MicroRNA: a new tool for biomedical risk assessment and target identification in human uterine leiomyomas

Semin Reprod Med. 2008 Nov;26(6):515-21. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1096131. Epub 2008 Oct 24.

Abstract

MicroRNA (miRNA) expression is tissue specific or cell-type specific. miRNA signatures are useful tools for tumor classification and target gene identification. We and others found that uterine leiomyomas (ULMs) expressed a distinct miRNA signature. In addition, miRNA expression appears to be strongly associated with race and other biomedical factors, such as tumor sizes. Among the most highly dysregulated miRNAs, let-7 miRNAs seem to play a critical role in tumorigenesis of ULMs through negative regulation of some key target oncogenes, including high mobility group 2.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomedical Research / methods
  • Biomedical Research / trends
  • Drug Discovery / methods
  • Drug Discovery / trends*
  • Ethnicity / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Leiomyoma / diagnosis*
  • Leiomyoma / ethnology
  • Leiomyoma / genetics
  • Leiomyoma / therapy*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Assessment / methods
  • Risk Assessment / trends
  • Uterine Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Uterine Neoplasms / genetics
  • Uterine Neoplasms / therapy*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs