BHU researchers discover micro-RNA cluster that suppresses proliferation of oncogenic cells

NEW DELHI: Banaras Hindu University (BHU) researchers from the School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science discovered a micro-RNA cluster that suppresses the proliferation of cervical cancer cells.

According to the university, the research will help develop new therapy for cervical cancer. The BHU research team had Samarendra Kumar Singh and Garima Singh.

The research work was done at the cell cycle and cancer lab, at the school of biotechnology. As per BHU, “ the study showed that a human micro-RNA cluster, miR-17~92 suppresses an oncogenic cell cycle factor Cdt2/DTL inhibiting the growth and cancer progression of cervical cancer cells specifically, with no significant effect on non-cancerous cells.”

The research findings have been published in one of the Springer Nature Journals ‘Discover Oncology’.

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Samarendra Singh said, “The promising outcome of this study is the first-ever work to show that miR-17~92 suppresses cervical cancer cells by regulating the cell cycle. MicroRNAs have emerged as an important regulator of cell cycle and various other cellular processes.”

“ Aberration in microRNAs has been linked with the development of various diseases including cancers, but the mechanism behind this regulation is yet to be explored”. We have reported that the discovered micro-RNA destabilizes certain transcripts of oncogenic factors suppressing the growth of cervical cancer cell lines. Due to this, the metastatic and proliferative capacity of cancerous cells is highly compromised ”, added Singh.

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According to the university, the cell cycle and cancer lab conducts research in the field of cancer, especially cervical and gastrointestinal cancers. The lab uses various molecular biology, biochemistry, and structural biology tools.

“ Earlier, the lab reported another micro-RNA, miR-34a which could suppress the cancer progression by targeting an essential viral protein E6 which was published in ‘BMC Cancer’. The lab has also found a novel way to diagnose cancer by evaluating the load of tumor DNA in the serum of cervical cancer patients which was published in a very reputed journal of cancer called ‘JCRT’” an official statement from the university read.