miR-342-3p affects hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation via regulating NF-κB pathway

LINC00624 affects hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation and apoptosis through the miR-342-3p/DNAJC5 axis

LINC00624 is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) which was seldom investigated before. The goal of our study is to clarify the expression and underlying network of LINC00624 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, both HCC and normal living cell lines were employed. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot were used to determine the pattern of genes and proteins. Colony formation, flow cytometry and western blot tests were used to determine cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Dual luciferase was used to verify molecule-molecule interactions. LINC00624 expression was increased in HCC cell lines and miR-342-3p was decreased. Elimination of LINC00624 increased proliferation while decreasing cell apoptosis. LINC00624 acted as a molecular sponge for miR-342-3p, hence facilitating DNAJC5 expression. Functional tests demonstrated that miR-342-3p suppression could reverse the effect of LINC00624 silence and overexpression of DNAJC5 significantly mitigated the biological consequences of miR-342-3p. These finding demonstrated that LINC00624 aggravated HCC progression by modulating proliferation and apoptosis via targeting miR-342-3p/DNAJC5 axis. These data support that inhibition of LINC00624 may a potential treatment strategies of HCC.

Drug Discovery and Development of miRNA-Based Nucleotide Drugs for Gastrointestinal Cancer

Short non-coding RNAs, miRNAs, play roles in the control of cell growth and differentiation in cancer. Reportedly, the introduction of miRNAs could reduce the biologically malignant behavior of cancer cells, suggesting a possible use as therapeutic reagents. Given that the forced expression of several miRNAs, including miR-302, results in the cellular reprograming of human and mouse cells, which is similar to the effects of the transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, this suggests that the selective introduction of several miRNAs will be able to achieve anti-cancer effects at the epigenetic and metabolic levels. In this review article, we bring together the recent advances made in studies of microRNA-based therapeutic approaches to therapy-resistant cancers, especially in gastrointestinal organs.

Effects of Controlled Ozone Exposure on Circulating microRNAs and Vascular and Coagulation Biomarkers: A Mediation Analysis

Exposure to ozone (O3) is associated with adverse respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes. Alterations in circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) may contribute to the adverse vascular effects of O3 exposure through inter-cellular communication resulting in post-transcriptional regulation of messenger RNAs by miRNAs. In this study, we investigated whether O3 exposure induces alterations in circulating miRNAs that can mediate effects on downstream vascular and coagulation biomarkers. Twenty-three healthy male adults were exposed on successive days to filtered air and 300 ppb O3 for 2 h. Circulating miRNA and protein biomarkers were quantified after each exposure session. The data were subjected to mixed-effects model and mediation analyses for the statistical analyses. The results showed that the expression level of multiple circulating miRNAs (e.g., miR-19a-3p, miR-34a-5p) was significantly associated with O3 exposure. Pathway analysis showed that these miRNAs were predictive of changing levels of downstream biomarkers [e.g., D-dimer, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)]. Mediation analysis showed that miR-19a-3p may be a significant mediator of O3-exposure-induced changes in blood TNFα levels [0.08 (0.01, 0.15), p = 0.02]. In conclusion, this preliminary study showed that O3 exposure of healthy male adults resulted in changes in circulating miRNAs, some of which may mediate vascular effects of O3 exposure.

Molecular biology of microRNA-342 during tumor progression and invasion

Cancer is considered as one of the main causes of human deaths and health challenges in the world. Various factors are involved in the high death rate of cancer patients, including late diagnosis and drug resistance that result in treatment failure and tumor recurrence. Invasive diagnostic methods are one of the main reasons of late tumor detection in cancer patients. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the molecular tumor biology to introduce efficient non-invasive markers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in regulation of the cellular mechanisms such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. MiRNAs deregulations have been also frequently shown in different tumor types. Here, we discussed the molecular mechanisms of miR-342 during tumor growth. MiR-342 mainly functions as a tumor suppressor by the regulation of transcription factors and signaling pathways such as WNT, PI3K/AKT, NF-kB, and MAPK. Therefore, miR-342 mimics can be used as a reliable therapeutic strategy to inhibit the tumor cells growth. The present review can also pave the way to introduce the miR-342 as a non-invasive diagnostic/prognostic marker in cancer patients.

