MicroRNAs as gatekeepers of apoptosis

✍ Scribed by Subbaya Subramanian; Clifford J. Steer

• Book ID: 102313482
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 300 KB
• Volume: 223
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9541
• DOI: 10.1002/jcp.22066

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Apoptosis is a well‐orchestrated cellular mechanism that balances the effects of cell proliferation and cell death. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to control cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis; and can be significantly deregulated in many cancers types. In fact, the ability to evade apoptosis is a hallmark of tumorigenesis. Although the role of miRNAs in the regulation of apoptosis is not fully understood, the recent influx of data strongly suggests that miRNAs play a significant role in regulating programmed cell death, or apoptosis. The genes involved in apoptotic pathways can be broadly classified as pro‐apoptotic and anti‐apoptotic. Many of these apoptotic genes, irrespective of their positive or negative functional role in apoptosis, are regulated by miRNAs. In this review, we discuss the emerging role of miRNA‐mediated gene networks in the control of apoptosis. J. Cell. Physiol. 223: 289–298, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.