Micromanaging inflammation and tissue repair (212.4)

Inflammation is a protective response of the body to infection or injury. Given that miRNAs are fundamental to the post‐transcriptional control of gene expression, it is not surprising that role of specific miRNAs in the immune and inflammatory response has been discovered. The best characterized miRNA for inflammation are miR‐146, miR‐21 and miR‐155, all of these have been shown to be strongly induced in multiple cell types by proinflammatory stimuli following tissue injury. At an injury‐site, efficient clearance of apoptotic cells by wound macrophages or efferocytosis is a pre‐requisite for the timely resolution of inflammation. Emerging evidence indicates that miR‐21 may regulate the inflammatory response. The significance and mechanisms of miR‐21 in the regulation of efferocytosis mediated suppression of innate immune response, a key process implicated in resolving inflammation following injury will be elucidated. Wound healing research in the author's laboratory is funded by NIDDK R01 DK076566 to SR.