Up-regulation of microRNA-183-3p is a potent prognostic marker for lung adenocarcinoma of female non-smokers

Mechanism of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen) in treating NSCLC: Insights from miRNA-mRNA network analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen) is the primary herb component of Compound Kushen Injection (CKI), an approved clinical treatment for tumors. Despite CKI's widespread use, the underlying mechanisms of Kushen regarding microRNA-target and pathway remain unclear in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to elucidate the crucial miRNAs-targets and pathways responsible for the Kushen's impact on NSCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CCK8, colony formation, and apoptosis assays were performed to assess the effects of Kushen on NSCLC cells. Subsequently, we treated the A549 cell line with varying concentrations of Kushen to obtain mRNA and miRNA expression profiles. A DE (differentially expressed) miRNAs-DEGs network was then constructed to identify the critical miRNA-mRNA interaction influenced by Kushen. Furthermore, we performed clinical significance and prognosis analyses of hub genes to narrow down key genes and their corresponding miRNAs. Finally, the effects of Kushen on critical miRNA-mRNA interaction and related pathway were verified by in vitro and in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

In this study, we initially demonstrated that Kushen significantly inhibited cell proliferation, suppressed colony formation, and induced apoptosis in the A549 cells, PC9 cells, and the A549 zebrafish xenograft model. Through expression profile analysis, a DE miRs-DEGs network was constructed with 16 DE miRs and 68 DEGs. Through the network analysis and expression validation, we found Kushen could significantly down-regulate miR-183-5p expression and up-regulate EGR1 expression. Additionally, Kushen affected the PTEN/Akt pathway, increasing PTEN expression and decreasing pAkt expression. Finally, matrine, the essential active compound of Kushen, also inhibited cell growth, induced apoptosis, and regulated miR-183-5p/EGR1 and PTEN/AKT pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, these findings supported the critical role of miR-183-5p/EGR1 and the PTEN/AKT pathway in the beneficial effects of Kushen on NSCLC, highlighting the therapeutic potential of Kushen in NSCLC treatment.

Research Advances in the Role of the Tropomyosin Family in Cancer

Cancer is one of the most difficult diseases for human beings to overcome. Its development is closely related to a variety of factors, and its specific mechanisms have been a hot research topic in the field of scientific research. The tropomyosin family (Tpm) is a group of proteins closely related to the cytoskeleton and actin, and recent studies have shown that they play an important role in various cancers, participating in a variety of biological activities, including cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and have been used as biomarkers for various cancers. The purpose of this review is to explore the research progress of the Tpm family in tumorigenesis development, focusing on the molecular pathways associated with them and their relevant activities involved in tumors. PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant studies on the role of Tpms in tumorigenesis and development and the activities of Tpms involved in tumors. Data from the literature suggest that the Tpm family is involved in tumor cell proliferation and growth, tumor cell invasion and migration, tumor angiogenesis, tumor cell apoptosis, and immune infiltration of the tumor microenvironment, among other correlations. It can be used as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis, follow-up, and therapeutic response of some tumors. The Tpm family is involved in cancer in a close relationship with miRNAs and LncRNAs. Tpms are involved in tumor tissue invasion and migration as a key link. On this basis, TPM is frequently used as a biomarker for various cancers. However, the specific molecular mechanism of its involvement in cancer progression has not been explained clearly, which remains an important direction for future research.

MicroRNA-183-5p regulates MITF expression in vitiligo skin depigmentation

Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is a master regulatory factor for melanocytes. MITF regulates multiple pigmentary genes for maintaining cellular homeostasis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in numerous biological processes however their molecular/cellular mechanisms to regulate pigmentation have not been fully explored. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of miRNAs in skin depigmentation via regulation of MITF gene. Depigmentation in C57BL/6 black mice was induced by an autoimmune response against tyrosinase. Bioinformatics approach was used to detect miRNAs conserved in 3'untraslated region (3'UTR) of MITF mRNA. The iMC23 mouse melanocytes were used for transfection experiments. The data demonstrated that the MITF mRNA/protein was markedly low in lesional skin of depigmented mice (p < 0.05). Targetscan genomic database determined that 3'UTR of mouse MITF constitutes 4819 nucleotide bases and has 23 conserved sites for different miRNAs To validate the pairing of these predicted miRNAs with MITF mRNA, five miRNAs were deregulated in lesional skin (p < 0.05). Among them, mmu-miR-181a-5p and mmu-miR-183-5p were up-regulated, whereas mmu-miR-26a-5p, mmu-miR-26b-5p and mmu-miR-32-5p were down-regulated (p < 0.05). To verify these results, the iMC23 mouse melanocytes were used. Transfection of iMC23 cells with specific miRNAs mimics or inhibitors or with 3'UTR reporter clone of MITF, showed only mmu-miR-183-5p binds to 3'UTR of MITF mRNA and regulates its expression in iMC23 melanocytes. In conclusions, this is the first study shows that miR-183-5p is a direct regulator of MITF in iMC23 melanocytes. Thus, miR-183-5p is an important regulator of melanocytes homeostasis and may be a novel target for autoimmune depigmentation therapy.

