MicroRNA in carcinogenesis & cancer diagnostics: A new paradigm.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small 22-25 nucleotides long non-coding RNAs, that are conserved during evolution, and control gene expression in metazoan animals, plants, viruses, and bacteria primarily at post-transcriptional and transcriptional levels. MiRNAs ultimately regulate target gene expression by degrading the corresponding mRNA and/or inhibiting their translation. Currently, the critical functions of miRNAs have been established in regulating immune system, cell proliferation, differentiation and development, cancer and cell cycle by as yet unknown control mechanism. MiRNAs play an essential role in malignancy, and as tumour suppressors and oncogenes. Thus, discovery of new miRNAs will probably change the landscape of cancer genetics. Significantly different miRNA profiles can be assigned to various types of tumours, which could serve as phenotypic signatures for different cancers for their exploitation in cancer diagnostics, prognostics and therapeutics. If miRNA profiles can accurately predict malignancies, this technology could be exploited as a tool to surmount the diagnostic challenges. This review provides comprehensive and systematic information on miRNA biogenesis and their implications in human health.

Expression and Significance of Differential Expression Gene Hepsin in the Prostate Cancer / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To evaluate the expression and significance of differential expression gene Hepsin in the prostate cancer (PC) screened by the cDNA microarray technique.Methods The techniques of semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of Hepsin. Specimens of 40 cases of PC, 15 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 6 normal prostate tissues were examined by the immunohistochemical stain.Results Hepsin was more expressed in PC tissue than normal prostate tissue (P=0.026) and was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical test confirmed this and demonstrated that Hepsin did not expressed in normal prostate but expressed in PC and BPH and there was a significant difference in Hepsin expression level between PC and BPH tissues ( P=0.000).Conclusion Hepsin high expressed in PC may be a new molecular marker in early diagnosis of PC and a new target for gene therapy of PC.