Critical role of miR-155/FoxO1/ROS axis in the regulation of non-small cell lung carcinomas

Expanding the immune-related targetome of miR-155-5p by integrating time-resolved RNA patterns into miRNA target prediction

The lack of a sufficient number of validated miRNA targets severely hampers the understanding of their biological function. Even for the well-studied miR-155-5p, there are only 239 experimentally validated targets out of 42,554 predicted targets. For a more complete assessment of the immune-related miR-155 targetome, we used an inverse correlation of time-resolved mRNA profiles and miR-155-5p expression of early CD4+ T cell activation to predict immune-related target genes. Using a high-throughput miRNA interaction reporter (HiTmIR) assay we examined 90 target genes and confirmed 80 genes as direct targets of miR-155-5p. Our study increases the current number of verified miR-155-5p targets approximately threefold and exemplifies a method for verifying miRNA targetomes as a prerequisite for the analysis of miRNA-regulated cellular networks.

Role of microRNAs in lung oncogenesis: Diagnostic implications, resistance mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies

Lung cancer continues to pose a significant global health concern, presenting a formidable challenge on a worldwide scale, necessitating a deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis and treatment responses. microRNA (miRNA) modulation in the context of lung cancer therapeutics aims to unravel the complexities of miRNA-mediated regulatory networks. This comprehensive review elucidates microRNA's diverse roles in lung cancer, encompassing their involvement in key signaling pathways, cellular processes, the regulation of oncogenic or tumor-suppressive targets, and drug sensitivity. Moreover, this review critically examines the potential of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and their implications in therapeutic interventions for lung cancer. microRNAs are effective in making lung cancer therapy more efficient. They can make tumor cells more responsive to chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapies. microRNAs can target the drug efflux mechanism, increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy agents and decreasing resistance. Furthermore, microRNAs play a crucial role in developing and inhibiting the resistance mechanisms against conventional treatments; improving the dysregulated expression of microRNAs enhances the therapeutic efficacy of existing therapies. By compiling knowledge on miRNA-mediated processes related to lung cancer, this review offers a comprehensive resource for researchers to understand and address the complexities of oncogenesis, diagnostics, resistance mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies.

The crosstalk between non-coding RNAs and oxidative stress in cancer progression

As living standards elevate, cancers are appearing in growing numbers among younger individuals globally and these risks escalate with advancing years. One of the reasons is that instability in the cancer genome reduces the effectiveness of conventional drug treatments and chemotherapy, compared with more targeted therapies. Previous research has discovered non-coding RNAs' crucial role in shaping genetic networks involved in cancer cell growth and invasion through their influence on messenger RNA production or protein binding. Additionally, the interaction between non-coding RNAs and oxidative stress, a crucial process in cancer advancement, cannot be overlooked. Essentially, oxidative stress results from the negative effects of radicals within the body and ties directly to cancer gene expression and signaling. Therefore, this review focuses on the mechanism between non-coding RNAs and oxidative stress in cancer progression, which is conducive to finding new cancer treatment strategies.

RCA-mediated tandem assembly of DNA molecular probes on lipid particles surface for efficient detection and imaging of intracellular miRNA

Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression is frequently implicated in various cancers, making the monitoring of intracellular miRNA levels a promising strategy for cancer diagnosis and therapy. However, detecting miRNA with high precision and sensitivity at the cellular level remains challenging due to its small size and low abundance. In this study, we attached hydrophobic cholesterol molecules to hydrophilic DNA chains to self-assemble into cholesterol-DNA micelles. The products of rolling ring amplification were linked to the surface of cholesterol-DNA, and two hairpins (H1 and H2) used for hybridization chain reaction (HCR) were simultaneously tethered to the branch, ultimately forming the assembled nanoprobe (RC-HCR) with signal amplification for detecting and imaging miRNA in living cells. This design significantly increased the concentration of HCR hairpins and also shortened their physical distance, thereby enhancing kinetics and signal amplification. Moreover, we demonstrated that the lipid particles could be assembled by simply stirring in a buffered solution, allowing the system to enter cells naturally. Using miR-21 as the model target, we found that the RC-HCR probe had a detection limit of 1 fM and a wide quantitative range (1 fM to 80 nM) at 37 °C within 0.5 h. In addition, RC-HCR exhibited high selectivity for miRNA detection and could accurately identify wild-type miR-21 from its mutants and other miRNAs. Furthermore, we showed that RC-HCR could efficiently image miR-21 in living cells. Collectively, our strategy provides a valuable nanoprobe for detecting and imaging miRNAs in live cells, highlighting a novel tool for early clinical diagnosis.

