MicroRNAs and polymorphisms influencing MICA immune modulation.
5 affiliations
- 1Medical School, Botucatu Campus, School of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics Laboratory, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil.
- 2General and Applied Biology Graduate Program, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
- 3Pathology Graduate Program, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
- 4Medical School, Botucatu Campus, School of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics Laboratory, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil. [email protected].
- 5Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Experimental Research Unity UNIPEX - Av. Prof. Mário Rubens Guimarães Montenegro, s/n UNESP , Botucatu, SP, 18618687, Brazil. [email protected].
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play a central role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. They act mainly by interacting with sequences located in the 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), thereby influencing mRNA stability and translation. Through these mechanisms, miRNAs contribute to the fine-tuning of multiple biological pathways, including immune activation, inflammatory signaling, and cellular stress responses. Among the genes involved in immune surveillance, the major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A (MICA) has emerged as an important target for post-transcriptional regulation due to its role as a ligand for the activating receptor NKG2D (natural killer cell group 2-D), which is expressed in natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes. MICA is highly polymorphic, and several allelic variants differ in sequence composition, structural organization, and expression patterns, potentially influencing miRNA-mRNA interactions. Growing evidence suggests that miRNA-mediated regulation of MICA contributes to immune modulation in cancer, viral infections, and autoimmune disorders, particularly through mechanisms associated with immune evasion and altered NKG2D signaling. In addition, genetic polymorphisms and structural variations within regulatory regions, especially within the 3'UTR, can alter miRNA binding affinity by creating, disrupting, or modifying target sites. This mini review discusses the current understanding of miRNA-mediated regulation of MICA, emphasizing the impact of allelic diversity and regulatory polymorphisms on post-transcriptional control. Furthermore, it highlights current knowledge gaps and future perspectives regarding allele-specific regulation.
Related
- MICA Allelic Variation Modulates Secretion and Protein Flexibility, Impacting on NKG2D‐Mediated Immune Responses and Antibody Detection
- Selective Immune Modulation in Seminal Plasma During Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Despite Systemic Inflammation
- Modulation of gp130 Cytokine Receptor Family by Herpes Simplex Virus 1 as a Strategy for Immune Evasion?
- Enzymatic attachment of antigens to probe immune modulation by skin commensals
- High-resolution HLA and MICA/MICB typing of the 1000 Genomes panel: a resource for precision medicine
BibTeX
@article{nicoletti2026micrornas,
title = {{MicroRNAs and polymorphisms influencing MICA immune modulation.}},
author = {Maria Beatriz Nicoletti and Ingrid Miranda Ferraz and Amanda Cristina Moço and Erick da Cruz Castelli and Camila Ferreira Bannwart Castro},
journal = {Molecular biology reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s11033-026-12959-5},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42900444},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - MicroRNAs and polymorphisms influencing MICA immune modulation.
AU - Maria Beatriz Nicoletti
AU - Ingrid Miranda Ferraz
AU - Amanda Cristina Moço
AU - Erick da Cruz Castelli
AU - Camila Ferreira Bannwart Castro
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Molecular biology reports
DO - 10.1007/s11033-026-12959-5
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42900444
AB - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play a central role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. They act mainly by interacting with sequences located in the 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), thereby influencing mRNA stability and translation. Through these mechanisms, miRNAs contribute to the fine-tuning of multiple biological pathways, including immune activation, inflammatory signaling, and cellular stress responses. Among the genes involved in immune surveillance, the major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A (MICA) has emerged as an important target for post-transcriptional regulation due to its role as a ligand for the activating receptor NKG2D (natural killer cell group 2-D), which is expressed in natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes. MICA is highly polymorphic, and several allelic variants differ in sequence composition, structural organization, and expression patterns, potentially influencing miRNA-mRNA interactions. Growing evidence suggests that miRNA-mediated regulation of MICA contributes to immune modulation in cancer, viral infections, and autoimmune disorders, particularly through mechanisms associated with immune evasion and altered NKG2D signaling. In addition, genetic polymorphisms and structural variations within regulatory regions, especially within the 3'UTR, can alter miRNA binding affinity by creating, disrupting, or modifying target sites. This mini review discusses the current understanding of miRNA-mediated regulation of MICA, emphasizing the impact of allelic diversity and regulatory polymorphisms on post-transcriptional control. Furthermore, it highlights current knowledge gaps and future perspectives regarding allele-specific regulation.
SN - 0301-4851
SN - 1573-4978
ER -