MicroRNAs and Xenobiotic Toxicity: An Overview

[Display omitted] •miRNAs are key regulators of gene expression at both transcription and translation.•The role of miRNAs in xenobiotic toxicity and its potential as biomarkers are being explored.•In spite of numerous studies, the complex mechanism of miRNA biogenesis and its regulation remains unclear. The advent of new technologies has paved the rise of various chemicals that are being employed in industrial as well as consumer products. This leads to the accumulation of these xenobiotic compounds in the environment where they pose a serious threat to both target and non-target species. miRNAs are one of the key epigenetic mechanisms that have been associated with toxicity by modulating the gene expression post-transcriptionally. Here, we provide a comprehensive view on miRNA biogenesis, their mechanism of action and, their possible role in xenobiotic toxicity. Further, we review the recent in vitro and in vivo studies involved in xenobiotic exposure induced miRNA alterations and the mRNA-miRNA interactions. Finally, we address the challenges associated with the miRNAs in toxicological studies.