T lymphocytes are an integral component of adaptive immunity with pleotropic effector functions. Impairment of T cell activity is implicated in various immune pathologies including autoimmune diseases, AIDS, carcinogenesis, and periodontitis. Evidently, T cell differentiation and function are under robust regulation by various endogenous factors that orchestrate underlying molecular pathways. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are a class of noncoding, regulatory RNAs that post-transcriptionally control multiple mRNA targets by sequence-specific interaction. In this article, we will review the recent progress in our understanding of miRNA-gene networks that are uniquely required by specific T cell effector functions and provide miRNA-mediated mechanisms that govern the fate of T cells. A subset of miRNAs may act in a synergistic or antagonistic manner to exert functional suppression of genes and regulate pathways that control T cell activation and differentiation. Significance of T cell-specific miRNAs and their dysregulation in immune-mediated diseases is discussed. Exosome-mediated horizontal transfer of miRNAs from antigen presenting cells (APCs) to T cells and from one T cell to another T cell subset and their impact on recipient cell functions is summarized.

T 淋巴细胞是具有多效效应功能的适应性免疫的组成部分。T 细胞活性的损害与各种免疫病理学有关，包括自身免疫性疾病、艾滋病、致癌和牙周炎。显然，T 细胞的分化和功能受到各种内源性因素的强烈调节，这些内源性因素协调了潜在的分子途径。MicroRNAs (miRNA) 是一类非编码的调节性 RNA，通过序列特异性相互作用在转录后控制多个 mRNA 靶标。在本文中，我们将回顾我们对特定 T 细胞效应功能所特有的 miRNA 基因网络的理解方面的最新进展，并提供 miRNA 介导的控制 T 细胞命运的机制。miRNA 的一个子集可能以协同或拮抗的方式发挥作用，以发挥基因的功能抑制作用并调节控制 T 细胞活化和分化的途径。讨论了 T 细胞特异性 miRNA 及其在免疫介导疾病中的失调的意义。总结了外泌体介导的 miRNA 从抗原呈递细胞 (APC) 到 T 细胞以及从一个 T 细胞到另一个 T 细胞亚群的水平转移，以及它们对受体细胞功能的影响。