Functional relevance of miRNA* sequences in human disease

MicroRNA (miRNA) processing in the cytoplasm produces a miRNA duplex containing the forward, miRNA strand and the reverse, miRNA* strand, which was thought to be degraded. However, recent evidence is challenging this dogma that miRNA* is simply a non-functional byproduct of miRNA biogenesis. We present a comprehensive review of evidence that miRNA* plays a significant role in cellular function and assembled a table outlining all of the publications before September 2011 that have reported on miRNA* activity in human disease. Furthermore, we will present unexpected diagnostic and therapeutic implications due to the active miRNA* status.