Abstract
Relapse after current treatment is one of the main limitations to the complete cure of leukemia, and a concept that leukemia stem cell (LSC) is the major cause of relapse has been proposed. LSCs are derived from normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), residing at the apex of leukemia cells and hiding in the bone marrow (BM) niche to evade chemotherapy. Novel therapy is strongly needed based on the unique features of LSCs to directly target these cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, are now known to play important roles on cancer stem cell maintenance and differentiation. Because of the ability of miRNAs to inactivate either specific genes or entire gene families, strategies based on differential expression levels of miRNAs in LSCs as dominant activators or suppressors of gene activity have emerged as promising new candidate approaches for eradicating LSCs. In this review, we highlight new findings regarding the roles of miRNAs in LSC maintenance of quiescence repression, self-renewal, surface marker targeting, and the LSCBM niche interaction. We also discuss recent advances and future challenges to use LSC specific miRNAs as potential therapeutic molecules in eradicating LSCs.
Keywords: Clinical implications, hematopoietic stem cells, leukemia stem cells, miRNAs, regulators, therapeutic molecules.
Current Molecular Medicine
Title:MicroRNAs as Regulators in Normal Hematopoietic and Leukemia Stem Cells: Current Concepts and Clinical Implications
Volume: 12 Issue: 5
Author(s): K. Fang, F. Qian and Y. -Q. Chen
Affiliation:
Keywords: Clinical implications, hematopoietic stem cells, leukemia stem cells, miRNAs, regulators, therapeutic molecules.
Abstract: Relapse after current treatment is one of the main limitations to the complete cure of leukemia, and a concept that leukemia stem cell (LSC) is the major cause of relapse has been proposed. LSCs are derived from normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), residing at the apex of leukemia cells and hiding in the bone marrow (BM) niche to evade chemotherapy. Novel therapy is strongly needed based on the unique features of LSCs to directly target these cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, are now known to play important roles on cancer stem cell maintenance and differentiation. Because of the ability of miRNAs to inactivate either specific genes or entire gene families, strategies based on differential expression levels of miRNAs in LSCs as dominant activators or suppressors of gene activity have emerged as promising new candidate approaches for eradicating LSCs. In this review, we highlight new findings regarding the roles of miRNAs in LSC maintenance of quiescence repression, self-renewal, surface marker targeting, and the LSCBM niche interaction. We also discuss recent advances and future challenges to use LSC specific miRNAs as potential therapeutic molecules in eradicating LSCs.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Fang K., Qian F. and -Q. Chen Y., MicroRNAs as Regulators in Normal Hematopoietic and Leukemia Stem Cells: Current Concepts and Clinical Implications, Current Molecular Medicine 2012; 12 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156652412800620002
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156652412800620002 |
Print ISSN 1566-5240 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5666 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Retinoid Related Molecules an Emerging Class of Apoptotic Agents with Promising Therapeutic Potential in Oncology: Pharmacological Activity and Mechanisms of Action
Current Pharmaceutical Design Phytochemicals in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review
Current Drug Targets CD36-TSP-HRGP Interactions in the Regulation of Angiogenesis
Current Pharmaceutical Design NAD Metabolism and Functions: A Common Therapeutic Target for Neoplastic, Metabolic and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting the Eph-ephrin System with Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) Inhibitors
Current Drug Targets Meet Our Editorial Board Member
Current Neuropharmacology Smart Synthetic Polymer Nanocarriers for Controlled and Site-Specific Drug Delivery
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Exploring a Novel Target Treatment on Breast Cancer: Aloe-emodin Mediated Photodynamic Therapy Induced Cell Apoptosis and Inhibited Cell Metastasis
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Modulation of Photosensitization Processes for an Improved Targeted Photodynamic Therapy
Current Medicinal Chemistry Editorial: Smart Drug Delivery Systems (Part 1)
Current Drug Targets Editorial [Hot Topic: Oncolytic viruses]
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology DYRK1A Kinase Inhibitors with Emphasis on Cancer
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Structure, Function and Inhibition of Bcl-2 Family Proteins: A New Target for Anti-Tumor Agents
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Biological Modulation by Lectins and Their Ligands in Tumor Progression and Metastasis
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Cyclophilin function in Cancer; lessons from virus replication
Current Molecular Pharmacology High Therapeutic Potential for Systemic Delivery of a Liposomeconjugated Herpes Simplex Virus
Current Cancer Drug Targets Marine Natural Products and Related Compounds as Anticancer Agents: an Overview of their Clinical Status
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting Blood Vessels for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Current Cancer Drug Targets The Significance of Transferrin Receptors in Oncology: the Development of Functional Nano-based Drug Delivery Systems
Current Drug Delivery Recent Developments in Chimeric NSAIDs as Anticancer Agents: Teaching an Old Dog a New Trick
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry