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Updated: Feb 18, 2026

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
09:06

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

Published on: October 7, 2025

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MicroRNAs and miRceptors: a new mechanism of action for intercellular communication

Muller Fabbri1,2,3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA mfabbri@chla.usc.edu.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|November 22, 2017
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRs) act as hormones, binding to receptors to influence cell signaling. This novel mechanism is crucial for understanding the tumor microenvironment and other diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression.
  • Traditionally, miRs inhibit protein translation.
  • Emerging evidence suggests miRs function as signaling molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the non-canonical 'hormone-like' function of miRs.
  • Explore the role of miR-miRceptor interactions in the tumor microenvironment (TME).
  • Discuss implications for other diseases and future research directions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on miR function.
  • Analysis of studies on miR-miRceptor interactions.
  • Examination of miR roles in intercellular communication via exosomes.

Main Results:

  • miRs can bind to specific proteic receptors (miRceptors).
  • This binding triggers downstream signaling pathways.
  • Exosome-shuttled miRs mediate intercellular communication within the TME.

Conclusions:

  • miR-miRceptor interactions represent a significant paradigm shift in understanding miR biology.
  • This mechanism is vital for TME function and disease pathogenesis.
  • Further research into miR-miRceptor signaling holds therapeutic potential.
Keywords:
Toll-like receptorscancerextracellular vesiclesinflammationmicroRNAstumour microenvironment

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