MicroRNA155 in non-small cell lung cancer: a potential therapeutic target

Lung cancer (LC) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among both men and women, and it stands as the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, characterized by high rates of morbidity and mortality. Among its subtypes, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent and one of the most challenging malignant tumors to treat. To date, various therapeutic approaches, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, have been employed in the management of lung cancer; however, due to its aggressive nature, the survival rates remain low. Consequently, exploring novel treatment strategies is of paramount importance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a large family of non-coding RNAs, play crucial roles in regulating several key biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, and apoptosis. Among these, microRNA155(miR-155) is one of the most conserved and versatile miRNAs, predominantly overexpressed in various diseases, including malignant tumors. This review elucidates the biological functions and roles of miR-155 in NSCLC and discusses its potential significance as a therapeutic target for future research directions and clinical applications.

Marine anticancer drugs in modulating miRNAs and antioxidant signaling

Several marine drugs exert anticancer effects by inducing oxidative stress, which becomes overloaded and kills cancer cells when redox homeostasis is imbalanced. The downregulation of antioxidant signaling induces oxidative stress, while its upregulation attenuates oxidative stress. Marine drugs have miRNA-modulating effects against cancer cells. However, the potential antioxidant targets of such drugs have been rarely explored. This review aims to categorize the marine-drug-modulated miRNAs that downregulate their antioxidant targets, causing oxidative stress in anticancer treatments. We also categorize the downregulation of oxidative-stress-inducing miRNAs in antioxidant protection among non-cancer cells. We summarize the putative antioxidant targets of miRNA-modulating marine drugs by introducing a bioinformatics tool (miRDB). Finally, the marine drugs affecting antioxidant targets are surveyed. In this way, the connections between marine drugs and their modulating miRNA and antioxidant targets are innovatively categorized to provide a precise network for exploring their potential anticancer functions and protective effects on non-cancer cells.

Divergent Processing of Cell Stress Signals as the Basis of Cancer Progression: Licensing NFκB on Chromatin

Inflammation is activated by diverse triggers that induce the expression of cytokines and adhesion molecules, which permit a succession of molecules and cells to deliver stimuli and functions that help the immune system clear the primary cause of tissue damage, whether this is an infection, a tumor, or a trauma. During inflammation, short-term changes in the expression and secretion of strong mediators of inflammation occur, while long-term changes occur to specific groups of cells. Long-term changes include cellular transdifferentiation for some types of cells that need to regenerate damaged tissue, as well as death for specific immune cells that can be detrimental to tissue integrity if they remain active beyond the boundaries of essential function. The transcriptional regulator NFκB enables some of the fundamental gene expression changes during inflammation, as well as during tissue development. During recurrence of malignant disease, cell stress-induced alterations enable the growth of cancer cell clones that are substantially resistant to therapeutic intervention and to the immune system. A number of those alterations occur due to significant defects in feedback signal cascades that control the activity of NFκB. Specifically, cell stress contributes to feedback defects as it overrides modules that otherwise control inflammation to protect host tissue. NFκB is involved in both the suppression and promotion of cancer, and the key distinctive feature that determines its net effect remains unclear. This paper aims to provide a clear answer to at least one aspect of this question, namely the mechanism that enables a divergent response of cancer cells to critical inflammatory stimuli and to cell stress in general.

FOXO1, a tiny protein with intricate interactions: Promising therapeutic candidate in lung cancer

Nowadays, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women globally. Despite the development of extremely efficient targeted agents, lung cancer progression and drug resistance remain serious clinical issues. Increasing knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying progression and drug resistance will enable the development of novel therapeutic methods. It has been revealed that transcription factors (TF) dysregulation, which results in considerable expression modifications of genes, is a generally prevalent phenomenon regarding human malignancies. The forkhead box O1 (FOXO1), a member of the forkhead transcription factor family with crucial roles in cell fate decisions, is suggested to play a pivotal role as a tumor suppressor in a variety of malignancies, especially in lung cancer. FOXO1 is involved in diverse cellular processes and also has clinical significance consisting of cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, DNA repair, oxidative stress, cancer prevention, treatment, and chemo/radioresistance. Based on the critical role of FOXO1, this transcription factor appears to be an appropriate target for future drug discovery in lung cancers. This review focused on the signaling pathways, and molecular mechanisms involved in FOXO1 regulation in lung cancer. We also discuss pharmacological compounds that are currently being administered for lung cancer treatment by affecting FOXO1 and also point out the essential role of FOXO1 in drug resistance. Future preclinical research should assess combination drug strategies to stimulate FOXO1 and its upstream regulators as potential strategies to treat resistant or advanced lung cancers.

