This study is led by Dr. Shiwei Duan (Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China). His team analyzed literature on miRNA, summarizing the close relationship between these small molecules and cancer.
miRNA is a type of non-coding RNA that does not encode proteins, but can target more than 60% of human protein-coding genes. They play crucial roles in cell growth, differentiation, development, and apoptosis, and their dysfunction is closely linked to numerous diseases. Almost all known cancer cells have the ability to control gene expression using miRNAs, making the impact of miRNAs particularly significant in cancer.
On the technological front of molecular mechanism research, RNA Sequencing Technology and CRISPR/Cas9 have enriched our understanding of miRNA mechanisms and functions. By analyzing relevant data and constructing tools and algorithms, as well as integrating multi-omics data, researchers are continuously driven to explore miRNA targets and mechanisms. The molecular mechanisms of miRNA are complex and diverse, with interactions with ceRNAs (long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs), mRNA, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and other miRNAs.
Beyond their roles inside cells, miRNAs can be secreted into the extracellular fluid and transported to target cells via vesicles. These extracellular miRNAs act as chemical messengers, mediating intercellular communication, thereby amplifying their impact on cancer. miRNA offe.
