miRNA-targeting oligonucleotide constructs with various mechanisms of action as effective inhibitors of carcinogenesis

INTRODUCTION. The development of malignant neoplasms is associated with changes in the expression of small non-coding RNAs (miRNAs). This emphasises the need for research into the development of miRNA-targeted inhibitors as a promising approach to cancer treatment.
AIM. This study aimed to compare current strategies for suppressing the functional activity of tumour-associated miRNAs based on the use of therapeutic nucleic acids and to determine the application potential of these strategies.
DISCUSSION. This study analysed known oligonucleotide-based miRNA inhibitors with different mechanisms of action. Based on their mechanism of action, miRNA-targeted inhibitors can be classified into two groups. The first group of miRNA-targeted inhibitors exhibits an indirect inhibitory effect, either by blocking functional connections between miRNAs and specific mRNA targets through the use of miRNA-masking oligonucleotides or by introducing mutations into miRNA genes and disrupting gene biosynthesis processes through the use of the CRISPR/Cas system. Despite their relatively high biological potential, these strategies are mostly used as search tools to study miRNA functional roles and molecular interactions in carcinogenesis. The second group of oligonucleotide constructs interacts with miRNA targets directly, which leads to steric blocking or degradation of oncogenic microRNAs. These miRNA-binding oligonucleotide constructs come in a variety of structural variants, including miRNA sponges, RNA zippers, antisense oligonucleotides, and miRNases, which demonstrate high therapeutic potential in vitro and in vivo.
CONCLUSION. The described analysis of the biological properties, therapeutic potential, and key advantages of the developed miRNA-targeted oligonucleotide constructs helps outline the areas for their potential practical application in cancer treatment.

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