Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice
Published on: August 23, 2019
An antisense RNA capable of modulating the expression of the tumor suppressor microRNA-34a
Jason T Serviss1, Nathanael Andrews2, Jimmy Van den Eynden3
1Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SE-17177, Sweden. jason.serviss@ki.se.
Abstract:
The microRNA-34a is a well-studied tumor suppressor microRNA (miRNA) and a direct downstream target of TP53 with roles in several pathways associated with oncogenesis, such as proliferation, cellular growth, and differentiation. Due to its broad tumor suppressive activity, it is not surprising that miR34a expression is altered in a wide variety of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. However, the mechanisms by which miR34a is regulated in these cancers is largely unknown. In this study, we find that a long noncoding RNA transcribed antisense to the miR34a host gene, is critical for miR34a expression and mediation of its cellular functions in multiple types of human cancer. We name this long noncoding RNA lncTAM34a, and characterize its ability to facilitate miR34a expression under different types of cellular stress in both TP53-deficient and wild-type settings.
Related Concept Videos
MicroRNAs
MicroRNAs
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
RNA Stability
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...

