Department of Hematology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Cancer. 2012 Feb 15;118(4):878-87. doi: 10.1002/cncr.26297. Epub 2011 Aug 11.
MicroRNAs are short noncoding RNAS involved in gene expression regulation under physiological and pathological situations. They bind to mRNA of target genes and are potential regulators of gene expression at a post-transcription level through the RNA interference pathway. They are estimated to represent 1% to 2% of the known eukaryotic genome, and it has been demonstrated that they are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, metabolism disorders, and heart disease. MicroRNAs are known to act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in cancer biology. The authors describe the current knowledge on microRNA involvement in regulatory pathways that characterize multiple myeloma pathogenesis gained from in vitro and in vivo studies. These small molecules interact with important factors such as p53, SOCS1, IGF-1, IGF-1R, vascular endothelial growth factor, NF-κB, and others. As such, microRNAs represent an attractive therapeutic target in the context of multiple myeloma interfering with the myeloma regulatory networks. Further studies are needed to better understand their role in myelomagenesis and their therapeutic potential.
MicroRNAs 是参与生理和病理情况下基因表达调控的短非编码 RNA。它们通过 RNA 干扰途径与靶基因的 mRNA 结合，并作为转录后水平基因表达的潜在调节剂。据估计，它们代表了已知真核基因组的 1%到 2%，并且已经证明它们参与了神经退行性疾病、癌症、代谢紊乱和心脏病的发病机制。MicroRNAs 在癌症生物学中被认为是肿瘤抑制因子或癌基因。作者描述了从体外和体内研究中获得的关于 microRNA 参与多发性骨髓瘤发病机制的调节途径的现有知识。这些小分子与 p53、SOCS1、IGF-1、IGF-1R、血管内皮生长因子、NF-κB 等重要因素相互作用。因此，microRNAs 作为多发性骨髓瘤的一个有吸引力的治疗靶点，干扰骨髓瘤的调节网络。需要进一步的研究来更好地理解它们在骨髓瘤发生中的作用及其治疗潜力。
