title: The role of microRNA in myelodysplastic syndromes: beyond DNA methylation and histone modification.
abstract: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are heterogeneous group of hematologic disorders of mostly elderly and based on distinct clinical phenotypes. Current paradigm of their pathogenesis relies on somatic gene mutations combined with the predisposing defective osteohematopoietic niche, but due to the breakout in epigenetic research scientific focus has steered toward two most common epigenetic modifications: methylation mechanisms and histone modification. At the same time, relatively few studies have been undertaken regarding the third epigenetic pathway - microRNAs - in MDS. The main aim of this review is to provide the basics of microRNA biology and function in oncogenesis, showing the complexity of mechanisms behind this single-stranded 22 nucleotides long RNA molecule, with further focus on its implication in MDS pathology and clinical context. By extensive literature search, we have shown enough evidence for their deregulation in MDS. However, few studies have addressed the issue on pathogenic events in MDS and its association with specific microRNAs. Preliminary research in clinical setting has shown the possible utility of microRNAs in terms of prognosis and therapy, although we are only beginning to understand various implications of microRNAs in MDS and further extensive research is warranted to answer multiple questions arising from interconnection of this epigenetic mechanism in MDS.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Clinical Hospital Centre Merkur, Zagreb, Croatia.|Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Vibor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milunović
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Clinical Hospital Centre Merkur, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mandac Rogulj
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Clinical Hospital Centre Merkur, Zagreb, Croatia.|School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Planinc-Peraica
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinic und Poliklinik I, Universitatsklinikum Carl-Gustav-Carus, Technische Universitat, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bulycheva
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Clinical Hospital Centre Merkur, Zagreb, Croatia.|School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Slobodanka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kolonić Ostojić
mesh_terms: D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020868:Gene Silencing; D042421:Histone Code; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: biological marker; epigenetics; microRNA; myelodysplastic syndromes; oncogenesis