediated development.

Animals↗

MicroRNA regulation of gene expression in plants.

It has only been a few years since we began to appreciate that microRNAs provide an unanticipated level of gene regulation in both plants and metazoans. The high level of complementarity between plant microRNAs and their target mRNAs has allowed rapid progress towards the elucidation of their varied biological functions. MicroRNAs have been shown to regulate diverse developmental processes, including organ separation, polarity, and identity, and to modulate their own biogenesis and function. Recently, they have also been implicated in some processes outside of plant development.

Arabidopsis↗

Conservation of the heterochronic regulator Lin-28, its developmental expression and microRNA complementary sites.

The heterochronic gene lin-28 is a regulator of developmental timing in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. It must be expressed in the first larval stage and downregulated by the second stage for normal development. This downregulation is mediated in part by lin-4, a 21-nt microRNA. If downregulation fails due to a mutation in a short sequence in the lin-28 3' UTR that is complementary to lin-4, then a variety of somatic cell lineages fail to progress normally in development. Here, we report that Lin-28 homologues exist in diverse animals, including Drosophila, Xenopus, mouse, and human. These homologues are characterized by the LIN-28 protein's unusual pairing of RNA-binding motifs: a cold shock domain (CSD) and a pair of retroviral-type CCHC zinc knuckles. Conservation of LIN-28 proteins shows them to be distinct from the other conserved family of CSD-containing proteins of animals, the Y-box proteins. Importantly, the LIN-28 proteins of Drosophila, Xenopus, and mouse each appear to be expressed and downregulated during development, consistent with a conserved role for this regulator of developmental timing. In addition, the extremely long 3' UTRs of mouse and human Lin-28 genes show extensive regions of sequence identity that contain sites complementary to the mammalian homologues of C. elegans lin-4 and let-7 microRNAs, suggesting that microRNA regulation is a conserved feature of the Lin-28 gene in diverse animals.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

A computational view of microRNAs and their targets.

Small non-coding RNAs called microRNAs have been shown to play important roles in gene regulation across a broad range of metazoans from plants to humans. In this review, the nature and function of microRNAs will be discussed, with special emphasis on the computational tools and databases available to predict microRNAs and the genes they target.

Animals↗

Sequence-specific detection of MicroRNAs by signal-amplifying ribozymes.

The rational and straightforward design of hairpin ribozymes that can be sequence-specifically induced by external oligonucleotides is described. Due to intrinsic signal amplification, their sensitivity is at least an order of magnitude increased compared to standard molecular beacons. We applied this system to the detection of microRNAs, a recently discovered class of small endogenous RNA molecules that are involved in gene regulation. We show that the cognate microRNA can reliably and sensitively be detected at low concentrations in a mix of other microRNA sequences. These probes may be useful in applications that require direct detection of minute amounts of small DNAs or RNAs.

Animals↗

Serum response factor regulates a muscle-specific microRNA that targets Hand2 during cardiogenesis.

Gradients of signalling and transcription factors govern many aspects of embryogenesis, highlighting the need for spatiotemporal control of regulatory protein levels. MicroRNAs are phylogenetically conserved small RNAs that regulate the translation of target messenger RNAs, providing a mechanism for protein dose regulation. Here we show that microRNA-1-1 (miR-1-1) and miR-1-2 are specifically expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscle precursor cells. We found that the miR-1 genes are direct transcriptional targets of muscle differentiation regulators including serum response factor, MyoD and Mef2. Correspondingly, excess miR-1 in the developing heart leads to a decreased pool of proliferating ventricular cardiomyocytes. Using a new algorithm for microRNA target identification that incorporates features of RNA structure and target accessibility, we show that Hand2, a transcription factor that promotes ventricular cardiomyocyte expansion, is a target of miR-1. This work suggests that miR-1 genes titrate the effects of critical cardiac regulatory proteins to control the balance between differentiation and proliferation during cardiogenesis.

Algorithms↗

Probing tumor phenotypes using stable and regulated synthetic microRNA precursors.

RNA interference is a powerful method for suppressing gene expression in mammalian cells. Stable knock-down can be achieved by continuous expression of synthetic short hairpin RNAs, typically from RNA polymerase III promoters. But primary microRNA transcripts, which are endogenous triggers of RNA interference, are normally synthesized by RNA polymerase II. Here we show that RNA polymerase II promoters expressing rationally designed primary microRNA-based short hairpin RNAs produce potent, stable and regulatable gene knock-down in cultured cells and in animals, even when present at a single copy in the genome. Most notably, by tightly regulating Trp53 knock-down using tetracycline-based systems, we show that cultured mouse fibroblasts can be switched between proliferative and senescent states and that tumors induced by Trp53 suppression and cooperating oncogenes regress upon re-expression of Trp53. In practice, this primary microRNA-based short hairpin RNA vector system is markedly similar to cDNA overexpression systems and is a powerful tool for studying gene function in cells and animals.

Animals↗

Tumour-related microRNAs functions in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Altering cell proliferation and differentiation are usually key events leading to cancer. As originally demonstrated by Sydney Brenner in 1960s, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans represents an animal model of choice to study mechanisms important to maintain proper cellular behaviour. This round worm has helped to elucidate components as well as new cellular pathways required for animal development. Among them, the discovery of the programmed cell death and non-coding RNAs (microRNAs) controlling gene expression are two remarkable examples. Recently, two studies have demonstrated, once again, that using C. elegans can help gathering insights on cellular mechanisms leading to tumour formation. Two microRNAs, miR-84 and miR-61, control the expression of the oncogene orthologues Ras and Vav indicating their capacity to act as tumour suppressors. These observations demonstrate that uncovering the function of microRNAs is important to increase our understanding of cancer.

