MicroRNA (Shariqah, United Arab Emirates)最新文献

{"title":"MicroRNAs in Cystic Fibrosis: Dual Role in Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Potential.","authors":"Parvaneh Movahhed, Samaneh Ahmadi, Masoume Ghasemzadeh Qazvini, Amir Namvar, Sara Ahmadi Teshnizi, Mohammadreza Saberiyan","doi":"10.2174/0122115366514632260920030936","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0122115366514632260920030936","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a severe inherited disorder caused by dysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), an epithelial ion channel essential for maintaining airway surface hydration and effective mucociliary clearance. Although over a thousand CFTR mutations have been described, their functional consequences vary widely, with some genotypes retaining partial CFTR activity and presenting as residual-function phenotypes. Despite CFTR modulator therapies substantially improved clinical outcomes in many patients, their efficacy remains incomplete and strongly dependent on the underlying CFTR mutation. Increasing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs), as key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, play a dual role in CF by contributing to disease pathogenesis while also representing potential therapeutic targets. This review provides an overview of the involvement of miRNAs in CF pathophysiology, with emphasis on their roles in CFTR regulation, airway inflammation, epithelial ion transport, and mucus homeostasis. Experimental findings demonstrating that modulation of specific miRNAs enhances CFTR mRNA stability and protein expression, attenuates pro-inflammatory signaling, and improves epithelial function are discussed. Current miRNA-based therapeutic strategies and their translational challenges are discussed, along with their potential integration with emerging CF therapies, including CFTR modulators, mRNA replacement, antisense oligonucleotides, and suppressor tRNA strategies. Given the predominantly preclinical evidence, miRNA modulation may offer a mutation-independent approach to complement existing therapeutic strategies. A combination of miRNA-based approaches with established CF therapies may represent a potential complementary strategy, but the efficacy and safety of such combinations require further experimental and clinical validation.</p>","PeriodicalId":38067,"journal":{"name":"MicroRNA (Shariqah, United Arab Emirates)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149165246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In Silico Analysis of Potential miRNAs-EGFR Binding Complex for EGFR-TKI Resistance Lung Cancer Cells.","authors":"Manisha Ray, Sheikh Naim, Pritinanda Mishra, Mukund Namdev Sable","doi":"10.2174/0122115366489276260818110016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0122115366489276260818110016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Overexpression of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) plays a critical role in the progression and high mortality of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Although EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) demonstrate promising efficacy as first-line therapy, acquired resistance remains a major clinical challenge. Increasing evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate EGFR signaling pathways and may influence therapeutic response and the development of resistance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study aimed to identify EGFR-targeting microRNAs (miRNAs) and evaluate their binding stability using in silico approaches. Experimentally validated EGFR-targeting miRNAs were retrieved from miRTarBase and subsequently screened using miRDB and TargetScan based on their expression in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. The secondary structures of miRNA-EGFR duplexes and three-dimensional structures of the miRNA-EGFR complexes were generated using RNAfold and RNAComposer, respectively. Binding affinity was evaluated using HNADOCK molecular docking. Further validation included survival and co-expression analyses using OncomiR and starBase, RNA-Binding Protein (RBP) interaction analysis using POSTAR3, and pathway enrichment analysis using DIANA-miRPath.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three miRNAs-miR-7-5p, miR-133b, and miR-302b-3p were identified as potential regulators of EGFR. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated strong binding affinities, with docking scores of -339.30, -476.76, and -491.18 kcal/mol, respectively. Survival analysis revealed no significant association between the expression of these miRNAs and patient prognosis. In contrast, co-expression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between miR-133b and EGFR expression. Several upregulated RNA- Binding Proteins (RBPs) that interact with EGFR were identified, suggesting enhanced post-transcriptional regulation that may contribute to the development of EGFR-TKI resistance. Pathway enrichment analysis further identified hsa-miR-7-5p as being significantly associated with EGFR-mediated PI3K-Akt signaling and the NSCLC pathway.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These findings highlight candidate miRNAs as potential regulators of EGFR signaling and possible biomarkers influencing targeted therapy response.