Khanbabaei Hashem, Teimoori Ali, Mohammadi Milad
Radiobiology Laboratory, Medical Physics Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Tumour Biol. 2016 Jun;37(6):7007-19. doi: 10.1007/s13277-016-4960-y. Epub 2016 Feb 15.
Twist1 (also known as Twist) is a transcription factor that belongs to the family of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins. It functions as a negative regulator of epithelial gene expression and a positive regulator of mesenchymal gene expression, thereby leading to induction of the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process in which epithelial cells acquire the motile and migratory characteristics of mesenchymal cells. In addition to regulating the expression of protein-coding genes, Twist1 regulates the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), adding a regulatory layer to EMT induction. Interestingly, the mRNA of Twist1 represents a downstream target of miRNAs, indicating an intricate network between miRNAs and Twist1. This network was shown to play multiple roles in cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. The network can induce angiogenesis, protect cells from oncogene-induced apoptosis and senescence, enhance cancer cell resistance to conventional therapies, and increase cancer stem cell (CSC) populations. Recently, miRNAs have attracted considerable attention as potential promising tools in cancer therapies. Thus, this systematic review was conducted to clarify the reciprocal link between Twist1 and miRNAs in order to provide potential candidate miRNAs for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in cancer treatment.
Twist1（也称为Twist）是一种转录因子，属于碱性螺旋-环-螺旋（bHLH）蛋白家族。它作为上皮基因表达的负调节因子和间充质基因表达的正调节因子，从而导致上皮-间质转化（EMT）的诱导，在这个过程中上皮细胞获得间充质细胞的运动和迁移特性。除了调节蛋白质编码基因的表达外，Twist1还调节微小RNA（miRNA）的表达，为EMT诱导增加了一层调节。有趣的是，Twist1的mRNA是miRNA的下游靶点，表明miRNA和Twist1之间存在复杂的网络。该网络在癌细胞迁移、侵袭和转移中发挥多种作用。该网络可诱导血管生成，保护细胞免受癌基因诱导的凋亡和衰老，增强癌细胞对传统疗法的抗性，并增加癌症干细胞（CSC）群体。最近，miRNA作为癌症治疗中潜在的有前景的工具受到了相当大的关注。因此，进行了这项系统综述，以阐明Twist1和miRNA之间的相互联系，以便为癌症治疗的诊断和治疗方法提供潜在的候选miRNA。