Recent advances on high-efficiency of microRNAs in different types of lung cancer: a comprehensive review

Carcinoma of the lung is among the most common types of cancer globally. Concerning its histology, it is categorized as a non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) and a small cell cancer (SCLC) subtype. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a member of non-coding RNA whose nucleotides range from 19 to 25. They are known to be critical regulators of cancer via epigenetic control of oncogenes expression and by regulating tumor suppressor genes. miRNAs have an essential function in a tumorous microenvironment via modulating cancer cell growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, metabolism, and apoptosis. Moreover, a wide range of information produced via several investigations indicates their tumor-suppressing, oncogenic, diagnostic assessment, and predictive marker functions in different types of lung malignancy. miRNA mimics or anti-miRNAs can be transferred into a lung cancer cell, with possible curative implications. As a result, miRNAs hold promise as targets for lung cancer treatment and detection. In this study, we investigate the different functions of various miRNAs in different types of lung malignancy, which have been achieved in recent years that show the lung cancer-associated regulation of miRNAs expression, concerning their function in lung cancer beginning, development, and resistance to chemotherapy, also the probability to utilize miRNAs as predictive biomarkers for therapy reaction.

Network analysis identifies circulating miR-155 as predictive biomarker of type 2 diabetes mellitus development in obese patients: a pilot study

Obesity is the main risk factor for many non-communicable diseases. In clinical practice, unspecific markers are used for the determination of metabolic alterations and inflammation, without allowing the characterization of subjects at higher risk of complications. Circulating microRNAs represent an attractive approach for early screening to identify subjects affected by obesity more at risk of developing connected pathologies. The aim of this study was the identification of circulating free and extracellular vesicles (EVs)-embedded microRNAs able to identify obese patients at higher risk of type 2 diabetes (DM2). The expression data of circulating microRNAs derived from obese patients (OB), with DM2 (OBDM) and healthy donors were combined with clinical data, through network-based methodology implemented by weighted gene co-expression network analysis. The six circulating microRNAs overexpressed in OBDM patients were evaluated in a second group of patients, confirming the overexpression of miR-155-5p in OBDM patients. Interestingly, the combination of miR-155-5p with serum levels of IL-8, Leptin and RAGE was useful to identify OB patients most at risk of developing DM2. These results suggest that miR-155-5p is a potential circulating biomarker for DM2 and that the combination of this microRNA with other inflammatory markers in OB patients can predict the risk of developing DM2.

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of miR-155 in Cancers: An Updated Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

MicroRNA-155 has been discussed as a biomarker in cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Although relevant studies have been published, the role of microRNA-155 remains uncertain because of insufficient data.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases to obtain relevant articles and extract data to evaluate the role of microRNA-155 in cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

RESULTS

The pooled results showed that microRNA-155 presented a remarkable diagnostic value in cancers (area under the curve = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI 0.87-0.92; sensitivity = 0.83, 95% CI 0.79-0.87; specificity = 0.83, 95% CI 0.80-0.86), which was maintained in the subgroups stratified by ethnicity (Asian and Caucasian), cancer types (breast cancer, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, leukemia, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma), sample types (plasma, serum, tissue), and sample size (n >100 and n <100). In prognosis, a combined hazard ratio (HR) showed that microRNA-155 was significantly associated with poor overall survival (HR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.25-1.54) and recurrence-free survival (HR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.65-2.76), and was boundary significant with poor progression-free survival (HR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.00-1.44), but not significant with disease-free survival (HR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.70-1.85). Subgroup analyses in overall survival showed that microRNA-155 was associated with poor overall survival in the subgroups stratified by ethnicity and sample size. However, the significant association was maintained in cancer types subgroups of leukemia, lung cancer, and oral squamous cell carcinoma, but not in colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and breast cancer, and was maintained in sample types subgroups of bone marrow and tissue, but not in plasma and serum.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this meta-analysis demonstrated that microRNA-155 was a valuable biomarker in cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Roles of the miR-155 in Neuroinflammation and Neurological Disorders: A Potent Biological and Therapeutic Target

Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of neurological disorders. MicroRNA-155 (miR-155), a miR is known to play in inflammatory responses, is associated with susceptibility to inflammatory neurological disorders and neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as well as epilepsy, stroke, and brain malignancies. MiR-155 damages the central nervous system (CNS) by enhancing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, like IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IRF3. It also disturbs the blood-brain barrier by decreasing junctional complex molecules such as claudin-1, annexin-2, syntenin-1, and dedicator of cytokinesis 1 (DOCK-1), a hallmark of many neurological disorders. This review discusses the molecular pathways which involve miR-155 as a critical component in the progression of neurological disorders, representing miR-155 as a viable therapeutic target.

