Title:Immunomodulatory Activity of MicroRNAs: Potential Implications for Multiple Myeloma Treatment
Volume: 17
Issue: 9
Author(s): Cirino Botta, Maria Cuce, Daniele Caracciolo, Lucia Fiorillo, Pierosandro Tagliaferri and Pierfrancesco Tassone*
Affiliation:
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro,Italy
Keywords:
MicroRNA, miRNA, multiple myeloma, immunotherapy, tumor immunology, immune-response.
Abstract: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell neoplasm accounting for about 10%
of all hematologic malignancies. Recently, emerging evidence is disclosing the complexity of bone
marrow interactions between MM cells and infiltrating immune cells, which have been reported to
promote proliferation, survival and drug resistance of tumor cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small
non-coding RNA molecules with regulatory functions in the cell, whose expression has predictive
and prognostic value in different malignancies. MiRNAs are gaining increasing interest due to their
capability to polarize the immune-response through different mechanisms, which include the molecular
reprogramming of immune cells. This characteristic, together with the antitumor activity of
miRNA mimics or inhibitors, make the miRNA network an attractive area of investigation for novel
anti-MM therapeutic approaches. In this review, we will discuss the recent advances in the understanding
of the interplay between MM cells and bone marrow resident immune cells, with special
focus on the molecular and functional changes induced by miRNA network modulation. We will finally
indicate potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
