Role of microRNAs in translation regulation and cancer.
Role of microRNAs in translation regulation and cancer.
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microRNA 在翻译调控和癌症中的作用。
DOI：
10.4331/wjbc.v8.i1.45
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发表时间：
2017-02-26
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Biffo S
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Oliveto S;Mancino M;Manfrini N;Biffo S
microRNA（miRNAs）广泛表达并调节大多数生物学功能。它们通过调节转录和翻译程序发挥作用，因此它们协调生理和病理过程，如发育、细胞分化、增殖、凋亡和肿瘤生长。miRNA在RNA沉默中作为小的指导分子，通过在mRNA和蛋白质水平上负调节几种基因的表达，通过降解它们的mRNA靶标和/或通过沉默翻译来起作用。该领域的最新进展之一是对它们在肿瘤发生中的作用的理解。miRNA基因的数量正在增加，并且miRNA水平的改变涉及几种肿瘤的起始、进展和转移形成。一些肿瘤类型显示出独特的miRNA特征，将其与正常组织和其他癌症类型区分开来。遗传和生物化学证据支持miRNA在肿瘤发展中的重要作用。虽然癌细胞中miRNAs的异常表达是一个被广泛接受的现象，但这种失调的原因仍然未知。在这里，我们讨论了miRNAs的生物起源，重点是它们调节蛋白质合成的机制。此外，我们还讨论了它们在癌症中的作用，突出了它们成为治疗靶点的潜力。
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pervasively expressed and regulate most biological functions. They function by modulating transcriptional and translational programs and therefore they orchestrate both physiological and pathological processes, such as development, cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and tumor growth. miRNAs work as small guide molecules in RNA silencing, by negatively regulating the expression of several genes both at mRNA and protein level, by degrading their mRNA target and/or by silencing translation. One of the most recent advances in the field is the comprehension of their role in oncogenesis. The number of miRNA genes is increasing and an alteration in the level of miRNAs is involved in the initiation, progression and metastases formation of several tumors. Some tumor types show a distinct miRNA signature that distinguishes them from normal tissues and from other cancer types. Genetic and biochemical evidence supports the essential role of miRNAs in tumor development. Although the abnormal expression of miRNAs in cancer cells is a widely accepted phenomenon, the cause of this dysregulation is still unknown. Here, we discuss the biogenesis of miRNAs, focusing on the mechanisms by which they regulate protein synthesis. In addition we debate on their role in cancer, highlighting their potential to become therapeutic targets.