MicroRNA-140-5p suppresses tumor growth and metastasis by targeting transforming growth factor β receptor 1 and fibroblast growth factor 9 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Exposure to Sodium p-Perfluorous Nonenoxybenzenesulfonate Induces Renal Fibrosis in Mice by Disrupting Lysine Metabolism

Environmental exposure is one driving factor of chronic kidney disease (CKD), yet the intrinsic molecular mechanisms are largely unexplored. As a persistent chemical, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) is regulated due to a great potential to induce multiple diseases, including renal fibrosis, a major pathological characteristic of CKD. It is hypothesized that sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (OBS), a typical alternative to PFOS, may also induce renal fibrosis. We observed distinct renal fibrosis in mice exposed to OBS. Metabolomics analysis showed that Nα-acetyllysine was the primary metabolite biomarker, whose level decreased greatly due to its excessive consumption by lysyloxidase (LOX). This suppressed the miR-140-5p expression, promoting upregulation of fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9), which activated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway through fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), thereby enhancing proliferation and activation of fibroblasts. Supplement of Nα-acetyllysine upregulated miR-140-5p expression, reduced expressions of FGF9 and FGFR3, and eventually ameliorated OBS-induced renal fibrosis. Similarly, treatment with miR-140-5p agomir and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway inhibitor LY294002 attenuated OBS-induced renal fibrosis. Taken together, OBS caused renal fibrosis through the LOX-Nα-acetyllysine-miR-140-5p-FGF9-FGFR3-PI3K/Akt-Bad-Bcl-2-fibroblast axis. The results of this study reveal a specific molecular axis for OBS to induce renal fibrosis and call for concerns in supervising the application of OBS.

Advancements in elucidating the mechanisms of Sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Primary liver cancer is a major global health challenge, of which hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common. For patients with advanced liver cancer, Sorafenib is a first-line targeted drug that occupies a dominant position in clinical applications. Sorafenib is a multi-kinase inhibitor commonly used in clinical practice, which can effectively inhibit tumor cell proliferation, promote cell apoptosis, and inhibit angiogenesis. However, the emergence of drug resistance has hindered the development of treatment programs, which is an urgent problem to be solved. Recent studies have revealed many mechanisms and influencing factors of Sorafenib resistance (such as epigenetic regulation, programmed cell death, metabolic reprogramming, and tumor microenvironment changes). This review not only summarizes the above mechanisms, but also summarizes the combined application of Sorafenib with other drugs (such as molecular targeted drugs, other anti-angiogenesis drugs, cytotoxic drugs, immunotherapy drugs, etc .). Finally, potential strategies and research directions to overcome drug resistance (such as targeting epigenetic pathways or metabolic reprogramming) are discussed to provide suggestions for future in-depth research and clinical applications.

Hsa_circ_0125356 promotes gemcitabine resistance by modulating WNT canonical and non-canonical pathways via miR-582-5p/FGF9 axis in non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. The prognosis of patients has been significantly improved by chemotherapy, but acquired drug resistance remains a major obstacle to NSCLC treatment. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), which act as miRNA or protein sponges, are critically associated with the development and chemotherapy resistance of NSCLC.

METHODS

CircRNA sequencing was performed to analyze the differential expression of circRNAs between A549 and A549-GR cells. Chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) technologies were used to detect the expression of hsa_circ_0125356, miR-582-5p,and FGF9 in NSCLC tissues and para-carcinoma tissues. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), dual-luciferase reporter assays and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) were conducted to evaluate the expression and regulation of hsa_circ_0125356, miR-582-5p, and FGF9. Furthermore, the regulation of hsa_circ_0125356/miR-582-5p/FGF9 on gemcitabine sensitivity was confirmed by TUNEL, Transwell, EdU, CCK8 and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

We identified a novel hsa_circ_0125356 as a therapeutic target against gemcitabine resistance. Hsa_circ_0125356 was significantly elevated in clinical samples of patients with NSCLC. Moreover, hsa_circ_0125356 overexpression promoted gemcitabine resistance to NSCLC by upregulating FGF9 via sponging miR-582-5p in vivo and in vitro. Notably, WNT canonical (ERK/GSK3β/β-catenin) and non-canonical (Daam1/RhoA/ROCK2) signaling pathways were activated due to hsa_circ_0125356 acting as an endogenous miR-582-5p sponge to regulate the expression of FGF9, and thereby enhancing gemcitabine resistance via promoting DNA damage repair and inhibition of apoptosis. The results were further confirmed by two small molecule antagonists, WAY 316606 and XAV-939,which could inhibit the activation of WNT signaling pathway induced by hsa_circ_0125356.

CONCLUSION

We first demonstrated that hsa_circ_0125356 was significantly upregulated and served as a biomarker for gemcitabine resistance in NSCLC by sponging miR-582-5p/FGF9 axis to regulate the WNT canonical and non-canonical signaling pathways, which provided a new direction for identification of therapeutic targets for the treatment of gemcitabine resistance of NSCLC.

Impact and mechanism of the TBX-22 gene mutation G874A on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in medial edge epithelial cells

Cleft lip and palate (CL/P) are prevalent congenital anomalies with complex genetic causes. The G874A mutation of T-box transcription factor 22 (TBX-22) gene is notably associated with CL/P, while the underlying mechanism remains to be clarified. Studies have shown that the restriction of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) process in medial edge epithelial cells (MEEs) is crucial for CL/P development. In our current research, primary MEEs, isolated and cultured from mouse embryos, were genetically introduced the TBX-22 G874A mutation and subsequently treated with TGF-β1. They were then utilized to test the hypothesis that the G874A mutation in TBX22 plays a role in the regulation of the EMT in MEEs. Our findings reveal that TBX22 reduces miR140-5p transcription by binding to its promoter, while miR140-5p downregulates TGFBR1 protein expression by targeting its mRNA 3'-UTR. In other words, TBX22 could indirectly positively regulates TGFBR1 expression post-transcriptionally. Functional cellular assays showed that the G874A mutation of TBX-22 counteracted TGF-β1-induced decrease in proliferation and migration. Western blotting results showed that the G874A mutation of TBX-22 inhibited EMT protein expression (α-SMA and Vimentin) and promoted E-cadherin in TGF-β1-induced MEEs. To summarize, our research reveals that the G874A mutation of TBX22 impedes the progression of EMT in MEEs through the upregulation of miR140-5p and the downregulation of TGFBR1. This highlights TGFBR1 as a viable target for the prevention of CL/P.

Autophagy-related miRNAs, exosomal miRNAs, and circRNAs in tumor progression and drug-and radiation resistance in colorectal cancer

Targeted therapies are often more tolerable than traditional cytotoxic ones. Nurses play a critical role in providing patients and caregivers with information about the disease, available therapies, and the kind, severity, and identification of any potential adverse events. By doing this, it may be possible to ensure that any adverse effects are managed quickly, maximizing the therapeutic benefit. In colorectal cancer (CRC), autophagy-related activities are significantly influenced by miRNAs and exosomal miRNAs. CRC development and treatment resistance have been associated with the cellular process of autophagy. miRNAs, which are short non-coding RNA molecules, have the ability to control the expression of genes by binding to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of target mRNAs and either preventing or suppressing translation. It has been discovered that several miRNAs are significant regulators of CRC autophagy. By preventing autophagy, these miRNAs enhance the survival and growth of cancer cells. Exosomes are small membrane vesicles that are released by cells and include miRNAs among other bioactive compounds. Exosomes have the ability to modify recipient cells' biological processes by delivering their cargo, which includes miRNAs. It has been demonstrated that exosomal miRNAs control autophagy in CRC in both autocrine and paracrine ways. We will discuss the potential roles of miRNAs, exosomal miRNAs, and circRNAs in CRC autophagy processes and how nursing care can reduce unfavorable outcomes.

