Critical Roles of Non-coding RNAs in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

MicroRNA (miRNA) is one of the non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules with 21 - 25-nucleotide length, playing an important role in gene control by transcriptional gene regulation, chromatin remodeling, genetic imprinting, and translation initiation. The deregulation of ncRNA can lead to several hematopoietic malignancies such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The study aimed to draw the crucial features of miRNA in the pathogenesis of ALL. The findings showed that miRNA expression changes in ALL are typical and involve several signaling pathways. The variations in miRNA gene expression can lead to the incomplete expression of oncoprotein or tumor suppressor gene (TSG). It seems that ncRNAs play pivotal roles in the ALL pathogenesis. However, ncRNAs might be interested as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in ALL.