朊病毒病是一类具有传染性、不可逆且致命的神经退行性疾病，其致病机制为体内正常编码的细胞型朊蛋白(cellular prion protein，PrP^C)构象发生变化，形成了具有感染性的异常痒病型朊病毒(scrapie prion protein，PrP^Sc)，但具体机制不清楚，目前为止尚无有效治疗方法。微小RNA(microRNA，miRNA)可在转录水平调控细胞蛋白表达，对神经系统发育及功能起重要作用。近年来，对一些特定miRNA在朊病毒病中相应调控机制、自发免疫、炎症信号转导及靶基因预测方面的研究可为治疗朊病毒病提供新的角度。本文就miRNA在朊病毒病发生中的相关研究进展进行综述，并详细探讨其中研究较为深入的miRNA。

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases, are irreversible and fatal neurodegenerative disorders associated with the conformational conversion of cellular prion protein (PrP^C), a normal cellular protein, into scrapie prion protein (PrP^Sc), a structural isoform that is infectious and with no effective treatment yet. MicroRNA can regulate cellular protein expression at transcriptional level and may play an critical role in the development process of central nervous system. Recent studies indicate that some specific microRNAs involved in the regulation of innate immune response and inflammation signaling pathways may also be implicated in prion diseases and provide some new insights into the treatment of prion diseases. This review highlights the progress on microRNAs in the occurrence of prion diseases and discusses the leading microRNAs in detail.