MicroRNA-221: biogenesis, function and signatures in human cancers

A. Abak, S. Amini, E. Sakhinia, A. Abhari

Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. esakhinia@yahoo.co.uk

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• Oncology

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.

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