基于microRNA的活体显像研究进展

摘要

MicroRNA (miRNA)是一类新型的非编码RNA,可对靶向mRNA的转录后水平进行调控.MiRNA在众多生物过程中发挥重要作用,特别与恶性肿瘤的发生、发展、侵袭和转移密切相关.针对内源性miRNA表达及功能的研究,往往局限于Northern blot或实时定量PCR等体外检查手段.这些检查有创,且针对同一样本不能重复检查.近年来活体显像技术的发展,为miRNA在活体表达水平的无创性监测提供了有效手段.笔者介绍目前miRNA体内示踪的报告基因显像、反义光学显像、纳米荧光显像及多模态显像的最新研究进展.%The microRNA (miRNA) is a novel class of small noncoding RNA that regulate gene expression by targeting mRNA.It has been shown to play important roles in a broad range of biological processes,especially in the occurrence,development,invasion and metastasis of malignant tumors.Conventional detection methods,such as Northern blot and realtime PCR have been used to assess endogenous miRNA expression.However,these techniques are invasive and cannot be used repetitively in living animals.Recent remarkable advances of in vivo imaging techniques have provided the capability of noninvasive imaging of miRNA in vivo.The recent progress about the reporter gene,antisense luminescence,nanoparticle and multimodal imaging for visualizing miRNA expression in vivo was reviewed.