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Further experimental and clinical validation is required to confirm their therapeutic relevance in EGFR-TKI-resistant lung cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":38067,"journal":{"name":"MicroRNA (Shariqah, United Arab Emirates)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148907514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinicopathological Profile of Spindle Cell STS with IHC Correlation.","authors":"Swati Agnihotri, Deval Brajesh Dubey, Aniruddha Sen, Mala Sagar, Devanshi Brajesh Dubey","doi":"10.2174/0122115366431417260806055215","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0122115366431417260806055215","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Spindle cell soft tissue tumors (STTs) comprise a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal neoplasms characterized by considerable morphological overlap, making accurate diagnosis challenging. Histopathological examination supported by immunohistochemistry (IHC) remains the current diagnostic standard; however, emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) may provide complementary diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for these tumors. This study evaluated the clinicopathological spectrum of spindle cell soft tissue tumors and highlights the potential relevance of miRNA-based molecular profiling in improving diagnostic precision.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A prospective observational study was conducted on 55 surgically resected spindle cell soft tissue tumors received at King George's Medical University, Lucknow. Clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings were systematically evaluated. Tumors were classified according to the WHO classification and graded using the French Federation of Cancer Centers Sarcoma Group (FNCLCC) grading system where applicable. Morphology-directed immunohistochemistry employing SMA, S-100, desmin, CD34, myogenin, Bcl-2, EMA, β-catenin, CD99, and CD68 was performed to establish lineage differentiation and confirm histopathological diagnoses. Published evidence regarding miRNA dysregulation in major spindle cell tumor subtypes was integrated to provide molecular context for the observed pathological findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 55 tumors, 50.9% were malignant, 29.1% intermediate, and 20.0% benign, with a mean patient age of 32.5 years. Malignant tumors occurred predominantly in patients older than 40 years and most frequently involved the lower extremities. Synovial sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma represented the predominant malignant spindle cell tumors, whereas schwannoma and neurofibroma were the most common benign lesions. Most malignant tumors were deep-seated, measured ≥5 cm, and were classified as FNCLCC grade 3. Immunohistochemistry was indispensable for confirming lineage differentiation in morphologi-cally overlapping lesions. Furthermore, current evidence indicates that subtype-specific miRNA signatures may complement conventional pathology by improving diagnostic accuracy, prognostic assessment, and future therapeutic stratification.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Accurate diagnosis of spindle cell soft tissue tumors requires an integrated clinicopathological approach combining histomorphology and immunohistochemistry. The clinicopathological patterns identified in this study provide a valuable framework for future investigations evaluating miRNA expression as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in spindle cell soft tissue tumors. Incorporating validated miRNA signatures into routine pathological evaluation may further refine tumor classification and advance precision oncology.</p>","PeriodicalId":38067,"journal":{"name":"MicroRNA (Shariqah, United Arab Emirates)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148867109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The lncRNA GAS5 Is Associated with Altered Exosomal MiR-651-5p Cargo in Microglia and May Serve as a Potential Marker of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.","authors":"Amirhossein Mohajeri Khorasani, Elham Karimi, Mahboobeh Zarei, Hanieh Azari, Ahmad Agha Negahi, Pegah Mousavi, Nima Sanadgol","doi":"10.2174/0122115366470305260720052044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0122115366470305260720052044","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Multiple Sclerosis (MS) involves immune dysfunction and demyelination in the central nervous system. Blood biomarkers can distinguish MS patients and identify early disease. The long non-coding RNA GAS5 regulates cell growth and immune activity. This study examines GAS5 expression in PBMCs of Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) patients and its associated miRNAs in exosomes.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this study, we constructed the GAS5-miRNAs-mRNAs regulatory network using data from multiple bioinformatics databases. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) were isolated from Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) patients and healthy controls for expression analysis of GAS5 and related miRNAs using qRT-PCR. Additionally, Human Microglial Cells (HMC3) were subjected to oxidative stress, and GAS5/miRNA expression was evaluated in cells and exosomes to explore redox-related regulatory mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings demonstrated significantly higher GAS5 expression levels in patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) compared with healthy controls (P = 0.0121). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis further indicated that GAS5 possesses a moderate ability to discriminate RRMS patients from controls, yielding an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.6498. The in silico analysis revealed that hsa-miR-651-5p emerged as a central component in the regulatory network of GAS5, with its target genes primarily implicated in transcription and apoptosis regulation. Additionally, RUNX1, YY1, GSK3B, FMR1, and KLF2 were identified as entities linked to GAS5. In this regard, our findings indicate a significant association between redox imbalance and the dysregulation of GAS5 and miR-651-5p expression in the HMC3 cell line and its derived exosomes.