AUTHOR=Dell'Aversana Carmela , Altucci Lucia TITLE=miRNA-mediated deregulation in leukemia JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics VOLUME=3 YEAR=2012 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2012.00252 DOI=10.3389/fgene.2012.00252 ISSN=1664-8021 ABSTRACT=

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs 18–25 nucleotides (nt) long able to fine-tune post-transcriptional gene expression. Extensive investigation into biogenesis, mechanism of action and functions of miRNAs has clearly revealed their prompt control in developmental timing, differentiation, proliferation, cell death, and metabolism. Deregulation of miRNA-mediated pathways may contribute to pathological conditions such as tumors, including hematological cancers, thus suggesting that miRNAs act both as tumor-suppressor genes (TSG) and oncogenes (OG). Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the aberration of miRNA biogenesis, activity, and post-transcriptional control in leukemogenesis.