{"type": "root", "children": [{"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\nRecent studies have identified miR-1238 as a critical regulatory molecule in cancer biology, where it appears to function predominantly as a tumor suppressor. In non‐small cell lung cancer, miR-1238 directly targets the 3′-untranslated region of LIM-homeobox gene 2 (LHX2). Overexpression of miR-1238 in NSCLC cell lines led to significant reductions in LHX2 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels, resulting in decreased cell viability, proliferation, and cell cycle progression. These findings highlight miR-1238’s potential as a therapeutic agent to inhibit tumor growth in NSCLC."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "1"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ""}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\nIn the context of chronic infectious and inflammatory conditions, miR-1238 also has a potential role. In patients with brucellosis, for example, miR-1238-3p expression was found to be significantly increased in chronic cases compared to acute infection and healthy controls, suggesting that miR-1238 may contribute to or serve as a marker for the progression toward chronicity."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "2"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ""}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\nDysregulation of miR-1238 is furthermore implicated in various cancers through its interaction with circular RNAs that act as molecular sponges. In cholangiocarcinoma, the circular RNA circ_0005230 was shown to directly sponge miR-1238 (along with miR-1299), thereby potentially releasing its inhibitory effects on oncogenic pathways. Similarly, in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, circ_0070934 was found to negatively regulate miR-1238 (and miR-1247-5p), promoting tumor aggressiveness by enhancing cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In colorectal cancer, circSKA3 sequesters miR-1238, leading to the upregulation of YTHDF2, which in turn decreases STAT5A methylation and facilitates tumor progression. These studies collectively indicate that the loss of miR-1238’s function via sponging by oncogenic circRNAs contributes to enhanced tumorigenic properties."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_fs", "start_ref": "3", "end_ref": "5"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ""}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\nConversely, investigations into non-malignant conditions such as vitiligo have revealed that genetic polymorphisms in miR-1238 do not significantly affect disease susceptibility. This finding suggests that miR-1238’s functional impact may be context-dependent and particularly critical in oncogenic and chronic infectious settings rather than in pigmentary disorders."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "6"}]}]}]}]}]}, {"type": "rg", "children": [{"type": "r", "ref": 1, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Xiangguang Shi, Lei Zhan, Can Xiao, et al. 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"}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Altered Expressions of miR-1238-3p, miR-494, miR-6069, and miR-139-3p in the Formation of Chronic Brucellosis."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Immunol Res (2016)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1155/2016/4591468"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/4591468"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "27722176"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27722176"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 3, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Yi Xu, Yue Yao, Yueping Liu, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Elevation of circular RNA circ_0005230 facilitates cell growth and metastasis via sponging miR-1238 and miR-1299 in cholangiocarcinoma."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Aging (Albany NY) (2019)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.18632/aging.101872"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.101872"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "30946694"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30946694"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 4, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Xiaoxia An, Xiguang Liu, Guozhang Ma, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Upregulated circular RNA circ_0070934 facilitates cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell growth and invasion by sponging miR-1238 and miR-1247-5p."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2019)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.04.017"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.04.017"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "30967263"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30967263"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 5, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Yonghuan Mao, Ji Miao, Ling Xi, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "circSKA3 promotes colorectal cancer metastases through miR-1238 and methylation."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Mol Cell Biochem (2024)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1007/s11010-023-04773-5"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-023-04773-5"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "37256443"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37256443"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 6, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Mahdieh Jafari Shahroudi, Mahnaz Rezaei, Mehdi Mirzaeipour, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Association between miR-202, miR-211, and miR-1238 gene polymorphisms and risk of vitiligo."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Arch Dermatol Res (2024)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1007/s00403-024-02847-y"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-024-02847-y"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "38597990"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38597990"}]}]}]}