In-silico pharmacological insights into the therapeutic potential of microRNAs for microplastic-associated cancers
Baspakova A. Zare A. Mussin N.M. Tanideh N. Zhilisbayeva K.R. Safarzoda Sharoffidin R. Suleimenova R. Yelgondina G. Kaliyeva A.E. Umbetova A.A. Zinaliyeva A. Tamadon A.
2025Frontiers Media SA
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
2025#13
Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly implicated in cancer biology through effects on gene expression, stress responses, and treatment susceptibility; however, causal links remain provisional. We systematically screened PubMed and Google Scholar (through September 2025) to identify cancer-related genes reported to be altered by MP exposure and then evaluated microRNAs (miRNAs) with anticancer activity that may target those genes. Mature miRNA sequences were retrieved from RNAcentral and assessed against MP-altered genes using RNAhybrid for target-site prediction and minimum free-energy (mfe) hybridization. MPs were reported to modulate genes across multiple tumor types—including breast, gastric, liver, lung, colorectal, cervical, pancreatic, and skin. In silico analyses identified candidate miRNAs with favorable mfe values for these targets, including miR-483-3p, miR-365, miR-331-3p, miR-138-5p, miR-760, miR-1-3p, miR-665, miR-490-3p, miR-370-3p, miR-520a, miR-638, miR-559, miR-532-3p, miR-593-5p, and miR-29b. These interactions suggest putative avenues to counter MP-associated oncogenic programs and therapy resistance. Because mfe predictions do not establish functional regulation, all findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating. Priorities for validation include reporter assays, gene/protein modulation, phenotypic rescue, and in vivo testing in MP-exposed models. Collectively, our results nominate miRNAs as candidate tools to interrogate and potentially mitigate MP-associated carcinogenic mechanisms. Copyright
cancer , in silico , microplastics , microRNAs , RNAhybrid , therapy resistance
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Department of Epidemiology, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan
Drug Discovery and Development Industry, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Department of Surgery No. 2, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan
Stem Cells Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Department of Languages, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan
School of General Medicine-2, Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan
Department for Scientific Work, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan
Department of General Medical Practice No. 2, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan
Department of Natural Sciences, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan
Department of Epidemiology
Drug Discovery and Development Industry
Department of Surgery No. 2
Stem Cells Technology Research Center
Department of Pharmacology
Department of Languages
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology
Department of Public Health and Hygiene
School of General Medicine-2
Department of Microbiology
Department for Scientific Work
Department of General Medical Practice No. 2
Department of Natural Sciences
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