The epigenetic regulatory mechanism of PIWI/piRNAs in human cancers

PIWI proteins have a strong correlation with PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), which are significant in development and reproduction of organisms. Recently, emerging evidences have indicated that apart from the reproductive function, PIWI/piRNAs with abnormal expression, also involve greatly in varieties of human cancers. Moreover, human PIWI proteins are usually expressed only in germ cells and hardly in somatic cells, so the abnormal expression of PIWI proteins in different types of cancer offer a promising opportunity for precision medicine. In this review, we discussed current researches about the biogenesis of piRNA, its epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in human cancers, such as N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) methylation, histone modifications, DNA methylation and RNA interference, providing novel insights into the markers for clinical diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in human cancers.

Automated summary

PIWI proteins are strongly correlated with PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), which play significant roles in development and reproduction. New evidence has shown that besides their reproductive function, abnormal expression of PIWI/piRNAs is also involved in various human cancers. Moreover, since human PIWI proteins are usually restricted to germ cells, their abnormal expression in different types of cancer provides a promising opportunity for precision medicine. This review discusses current research on piRNA biogenesis and the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in human cancers, such as N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) methylation, histone modifications, DNA methylation, and RNA interference, offering novel insights into clinical markers for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in human cancers.