miR-17-5p: bridging the gap between disease mechanisms and therapeutic innovations

MicroRNA-17-5p (miR-17-5p) is a regulatory molecule underpinning a range of diseases and for which various innovative therapeutic strategies across diverse pathologies are possible. Encoded by the miR-17-92 cluster, miR-17-5p exerts pleiotropic functions across cancers, inflammatory conditions, and genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis (CF). Its capacity to fine-tune processes including autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, inflammation, and immune modulation places miR-17-5p at the nexus of disease progression and therapeutic intervention. In cancer, miR-17-5p exhibits context-dependent duality, acting as a tumor promoter or suppressor by regulating proliferation, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance pathways. In inflammatory and genetic diseases, including CF and neurodegenerative disorders, miR-17-5p orchestrates immune homeostasis, autophagy, and tissue remodeling, contributing to either disease exacerbation or resolution. Recent advances in RNA delivery technologies including nanocarriers, exosome-based systems, and receptor-targeted delivery platforms have unlocked new possibilities for miR-17-5p modulation with enhanced precision and minimized off-target effects. These innovations hold promise for restoring cellular homeostasis in CF, Alzheimer's disease, and cancers by precisely tuning miR-17-5p expression to match disease-specific requirements. This review highlights the versatile role of miR-17-5p in diverse pathological processes and emphasizes its promise as a biomarker and therapeutic target, offering a path toward more personalized and effective treatments across multiple disease areas.