MicroRNA 596 (miR-596)

MicroRNA 596 (miR-596) is a small, non-coding RNA involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression via binding to the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of target mRNAs, leading to translation inhibition or mRNA degradation. It acts as a tumor suppressor in several cancer types—including oral squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, and melanoma—primarily by repressing genes involved in cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Downregulation of miR-596 is commonly due to promoter hypermethylation, and restoring its expression with demethylating agents has been shown to decrease tumor growth and progression in cell studies. Additionally, elevated plasma exosomal levels of miR-596 predict poor prognosis in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, highlighting its role in non-tumor disease biology and as a circulating biomarker. miR-596 also modulates key signaling networks (such as YAP1-IL8 in the context of NSCLC brain metastasis). There are currently no approved drugs that directly target miR-596, but epigenetic drugs may modulate its expression.

Other names

hsa-miR-596MIR596MIRN596miR-596-3p

DNA demethylating agents restore miR-596 expression, leading to tumor suppression through modulation of target mRNAs (e.g., PRDX1, matrix metalloproteinase 9, genes involved in apoptosis and metastasis). In cancer, overexpression of miR-596 inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion, and increases apoptosis.