The long intergenic non-coding RNA LINC01140 modulates gastric cancer phenotypes and cancer cell lines aggressiveness

BACKGROUND

Long-intergenic non-protein coding gene 01140 (LINC01140) a long non-coding RNA is highly expressed in various cancers. However, its biological functions in gastric cancer progression is still unknown.

METHOD

To elucidate LINC01140 function, 70 GC tumor samples and 30 normal gastric tissues were collected. LINC01140 expression level were determined by qRT-PCR analysis and correlated with different clinico-pathological parameters. Then we tried to see the impact of LINC01140 on gastric cell line aggressiveness by knocking down the target gene and performing cell viability assay, migration assay and invasive capacity of the cell lines along with immunoblotting to check several protein levels.

RESULT

LINC01140 RNA is found to be positively correlated with FGF9 and significantly up regulated in GC tissues. LINC01140 knockdown inhibited the viability, migratory capacity and invasive capacity of AGS cells. LINC01140 targets miR-140-5p, while miR-140-5p targeted FGF9 to form lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis. The affect of miR-140-5p inhibition on gastric cancer cell aggressiveness were opposite to those of LINC01140 or FGF9 knockdown. Additionally, inhibition partially reversed the effects of LINC01140 knockdown on FGF9 protein levels, gastric cancer cell phenotypes.

CONCLUSION

LINC01140, miR-140-5p and FGF9 form a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis that modulates the gastric cancer phenotypes and in turn affects gastric cancer cell aggressiveness.

LINC00665 aggravates the malignant phenotypes in chondrosarcoma cells through miR-665/FGF9 pathway

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to participate in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including tumor initiation and development. Nevertheless, few of them have been investigated in chondrosarcoma. Here, we were intended to unveil the role of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 665 (LINC00665) in chondrosarcoma. RT-qPCR was adopted for gene expression detection. The biological processes in chondrosarcoma cells were detected by CCK-8, EdU, TUNEL, Transwell and wound healing assays. The relationships between genes in chondrosarcoma cells were evaluated by a series of mechanism experiments including RIP, luciferase reporter assays and so on.LINC00665 expressed at a high level in chondrosarcoma cell lines. LINC00665 interference suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion in chondrosarcoma. Besides, LINC00665 interacted with microRNA-665 (miR-665), which was then verified to be down-regulated in chondrosarcoma cells. Additionally, LINC00665 and miR-665 were mutually inhibited by each other in chondrosarcoma cells. Importantly, LINC00665 stimulated fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) expression in chondrosarcoma cells via sponging miR-665. Furthermore, FGF9 participated in the regulation of LINC00665-promoted chondrosarcoma development. CONCLUSION: LINC00665 facilitates chondrosarcoma progression via miR-665/FGF9 axis, which might indicate a new path for the treatment of chondrosarcoma.

The clinical prognostic significance of miR-140-5p expression in patients with cancer: A Meta and Bioinformatic analysis

The prognostic value of microRNA-140-5p (miR-140-5p) expression in cancer patients has been investigated, but with inconsistent results. This meta-analysis aims to determine the prognostic significance of miR-140-5p expression in patients with various malignancies. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest, Cochrane, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies published before June 2023. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to assess the prognostic importance and clinicopathological features of miR-140-5p in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of cancer patients, respectively. The CancerMIRNome database and other OS analysis webservers were utilized to explore the prognostic value and expression profile of miR-140-5p. A total of 17 studies were included in the final analysis. The results demonstrated that decreased miR-140-5p expression was significantly associated with inferior OS (pooled HR 0.63; 95 % CI, 0.51-0.79; p < 0.001) and DFS (pooled HR 0.40; 95 % CI, 0.25-0.64; p < 0.001). Pooled ORs indicated a significant correlation between reduced miR-140-5p expression and positive lymph node metastasis (LNM; OR = 3.42; 95 % CI, 2.36-4.94; p < 0.001), advanced tumor stage (OR = 2.80; 95 % CI, 2.07-3.78; p < 0.001), and positive distant metastasis (DM; OR = 10.81; 95 % CI, 3.31-35.30; p < 0.001). No significant associations were observed between miR-140-5p expression and gender (OR = 0.94; 95 % CI, 0.70-1.28; p = 0.70), age (OR = 1.31; 95 % CI, 0.99-1.74; p = 0.06), tumor size (OR = 1.55; 95 % CI, 0.77-3.10; p = 0.22), and histological grade (OR = 1.20; 95 % CI, 0.46-3.10; p = 0.71). Subgroup analyses revealed that decreased miR-140-5p expression was associated with shorter OS in subgroups based on sample size (<100 or >100), tumor origin (GI or non-GI), and cancer type (GC/CRC). Bioinformatic analysis supported the finding that miR-140-5p was downregulated in most tumor tissues, and its reduced expression was linked to poor prognosis in patients with multiple malignancies. The prognostic significance of miR-140-5p in predicting reduced OS and DFS suggests that measuring miR-140-5p expression levels before treatment could serve as a valuable biomarker for identifying cancer patients with an unfavorable prognosis and improving clinical management.

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor tadalafil reduces prostatic fibrosis via MiR-3126-3p/FGF9 axis in benign prostatic hyperplasia

Myofibroblast buildup and prostatic fibrosis play a crucial role in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Treatments specifically targeting myofibroblasts could be a promising approach for treating BPH. Tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, holds the potential to intervene in this biological process. This study employs prostatic stromal fibroblasts to induce myofibroblast differentiation through TGFβ1 stimulation. As a result, tadalafil significantly inhibited prostatic stromal fibroblast proliferation and fibrosis process, compared to the control group. Furthermore, our transcriptome sequencing results revealed that tadalafil inhibited FGF9 secretion and simultaneously improved miR-3126-3p expression via TGFβ1 suppression. Overall, TGFβ1 can trigger pro-fibrotic signaling through miR-3126-3p in the prostatic stroma, and the use of tadalafil can inhibit this process.

Upregulation of FGF9 and NOVA1 in cancer-associated fibroblasts promotes cell proliferation, invasion and migration of triple negative breast cancer

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a pivotal role in cancer progression. This study aimed to explore the roles of CAFs-derived Fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) and Neuro-oncological ventral antigen 1 (NOVA1) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) progression. MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cells were cocultured with CAF conditioned-medium (CAF-CM) or normal fibroblasts conditioned-medium (NF-CM). MTT, EdU, colony formation, wound healing, transwell migration, and invasion assays were employed to determine cell proliferation, migration and invasion, respectively. Western blot and RT-qPCR were carried out to examine the protein and mRNA expression of FGF9 and NOVA1. Xenograft tumor experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of CAFs, FGF9, and NOVA1 on tumor growth in vivo. Our results showed that CAFs significantly promoted the proliferation, invasion, and migration of TNBC cells. FGF9 and NOVA1 were significantly upregulated in TNBC CAFs, tissues and cells. CAF-CM also could increase the expression of FGF9 and NOVA1 in TNBC cells. Knockdown of FGF9 or NOVA1 could hamper cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT of TNBC cells. Moreover, CAFs with FGF9/NOVA1 knockdown also could inhibit TNBC progression. Besides, CAFs significantly accelerated tumor growth in vivo, which was blocked by FGF9/NOVA1 knockdown in nude mice. In conclusion, our results indicated the tumor-promoting role of CAFs in TNBC progression. FGF9 and NOVA1 upregulation in CAFs induced cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro, and facilitated tumor growth in vivo in TNBC development.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Old and Emerging Therapeutic Targets

