Hypoxia response and microRNAs: no longer two separate worlds.
MicroRNAs (miRs) are short non-coding transcripts involved in a wide variety of cellular processes. Several recent studies have established a link between hypoxia, a well-documented component of the tumour microenvironment, and specific miRs. One member of this class, miR-210, was identified as hypoxia inducible in all the cell types tested, and is overexpressed in most cancer types. Its hypoxic induction is dependent on a functional hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), thus extending the transcriptional repertoire of the latter beyond 'classic' genes. From a clinical standpoint, miR-210 overexpression has been associated with adverse prognosis in breast tumours and been detected in serum of lymphoma patients and could serve as a tool to define hypoxic malignancies. We discuss the role of miR-210 and its emerging targets, as well as possible future directions for clinical applications in oncology and ischaemic disorders.
Ivan
Mircea
M
Molecular Oncology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. mivan@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
Harris
Adrian L
AL
Martelli
Fabio
F
Kulshreshtha
Ritu
R
D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D035683:MicroRNAs; D014157:Transcription Factors