Multifaceted role of NF-κB in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy: Molecular landscape, therapeutic compounds and nanomaterial approaches

The predominant kind of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that its treatment have been troublesome difficulties for physicians due to aggressive behavior of tumor cells in proliferation and metastasis. Moreover, stemness of HCC cells can result in tumor recurrence and angiogenesis occurs. Another problem is development of resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in HCC cells. Genomic mutations participate in malignant behavior of HCC and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) has been one of the oncogenic factors in different human cancers that after nuclear translocation, it binds to promoter of genes in regulating their expression. Overexpression of NF-κB has been well-documented in increasing proliferation and invasion of tumor cells and notably, when its expression enhances, it induces chemoresistance and radio-resistance. Highlighting function of NF-κB in HCC can shed some light on the pathways regulating progression of tumor cells. The first aspect is proliferation acceleration and apoptosis inhibition in HCC cells mediated by enhancement in expression level of NF-κB. Moreover, NF-κB is able to enhance invasion of HCC cells via upregulation of MMPs and EMT, and it triggers angiogenesis as another step for increasing spread of tumor cells in tissues and organs. When NF-κB expression enhances, it stimulates chemoresistance and radio-resistance in HCC cells and by increasing stemness and population of cancer-stem cells, it can provide the way for recurrence of tumor. Overexpression of NF-κB mediates therapy resistance in HCC cells and it can be regulated by non-coding RNAs in HCC. Moreover, inhibition of NF-κB by anti-cancer and epigenetic drugs suppresses HCC tumorigenesis. More importantly, nanoparticles are considered for suppressing NF-κB axis in cancer and their prospectives and results can also be utilized for treatment of HCC. Nanomaterials are promising factors in treatment of HCC and by delivery of genes and drugs, they suppress HCC progression. Furthermore, nanomaterials provide phototherapy in HCC ablation.

Primary and Secondary micro-RNA Modulation the Extrinsic Pathway of Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract-One of the most common malignant liver diseases is hepatocellular carcinoma, which has a high recurrence rate and a low five-year survival rate. It is very heterogeneous both in structure and between patients, which complicates the diagnosis, prognosis and response to treatment. In this regard, an individualized, patient-centered approach becomes important, in which the use of mimetics and hsa-miRNA inhibitors involved in the pathogenesis of the disease may be determinative. From this point of view hsa-miRNAs are of interest, their aberrant expression is associated with poor prognosis for patients and is associated with tumor progression due to dysregulation of programmed cell death (apoptosis). However, the effect of hsa-miRNA on tumor development depends not only on its direct effect on expression of genes, the primary targets, but also on secondary targets mediated by regulatory pathways. While the former are actively studied, the role of secondary targets of these hsa-miRNAs in modulating apoptosis is still unclear. The present work summarizes data on hsa-miRNAs whose primary targets are key genes of the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Their aberrant expression is associated with early disease relapse and poor patient outcome. For these hsa-miRNAs, using the software package ANDSystem, we reconstructed the regulation of the expression of secondary targets and analyzed their impact on the activity of the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis. The potential effect of hsa-miRNAs mediated by action on secondary targets is shown to negatively correlate with the number of primary targets. It is also shown that hsa-miR-373, hsa-miR-106b and hsa-miR-96 have the highest priority as markers of hepatocellular carcinoma, whose action on secondary targets enhances their anti-apoptotic effect.

Hsa-microRNA-27b-3p inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression by inactivating transforming growth factor-activated kinase-binding protein 3/nuclear factor kappa B signalling

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hsa-microRNA-27b-3p (hsa-miR-27b) is involved in the formation and progression of various cancers, but its role and clinical value in HCC remain unclear.

Methods

The expression of hsa-miR-27b in HCC was examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH) assays of clinical samples. Cell Counting Kit-8 assays (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation assays, Transwell assays, filamentous actin (F-actin) staining and western blot analyses were used to determine the effects of hsa-miR-27b on HCC cells in vitro. Subcutaneous xenograft and lung metastatic animal experiments were conducted to verify the role of hsa-miR-27b in HCC in vivo. In silico prediction, qRT-PCR, western blot, anti-Argonaute 2 (AGO2) RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual luciferase reporter assays were applied to identify the target genes of hsa-miR-27b. To detect the impacts of hsa-miR-27b on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-кB) signalling cascades mediated by transforming growth factor-activated kinase-binding protein 3 (TAB3), we performed qRT-PCR, western blot assays, immunofluorescence staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and dual-luciferase reporter assays. Recombinant oncolytic adenovirus (Onco^Ad) overexpressing hsa-miR-27b was constructed to detect their therapeutic value in HCC.

