MicroRNA-34c (miR-34c)

MicroRNA-34c (miR-34c) is a member of the evolutionarily conserved miR-34 family of microRNAs, which are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting mRNAs for degradation or translational repression[1][2]. miR-34c plays critical roles in development, tissue differentiation, and disease pathogenesis. In pancreatic beta-cells, miR-34c acts as a regulatory switch during the differentiation and maturation of insulin-producing cells, primarily through negative regulation of genes involved in insulin synthesis and secretion including ACSL4, PDE7B, PDGFRA, MAP2K1, and SAR1A[1][2]. It also influences cell proliferation and apoptosis, for instance by suppressing Notch1 signaling in muscle development[3]. High or sustained levels of miR-34c can impair insulin secretion and cell function, implicating it in diabetes pathogenesis, while dysregulation of miR-34c has been implicated in cancer and other diseases[1][2][3]. There are currently no approved drugs specifically targeting miR-34c, but its regulatory axis is a focus of biomarker and therapeutic research.

Other names

hsa-miR-34cmiR-34cMIR34CMIRN34CmiRNA34Cmir-34chsa-mir-34c

Post-transcriptional silencing of mRNA by binding to 3’-UTR regions, leading to translational repression or degradation of target genes (examples: ACSL4, PDE7B, PDGFRA, MAP2K1, SAR1A)[1][2]. Regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and insulin synthesis/secretion through downstream gene targets[1][2][3].