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miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 28966

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Dr. Josep Marí-Alexandre

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Research Laboratory in Biomarkers in Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Fundación Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 València, Spain
Interests: endometriosis; gynecological oncology; miRNAs; epigenomics; biomarkers; translational research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Juan Gilabert-Estellés

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1. Research Laboratory in Biomarkers in Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Fundación Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 València, Spain
2. Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Endometriosis Unit, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Av. Tres Cruces, 46014 Valencia, Spain
3. Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Av. Blasco Ibáñez, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Interests: endometriosis; gynecological oncology; laparoscopy; minimally invasive surgery; robotic surgery; biomarkers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Martin Götte

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Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
Interests: endometriosis; gynecological oncology; microRNAs; stem cells; proteoglycans; extracellular matrix; inflammation
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Dr. Barbara McCormack

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Research Laboratory in Biomarkers in Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Fundación Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 València, Spain
Interests: endometriosis; gynecological oncology; epigenetics; biomarkers; therapeutics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Personalized medicine has become a new paradigm for the management of a wide variety of diseases. A decisive factor for its development has been represented by the molecular characterization of tumors, paving the way for the development of risk stratification algorithms, biomarker development, and targeted therapies.

In recent years, miRNAs have attracted great interest for their potential in the characterization of tumor biology. These small non-coding RNAs with regulatory properties have been proven to be deregulated in several pathologies, from benign pathologies, such as endometriosis or cardiovascular diseases, to distinct forms of solid and hematological malignancies. Since a single miRNA might impact multiple signaling pathways, they might be involved in disease pathophysiology and might also become potential therapeutic targets. Far from the classical miRNA mimic or antimiR approach, new evidence is pointing to targeted DNA methylation of miRNA promoters as a potential therapeutic strategy. Additionally, the discovery of miRNAs in a myriad of human biofluids has paved the way for their implementation as biomarkers of disease.

This Special Issue will expand our knowledge of current advances in the field of miRNAs as mechanisms of disease, biomarkers, and potential therapeutic targets.

Dr. Josep Marí-Alexandre
Dr. Juan Gilabert-Estellés
Prof. Dr. Martin Götte
Dr. Barbara McCormack
Guest Editors

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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

miRNAs
biomarkers
therapeutics
personalized medicine
diagnosis
prognosis
precision medicine
epigenetics

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 230 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue “miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0”

by Bárbara Andrea Mc Cormack, Eva González-Cantó, Sarai Tomás-Pérez, Cristina Aghababyan, Josep Marí-Alexandre, Martin Götte and Juan Gilabert-Estellés

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 1951; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24031951 - 19 Jan 2023

Viewed by 966

Abstract

Personalized medicine has become a new paradigm in the management of a variety of diseases [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

Research

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16 pages, 4165 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Small RNA-Seq Reveals Similar miRNA Transcriptome in Children and Young Adults with T-ALL and Indicates miR-143-3p as Novel Candidate Tumor Suppressor in This Leukemia

by Małgorzata Dawidowska, Natalia Maćkowska-Maślak, Monika Drobna-Śledzińska, Maria Kosmalska, Roman Jaksik, Donata Szymczak, Małgorzata Jarmuż-Szymczak, Alicja Sadowska-Klasa, Marzena Wojtaszewska, Łukasz Sędek, Tomasz Wróbel, Jan Maciej Zaucha, Tomasz Szczepański, Krzysztof Lewandowski, Sebastian Giebel and Michał Witt

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(17), 10117; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231710117 - 04 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2088

Abstract

We aimed to identify miRNAs and pathways specifically deregulated in adolescent and young adult (AYA) T-ALL patients. Small RNA-seq showed no major differences between AYA and pediatric T-ALL, but it revealed downregulation of miR-143-3p in T-ALL patients. Prediction algorithms identified several known and putative oncogenes targeted by this miRNA, including KRAS, FGF1, and FGF9. Pathway analysis indicated signaling pathways related to cell growth and proliferation, including FGFR signaling and PI3K-AKT signaling, with the majority of genes overrepresented in these pathways being predicted targets of hsa-miR-143-3p. By luciferase reporter assays, we validated direct interactions of this miRNA with KRAS, FGF1 and FGF9. In cell proliferation assays, we showed reduction of cell growth upon miR-143-3p overexpression in two T-ALL cell lines. Our study is the first description of the miRNA transcriptome in AYA T-ALL patients and the first report on tumor suppressor potential of miR-143-3p in T-ALL. Downregulation of this miRNA in T-ALL patients might contribute to enhanced growth and viability of leukemic cells. We also discuss the potential role of miR-143-3p in FGFR signaling. Although this requires more extensive validation, it might be an interesting direction, since FGFR inhibition proved promising in preclinical studies in various cancers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

