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Review
. 2025 Apr 11;16(4):446.
doi: 10.3390/genes16040446.

Role of MicroRNAs in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Aneta Wiśnik  1   2 , Dariusz Jarych  3 , Kinga Krawiec  1   2 , Piotr Strzałka  1   2 , Natalia Potocka  4 , Magdalena Czemerska  1   2 , Aleksandra Sałagacka-Kubiak  2 , Agnieszka Pluta  1   2 , Agnieszka Wierzbowska  1   2 , Izabela Zawlik  4   5
Affiliations
Review

Role of MicroRNAs in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Aneta Wiśnik et al. Genes (Basel). .

Abstract

MicroRNA (miRNA), a significant class of regulatory non-coding RNA (ncRNA), can regulate the expression of numerous protein-coding messenger RNAs (mRNAs). miRNA plays an important part in shaping the human transcriptome. So far, in the human genome, about 2500 miRNAs have been found. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) belongs to a malignant clonal disorder of hematopoietic stem cells and is characterized by the uncontrolled clonal proliferation of abnormal progenitor cells in the bone marrow and blood. For the past several years, significant scientific attention has been attracted to the role of miRNAs in AML, since alterations in the expression levels of miRNAs may contribute to AML development. This review describes the main functions of non-coding RNA classes and presents miRNA biogenesis. This study aims to review recent reports about altered microRNA expression and their influence on AML cell survival, cell cycle, and apoptotic potential. Additionally, it summarizes the correlations between miRNAs and their target mRNAs in AML and outlines the role of particular miRNAs in AML subtypes according to ELN recommendations.

Keywords: acute myeloid leukemia; microRNA; non-coding RNA.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The canonical pathway of miRNA biogenesis. The initial stages of miRNA synthesis occur in the nucleus. The first stage is the transcription of the miRNA gene by RNA polymerase II or III. This process produces the primary miRNA transcript. The Microprocessor complex, consisting of one Drosha molecule and two DGCR8 molecules, cleaves the pri-miRNA to form precursor miRNA. The precursor miRNA is then transported to the cytoplasm by the RanGTP/Exportin-5 complex. In the cytoplasm, the Dicer enzyme, with TRBP and PACT, cut the pre-miRNA, which generates miRNA/*miRNA duplexes. Mature miRNA, which is defined in one strand of the duplex, after its unwinding, as a single-stranded particle, is preserved within an active RISC complex, leading to the formation of miRISC, while the passenger strand is degraded. Subsequently, the expression of target mRNA is silenced by either cleaving the mRNA or inhibiting translation. The graphic was created using the program Mind the Graph (mindthegraph.com).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic illustration of the potential role of miRNA in AML pathogenesis and their possible modulation in therapeutics.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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