Results

The expression of hsa-miR-27b was lower in HCC than in adjacent non-tumourous tissues (ANTs), and the reduced expression of hsa-miR-27b was associated with worse outcomes in patients with HCC. Hsa-miR-27b significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, subcutaneous tumour growth and lung metastasis of HCC cells. The suppression of hsa-miR-27b promoted the nuclear translocation of NF-κB by upregulating TAB3 expression. TAB3 was highly expressed in HCC compared with ANTs and was negatively correlated with the expression of hsa-miR-27b. The impaired cell proliferation, migration and invasion by hsa-miR-27b overexpression were recovered by ectopic expression of TAB3. Recombinant Onco^Ad with overexpression of hsa-miR-27b induced anti-tumour activity compared with that induced by negative control (NC) Onco^Ad in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusions

By targeting TAB3, hsa-miR-27b acted as a tumour suppressor by inactivating the NF-кB pathway in HCC in vitro and in vivo, indicating its therapeutic value against HCC.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s11658-022-00370-4.

Screening of miRNAs in White Blood Cell as a Radiation Biomarkers for Rapid Assessment of Acute Radiation Injury

Accidental radiation exposure is a threat to human health that necessitates effective clinical diagnosis. Suitable biomarkers are urgently needed for early assessment of exposure dose. Existing technologies being used to assess the extent of radiation have notable limitations. As a radiation biomarker, miRNA has the advantages of simple detection and high throughput. In this study, we screened for miRNAs with dose and time dependent responses in peripheral blood leukocytes via miRNA sequencing in establishing the animal model of acute radiation injury. Four radiation-sensitive and stably expressed miRNAs were selected out in the 24 h group of leukocyte miRNAs: mmu-miR-130b-5p, mmu-miR-148b-5p, mmu-miR-184-3p, mmu-miR-26a-2-3p, and five were screened in the 48 h group of leukocyte miRNAs: mmu-miR-130b-5p, mmu-miR-423-5p, mmu-miR-676-3p, mmu-miR-150-5p, mmu-miR-342-3p.The correlation curves between their expression and irradiation dose were plotted. Then, the results were validated by RT-qPCR in mouse peripheral blood. As a result, mmu-miR-150-5p and mmu-miR-342-3p showed the highest correlation at 48h after irradiation, and mmu-miR-130b-5p showed good correlation at both 24 h and 48 h after irradiation. In a conclusion, the miRNAs that are sensitive to ionizing radiation with dose dependent effects were selected out, which have the potential of forming a rapid assessment scheme for acute radiation injury.

Extracellular Vesicles: A New Source of Biomarkers in Pediatric Solid Tumors? A Systematic Review

Virtually every cell in the body releases extracellular vesicles (EVs), the contents of which can provide a "fingerprint" of their cellular origin. EVs are present in all bodily fluids and can be obtained using minimally invasive techniques. Thus, EVs can provide a promising source of diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers, particularly in the context of cancer. Despite advances using EVs as biomarkers in adult cancers, little is known regarding their use in pediatric cancers. In this review, we provide an overview of published clinical and in vitro studies in order to assess the potential of using EV-derived biomarkers in pediatric solid tumors. We performed a systematic literature search, which yielded studies regarding desmoplastic small round cell tumor, hepatoblastoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. We then determined the extent to which the in vivo findings are supported by in vitro data, and vice versa. We also critically evaluated the clinical studies using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) system, and we evaluated the purification and characterization of EVs in both the in vivo and in vitro studies in accordance with MISEV guidelines, yielding EV-TRACK and PedEV scores. We found that several studies identified similar miRNAs in overlapping and distinct tumor entities, indicating the potential for EV-derived biomarkers. However, most studies regarding EV-based biomarkers in pediatric solid tumors lack a standardized system of reporting their EV purification and characterization methods, as well as validation in an independent cohort, which are needed in order to bring EV-based biomarkers to the clinic.

