Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2018 May;22(10):3094-3117. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_201805_15069.
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs of 18-25 nucleotides that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level through binding to the 3´-UTR of mRNAs and block mRNA transcription or regulate its resistance. Increasing evidence indicates that dysregulation of miRNA is a hallmark of cancer. The miRNAs have an essential role in the regulation of oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in cell signaling pathways. MiR-221 and miR-222 are two homologous microRNAs, the high expression levels of which have been commonly demonstrated in multiple human cancer types. The miR-221/miR-222 functions have been verified as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Here, we reviewed the roles of miR-221/miR-222 in various kinds of cancer progression and development: controlling proliferative signaling pathways, avoiding cell deaths resulted from tumor suppressors, monitoring angiogenesis and even supporting epithelial-mesenchymal transition. We discussed that miR-221/miR-222 act as promising biomarkers for detection of human cancer types and suggested a new pathway for molecular targeted cancer therapy.
微小 RNA 是 18-25 个核苷酸的小非编码 RNA，通过与 mRNAs 的 3´-UTR 结合来调节基因表达的转录后水平，从而阻断 mRNA 转录或调节其抗性。越来越多的证据表明，miRNA 的失调是癌症的一个标志。miRNAs 在细胞信号通路中对癌基因或肿瘤抑制基因的调控中起着重要作用。miR-221 和 miR-222 是两个同源微小 RNA，其高表达水平在多种人类癌症类型中普遍存在。miR-221/miR-222 的功能已被证实为癌基因或肿瘤抑制基因。在这里，我们综述了 miR-221/miR-222 在各种癌症进展和发展中的作用：控制增殖信号通路、避免肿瘤抑制因子引起的细胞死亡、监测血管生成，甚至支持上皮-间充质转化。我们讨论了 miR-221/miR-222 作为人类癌症类型检测的有前途的生物标志物，并提出了一种新的分子靶向癌症治疗途径。
