MicroRNA-338 (miR-338)

MicroRNA-338 (miR-338) is a conserved, brain-enriched microRNA of approximately 22 nucleotides, derived from an intron of the AATK gene and classed as a non-coding regulatory RNA[1][3][6]. miR-338 plays a central role in post-transcriptional gene silencing, primarily through binding to the 3′ UTR of target mRNAs and inhibiting their translation or promoting degradation. It is particularly prominent in the central nervous system, regulating neuronal migration, axonal outgrowth, and oligodendrocyte maturation through direct repression of transcription factors (e.g., SOX6, HES5) and key mitochondrial genes like COX4I1 and ATP5G1[3][5][7]. In cancer, miR-338 acts as a tumor suppressor in many contexts, inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and enhancing sensitivity to chemotherapy, often by targeting oncogenic pathways such as WNT, ERK, and FGFR signaling[2][4][8]. Aberrant miR-338 expression is linked to several human diseases, including various cancers, neuropsychiatric disorders, and ischemic brain injury, making it a promising biomarker and potential therapeutic target. Therapeutic strategies have focused on modulating miR-338 activity using synthetic inhibitors or mimics, but these approaches remain experimental due to concerns about safety and specificity[7].

Other names

hsa-miR-338MIR338MIRN338hsa-mir-338mir-338

Inhibition or mimicry of miR-338 modulates the stability and translation of its mRNA targets (including COX4I1, ATP5G1, MAP3K2, FGFR2, FRS2, MACC1, MET), affecting cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, mitochondrial metabolism, and chemotherapy sensitivity[4][7][8].