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These findings suggest a potential association between redox imbalance and dysregulation of the GAS5/miR-651-5p axis in RRMS. The preferential packaging of miR-651-5p into exosomes under oxidative stress conditions suggests the engagement of redox-responsive regulatory pathways and raises the possibility that exosomal miR-651-5p and GAS5 participate in a coordinated regulatory network contributing to cellular adaptation in RRMS.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>GAS5 can serve as a mitochondria-associated regulatory lncRNA for RRMS, and redox imbalance appears to influence its regulation, highlighting its role in the cellular stress response.</p>","PeriodicalId":38067,"journal":{"name":"MicroRNA (Shariqah, United Arab Emirates)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148809258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Precision RNA-based Gene Silencing and Theranostics Delivery Strategies for Glioma: Advances in siRNA and Emerging miRNA Therapeutics.","authors":"Aneesh Parmar, Amar Deep Ankalgi, Ankit Sharma, Aditi Kaushik, Mahendra Singh Ashawat","doi":"10.2174/0122115366490696260721101818","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0122115366490696260721101818","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Gliomas, particularly Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), remain highly lethal despite surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, largely due to their infiltrative biology, marked molecular heterogeneity, and the restrictive Blood-Brain Barrier. RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics, including Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) and emerging microRNA (miRNA)-modulating strategies, enable targeted silencing of oncogenic drivers. However, their clinical application is constrained by rapid systemic clearance, nuclease-mediated degradation, off-target effects, and inefficient brain delivery.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This review evaluates recent advances in RNA-based precision gene silencing for glioma, with particular focus on siRNA therapeutics, emerging miRNA strategies, nanocarrier-enabled delivery systems, and theranostic integration for imaging-guided therapy.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A comprehensive literature search (1998-2026) of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar was performed to identify preclinical and early clinical studies addressing glioma pathobiology, RNA interference mechanisms, siRNA targets, nanocarrier platforms, and imaging-guided theranostic systems, with emphasis on orthotopic models, registered clinical trials, and mechanistically well-characterized datasets.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Non-viral nanocarriers (lipid nanoparticles, bio-reducible polymers, dendrimer-gold, exosomes) enable siRNA protection, BBB penetration, and knockdown of EGFR, STAT3, BCL-2, VEGF, and GLUT-3 in orthotopic glioma models. Emerging miRNA-based strategies, including anti-miR-21 and miR-100 modulation, showed potential for reversing chemoresistance. Combination therapies with temozolomide/doxorubicin produced greater efficacy than single-agent approaches. Theranostic imaging platforms (PET/MRI/SPECT) enabled real-time monitoring of biodistribution and treatment responses.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>RNA-based theranostic strategies show promising potential for glioma therapy. However, further optimization of delivery systems, improved safety profiles, and successful clinical translation remain necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":38067,"journal":{"name":"MicroRNA (Shariqah, United Arab Emirates)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148707888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does miR-199a-3p Regulate Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase 1 (SCD1) in Ovine Tissues or Subcutaneous Adipocytes? Evidence for Species-Specific Differences.","authors":"Aliute N S Udoka, Susan K Duckett","doi":"10.2174/0122115366480003260708191849","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0122115366480003260708191849","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is a key enzyme in the conversion of saturated (SFA) to monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) that alters the fatty acid composition of adipose tissues. We hypothesize that miR-199a-3p regulates stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) expression and MUFA concentration in ovine adipose tissues and subcutaneous primary adipocytes in vitro. The objectives were to: 1) examine the relationship between miR-199a-3p and SCD1 expression, and MUFA fatty acid concentration in adipose tissues of lambs from two sire breeds, and 2) evaluate overexpression (AgomiR-199a-3p) and knockdown (AntagomiR-199a-3p) of miR-199a-3p on SCD1 mRNA expression and MUFA content in subcutaneous adipocytes in vitro.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adipose tissue samples were collected from lambs sired by two breed types (n = 4/sire breed). miR-199a-3p and SCD1 mRNA expression, and MUFA: SFA ratio were examined in five adipose depots. Stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells were isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissues, propagated, and used to examine overexpression (AgomiR-199a-3p) or knockdown (An-tagomiR-199a-3p) of miR-199a-3p on SCD1 expression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Expression of miRNA-199a-3p and SCD1 mRNA differed in adipose tissues by sire breed. AgomiR-199a-3p or antagomir-199a-3p treatments did not alter SCD1 mRNA expression or MUFA content; however, the magnitude of the downregulation of miR-199a-3p with antagomiR-199a-3p treatment differed based on sire breed.