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Mechanistic links between COPD and lung cancer: a role of microRNA let-7?

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 14, page 70 (2014)Cite this article

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In a recent article (Mechanistic links between COPD and lung cancer. Nature Rev. Cancer 13, 233–245 (2013))1, McGarry Houghton reviewed the association between the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the development of lung cancer and suggested that genetic and epigenetic changes, inflammation and associated cytokines, smoking, alterations to cell cycle regulation and the presence of specific proteinases produced by immune cells and other stromal cells could be involved in this association. However, even though the review provided an entire and holistic view of this clinically relevant subject, we would like to add microRNAs (miRNAs) and especially the miRNA let-7c as an important pathogenic link between COPD and lung cancer.

Pottelberge et al.2 recently reported that let-7c was significantly reduced among 627 miRNAs in the sputum of patients with COPD who currently smoke compared with never smokers. The decreased expression of let-7c was associated with an increased expression of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2): TNFR2 mRNA is a predicted target of let-7c and is implicated in COPD pathogenesis. Using in situ hybridization, let-7c expression was mainly located in sputum macrophages and bronchial airway epithelial cells, and there was also a correlation between the level of let-7c and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 120–752, CPO BOX 8044, Seoul, Korea

    Jae Il Shin

  2. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Belgium; and the Departments of Epidemiology and Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, B-9000 Ghent, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,

    Guy G. Brusselle

  3. and the Departments of Epidemiology and Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,

    Guy G. Brusselle

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  1. Jae Il Shin
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  2. Guy G. Brusselle
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Correspondence to Jae Il Shin.

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Shin, J., Brusselle, G. Mechanistic links between COPD and lung cancer: a role of microRNA let-7?. Nat Rev Cancer 14, 70 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3477-c1

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