Non-Coding RNAs in Tuberculosis Epidemiology: Platforms and Approaches for Investigating the Genome's Dark Matter

A growing amount of information about the different types, functions, and roles played by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is becoming available, as more and more research is done. ncRNAs have been identified as potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), because they may be essential regulators of the gene network. ncRNA profiling and sequencing has recently revealed significant dysregulation in tuberculosis, primarily due to aberrant processes of ncRNA synthesis, including amplification, deletion, improper epigenetic regulation, or abnormal transcription. Despite the fact that ncRNAs may have a role in TB characteristics, the detailed mechanisms behind these occurrences are still unknown. The dark matter of the genome can only be explored through the development of cutting-edge bioinformatics and molecular technologies. In this review, ncRNAs' synthesis and functions are discussed in detail, with an emphasis on the potential role of ncRNAs in tuberculosis. We also focus on current platforms, experimental strategies, and computational analyses to explore ncRNAs in TB. Finally, a viewpoint is presented on the key challenges and novel techniques for the future and for a wide-ranging therapeutic application of ncRNAs.

Shortening of HO1 3'UTRs by Alternative Polyadenylation Suppresses Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1

Appropriately increasing intramuscular fat content can help improve meat quality, so it is necessary to explore the internal molecular mechanism of preadipocyte differentiation. The role of heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) in cell oxidative stress, energy metabolism, cell proliferation, and differentiation has gradually been revealed. Here, we used 3'RACE to identify the full-length 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of HO1 and found that a very short 3'UTR variant was produced by alternative polyadenylation (APA). HO1 with a long 3'UTR variant was identified as a direct target of miR155-5P and miR377-3P. Our experimental results verified the inhibitory effect of HO1 on preadipocyte differentiation. In addition, our research confirms that by escaping microRNA inhibitory effects, the HO1 3'UTR short variant produced by APA has a higher level of expression. Thus, the HO1 3'UTR short variant has a stronger inhibitory effect on the preadipocyte differentiation than the HO1 3'UTR long variants in 3T3-L1.

The Role of miR-155 in Nutrition: Modulating Cancer-Associated Inflammation

Nutrition plays an important role in overall human health. Although there is no direct evidence supporting the direct involvement of nutrition in curing disease, for some diseases, good nutrition contributes to disease prevention and our overall well-being, including energy level, optimum internal function, and strength of the immune system. Lately, other major, but more silent players are reported to participate in the body’s response to ingested nutrients, as they are involved in different physiological and pathological processes. Furthermore, the genetic profile of an individual is highly critical in regulating these processes and their interactions. In particular, miR-155, a non-coding microRNA, is reported to be highly correlated with such nutritional processes. In fact, miR-155 is involved in the orchestration of various biological processes such as cellular signaling, immune regulation, metabolism, nutritional responses, inflammation, and carcinogenesis. Thus, this review aims to highlight those critical aspects of the influence of dietary components on gene expression, primarily on miR-155 and its role in modulating cancer-associated processes.

Up-regulation of circ_0000353 impedes the proliferation and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer cells via adsorbing miR-411-5p and increasing forkhead box O1

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common malignant tumor worldwide. This work focuses on investigating the role of circ_0000353 in NSCLC and its potential mechanism of action.

METHODS

The expression levels of circ_0000353 and miR-411-5p in NSCLC and their matched normal lung tissues were detected by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The correlation between the circ_0000353 expression and the clinicopathological parameters of NSCLC patients was also analyzed. CCK-8, BrdU and colony formation assays were adopted to detect the role of circ_0000353 in the proliferation of NSCLC cells. The metastasis of NSCLC cells was measured by Transwell assay. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to confirm the targeting relationship between circ_0000353 and miR-411-5p. The expression level of FOXO1 was detected by western blot.

RESULTS

Circ_0000353 was significantly down-regulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, and the decreased expression was significantly linked to the increased clinical stage, larger tumor volume, and metastasis. The circ_0000353 over-expression restrained the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cells in vitro. Additionally, up-regulation of miR-411-5p was observed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, and luciferase assay and RT-PCR assay showed that circ_0000353 over-expression could target miR-411-5p and suppress its expression. Further studies confirmed that circ_0000353 and miR-411-5p modulated the FOXO1 expression.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0000353 repressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cells via inhibition of miR-411-5p and up-regulation of FOXO1.

