miRNAs as Influencers of Cell–Cell Communication in Tumor Microenvironment
microRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level, inducing the degradation of the target mRNA or translational repression. MiRNAs are involved in the control of a multiplicity of biological processes, and their absence or altered expression h...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Cells |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/9/1/220 |
| _version_ | 1797707142467158016 |
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| author | Ilaria Conti Gabriele Varano Carolina Simioni Ilaria Laface Daniela Milani Erika Rimondi Luca M. Neri |
| author_facet | Ilaria Conti Gabriele Varano Carolina Simioni Ilaria Laface Daniela Milani Erika Rimondi Luca M. Neri |
| author_sort | Ilaria Conti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | microRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level, inducing the degradation of the target mRNA or translational repression. MiRNAs are involved in the control of a multiplicity of biological processes, and their absence or altered expression has been associated with a variety of human diseases, including cancer. Recently, extracellular miRNAs (ECmiRNAs) have been described as mediators of intercellular communication in multiple contexts, including tumor microenvironment. Cancer cells cooperate with stromal cells and elements of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to establish a comfortable niche to grow, to evade the immune system, and to expand. Within the tumor microenvironment, cells release ECmiRNAs and other factors in order to influence and hijack the physiological processes of surrounding cells, fostering tumor progression. Here, we discuss the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of multicomplex diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and cancer, focusing on the contribution of both intracellular miRNAs, and of released ECmiRNAs in the establishment and development of cancer niche. We also review growing evidence suggesting the use of miRNAs as novel targets or potential tools for therapeutic applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:01:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-98232dd48bdb42e3ad8cef04e8c993d7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:01:56Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-98232dd48bdb42e3ad8cef04e8c993d72023-09-03T04:03:38ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092020-01-019122010.3390/cells9010220cells9010220miRNAs as Influencers of Cell–Cell Communication in Tumor MicroenvironmentIlaria Conti0Gabriele Varano1Carolina Simioni2Ilaria Laface3Daniela Milani4Erika Rimondi5Luca M. Neri6Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalymicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level, inducing the degradation of the target mRNA or translational repression. MiRNAs are involved in the control of a multiplicity of biological processes, and their absence or altered expression has been associated with a variety of human diseases, including cancer. Recently, extracellular miRNAs (ECmiRNAs) have been described as mediators of intercellular communication in multiple contexts, including tumor microenvironment. Cancer cells cooperate with stromal cells and elements of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to establish a comfortable niche to grow, to evade the immune system, and to expand. Within the tumor microenvironment, cells release ECmiRNAs and other factors in order to influence and hijack the physiological processes of surrounding cells, fostering tumor progression. Here, we discuss the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of multicomplex diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and cancer, focusing on the contribution of both intracellular miRNAs, and of released ECmiRNAs in the establishment and development of cancer niche. We also review growing evidence suggesting the use of miRNAs as novel targets or potential tools for therapeutic applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/9/1/220micrornatumor microenvironmentcell–cell communicationextracellular mirnacancer therapy |
| spellingShingle | Ilaria Conti Gabriele Varano Carolina Simioni Ilaria Laface Daniela Milani Erika Rimondi Luca M. Neri miRNAs as Influencers of Cell–Cell Communication in Tumor Microenvironment Cells microrna tumor microenvironment cell–cell communication extracellular mirna cancer therapy |
| title | miRNAs as Influencers of Cell–Cell Communication in Tumor Microenvironment |
| title_full | miRNAs as Influencers of Cell–Cell Communication in Tumor Microenvironment |
| title_fullStr | miRNAs as Influencers of Cell–Cell Communication in Tumor Microenvironment |
| title_full_unstemmed | miRNAs as Influencers of Cell–Cell Communication in Tumor Microenvironment |
| title_short | miRNAs as Influencers of Cell–Cell Communication in Tumor Microenvironment |
| title_sort | mirnas as influencers of cell cell communication in tumor microenvironment |
| topic | microrna tumor microenvironment cell–cell communication extracellular mirna cancer therapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/9/1/220 |
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