Micro RNAs (
miRNAs) are a type of
non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and typically interact with specific target mRNAs through complementary base pairing, affecting their translation and/or stability.
MiRNAs regulate nearly all cellular functions, including the cell fate of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). It is now accepted that various pathologies arise at the stem level, and, in this scenario, the role played by
miRNAs in the fate of MSCs becomes of primary concern. Here we have considered the existing literature in the field of
miRNAs, MSCs and
skin diseases, classified as inflammatory (such as
psoriasis and
atopic dermatitis-AD) and neoplastic (
melanoma and non-
melanoma-
skin-cancer including squamous cell and
basal cell carcinoma) diseases. In this scoping review article, the evidence recovered indicates that this topic has attracted attention, but it is still a matter of opinion. A protocol for this review was registered in PROSPERO with the registration number "CRD42023420245". According to the different skin disorders and to the specific cellular mechanisms considered (cancer stem cells, extracellular vesicles,
inflammation),
miRNAs may play a pro- or anti-inflammatory, as well as a
tumor suppressive, or supporting, role, indicating a complex regulation of their function. It is evident that the mode of action of
miRNAs is more than a switch on-off, and all the observed effects of their dysregulated expression must be checked in a detailed analysis of the targeted
proteins. The involvement of
miRNAs has been studied mainly for
squamous cell carcinoma and
melanoma, and much less in
psoriasis and AD; different mechanisms have been considered, such as
miRNAs included in extracellular vesicles derived both from MSCs or
tumor cells,
miRNAs involved in cancer stem cells formation, up to
miRNAs as candidates to be new therapeutic tools.