Target potential of miRNAs in ulcerative colitis: what do we know?

Introduction: The global rise in ulcerative colitis (UC) incidence highlights the urgent need for enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Recent advances in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic loci associated with UC, providing insights into the disease's molecular mechanisms, including immune modulation, mucosal defense, and epithelial barrier function. Despite these findings, many GWAS signals are located in non-coding regions and are linked to low risk, suggesting that protein-coding genes alone do not fully explain UC's pathophysiology. Emerging research emphasizes the potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) as biomarkers and therapeutic targets due to their crucial role in UC. This review explores the current understanding of miRNAs in UC, including their mechanisms of action and their potential as both biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The present review provides the latest update on their potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

Areas covered: This review synthesizes an extensive literature search on miRNAs in UC, focusing on their roles in the mucosal barrier, innate and adaptive immunity, and their potential applications as biomarkers and therapeutic modalities.

Expert opinion: While miRNAs present promising opportunities as biomarkers and novel therapeutic agents in UC, challenges in validation, specificity, delivery, and clinical application need to be addressed through rigorous, large-scale studies.