MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of 22 — 28 nueleotides noneoding RNAs, which participate in negative regulation of gene expression at the post-transeriptional level by targeting specific cleavage of mRNA or by repressing specific protein synthesis. MicroRNA plays an important role in embryonic development, such as cellular proliferation, morphogenesis, differentiation and apoptosis. The significant expressions of miRNAs in the abnormal development of fetus suggest that miRNA may participate in incidence and pathophysiological course of disease. Now the prenatal diseases can be predicted by detecting the level of miRNA in maternal peripheral blood. The intervention of abnormal level of miRNA has been successfully done in animal experiment as well. It is believed that miRNA will play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of fetal diseases in the future.%微小RNA (microRNA,miRNA)是一类长度为22～28个核苷酸的非编码小分子RNA,它们通过与靶mRNA结合,导致靶mRNA降解或翻译抑制,从而在转录后水平调控蛋白表达.miRNA对胚胎细胞增殖、形态发生、分化和凋亡有重要的调节作用,参与胎儿疾病的发生和病理生理过程,在发育异常的胎儿中已发现各种miRNA表达异常.目前可通过检测妊娠母亲外周血miRNA水平来预测胎儿疾病,并在动物实验中成功干预miRNA异常,相信未来miRNA在胎儿疾病的诊断及治疗上将起更重要的作用.
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