Deoxyelephantopin and Its Isomer Isodeoxyelephantopin: Anti-Cancer Natural Products with Multiple Modes of Action

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The development of cancer involves aberrations in multiple pathways, representing promising targets for anti-cancer drug discovery. Natural products are regarded as a rich source for developing anti-cancer therapies due to their unique structures and favorable pharmacology and toxicology profiles. Deoxyelephantopin and isodeoxyelephantopin, sesquiterpene lactone compounds, are major components of Elephantopus scaber and Elephantopus carolinianus, which have long been used as traditional medicines to treat multiple ailments, including liver diseases, diabetes, bronchitis, fever, diarrhea, dysentery, cancer, renal disorders, and inflammation-associated diseases. Recently, deoxyelephantopin and isodeoxyelephantopin have been extensively explored for their anti-cancer activities. This review summarizes and discusses the anti-cancer activities of deoxyelephantopin and isodeoxyelephantopin, with an emphasis on their modes of action and molecular targets. Both compounds disrupt several processes involved in cancer progression by targeting multiple signaling pathways deregulated in cancers, including cell cycle and proliferation, cell survival, autophagy, and invasion pathways. Future directions of research on these two compounds towards anti-cancer drug development are discussed.

Diagnosis and staging of HCV associated fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma with target identification for miR-650, 552-3p, 676-3p, 512-5p and 147b

BACKGROUND: Chronic HCV infection progresses to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The latter represents the third most common cause for cancer mortality. Currently, there is no reliable non-invasive biomarker for diagnosis of HCV mediated disorders. OBJECTIVE: Profiling expression signature for circulatory miRNAs in the plasma of 167 Egyptian patients (40 healthy, 48 HCV fibrotic, 39 HCV cirrhotic and 40 HCV-HCC cases). METHODS: QRTPCR was used to quantify expression signature for circulatory miRNAs. RESULTS: MiR-676 and miR-650 were powerful in discriminating cirrhotic and late fibrosis from HCC. MiR-650 could distinguish mild (f0-f1) and advanced (f2-f3) fibrosis from HCC cases. MiR-650 and miR-147b could distinguish early fibrosis from healthy controls meanwhile miR-676 and miR-147b could effectively distinguish between mild chronic and (f1-f3) cases from healthy individuals. All studied miRNAs, except miR-512, can differentiate between (f0-f3) cases and healthy controls. Multivariate logistic regression revealed three potential miRNA panels for effective differentiation of HCC, cirrhotic and chronic liver cases. MiR-676-3p and miR-512-5p were significantly correlated in (f1-f3) fibrosis meanwhile miR-676 and miR-512 could differentiate between cirrhosis and (f0-f3) cases. Both miR-650 and miR-512-5p were positively correlated in the cirrhotic group and in (f0-f4) group. Putative targets for investigated miRNAs were also determined. CONCLUSIONS: Investigated miRNAs could assist in staging and diagnosis of HCV associated disorders.

The long non-coding RNA ASMTL-AS1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by sponging miR-1343-3p that suppresses LAMC1 (laminin subunit gamma 1)

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are critical regulators of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) carcinogenesis and development. We aimed to identify the function of the lncRNA ASMTL-AS1 during HCC malignancy. The expression of ASMTL-AS1, miR-1343-3p, and LAMC1 (laminin subunit gamma 1) was assessed in HCC tissues and cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and Transwell migration assays were performed to determine the effect of ASMTL-AS1 on HCC cell proliferation and migration. Cell apoptosis was identified by detecting Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression using Western blotting, and a xenograft assay was performed to investigate tumor growth in vivo. The interplay between miR-1343-3p and ASMTL-AS1 or LAMC1 was verified through luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. ASMTL-AS1 and LAMC1 were highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells, whereas miR-1343-3p showed low expression. Clinically, miR-1343-3p expression in HCC tissues showed a negative correlation with ASMTL-AS1 or LAMC1 expression. Functional assays demonstrated that ASMTL-AS1 silencing suppressed HCC cell proliferation and migration and increased cell apoptosis. More interestingly, ASMTL-AS1 sponged miR-1343-3p and miR-1343-3p to target the 3'-UTR of LAMC1, thereby interfering with the malignant behavior of HCC cells. In conclusion, ASMTL-AS1 acts as a carcinogen in HCC through competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) activity in the miR-1343-3p/LAMC1 axis. Our findings demonstrate that regulating ASMTL-AS1/miR-1343-3p/LAMC1-mediated HCC cell malignancy might be an effective method to interfere with HCC progression.

