Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
MicroRNAs in Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells
Sanjay K. Singh, Mohamedi N. Kagalwala, and Sadhan Majumder
Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to play a role in the devel-
opment, cell division, proliferation, maintenance, and differentiation of stem
cells (embryonic and adult) and in tumorigenesis, cancer cell migration, and
metastasis, and this list continues to grow. In this chapter, we review various
aspects of miRNA biology, including its biogenesis and miRNA-protein com-
plexes. We will look at the recent development into the mechanism of its func-
tions and the role of miRNA in stem cells and various cancers. We discuss some
of the open questions in the field and the prospect of a potential role of miRNAs
in cancer or tumor-initiating stem cells. We also comment on budding but
promising therapeutic application of miRNAs in pathological scenario. Under-
standing this layer of regulation by miRNA will uncover many interesting
avenues in future in learning the biology of life.
Contents
1 Biogenesis of miRNAs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62
1.1 The miRNA-Protein Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
64
2 Mechanisms of miRNA Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
65
2.1 Translational Repression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
65
2.2 Destabilization of mRNA (mRNA Deadenylation and Decay) . . . . . . . . . . .
66
2.3 Sequestration of mRNA into Sub-cellular Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
3 Stem Cells and miRNA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67
3.1 Embryonic Stem Cells and miRNA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67
4 The Role of miRNAs in Gene Expression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70
5 MicroRNAs and Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
71
5.1 miRNA-Mediated Mechanisms in Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
73
5.2 Specific miRNAs in Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
74
6 Cancer Stem Cells and miRNA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
77
7 Potential Therapeutic Targets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
78
8 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
79
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
80
S.K. Singh (*)
Department of Genetics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center,
Houston, TX 77030, USA
Search WWH ::




Custom Search