Roles of small RNAs in the immune defense mechanisms of crustaceans

Yaodong He; Chenyu Ju; Xiaobo Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.molimm.2015.07.008

Roles of small RNAs in the immune defense mechanisms of crustaceans

Mol Immunol. 2015 Dec;68(2 Pt B):399-403. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2015.07.008. Epub 2015 Jul 22.

Authors

Yaodong He¹, Chenyu Ju², Xiaobo Zhang³

Affiliations

¹ Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China.
² Collaborative Innovation Center of Deep-sea Biology and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China.
³ Collaborative Innovation Center of Deep-sea Biology and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zxb0812@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 26210184
DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2015.07.008

Abstract

Small RNAs, 21-24 nucleotides in length, are non-coding RNAs found in most multicellular organisms, as well as in some viruses. There are three main types of small RNAs including microRNA (miRNA), small-interfering RNA (siRNA), and piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA). Small RNAs play key roles in the genetic regulation of eukaryotes; at least 50% of all eukaryote genes are the targets of small RNAs. In recent years, studies have shown that some unique small RNAs are involved in the immune response of crustaceans, leading to lower or higher immune responses to infections and diseases. SiRNAs could be used as therapy for virus infection. In this review, we provide an overview of the diverse roles of small RNAs in the immune defense mechanisms of crustaceans.

Keywords: Innate immunity; miRNA; siRNA.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Crustacea / genetics
Crustacea / immunology*
Crustacea / microbiology
Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
Gene Expression Regulation / immunology*
MicroRNAs / genetics
MicroRNAs / immunology*
RNA Interference / immunology*
RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
RNA, Small Interfering / immunology*

Substances

MicroRNAs
RNA, Small Interfering