Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 28, 2007; 13(4): 497-502
Published online Jan 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i4.497
Impact of tiny miRNAs on cancers
Wei Liu, Sheng-Yong Mao, Wei-Yun Zhu
Wei Liu, Sheng-Yong Mao, Wei-Yun Zhu, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2004CB1175004) and the National Natural Science of Foundation of China, No. 30025034
Correspondence to: Wei-Yun Zhu, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Zhejiang Province, China. zhuweiyunnjau@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-25-84395523 Fax: +86-25-84395314
Received: September 16, 2006
Revised: October 21, 2006
Accepted: November 27, 2006
Published online: January 28, 2007
Abstract

miRNAs are a class of small, ~22nt, non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. They play profound and pervasive roles in manipulating gene expression involved in cell development, proliferation and apoptosis in various eukaryotes, which, in theory, could provide an access to many human diseases in theory. Recent evidence demonstrates that aberrant miRNA expression is a hallmark of tumor development, revealing that miRNA genes could function as potential oncogenes and repressors in the human body. miRNAs can affect tumorigenesis mainly by interrupting the cell cycle at the cellular level and by interacting with signaling, oncogenes and with the response to environmental factors at the molecular level. The established miRNA expression signature could be a potent tool to diagnose and treat human cancers in the future.

Keywords: miRNAs; Cancers; Oncogenes and repressors; Tumorigenesis; miRNA expression signature