</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusions: </strong>Despite the manipulation of miR-199a-3p, the lack of change in SCD1 expression or MUFA accumulation suggests that miR-199a-3p does not significantly alter SCD1 in ovine adipocytes at this level, or that regulation may occur post-transcriptionally or through different pathways. Breed-dependent changes in miRNA responsiveness and adipose gene expression may indicate that Texel-sired lambs may exhibit altered adipose tissue metabolism and muscle development.</p>","PeriodicalId":38067,"journal":{"name":"MicroRNA (Shariqah, United Arab Emirates)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148608390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"miR-139 is a Tumor Suppressor microRNA with a Guanine-rich Precursor Terminal Loop.","authors":"Amit Cohen, Mario Alberto Burgos-Aceves, Yoav Smith","doi":"10.2174/0122115366477253260706155234","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0122115366477253260706155234","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction/objective: </strong>MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that modulate cancer-related processes, including cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and invasion. While numerous oncogenic (oncomiRs) and tumor suppressor (TS) miRNAs have been characterized, structural features distinguishing these groups are not fully understood. This study investigates whether guanine (G) enrichment in precursor miRNA (pre-miRNA) terminal loop (TL) regions across the human miRNome is associated with tumor-suppressive activity in lung cancer.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed 955 human pre-miRNA TL region sequences to quantify G residue enrichment. G-rich TL miRNAs were identified using a G-enrichment score, with G-free TL miRNAs as controls. Functional annotations were compiled from 831 published studies. Publicly available transcriptomic and proteomic datasets were analyzed to assess miRNA expression and target regulation in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>G-rich TL miRNAs (n=42) exhibited higher TS-to-oncomiR ratios than G-free control miRNAs. The enrichment of TS miRNAs among G-rich TL miRNAs was significantly stronger in lung cancer compared to the pan-cancer background (Breslow-Day test, p = 0.027). miR-139, a TS miRNA with a G-rich TL region, was consistently downregulated in LUAD at all stages, accompanied by increased expression of its validated oncogenic target, CCNB1.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The association between G-rich TL regions and TS function suggests that TL G content may affect miRNA processing efficiency, stability, and functional activity in lung cancer. The inverse expression patterns of miR-139 and CCNB1 in LUAD are consistent with a potential functional contribution of this structural feature to disease progression.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>G-rich TL architecture is associated with TS miRNA function, particularly in lung cancer. miR-139, a TS miRNA characterized by a G-rich TL region, exemplifies this relationship by targeting the oncogene CCNB1. These findings underscore the potential relevance of TL sequence composition in miRNA-mediated tumor suppression and support its consideration in future research strategies aimed at restoring vulnerable TS miRNAs.</p>","PeriodicalId":38067,"journal":{"name":"MicroRNA (Shariqah, United Arab Emirates)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148608376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Correlation of miRNA-21 with Overall Survival in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Observational Study.","authors":"Kiran B Jadhav, Nidhi Jadhav, Vandana Shah, Ghanshyam Parmar, Srikant S Natarajan, Amit Mahajan","doi":"10.2174/0122115366448008260702103626","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0122115366448008260702103626","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Cervical lymph node metastasis is a well-established determinant of reduced overall survival in patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). MicroRNA-21 (miR-21), a key oncogenic regulator, has been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis. Given the reported association between miR-21 expression and lymph node involvement, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between miR-21 expression, lymph node metastasis, and overall survival in OSCC patients.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This observational follow-up study included 60 patients with OSCC who had undergone surgical treatment. Expression levels of miR-21 were quantified in both salivary and tumor tissue samples, and histopathologically confirmed lymph node metastasis was recorded as a predictor variable. Patients were followed up through in-person clinical examinations or telephonic communication. Overall survival, measured in months post-surgery, was the primary outcome. Potential confounders, including age, sex, histological grade, and TNM stage, were considered. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Hazard Ratio (HR) estimation were performed to evaluate associations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in overall survival among patients with positive lymph node metastasis (P ≤ 0.005). Although differences in survival by miR-21 expression were not statistically significant, elevated miR-21 levels were associated with an increased risk of mortality. Hazard ratios ranged from 1.3 to 1.6 for tumor tissue and 1.19 to 1.63 for salivary samples, indicating a higher risk of adverse outcomes in patients with expression levels above the defined cutoff.