Review
miR-155 gene: A typical multifunctional microRNA

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Abstract

In the last years small RNA molecules, i.e. microRNA (miRNA) encoded by miR genes, have been found to play a crucial role in regulating gene expression of a considerable part of plant's and animal's genome. Here, we report the essential information on biogenesis of miRNAs and recent evidence on their important role in human diseases. Emphasis has been given to miR-155, since this molecule represents a typical multifunctional miRNA. Recent data indicate that miR-155 has distinct expression profiles and plays a crucial role in various physiological and pathological processes such as haematopoietic lineage differentiation, immunity, inflammation, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, miR-155 has been found to be implicated in viral infections, particularly in those caused by DNA viruses. The available experimental evidence indicating that miR-155 is over expressed in a variety of malignant tumors allows us to include this miRNA in the list of genes of paramount importance in cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Exogenous molecular control in vivo of miR-155 expression could open up new ways to restrain malignant growth and viral infections, or to attenuate the progression of cardiovascular diseases.

Abbreviations

miR
microRNA gene
miRNA
microRNA
pri-miRNA
primary transcripts microRNA
DGCR8
Digeorge syndrome critical region gene 8
TRBP
TAR RNA-binding protein
PACT
PKR-activating protein
RISC
RNA induced silencing complex
AGO
Argonaute
siRNAs
small interfering RNAs
CLL
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
PD
Parkinson's disease
AD
Alzheimer's disease
FGF20
fibroblast growth factor 20
BACE 1
β-amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1
AT1R
type I Angiotensin II receptor
BIC
B-cell Integration Cluster
HSC
haematopoietic stem cell
LPS
lipopolysaccharide
poly IC
polyriboinosinic–polyribocytidylic acid
TNF-α
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α
JNK
c-Jun N-terminal kinase
RA
Rheumatoid Arthritis
BCR
B-cell receptor
TCR
T cell receptor
MMPs
matrix metalloproteinase
AID
activation-induced cytidine deaminase
FADD
Fas (TNFRSF6)-associated via death domain protein
IKKɛ
IkB kinase epsilon
RIPK1
Receptor (TNFRSF)-interacting serine–threonine kinase 1
TP53INP1
tumor protein p53 induced nuclear protein 1
PMBL
Primary Mediastinal B-cell Lymphoma
DLBCL
Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
GCB
germinal center B cell-like
ABC
activated B cell-like
ALL
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
AML
Acute Myeloid Leukemia
PDAC
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Ang II
angiotensin II
KSHV
Kaposi's-sarcoma-associated herpes virus
EBV
Epstein–Barr virus

Keywords

miRNA
miR-155
Haematopoiesis
Inflammation
Immunity
Cancer
Lymphoma
Leukemia

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