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The Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Autophagy During Carcinogenesis

Patricia de la Cruz-Ojeda1,2,3, Rocío Flores-Campos1, Elena Navarro-Villarán1,2,3

  • 1Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Hospital University "Virgen del Rocío"/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville, Spain.

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|March 21, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Macroautophagy, a cellular process, plays a dual role in cancer, acting as a tumor suppressor early on but promoting growth later. Non-coding RNAs like miRNAs and lncRNAs regulate autophagy, impacting cancer development and treatment response.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Molecular Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Macroautophagy (autophagy) is a fundamental cellular process for homeostasis, stress response, and quality control.
  • Altered autophagy is implicated in various diseases, notably cancer, where it exhibits a dual role.
  • Autophagy influences cancer progression, metastasis, and treatment resistance by interacting with apoptotic pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the regulatory roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in autophagy.
  • To elucidate the functional impact of non-coding RNAs on autophagic components in cancer.
  • To provide a comprehensive regulatory network of autophagy in the context of cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of current knowledge.
  • Analysis of regulatory interactions between non-coding RNAs, autophagy, and apoptosis.
  • Integration of signaling pathways (Akt, mTOR, AMPK) in the autophagy network.

Main Results:

  • Non-coding RNAs (miRNAs and lncRNAs) are critical regulators of both autophagic and apoptotic machineries.
  • These non-coding RNAs modulate key signaling pathways (Akt, mTOR, AMPK) that control autophagy.
  • Dysregulation of miRNA- and lncRNA-mediated autophagy impacts cancer cell survival, proliferation, and therapeutic outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Non-coding RNAs are pivotal in the complex regulatory network of autophagy in cancer.
  • Understanding these regulatory mechanisms is crucial for developing novel cancer therapies.
  • Integrated knowledge of miRNA and lncRNA roles in autophagy offers insights into cancer pathogenesis and treatment strategies.
Keywords:
autophagybeclin-1cancerlncRNAmiRNA

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