Liver cancer, predominantly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), globally ranks sixth in incidence and third in cancer-related deaths. HCC risk factors include non-viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, environmental exposures, and genetic factors. No specific genetic alterations are unequivocally linked to HCC tumorigenesis. Current standard therapies include surgical options, systemic chemotherapy, and kinase inhibitors, like sorafenib and regorafenib. Immunotherapy, targeting immune checkpoints, represents a promising avenue. FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitors, such as atezolizumab and pembrolizumab, show efficacy, and combination therapies enhance clinical responses. Despite this, the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a challenge, as the complex tumor ecosystem and the immunosuppressive microenvironment associated with it hamper the efficacy of the available therapeutic approaches. This review explores current and advanced approaches to treat HCC, considering both known and new potential targets, especially derived from proteomic analysis, which is today considered as the most promising approach. Exploring novel strategies, this review discusses antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T), and engineered antibodies. It then reports a systematic analysis of the main ligand/receptor pairs and molecular pathways reported to be overexpressed in tumor cells, highlighting their potential and limitations. Finally, it discusses TGFβ, one of the most promising targets of the HCC microenvironment.

miR-140-5p attenuates hepatic fibrosis by directly targeting TGFβR1

OBJECTIVE

To explore the protective effect and related mechanism of miR-140-5p on liver fibrosis by interfering with TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

METHODS

Liver fibrosis mice models were established by intraperitoneal injection of CCL4. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to detect the structural and morphological changes of the liver. Masson staining was used to detect collagen deposition. Human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs, LX-2) were transfected with miR-140-5p mimic or inhibitor then treated with TGF-β1. The qRT-PCR and Western blotting was used to detect the expression of related molecules. The luciferase reporter assay was used to identify the target of miR-140-5p.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that miR-140-5p expression was downregulated in fibrotic liver tissues of model mice and LX-2 cells treated with TGF-β1. The overexpression of miR-140-5p decreased the expression of collagen1(COL1) and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), inhibited the phosphorylation of Smad-2/3 (pSmad-2/3) in LX-2 cells. Conversely, the knockdown of miR-140-5p upregulated COL1 and α-SMA expression, increased Smad-2/3 phosphorylation. A dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that TGFβR1 was a target gene of miR-140-5p. The overexpression of miR-140-5p suppressed TGFβR1 expression in LX-2 cells. Additionally, knockdown of TGFβR1 decreased the expression of COL1 and α-SMA. Conversely, the overexpression of TGFβR1 reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-140-5p upregulation on expression of COL1 and α-SMA.

CONCLUSION

miR-140-5p bound to TGFβR1 mRNA 3'-untranslated region(3'UTR) and inhibited the expression of TGFβR1, pSmad-2/3, COL1 and α-SMA, thereby exerting a potential therapeutic effect on hepatic fibrosis.

CiRS-187 regulates BMPR2 expression by targeting miR-187 in bovine cumulus cells treated with BMP15 and GDF9

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play vital roles in regulating biological processes. However, the contributions of circRNAs to BMPR2 regulation during follicle development remain unknown. In this study, we first verified the optimal conditions for BMP15 and GDF9 treatment in bovine cumulus cells. Then, we screened and identified candidate microRNAs (miRNAs) that may target the BMPR2 3'UTR with TargetScan, a luciferase reporter assay and RT-qPCR. Next, we transfected miR-187 into bovine cumulus cells, and the results showed that miR-187 regulated BMPR2 and inhibited its expression. To explore the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism, we predicted the sponging circRNAs of miR-187 and identified ciRS-187. We further detected miR-187 and BMPR2 expression and apoptosis levels upon knockdown of ciRS-187 and found that ciRS-187 upregulated BMPR2 expression. The results provide a theoretical basis for a ceRNA mechanism of circRNAs related to follicle development.

MicroRNAs target the PI3K/Akt/p53 and the Sirt1/Nrf2 signaling pathways in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin (DOX) is used as a chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of solid tumors. Irreversible cardiotoxicity is the major limitation in the clinical use of DOX. Several microRNAs (miRNAs) with diversified functions are identified that participate in exacerbating or suppressing DOX-induced cardiac damage. The miRNAs are small noncoding regulatory RNAs that modify the expression of the native genes. Studies have demonstrated that miRNAs by modifying the expression of proteins such as PTEN, Akt, and survivin can affect DOX-induced cardiac apoptosis. Moreover, miRNAs can modulate cardiac oxidative stress in DOX treatment through the posttranscriptional regulation of Sirt1, p66shc, and Nrf2 expressions. This manuscript has reviewed the regulation of the PI3K/Akt/p53 and the Sirt1/Nrf2 pathways by miRNAs in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Exosomal miRNA in early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

The incidence and mortality of hepatic carcinoma (HCC) remain high, and early diagnosis of HCC is seen as a key approach in improving clinical outcomes. However, the sensitivity and specificity of current early screening methods for HCC are not satisfactory. In recent years, research around exosomal miRNA has gradually increased, and these molecules have emerged as attractive candidates for early diagnosis and treatment of HCC. This review summarizes the feasibility of using miRNAs in peripheral blood exosomes as early diagnostic tools for HCC.

Mechanism and function of miR-140 in human cancers: A review and in silico study

MicroRNA-140 (miR-140) acts as a tumor suppressor and plays a vital role in cell biological functions such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA repair. The expression of this miRNA has been shown to be considerably decreased in cancer tissues and cell lines compared with normal adjacent tissues. Consequently, aberrant expression of some miR-140 target genes can lead to the initiation and progression of various human cancers, such as breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. The dysregulation of the miR-140 network also affects cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and apoptosis of cancer cells by affecting various signaling pathways. Besides, up-regulation of miR-140 could enhance the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in different cancer. We aimed to cover most aspects of miR-140 function in cancer development and address its importance in different stages of cancer progression.

Cancer-derived exosomal miR-197-3p confers angiogenesis via targeting TIMP2/3 in lung adenocarcinoma metastasis

Cancer-derived exosomal miRNAs are implicated in tumorigenesis and development of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The objective of this study is to unravel the biological function of exosomal miR-197-3p in LUAD metastasis. qRT-PCR showed that elevated miR-197-3p in LUAD tissues was positively correlated with LUAD metastasis. CCK-8, tube formation, transwell and wound healing assays revealed that exosomal miR-197-3p from LUAD cells promoted the proliferation, angiogenesis and migration of HUVECs in vitro. LUAD cells-derived exosomal miR-197-3p also facilitated tumor growth and angiogenesis in LUAD cells-derived tumor xenograft model. TIMP2 and TIMP3 were identified as target genes of miR-197-3p in HUVECs by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay. Functional studies illustrated that exosomal miR-197-3p promoted angiogenesis and migration via targeting TIMP2 and TIMP3 in HUVECs. In vivo data further supported that exosomal miR-197-3p promoted lung metastasis via TIMP2/3-mediated angiogenesis. In conclusion, LUAD cells-derived exosomal miR-197-3p conferred angiogenesis via targeting TIMP2/3 in LUAD metastasis.

Non-coding genome in small cell lung cancer between theoretical view and clinical applications

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive cancer of the neuroendocrine system, characterized by poor differentiation, rapid growth, and poor overall survival (OS) of patients. Despite the recent advances in the treatment of SCLC recently, the 2-year survival rate of patients with the cancer is only 14-15%, occasioned by the acquired resistance to drugs and serious off-target effects. In humans, the coding region is only 2% of the total genome, and 20% of that is associated with human diseases. Beyond the coding genome are RNAs, promoters, enhancers, and other intricate elements. The non-coding regulatory regions, mainly the non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), regulate numerous biological activities including cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. As such, they are potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers, and also potential therapeutic targets for SCLC. Therefore, understanding how non-coding elements regulate SCLC development and progression holds significant clinical implications. Herein, we summarized the recent discoveries on the relationship between the non-coding elements including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNA (circRNA), enhancers as well as promotors, and the pathogenesis of SCLC and their potential clinical applications.

