microRNAs: novel components in a muscle gene regulatory network.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level via translational inhibition or mRNA degradation. Emerging evidence supports that miRNAs play critical roles in skeletal and cardiac muscle, as both muscle-specific and non-muscle-specific miRNAs are required for the development and differentiation of these tissues. Their interactions with myogenic factors also integrate miRNAs into a complex regulatory network underlying myogenesis. Furthermore, their dysregulation and associated pathologies suggest that miRNA-based therapies may be effective in treating muscle-related disorders.