Circular RNA circ_0067741 regulates the Hippo/YAP pathway to suppress lung adenocarcinoma progression by targeting microRNA-183-5p

To discuss the effect and molecular mechanism of circular RNA circ_0067741 on the occurrence and development of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). QRT-PCR was utilized to detect circ_0067741, microRNA-183-5p (miR-183-5p) and large tumor suppressor 1 (LATS1) expressions in tumor tissues of 30 LUAD patients and LUAD cell lines (A549, Calu-3, H1299 and H1975). After overexpression or knockdown of circ_0067741-1 or miR-183-5p in H1299 and A549 cells, respectively, cell proliferation, viability, apoptosis, invasion and migration ability and angiogenesis ability were detected by MTT, cell cloning, flow cytometry, transwell and tube formation assays, respectively. The targeted relationship between miR-183-5p and circ_0067741 or LATS1 was validated using dual-luciferase reporter assay. We found that circ_0067741 expression was notably declined in LUAD cells and tissues. Overexpression of circ_0067741 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of LUAD cells and promoted apoptosis. Moreover, circ_0067741 could sponge miR-183-5p to regulate LATS1 expression and then activate the Hippo/YAP pathway. Downregulation of LATS1 reversed the effects of circ_0067741 on the Hippo/YAP pathway and LUAD cells progression. In conclusion, circ_0067741 sponges miR-183-5p, and regulates LATS1 to activate Hippo/YAP pathway, thereby inhibiting the process of LUAD cells. And the circ_0067741/miR-183-5p/LATS1 axis can be a potential target for early diagnosis and targeted treatment of LUAD.

Clinical Significance of miR-183-3p and miR-182-5p in NSCLC and Their Correlation

Purpose

Accumulating evidence has indicated that dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in cancer progression. In this study, we evaluated the clinicopathologic significance of miR-183-3p and miR-182-5p, and the role of miR-183-3p in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression.

Patients and Methods

Seventy-six NSCLC patients from Beijing Chest Hospital were included. The expression of miR-183-3p and miR-182-5p was evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Then, cell growth curve assays and colony formation assays were performed. Bioinformatics analysis of TCGA database was performed to explore the clinicopathological significance and prognostic value.

Results

miR-183-3p and miR-182-5p were significantly increased in NSCLC tumor tissues (both P < 0.0001) and were positively correlated (r = 0.8519, P < 0.0001). miR-183-3p (P = 0.0444) and miR-182-5p (P = 0.0132) were correlated with tumor size. In addition, miR-183-3p (P = 0.0135) and miR-182-5p (P = 0.0009) were upregulated in normal lung tissues from smokers. In vitro, miR-183-3p was correlated with cell proliferation. In addition, bioinformatics analysis indicated that miR-183-3p was correlated with poor prognosis (P = 0.0466) and tumor size (P = 0.0017). In addition, miR-183-3p was higher in lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC) tissue (P < 0.0001) than in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissue, and miR-183-3p was higher in the tumor tissue of smokers (P = 0.0053) than in that of nonsmokers.

Conclusion

Upregulation of miR-183-3p and miR-182-5p may play an oncogenic role in NSCLC. miR-183-3p could be used as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target to manage lung cancer.

miRNAs in lung cancer. A systematic review identifies predictive and prognostic miRNA candidates for precision medicine in lung cancer

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and miRNAs play a key role in LC development. To better diagnose LC and to predict drug treatment responses we evaluated 228 articles encompassing 16,697 patients and 12,582 healthy controls. Based on the criteria of ≥3 independent studies and a sensitivity and specificity of >0.8 we found blood-borne miR-20a, miR-10b, miR-150, and miR-223 to be excellent diagnostic biomarkers for non-small cell LC whereas miR-205 is specific for squamous cell carcinoma. The systematic review also revealed 38 commonly regulated miRNAs in tumor tissue and the circulation, thus enabling the prediction of histological subtypes of LC. Moreover, theranostic biomarker candidates with proven responsiveness to checkpoint inhibitor treatments were identified, notably miR-34a, miR-93, miR-106b, miR-181a, miR-193a-3p, and miR-375. Conversely, miR-103a-3p, miR-152, miR-152-3p, miR-15b, miR-16, miR-194, miR-34b, and miR-506 influence programmed cell death-ligand 1 and programmed cell death-1 receptor expression, therefore providing a rationale for the development of molecularly targeted therapies. Furthermore, miR-21, miR-25, miR-27b, miR-19b, miR-125b, miR-146a, and miR-210 predicted response to platinum-based treatments. We also highlight controversial reports on specific miRNAs. In conclusion, we report diagnostic miRNA biomarkers for in-depth clinical evaluation. Furthermore, in an effort to avoid unnecessary toxicity we propose predictive biomarkers. The biomarker candidates support personalized treatment decisions of LC patients and await their confirmation in randomized clinical trials.

Inhibition of cancer cell-derived exosomal microRNA-183 suppresses cell growth and metastasis in prostate cancer by upregulating TPM1

Background

Emerging evidence continues to highlight the significant role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of cancer growth and metastasis. Herein, the current study aimed to elucidate the role of exosomal miR-183 in prostate cancer development.

Methods

Initially, public microarray-based gene expression profiling of prostate cancer was employed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. The putative target gene TPM1 of miR-183 was subsequently predicted, followed by the application of a luciferase reporter assay and examination of the expression patterns in prostate cancer patients and cell lines. The effects of miR-183 and TPM1 on processes such as cell proliferation, invasion and migration were evaluated using in vitro gain- and loss-of-function experiments. The effect of PC3 cells-derived exosomal miR-183 was validated in LNCaP cells. In vivo experiments were also performed to examine the effect of miR-183 on prostate tumor growth.

Results

High expression of miR-183 accompanied with low expression of TPM1 was detected in prostate cancer. Our data indicated that miR-183 could target and downregulate TPM1, with the overexpression of miR-183 and exosomal miR-183 found to promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in prostate cancer. Furthermore, the tumor-promoting effect of exosome-mediated delivery of miR-183 was subsequently confirmed in a tumor xenograft model.

