miRNAs-neutrophil axis: novel insights into acute lung injury and chronic inflammatory lung diseases

Acute lung injury (ALI) and chronic inflammatory lung disorders constitute significant clinical burdens with high morbidity and mortality. Neutrophils are commonly found in lung diseases and serve as pivotal effector cells governing pulmonary inflammation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of neutrophil biology and inflammatory responses. This review summarizes current understanding of miRNA-mediated regulation of neutrophil dynamics, including granulopoiesis, recruitment, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, and delineates the contributions of the miRNA-neutrophil axis to the pathogenesis of ALI, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer. This review describes the dual roles of miRNAs, acting either as promoters or suppressors in neutrophil biology and inflammatory lung diseases, and highlights mechanistic insights into miRNA-mediated pathways influencing neutrophil-driven inflammation and tissue injury. Furthermore, we explore the therapy potential of targeting the miRNA-neutrophil axis, evaluating miRNA-based therapeutics as novel strategies to modulate neutrophil-driven pathology in lung diseases. By elucidating the miRNAs-neutrophil axis as an integrative conceptual framework, this review aims to spotlight promising avenues for developing therapies for debilitating acute and chronic respiratory disorders.