Regulatory effects of noncoding RNAs on the interplay of oxidative stress and autophagy in cancer malignancy and therapy

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) regulation of various diseases including cancer has been extensively studied. Reactive oxidative species (ROS) elevated by oxidative stress are associated with cancer progression and drug resistance, while autophagy serves as an ROS scavenger in cancer cells. However, the regulatory effects of ncRNAs on autophagy and ROS in various cancer cells remains complex. Here, we explore how currently investigated ncRNAs, mainly miRNAs and lncRNAs, are involved in ROS production through modulating antioxidant genes. The regulatory effects of miRNAs and lncRNAs on autophagy-related (ATG) proteins to control autophagy activity in cancer cells are discussed. Moreover, differential expression of ncRNAs in tumor and normal tissues of cancer patients are further analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. This review hypothesizes links between ATG genes- or antioxidant genes-modulated ncRNAs and ROS production, which might result in tumorigenesis, malignancy, and cancer recurrence. A better understanding of the regulation of ROS and autophagy by ncRNAs might advance the use of ncRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers as well as therapeutic targets in cancer therapy.

Revisiting cancer hallmarks: insights from the interplay between oxidative stress and non-coding RNAs

Cancer is one of the most common disease worldwide, with complex changes and certain traits which have been described as “The Hallmarks of Cancer.” Despite increasing studies on in-depth investigation of these hallmarks, the molecular mechanisms associated with tumorigenesis have still not yet been fully defined. Recently, accumulating evidence supports the observation that microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), two main classes of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), regulate most cancer hallmarks through their binding with DNA, RNA or proteins, or encoding small peptides. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), the byproducts generated during metabolic processes, are known to regulate every step of tumorigenesis by acting as second messengers in cancer cells. The disturbance in ROS homeostasis leads to a specific pathological state termed “oxidative stress”, which plays essential roles in regulation of cancer progression. In addition, the interplay between oxidative stress and ncRNAs is found to regulate the expression of multiple genes and the activation of several signaling pathways involved in cancer hallmarks, revealing a potential mechanistic relationship involving ncRNAs, oxidative stress and cancer. In this review, we provide evidence that shows the essential role of ncRNAs and the interplay between oxidative stress and ncRNAs in regulating cancer hallmarks, which may expand our understanding of ncRNAs in the cancer development from the new perspective.

MicroRNA and ROS Crosstalk in Cardiac and Pulmonary Diseases

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) affect many cellular functions and the proper redox balance between ROS and antioxidants contributes substantially to the physiological welfare of the cell. During pathological conditions, an altered redox equilibrium leads to increased production of ROS that in turn may cause oxidative damage. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level contributing to all major cellular processes, including oxidative stress and cell death. Several miRNAs are expressed in response to ROS to mediate oxidative stress. Conversely, oxidative stress may lead to the upregulation of miRNAs that control mechanisms to buffer the damage induced by ROS. This review focuses on the complex crosstalk between miRNAs and ROS in diseases of the cardiac (i.e., cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, myocardial infarction, ischemia/reperfusion injury, diabetic cardiomyopathy) and pulmonary (i.e., idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer) compartments. Of note, miR-34a, miR-144, miR-421, miR-129, miR-181c, miR-16, miR-31, miR-155, miR-21, and miR-1/206 were found to play a role during oxidative stress in both heart and lung pathologies. This review comprehensively summarizes current knowledge in the field.

MiR-96 induced non-small-cell lung cancer progression through competing endogenous RNA network and affecting EGFR signaling pathway

Objectives

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has become a serious global health problem in the 21st century, and tumor proliferation and metastasis are the leading causes of death in patients with lung cancer. The present study aimed to verify the function of miR-96 and miR-96 in relation to competing with endogenous RNA regulatory network in NSCLC progression including proliferation and metastasis.

Materials and Methods

Clinical data of miR-96 expression was collected from StarBase 2.0 developed by Sun Yat-sen University. We used wound-healing, transwell and MTT assays to measure migration, invasion and proliferation of NSCLC cell lines after different treatment. Quantitative real time PCR and western blot were used to test differential genes expression. In order to identify target between genes (FOXO1 and DUSP1) and miR-96, luciferase assay was used. Luciferase activities in FOXO1 and DUSP1 wild type plasmid groups were compared to mutant groups.

Results

qRT-PCR and online database results indicated that miR-96 is highly associated with NSCLC when compared to normal patients. In addition, miR-96 indeed induced migration, invasion and proliferation of NSCLC cell line. In addition, FOXO1 and DUSP1 are targets of miR-96 and these three molecules form competing endogenous RNA network. miR-96 related competing endogenous RNA network affects cell metastasis via epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling.

Conclusion

miR-96 can be considered as one of tumor-inducer and form competing endogenous RNA network with FOXO1 and DUSP1, which affects downstream EGFR signaling.