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13 pages, 1877 KiB

Open AccessArticle

miR-10 and Its Negative Correlation with Serum IL-35 Concentration and Positive Correlation with STAT5a Expression in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

by Agnieszka Paradowska-Gorycka, Anna Wajda, Ewa Rzeszotarska, Tomasz Kmiolek, Barbara Stypinska, Ewa Dudek, Katarzyna Romanowska-Prochnicka and Piotr Syrowka

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(14), 7925; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23147925 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1880

Abstract

Circulating free-cell miRNAs are increasingly important as potential non-invasive biomarkers due to the easy accessibility of clinical materials. Moreover, their epigenetic role may provide insight into the mechanisms of pathogenesis. Nevertheless, these aspects are mostly studied in the area of oncological diseases. Therefore, this research aimed to find the potential association of selected miRNAs in serum with the expression of Th17/Treg transcription factors and clinical features in RA patients. Accordingly, experiments was conducted on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) and healthy subjects (HC). Analysis of miRNAs level in serum was performed using LNA miRNA PCR assays. mir-10 was detected only in RA patients. Furthermore, its expression was correlated with IL-35 serum concentration and the mRNA level of STAT5a in whole blood in RA. Additionally, a tendency of the raised level of miR-10 was noted in RA patients with high activity disease. miR-326 was significantly upregulated in RA patients with rheumatoid factor presence. In HC the correlation between miR-26 and IL-21 serum levels and expression of SMAD3 have been found. In OA patients, correlations between miR-126 and HIF1 expression and between miR-146 and RORc have been noted. The differential association of transcription factor expression with serum miRNA levels may be important in the diagnosis and progression of RA and OA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

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22 pages, 3667 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bulge-Forming miRNases Cleave Oncogenic miRNAs at the Central Loop Region in a Sequence-Specific Manner

by Olga Patutina, Daria Chiglintseva, Bahareh Amirloo, David Clarke, Svetlana Gaponova, Valentin Vlassov, Elena Bichenkova and Marina Zenkova

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(12), 6562; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23126562 - 12 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2007

Abstract

The selective degradation of disease-associated microRNA is promising for the development of new therapeutic approaches. In this study, we engineered a series of bulge-loop-forming oligonucleotides conjugated with catalytic peptide [(LeuArg)₂Gly]₂ (BC–miRNases) capable of recognizing and destroying oncogenic miR-17 and miR-21. The principle behind the design of BC–miRNase is the cleavage of miRNA at a three-nucleotide bulge loop that forms in the central loop region, which is essential for the biological competence of miRNA. A thorough study of mono- and bis-BC–miRNases (containing one or two catalytic peptides, respectively) revealed that: (i) the sequence of miRNA bulge loops and neighbouring motifs are of fundamental importance for efficient miRNA cleavage (i.e., motifs containing repeating pyrimidine–A bonds are more susceptible to cleavage); (ii) the incorporation of the second catalytic peptide in the same molecular scaffold increases the potency of BC–miRNase, providing a complete degradation of miR-17 within 72 h; (iii) the synergetic co-operation of BC–miRNases with RNase H accelerates the rate of miRNA catalytic cleavage by both the conjugate and the enzyme. Such synergy allows the rapid destruction of constantly emerging miRNA to maintain sufficient knockdown and achieve a desired therapeutic effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

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15 pages, 16866 KiB

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Synergistic Effects of A Combined Treatment of Glioblastoma U251 Cells with An Anti-miR-10b-5p Molecule and An AntiCancer Agent Based on 1-(3′,4′,5′-Trimethoxyphenyl)-2-Aryl-1H-Imidazole Scaffold

by Matteo Zurlo, Romeo Romagnoli, Paola Oliva, Jessica Gasparello, Alessia Finotti and Roberto Gambari

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(11), 5991; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23115991 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1736

