AUTHOR=Jung Hwa Jin , Suh Yousin TITLE=Regulation of IGF -1 signaling by microRNAs JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics VOLUME=5 YEAR=2015 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2014.00472 DOI=10.3389/fgene.2014.00472 ISSN=1664-8021 ABSTRACT=

The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling pathway regulates critical biological processes including development, homeostasis, and aging. Dysregulation of this pathway has been implicated in a myriad of diseases such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders, making the IGF-1 signaling pathway a prime target to develop therapeutic and intervention strategies. Recently, small non-coding RNA molecules in ∼22 nucleotide length, microRNAs (miRNAs), have emerged as a new regulator of biological processes in virtually all organ systems and increasing studies are linking altered miRNA function to disease mechanisms. A miRNA binds to 3’UTRs of multiple target genes and coordinately downregulates their expression, thereby exerting a profound influence on gene regulatory networks. Here we review the components of the IGF-1 signaling pathway that are known targets of miRNA regulation, and highlight recent studies that suggest therapeutic potential of these miRNAs against various diseases.