# Topics and Trends in Most Cited MicroRNA in disease regulation Papers, Class of 2026

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/microrna-in-disease-regulation/2026*

## What topics and trends defined most-cited MicroRNA in disease regulation research in the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 in MicroRNA research is heavily defined by its mechanistic focus on the tumor microenvironment and extracellular vesicles. High-throughput RNA sequencing has surged as the primary profiling tool, while studies increasingly integrate microRNAs with other non-coding RNAs like circular and long non-coding RNAs to decode complex regulatory networks.

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Field | MicroRNA in disease regulation |
| Cohort label | Class of 2026 (2024 publications) |
| Papers analyzed | 11,173 |
| Papers ranked | 20 |
| Top topics in ranked papers | Tumor microenvironment, RNA sequencing, extracellular vesicles, circular RNA |
| Publication window | Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024 |
| Eligibility | Research articles; reviews excluded |
| Citation window | 18 months post-publication |
| 18m citation range | 37–178 |
| Data source | OpenAlex · Retrieved June 2026 |
| License | CC BY 4.0 |

## Rankings

| Rank | Title | Authors | Corresponding authors | Affiliation | Journal | 18m citations | DOI |
| ---: | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---: | --- |
| 1 | miRTarBase 2025: updates to the collection of experimentally validated microRNA–target interactions | Shidong Cui, Sicong Yu, Hsi-Yuan Huang, Yang-Chi-Dung Lin, Yixian Huang, Bojian Zhang, Jihan Xiao, Huali Zuo, Jiayi Wang, Zhuoran Li, Guanghao Li, Jiajun Ma, Baiming Chen, Haoxuan Zhang, Jiehui Fu, Liang Wang, Hsien-Da Huang | Liang Wang | The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China | Nucleic Acids Research | 178 | 10.1093/nar/gkae1072 |
| 2 | Harnessing extracellular vesicle heterogeneity for diagnostic and therapeutic applications | Randy P Carney, Rachel R Mizenko, Batuhan T Bozkurt, Neona Lowe, Tanner Henson, Alessandra Arizzi, Aijun Wang, Cheemeng Tan, Steven C George | Randy P. Carney, Steven C. George | University of California, Davis, United States | Nature Nanotechnology | 154 | 10.1038/s41565-024-01774-3 |
| 3 | The biogenesis and regulation of animal microRNAs | Haedong Kim, Young-Yoon Lee, V Narry Kim | Haedong Kim, Young-Yoon Lee | Institute for Basic Science, South Korea | Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology | 129 | 10.1038/s41580-024-00805-0 |
| 4 | Exosome circATP8A1 induces macrophage M2 polarization by regulating the miR-1-3p/STAT6 axis to promote gastric cancer progression | Cuncan Deng, Mingyu Huo, Hongwu Chu, Xiaomei Zhuang, Guofei Deng, Wenchao Li, Hongfa Wei, Leli Zeng, Yulong He, Huashan Liu, Jia Li, Changhua Zhang, Hengxing Chen | Leli Zeng, Jia Li, Changhua Zhang, Hengxing Chen | Sun Yat-Sen University, China | Molecular Cancer | 83 | 10.1186/s12943-024-01966-4 |
| 5 | Brucea javanica derived exosome-like nanovesicles deliver miRNAs for cancer therapy | Ge Yan, Qiyao Xiao, Jingyu Zhao, Haoran Chen, Yang Xu, Minhong Tan, Lihua Peng | Li‐Hua Peng | Zhejiang University, China | Journal of Controlled Release | 65 | 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.01.060 |
| 6 | miRNATissueAtlas 2025: an update to the uniformly processed and annotated human and mouse non-coding RNA tissue atlas | Shusruto Rishik, Pascal Hirsch, Friederike Grandke, Tobias Fehlmann, Andreas Keller | Shusruto Rishik | Saarland University, Germany | Nucleic Acids Research | 64 | 10.1093/nar/gkae1036 |
| 7 | Integrative analysis of genomic and epigenomic regulation reveals miRNA mediated tumor heterogeneity and immune evasion in lower grade glioma | Zhen Yang, Xiaocen Liu, Hao Xu, Andrew E Teschendorff, Lingjie Xu, Jingyi Li, Minjie Fu, Jun Liu, Hanyu Zhou, Yingying Wang, Licheng Zhang, Yungang He, Kun Lv, Hui Yang | Zhen Yang, Kun Lv, Hui Yang | Fudan University, China | Communications Biology | 56 | 10.1038/s42003-024-06488-9 |
| 8 | Laser-induced graphene (LIG)-based electrochemical microfluidic chip for simultaneous analysis of multiplex microRNAs | Xiaojuan Liu, Yue Wang, Yunhong Du, Jing Zhang, Yuying Wang, Yang Xue, Jiahui Zhao, Lei Ge, Limin Yang, Feng Li | Xiaojuan Liu, Feng Li | Qingdao Agricultural University, China | Chemical Engineering Journal | 51 | 10.1016/j.cej.2024.150233 |
| 9 | Development of an Inhalable DNA Tetrahedron MicroRNA Sponge | Lan Yao, Geru Zhang, Yun Wang, Zhiqiang Liu, Jiale Liang, Jiafei Sun, Songhang Li, Taoran Tian, Yunfeng Lin | Taoran Tian, Yunfeng Lin | Sichuan University, China | Advanced Materials | 50 | 10.1002/adma.202414336 |