Abstract

(1) Background: In the development of new and more effective anticancer approaches, combined treatments appear of great interest. Combination therapy could be of importance in the management of glioblastoma (GBM), a lethal malignancy that accounts for 42% of cancer of the central nervous system, with a median survival of 15 months. This study aimed to verify the activity on a glioblastoma cancer cell line of one of the most active compounds of a novel series of tubulin polymerization inhibitors based on the 1-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-aryl-1H-imidazole scaffold, used in combination with a miRNA inhibitor molecule targeting the oncomiRNA miR-10b-5p. This microRNA was selected in consideration of the role of miR-10b-5p on the onset and progression of glioblastoma. (2) Methods: Apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin-V and Caspase 3/7 assays, efficacy of the anti-miR-10b-5p was assessed by determining the miR-10b-5p content by RT-qPCR. (3) Results: The results obtained show that a “combination therapy” performed by combining the use of an anti-miR-10b-5p and a 1-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-aryl-1H-imidazole derivative is an encouraging strategy to boost the efficacy of anticancer therapies and at the same time to reduce side effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

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13 pages, 2823 KiB

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The Increase of miR-195-5p Reduces Intestinal Permeability in Ulcerative Colitis, Modulating Tight Junctions’ Expression

by Viviana Scalavino, Emanuele Piccinno, Giusy Bianco, Nicolò Schena, Raffaele Armentano, Gianluigi Giannelli and Grazia Serino

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(10), 5840; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23105840 - 23 May 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2434

Abstract

Defects in the intestinal epithelial barrier functions characterize inflammatory conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1B, IL-6 and INF-γ trigger epithelial damage. These cytokines are due to upregulation of claudin-2 (CLDN2) that form a pore channel, resulting in redistribution of TJs and an alteration of barrier permeability. Recently, we demonstrated that miR-195-5p is able to regulate CLDN2 and indirectly also CLDN1 in intestinal epithelial cells. Now, we aimed to investigate the modulation of miR-195-5p on the expression of CLDN2 and other TJs under inflammatory conditions induced by TNF-α. We demonstrated that miR-195-5p also modulated the expression of CLDN2 levels after stimulation with TNF-α. In addition, we discovered the role of miR-195-5p in the integrity of the intestinal barrier and in promoting the restoration of the intestinal epithelial. Moreover, we established that replacement of miR-195-5p attenuated the colonic inflammatory response in DSS-induced, colitis and it reduced colonic permeability. In conclusion, our data revealed the role of miR-195-5p in intestinal inflammation in ulcerative colitis, suggesting a potential pharmacological target for new therapeutic approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

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20 pages, 1684 KiB

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Functional Screen for microRNAs Suppressing Anchorage-Independent Growth in Human Cervical Cancer Cells

by Angelina Huseinovic, Annelieke Jaspers, Annina P. van Splunter, Hanne Sørgård, Saskia M. Wilting, Dorian R. A. Swarts, Ida H. van der Meulen, Victor W. van Beusechem, Renée X. de Menezes and Renske D. M. Steenbergen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 4791; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094791 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2797

Abstract

The progression of anchorage-dependent epithelial cells to anchorage-independent growth represents a critical hallmark of malignant transformation. Using an in vitro model of human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced transformation, we previously showed that acquisition of anchorage-independent growth is associated with marked (epi)genetic changes, including altered expression of microRNAs. However, the laborious nature of the conventional growth method in soft agar to measure this phenotype hampers a high-throughput analysis. We developed alternative functional screening methods using 96- and 384-well ultra-low attachment plates to systematically investigate microRNAs regulating anchorage-independent growth. SiHa cervical cancer cells were transfected with a microRNA mimic library (n = 2019) and evaluated for cell viability. We identified 84 microRNAs that consistently suppressed growth in three independent experiments. Further validation in three cell lines and comparison of growth in adherent and ultra-low attachment plates yielded 40 microRNAs that specifically reduced anchorage-independent growth. In conclusion, ultra-low attachment plates are a promising alternative for soft-agar assays to study anchorage-independent growth and are suitable for high-throughput functional screening. Anchorage independence suppressing microRNAs identified through our screen were successfully validated in three cell lines. These microRNAs may provide specific biomarkers for detecting and treating HPV-induced precancerous lesions progressing to invasive cancer, the most critical stage during cervical cancer development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

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15 pages, 5443 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Circulating tRNA-Derived Small RNAs as Novel Radiation Biomarkers of Heavy Ion, Proton and X-ray Exposure

by Wenjun Wei, Hao Bai, Yaxiong Chen, Tongshan Zhang, Yanan Zhang, Junrui Hua, Jinpeng He, Nan Ding, Heng Zhou and Jufang Wang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(24), 13476; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222413476 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2106

