Role of microRNA-129 in cancer and non-cancerous diseases (Review)

Abstract

An increasing number of studies indicate that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are involved in diverse biological signaling pathways and play important roles in the progression of various diseases, including both oncological and non-oncological diseases. These small non-coding RNAs can block translation, resulting in a low expression level of target genes. miR-129 is an miRNA that has been the focus of considerable research in recent years. A growing body of evidence shows that the miR-129 family not only functions in cancer, including osteosarcoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and ovarian, prostate, lung, breast and colon cancer, but also in non-cancerous diseases, including heart failure (HF), epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease (AD), obesity, diabetes and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). It is therefore necessary to summarize current research progress on the role of miR-129 in different diseases. The present review includes an updated summary of the mechanisms of the miR-129 family in oncological and non-oncological diseases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review focusing on the role of miR-129 in non-cancerous diseases such as obesity, HF, epilepsy, diabetes, IVDD and AD.

Keywords: cancer; mechanism; microRNA-129-3p; microRNA-129-5p; non-cancerous diseases.

Figure 1

Signaling pathway axis of miR-129 in lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteosarcoma. miR, microRNA; BZW1, basic leucine zipper and W2 domains 1; YAP, yes-associated protein; TAZ, tafazzin; mTOR, mechanistic target of rapamycin; CBX1, chromobox 4; YWHAB, tyrosine 3-plus monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-plus monooxygenase activation protein β; LHX2, LIM homeobox 2; PCAT-1, prostate cancer-associated transcript 1.

Figure 2

Molecular regulatory network of miR-129 in HF and diabetes (different colors). miR-129 acts as a beneficial factor by inhibiting functions of neutrophils in diabetes and by inhibiting inflammation and maintaining cellular calcium balance in HF. miR, microRNA; Casp, caspase; Ccr2, C-C chemokine receptor type 2; HMGB1, high-mobility group box-1; NEAT1, nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1; NMDA, N-methyl-D-aspartate; GRIN2D, glutamate ionotropic receptor N-methyl-D-aspartate type subunit 2D; HF, heart failure.