MiR-34c acts as a tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress through targeting HMGB1

Objective

To investigate the role of miR-34c in lung cancer.

Methods

The levels of microRNA-34c (miR-34c) expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissue and cell lines were examined by the qRT-PCR assay. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) expression in NSCLC was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis (IHC), qRT-PCR, and Western blot assays. The effects of miR-34c overexpression or HMGB1 knockdown on cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by CCK-8 and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in NSCLC cells was detected using a ROS kit. The levels of Bax, p-ERK, eIF2α, GADD153, and IRE1α expression in treated NSCLC cells were measured by Western blot assays. In addition, the interaction between miR-34c and HMGB1 was verified by the dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results

miR-34c was only slightly expressed, while HMGB1 was highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-34c or knockdown of HMGB1 inhibited cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, and induced ER stress in NSCLC cells. In terms of mechanism, miR-34c negatively regulated HMGB1 expression by directly targeting the 3ʹ-untranslated region (UTR) of HMGB1 mRNA. In addition, we proved that HMGB1 overexpression could block the effects of miR-34c on NSCLC cell proliferation, apoptosis, and ER stress.

Conclusion

miR-34c may suppress NSCLC tumors by targeting HMGB1 mRNA, promoting endoplasmic reticulum stress, and increasing ROS levels. Our findings suggest that miR-34c has a role in NSCLC.

miR-486 Promotes Capan-2 Pancreatic Cancer Cell Proliferation by Targeting Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Deleted on Chromosome 10 (PTEN)

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most common malignant digestive system tumors. Current treatment options for pancreatic cancer cannot achieve the expected curative effect. MicroRNAs (miRNAs and miRs) participate in many biological and pathological processes. miR-486 has been reported to be involved in diverse types of malignant tumors; however, its role in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. Material and Methods: miR-486 mimics and inhibitors were transfected into Capan-2 cells to increase or decrease the expression of miR-486. Western blot was used to detect protein expression levels. EdU proliferation assay and flow cytometry were applied to identify changes in proliferation. In combination with a PTEN overexpression plasmid, miR-486 mimics were used to determine whether PTEN upregulation abolished the proliferative effect of miR-486. Results: Overexpression of miR-486 promoted proliferation and cell cycle progression of Capan-2 cells. Conversely, the proliferation and cell cycle of Capan-2 cells were attenuated after inhibition of miR-486. Using a combination of bioinformatics and Western blot analysis, PTEN was identified as a downstream target gene of miR-486. The effect of miR-486 on Capan-2 cell proliferation could be abolished by PTEN overexpression. Conclusions: miR-486 promotes the proliferation of Capan-2 cells by targeting PTEN. Inhibition of miR-486 might be a novel therapy for pancreatic cancer.

MicroRNA-144 attenuates cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury by targeting FOXO1

Cardiovascular ischemic disease refers to a large class of conditions that are harmful to human health. A number of previous studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRs) have notable roles in regulating cardiac injury. miR-144 is influential in the differentiation, growth, and metastatic processes of cells; however, the impact of miR-144 in cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. In the present study, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate RNA expression. In addition, TTC staining was performed to detect the infarct area of the ischemic myocardia and a terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay was utilized to detect the apoptosis of the myocardia. It was observed that miR-144 expression is downregulated in an I/R model in rats and that overexpression of miR-144 significantly reduced myocardial ischemic injury and apoptosis. Consistent with this result, similar findings were demonstrated in H9c2 cells subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation. Bioinformatic analysis using MiRanda and TargetScan, and luciferase assays confirmed that forkhead box protein O1was the target of miR-144. These findings suggest that miR-144 may be exploited as a novel molecular marker or therapeutic target for myocardial I/R injury.

MiR-3188 Inhibits Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Proliferation Through FOXO1-Mediated mTOR-p-PI3K/AKT-c-JUN Signaling Pathway

This study investigated the role of miR-3188 on the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer cells and its relationship to FOXO1-modulated feedback loop. Two non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines A549 and H1299 were used. RNA silencing was achieved by lentiviral transfection. Cell proliferation was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of Ki67 and PCNA, Edu incorporation, and colony formation assay. Western blotting was used to examine expression of FOXO1, mTOR, p-mTOR, CCND1, p21, c-JUN, AKT, pAKT, PI3K, p-PI3K, and p27 proteins. It was found that miR-3188 reduced cell proliferation in NSCLC cells. Molecular analyses indicated that the effect of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was directly mediated by miR-3188, leading to p-PI3K/p-AKT/c-JUN inactivation. The inhibition of this signaling pathway further caused cell-cycle suppression. Moreover, FOXO1 was found to be involved in regulating the interaction of miR-3188 and mTOR through p-PI3K/p-AKT/c-JUN signaling pathway. Taken together, our study demonstrated that miR-3188 interacts with mTOR and FOXO1 to inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation through a mTOR-p-PI3K/AKT-c-JUN signaling pathway. Therefore, miR-3188 might be a potential target for the treatment of NSCLC.

