Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of human microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are members of non-coding RNAs. They are involved in diverse biological functions. MiRNAs are precisely regulated in a tissue- and developmental-specific manner, but dysregulated in many human diseases, in particular cancers. Transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional regulation, as well as genetic alterations, are the three major mechanisms controlling the spatial and temporal expression of miRNAs. Emerging evidence now indicates that transcriptional and epigenetic regulations play major roles in miRNA expression. This review summarizes the current knowledge and discusses the future challenges.

► MiRNAs are dysregulated in many human diseases, in particular cancers. ► Transcriptional and epigenetic regulations play major roles in miRNA expression. ► MiRNAs and transcription factors often establish feedback loops regulations. ► MiRNAs and epigenetic machinery regulate each other. ► Annotation of miRNA transcription machinery will provide new insights on our knowledge of the cell signaling network.