New insights into the function and therapeutic potential of RNA-binding protein TRBP in viral infection, chronic metabolic diseases, brain disorders and cancer

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and non-coding RNAs are crucial trans-acting factors that bind to specific cis-acting elements in mRNAs, thereby regulating their stability and translation. The trans-activation response (TAR) RNA-binding protein (TRBP) recognizes precursor microRNAs (pre-miRNAs), modulates miRNA maturation, and influences miRNA interference (mi-RNAi) mediated by the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). TRBP also directly binds and mediates the degradation of certain mRNAs. Thus, TRBP acts as a hub for regulating gene expression and influences a variety of biological processes, including immune evasion, metabolic abnormalities, stress response, angiogenesis, hypoxia, and metastasis. Aberrant TRBP expression has been proven to be closely related to the initiation and progression of diseases, such as viral infection, chronic metabolic diseases, brain disorders, and cancer. This review summarizes the roles of TRBP in cancer and other diseases, the therapeutic potential of TRBP inhibition, and the current status of drug discovery on TRBP. RNA-binding protein TRBP has the potential to be a novel protein target due to its role in multiple biological processes by modulating microRNA biogenesis and mRNA expression in diseases, especially in cancer. [Display omitted] •TRBP mediates the degradation of certain mRNAs through mi-RNAi or by directly binding.•TRBP serves as a hub in regulating cellular responses, including the stress response.•TRBP is linked to the initiation and progression of cancer and other diseases.•Small molecules targeting TRBP suppress the progression of HCC.•TRBP is a potential therapeutic target in cancer.