Capturing intracellular oncogenic microRNAs with self-assembled DNA nanostructures for microRNA-based cancer therapy

Aberrantly overexpressed oncogenic microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are excellent targets for therapeutic interventions.

Aberrantly overexpressed oncogenic microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are excellent targets for therapeutic interventions. Nevertheless, thus far, little progress has been made in developing miRNA-based drugs and techniques for clinical applications, especially for overexpressed miRNAs. In this study, we demonstrate that self-assembled DNA nanostructures bearing multiple DNA sequences that are complementary to a target miRNA can effectively capture the overexpressed oncogenic miRNA and subsequently inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Specifically, a DNA nanotube structure that carries functional DNA segments (single-stranded, duplex and hairpin forms) was designed and synthesized to capture two well-known overexpressed miRNAs, miR-21 and miR-155. It was found that all three DNA nanotubes significantly reduced both miRNA levels and inhibited cancer cell growth. Moreover, the capture efficiency was highly concentration dependent and was associated with the structural design of the DNA nanotube. These results demonstrate that through careful design, programmable DNA nanostructures can hijack the natural cellular machinery and can serve as nucleic acid drugs themselves. The concept of using self-assembled DNA nanostructures to disrupt the intracellular machinery for therapeutic purposes opens a new paradigm for exploiting self-assembled DNA nanostructures for miRNA-based anticancer therapy.

Decoding the Emerging Patterns Exhibited in Non-coding RNAs Characteristic of Lung Cancer with Regard to their Clinical Significance

Lung cancer continues to be the leading topic concerning global mortality rate caused by can-cer; it needs to be further investigated to reduce these dramatic unfavorable statistic data. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been shown to be important cellular regulatory factors and the alteration of their expression levels has become correlated to extensive number of pathologies. Specifically, their expres-sion profiles are correlated with development and progression of lung cancer, generating great interest for further investigation. This review focuses on the complex role of non-coding RNAs, namely miR-NAs, piwi-interacting RNAs, small nucleolar RNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs in the process of developing novel biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic factors that can then be utilized for personalized therapies toward this devastating disease. To support the concept of personalized medi-cine, we will focus on the roles of miRNAs in lung cancer tumorigenesis, their use as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and their application for patient therapy.

Trifluoperazine Activates FOXO1-Related Signals to Inhibit Tumor Growth in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Schizophrenic patients tend to have reduced incidence of some cancers due to the treatment of antipsychotic drugs with antitumor effects, such as chlorpromazine and trifluoperazine (TFP). Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1) as tumor suppressor in many malignancies is often inactivated by nuclear export, which could be inhibited by TFP. However, the antitumor efficiency of TFP and related role of FOXO1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are unclear. Thus, two HCC cell lines SMMC-7721 and Bel-7402 were treated with different concentrations of TFP and the IC50 was determined. We found that TFP could inhibit the vitality of two cell lines and induce cell cycle arrest at G0/G1. Meanwhile, the apoptosis was also increased and the ability of migration or invasion was found to be impaired by TFP. Interestingly, TFP reversed the cytoplasmic localization of FOXO1 to nuclear and increased its expression in nuclear, and increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. However, knockdown of FOXO1 significantly abrogated the TFP-induced apoptosis by decreasing the Bcl-2 expression [corrected]. Furthermore, we found that TFP in vivo could effectively restrict the angiogenesis and tumor growth with reduced expression of VEGF, Bcl-2, and PCNA, and increased the nuclear localization of FOXO1, which indicated its antitumor role in HCC.

MiR-155 inhibits proliferation and invasion by directly targeting PDCD4 in non-small cell lung cancer

Background

MicroRNAs are often abnormally expressed in human non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and are thought to play a critical role in the emergence or maintenance of NSCLC by binding to its target messenger RNA. We assessed the effects of miR‐155 on cell proliferation and invasion to elucidate the role played by miR‐155/PDCD4 in NSCLC.

Methods

Quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR, Western blotting, and cell counting kit‐8, luciferase, and transwell invasion assays were conducted on a normal human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS‐2B) and three NSCLC cell lines (SPC‐A‐1, A549, and H2170).