The Crosstalk Between Regulatory Non-Coding RNAs and Nuclear Factor Kappa B in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal type of malignancies that possesses great loss of life safety to human beings worldwide. However, few effective means of curing HCC exist and its specific molecular basis is still far from being fully elucidated. Activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), which is often observed in HCC, is considered to play a significant part in hepatocarcinogenesis and development. The emergence of regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), is a defining advance in cancer biology, and related research in this branch has yielded many diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities. Recent studies have suggested that regulatory ncRNAs act as inhibitors or activators in the initiation and progression of HCC by targeting components of NF-κB signaling or regulating NF-κB activity. In this review, we attach importance to the role and function of regulatory ncRNAs in NF-κB signaling of HCC and NF-κB-associated chemoresistance in HCC, then propose future research directions and challenges of regulatory ncRNAs mediated-regulation of NF-κB pathway in HCC.

Long non-coding RNA ASMTL-AS1 deteriorates the oncogenicity of osteosarcoma by decoying microRNA-342-3p and consequently raising ADAM9 expression

BACKGROUND

Till now, little is known regarding expression pattern and specific roles of lncRNA ASMTL antisense RNA 1 (ASMTL-AS1) in osteosarcoma (OS). Therefore, our current research measured the expression of ASMTL-AS1 in OS, unveiled the roles of ASMTL-AS1 in the modulation of malignant characteristics of OS, and identified the downstream mechanism.

METHODS

The regulatory actions of ASMTL-AS1 ablation in OS cells were explored utilizing loss-of-function experiments. Mechanistic studies were implemented utilizing bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation and rescue experiments.

RESULTS

ASMTL-AS1 expression in OS was elevated in both TCGA database and our own cohort. Interfering with ASMTL-AS1 restricted cell proliferation, migration and invasion while increasing cell apoptosis in vitro. Additionally, silencing ASMTL-AS1 blocked tumour growth in vivo. Mechanistically, ASMTL-AS1 could act as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA-342-3p (miR-342-3p) and inhibit its activity in OS cells, consequently causing an increase in ADAM metallopeptidase domain 9 (ADAM9) levels. Furthermore, inhibiting miR-342-3p or upregulating ADAM9 abated silenced ASMTL-AS1-induced antitumour activity in OS cells.

CONCLUSION

ASMTL-AS1 aggravated OS progression by regulating the miR-342-3p/ADAM9 axis.

Multidimensional crosstalk between RNA-binding proteins and noncoding RNAs in cancer biology

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are well-known to bind RNA via a set of RNA-binding domains (RBDs) and determine the fate and function of their RNA targets; inversely, some RBPs, in certain cases, may be modulated by the bound RNAs rather than regulate their RNA partners. Current proteome-wide studies reveal that almost half of RBPs have no canonical RBDs, and the discovery of tens of thousands of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially those with the size larger than 200 nt (namely long noncoding RNAs, lncRNAs), makes the crosstalk between RBPs and RNAs more complicated. It is clear that macromolecular complexes formed by RBP and RNA are not only a form of existence of their RBP and RNA components in cells, but also represent a functional entity through which those RBPs and regulatory ncRNAs participate in the construction of regulatory networks in organism. In this review, we summarize the multidimensional crosstalk between RBPs and ncRNAs in cancer and discuss how RBPs achieve their function via the bound ncRNAs in different aspects of gene expression as well as how RBPs direct modification and processing of ncRNAs, in order to better understand tumor biology and provide new insights into development of strategies for cancer therapy and early detection.

MicroRNAs Involved in Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Oncogene and Tumor Suppressors with Possible Targets

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) as a rare and highly aggressive type of breast cancer displays phenotypic characteristics. To date, the IBC-associated molecular mechanisms are entirely unknown. In addition, there is an urgent need to identify the new biomarkers involved in the diagnosis and therapeutic purposes of IBC. MicroRNAs, a category of short noncoding RNAs, are capable of controlling the post-transcriptional expression of genes and thus can act as diagnostic predictive tools. In this review, we addressed the status of oncogenic and tumor suppressor miRNA-mediated IBC in current studies. Furthermore, based on their targets, their involvement in cancer progression, angiogenesis, metastasis, and apoptosis were determined.

