Big roles of microRNAs in tumorigenesis and tumor development

• Autores: Jun Tie, Daiming Fan
• Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 26, Nº. 10, 2011, págs. 1353-1361
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous non-protein-coding small RNAs that are evolutionarily conserved and widely distributed among species. Their major function is to negatively regulate target gene expression. A single miRNA can regulate multiple target genes, indicating that miRNAs may regulate multiple signaling pathways and participate in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Currently, approximately 50% of identified human miRNA-coding genes are located at tumor-related fragile chromosome regions. Abnormal miRNA expression and/or mutations have been found in almost all types of malignancies. These abnormally expressed miRNAs play roles similar to tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes by regulating the expression and/or function of tumor-related genes. Therefore, miRNAs, miRNA target genes, and the genes regulating miRNAs form a regulatory network with miRNAs in the hub. This network plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis and tumor development.