Conclusions

Taken together, the key findings of our study demonstrate that prostate cancer cell-derived exosomal miR-183 enhance prostate cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration via the downregulation of TPM1, highlighting a promising therapeutic target against prostate cancer.

Serum and Glucocorticoid-Inducible Kinase 1 (SGK1) in NSCLC Therapy

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains the most prevalent and one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Despite recent success, there is still an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. It is also becoming increasingly evident that combinatorial approaches are more effective than single modality treatments. This review proposes that the serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) may represent an attractive target for therapy of NSCLC. Although ubiquitously expressed, SGK1 deletion in mice causes only mild defects of ion physiology. The frequent overexpression of SGK1 in tumors is likely stress-induced and provides a therapeutic window to spare normal tissues. SGK1 appears to promote oncogenic signaling aimed at preserving the survival and fitness of cancer cells. Most importantly, recent investigations have revealed the ability of SGK1 to skew immune-cell differentiation toward pro-tumorigenic phenotypes. Future studies are needed to fully evaluate the potential of SGK1 as a therapeutic target in combinatorial treatments of NSCLC. However, based on what is currently known, SGK1 inactivation can result in anti-oncogenic effects both on tumor cells and on the immune microenvironment. A first generation of small molecules to inactivate SGK1 has already been already produced.

miR-183-3p suppresses proliferation and migration of keratinocyte in psoriasis by inhibiting GAB1

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) target genes involved in the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes or immune dysfunction of psoriasis. This study prospectively determined the involvement of miR-183-3p in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Methods

Differentially expressed miR-183-3p between psoriatic lesional and non-lesional skin were determined by quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH). CCK8 and wound healing assays were performed to assess cell viability and migration of human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). The target of miR-183-3p was validated by luciferase activity assay.

Results

Lower miR-183-3p expression was observed in psoriatic lesional skin compared to psoriatic non-lesional skin. MiR-183-3p over-expression inhibited the viability and migration of HaCaT cells, while inhibition of miR-183-3p promoted the viability and migration of HaCaT cells. Moreover, miR-183-3p could bind to the 3′ UTR of GAB1 (growth factor receptor binding 2-associated binding protein 1) and decrease the mRNA and protein expression of GAB1 in HaCaT cells. In addition, higher GAB1 expression was observed in psoriatic lesional skin than psoriatic non-lesional skin.

Conclusion

MiR-183-3p exhibited inhibition property in the proliferation and migration of HaCaT cells via down-regulation of GAB1, suggesting the potential therapeutic strategy for psoriasis.

Inhibition of microRNA-183 expression resists human umbilical vascular endothelial cells injury by upregulating expression of IRS1

Our study aims to investigate the effect of microRNA-183 (miR-183) on human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury by targeting IRS1. HUVECs injury was induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). HUVECs were grouped so as to explore the role of ox-LDL and miR-183 in HUVECs injury, with the expression of miR-183 and IRS1 detected. Additionally, the related factors of oxidative stress and inflammation, as well as angiogenesis ability, proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, invasion, and migration abilities were also measured. Ox-LDL treatment could decrease the activity of HUVECs, increase the level of oxidative stress and inflammation, and induce the HUVECs injury. miR-183 could inhibit the expression of IRS1. The inhibition of miR-183 expression in ox-LDL-induced HUVECs injury could enhance cell activity, inhibit inflammatory level, and thus resist cell injury. Low expression of IRS1 could reverse the inhibition of miR-183 on HUVECs injury. This study highlights that inhibition of miR-183 expression may resist HUVECs injury by upregulating expression of IRS1.

MicroRNA in Lung Cancer Metastasis

Tumor metastasis is a hallmark of cancer, with distant metastasis frequently developing in lung cancer, even at initial diagnosis, resulting in poor prognosis and high mortality. However, available biomarkers cannot reliably predict cancer spreading sites. The metastatic cascade involves highly complicated processes including invasion, migration, angiogenesis, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition that are tightly controlled by various genetic expression modalities along with interaction between cancer cells and the extracellular matrix. In particular, microRNAs (miRNAs), a group of small non-coding RNAs, can influence the transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes, with dysregulation of miRNA expression contributing to the regulation of cancer metastasis. Nevertheless, although miRNA-targeted therapy is widely studied in vitro and in vivo, this strategy currently affords limited feasibility and a few miRNA-targeted therapies for lung cancer have entered into clinical trials to date. Advances in understanding the molecular mechanism of metastasis will thus provide additional potential targets for lung cancer treatment. This review discusses the current research related to the role of miRNAs in lung cancer invasion and metastasis, with a particular focus on the different metastatic lesions and potential miRNA-targeted treatments for lung cancer with the expectation that further exploration of miRNA-targeted therapy may establish a new spectrum of lung cancer treatments.

MicroRNA-183 inhibits A375 human melanoma cell migration and invasion by targeting Ezrin and MMP-9

To assess the influence of microRNA-183 (miR-183) on the migration and invasion of A375 human melanoma cells, an A375 cell line with stable miR-183 overexpression or knockdown was constructed using lentiviral transfection. The change of miR-183 expression in these cells and in non-transfected controls was verified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The impact of miR-183 on experimental A375 cell migration and invasion was assessed using a scratch and Transwell assay. The expression of Ezrin and matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9), which are two mediator proteins that serve roles in tumor cell migration and invasion, were analyzed in each cell group via western blotting. The results of the present study indicated that miR-183 overexpression significantly inhibits A375 cell migration and invasion, which may be facilitated by miR-183 knockdown. Furthermore, Ezrin and MMP-9 protein levels were negatively associated with miR-183 expression, indicating that miR-183 may function as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting the expression of these two proteins. Additionally, miR-183 downregulation may be associated with the progression of melanoma.