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Elevated miR-21 expression was associated with reduced overall survival, although statistical significance was not achieved in survival curve analysis. However, hazard ratio estimates suggest a clinically meaningful increase in mortality risk. The relationship between miR-21 expression and survival appears to be influenced by the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>High miR-21 expression is associated with an increased risk of mortality in OSCC patients, particularly in the presence of lymph node metastasis. These findings support the potential role of miR-21 as a prognostic biomarker in OSCC.</p>","PeriodicalId":38067,"journal":{"name":"MicroRNA (Shariqah, United Arab Emirates)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148521139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"LncRNAs at the Crossroads of Breast Cancer Metastasis: Emerging Mechanisms and Therapeutic Prospects.","authors":"Arnab Dey, Kuppa Sree Vagdevi, Mohini Singh","doi":"10.2174/0122115366442718260516212348","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0122115366442718260516212348","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Breast cancer metastasis is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in women, which occurs through an intricate molecular network and cellular events. Over time, lncRNAs have emerged as an important regulator of metastatic progression. These RNAs affect important processes including EMT, ECM remodelling, angiogenesis, immune evasion, and can-cer stemness. LncRNAs regulate this process by acting as molecular decoys, scaffolds, guides, or competing endogenous RNAs, thereby controlling gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Various lncRNAs, including HOTAIR, BCAR4, and LINC00511, are known to promote metastasis by driving chromatin remodelling and activating pro-tumorigenic signalling pathways. In contrast, lncRNAs such as GAS5, LINC01133, and TINCR act as metas-tasis suppressors, thereby limiting tumor spreading. A wide range of experimental approaches, including CRISPR/Cas9, RNA interference, in-vitro functional assays, in-vivo models, and bio-informatic analyses, have helped define critical lncRNA-driven regulatory networks. Despite these advances, challenges related to lncRNA conservation, delivery strategies, and context-spe-cific functions persist. Nevertheless, progress in RNA therapeutics and multi-omics technologies is steadily advancing the integration of lncRNA signatures into liquid biopsies, diagnostics, and precision medicine approaches for metastatic breast cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":38067,"journal":{"name":"MicroRNA (Shariqah, United Arab Emirates)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148399431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Do Circulating miRNAs Exhibit Distinct Patterns in Coronary Artery Disease Patients?","authors":"Chitra M Mestry, Minal U Paradkar, Nitin Shukla, Apurvasinh Puvar, Chaitanya G Joshi, Chandrashekhar K Ponde, Navneet Kumar, Rajesh M Rajani, Sudhir Pillai, Tester F Ashavaid, Swarup A V Shah","doi":"10.2174/0122115366484632260516213702","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0122115366484632260516213702","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Identifying reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis and understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms are critical for improving patient outcomes. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising non-invasive biomarkers due to their stability in blood and involvement in various pathophysiological processes. This pilot case-control study aims to perform small RNA sequencing using next-generation sequencing in the plasma of Indian CAD patients to identify differentially expressed miRNAs and evaluate their potential as biomarkers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Plasma samples were collected from 30 angiographically verified CAD patients and 30 age-and gender-matched controls with normal coronary arteries. Small RNA libraries were prepared and sequenced using Illumina's NextSeq 2000. Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified using the DESeq2 package, followed by target gene prediction using the miRDB, TargetScan, and miRTarBase databases. Functional enrichment analysis was performed using DAVID.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twelve significantly dysregulated circulating miRNAs were identified in CAD patients. miR-6806-3p, miR-3614-5p, miR-548e-3p, miR-147b-3p, and let-7d-3p demonstrated novel associations with CAD, whereas miR-125a-3p, miR-495-3p, and miR-143-3p were highlighted for their significant roles in regulating key molecular pathways implicated in CAD pathogenesis.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study represents the first comprehensive NGS-based analysis of small RNAs in the plasma of Indian CAD patients. The twelve identified circulating miRNAs highlight their intricate roles in CAD pathogenesis by targeting key target genes involved in critical biological pathways.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The identified miRNAs highlight their potential as diagnostic biomarkers; however, validation in larger and more diverse cohorts is required to confirm their clinical utility.</p>","PeriodicalId":38067,"journal":{"name":"MicroRNA (Shariqah, United Arab Emirates)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148273304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}