Emerging roles and potential application of PIWI-interacting RNA in urological tumors

The piRNA (PIWI-interacting RNA) is P-Element induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNA which is a small molecule, non-coding RNA with a length of 24-32nt. It was originally found in germ cells and is considered a regulator of germ cell function. It can interact with PIWI protein, a member of the Argonaute family, and play a role in the regulation of gene transcription and epigenetic silencing of transposable factors in the nucleus. More and more studies have shown that piRNAs are abnormally expressed in a variety of cancer tissues and patient fluids, and may become diagnostic tools, therapeutic targets, staging markers, and prognostic evaluation tools for cancer. This article reviews the recent research on piRNA and summarizes the structural characteristics, production mechanism, applications, and its role in urological tumors, to provide a reference value for piRNA to regulate urological tumors.

Automated summary

The piRNA is a small molecule, non-coding RNA with a length of 24-32nt. It was originally found in germ cells and is considered a regulator of germ cell function. It can interact with PIWI protein and play a role in gene transcription regulation and transposable factors silencing. Abnormal expression of piRNAs has been found in various cancer tissues and patient fluids, making them potential diagnostic tools, therapeutic targets, staging markers, and prognostic evaluation tools for cancer. This article reviews recent research on piRNA, focusing on its structural characteristics, production mechanism, applications, and role in urological tumors, providing valuable insights for the regulation of urological tumors by piRNA.