Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 23, 2025

miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues
11:29

miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues

Published on: September 8, 2015

11.1K

Emerging roles of MiR-133a in human cancers

Yu-Ting Hua1, Wen-Xiu Xu2, Hui Li1

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, 299 Qingyang Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, China.

Journal of Cancer
|January 4, 2021
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate genes involved in cancer. MiR-133a, a specific miRNA, plays a role in tumor development, progression, and treatment resistance, offering potential for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Oncology

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally.
  • MiRNAs bind to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to control protein production.
  • Dysregulation of miRNA expression is implicated in various human diseases, particularly cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of miR-133a in physiological and pathological processes.
  • To explore the involvement of miR-133a in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, autophagy, and drug resistance.
  • To discuss the potential applications of miR-133a in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent scientific publications.
  • Analysis of studies investigating miR-133a function in cancer models and patient samples.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on miR-133a's regulatory mechanisms and clinical relevance.

Main Results:

  • MiR-133a acts as a tumor suppressor or oncogene depending on the cancer type.
  • It influences key cellular processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion.
  • Evidence suggests miR-133a's involvement in mediating resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies.

Conclusions:

  • MiR-133a is a critical regulator in cancer, impacting multiple hallmarks of the disease.
  • Understanding miR-133a's complex functions can lead to novel diagnostic biomarkers.
  • Targeting miR-133a presents a promising avenue for developing innovative cancer therapies.
Keywords:
MiR-133acancermiRNA

More Related Videos

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis11:44

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis

Published on: March 30, 2019

7.8K
Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library08:40

Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library

Published on: April 6, 2012

17.8K

Related Concept Videos

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...
3.4K
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...
23.3K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR 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...
4.1K
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
7.4K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
4.9K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
6.2K