微RNA-101在肿瘤中的作用

Role of microRNA-101 in cancers

微RNA(microRNA)是内源性发挥转录后调控功能的单链小RNA,种类繁多,在细胞周期调控、凋亡调控、肿瘤的进展等方面起重要作用。近期研究发现,微RNA在功能上表现为癌基因与抑癌基因与前列腺癌、膀胱癌、肝癌、乳腺癌等肿瘤的发生、发展关系密切。EZH2基因的生物学行为与癌基因类似,微RNA-101主要通过调控EZH2的表达量和表观遗传学特征调控其功能。微RNA-101的缺失或表达下调促使组织细胞分裂、增殖,最终可能导致肿瘤的发生与浸润。因此,探寻微RNA-101的生物学作用具有重要意义。

MicroRNA is a single-stranded small RNA function as endogenous regulator. Numerous miRNAs have emerged as important regulators of genes involved in many biological processes, including cell cycle, apoptosis and development. In the research of the past few years, a part of miRNAs have been found to act as oncogene （oncmiR） or tumor suppressor gene, which shows that miRNAS have close relationship with tumors. The expression and function of EZH2 in cancer is inhibited by microRNA-101 （miR-101） by epigenetic pathways, and EZH2 act as oncogene in function. Genomic loss of miR-101 leads to cell over-division and proliferation, resulting in cancer progression and metastasis. So it’s important to explore the function of miRNA-101 in tumors.