MiRNA-Mediated Macrophage Polarization and its Potential Role in the Regulation of Inflammatory Response

Monocytes and macrophages are important components of the immune system, specialized in either removing pathogens as part of innate immunity or contributing to adaptive immunity through antigen presentation. Essential to such functions is classical activation (M1) and alternative activation (M2) of macrophages. M1 polarization of macrophages is characterized by production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, antimicrobial and tumoricidal activity, whereas M2 polarization of macrophages is linked to immunosuppression, tumorigenesis, wound repair, and elimination of parasites. MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs with the ability to regulate gene expression and network of cellular processes. A number of studies have…