title: Targeting the oncogenic role of miRNA in human cancer using naturally occurring compounds.
abstract: Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that regulate the expression of genes involved in development, growth, proliferation and apoptosis. In cancer several miRNAs have been functionally classified as oncogenes or tumour suppressers or act to regulate transcription factors, like nuclear factor kappa B and NF-E2–related factor 2, in cancers such as leukaemia, breast and colorectal. Therefore, it has been proposed that manipulating miRNA regulation may be a novel avenue for developing efficient therapies against cancer. In this issue, Li and colleagues describe a novel way of targeting miRNA, by using a naturally occurring anti-cancer compound found in mistletoe which they showed to down-regulate miR-135a&b, which target the 3' untranslated region of adenomatous polyposis coli gene, the inactivation of which is a major initiating event in colorectal tumourigenesis. This commentary aims to discuss the regulatory mechanisms of miRNA synthesis and the potential outcomes for using naturally occurring compounds antioxidants or cellular antioxidant pathways to target miRNA for therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. s.rushworth@uea.ac.uk
authors.forename: Stuart A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rushworth
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014784:Mistletoe; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D009857:Oncogenes; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; C544965:MIRN135 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D016328:NF-kappa B; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012322:RNA Precursors; D014157:Transcription Factors