The role of MicroRNAs in COPD muscle dysfunction and mass loss: implications on the clinic

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common preventable and treatable disease and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In COPD, comorbidities, acute exacerbations, and systemic manifestations negatively influence disease severity, prognosis, and progression regardless of the respiratory condition.

Areas covered: Several factors and biological mechanisms are involved in the pathophysiology of COPD muscle dysfunction. The non-coding microRNAs were shown to be differentially expressed in the respiratory and limb muscles of patients with COPD. Moreover, a differential expression profile of muscle-specific microRNAs has also been demonstrated in the lower limb muscles of COPD patients with and without muscle mass loss and weakness. All these features are reviewed herein. The most relevant articles on the topic in question were selected from PubMed to write this review.

Expert commentary: MicroRNAs are excellent targets for the design of specific therapeutic interventions in patients with muscle weakness. Selective enhancers of microRNAs that promote myogenesis (proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells) should be designed to alleviate the negative impact of skeletal muscle dysfunction and mass loss in COPD regardless of the degree of the airway obstruction.

KEYWORDS:

• COPD
• skeletal muscle dysfunction and mass loss
• microRNAs
• respiratory muscles
• lower limb muscles
• differential microRNA profiles

Declaration of interest

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

CIBERES, FIS 11/02029 (FEDER), FIS 14/00713 (FEDER), SAF-2011-26908, SAF-2014-54371-R, SEPAR 2010, SEPAR 2014, FUCAP 2009, FUCAP 2011, FUCAP 2012, and FUCAP 2016 (Spain) have contributed to support part of the research described in this review. Dr. Esther Barreiro was a recipient of the ERS COPD Research Award 2008.