MiR-22 slows down liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a deadly and very common liver cancer. The lack of efficacy of conventional treatments is driving the search for new treatment options. In this context, tiny non-coding nucleic acids called microRNAs represent a potential innovative avenue that could open up new therapeutic possibilities.
MiR-22 does not only restrain fatty liver disease鈥�
Researchers from Prof. Michelangelo Foti laboratory have recently discovered that one of these microRNAs, , a metabolic disease that often progresses to cancer. In the case of high caloric intake, the absence of miR-22 leads to an exacerbated accumulation of fat in the liver.
These exciting results combined with the frequent alterations in miR-22 expression observed in hepatocellular carcinoma, prompted the scientists to investigate the role of this microRNA in the development of liver cancer.
鈥� but also liver cancer
Combining in silico analysis, cell experiments and murine models, scientists have demonstrated that miR-22 plays a tumor suppressor role in the liver. These results, published in the journal Cells, show that (see images below) and accelerates the timing of their appearance. The team of research also revealed some of the molecular mechanisms of miR-22 action: the absence of miR-22 indeed leads to alterations of the hepatic sugar and fat metabolism and to the deregulation of important tumor-promoting factors such as the thrombospondin-1.
MiR-22 deficiency promotes tumoral development (in turquoise) in the liver of mice (right image) as compared to wild type mice expressing miR-22 (left image). 漏 adapted from Figure 2 in Gjorgjieva et al. 2022
This study confirms that miR-22 has the potential to restrain hepatocellular carcinoma development and aggressiveness. It opens up new therapeutic avenues, although the specific delivery of miR-22 to liver cancer cells remains a major technical challenge that has not yet been overcome.
18 Oct 2022