Oncogenic microRNA signature for early diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women globally, despite the widespread use of cytology/human papillomavirus (HPV) screening. In the present study, we aimed to identify the potential role of microRNA (miRNA) as a diagnostic biomarker in the detection of cervical pre‐malignant lesions and cancer. In total, we recruited 582 patients with cervical diseases and 145 control individuals. The expression levels of six miRNAs (miR‐20a, miR‐92a, miR‐141, miR‐183*, miR‐210 and miR‐944) were found to be significantly up‐regulated in cervical cancer and pre‐malignant lesions compared to normal cervical samples, indicating that they are oncogenic miRNAs. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that these six miRNAs can be used to distinguish patients with cervical pre‐malignant lesions or cancer from normal individuals and they also had a good predictive performance, particularly in cervical lesions. Combined use of these six miRNAs further enhanced the diagnostic accuracy over any single miRNA marker, with an area under the curve of 0.998, 0.996 and 0.959, a diagnostic sensitivity of 97.9%, 97.2% and 91.4%, and a specificity of 98.6%, 96.6% and 87.6% for low‐grade lesions, high‐grade lesions and cancer, respectively. This six oncogenic miRNA signature may be suitable for use as diagnostic marker for cervical pre‐malignant lesions and cancer in the near future.

Differential MicroRNA Expression between EGFR T790M and L858R Mutated Lung Cancer

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNAs that mediate post-transcriptional gene regulation. They are commonly deregulated in human malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to investigate miRNA expression in T790M-mutated NSCLC resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Methods

Six cases of resected NSCLC harboring the T790M mutation were examined. We performed miRNA time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array profiling using EGFR T790M-mutated NSCLC and L858R-mutated NSCLC. Once identified, miRNAs that were differentially expressed between the two groups were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Results

miRNA PCR array profiling revealed three up-regulated miRNAs whose expression levels were altered 4.0-fold or more in the EGFR T790M mutation group than in the L858R group: miR-1 (fold change, 4.384), miR-196a (fold change, 4.138), and miR-124 (fold change, 4.132). The three differentially expressed miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR, and they were found to be overexpressed in the T790M group relative to L858R group. In particular, expression levels of miR-1 and miR-124 were significantly higher in the T790M group (p-value of miR-1 = .004, miR-124 = .007, miR-196a = .096).

Conclusions

MiR-1, miR-124, and miR-196a are overexpressed in EGFR T790M mutated NSCLC.

The prognostic value of microRNA-183 in human cancers: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Several studies have been conducted to explore the prognostic value of miR-183 in different types of cancer; however, their results were controversial. Therefore, the present meta-analysis was conducted to comprehensively evaluate the prognostic value of miR-183 expression level in cancer.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was carried out by searching PubMed and EMBASE database between January 1966 and April 2017. Fixed effect and random effect models were used to evaluate the pooled hazard risk (HR) and the relevant 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analysis were also carried out.

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies published between 2011 and 2017 were included in the present meta-analysis. The meta-analysis result indicated that there was a significant association between miR-183 expression level and overall survival (HR = 2.642; 95%CI: 2.152-3.245), and there was a significant association between miR-183 expression level and tumor progression (HR = 2.403; 95%CI: 1.267-4.559). In subgroup analysis, we found that high expression level was significantly associated with poor prognosis in most cancers (HR = 2.824, 95%CI: 2.092-3.813); however, low miR-183 level was significantly associated with poor prognosis in melanoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (HR = 2.322, 95%CI: 1.337-4.031).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our meta-analysis indicated that the highly expressed miR-183 might predict poor survival of patients with most cancer types, whereas the downregulated miR-183 level might be associated with poor prognosis in patients with melanoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Oncogenic role of miR‑183‑5p in lung adenocarcinoma: A comprehensive study of qPCR, in vitro experiments and bioinformatic analysis

Despite the fact that previous studies have reported the aberrant expression of miR-183-5p in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the oncogenic role of miR-183-5p in LUAD and its underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. Hence, we attempted to elucidate the clinicopathological significance of miR-183-5p expression in LUAD and identify the biological function of miR-183-5p in LUAD in this study. Meta-analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data, data mining of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were performed to evaluate the clinicopathological significance of miR-183-5p in LUAD. Then, the effect of miR-183-5p on cell growth in LUAD was assessed by in vitro experiments. Additionally, the target genes of miR-183-5p were identified via miRWalk v.2.0 and TCGA. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and Disease Ontology (DO) analysis were further carried out for the target genes. The targetability between target genes in key KEGG pathways and miR-183-5p was validated by independent samples t-test, Pearson's correlation test and immunohistochemistry results from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA). According to the results, miR-183-5p was overexpressed in LUAD and exhibited significant diagnostic value. Moreover, miR-183 expression was associated with tumor progression in the TCGA data. In vitro experiments revealed the positive influence of miR-183-5p on cell viability and proliferation as well as the negative effect of miR-183-5p on caspase-3/7 activity in LUAD, which supports the finding that target genes of miR-183-5p are mainly enriched in gene pathways containing cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and gene pathways important in cancer. Therefore, we conclude that miR-183-5p acts as an oncogene in LUAD and participates in the pathogenesis of LUAD via the interaction networks of its target genes.

