title: DNA methylation of tumor-suppressor miRNA genes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: DNA methylation is one of the most important epigenetic modifications of the genome involved in the regulation of numerous cellular processes through gene silencing without altering DNA sequences. miRNAs, a class of single-stranded noncoding RNAs of 19-25 nucleotides in length, function as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression leading to mRNA cleavage or translational repression of their corresponding target protein-coding genes. Recently, dysregulation of tumor suppressor miRNAs mediated by promoter DNA hypermethylation is implicated in human cancers, including B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Moreover, it appears that methylated miRNA genes could be potential biomarkers for CLL diagnosis or therapy. This review will highlight the role of aberrant methylation of miRNA genes in the pathogenesis of CLL.
authors: Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Lu Qian
authors: LQ
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Chor Sang
authors: CS
authors: Chim
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: DNA methylation; chronic lymphocytic leukemia; miRNAs; tumor suppressor