title: Transforming growth factor-beta and microRNA:mRNA regulatory networks in epithelial plasticity.
abstract: Noncoding microRNAs act as posttranscriptional repressors of gene function and are often deregulated in cancers and other diseases. Here we review recent findings on microRNA roles in tumorigenesis and report a microRNA profiling screen in transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human keratinocytes, a model of epithelial cell plasticity underlying epidermal injury and skin carcinogenesis. We describe a novel EMT-specific microRNA signature that includes induction of miR-21, a candidate oncogenic microRNA associated with carcinogenesis. By integrating the microRNA screen results with target prediction algorithms and gene expression profiling data, we outline a framework for TGF-beta-directed microRNA:messenger RNA (mRNA) regulatory circuitry and discuss its biological relevance for tumor progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and NYU Cancer Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. jiri.zavadil@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zavadil
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narasimhan
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blumenberg
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta