MicroRNAs – Small and Powerful Master Regulators of Gene Expression

MicroRNAs are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules containing 21 to 23 nucleotides that control gene expression mainly by binding with messenger RNA (mRNA) in the cell cytoplasm and inhibiting gene function. In general, microRNA inhibit the function of several related genes. As a result, targeting microRNAs either by inhibition or overexpression will target the function of gene families or clusters in a fairly physiological fashion. Due to their function, microRNA delivery has become increasingly popular for gene therapy and tissue engineering. Our microRNA work is currently R01 funded and has been presented at numerous national and international meetings.

Peer-reviewed Publications

Ding, Y., Luan, J., Malmstrom, H.S., Luan, X., and Diekwisch, T.G.H. (2026). Mir-27 promotes periodontal regeneration via osteogenesis/angiogenesis. J Dental Res. 105(4): 495–504.

Luan, X.,  Zhou, X., Fallah, P., Pandya, M., Lyu, H., Foyle, D., Burch, D., Diekwisch, T.G.H. (2021). MicroRNAs: Harbingers and shapers of periodontal inflammation. Semin. Cell. Dev. Biol. 124: 85-98.

Luan, X., Zhou, X., Francis, M., Nares, S., and Diekwisch, T.G.H. (2018). MicroRNAs and immunity in periodontal health and disease. Int. J. Oral Sci. 10(3): 24.

Luan, X., Zhou, X., Trombetta-eSilva, J., Francis, M. , Gaharwar, A.K., Atsawasuwan, P., Diekwisch, T.G.H.  (2017). MicroRNAs and periodontal homeostasis. J. Dent. Res. 96(5): 491-500.

Chen, Z., Yu, T., Cabay, R.J., Jin, Y., Mahjabeen, I., Luan, X., Huang, L., Dai, Y., Zhou, X. (2017). miR-486-3p, miR-139-5p, and miR-21 as Biomarkers for the Detection of Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Biomark Cancer. 9: 1-8. 

He, Q., Chen, Z., Cabay, R.J., Zhang, L., Luan, X., Chen, D., Yu, T., Wang, A., Zhou, X. (2016). microRNA-21 and microRNA-375 from oral cytology as biomarkers for oral tongue cancer detection. Oral Oncol. 57: 15-20.  

He, Q., Chen, Z., Dong, Q., Zhang, L., Chen, D., Patel, A., Koya, A., Luan, X., Cabay, R.J., Dai, Y., Wang, A., Zhou, X. (2016). MicroRNA-21 regulates prostaglandin E2 signaling pathway by targeting 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. BMC Cancer. 16(1): 685.

Zhou, X., Luan, X., Chen, Z., Francis, M., Gopinathan, G., Li, W., Lu, X., Li, S., Wu, C., Diekwisch, T.G. (2015). MicroRNA-138 inhibits periodontal progenitor differentiation under inflammatory conditions. J. Dent. Res. 95(2): 230-237.

Chen, Y., Mohammed, A., Oubaidin, M., Evans, C.A., Zhou, X., Luan, X., Diekwisch, T.G., Atsawasuwan, P. (2015). Cyclic stretch and compression forces alter microRNA-29 expression of human periodontal ligament cells. Gene. 566(1): 13-17.