Abstract

The effective and minimally invasive radiation biomarkers are valuable for exposure scenarios in nuclear accidents or space missions. Recent studies have opened the new sight of circulating small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) as radiation biomarkers. The tRNA-derived small RNA (tsRNA) is a new class of sncRNA. It is more abundant than other kinds of sncRNAs in extracellular vesicles or blood, presenting great potential as promising biomarkers. However, the circulating tsRNAs in response to ionizing radiation have not been reported. In this research, Kunming mice were total-body exposed to 0.05–2 Gy of carbon ions, protons, or X-rays, and the RNA sequencing was performed to profile the expression of sncRNAs in serum. After conditional screening and validation, we firstly identified 5 tsRNAs including 4 tRNA-related fragments (tRFs) and 1 tRNA half (tiRNA) which showed a significant level decrease after exposure to three kinds of radiations. Moreover, the radiation responses of these 5 serum tsRNAs were reproduced in other mouse strains, and the sequences of them could be detected in serum of humans. Furthermore, we developed multi-factor models based on tsRNA biomarkers to indicate the degree of radiation exposure with high sensitivity and specificity. These findings suggest that the circulating tsRNAs can serve as new minimally invasive biomarkers and can make a triage or dose assessment from blood sample collection within 4 h in exposure scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

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Review

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16 pages, 802 KiB

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miRNAs in Uremic Cardiomyopathy: A Comprehensive Review

by Mario D’Agostino, Davide Mauro, Mariateresa Zicarelli, Nazareno Carullo, Marta Greco, Michele Andreucci, Giuseppe Coppolino and Davide Bolignano

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(6), 5425; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065425 - 12 Mar 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1475

Abstract

Uremic Cardiomyopathy (UCM) is an irreversible cardiovascular complication that is highly pervasive among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, particularly in End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) individuals undergoing chronic dialysis. Features of UCM are an abnormal myocardial fibrosis, an asymmetric ventricular hypertrophy with subsequent diastolic dysfunction and a complex and multifactorial pathogenesis where underlying biological mechanisms remain partly undefined. In this paper, we reviewed the key evidence available on the biological and clinical significance of micro-RNAs (miRNAs) in UCM. miRNAs are short, noncoding RNA molecules with regulatory functions that play a pivotal role in myriad basic cellular processes, such as cell growth and differentiation. Deranged miRNAs expression has already been observed in various diseases, and their capacity to modulate cardiac remodeling and fibrosis under either physiological or pathological conditions is well acknowledged. In the context of UCM, robust experimental evidence confirms a close involvement of some miRNAs in the key pathways that are known to trigger or worsen ventricular hypertrophy or fibrosis. Moreover, very preliminary findings may set the stage for therapeutic interventions targeting specific miRNAs for ameliorating heart damage. Finally, scant but promising clinical evidence may suggest a potential future application of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for improving risk stratification in UCM as well. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

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22 pages, 33678 KiB

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MicroRNAs as Predictors of Lung-Cancer Resistance and Sensitivity to Cisplatin

by Maria Konoshenko, Yuriy Lansukhay, Sergey Krasilnikov and Pavel Laktionov

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(14), 7594; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23147594 - 08 Jul 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2750

Abstract

Background: Platinum-based chemotherapy, cisplatin (DDP) specifically, is the main strategy for treating lung cancer (LC). However, currently, there is a lack of predictive drug-resistance markers, and there is increased interest in the development of a reliable and sensitive panels of markers for DDP chemotherapy-effectiveness prediction. MicroRNAs represent a perspective pool of markers for chemotherapy effectiveness. Objectives: Data on miRNAs associated with LC DDP chemotherapy response are summarized and analyzed. Materials and methods: A comprehensive review of the data in the literature and an analysis of bioinformatics resources were performed. The gene targets of miRNAs, as well as their reciprocal relationships with miRNAs, were studied using several databases. Results and Discussion: The complex analysis of bioinformatics resources and the literature indicated that the expressions of 12 miRNAs have a high predictive potential for LC DDP chemotherapy responses. The obtained information was discussed from the point of view of the main mechanisms of LC chemoresistance. Conclusions: An overview of the published data and bioinformatics resources, with respect to the predictive microRNA markers of chemotherapy response, is presented in this review. The selected microRNAs and gene panel have a high potential for predicting LC DDP sensitiveness or DDP resistance as well as for the development of a DDP co-therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

