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Review
. 2015;7(6):975-84.
doi: 10.2217/epi.15.37. Epub 2015 May 1.

The role of piRNA and its potential clinical implications in cancer

Carolina Baraúna Assumpção  1 , Danielle Queiroz Calcagno  2 , Taíssa Maíra Thomaz Araújo  2 , Sidney Emmanuel Batista dos Santos  2 , Ândrea Kely Campos Ribeiro dos Santos  2 , Gregory Joseph Riggins  3 , Rommel Rodriguez Burbano  1 , Paulo Pimentel Assumpção  2
Affiliations
Review

The role of piRNA and its potential clinical implications in cancer

Carolina Baraúna Assumpção et al. Epigenomics. 2015.

Abstract

Epigenetic mechanisms work in an orchestrated fashion to control gene expression in both homeostasis and diseases. Among small noncoding RNAs, piRNAs seem to meet the necessary requirements to be included in this epigenetic network due to their role in both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. piRNAs and PIWI proteins might play important roles in cancer occurrence, prognosis and treatment as reported previously. Nevertheless, the potential clinical relevance of these molecules has yet been elucidated. A brief overview of piRNA biogenesis and their potential roles as part of an epigenetic network that is possibly involved in cancer is provided. Moreover, potential strategies based on the use of piRNAs and PIWI proteins as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as for cancer therapeutics are discussed.

Keywords: PIWI; cancer biomarker; cancer therapy; epigenetic network; piRNA.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Small noncoding RNAs involved in epigenetic regulation
Small noncoding RNAs seem to work in epigenetic control by regulating mRNAs in a post-transcriptional fashion. The profile of miRNAs and piRNAs depends on the specificity of transcripts in each cell. In cancer cells, the shift to global hypomethylation modifies the transcripts and as a consequence, the piRNAs and miRNAs profiles. This specificity allows miRNA and piRNA tissue signatures to be identified, both in homeostasis and in diseases.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Targeting piRNAs and PIWI proteins
Based on the roles of piRNAs and PIWI proteins, these molecules may be excellent targets for cancer therapy. Antibodies against PIWI proteins could be useful at the post-translational level, whereas synthetic piRNAs could be applied in transcriptional and posttranscriptional approaches. When targeting DNA, the ‘piRNAi’ should contain the specific sequence to allow them to associate with the PIWI proteins. Conversely, when targeting mRNA, the ‘piRNAi’ should contain the specific sequence to allow them to associate with proteins of the Argonaute family.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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