MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs stretching over 18–22 nucleotides and considered to be modifiers of many respiratory diseases. They are highly evolutionary conserved and have been implicated in several biological processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, among others. Acute lung injury (ALI) is a fatal disease commonly caused by direct or indirect injury factors and has a high mortality rate in intensive care unit. Changes in expression of several types of miRNAs have been reported in patients with ALI. Some miRNAs suppress cellular injury and accelerate the recovery of ALI by targeting specific molecules and decreasing excessive immune response. For this reason, miRNAs are proposed as potential biomarkers for ALI and as therapeutic targets for this disease. This review summarizes current evidence supporting the role of miRNAs in ALI.

MicroRNA（miRNA）是小的非编码RNA，延伸超过18-22个核苷酸，被认为是许多呼吸系统疾病的调节剂。它们是高度进化保守的，并且已经牵涉到多个生物学过程，包括细胞增殖，凋亡，分化等。急性肺损伤（ALI）是一种致命疾病，通常由直接或间接损伤因素引起，在重症监护病房中具有很高的死亡率。据报道，ALI患者中几种类型的miRNA的表达发生了变化。一些miRNA通过靶向特定分子并减少过度的免疫反应来抑制细胞损伤并加速ALI的恢复。因此，有人提出将miRNAs作为ALI的潜在生物标志物和该疾病的治疗靶标。