The Emerging Roles of Autophagy-Related MicroRNAs in Cancer

Abstract

Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process involving the degradation and recycling of damaged biomacromolecules or organelles through lysosomal-dependent pathways and plays a crucial role in maintaining cell homeostasis. Consequently, abnormal autophagy is associated with multiple diseases, such as infectious diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Currently, autophagy is considered to be a dual regulator in cancer, functioning as a suppressor in the early stage while supporting the growth and metastasis of cancer cells in the later stage and may also produce therapeutic resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by silencing targeted mRNA. MiRNAs have great regulatory potential for several fundamental biological processes, including autophagy. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have linked miRNA dysfunction to the growth, metabolism, migration, metastasis, and responses of cancer cells to therapy. Therefore, the study of autophagy-related miRNAs in cancer will provide insights into cancer biology and lead to the development of novel anti-cancer strategies. In the present review, we summarise the current knowledge of miRNA dysregulation during autophagy in cancer, focusing on the relationship between autophagy and miRNAs, and discuss their involvement in cancer biology and cancer treatment.

miR-32-5p Inhibits the Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Thyroid Cancer Cells by Regulating Twist1

“…Abnormal regulation of miRNA plays an important role in tumorigenesis and development [5,6]. During the occurrence and development of different types of human cancers, miRNAs consider an oncogene or tumor suppressor gene in the occurrence and development, respectively [5,6]. The application of miRNAs in the diagnostic classi cation and prognostic evaluation of thyroid cancer has been a research hotpot in recent years.…”

“…Therefore, exploring the potential molecular mechanisms of thyroid cancer is particularly important for treating patients. MicroRNA (miRNA), an additional product produced during gene transcription, not only plays an important role in cell morphology, structure, and functional transformation by participating in epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional regulation, but also plays an important role as an oncogene or tumor suppressor gene in the occurrence and development of malignant tumors, including thyroid cancer [4][5][6]. More and more studies have con rmed that miR-32-5p plays a very important role in the occurrence and development of different malignant tumors in the human body.…”

Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns Modulation by microRNA: Relevance on Immunogenic Cell Death and Cancer Treatment Outcome

“…Given their well-known contributions to cell death control [ 36 ] and autophagy [ 37 ], miRNAs may easily be envisioned to play key roles in the processes regulating ICD.…”

Circular RNAs act as regulators of autophagy in cancer

“…It has been reported that autophagy plays an essential role in the maintenance of cellular RNA homeostasis by degrading several types of RNAs, including miRNAs. 79 , 80 Autophagy could regulate miRNA homeostasis by degradation via the selective autophagy receptor calcium binding and coiled-coil domain 2 (CALCOCO2), targeting the miRNA machinery factors dicer 1, ribonuclease type III (DICER1), and argonaute RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) component 1/argonaute-1 (EIF2C1/AGO1). 81 The inhibition of autophagy can decrease miRNA levels and lead to the depression of miRNA activity, which suggests that autophagy acts as a checkpoint for the maintenance of miRNA abundance and activity.…”