MicroRNA 566 (miR-566)

MicroRNA 566 (miR-566) is a small, non-coding RNA molecule that functions as a critical post-transcriptional regulator of gene expression by binding to the 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of target messenger RNAs. It plays a dual role in oncology, acting as an oncogene in certain malignancies like glioblastoma and renal cell carcinoma, while potentially serving as a tumor suppressor in others, such as breast cancer. In glioblastoma, miR-566 promotes tumor progression and angiogenesis by directly targeting the Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor, which in turn activates the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathways. Due to its role in driving treatment resistance, miR-566 is considered a promising therapeutic target; for instance, its inhibition has been shown to sensitize glioblastoma cells to anti-EGFR therapies like nimotuzumab. Beyond its therapeutic potential, miR-566 serves as a valuable biomarker, with elevated levels in urine or serum being explored for the early detection and prognosis of colorectal and renal cancers. Current pharmacological approaches focus on the development of sequence-specific antagomirs to silence its oncogenic activity or miRNA mimics to restore its suppressive functions in specific tissue contexts. However, challenges remain regarding the delivery of these oligonucleotides and the potential for off-target effects given the broad regulatory network of miRNAs.

Other names

hsa-miR-566MIR566miRNA-566

Post-transcriptional silencing of target mRNAs (e.g., VHL, WNT6, PSKH1, FBXO47) through seed sequence binding in the 3' UTR