Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
11:44
Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis
Published on: March 30, 2019
MicroRNAs regulate tumor angiogenesis modulated by endothelial progenitor cells
Prue N Plummer1, Ruth Freeman, Ryan J Taft
1School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Parklands Dr, Gold Coast, Australia.
Cancer Research
|July 28, 2012
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial for tumor angiogenesis. Targeting specific miRNAs, like miR-10b and miR-196b, in bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) suppresses tumor growth by inhibiting angiogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- Angiogenesis
Background:
- Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are vital for tumor angiogenesis.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate cellular processes, but their role in bone marrow-mediated angiogenesis was unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of miRNAs in bone marrow-derived EPCs in regulating angiogenesis and tumor growth.
- To identify specific miRNAs involved in this process and evaluate their therapeutic potential.
Main Methods:
- Genetic ablation of Dicer in bone marrow-derived cells in mice.
- Genome-wide deep sequencing of small RNAs from tumor EPCs.
- In vivo targeting of specific miRNAs (miR-10b, miR-196b) in mouse tumor models.
Main Results:
- Ablation of Dicer in bone marrow decreased circulating EPCs, suppressed angiogenesis, and impaired tumor growth.
- miR-10b and miR-196b were identified as key intrinsic miRNAs in tumor EPCs.
- Elevated expression of miR-10b and miR-196b was observed in human breast tumor vasculature.
- Targeting miR-10b and miR-196b significantly inhibited angiogenesis-dependent tumor growth.
Conclusions:
- Bone marrow-derived miRNAs, specifically miR-10b and miR-196b, play a critical role in regulating angiogenesis and tumor growth.
- Targeting these miRNAs presents a potential novel therapeutic strategy for inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits. Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
01:22MicroRNAs
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
01:22MicroRNAs
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
01:10Mechanism of Angiogenesis
Blood vessel formation starts early during embryonic development, around day 7. In the extraembryonic yolk sac, mesodermal precursor cells called hemangioblast proliferate and differentiate into angioblast. Angioblasts express vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 or VEGFR2, which binds VEGF-A, a proangiogenic factor, guiding blood vessel formation. VEGF signaling promotes angioblasts to form a blood island in the developing embryo. Angioblasts further differentiate, giving rise to...
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...