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Review
. 2015 Mar 3:8:539-48.
doi: 10.2147/OTT.S75899. eCollection 2015.

The role of miR-29b in cancer: regulation, function, and signaling

Bin Yan  1 , Qiong Guo  2 , Fa-Jun Fu  2 , Zhao Wang  1 , Zhuo Yin  1 , Yong-Bao Wei  1 , Jin-Rui Yang  1
Affiliations
Review

The role of miR-29b in cancer: regulation, function, and signaling

Bin Yan et al. Onco Targets Ther. .

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNAs with the capacity to regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. The miRNA-29 family consists of miR-29a, miR-29b, and miR-29c, among which miR-29b is the most highly expressed and is found at two genomic loci. Recently, numerous studies have demonstrated that aberrant expression of miR-29b is common in the majority of human cancers. miR-29b is known to critically affect cancer progression by functioning as a tumor suppressor. However, it may also act as an oncogene under certain conditions. In this review, we illustrate the role of miR-29b in cancer regulation, function, and signaling. This is the first review highlighting the role of miR-29b in cancer. Our review aims to summarize the effects of miR-29b on cancer activity and its interactions with target genes and signaling pathways, as well as to provide therapeutic implications for overcoming cancer chemoresistance.

Keywords: biological function; cancer; chemoresistance; miR-29b; oncogene; tumor promoter.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The mechanism by which miR-29b induces apoptosis and inhibits metastasis in human cancer cells. Abbreviations: Mcl-1, myeloid cell leukemia-1; MMP-2, matrix metalloproteinase-2; SOCS-1, suppressor of cytokine signaling-1; LAMC2, laminin γ2; ITGA6, α6 integrin; miR-29b, micro-ribonucleic acid-29b; Bcl-2, B-cell lymphoma-2; AKT2, protein kinase B; CCND2, cyclin D2; CDC42, cell division cycle 42; P13, a kinase; p85, the regulatory subunit of PI3 kinase; p53, a tumor suppressor that induces apoptosis in many tumor types.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Interaction of the miR-29b with cellular pathways. Abbreviations: NF-kappaB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; c-Myc, a regulator gene that codes for a transcription factor; Src, a family of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases; ID1, DNA binding/differentiation 1; miR-29b, micro-ribonucleic acid-29b; DNMTs, deoxyribonucleic acid transferases; Wnt, a group of secreted signaling molecules that mediate a variety of cellular processes; AKT, protein kinase B; PI3, a kinase.
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