MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, mature, noncoding RNA that lead to posttranscriptional gene silencing to regulate gene expression. miRNAs are instrumental in biological processes such as cell development, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, and cell apoptosis. The miRNA-mediated gene silencing is an important part of the regulation of gene expression in many kinds of diseases. miR-155, one of the best-characterized miRNAs, has been found to be closely related to physiological and pathological processes. What is more, miR-155 can be used as a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. We analyze the articles about miR-155 for nearly five years, review the advanced study on the function of miR-155 in different inflammatory cells like T cells, B cells, DCs, and macrophages, and then summarize the biological functions of miR-155 in different inflammatory cells. The widespread involvement of miR-155 in human diseases has led to a novel therapeutic approach between Chinese and Western medicine.

Plant-derived miRNAs exist in mammals in a cross-kingdom manner and many studies have focused on their role in regulating and treating diseases. Mountain-cultivated ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey.) is a valuable Chinese medicine with anti-cancer activity. However, the miRNAs with anti-cancer activity are less studied. In this study, 12 mountain-cultivated ginseng samples were collected from Liaoning Province, China, at 4, 15, 18, and 20 growth years, three biological replicates of each growth year were performed. Small RNA libraries were constructed and sequenced on the BGISEQ-500 platform. By sequencing analysis, 299 miRNAs were identified, including 48 known miRNAs and 251 potential novel miRNAs. A total of 4633 potential human genes were predicted as putative targets of miRNAs by using RNA hybrid, Miranda, and Target Scan software. Then 75 miRNAs were screened to target 277 cancer genes. Interestingly, pgi-miR6135a targeted SOS1 to inhibit cancer occurrence, and its expression level increased with the growth years. It is suggested that the expression of miRNA may affect the anti-cancer activity of mountain-cultivated ginseng in different growth years. However, the human targets of mountain-cultivated ginseng miRNAs need to be confirmed through further experimental validation. This study predicted the miRNA of mountain-cultivated ginseng with anti-cancer activity and provided insights for researches investigating the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine from the perspective of cross-kingdom regulation of plant-derived miRNAs.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide with complex pathogenesis and no approved specific therapy. Siraitia grosvenorii is a widely used medicinal and edible herb, yet its efficacy and underlying mechanisms against MAFLD remain poorly defined. This study explored the protective effects and potential mechanisms of aqueous extract of Siraitia grosvenorii (AESG) on MAFLD. Based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-linear trap quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS) analysis, 38 components in AESG were tentatively assigned, with tetracyclic triterpene saponins being the most abundant. In high-fat diet (HFD)-induced MAFLD mice, AESG significantly attenuated body weight gain, reduced plasma total cholesterol (T-CHO) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, and dramatically decreased hepatic triglyceride (TG) accumulation from 0.0141 mmol/g in the model group to 0.0063 mmol/g in the low-dose AESG group, corresponding to a reduction of 55.00%. AESG also alleviated plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, and improved hepatocyte steatosis. Furthermore, AESG restored HFD-induced gut dysbiosis by enriching beneficial bacteria including Akkermansia and suppressing harmful bacteria such as Ruminococcus. In free fatty acids (FFA) stimulated HepG2 cells, AESG suppressed de novo lipogenesis via downregulating Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN), Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC) and Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein 1c (SREBP1c), and enhanced antioxidant capacity via activating the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2)/Heme Oxygenase 1 (HO-1)/Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) pathway, thereby attenuating lipid accumulation and oxidative stress. In conclusion, AESG ameliorates MAFLD by inhibiting lipogenesis, improving oxidative stress, and regulating gut microbiota. These findings support Siraitia grosvenorii as a promising natural dietary intervention for MAFLD prevention and adjuvant therapy.