Genetic variants in regulatory regions of microRNAs are associated with lung cancer risk

Genetic variants in regulatory regions of some miRNAs might be associated with lung cancer risk and survival. We performed a case-control study including 1341 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases and 1982 controls to evaluate the associations of 7 potentially functional polymorphisms in several differently expressed miRNAs with NSCLC risk. Each SNP was also tested for the association with overall survival of 1001 NSCLC patients. We identified that rs9660710 in miR-200b/200a/429 cluster and rs763354 in miR-30a were significantly associated with NSCLC risk [odds ratio (OR) = 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06–1.30, P = 0.002; OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.80–0.98, P = 0.017; respectively]. However, no significant association between variants and NSCLC death risk was observed in survival analysis. Functional annotation showed that both rs9660710 and rs763354 were located in regulatory elements in lung cancer cells. Compared to normal tissues, miR-200a-3p, miR-200a-5p, miR-200b-3p, miR-200b-5p and miR-429 were significantly increased in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Lung Adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tumors, whereas miR-30a-3p and miR-30a-5p were significantly decreased in tumors (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, we observed that rs9660710 is an expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) or methylation eQTL for miR-429 expression in TCGA normal tissues. Our results indicated that rs9660710 in miR-200b/200a/429 cluster and rs763354 in miR-30a might modify the susceptibility to NSCLC.

Clinical value and potential pathways of miR-183-5p in bladder cancer: A study based on miRNA-seq data and bioinformatics analysis

The clinicopathological value and exploration of the potential molecular mechanism of microRNA-183-5p (miR-183-5p) have been investigated in various cancers; however, to the best of the author's knowledge, no similar research has been reported for bladder cancer. In the present study, it was revealed that the expression level of miR-183-5p was notably increased in bladder cancer tissues compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues (P=0.001) and was markedly increased in the tissue samples of papillary, pathological T stage (T0-T2) and pathological stage (I-II) compared with tissue samples of their counterparts (P=0.05), according to data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed the robust diagnostic value of miR-183-5p for distinguishing bladder cancer from non-cancerous bladder tissues (area under curve=0.948; 95% confidence interval: 0.919-0.977). Amplification and deep deletion of miR-183-5p were indicated by cBioPortal, accounting for 1% (4/412) of bladder cancer cases. Data from YM500v3 demonstrated that compared with other cancers, bladder cancer exhibited high expression levels of miR-183-5p, and miR-183-5p expression in primary solid tumors was much higher compared with solid normal tissues. A meta-analysis indicated that miR-183-5p was more highly expressed in bladder cancer samples compared with normal counterparts. A total of 88 potential target genes of miR-183-5p were identified, 13 of which were discerned as hub genes by protein-protein interaction. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition pathway was the most significantly enriched pathway by FunRich (P=0.0001). In summary, miR-183-5p may participate in the tumorigenesis and development of bladder cancer via certain signaling pathways, particularly the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition pathway. However, the exact molecular mechanism of miR-183-5p in bladder cancer must be validated by in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Dysregulation and functional roles of miR-183-96-182 cluster in cancer cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis

Previous studies have reported aberrant expression of the miR-183-96-182 cluster in a variety of tumors, which indicates its' diagnostic or prognostic value. However, a key characteristic of the miR-183-96-182 cluster is its varied expression levels, and pleomorphic functional roles in different tumors or under different conditions. In most tumor types, the cluster is highly expressed and promotes tumorigenesis, cancer progression and metastasis; yet tumor suppressive effects have also been reported in some tumors. In the present study, we discuss the upstream regulators and the downstream target genes of miR-183-96-182 cluster, and highlight the dysregulation and functional roles of this cluster in various tumor cells. Newer insights summarized in this review will help readers understand the different facets of the miR-183-96-182 cluster in cancer development and progression.

MicroRNA-383-5p acts as a prognostic marker and inhibitor of cell proliferation in lung adenocarcinoma by cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) serve a role in the occurrence and development of lung cancer. The aim of the present study was to analyze the expression and function of the proliferation-associated miR-383-5p in lung adenocarcinoma (LAC). Samples of human LAC and matched adjacent normal lung tissues were surgically removed, and miR-383-5p expression and the pathological characteristics of lung adenocarcinoma were investigated. The present study revealed that miR-383-5p expression level was significantly decreased in LAC tissues and its expression levels were markedly associated with tumor size and differentiation. Overexpression of miR-383-5p in A549 and H1299 LAC cell lines inhibited cell proliferation by G₁ cell cycle phase arrest and induction of apoptosis. Cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A), a potential target gene of miR-383-5p, was inversely associated with miR-383-5p expression level in LAC tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, the results of the present study demonstrated that CIP2A was directly regulated by miR-383-5p and the restoration of CIP2A expression reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-383-5p on LAC cell proliferation. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that miR-383-5p was downregulated in LAC tissues. By targeting CIP2A, miR-383-5p exerts its anti-proliferative function in LAC, suggesting its use a potential novel potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for LAC.

