MicroRNA and retinoic acid

Background and objective: Retinoic acid is a metabolite of vitamin A that is necessary to maintain health in human and most of the other vertebrates. MicroRNAs (miR or miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA particles that diminish mRNA translation of various genes and so can regulate critical cell processes including cell death, proliferation, development, etc. The aim of this review is to study interrelations between retinoic acid with miRNAs. Methods: We reviewed and summarized all published articles in PubMed, Europe PMC, and Embase databases with any relationship between retinoic acid and miRNAs from Jun 2003 to Dec 2018 that includes 126 articles. Results: Results showed direct and indirect relationships between retinoic acid and miRNAs in various levels including effects of retinoic acid on expression of various miRNAs and miRNA-biogenesis enzymes, and effect of miRNAs on metabolism of retinoic acid. Discution and conclusion: This review indicates that retinoic acid has inter-correlations with various miRNA members and their metabolism in health and disease may require implications of the other.