MicroRNA 502-5p (miR-502-5p)

MicroRNA 502-5p (miR-502-5p) is a small, non-coding RNA molecule that serves as a critical post-transcriptional regulator of gene expression by binding to the 3' untranslated regions of target mRNAs. It is widely recognized as a tumor suppressor in various malignancies, including gastric cancer and glioma, where it inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting genes such as SP1, STAT3, and PD-L1 [1, 2, 3]. Beyond oncology, miR-502-5p plays a complex role in regulating apoptosis; it has been shown to promote nerve cell death following subarachnoid hemorrhage while protecting nucleus pulposus cells from TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis in the context of disc degeneration [4, 5]. In neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease, its dysregulation at the synapse is associated with cognitive decline and disease severity [13, 15]. Therapeutic development focuses on the use of miR-502-5p mimics to restore its tumor-suppressive function or antagomirs to inhibit its pathological activity in specific neurological or degenerative contexts [1, 12].

Other names

hsa-miR-502-5pMIR502MicroRNA 502miR-502

RNA interference (RNAi) via binding to the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), leading to translational repression or mRNA degradation.