A new study by the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore, suggests that an abnormally high level of iron in the body is associated with prostate cancer. They also have discovered the mechanism of it by analyzing the role of the iron storage gene FTH1.
During the study, scientists found that function of FTH1 is highly influenced by its pseudogenes, a set of genes originating from their parental gene. Pseudogenes are known for its non-functionality and were classified as ‘genomic junk’.
FTH1 and its pseudogenes are frequently smothered in prostate malignancy, and articulation of both FTH1 and its pseudogenes are required to lessen press levels in cells and back off prostate disease development.
Assistant Professor Yvonne Tay, Principal Investigator at CSI Singapore who led the study said, “Our study presents an interesting finding in the form of the multicomponent, tumor suppressive FTH1 gene: pseudogene network which can be harnessed for future diagnostic and drug development. The highly expressed microRNAs that link FTH1 and the pseudogenes are attractive biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets for prostate cancer. Targeting or restoring proper iron storage could also be a potential avenue for therapeutic development.”
Additional trials demonstrated that FTH1 and its pseudogenes are connected by a common pool of microRNAs that are regularly exceedingly communicated in prostate growth, and these microRNAs repress the direction of iron levels by the qualities. Thusly, disengaging and controlling the pool of microRNAs can in this way assuage the restraint, reestablish the iron administrative elements of FTH1 and its pseudogenes and their tumor suppressive impacts.
High iron levels in cells are additionally connected to different kinds of growth separated from the prostate tumor. Accordingly, the examination group will additionally investigate and depict this administrative system, in prostate tumor, as well as other disease writes to reveal more potential biomarkers and druggable focuses on more successful malignancy treatment.
The study published in the scientific journal, Nucleic Acids Research.