Functional characterization of microRNA-495-3P in Thyroid Cancer

• Grant number: 17/21660-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: April 01, 2018
• End date: October 01, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Murilo Vieira Geraldo
• Grantee: Letícia Ferreira Alves
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/02440-1 - Epigenetic mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of 14q32 region in thyroid papillary carcinoma, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

Thyroid Carcinoma is the most common Endocrine Cancer worldwide, with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) being the most prevalent histotype, comprising more than 80% of the cases. In recent years attention has been focused on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-protein encoding RNAs, in the biology of tumor cells, especially in the role of these molecules in the modulation of pathways related to tumorigenesis. Recent studies have demonstrated the decrease in the expression of miRNAs of the DLK1-DIO3 genomic region (14q32) in several types of Cancer, including PTC. Among the miRNAs located in this region, the number of those identified as tumor suppressors increases. Based on bioinformatic target prediction and gene enrichment analysis, an ongoing research project in the laboratory identified miR-495-3p as the candidate with the highest tumor suppressor potential role in PTC between more than 50 miRNAs in the DLK1-DIO3 region. The aim of the project herein is the identification and functional validation of the signaling pathways regulated by this miRNA in PTC both in vitro and in vivo. Possible targets, as well as the signaling pathways and biological processes in which the miR-495-3p might be involved will be predicted by bioinformatics. Confirmation of the miRNA:target interactions identified in silico will be accomplished by analyzing the gene expression profile of PTC cell lines overexpressing miR-495-3p contrasted with the profile of their respective controls. Functional in vitro analyzes will be performed to validate the influence of miR-495-3p on predicted signaling pathways and on the fitness of tumor cells. Finally, using xenograft models, we will evaluate the in vivo influence of miR-495-3p overexpression on the predicted targets. This project will certainly expand understanding of the role of miR-495-3p in thyroid tumor cell biology and will facilitate the development of adjuvant therapy for Thyroid Cancer. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ALVES, LETICIA FERREIRA; GERALDO, MURILO VIEIRA. MiR-495-3p regulates cell migration and invasion in papillary thyroid carcinoma. FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY, v. 13, p. 11-pg., 2023-01-26. (17/21660-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

ALVES, Letícia Ferreira. Caracterização funcional do miR-495-3p no câncer de tiroide. 2023. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia Campinas, SP.