Doghish Ahmed S, Mansour Reda M, Abdel Mageed Sherif S, Moustafa Hebatallah Ahmed Mohamed, Mohammed Osama A, Elesawy Ahmed E, Rizk Nehal I
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Al-Azhar University Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo, Egypt.
Department of Biochemistry, Badr University in Cairo Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo, Egypt.
Balkan Med J. 2025 May 5;42(3):188-200. doi: 10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2025.2025-3-60.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that are essential for regulating gene expression at the posttranscriptional stage. Recent research shows that miRNAs are crucial in the development of two major global health issues: obesity and cancer, two significant health issues worldwide. This study examines the complex mechanisms by which miRNAs govern vital biological processes, including adipogenesis, cancer, and metabolic dysregulation. We highlight the dual function of miRNAs as oncogenes and tumor suppressors in obesity-related malignancies and investigate their potential as prognostic and diagnostic markers. To demonstrate their varied roles, specific examples of vital miRNAs are underscored, such as miR-21, which promotes adipogenesis and is overexpressed in various cancers, and miR-34a, a tumor suppressor involved in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In addition, we examined the recent developments in miRNA-based therapies, which include miRNA inhibitors, mimics, and novel delivery vehicles and have the potential for treating obesity-related malignancies. This review aims to clarify, within the framework of miRNA biology, the therapeutic potential of miRNAs in addressing the interrelation between obesity and cancer.
微小RNA（miRNA）是一类小的非编码RNA，在转录后阶段调控基因表达中至关重要。最近的研究表明，miRNA在全球两大主要健康问题——肥胖症和癌症（全球两大重要健康问题）的发生发展中起着关键作用。本研究探讨了miRNA调控重要生物学过程的复杂机制，这些过程包括脂肪生成、癌症和代谢失调。我们强调了miRNA在肥胖相关恶性肿瘤中作为癌基因和肿瘤抑制因子的双重功能，并研究了它们作为预后和诊断标志物的潜力。为了说明它们的多种作用，着重介绍了重要miRNA的具体例子，如促进脂肪生成且在多种癌症中过表达的miR-21，以及参与细胞周期阻滞和凋亡的肿瘤抑制因子miR-34a。此外，我们研究了基于miRNA的疗法的最新进展，其中包括miRNA抑制剂、模拟物和新型递送载体，这些疗法具有治疗肥胖相关恶性肿瘤的潜力。本综述旨在在miRNA生物学框架内阐明miRNA在解决肥胖与癌症之间相互关系方面的治疗潜力。
