Affiliation:
1. Associate Professor, Department of
Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh-462020, India
2. Independent Researcher, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Abstract
Abstract:
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) constitute new small non-coding RNA
molecules of around 24-31 nucleotides in length, mostly performing regulatory roles for
the piwi protein family members. In recent times, developing evidence proposes that
piRNAs are expressed in a tissue-specific way in various human tissues and act as
moderate vital signalling pathways at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level in
addition to mammalian germline. Recent findings, however, show that the unusual
expression of piRNAs is an exclusive and discrete feature in several diseases, including
many human cancers. Recently, considerable evidence indicates that piRNAs could be
dysregulated thus playing critical roles in tumorigenesis. The function and underlying
mechanisms of piRNAs in cancer, particularly in colorectal carcinoma, are not fully
understood to date. Abnormal expression of piRNAs is emerging as a critical player in
cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration in vitro and in vivo.
Functionally, piRNAs preserve genomic integrity and regulate the expression of
downstream target genes through transcriptional or post-transcriptional mechanisms by
repressing transposable elements' mobilization. However, little research has been done
to check Piwi and piRNAs' potential role in cancer and preserve genome integrity by
epigenetically silencing transposons via DNA methylation, especially in germline cancer
stem cells. This review reveals emerging insights into piRNA functions in colorectal
carcinoma, revealing novel findings behind various piRNA-mediated gene regulation
mechanisms, biogenetic piRNA processes, and possible applications of piRNAs and piwi
proteins in cancer diagnosis and their potential clinical significance in the treatment of
colorectal carcinoma patients.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Molecular Biology,Molecular Medicine,General Medicine,Biochemistry
Cited by
3 articles.
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