Non-Coding RNA Related to MAPK Signaling Pathway in Liver Cancer

The advancement in high-throughput sequencing analysis and the evaluation of chromatin state maps have revealed that eukaryotic cells produce many non-coding transcripts/RNAs. Further, a strong association was observed between some non-coding RNAs and cancer development. The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) belong to the serine-threonine kinase family and are the primary signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation from the cell surface to the nucleus. They play an important role in various human diseases. A few non-coding RNAs associated with the MAPK signaling pathway play a significant role in the development of several malignancies, including liver cancer. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms and interactions of microRNA, lncRNA, and other non-coding RNAs in the development of liver cancer that are associated with the MAPK signaling pathway. Further, we briefly discuss the therapeutic strategies for liver cancer related to ncRNA and the MAPK signaling pathway.

MicroRNA-140-5p inhibitor attenuates memory impairment induced by amyloid-ß oligomer in vivo possibly through Pin1 regulation

AIMS

The peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, Pin1, has a protective role in age-related neurodegeneration by targeting different phosphorylation sites of tau and the key proteins required to produce Amyloid-β, which are the well-known molecular signatures of Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology. The direct interaction of miR-140-5p with Pin1 mRNA and its inhibitory role in protein translation has been identified. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the role of miRNA-140-5p inhibition in promoting Pin1 expression and the therapeutic potential of the AntimiR-140-5p in the Aß oligomer (AßO)-induced AD rat model.

METHODS

Spatial learning and memory were assessed in the Morris water maze. RT-PCR, western blot, and histological assays were performed on hippocampal samples at various time points after treatments. miRNA-140-5p inhibition enhanced Pin1 and ADAM10 mRNA expressions but has little effect on Pin1 protein level.

RESULTS

The miRNA-140-5p inhibitor markedly ameliorated spatial learning and memory deficits induced by AßO, and concomitantly suppressed the mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators TNFα and IL-1β, and phosphorylation of tau at three key sites (thr231, ser396, and ser404) as well as increased phosphorylated Ser473-Akt.

CONCLUSION

According to our results, Antimir-140-mediated improvement of AβO-induced neuronal injury and memory impairment in rats may provide an appropriate rationale for evaluating miR-140-5p inhibitors as a promising agent for the treatment of AD.

Involvement of microRNAs and their potential diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic role in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 85%-90% of primary liver cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting the 3'UTR of mRNA. Abnormal expression and regulation of miRNAs are involved in the occurrence and progression of HCC, and miRNAs can also play a role in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC as oncogenes or tumor suppressors.

METHODS

In the past decades, a large number of studies have shown that miRNAs play an essential regulatory role in HCC and have potential as biomarkers for HCC. We reviewed the literature to summarize these studies.

RESULTS

By reviewing the literature, we retrospected the roles of miRNAs in the development, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of HCC, and put forward prospects for the further research on miRNAs in the precision treatment of HCC.

CONCLUSION

MicroRNAs are important regulators and biomarkers in the occurrence, progression, outcome, and treatment of HCC, and can provide new targets and strategies for improving the therapeutic effect of HCC.

Cross-regulation between microRNAs and key proteins of signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a subtype of primary liver cancer and a major cause of death. Although miRNA plays an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma, the specific regulatory network remains unclear. Therefore, this paper comprehensively describes the miRNA-related signaling pathways in HCC and the possible interactions among different signaling pathways. The aim is to lay the foundation for the discovery of new molecular targets and multi-target therapy.

AREAS COVERED

Based on miRNA, HCC, and signaling pathways, the literature was searched on Web of Science and PubMed. Then, common targets between different signaling pathways were found from KEGG database, and possible cross-regulation mechanisms were further studied. In this review, we elaborated from two aspects, respectively, laying a foundation for studying the regulatory mechanism and potential targets of miRNA in HCC.

EXPERT OPINION

Non-coding RNAs have become notable molecules in cancer research in recent years, and many types of targeted drugs have emerged. From the outset, molecular targets and signal pathways are interlinked, which suggests that signal pathways and regulatory networks should be concerned in basic research, which also provides a strong direction for future mechanism research.

Research on a Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis method for mining pathogenic genes in thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most common thyroid malignancies occurring worldwide, and accounts for about 1% of all the malignant tumors. It is one of the fastest growing tumor and can occur at any age, but it is more common in women. It is important to find the pathogenesis and treatment targets of TC. In this pursuit, the present study was envisaged to investigate the effective carcinogenic biological macromolecules, so as to provide a better understanding of the occurrence and development of TC. The clinical and gene expression data were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We clustered mRNA and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) into different modules by Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), and calculated the correlation coefficient between the genes and clinical phenotypes. Using WGCNA, we identified the module with the highest correlation coefficient. Subsequently, by using the differential genes expression analysis to screen the differential micro-RNA (miRNA), the univariate Cox proportional hazard regression was employed to screen the hub genes related to overall survival (OS), with P < 0.05 as the statistical significance threshold. Finally, we designed a hub competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA) network of disease-associated lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs. From the results of enrichment analysis, the association of these genes could be related to the occurrence and development of TC, and these hub RNAs can be valuable prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in TC.

Dysregulated glucuronic acid metabolism exacerbates hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis through the TGFβ signalling pathway

BACKGROUND

Glucuronic acid metabolism participates in cellular detoxification, extracellular matrix remodeling and cell adhesion and migration. Here, we aimed to explore the crosstalk between dysregulated glucuronic acid metabolism and crucial metastatic signalling in glutathione S-transferase zeta 1 (GSTZ1)-deficient hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Transwell, HCC xenograft and Gstz1-/- mouse models were used to examine the role of GSTZ1 in HCC metastasis. Non-targeted and targeted metabolomics and global transcriptomic analyses were performed to screen significantly altered metabolic and signalling pathways in GSTZ1 overexpressing hepatoma cells. Further, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation, Biotin-RNA pull-down, mRNA decay assays and luciferase reporter assays were used to explore the interaction between RNA and RNA-binding proteins.

RESULTS

GSTZ1 was universally silenced in both human and murine HCC cells, and its deficiency contributed to HCC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase (UGDH)-mediated UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcUA) accumulation promoted hepatoma cell migration upon GSTZ1 loss. UDP-GlcUA stabilized TGFβR1 mRNA by enhancing its binding to polypyrimidine tract binding protein 3, contributing to the activation of TGFβ/Smad signalling. UGDH or TGFβR1 blockade impaired HCC metastasis. In addition, UGDH up-regulation and UDP-GlcUA accumulation correlated with increased metastatic potential and decreased patient survival in GSTZ1-deficient HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

GSTZ1 deficiency and subsequent up-regulation of the glucuronic acid metabolic pathway promotes HCC metastasis by increasing the stability of TGFβR1 mRNA and activating TGFβ/Smad signalling. UGDH and a key metabolite, UDP-GlcUA, may serve as prognostic markers. Targeting UGDH might be a promising strategy for HCC therapy.

