MicroRNAs: Biogenesis, Roles for Carcinogenesis and as Potential Biomarkers for Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs of 20-24 nucleotides that play important roles in carcinogenesis. Accordingly, miRNAs control numerous cancer-relevant biological events such as cell proliferation, cell cycle control, metabolism and apoptosis. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge and concepts concerning the biogenesis of miRNAs, miRNA roles in cancer and their potential as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis including the regulation of key cancer-related pathways, such as cell cycle control and miRNA dysregulation. Moreover, microRNA molecules are already receiving the attention of world researchers as therapeutic targets and agents. Therefore, in-depth knowledge of microRNAs has the potential not only to identify their roles in cancer, but also to exploit them as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and identify therapeutic targets for new drug discovery.

Mangiferin regulates proliferation and apoptosis in glioma cells by induction of microRNA-15b and inhibition of MMP-9 expression

“…miRNAs are mainly involved in the regulation of genes related to cell fate, especially in the development-related genes; however, almost no relevant genes that maintain the basic activities of cells have miRNA target sites (20). In the present study, we found that mangiferin specifically increased the expression of miR-15b in the U87 glioma cells.…”

MicroRNA: sex steroids, hormonal carcinogenesis, hormonal sensitivity of tumor tissue

“…Предполагается, что под их контролем находится около 60 % всех протеин-кодирующих генов [12]. Искажение работы системы микроРНК-зависимого посттранскрипционного контроля генов, определя-ющих активность пролиферации и апоптотическую готовность [13], метаболический статус [14], взаимо-действие с межклеточным матриксом и адгезивные характеристики [15], происходит в процессе злокаче-ственной трансформации и усугубляется в ходе про-грессии опухоли.…”

microRNA-29b: an Emerging Player in Human Cancer

“…So far, there are about 1424 miRNAs in human, 720 in mouse, and 408 in rat which were confirmed by miRBase datebase (Kozomara and Griffiths-Jones, 2011). It is known that hundreds of miRNAs participate in various biological phenomena, such as cell proliferation, development, differentiation and metabolism (Kavitha et al, 2014). As a special one among them, the miR-29b has unexceptionally become a hot topic.…”