Reciprocal regulation between microRNAs and epigenetic machinery in colorectal cancer

Abstract

Epigenetics encompasses changes in DNA methylation, histone and chromatin structure, and non-coding RNAs, specifically microRNA (miRNA) expression. Recent advances in the rapidly evolving field of colorectal cancer (CRC) epigenetics have revealed a complicated network of reciprocal interconnections between miRNAs and other epigenetic machinery. On the one hand, miRNA expression may be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation and histone modifcations. However, miRNAs may affect the epigenetic machinery by directly targeting its enzymatic components. In this study, we focus on the colorectal miRNA expression profle and further illustrate the reciprocal regulation in CRC, with the aim of offering new insights into the strategies of combatting the disease.