Regulation of VEGFA, KRAS, and NFE2L2 Oncogenes by MicroRNAs in Head and Neck Cancer

Mutations and alterations in the expression of VEGFA, KRAS, and NFE2L2 oncogenes play a key role in cancer initiation and progression. These genes are enrolled not only in cell proliferation control, but also in angiogenesis, drug resistance, metastasis, and survival of tumor cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding regulatory RNA molecules that can regulate post-transcriptional expression of multiple target genes. We aimed to investigate if miRNAs hsa-miR-17-5p, hsa-miR-140-5p, and hsa-miR-874-3p could interfere in VEGFA, KRAS, and NFE2L2 expression in cell lines derived from head and neck cancer (HNC). FADU (pharyngeal cancer) and HN13 (oral cavity cancer) cell lines were transfected with miR-17-5p, miR-140-5p, and miR-874-3p microRNA mimics. RNA and protein expression analyses revealed that miR-17-5p, miR-140-5p and miR-874-3p overexpression led to a downregulation of VEGFA, KRAS, and NFE2L2 gene expression in both cell lines analyzed. Taken together, our results provide evidence for the establishment of new biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment of HNC.

microRNA-140 Regulates PDGFRα and Is Involved in Adipocyte Differentiation

In recent years, the studies of the role of microRNAs in adipogenesis and adipocyte development and the corresponding molecular mechanisms have received great attention. In this work, we investigated the function of miR-140 in the process of adipogenesis and the molecular pathways involved, and we found that adipogenic treatment promoted the miR-140-5p RNA level in preadipocytes. Over-expression of miR-140-5p in preadipocytes accelerated lipogenesis along with adipogenic differentiation by transcriptional modulation of adipogenesis-linked genes. Meanwhile, silencing endogenous miR-140-5p dampened adipogenesis. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) was shown to be a miR-140-5p target gene. miR-140-5p over-expression in preadipocyte 3T3-L1 diminished PDGFRα expression, but silencing of miR-140-5p augmented it. In addition, over-expression of PDGFRα suppressed adipogenic differentiation and lipogenesis, while its knockdown enhanced these biological processes of preadipocyte 3T3-L1. Altogether, our current findings reveal that miR-140-5p induces lipogenesis and adipogenic differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells by targeting PDGFRα, therefore regulating adipogenesis. Our research provides molecular targets and a theoretical basis for the treatment of obesity-related metabolic diseases.

Piezo1 promoted hepatocellular carcinoma progression and EMT through activating TGF-β signaling by recruiting Rab5c

BACKGROUND

Piezo1 has been revealed to play a regulatory role in vascular development and progression of variety tumors. However, whether and how the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) regulated by Piezo1 remains elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the effect and mechanisms of Piezo1 in HCC.

METHODS

The mRNA and protein expression level of Piezo1 in HCC samples and cell lines was determined by qRT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses. Two independent study cohorts containing 280 patients were analyzed to reveal the association between Piezo1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics. Series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were used to validate the function of Piezo1 in HCC. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to explore the signaling pathway of Piezo1. Immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence and in vitro and in vivo experiments were used to explore the molecular mechanism of Piezo1 in HCC progression.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated the Piezo1 expression was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, and upregulation of Piezo1 closely correlated with aggressive clinicopathological features and poor prognosis. Knockdown of Piezo1 in HCCLM3 and Hep3B cells significantly restrained proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells in vitro, and tumor growth, metastasis, EMT in vivo. TGF-β signaling pathway was most significant enriched pathway in GSEA. Finally, tumor promotion effect of Piezo1 was found to exerted through recruiting and combining Rab5c to activating TGF-β signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Piezo1 significantly related to poor prognosis and promotes progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via activating TGF-β signaling, which suggesting that Piezo1 may serve as a novel prognostic predictor and the potential therapeutic target for HCC patients.

Roles of the fibroblast growth factor signal transduction system in tissue injury repair

Following injury, tissue autonomously initiates a complex repair process, resulting in either partial recovery or regeneration of tissue architecture and function in most organisms. Both the repair and regeneration processes are highly coordinated by a hierarchy of interplay among signal transduction pathways initiated by different growth factors, cytokines and other signaling molecules under normal conditions. However, under chronic traumatic or pathological conditions, the reparative or regenerative process of most tissues in different organs can lose control to different extents, leading to random, incomplete or even flawed cell and tissue reconstitution and thus often partial restoration of the original structure and function, accompanied by the development of fibrosis, scarring or even pathogenesis that could cause organ failure and death of the organism. Ample evidence suggests that the various combinatorial fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and receptor signal transduction systems play prominent roles in injury repair and the remodeling of adult tissues in addition to embryonic development and regulation of metabolic homeostasis. In this review, we attempt to provide a brief update on our current understanding of the roles, the underlying mechanisms and clinical application of FGFs in tissue injury repair.

Non-coding RNAs and glioblastoma: Insight into their roles in metastasis

Glioma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most prevalent and most lethal primary brain tumor in adults. Gliomas are highly invasive tumors with the highest death rate among all primary brain malignancies. Metastasis occurs as the tumor cells spread from the site of origin to another site in the brain. Metastasis is a multifactorial process, which depends on alterations in metabolism, genetic mutations, and the cancer microenvironment. During recent years, the scientific study of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has led to new insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in glioma. Many studies have reported that ncRNAs play major roles in many biological procedures connected with the development and progression of glioma. Long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are all types of ncRNAs, which are commonly dysregulated in GBM. Dysregulation of ncRNAs can facilitate the invasion and metastasis of glioma. The present review highlights some ncRNAs that have been associated with metastasis in GBM. miRNAs, circRNAs, and lncRNAs are discussed in detail with respect to their relevant signaling pathways involved in metastasis.

The High Ratio of the Plasma miR-96/miR-99b Correlated With Poor Prognosis in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Object: This study aims to clarify the expression of plasma miRNA in CRC patients, and to clarify the potential use of these miRNAs in diagnosis and prognosis, and to establish a prognostic model to initially explore its clinical value.

Methods: We detected the expression of 6 miRNAs in normal colon epithelial cell lines and colorectal cancer cell lines by qRT-PCR and they were validated in the tissues of three subtypes: 20 healthy subjects, 41 pCRC and 49 mCRC patients. COX regression and ROC analyses use to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic efficacy of candidate miRNAs. Subsequently, we initially established a nomogram prognostic model. MiRNA is also used to construct miRNA-mRNA interaction network and PPI network modules.

Results: Five miRNAs showed significant differential expression in pCRC, mCRC patients and normal groups. ROC analysis showed that CEA, miR-96, miR-99b and miR-96/miR-99b are distinguishable from pCRC and mCRC patients, with AUC ranging from 0.65 to 0.91; among them, the ratio of miR-96/miR-99b is stronger than any diagnostic indicators, such as CEA and CA125. Multivariate survival analysis identified miR-96, miR-99b, N stage, M stage and clinical stage as independent prognostic indicators of mCRC. The nomogram based on these 5 characteristics has satisfactory prognostic values.

Conclusion: Our data indicate that plasma miR-96/miR-99b can be used as a promising biomarker for early detection of mCRC patients; our nomogram has a promising evaluation value.

Circulating Mir-140 and leptin improve the accuracy of the differential diagnosis between psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: a case-control study

The differential diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is difficult because of the lack of diagnostic clinical signs and reliable biomarkers. This study investigated microRNAs (miRNA) and adipokines as potential additional markers to discriminate PsA from RA. The expression profile of miRNA (miR-21, miR-140, miR-146a, miR-155, miR-181b, miR-223, miR-let-7e) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17a, IL-23a, TNF-α) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of PsA and RA patients compared to healthy controls (HC) were evaluated by real-time PCR, and serum adipokines (adiponectin, chemerin, leptin, resistin, visfatin) and cytokines by ELISA assay. Univariable binary logistic regression was used to find the association between PsA and potential predictors. The gene expression of miRNA and cytokines and the serum levels of adipokines were found significantly different in PsA and RA patients compared to HC, as well as in PsA versus RA. MiR-140 gene expression resulted up-regulated in PsA patients and reduced in RA in comparison to HC, and, for the first time, significantly higher in PsA compared with RA. Serum levels of IL-23a and leptin were significantly increased in PsA and RA populations than in HC, as well as in PsA versus RA. Furthermore, circulating TNF-α was up-regulated in PsA and RA in comparison to controls, while resulted higher in RA than in PsA. Univariable binary logistic regression analysis found the above-mentioned markers associated to PsA versus RA. Our results first demonstrated an increased expression of circulating miR-140 and serum leptin in PsA patients compared to RA, which were identified as potential additional biomarkers to discriminate PsA from RA. Since the differential diagnosis of PsA and RA poses challenges in clinical practice, our data may help to enhance the diagnostic performance of PsA in daily practice.

