Opposing activities of oncogenic MIR17HG and tumor suppressive MIR100HG clusters and their gene targets regulate replicative senescence in human adult stem cells

Stem cells aging: balancing self-renewal halt with complexity Mounting evidence suggests a link between cellular senescence and human adult stem cell function upon aging. Senescence is often viewed as an intrinsic program to prevent oncogenic transformation. However, the collaborative research lead by Aelan Cell Technologies suggests that replicative senescence might be more dynamic than previously anticipated. Integrated genomic and proteomic analyses of human adult stem cells revealed that subset of senescence-associated miRNAs (SA-miRNA) functionally required for establishing senescence, act to provide an intricate balance between driving and restraining cancerous events upon senescence. It is commonly believed that cancer arises as a consequence of an imbalance in cellular homeostasis. These new results shed light on the fundamental role of these SA-miRNA as functionally antagonistic regulators of gene networks, future exploration of which can help us understand the etiology underlying age-related disease and cancer.