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24 pages, 1256 KiB

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Role of MicroRNAs in Signaling Pathways Associated with the Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Focus on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

by Ana Ruth Cadena-Suárez, Hilda Arely Hernández-Hernández, Noé Alvarado-Vásquez, Claudia Rangel-Escareño, Bettina Sommer and María Cristina Negrete-García

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(12), 6613; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23126613 - 14 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3054

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive disease with high mortality and unclear etiology. Previous evidence supports that the origin of this disease is associated with epigenetic alterations, age, and environmental factors. IPF initiates with chronic epithelial lung injuries, followed by basal membrane destruction, which promotes the activation of myofibroblasts and excessive synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Due to miRNAs’ role as regulators of apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, and cell-cell interaction processes, some studies have involved miRNAs in the biogenesis and progression of IPF. In this context, the analysis and discussion of the probable association of miRNAs with the signaling pathways involved in the development of IPF would improve our knowledge of the associated molecular mechanisms, thereby facilitating its evaluation as a therapeutic target for this severe lung disease. In this work, the most recent publications evaluating the role of miRNAs as regulators or activators of signal pathways associated with the pathogenesis of IPF were analyzed. The search in Pubmed was made using the following terms: “miRNAs and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)”; “miRNAs and IPF and signaling pathways (SP)”; and “miRNAs and IPF and SP and IPF pathogenesis”. Additionally, we focus mainly on those works where the signaling pathways involved with EMT, fibroblast differentiation, and synthesis of ECM components were assessed. Finally, the importance and significance of miRNAs as potential therapeutic or diagnostic tools for the treatment of IPF are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

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30 pages, 2015 KiB

Open AccessReview

Circulating Noncoding RNAs in Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors—Two Sides of the Same Coin

by Henriett Butz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 5122; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23095122 - 04 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2126

Abstract

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNET) are common intracranial neoplasms. While in case of hormone secreting tumors pituitary hormone measurements can be used for monitoring the disease, in non-functional tumors there is a need to discover non-invasive biomarkers. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are popular biomarker candidates due to their stability and tissue specificity. Among ncRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs have been investigated the most in pituitary tumor tissues and in circulation. However, it is still not known whether ncRNAs are originated from the pituitary, or whether they are casually involved in the pathophysiology. Additionally, there is strong diversity among different studies reporting ncRNAs in PitNET. Therefore, to provide an overview of the discrepancies between published studies and to uncover the reasons why despite encouraging experimental data application of ncRNAs in clinical routine has not yet taken hold, in this review available data are summarized on circulating ncRNAs in PitNET. The data on circulating miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs are organized according to different PitNET subtypes. Biological (physiological and pathophysiological) factors behind intra- and interindividual variability and technical aspects of detecting these markers, including preanalytical and analytical parameters, sample acquisition (venipuncture) and type, storage, nucleic acid extraction, quantification and normalization, which reveal the two sides of the same coin are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

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12 pages, 1060 KiB

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MicroRNA Cross-Involvement in Acne Vulgaris and Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Literature Review

by Francesco Borgia, Lucia Peterle, Paolo Custurone, Mario Vaccaro, Giovanni Pioggia and Sebastiano Gangemi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(6), 3241; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23063241 - 17 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2278

Abstract

Acne Vulgaris (AV) and Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are common chronic inflammatory skin conditions that affect the follicular units that often coexist or are involved in differential diagnoses. Inflammation in both these diseases may result from shared pathways, which may partially explain their frequent coexistence. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, short, non-protein coding, gene-silencing or promoting RNAs that may promote various inflammatory diseases. This narrative review investigates the current knowledge regarding miRNAs and their link to AV and HS. The aim is to examine the role of these molecules in the pathogenesis of AV and HS and to identify possible common miRNAs that could explain the similar characteristics of these two diseases. Five miRNA (miR-155 miR-223-, miR-21, and miRNA-146a) levels were found to be altered in both HS and AV. These miRNAs are related to pathogenetic aspects common to both pathologies, such as the regulation of the innate immune response, regulation of the Th1/Th17 axis, and fibrosis processes that induce scar formation. This review provides a starting point for further studies aimed at investigating the role of miRNAs in AV and HS for their possible use as diagnostic-therapeutic targets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue miRNAs in the Era of Personalized Medicine: From Biomarkers to Therapeutics 2.0)

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