Upregulation of miR-140-5p uncouples mitochondria by targeting Bcl-xL in vascular smooth muscle cells in angiotensin II-induced hypertension

Angiotensin II-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) remodeling and dysfunction is a major contributor to the development of hypertension. In spite of the low content of mitochondria and their low contribution to bioenergetics in VSMCs, recent studies have suggested that mitochondria play an important role in the regulation of VSMC function. However, the role of mitochondria in angiotensin II-induced VSMC dysfunction remains unknown. Here, we found that angiotensin II decreased the expression of Bcl-2-like protein 1 (Bcl-xL), a newly identified protein in inhibition of uncoupled proton flux in mitochondria through interaction with the β-subunit of ATP synthase, and uncoupled mitochondria in VSMCs both in vivo and in vitro. Overexpression of Bcl-xL restored the mitochondrial and VSMC function in response to angiotensin II treatment in vitro, suggesting that angiotensin II uncouples mitochondria through downregulation of Bcl-xL. Mechanistically, angiotensin II increased the expression of miR-140-5p, which targeted and downregulated Bcl-xL in VSMCs. Inhibition of miR-140-5p using antagomir-140-5p in vivo attenuated mitochondrial uncoupling and hypertension in angiotensin II-treated mice. These results suggested that upregulation of miR-140-5p uncouples mitochondria by targeting Bcl-xL in VSMCs in angiotensin II-induced hypertension, and miR-140-5p and Bcl-xL are potential targets for treatment of vascular dysfunction.

Phospho-Smad3L promotes progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through decreasing miR-140-5p level and stimulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition

BACKGROUND

The transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) activates JNK, phosphorylates Smad3 to linker-phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3L), resulting in liver tumorigenesis. However, the effect of pSmad3L on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis is obscure.

AIM

To detect the effect of pSmad3L on HCC prognosis and investigate the mechanism.

METHODS

The expressions of pSmad3L, E-cadherin, vimentin and MicroRNA-140-5p (miR-140-5p) were detected by using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization. Next, the relationships of pSmad3L and HCC patients' prognoses, pSmad3L and EMT markers, pSmad3L and miR-140-5p were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation test. JNK/pSmad3L specific inhibitor SP600125 or Smad3 mutant plasmid was used to suppress JNK/pSmad3L pathway, and QPCR assay was performed to investigate the effect of pSmad3L on miR-140-5p level. The proliferation and invasion of hepatoma cells were observed using colony formation assay and transwell assay.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that patient with high level of pSmad3L predicted poor prognosis. Next, we verified that pSmad3L promoted EMT of hepatoma cells in vivo and in vitro. In order to investigate the mechanism, we verified a negative correlation between pSmad3L and miR-140-5p, which was an EMT inhibitor, in the liver tissues of HCC patient and diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced rat HCC model. We further used SP600125 or pSmad3L mutant plasmid to decrease pSmad3L level of hepatoma cells, and inhibition of pSmad3L increased miR-140-5p level and suppressed EMT of hepatoma cells.

CONCLUSIONS

JNK/pSmad3L pathway induces EMT by inhibiting miR-140-5p in HCC progression.

Prognostic and clinicopathological importance of microRNA-140 expression in cancer patients: a meta-analysis

Background

MicroRNA-140 (miR-140) is one of the most widely investigated miRNAs in cell carcinogenesis and cancer development. Despite present proposals of employing miR-140 as a candidate biomarker for cancer prognosis, its effectiveness in predicting patient survival and clinicopathological outcome is still under debate.

Methods

A systematic search for English literature using online databases was performed with pre-established criteria. Odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were collected to delineate the correlation between miR-140 levels and cancer patient prognosis.

Results

For this meta-analysis, we selected 12 papers for analysis, involving 1386 participants. Based on our analysis, high levels of miR-140 were strongly correlated with enhanced patient overall survival (OS) (HR = 0.728, 95% CI = 0.601-0.882, P = 0.001). In addition, we also observed that elevated miR-140 levels significantly led to better OS in patients with cancers in different parts of the body like digestive system (HR = 0.675, 95% CI = 0.538-0.848, P = 0.001), digestive tract (HR = 0.709, 95% CI = 0.565-0.889, P = 0.003), and head and neck (HR = 0.603, 95% CI = 0.456-0.797, P < 0.001). Additionally, we verified that the low miR-140 levels was related to advanced TNM stage (OR = 0.420, 95% CI = 0.299-0.590, P < 0.001), worse histologic grade (OR = 0.410, 95% CI = 0.261-0.643, P < 0.001), and positive lymph node metastasis status (OR = 0.341, 95% CI = 0.144-0.807, P = 0.014).

Conclusions

Taken together, our results suggest that elevated miR-140 levels can be employed as a favorable biomarker for cancer patient prognosis. This information can greatly benefit in the formation of an individualized therapeutic plan for the treatment of cancer patients.

Bie Jia Jian Pill Combined with Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells Regulates microRNA-140 to Suppress Hepatocellular Carcinoma Stem Cells

Background and Objectives

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) with tumorigenic potential are reported as the crucial factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and therapy resistance. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are documented to play an important role in the protection of hepatocytes. Bie Jia Jian pill (BJJP), a Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used to treat liver fibrosis and liver cancer. This study aimed to explore the potential role of combined use of BJJP with BMSCs in HCC cell lines.

Methods and Results

Flow cytometry was used to identify BMSCs isolated from BALB/c mice and CSCs enriched from Huh7 cells by measuring CD24, CD133, CD44, CD73, CD105, CD166, CD29, CD14 and CD34. Differentiation potential of BMSCs was also determined. Cell viability and proliferation ability of CSCs were determined by CCK-8 assay and clone formation assay. The expressions of CSCs biomarkers and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway related proteins were determined by PCR and western blot. TOP-Flash/FOP-Flash luciferase assay was applied to measure the activity of β-catenin/TCF. Compared with untreated CSCs, BJJP or BMSCs treatment alone on CSCs lead to increased miR-140 expression and cell apoptosis, as well as decreased expressions of CD24, CD133, EpCAM and cell viability. Downregualted expressions of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway related proteins, Wnt3a and β-catenin were found in response to BJJP or BMSCs treatment alone. The combination of BJJP＋BMSCs treatment on CSCs could further enhance the suppressive effect on CSCs. Down-regulation of miR-140 in CSCs partially blocked the effects of BMSCs or BMSCs＋BJJP on the expressions of Wnt3a and β-catenin as well as the cell viability and apoptosis of CSCs. Reversed expression pattern was found in CSCs transfected with miR-140 overexpression.

Conclusions

Taken together, we demonstrate that BJJP＋BMSCs together could further enhance the suppressive effect on CSCs through regulating miR-140 and suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. This study demonstrated the potential of BJJP＋BMSCs in therapeutic treatment of HCC.

Dysregulation of microRNA and Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Roles in Neuroinflammation

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a major public health problem and devastating subtype of stroke with high morbidity and mortality. Notably, there is no effective treatment for ICH. Neuroinflammation, a pathological hallmark of ICH, contributes to both brain injury and repair and hence, it is regarded as a potential target for therapeutic intervention. Recent studies document that microRNAs, small non-coding RNA molecules, can regulate inflammatory brain response after ICH and are viable molecular targets to alter brain function. Therefore, there is an escalating interest in studying the role of microRNAs in the pathophysiology of ICH. Herein, we provide, for the first time, an overview of the microRNAs that play roles in ICH-induced neuroinflammation and identify the critical knowledge gap in the field, as it would help design future studies.

Bie Jia Jian pill enhances the amelioration of bone mesenchymal stem cells on hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Background

The therapeutic efficiency of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in suppressing the recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been well proved.

Objective

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of Bie Jia Jian pill (BJJP) combined with bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in HCC progression.

