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REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Pharmacology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1545575
Endogenous Micropeptides as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic drugs
Provisionally accepted- 1 Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- 2 First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
- 3 Zhongshan College, Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
- 4 Affiliated Central Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
Micropeptides, these small proteins derived from non-coding RNA, typically consist of no more than 100 amino acids in length. Despite the challenges in analysis and identification, their various critical functions within organisms cannot be overlooked. They play a significant role in maintaining energy metabolism balance, regulating the immune system, and influencing the development of tumors, which also gives them a decisive impact on the occurrence and development of various diseases. This review aims to outline the role and potential value of micropeptides, introducing their tissue classification and distribution, biological functions, and mechanisms, with a focus on their potential as diagnostic markers and therapeutic drugs.
Keywords: Micropeptides, diagnostic biomarkers, drugs, Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), peptide
Received: 15 Dec 2024; Accepted: 26 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 ZHONG, Li, Zhang, Zhao and Yao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Jingyuan Zhao, Affiliated Central Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, Liaoning Province, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.