《生命科学》 2013, 25(11): 1115-1120
摘 要：摘 要：MicroRNA (miRNA) 是一类长为20~24 nt 的非编码单链小分子RNA，主要存在于真核生物中，具有组织特异性、无开放阅读框等特点，在转录或翻译水平调控基因表达，参与细胞增殖、分化、凋亡，并与炎症、肿瘤等疾病发生、发展密切相关。环境毒理学研究表明，当生物暴露于环境化学物质时，会引起相关miRNA 表达发生变化，进而导致其靶基因表达发生改变。因此，有必要明确环境化学物质、miRNA和相关靶基因三者间的作用关系。在环境毒理学研究和环境监测中，miRNA 可作为识别环境中化学物质基因毒性和致癌性的生物标记物，并可用于预测环境化学物质对生物体的毒性。
Abstract: Abstract: MiRNAs， a class of small (20-24 nt) non-coding RNAs， exist widely in eukaryotes， which are tissue specific without open reading frame (ORF). MiRNAs can regulate gene expression at the transcriptional or translational level， involving in cell growth， differentiation and apoptosis， and closely relating to the development of inflammation and cancer. Environmental toxicological studies showed that expression of miRNAs would change when exposed to environmental chemicals， and thus resulting in expression change of their target genes. Therefore， it is necessary to elucidate the relationship among environmental chemicals， miRNAs and their target genes. For environmental toxicological studies and environmental monitoring， miRNAs are the potential biomarkers for identifying the genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of environmental chemicals， and also can be used to predict their toxicity of chemicals.