Different microRNA profiles reveal the diverse outcomes induced by EV71 and CA16 infection in human umbilical vein endothelial cells using high-throughput sequencing

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) and Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) remain the predominant pathogens in hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), but the factors underlying the pathogenesis of EV71 and CA16 infections have not been elucidated. Recently, the functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) in pathogen-host interactions have been highlighted. In the present study, we performed comprehensive miRNA profiling in EV71- and CA16-infected human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) at multiple time points using high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that 135 known miRNAs exhibited remarkable differences in expression. Of these, 30 differentially expressed miRNAs presented opposite trends in EV71- and CA16-infected samples. Subsequently, we mainly focused on the 30 key differentially expressed miRNAs through further screening to predict targets. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis of the predicted targets showed the enrichment of 14 biological processes, 9 molecular functions, 8 cellular components, and 85 pathways. The regulatory networks of these miRNAs with predicted targets, GOs, pathways, and co-expression genes were determined, suggesting that miRNAs display intricate regulatory mechanisms during the infection phase. Consequently, we specifically analyzed the hierarchical GO categories of the predicted targets involved in biological adhesion. The results indicated that the distinct changes induced by EV71 and CA16 infection may be partly linked to the function of the blood-brain barrier. Taken together, this is the first report describing miRNA expression profiles in HUVECs with EV71 and CA16 infections using high-throughput sequencing. Our data provide useful insights that may help to elucidate the different host-pathogen interactions following EV71 and CA16 infection and offer novel therapeutic targets for these infections.

The effects of microRNA-183 promots cell proliferation and invasion by targeting MMP-9 in endometrial cancer

MiRNAs are known to play important roles in cancer cell development. However, the pattern and biological role of miR-183 in endometrial cancer (EC) have not been completely unexplored. Here, we found that miR-183 was upregulated in endometrial cancer cells. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the function of miR-183 in the endometrial cancer cell line and the mechanisms regulating its direct target protein in these processes. The mRNA and protein expressions were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. The experiments about MTT assay, colony formation assay and transwell assay showed that miR-183 can positively regulate cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. Furthermore, the in vivo experiments indicated that knockdown of miR-183 significantly attenuated EC cells growth. Mechanistically, luciferase reporter assay and western blotting assay was conducted to confirm target associations. The data analysis revealed that MMP-9 as a direct target of miR-183 in EC and there was a negatively relationship between miR-183 and MMP-9 expression in EC cells. Taken together, our results demonstrated that miR-183 plays a critical role in EC tumorigenesis and metastasis by suppressing MMP-9 expression, which may be an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of endometrial cancer.

A Comprehensive NGS Data Analysis of Differentially Regulated miRNAs, piRNAs, lncRNAs and sn/snoRNAs in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and is a major public health concern worldwide. Basic, clinical and epidemiological research is leading to improved cancer detection, prevention, and outcomes. Recent technological advances have allowed unbiased and comprehensive screening of genome-wide gene expression. Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) have been shown to play an important role in biological processes and could serve as a diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarker for specific diseases. Recent findings have begun to reveal and enhance our understanding of the complex architecture of sncRNA expression including miRNAs, piRNAs, lncRNAs, sn/snoRNAs and their relationships with biological systems. We used publicly available small RNA sequencing data that was derived from 24 triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) and 14 adjacent normal tissue samples to remap various types of sncRNAs. We found a total of 55 miRNAs were aberrantly expressed (p<0.005) in TNBC samples (8 miRNAs upregulated; 47 downregulated) compared to adjacent normal tissues whereas the original study reported only 25 novel miRs. In this study, we used pathway analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs which revealed TGF-beta signaling pathways to be profoundly affected in the TNBC samples. Furthermore, our comprehensive re-mapping strategy allowed us to discover a number of other differentially expressed sncRNAs including piRNAs, lncRNAs, sn/snoRNAs, rRNAs, miscRNAs and nonsense-mediated decay RNAs. We believe that our sncRNA analysis workflow is extremely comprehensive and suitable for discovery of novel sncRNAs changes, which may lead to the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic tools for TNBC.

Noncoding RNA Profiles in Tobacco- and Alcohol-Associated Diseases

Tobacco and alcohol are the leading environmental risk factors in the development of human diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and liver injury. Despite the copious amount of research on this topic, by 2030, 8.3 million deaths are projected to occur worldwide due to tobacco use. The expression of noncoding RNAs, primarily microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), is modulated by tobacco and alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes can modulate the expression of miRNAs and lncRNAs through various signaling pathways, such as apoptosis, angiogenesis, and inflammatory pathways—primarily interleukin 6 (IL-6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which seems to play a major role in the development of diseases associated with these risk factors. Since they may be predictive and prognostic biomarkers, they can be used both as predictors of the response to therapy and as a targeted therapy. Further, circulating miRNAs might be valuable noninvasive tools that can be used to examine diseases that are related to the use of tobacco and alcohol. This review discusses the function of noncoding RNAs in cancer and other human tobacco- and alcohol-associated diseases.

Plasma miR-19b and miR-183 as Potential Biomarkers of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a complex disease that often manifests at the point when treatment is not effective. Introduction of blood-based complementary diagnostics using molecular markers may enhance early detection of this disease and help reduce the burden of lung cancer. Here we evaluated the diagnostic potential of seven plasma miRNA biomarkers (miR-21, -19b, -126, -25, -205, -183, -125b) by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Influence clinical and demographical characteristics, including age, tumor stage and cancer subtype on miRNA levels was investigated. Four miRNAs were significantly dysregulated (miR-19b, -21, -25, -183) in lung cancer patients. Combination of miR-19b and miR-183 provided detection of lung cancer with 94.7% sensitivity and 95.2% specificity (AUC = 0.990). Thus, miRNAs have shown the potential to discriminate histological subtypes of lung cancer and reliably distinguish lung cancer patients from healthy individuals.

miR-338 inhibits the metastasis of lung cancer by targeting integrin β3

miR-338 as an intronic miRNA from apoptosis-associated tyrosine kinase (AATK) is involved in tumor proliferation and apoptosis, but its function and regulatory mechanism in lung cancer is still obscure. In the present study, we found that miR-338 was strikingly downregulated in 115 lung cancer tissues and 5 lung cancer cell lines. Besides, low level of miR-338 was associated with tumor emboli, TNM stage, tumor recurrence and poor survival. Regaining the expression of miR-338 in lung cancer cell lines significantly impaired cellular adhesion, migration, invasion and lung tumor formation in nude mice. Furthermore, we also identified a metastasis related protein, integrin β3 (ITGB3), as a novel target gene of miR-338. Our results reveal a new regulatory mechanism of miR-338 which may help us better understand the metastasis of lung cancer.

