Doctoral Program in Integrative Life Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 842030, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.
Chem Biodivers. 2012 May;9(5):857-67. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.201100386.
microRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs shown to contribute to a number of cellular processes including cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. MiRNAs regulate gene expression of their targets post-transcriptionally by binding to messenger RNA (mRNA), causing translational inhibition or mRNA degradation. Dysregulation of miRNA expression can promote cancer formation and progression. Research has largely focused on the function and expression of single miRNAs. However, complex physiological processes require the interaction, regulation and coordination of many molecules including miRNAs and proteins. Highly connected molecules often serve important roles in the cell. A protein-protein interaction network of established miRNA targets confirmed these proteins to be highly connected and essential to the cell, affecting tumorigenesis, cell growth/proliferation, cellular death, cell assembly, and maintenance pathways. This analysis showed that miRNAs contribute to the overall health of the prostate, and their aberrant expression destabilized homeostatic balance. This integrative network approach can reveal important miRNAs and proteins in prostate cancer that will be useful to identify specific disease biomarkers, which may be used as targets for therapeutics or drugs in themselves.
microRNAs (miRNAs) 是一种小 RNA，被证明参与了许多细胞过程，包括细胞生长、分化和凋亡。miRNAs 通过与信使 RNA（mRNA）结合，在转录后调节其靶基因的表达，从而导致翻译抑制或 mRNA 降解。miRNA 表达失调可促进癌症的形成和发展。研究主要集中在单个 miRNAs 的功能和表达上。然而，复杂的生理过程需要许多分子（包括 miRNAs 和蛋白质）的相互作用、调节和协调。高连接分子通常在细胞中发挥重要作用。已建立的 miRNA 靶蛋白的蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用网络证实了这些蛋白质具有高度的连接性和对细胞的重要性，影响肿瘤发生、细胞生长/增殖、细胞死亡、细胞组装和维持途径。该分析表明，miRNAs 有助于前列腺的整体健康，其异常表达破坏了体内平衡。这种整合网络方法可以揭示前列腺癌中重要的 miRNAs 和蛋白质，这将有助于鉴定特定的疾病生物标志物，这些生物标志物本身可能被用作治疗或药物的靶点。
