Multiple functions of hypoxia-regulated miR-210 in cancer

Micrornas (mirnas) are small noncoding rnas that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. mirnas can be induced by a variety of stresses such as hypoxia,and are involved in diverse biological processes including differentiation,cell proliferation,cell death,and tumorigenesis. hypoxia,a common feature of tumor microenvironment,can induce a number of mirnas expression. mirna-210 (mir-210) is one of the hypoxia-regulated-mirnas,which has been investigated extensively in cancer. however,paradoxically opposing results were documented regarding whether it is an oncogene or a tumor suppressor,and whether it is a positive or negative prognostic biomarker. in the present review,we focus on the following investigations of mir-210: 1) its functions of as an oncogene,2) its functions as a tumor suppressor,3) its functions in mitochondrial metabolism,and finally,the diagnostic and prognostic value of mir-210 in cancer researches. © 2014 qin et al.; licensee biomed central ltd.