Bone metastases in lung cancer. Potential novel approaches to therapy

The skeleton is a common site of metastases in lung cancer, an event associated with significant morbidities and poor outcomes. Current antiresorptive therapies provide limited benefit, and novel strategies of prevention and treatment are urgently needed. This review summarizes the latest advances and new perspectives on emerging experimental and clinical approaches to block this deleterious process. Progress propelled by preclinical models has led to a deeper understanding on the complex interplay of tumor cells in the osseous milieu, unveiling potential new targets for drug development. Improvements in early diagnosis through the use of sophisticated imaging techniques with bone serum biomarkers are also discussed in the context of identifying patients at risk and monitoring disease progression during the course of treatment.

Plasma miR-185 is decreased in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and might suppress tumor migration and invasion by targeting RAGE

The receptor for advanced-glycation end products (RAGE) is upregulated in various cancers and has been associated with tumor progression, but little is known about its expression and regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Here, we describe miR-185, which represses RAGE expression, and investigate the biological role of miR-185 in ESCC. In this study, we found that the high level of RAGE expression in 29 pairs of paraffin-embedded ESCC tissues was correlated positively with the depth of invasion by immunohistochemistry, suggesting that RAGE was involved in ESCC. We used bioinformatics searches and luciferase reporter assays to investigate the prediction that RAGE was regulated directly by miR-185. Besides, overexpression of miR-185 in ESCC cells was accompanied by 27% (TE-11) and 49% (Eca-109) reduced RAGE expression. The effect was further confirmed in RAGE protein by immunofluorescence in both cell lines. The effects were reversed following cotransfection with miR-185 and high-level expression of the RAGE vector. Furthermore, the biological role of miR-185 in ESCC cell lines was investigated using assays of cell viability, Ki-67 staining, and cell migration and invasion, as well as in a xenograft model. We found that overexpression of miR-185 inhibited migration and invasion by ESCC cells in vitro and reduced their capacity to develop distal pulmonary metastases in vivo partly through the RAGE/heat shock protein 27 pathway. Interestingly, in clinical specimens, the level of plasma miR-185 expression was decreased significantly (P = 0.002) in patients with ESCC [0.500; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.248-1.676] compared with healthy controls (2.410; 95% CI 0.612-5.671). The value of the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.73 (95% CI 0.604-0.855). In conclusion, our findings shed novel light on the role of miR-185/RAGE in ESCC metastasis, and plasma miR-185 has potential as a novel diagnostic biomarker in ESCC.

Emerging Roles of MicroRNAs in EGFR-Targeted Therapies for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Several molecular pathways underlying mechanisms of this disease have been partly elucidated, among which the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway is one of the well-known signaling cascades that plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. Dysregulation of the EGFR signaling is frequently found in lung cancer. The strategies to effectively inhibit EGFR signaling pathway have been mounted for developing anticancer therapeutic agents. However, most anti-EGFR-targeted agents fail to repress cancer progression because of developing drug-resistance. Therefore, studies of the mechanisms underpinning the resistance toward anti-EGFR agents may provide important findings for lung cancer treatment using anti-EGFR therapies. Recently, increasing numbers of miRNAs are correlated with the drug resistance of lung cancer cells to anti-EGFR agents, indicating that miRNAs may serve as novel targets and/or promising predictive biomarkers for anti-EGFR therapy. In this paper, we summarize the emerging role of miRNAs as regulators to modulate the EGFR signaling and the resistance of lung cancer cells to anti-EGFR therapy. We also highlight the evidence supporting the use of miRNAs as biomarkers for response to anti-EGFR agents and as novel therapeutic targets to circumvent the resistance of lung cancer cells to EGFR inhibitors.

The microRNA-325 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression by targeting high mobility group box 1

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can serve as tumor suppressors and might provide an efficient strategy for annihilating tumor cells. Nevertheless, the potential role of miR-325 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unknown.

Methods

Using RT-PCR, immunoblots invasion assays and bioinformatics strategies, we investigated the potential role of miR-325 in HCC.

Results

We showed that miR-325 was decreased and HMGB1 was increased in 99 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. MiR-325 inhibition promoted cell invasion and proliferation, while miR-325 upregulation inhibited cell invasion and proliferation by using transwell and CCK8 assays. We further showed that HMGB1 might be a direct target of miR-325 and is negatively regulated by miR-325. Down-regulation of miR-325 predicts poor prognosis for HCC patients.

Conclusions

These findings implied that miR-325 regulates cell invasion and proliferation via targeting HMGB1 and may be a potential prognostic marker for HCC.

Virtual slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/4655707031717989

Unique microRNAs in lung adenocarcinoma groups according to major TKI sensitive EGFR mutation status

Background

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality, despite development of therapeutic strategies. Altered expression of microRNAs(miRNAs) in human malignancies have been well recognized as diagnostic and prognostic indicators, including lung cancer. This study aims to delineate the clinicopathologic significance of three unique miRNAs in adenocarcinoma according to major sensitive EGFR mutation status.