Results

We confirmed that miR‐155 was upregulated, while PDCD4 messenger RNA and protein levels were downregulated in NSCLC cell lines. miR‐155 negatively regulated PDCD4 at both transcriptional and post‐transcriptional levels. Moreover, PDCD4 was forecast as an assumed target of miR‐155 using bioinformatic methods and we demonstrated that PDCD4 was a direct target of miR‐155 using luciferase reporter assays. Furthermore, PDCD4 overexpression could restrain NSCLC proliferation and invasion induced by miR‐155.

Conclusion

Our results collectively demonstrate that miR‐155 exerts an oncogenic role in NSCLC by directly targeting PDCD4.

Breviscapine suppresses the growth of non-small cell lung cancer by enhancing microRNA-7 expression

Breviscapine (BVP) has previously been shown to inhibit the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. However, little is known about the effects of BVP on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) growth. Here, we aimed to study the effects of BVP on human NSCLC growth. We employed A549, NCL-H460 and A549 cells transfected with microRNA-7 (miR-7) mimic and inhibitor to investigate the effect of BVP on cell proliferation, apoptosis and apoptosis-associated molecules. The results showed that BVP significantly reduced the growth of A549 and NCLH460 cells in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner, accompanied by a significant elevation of apoptosis. Additionally, the present study also confirmed that BVP-treated A549 cells showed increased levels of Bax and microRNA-7 (miR-7) and a decreased level of Bcl-2. The up-regulation of miR-7 enhanced the BVP sensitivity of NSCLC cells by suppressing cell proliferation and promoting cell apoptosis, while the inhibition of miR-7 reversed the anti-proliferative pro-apoptotic effects of BVP. Pre-treatment with miR-7 mimics enhanced the BVP-mediated down-regulation of Bax/Bcl-2 in NSCLC cells, while pre-treatment with the miR-7 inhibitor blocked the BVPmediated down-regulation of Bax/Bcl. Taken together, these results confirm that BVP effectively inhibits NSCLC proliferation and that miR-7, as a novel target, is likely involved in BVP-induced growth suppression and the apoptosis of NSCLC cells.

Physalin A induces G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in human non-small cell lung cancer cells: involvement of the p38 MAPK/ROS pathway

Physalin A (PA) is an active withanolide isolated from Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine named Jindenglong, which has long been used for the treatment of sore throat, hepatitis, and tumors in China. In the present study, we firstly investigated the effects of PA on proliferation and cell cycle distribution of the human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cell line, and the potential mechanisms involved. Here, PA inhibited cell growth in dose- and time-dependent manners. Treatment of A549 cells with 28.4 μM PA for 24 h resulted in approximately 50 % cell death. PA increased the amount of intracellular ROS and the proportion of cells in G2/M. G2/M arrest was attenuated by the addition of ROS scavenger NAC. ERK and P38 were triggered by PA through phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner. The phosphorylation of ERK and P38 were not attenuated by the addition of NAC, but the use of the p38 inhibitor could reduce, at least in part, PA-induced ROS and the proportion of cells in G2/M. PA induces G2/M cell cycle arrest in A549 cells involving in the p38 MAPK/ROS pathway. This study suggests that PA might be a promising therapeutic agent against NSCLC.

miR-155 Deletion in Female Mice Prevents Diet-Induced Obesity

Obesity is a growing epidemic in developed countries. Obese individuals are susceptible to comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorder. Increasing the ability of adipose tissue to expend excess energy could improve protection from obesity. One promising target is microRNA (miR)-155-5p. We demonstrate that deletion of miR-155 (-5p and -3p) in female mice prevents diet-induced obesity. Body weight gain did not differ between wild-type (WT) and miR-155 knockout (KO) mice fed control diet (CD); however, miR-155 KO mice fed high-fat diet (HFD) gained 56% less body weight and 74% less gonadal white adipose tissue (WAT) than WT mice. Enhanced WAT thermogenic potential, brown adipose tissue differentiation, and/or insulin sensitivity might underlie this obesity resistance. Indeed, miR-155 KO mice on HFD had 21% higher heat release than WT HFD mice. Compared to WT adipocytes, miR-155 KO adipocytes upregulated brown (Ucp1, Cidea, Pparg) and white (Fabp4, Pnpla2, AdipoQ, Fasn) adipogenic genes, and glucose metabolism genes (Glut4, Irs1). miR-155 deletion abrogated HFD-induced adipocyte hypertrophy and WAT inflammation. Therefore, miR-155 deletion increases adipogenic, insulin sensitivity, and energy uncoupling machinery, while limiting inflammation in WAT, which together could restrict HFD-induced fat accumulation. Our results identify miR-155 as a novel candidate target for improving obesity resistance.