Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 31, 2025
Assessing Lysosomal Alkalinization in the Intestine of Live Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: April 13, 2018
Let-7 as a Promising Target in Aging and Aging-Related Diseases: A Promise or a Pledge
Ya Wang1,2, Juanjuan Zhao1,2, Shipeng Chen1,2
1Special Key Laboratory of Gene Detection and Therapy & Base for Talents in Biotherapy of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China.
Abstract:
The abnormal regulation and expression of microRNA (miRNA) are closely related to the aging process and the occurrence and development of aging-related diseases. Lethal-7 (let-7) was discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and plays an important role in development by regulating cell fate regulators. Accumulating evidence has shown that let-7 is elevated in aging tissues and participates in multiple pathways that regulate the aging process, including affecting tissue stem cell function, body metabolism, and various aging-related diseases (ARDs). Moreover, recent studies have found that let-7 plays an important role in the senescence of B cells, suggesting that let-7 may also participate in the aging process by regulating immune function. Therefore, these studies show the diversity and complexity of let-7 expression and regulatory functions during aging. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of let-7 expression regulation as well as its role in different tissue aging and aging-related diseases, which may provide new ideas for enriching the complex expression regulation mechanism and pathobiological function of let-7 in aging and related diseases and ultimately provide help for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Insights
MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation is linked to aging and related diseases. The let-7 miRNA family is elevated in aging, impacting stem cells, metabolism, and immune function, offering therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Gerontology
- Immunology
Background:
- MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation is implicated in aging and age-related diseases (ARDs).
- The let-7 miRNA family, initially identified in *C. elegans*, is crucial for developmental regulation.
- Emerging evidence links let-7 to aging processes and ARDs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the regulatory mechanisms of let-7 expression.
- To elucidate the multifaceted roles of let-7 in tissue aging and ARDs.
- To explore let-7's involvement in immune function during aging.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on let-7 expression and function in aging.
- Analysis of let-7's role in stem cell function, metabolism, and disease pathways.
- Examination of let-7's impact on B cell senescence and immune regulation.
Main Results:
- let-7 levels are elevated in aging tissues.
- let-7 influences stem cell maintenance, metabolic processes, and ARDs.
- let-7 plays a role in immune cell aging, specifically B cell senescence.
Conclusions:
- let-7 exhibits complex expression and regulatory functions in aging.
- Understanding let-7's role in aging provides insights into disease mechanisms.
- let-7 represents a potential therapeutic target for aging and ARDs.
More Related Videos
09:37A Phenotyping Regimen for Genetically Modified Mice Used to Study Genes Implicated in Human Diseases of Aging
Published on: July 14, 2016
08:52Measurement of Protein Turnover Rates in Senescent and Non-Dividing Cultured Cells with Metabolic Labeling and Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 6, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
01:37Mitochondria
01:26Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
01:46Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...