The emerging role of miR-375 in cancer

Int J Cancer. 2014 Sep 1;135(5):1011-8. doi: 10.1002/ijc.28563. Epub 2013 Nov 13.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved, small noncoding RNAs that are believed to play fundamental roles in various biological processes through regulation of gene expression at the level of posttranscription. MiR-375 was first identified as a pancreatic islet-specific miRNA regulating insulin secretion. However, further study revealed that miR-375 is a multifunctional miRNA participating in pancreatic islet development, glucose homeostasis, mucosal immunity, lung surfactant secretion and more importantly, tumorigenesis. Recently, miR-375 has been found significantly downregulated in multiple types of cancer, and suppresses core hallmarks of cancer by targeting several important oncogenes like AEG-1, YAP1, IGF1R and PDK1. The alteration of miR-375 in cancer is caused by a variety of mechanisms, including the dysregulation of transcription factors, aberrant promoter methylation and so on. Reduced expression of miR-375 in tissue or circulation may indicate the presence of neoplasia as well as a poor prognosis of many malignant cancers. Moreover, miR-375 stands for a promising direction for developing targeted therapies due to its capacity to inhibit tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Here, we summarize the present understanding of the tumor suppressive role of miR-375 in cancer progression; the mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of miR-375; the potential use of miR-375 in prognosis and diagnosis and the therapeutic prospects of miR-375 in cancer.

Keywords: cancer; miR-375; microRNA; tumor suppressor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • 3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • DNA Methylation / genetics
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Prognosis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / genetics
  • Transcription Factors
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • MIRN375 microRNA, human
  • MTDH protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • YAP1 protein, human
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1
  • 3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • PDPK1 protein, human