Methods

One-hundred and three formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues were collected from lung adenocarcinoma patients who underwent surgery and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation study. The samples were divided into three groups which include EGFR mutation in exons 19 and 21 and wild type. Some representative cases from each group were profiled using commercial miRNA microarray plates. Three significant miRNAs were selected and they were validated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), using collective cases of FFPE samples.

Results

We identified three microRNAs (miR-34c, miR-183, and miR-210) which showed significantly altered expression in all groups of lung adenocarcinoma by microarray study. Compared to normal control lung tissue, down-regulation of miR-34c and up-regulation of miR-183 and miR-210 were identified in caner groups (p < 0.05 for each). We validated the expression of three miRNAs by qRT-PCR. Expression levels of miR-34c, miR-183, and miR-210 were significantly different between normal control group and cancer groups (p = 0.034, <0.000, and 0.036, respectively). Moreover, expression level of miR-183 was significantly higher in EGFR mutation groups than wild type group (p = 0.028). Higher expression levels of three miRNAs were positively related to poor tumor differentiation. Increased expression of miR-183 was positively associated with lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.037). Aberrant expression of miR-210 was independently associated with T stage (p = 0.019), and TNM stage (p = 0.007). However, there was noted a limited statistical significance. In EGFR exon 19 mutation group, miR-34c high expression group showed poor overall survival than low expression one by univariate Kaplan-Meier method. (p = 0.035).

Conclusions

Here, we show that miR-34c may act as a potential tumor suppressor gene and miR-183 and miR-210 have a potential oncogenic role in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. This study also suggests different miRNA expression between EGFR mutation group and wild type group. Consequently, further studies of the biology of miRNAs may lead to diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

High serum miR-183 level is associated with poor responsiveness of renal cancer to natural killer cells

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is among the most common subtype of kidney cancers, and the current therapeutic strategies are not efficient. Natural killer (NK) cells are biological agents that can induce apoptosis in a wide range of cancer cells. However, most of RCC patients exhibit resistance against the action of NK cells due to unknown mechanisms. This study is aimed to identify a biomarker that can predict the response of RCC cells to NK cell treatment. We collected 82 RCC patients and 19 healthy volunteers to detect the expression of miR-183 in blood by qPCR assays. The results revealed that serum miR-183 is significantly higher in RCC patients than in healthy controls, and its level is positively associated with the grading of RCC. Furthermore, (51)Cr release assays indicated that the primary RCC cells with low serum miR-183 expression are more sensitive to the cytotoxicity of NK cells. Collectively, we demonstrated that serum miR-183 can be used to predict the response of RCC cells to the cytotoxicity induced by NK cells.

miR-183 induces cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by regulating PDCD4 expression in the SW1990 pancreatic cancer cell line

The aim of this study was to investigate the function of miR-183 in the SW1990 cancer cell line, and the mechanisms regulating these processes. miRNAs are known to play important roles in cancer cell development. However, the pattern and biological role of miR-183 in pancreatic cancer remain largely unknown. Here, we have reported the reduction in pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro by miR-183 intervention, by inducing apoptosis and decreasing the Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, miR-183 was observed to enhance pancreatic cancer cell migration and invasion, whereas inhibition of miR-183 caused an opposite effect. miR-183 inhibition was shown to increase E-cadherin expression and decrease N-cadherin expression. These regulatory actions play an important role in the cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanistically, we demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-183 decreased the expression of PDCD4 (programmed cell death 4) mRNA and protein, and vice versa. This helped to identify PDCD4 as the target genes in pancreatic cancer. In conclusion, our analyses indicated miR-183 to be an important contributor to cell migration. This could also be used as a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Expression of MicroRNA-325-3p and its potential functions by targeting HMGB1 in non-small cell lung cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can function as tumor suppressors and might provide an efficient strategy for annihilating cancer. Nevertheless, the potential role of miR-325-3p in NSCLC is still unknown. Here, we showed that miR-325-3p was decreased and HMGB1 was increased in 107 NSCLC patients. MiR-325-3p inhibition promoted cell invasion and proliferation, while miR-325-3p upregulation inhibited cell invasion and proliferation by using transwell and CCK8 assays. Using a bioinformatics method, we further showed that HMGB1 might be a direct target of miR-325-3p and is negatively regulated by miR-325-3p. Down-regulation of miR-325-3p predicts poor prognosis for NSCLC patients. These findings implied that miR-325-3p regulates cell invasion and proliferation via targeting HMGB1 and may be a potential prognostic marker for NSCLC.

CLCA2 as a novel immunohistochemical marker for differential diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma from adenocarcinoma of the lung

Recent progress in targeted therapy for lung cancer has revealed that accurate differential diagnosis between squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (ADC) of the lung is essential. To identify a novel immunohistochemical marker useful for differential diagnosis between the two subtypes of lung cancer, we first selected 24 SCC-specific genes and 6 ADC-specific genes using data (case number, 980) from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Among the genes, we chose the CLCA2 gene, which is involved in chloride conductance and whose protein expression in lung cancer is yet to be characterized, and evaluated its protein expression status in 396 cases of primary lung cancer at Hamamatsu University Hospital. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significantly higher CLCA2 expression level in the SCCs than in the ADCs (P < 0.0001) and also a significantly higher frequency of CLCA2 protein expression in the SCCs (104/161, 64.6%) as compared with that in the ADCs (2/235, 0.9%) (P < 0.0001; sensitivity 64.6%, specificity 99.1%). The CLCA2 protein expression status was associated with the histological tumor grade in the SCCs. These results suggest that CLCA2 might be a novel excellent immunohistochemical marker for differentiating between primary SCC and primary ADC of the lung.