A Review of MicroRNA in Carcinogenesis

Paromita Bhattacharjee; Syamasri Mukherjee

Paromita Bhattacharjee Senior Research Scholar, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia-741235, West Bengal, India
Syamasri Mukherjee Department of Zoology, Dinabandhu Andrews College, Garia, Kolkata-700084, West Bengal, India

Keywords: Cancer, Carcinogenesis, MicroRNA, oncogene

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs involved in regulation of several cellular processes which are involved in the silencing of cell’s message in various processes. They are class of 21- to 24-nucleotides (nt), non-coding, regulatory RNA molecules, was first discovered in developing nematode. After the discovery of the first miRNA in the roundworm C. elegans, these short regulatory RNAs have been found to be an abundant class of RNAs in plants, animals, and DNA viruses. About 3% of human genes encode for miRNAs, and upto 30% of human protein coding genes may be regulated by miRNAs. MicroRNAs play a key role in diverse biological processes, including development, cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Accordingly, altered miRNA expression is likely to contribute to human disease, including cancer. Recent findings indicate that carcinogenic processes are associated with alteration in the expression of several microRNAs. Furthermore finding suggested that some microRNAs have got cancer promoting role (as oncogene) and the others act as tumour suppressor genes. In this review we illustrate the specific role and relationship of microRNA in a wide variety of cancer and also the application of microRNA in cancer detection as biomarker as well as therapeutic potential.

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