Methods

Flow cytometry was used to identify BMSCs isolated from BALB/c mice. The expressions of biomarkers and apoptosis rate of cancer stem cells (CSCs) enriched from Huh7 cells were also measured. The osteogenic differentiation and adipogenic differentiation ability of isolated BMSCs was determined by oil red O staining and Alizarin Red Staining. CSCs were used to establish the orthotopic HCC model. Histological changes in the liver tissues were examined by hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) staining and Van Gieson (VG) staining. The cell apoptotic rate in the cancer tissues was detected by TUNEL staining. The cell proliferation antigen Ki67 in the cancer tissues were detected by immunofluorescence assay and PCR, respectively. The levels of CSCs cellular surface markers (CD24, CD133 and EpCAM) and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway related proteins were detected by PCR and western blot.

Results

Treatment of BJJP or BMSCs both improved the morphology induced by HCC and suppressed the differentiation ability of CSCs, as evidenced by down-regulated expressions of CD24, CD133, EpCAM and Ki67. The protective effect of BJJP or BMSCs in cancer tissues can be enhanced by the combination of BJJP and BMSCs. In addition to that, BJJP or BMSCs alone was found to increase the expression of miR-140 and promote cell apoptosis in CSCs, while down-regulation of miR-140 partially reversed the protective effect of BMSCs or BJJP + BMSCs on cancer tissues. BJJP + BMSCs treatment together also can down-regulate the expressions of Wnt3a and β-catenin.

Conclusions

These results proved the inhibitory role of BJJP + BMSCs in HCC development through regulating miR-140 and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11418-021-01548-4.

MicroRNA miR-509-3p inhibit metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma

Our study seeks to obtain data which help to assess the impacts and related mechanisms of microRNA miR-509-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We found that the expression of miR-509-3p was down-regulated and Twist was up-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines (HepG2, HCCLM3, Bel7402, and SMMC7721) compared with the adjacent normal tissues and normal human hepatocyte (L02). Moreover, cell proliferation, invasion, migration and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HepG2 and HCCLM3 cells were appeared to be markedly suppressed by overexpressed miR-509-3p. Overexpression of miR-509-3p also performed inhibition of the growth and metastasis in vivo. In addition, miR-509-3p could target and inhibit Twist expression, and it could further reverse the tumor promotion by Twist in HCC. All in all, miR-509-3p overexpression causes inhibition of the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of HCC cells by negatively regulating Twist, thereby suppressing HCC development and metastasis.

Upregulation of FGF9 in Lung Adenocarcinoma Transdifferentiation to Small Cell Lung Cancer

Transdifferentiation of lung adenocarcinoma to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has been reported in a subset of lung cancer cases that bear EGFR mutations. Several studies have reported the prerequisite role of TP53 and RB1 alterations in transdifferentiation. However, the mechanism underlying transdifferentiation remains understudied, and definitive additional events, the third hit, for transdifferentiation have not yet been identified. In addition, no prospective experiments provide direct evidence for transdifferentiation. In this study, we show that FGF9 upregulation plays an essential role in transdifferentiation. An integrative omics analysis of paired tumor samples from a patient with transdifferentiated SCLC exhibited robust upregulation of FGF9. Furthermore, FGF9 upregulation was confirmed at the protein level in four of six (66.7%) paired samples. FGF9 induction transformed mouse lung adenocarcinoma-derived cells to SCLC-like tumors in vivo through cell autonomous activation of the FGFR pathway. In vivo treatment of transdifferentiated SCLC-like tumors with the pan-FGFR inhibitor AZD4547 inhibited growth. In addition, FGF9 induced neuroendocrine differentiation, a pathologic characteristic of SCLC, in established human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Thus, the findings provide direct evidence for FGF9-mediated SCLC transdifferentiation and propose the FGF9-FGFR axis as a therapeutic target for transdifferentiated SCLC. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates that FGF9 plays a role in the transdifferentiation of lung adenocarcinoma to small cell lung cancer.

Advances of Fibroblast Growth Factor/Receptor Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and its Pharmacotherapeutic Targets

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a type of primary liver cancer with poor prognosis, and its incidence and mortality rate are increasing worldwide. It is refractory to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy owing to its high tumor heterogeneity. Accumulated genetic alterations and aberrant cell signaling pathway have been characterized in HCC. The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family and their receptors (FGFRs) are involved in diverse biological activities, including embryonic development, proliferation, differentiation, survival, angiogenesis, and migration, etc. Data mining results of The Cancer Genome Atlas demonstrate high levels of FGF and/or FGFR expression in HCC tumors compared with normal tissues. Moreover, substantial evidence indicates that the FGF/FGFR signaling axis plays an important role in various mechanisms that contribute to HCC development. At present, several inhibitors targeting FGF/FGFR, such as multikinase inhibitors, specific FGFR4 inhibitors, and FGF ligand traps, exhibit antitumor activity in preclinical or early development phases in HCC. In this review, we summarize the research progress regarding the molecular implications of FGF/FGFR-mediated signaling and the development of FGFR-targeted therapeutics in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Inhibitory effect of miR-140-5p on doxorubicin resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma

To investigate the role of microRNA (miR)-140-5p in doxorubicin (DOX) sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma, miR-140-5p and peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (PIN1) expression was first evaluated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues using starBase. Next, in vitro experiments were performed. Cell line expression of miR-140-5p and PIN1 expression was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Cell viability and proliferation were determined by the Cell Counting Kit-8 and EdU assays. The relationship between miR-140-5p and PIN1 was evaluated by TargetScan and a luciferase reporter system. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of PIN1. It was observed that miR-140-5p was downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cell lines compared with normal samples in HCC or normal liver cells. Gain-of-function experiments revealed that miR-140-5p mimics were able to enhance DOX sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Further studies revealed that PIN1 was a target gene of miR-140-5p. Suppression of PIN1 led to higher DOX sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Finally, when comparing a PIN1-siRNA alone group and a PIN1-siRNA plus miR-140-5p inhibitor group, there was no significant difference in cell viability. Furthermore, miR-140-5p mimics did not reduce the sensitivity of PIN1mut plasmid to DOX in HUH7 and SNU449 cells. The present study demonstrated that miR-140-5p could enhance DOX sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting PIN1.

Neuroprotective effects of microRNA-140-5p on ischemic stroke in mice via regulation of the TLR4/NF-κB axis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Ischemic stroke is one of the main causes of death worldwide and permanent global disability. On the basis of existing literature data, the study was carried out in an effort to explore how miR-140-5p affects ischemic stroke and whether the mechanism relates to toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB).

METHODS

Firstly, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed to establish mouse models of ischemic stroke in vivo, while primary neurons were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) to set up an ischemic stroke model in vitro. RT-qPCR was then applied to detect the miR-140-5p expression patterns, whereas Western blot was adopted to detect the expression patterns of TLR4, NF-κB, and apoptosis-related factors. In addition, based gain-function of experiments using miR-140-5p mimic and TLR4 over-expression plasmid, neurological function score, TTC staining, TUNEL staining, as well as flow cytometry were carried out to evaluate the effects of miR-140-5p and TLR4 on MCAO mice and OGD neurons. Moreover, dual-luciferase reporter assay was applied to validate the targeting relationship between miR-140-5p and TLR4.

RESULTS

Initial findings revealed that miR-140-5p was poorly-expressed, while TLR4 was highly-expressed in ischemic stroke. It was verified that miR-140-5p targeted TLR4 and downregulated its expression. MiR-140-5p over-expression was observed to inhibit the apoptosis of neurons under OGD exposure and restrain the progression of ischemic stroke, while TLR4 over-expression promoted the apoptosis and disease progression. Besides, miR-140-5p over-expression led to a decrease in NF-κB protein levels, which were increased by TLR4 over-expression.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our data indicates that miR-140-5p over-expression may be instrumental for the therapeutic targeting of ischemic stroke by alleviating neuron injury with the involvement of the TLR4/NF-κB axis.

