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Related Concept Videos

Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors01:31

Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors

Nuclear receptors, or NRs, are unique transcription factors that regulate gene transcription and affect the cellular pathways involved in reproduction, development, or metabolism. Their ability to be stimulated by small lipophilic ligands and control vital cellular processes makes them ideal drug targets. Nearly 10-15% of currently prescribed drugs target these receptors.
About 48 different soluble family members of nuclear receptors are identified that can be divided into two main classes:
lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs02:39

lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs

In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)...
Enzyme-linked Receptors01:00

Enzyme-linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are proteins that act as both receptor and enzyme, activating multiple intracellular signals. This is a large group of receptors that include the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. Many growth factors and hormones bind to and activate the RTKs.
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
Receptor Tyrosine Kinases01:26

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

Receptor tyrosine kinases or RTKs are membrane-bound receptors that phosphorylate specific tyrosine on protein substrates. RTKs regulate cellular growth, differentiation, survival, and migration. They contain an extracellular ligand binding domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytosolic tail with intrinsic kinase activity. Several extracellular signaling molecules activate RTKs in one or more ways and relay the signal downstream. Ligands such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

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...
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MicroRNAs

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
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MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

Published on: October 7, 2025

TLRs as miRNA receptors.

Muller Fabbri1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California and Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. mfabbri@chla.usc.edu

Cancer Research
|December 11, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Cancer cells release microRNAs (miRNAs) that act like hormones, binding to immune cell receptors like Toll-like receptors (TLRs) to promote tumor growth and metastasis.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs regulating gene expression.
  • miRNA dysregulation is common in human tumors.
  • Circulating miRNAs are found in exosomes and serve as potential cancer biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the novel biological functions of circulating miRNAs within the tumor microenvironment.
  • To identify the mechanism by which cancer-derived miRNAs influence immune cells.
  • To propose a new classification of miRNAs as hormone-like molecules (H-miRNAs).

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on miRNA biology, tumor microenvironment, and immune cell interactions.
  • Analysis of miRNA binding to Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) on immune cells.

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MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
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  • Discussion of signaling pathways activated by miRNA-TLR binding (NF-κB, IL-6, TNF-α).

    • Main Results:

    • Circulating miRNAs can be internalized by immune cells within the tumor microenvironment.
    • miRNAs act as agonists for Toll-like Receptors (TLR7 in mice, TLR8 in humans).
    • This interaction activates immune cells, promoting cancer cell growth and metastasis via cytokine secretion.

    Conclusions:

    • Cancer-derived miRNAs can function as hormone-like molecules (H-miRNAs), influencing the tumor microenvironment.
    • The discovery of miRNA-TLR interaction represents a novel mechanism in cancer biology.
    • This finding has significant implications for understanding tumor progression and developing new therapeutic strategies.