Abstract
The current knowledge about the mechanisms of action of light-based treatments (chiefly photodynamic therapy and phototherapy) in skin diseases leans to the possible involvement of epigenetic and oxidative stress mechanisms. To better understand and exploit, to the fullest, these relatively safe and reproducible treatments, several studies have focused on miRNAs, small non-encoding RNAs (22–24 nucleotides), after light-based treatments. The current narrative review focused on 25 articles. A meta-analysis was not deemed appropriate. The results gather the most recurrent skin-related miRNAs up- or downregulated after light treatment. Five of these, miR-21, -29, -125, -145 and -155, are either the most consistently related to efficacy/resistance to treatment or identified as helpful diagnostic tools. A specific class of miRNAs (angioMIRs) requires further studies. Future treatments and imaging techniques could benefit greatly from the use of antagomirs as a possible co-adjuvant therapy along with light-based treatments.
Highlights
Thanks to the progress of modern research, previously defined medical conditions seem to be more and more well described at a molecular level
The involvement of microRNAs is well established as a mechanism associated with oxidative stress-induced damage, both as a repair mechanism and a proinflammatory one [2], and oxidative stress, in chronic skin diseases treated with light-based therapy, plays
Considering the aim of this review, we divided the results into two sections: one regarding articles related to miRNAs as diagnostic tools, and one for miRNAs that are useful as therapeutic means
Summary
Thanks to the progress of modern research, previously defined medical conditions seem to be more and more well described at a molecular level. One of the latest findings in this regard is the topic of this review, microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-encoding RNAs with a sequence capable of binding to mRNA strings. The first studies regarding miRNAs and human pathology were directed in the oncology field. Other studies extended the field of research regarding the miRNome to other diseases. The skin, one of the main topics of this review, has been thoroughly studied in this sense. The involvement of microRNAs is well established as a mechanism associated with oxidative stress-induced damage, both as a repair mechanism and a proinflammatory one [2], and oxidative stress, in chronic skin diseases treated with light-based therapy, plays
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