| 10 | Exosomal miR-106a-5p from highly metastatic colorectal cancer cells drives liver metastasis by inducing macrophage M2 polarization in the tumor microenvironment | Yahang Liang, Junyu Li, Yuli Yuan, Houqiong Ju, Hualin Liao, Mingming Li, Yang Liu, Yao Yao, Lingling Yang, Taiyuan Li, Xiong Lei | Taiyuan Li, Xiong Lei | Nanchang University, China | Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research | 46 | 10.1186/s13046-024-03204-7 |
| 11 | A heterogeneous information network learning model with neighborhood-level structural representation for predicting lncRNA-miRNA interactions | Bo-Wei Zhao, Xiao-Rui Su, Yue Yang, Dong-Xu Li, Guo-Dong Li, Peng-Wei Hu, Xin Luo, Lun Hu | Bo-Wei Zhao, Xiaorui Su, Yue Yang, Dongxu Li, Guodong Li, Pengwei Hu, Xin Luo, Lun Hu | Southwest University, China | Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal | 45 | 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.06.032 |
| 12 | Construction of circRNA–miRNA–mRNA ceRNA regulatory network and screening of diagnostic targets for tuberculosis | Xinyi Pu, Siyu Sheng, Yujuan Fu, Yue Yang, Guangyu Xu | Guangyu Xu | Beihua University, China | Annals of Medicine | 43 | 10.1080/07853890.2024.2416604 |
| 13 | Engineered extracellular vesicles for targeted reprogramming of cancer-associated fibroblasts to potentiate therapy of pancreatic cancer | Pengcheng Zhou, Xuanlong Du, Weilu Jia, Kun Feng, Yewei Zhang | Yewei Zhang | Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, China | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy | 42 | 10.1038/s41392-024-01872-7 |
| 14 | Targeting delivery of miR-146a via IMTP modified milk exosomes exerted cardioprotective effects by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury | Wan-Ting Meng, Jing Zhu, Ya-Chao Wang, Chang-le Shao, Xiu-Ya Li, Ping-Ping Lu, Meng-Ying Huang, Fang-Fang Mou, Hai-Dong Guo, Guang Ji | Guang Ji | Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China | Journal of Nanobiotechnology | 41 | 10.1186/s12951-024-02631-0 |
| 15 | RETRACTED: Exploring the molecular mechanisms of MSC-derived exosomes in Alzheimer's disease: Autophagy, insulin and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway | Nesrine Ebrahim, Hajer A Al Saihati, Zahraa Alali, Faris Q Aleniz, Sabry Younis Mohamed Mahmoud, Omnia A Badr, Arigue A Dessouky, Ola Mostafa, Noha I Hussien, Ayman Samir Farid, Mohamed El-Sherbiny, Rabab F Salim, Nicholas Robert Forsyth, Fares E M Ali, Nimer F Alsabeelah | Nesrine Ebrahim, Hajer A. Al Saihati | Benha University, Egypt | Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy | 41 | 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116836 |
| 16 | Ginger exosome-like nanoparticle-derived miRNA therapeutics: A strategic inhibitor of intestinal inflammation | Ling Yan, Yaqi Cao, Linhai Hou, Tianyu Luo, Meiqi Li, Shengjie Gao, Lei Wang, Kangliang Sheng, Lei Zheng | Kangliang Sheng, Lei Zheng | Hefei University of Technology, China | Journal of Advanced Research | 40 | 10.1016/j.jare.2024.04.001 |
| 17 | M2 Tumor‐Associated Macrophages‐Derived Exosomal <i>MALAT1</i> Promotes Glycolysis and Gastric Cancer Progression | Yanzheng Wang, Jiahui Zhang, Hui Shi, Maoye Wang, Dan Yu, Min Fu, Yu Qian, Xiaoxin Zhang, Runbi Ji, Shouyu Wang, Jianmei Gu, Xu Zhang | Xiao-Xin Zhang, Jianmei Gu, Xu Zhang | Jiangsu University, China | Advanced Science | 39 | 10.1002/advs.202309298 |
| 18 | Circulating miRNA panels as a novel non-invasive diagnostic, prognostic, and potential predictive biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) | Maryam Abdipourbozorgbaghi, Adrienne Vancura, Ramin Radpour, Simon Haefliger | Ramin Radpour, Simon Haefliger | University of Bern, Switzerland | British Journal of Cancer | 39 | 10.1038/s41416-024-02831-3 |
| 19 | Exploring ncRNA-mediated regulation of EGFR signalling in glioblastoma: From mechanisms to therapeutics | Riya Thapa, Muhammad Afzal, Ahsas Goyal, Gaurav Gupta, Asif Ahmad Bhat, Waleed Hassan Almalki, Imran Kazmi, Sami I Alzarea, Moyad Shahwan, Neelima Kukreti, Haider Ali, Harish Dureja, Puneet Kumar, Thakur Gurjeet Singh, Gowthamarajan Kuppusamy, Sachin Kumar Singh, Kamal Dua | Gaurav Gupta | Suresh Gyan Vihar University, India | Life Sciences | 38 | 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122613 |
| 20 | CircPPAP2B controls metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma via HNRNPC-dependent alternative splicing and targeting the miR-182-5p/CYP1B1 axis | Zaosong Zheng, Xiangbo Zeng, Yuanchao Zhu, Mengxin Leng, Zhiyong Zhang, Qiong Wang, Xiaocen Liu, Siying Zeng, Yongyuan Xiao, Chenxi Hu, Shiyu Pang, Tong Wang, Bihong Xu, Peidan Peng, Fei Li, Wanlong Tan | Fei Li, Wanlong Tan | Southern Medical University, China | Molecular Cancer | 37 | 10.1186/s12943-023-01912-w |

