title: Biogenesis, evolution and functional targets of microRNA-125a.
abstract: MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level by inhibiting translation of complementary mRNAs and/or targeting them for degradation. MicroRNAs play crucial roles in development, cell differentiation, and apoptosis. In addition, recent studies indicate that they are important regulators of virus-host interactions. MicroRNA-125a is a homolog of C. elegans lin-4, the first discovered microRNA, shown to dictate the onset of larval stages in the nematode. In this review, we focus on the gene structure of microRNA-125a, its evolution, its expression pattern in mammalian organs and tissues, and its functional targets. Overall, the available data indicate that microRNA-125a plays crucial roles both in development and in the adult tissues. In fact, it (1) contributes to the control of phase transitions in development and/or cell differentiation; (2) regulates the expression of several target proteins that are involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration; (3) interferes with the expression of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen in liver cells, thus counteracting viral replication. These findings suggest that delivery of microRNA-125a mimics or treatments that modulate its cellular expression may be valuable tools for the development of new therapeutic strategies for human diseases, including cancer and viral hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy, nicoletta.potenza@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Potenza
authors.forename: Aniello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; C531888:MIRN125 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; C452194:lin-4 microRNA, C elegans