MicroRNA-140-5p is Downregulated in Osteosarcoma and Overexpression of MicroRNA-140-5p Inhibits Cancer Cell Proliferation by Downregulating GLUT-1

Background

MicroRNA-140-5p plays pivotal role in different types of human malignancies, while its involvement in osteosarcoma is unknown.

Objective

Our study aimed to investigate the functionality of microRNA-140-5p in osteosarcoma.

Methods

Plasma levels of microRNA-140-5p and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) in both osteosarcoma and healthy controls were measured by qRT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Correlation between plasma levels of microRNA-140-5p and GLUT-1 was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient. Correlation between plasma levels of microRNA-140-5p and clinical data of patients with osteosarcoma was analyzed by Chi-square test. MicroRNA-140-5p mimic and GLUT-1 expression vector were transfected into cells of human osteosarcoma cell lines, and the effects on microRNA-140-5p expression, GLUT-1 expression and cell proliferation were analyzed by qRT-PCR, Western-blot and CCK-8 assay, respectively.

Results

Plasma levels of microRNA-140-5p were significantly lower and plasma levels of GLUT-1 were significantly higher in osteosarcoma patients than that in healthy controls. Levels of plasma microRNA-140-5p and GLUT-1 were reversely correlated in osteosarcoma patients. Plasma levels of microRNA-140-5p were correlated with tumor size but not with other clinical data of patients. MicroRNA-140-5p mimic significantly inhibited cancer cell proliferation, while GLUT-1 overexpression significantly promoted cancer cell proliferation. MicroRNA-140-5p mimic significantly downregulated GLUT-1 expression.

Conclusion

GLUT-1 overexpression showed no significant effect on microRNA-140-5p expression but attenuated the inhibitory effects of microRNA-140-5p mimic on cell proliferation. We therefore conclude that microRNA-140-5p is downregulated in osteosarcoma and overexpression of microRNA-140-5p may inhibit cancer cell proliferation by downregulating GLUT-1.

Effects of miRNA-140 on the Growth and Clinical Prognosis of SMMC-7721 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line

Background

A growing number of studies have suggested that microRNAs exert an essential role in the development and occurrence of multiple tumours and act as crucial regulators in various biological processes. However, the expression and function of miRNA-140 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are not yet adequately identified and manifested.

Methods

The expression of miRNA-140 was determined in HCC tissues and adjacent nontumour tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were performed to explore the correlation between miRNA-140 expression level and the survival rate of patients with HCC. Additionally, overexpression experiments were conducted to investigate the biological role of miRNA-140 in HCC cells. Bioinformatics was used to predict the related target genes and pathways of miRNA-140.

Results

QRT-PCR results signified that the expression level of miRNA-140 in HCC was lower than that of adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.0001). Compared with the control group, the SMMC-7721 HCC cells in the miRNA-140 mimic group had a decrease in proliferation, migration, and invasion (P < 0.05), whereas those in the miRNA-140 inhibitor group had an increase in proliferation, migration, and invasion (P < 0.05). Cell cycle arrest occurred in the G0/1 phase. Prognosis analysis showed that the expression level of miRNA-140 was not related to the prognosis of HCC. Furthermore, the Kaplan-Meier test revealed that patients with lower miRNA-140 expression levels in liver cancer tissue had significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS, P = 0.004) and overall survival (OS) times (P = 0.010) after hepatectomy. Cox regression analysis further indicated that miRNA-140 was an independent risk factor that may affect the DFS (P = 0.004) and OS times (P = 0.014) of patients after hepatectomy. Our results suggested that miRNA-140 might be a crucial regulator involved in the HCC progression and is thus considered a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.

circEHBP1 promotes lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of bladder cancer via miR-130a-3p/TGFβR1/VEGF-D signaling

Lymphatic metastasis constitutes a leading cause of recurrence and mortality in bladder cancer. Accumulating evidence indicates that lymphangiogenesis is indispensable to trigger lymphatic metastasis. However, the specific mechanism is poorly understood. In the present study, we revealed a pathway involved in lymphatic metastasis of bladder cancer, in which a circular RNA (circRNA) facilitated lymphangiogenesis in a vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C)-independent manner. Novel circRNA circEHBP1 was markedly upregulated in bladder cancer and correlated positively with lymphatic metastasis and poor prognosis of patients with bladder cancer. circEHBP1 upregulated transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1) expression through physically binding to miR-130a-3p and antagonizing the suppression effect of miR-130a-3p on the 3′ UTR region of TGFBR1. Subsequently, circEHBP1-mediated TGFβR1 overexpression activated the TGF-β/SMAD3 signaling pathway, thereby promoting the secretion of VEGF-D and driving lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis in bladder cancer. Importantly, administration of VEGF-D neutralizing antibodies remarkably blocked circEHBP1-induced lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis in vivo. Our findings highlighted that the circEHBP1/miR-130a-3p/TGFβR1/VEGF-D axis contributes to lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of bladder cancer independent of VEGF-C, which might lead to the development of circEHBP1 as a potential biomarker and promising therapeutic target for lymphatic metastasis in bladder cancer.

MicroRNAs in the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review

Simple Summary

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequently occurring cancers, and the prognosis for late-stage HCC remains poor. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of HCC is expected to improve outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding, single-stranded RNAs that regulate the expression of various target genes, including those in cancer-associated genomic regions or fragile sites in various human cancers. We summarize the central roles of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of HCC and discuss their potential utility as valuable biomarkers and new therapeutic agents for HCC.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the seventh most frequent cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Despite substantial advances in therapeutic strategies, the prognosis of late-stage HCC remains dismal because of the high recurrence rate. A better understanding of the etiology of HCC is therefore necessary to improve outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, endogenous, noncoding, single-stranded RNAs that modulate the expression of their target genes at the posttranscriptional and translational levels. Aberrant expression of miRNAs has frequently been detected in cancer-associated genomic regions or fragile sites in various human cancers and has been observed in both HCC cells and tissues. The precise patterns of aberrant miRNA expression differ depending on disease etiology, including various causes of hepatocarcinogenesis, such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms and the association of miRNAs with the pathogenesis of HCC of various etiologies. In the present review, we summarize the key mechanisms of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of HCC and emphasize their potential utility as valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as innovative therapeutic targets, in HCC diagnosis and treatment.

Association between microRNA-527 and glypican-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma

The present study aimed to identify the specific microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) and their corresponding target genes involved in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Microarray analysis was performed to examine the miRNA expression profiles of four paired HCC and corresponding non-cancerous (N) liver tissues using 985 miRNA probes. The Human miRNA Target database was used to identify the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs between the HCC and N tissues. The protein expression levels of target genes in the HCC tissues and cell lines were evaluated using western blotting. miRNA-mediated suppression of target gene expression was evaluated by transiently transfecting the miRNA into the HCC cell lines. Of the 985 miRNAs evaluated, four miRNAs were differentially expressed (three upregulated and one downregulated miRNAs). Of these four miRNAs, miRNA-527 was highly downregulated in the HCC tissues. Glypican-3 (GPC-3) was predicted as a target gene of miRNA-527. Western blotting revealed that GPC-3 protein is highly expressed in the HCC tissues and HCC cell lines compared with N and normal cell lines. Transfection with miR-527 resulted in suppression of GPC-3 protein expression in the Cos7 cells. Furthermore, transfection with miR-527 also inhibited the intrinsic expression of GPC-3 in the Huh-7 cell line. This indicated that miR-527 in the HCC tissues may be an important novel miRNA that targets the GPC-3 gene expression. GPC-3, whose expression is regulated by miR-527, may be involved in the development and progression of HCC.