Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Thyroid eye disease (TED), also known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) or thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), is an autoimmune orbital disease. The core pathogenic mechanism is immune dysregulation triggered by self-antigens, which activates orbital fibroblasts and leads to pathological changes such as tissue hyperplasia and fibrosis. The clinical manifestations include proptosis and eyelid retraction. MicroRNA (miRNA), as a key factor in post-transcriptional regulation, is widely involved in the occurrence and development of TED. Altered expression profiles of specific miRNAs, such as miR-21, miR-146a, and miR-144-3p, have been observed in clinical samples and in vitro fibroblast models, where they are associated with processes including fibroblast activation, fibrosis, adipogenesis, and inflammation. These findings highlight miRNAs as potential mechanistic targets for further investigation. This review summarizes the pathogenesis of TED and discusses the emerging role of miRNAs based on current clinical and experimental evidence, aiming to provide insights for future research and therapeutic development.
Source: Frontiers in Immunology
Authors: Xinyu Wang, Hongyue Chen, Songwei Li
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7140114569