title: The interplay between microRNAs and Twist1 transcription factor: a systematic review.
abstract: Twist1 (also known as Twist) is a transcription factor that belongs to the family of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins. It functions as a negative regulator of epithelial gene expression and a positive regulator of mesenchymal gene expression, thereby leading to induction of the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process in which epithelial cells acquire the motile and migratory characteristics of mesenchymal cells. In addition to regulating the expression of protein-coding genes, Twist1 regulates the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), adding a regulatory layer to EMT induction. Interestingly, the mRNA of Twist1 represents a downstream target of miRNAs, indicating an intricate network between miRNAs and Twist1. This network was shown to play multiple roles in cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. The network can induce angiogenesis, protect cells from oncogene-induced apoptosis and senescence, enhance cancer cell resistance to conventional therapies, and increase cancer stem cell (CSC) populations. Recently, miRNAs have attracted considerable attention as potential promising tools in cancer therapies. Thus, this systematic review was conducted to clarify the reciprocal link between Twist1 and miRNAs in order to provide potential candidate miRNAs for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Radiobiology Laboratory, Medical Physics Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. khanbabaei.h@ajums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Hashem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khanbabaei
authors.affiliation: Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teimoori
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Milad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C103173:TWIST1 protein, human; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1
keywords: Cancer; Epithelial mesenchymal transition; Metastasis; Twist1; microRNAs