## Topic trends

### What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

In the Class of 2026 for MicroRNA in disease regulation, the tumor microenvironment emerges as a dominant focal point, appearing in roughly 16.6% of ranked papers. This highlights a strong emphasis on how microRNAs modulate cellular interactions within cancerous tissues. Methodologically, RNA sequencing and extracellular vesicles also take center stage, underscoring the field's shift towards high-throughput transcriptomics and intercellular communication via exosomes. Additionally, there is a prominent focus on related non-coding RNAs such as circular RNAs and long non-coding RNAs, which are frequently studied alongside microRNAs to map complex regulatory networks. Diagnostic applications remain robust, evidenced by the prevalence of liquid biopsy studies. Together, these themes reflect a comprehensive approach, linking microRNA molecular mechanisms with clinical diagnostics and tumor biology.

*Leading research themes*

### How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

The transition from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026 reveals significant momentum in advanced molecular techniques and specific disease contexts. RNA sequencing experienced a dramatic rise, reflecting its becoming a standard tool for comprehensive microRNA profiling. The tumor microenvironment also saw substantial growth, increasing by over a log2 fold change of nearly 3, emphasizing a deeper investigation into how microRNAs shape immune evasion and tumor progression. Extracellular vesicles surged notably, pointing to an intensifying interest in how microRNAs are packaged and transported between cells. Conversely, broader topics like MiRNA-disease association plateaued or saw relative declines in prominence. This pattern suggests a maturation of the field: rather than merely establishing associations, current research increasingly prioritizes mechanistic dissection within the tumor microenvironment and extracellular delivery systems.

*How topics shifted year over year*

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited MicroRNA in disease regulation Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/microrna-in-disease-regulation/2026. Accessed 2026-07-21.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
```