Advances in microRNAs and TP53 Gene Regulatory Network

The tumor suppressor TP53 gene, which encodes p53 protein, is a hotspot of all time in molecular oncology. p53 suppresses tumor initiation and progression through its regulation of many downstream genes. Recent studies have revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) interact with the p53 pathway and form a complex regulatory network. On one hand, p53 promotes cell cycle arrest and induces cell apoptosis and senescence to suppress tumorigenesis by regulating the transcription and post-transcriptional maturation of multiple miRNAs. On the other hand, many miRNAs fine-tune the p53 pathway through regulation of TP53 and its upstream regulators or downstream effectors. The miR-34s family, directly transactivated by p53 represents a large number of p53-regulated miRNAs. They exert their tumor suppressing function via targeted inhibition of multiple key molecules in the p53 pathway. Furthermore, miR-34s enhance p53 activity through a feedback loop by inhibiting silent information regulator 1 (SIRT 1). Investigation on the interaction between miRNAs and p53 is essential to fully understand the underline mechanisms of p53 tumor suppressing action.