Animals↗

Cold stress-induced protein Rbm3 binds 60S ribosomal subunits, alters microRNA levels, and enhances global protein synthesis.

The expression of Rbm3, a glycine-rich RNA-binding protein, is enhanced under conditions of mild hypothermia, and Rbm3 has been postulated to facilitate protein synthesis at colder temperatures. To investigate this possibility, Rbm3 was overexpressed as a c-Myc fusion protein in mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells. Cells expressing this fusion protein showed a 3-fold increase in protein synthesis at both 37 degrees C and 32 degrees C compared with control cells. Although polysome profiles of cells expressing the fusion protein and control cells were similar, several differences were noted, suggesting that Rbm3 might enhance the association of 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits at 32 degrees C. Studies to assess a direct interaction of Rbm3 with ribosomes showed that a fraction of Rbm3 was associated with 60S ribosomal subunits in an RNA-independent manner. It appeared unlikely that this association could explain the global enhancement of protein synthesis, however, because cells expressing the Rbm3 fusion protein showed no substantial increase in the size of their monosome and polysome peaks, suggesting that similar numbers of mRNAs were being translated at approximately the same rates. In contrast, a complex that sedimented between the top of the gradient and 40S subunits was less abundant in cells expressing recombinant Rbm3. Further analysis showed that the RNA component of this fraction was microRNA. We discuss the possibility that Rbm3 expression alters global protein synthesis by affecting microRNA levels and suggest that both Rbm3 and microRNAs are part of a homeostatic mechanism that regulates global levels of protein synthesis under normal and cold-stress conditions.

Animals↗

The chromatoid body of male germ cells: similarity with processing bodies and presence of Dicer and microRNA pathway components.

The chromatoid body is a perinuclear, cytoplasmic cloud-like structure in male germ cells whose function has remained elusive. Here we show that the chromatoid body is related to the RNA-processing body of somatic cells. Dicer and components of microRNP complexes (including Ago proteins and microRNAs) are highly concentrated in chromatoid bodies. Furthermore, we show that Dicer interacts with a germ cell-specific chromatoid body component, the RNA helicase MVH (mouse VASA homolog). Thus, chromatoid bodies seem to operate as intracellular nerve centers of the microRNA pathway. Our findings underscore the importance of posttranscriptional gene regulation and of the microRNA pathway in the control of postmeiotic male germ cell differentiation.

Animals↗

MicroRNA-206 colocalizes with ribosome-rich regions in both the nucleolus and cytoplasm of rat myogenic cells.

MicroRNAs are small, approximately 21- to 24-nt RNAs that have been found to regulate gene expression. miR-206 is a microRNA that is expressed at high levels in Drosophila, zebrafish, and mouse skeletal muscle and is thought to be involved in the attainment and/or maintenance of the differentiated state. We used locked nucleic acid probes for in situ hybridization analysis of the intracellular localization of miR-206 during differentiation of rat myogenic cells. Like most microRNAs, which are presumed to suppress translation of target mRNAs, we found that miR-206 occupies a cytoplasmic location in cultured myoblasts and differentiated myotubes and that its level increases in myotubes over the course of differentiation, consistent with previous findings in muscle tissue in vivo. However, to our surprise, we also observed miR-206 to be concentrated in nucleoli. A probe designed to be complementary to the precursor forms of miR-206 gave no nucleolar signal. We characterized the intracellular localization of miR-206 at higher spatial resolution and found that a substantial fraction colocalizes with 28S rRNA in both the cytoplasm and the nucleolus. miR-206 is not concentrated in either the fibrillar centers of the nucleolus or the dense fibrillar component, where ribosomal RNA transcription and early processing occur, but rather is localized in the granular component, the region of the nucleolus where final ribosome assembly takes place. These results suggest that miR-206 may associate both with nascent ribosomes in the nucleolus and with exported, functional ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

Animals↗

miRBase: microRNA sequences, targets and gene nomenclature.

The miRBase database aims to provide integrated interfaces to comprehensive microRNA sequence data, annotation and predicted gene targets. miRBase takes over functionality from the microRNA Registry and fulfils three main roles: the miRBase Registry acts as an independent arbiter of microRNA gene nomenclature, assigning names prior to publication of novel miRNA sequences. miRBase Sequences is the primary online repository for miRNA sequence data and annotation. miRBase Targets is a comprehensive new database of predicted miRNA target genes. miRBase is available at http://microrna.sanger.ac.uk/.

Animals↗

Sensitive and specific detection of microRNAs by northern blot analysis using LNA-modified oligonucleotide probes.

We describe here a new method for highly efficient detection of microRNAs by northern blot analysis using LNA (locked nucleic acid)-modified oligonucleotides. In order to exploit the improved hybridization properties of LNA with their target RNA molecules, we designed several LNA-modified oligonucleotide probes for detection of different microRNAs in animals and plants. By modifying DNA oligonucleotides with LNAs using a design, in which every third nucleotide position was substituted by LNA, we could use the probes in northern blot analysis employing standard end-labelling techniques and hybridization conditions. The sensitivity in detecting mature microRNAs by northern blots was increased by at least 10-fold compared to DNA probes, while simultaneously being highly specific, as demonstrated by the use of different single and double mismatched LNA probes. Besides being highly efficient as northern probes, the same LNA-modified oligonucleotide probes would also be useful for miRNA in situ hybridization and miRNA expression profiling by LNA oligonucleotide microarrays.

Animals↗