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Aberrations in the micro‐ RNA biogenesis machinery and the emerging roles of micro‐ RNA s in the pathogenesis of cutaneous malignant melanoma
Author(s) -
LeibowitzAmit Raya,
Sidi Yechezkel,
Avni Dror
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pigment cell and melanoma research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1755-148X
pISSN - 1755-1471
DOI - 10.1111/pcmr.12018
Subject(s) - rna , biology , non coding rna , small interfering rna , epigenetics , cancer research , rna binding protein , rna silencing , gene expression , melanoma , long non coding rna , rna interference , gene , genetics
Summary Micro‐ RNA s (mi RNA s) are small noncoding RNA s that play roles in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Since the seminal discovery that aberrant mi RNA expression has a causative role in leukemogenesis, the involvement of mi RNA s in cancer initiation, propagation, and metastasis has been widely studied. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the literature on mi RNA s in melanoma, specifically focusing on aberrations in cellular mi RNA biogenesis and processing. These aberrations include genetic and epigenetic changes at the chromosomal level, alterations in the level of the mi RNA ‐processing enzyme DICER , and the existence of competitive endogenous RNA s that serve as decoys for mi RNA s and thus modulate their effective intracellular concentrations. We also discuss mi RNA profiling in melanoma, review several mi RNA s implicated in invasion, metastasis, proliferation, and apoptosis, and briefly summarize the cross talk between mi RNA s and microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor, the master transcriptional regulator of the melanocyte lineage. Finally, we summarize recent studies of mi RNA expression as prognostic and predictive biomarkers, as well as initial experiments on the use of mi RNA s and small interfering RNA s as therapeutic agents in melanoma.