[Latest advances of studies on microRNA regulation in dendritic cells].

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded and noncoding RNA molecules of about 22 nucleotides (nt) in length that regulate mRNA by binding to 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR) of target mRNA, inducing digestion, degradation and/or translational repression of the latter. Posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression by miRNA is critical for a wide range of physiologic and pathologic processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, development and oncogenesis. Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen presenting cells that have a pivotal role in controlling immune responses. The latest studies indicated that miRNA are indispensable in regulation of development, differentiation and functions of DC. This review discusses the latest studies of miRNA controlling DC biological properties in order to deep understand the regulatory mechanism of DC, therefore, provide a new thinking for the therapeutic strategies of DC-associated immunological disorders.