microRNA-550a-3 (miR-550a-3)

microRNA-550a-3 (miR-550a-3), also known as MIR550A3 or hsa-miR-550a-3p, is a member of the microRNA family—short, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to complementary sequences in target mRNAs, leading to their degradation or translational repression. miR-550a-3 has been implicated in cancer biology, with evidence supporting both tumor-suppressive and pro-metastatic roles depending on tissue context. In diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM), miR-550a-3p acts as a tumor suppressor: it is downregulated in tumor samples, and its restoration impairs proliferation and invasiveness, enhances apoptosis, and inhibits tumor growth in xenograft models, at least partly by targeting HSP90AA1[1]. In lung cancer, exosome-associated miR-550a-3-5p suppresses brain microvascular endothelial cell viability and migration, increases apoptosis, and regulates the cell cycle, with direct targeting of YAP1[2]. In hepatocellular carcinoma, miR-550a (closely related family member) is frequently amplified and promotes cell migration and invasion, in part by repressing CPEB4[3]. Therefore, miR-550a-3 can function either as a tumor suppressor or a metastasis promoter depending on disease context, and its expression correlates with patient prognosis in several cancers. No drugs are currently known to directly target miR-550a-3, but it may serve as a future target of RNA-based therapeutics or as a biomarker for patient stratification or risk assessment in oncology[1][2][3]. Safety concerns relate primarily to the typical challenges of RNA therapeutics, including potential off-target regulation and broad impact on gene networks.

Other names

miR-550a-3pMIR550A3hsa-mir-550a-3mir-550a-3hsa-miR-550a-3p

Post-transcriptional repression of target mRNAs, Regulation of protein expression via direct mRNA binding