In molecular biologymir-638 microRNA is a short RNA molecule. MicroRNAs function to regulate the expression levels of other genes by several mechanisms.
Expression in lupus nephritis
miR-638 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis (LN), with intra-renal expression levels differing between normal and lupus nephritis patients.[1] The degree of difference in expression levels further correlates with the degree of disease severity in each LN patient.
miR-638 and gastric cancer
miR-638 levels are significantly downregulated in gastric cancer cell lines, along with deregulation of 23 other miRNAs.[2] Thus miR-628 is likely to be involved in the development and progression of gastric cancer.
Further applications
miR-638 has additionally been found to be upregulated in the K562 leukaemic cell line.[3]
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Wu C, Lin H, Wang Q, Chen W, Luo H, Chen W, Zhang H (June 2012). "Discrepant expression of microRNAs in transparent and cataractous human lenses". Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 53 (7): 3906–12. doi:10.1167/iovs.11-9178. PMID22562507.
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Maes OC, Sarojini H, Wang E (October 2009). "Stepwise up-regulation of microRNA expression levels from replicating to reversible and irreversible growth arrest states in WI-38 human fibroblasts". Journal of Cellular Physiology. 221 (1): 109–19. doi:10.1002/jcp.21834. PMID19475566. S2CID21566082.