miR-21 and let-7 in the Ras and NF-κB pathways

Microrna. 2012;1(1):65-9. doi: 10.2174/2211536611201010065.

Abstract

miR-21 and let-7 are two of the most studied microRNAs (miRNAs), as the former is the most frequently upregulated and the latter is the most frequently down-regulated in cancer. In this short essay, we examine the convergence of miR-21 and let-7 in two major cancer pathways: Ras and NF-κB. miR-21 suppresses multiple targets to enhance the oncogenic action of Ras, while let-7 is a direct negative regulator of the Ras gene family. let-7 is proposed to repress the activation of NF-κB through down-regulation of Ras and IL-6, while miR-21 is demonstrated to enhance NF-κB activation by down-regulating Pten and thereby increasing the activity of Akt, a kinase known to promote the NF-κB pathway. Therefore, miR-21 and let-7 contravene each other in cancer and simultaneous targeting of both is an attractive therapeutic strategy against cancers exhibiting both Ras mutations and constitutive NF-κB activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • ras Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • MIRN21 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • NF-kappa B
  • mirnlet7 microRNA, human
  • ras Proteins