{"type": "root", "children": [{"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\nIn esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the long noncoding RNA MEG3 acts as a tumor suppressor partly through its interaction with miR-4261. Here, MEG3 directly binds miR-4261, sequestering it and thus preventing miR-4261 from repressing its downstream target, Dickkopf-2 (DKK2). DKK2 is an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, so when miR-4261 levels are elevated—as a consequence of low MEG3 expression—DKK2 is suppressed, leading to reactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and subsequent tumorigenic processes (e.g., enhanced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion) in ESCC."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "1"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ""}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\nThus, miR-4261 serves as a critical mediator in the MEG3–miR-4261–DKK2 axis, where its oncogenic role is manifested through the downregulation of DKK2 and the consequent stimulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This mechanistic insight not only clarifies the contribution of miR-4261 to ESCC progression but also highlights its potential as a target for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies in the management of ESCC."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "1"}]}]}]}, {"type": "rg", "children": [{"type": "r", "ref": 1, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Ji Ma, Teng-Fei Li, Xin-Wei Han, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Downregulated MEG3 contributes to tumour progression and poor prognosis in oesophagal squamous cell carcinoma by interacting with miR-4261, downregulating DKK2 and activating the Wnt/β-catenin signalling."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol (2019)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1080/21691401.2019.1602538"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1080/21691401.2019.1602538"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "30990378"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30990378"}]}]}]}