Research progress on correlation between microRNA and retinal development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, stable RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression in plants and animals by base pairing to partially complementary sequences on target mRNAs to inhibit protein synthesis.More than 200 miRNAs are reportedly expressed in the retina, and miRNA gene regulation has been shown to affect retinal development and is related to the development of both neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium, their gene-regulating function is also closely tied with the differentiation and the survival of both photoreceptor and retinal ganglion cells.Furthermore, miRNA gene regulation is also associated with retinal regeneration after injury.MiRNA controls the development of retina mainly by direct regulating the expression of some related target gene or by adjusting the components of certain signaling pathways.During the development of retina, the normal function of miRNA ensures the correct structure formation of retina, which also provides a substance basis for its normal physiological function.Herein we reviewed the recent research progress of the relavence between functional roles of retinal miRNAs and the retinal development of vertebrate.