MicroRNA-342-3p is a potent tumour suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a cancer with multiple aetiologies and widespread prevalence. Largely refractory to current treatments, HCC is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators in HCCs. We aimed to identify tumour suppressor miRNAs during tumour regression in a conditional c-MYC-driven mouse model (LT2/MYC) of HCC, and to evaluate their therapeutic potential for HCC treatment.

METHODS

We performed miRNA expression profiling of developed and regressing LT2/MYC tumours and in-depth in vitro gain- and loss-of-function analyses. The effect of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated miR-342-3p treatment was evaluated in 3 HCC mouse models.

RESULTS

We identified miR-342-3p as a tumour suppressor miRNA in HCC, with increased expression in regressing tumours. Forced miR-342-3p expression in hepatoma cells showed significantly decreased cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation. In vivo administration of AAV-miR-342-3p led to significant attenuation of tumour development and increased overall survival. We identified monocarboxylic acid transporter 1 (MCT1) as a bona fide target of miR-342-3p in HCC. We show that the tumour suppressor role of miR-342-3p is executed partly by modulating the lactate transport function of MCT1. Importantly, we find miR-342-3p downregulated in tumours from patients with HCC compared with matched non-tumour tissues, inversely correlating with MCT1 expression. We observed similar findings in TCGA-LIHC data.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, we identified and validated miR-342-3p as a tumour suppressor miRNA in HCC. We demonstrated its therapeutic efficacy in significantly attenuating tumour development, and prolonging survival, in different HCC mouse models. Identification of miR-342-3p as an effective tumour suppressor opens a therapeutic avenue for miRNA-mediated attenuation of HCC development.

LAY SUMMARY

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, affects diverse populations and has a global impact, being the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. There are currently no systemic therapies for HCC that can significantly prolong long-term survival. Thus, novel effective treatment options are urgently required. To understand the molecular basis of tumour regression, we compared tumours and regressing liver tumours in mice. We show that a small non-coding miRNA, miR-342-3p, is a tumour suppressor in HCC. Expression of miR-342-3p is low in tumours and high in regressing tumours. When miR-342-3p is delivered to mouse livers with HCC, it can significantly slow down liver tumour development and improve survival. Our study highlights the promising therapeutic potential of miR-342-3p intervention in HCC.

Epigenetic silencing of miR-342-3p in B cell lymphoma and its impact on autophagy

Background

miR-342-3p, localized to 14q32, is a tumor suppressor miRNA implicated in carcinogenesis. Given the presence of a promotor-associated CpG island for its host gene, EVL, we hypothesized that intronic miR-342-3p is a tumor suppressor co-regulated with host gene by promoter DNA methylation in B cell lymphoma.

Results

By bisulfite pyrosequencing-verified methylation-specific PCR (MSP), EVL/MIR342 methylation was detected in five (50%) lymphoma cell lines but not normal peripheral blood and tonsils. EVL/MIR342 methylation correlated with repression of both miR-342-3p and EVL in cell lines. In completely methylated SU-DHL-16 cells, 5-AzadC treatment resulted in promoter demethylation and re-expression of miR-342-3p and EVL. In 132 primary lymphoma samples, EVL/MIR342 was preferentially methylated in B cell lymphomas (N = 68; 68.7%) than T cell lymphoma (N = 8; 24.2%) by MSP (P < 0.0001). Moreover, EVL/MIR342 methylation was associated with lower miR-342-3p expression in 79 primary NHL (P = 0.0443). In SU-DHL-16 cells, the tumor suppressor function of miR-342-3p was demonstrated by the inhibition of cellular proliferation and increase of cell death upon over-expression of miR-342-3p. Mechanistically, overexpression of miR-342-3p resulted in a decrease of LC3-II, a biomarker of autophagy, which was pro-survival for SU-DHL-16. Pre-treatment with 3-methyladenine, an autophagy inhibitor, abrogated tumor suppression associated with miR-342-3p overexpression. By luciferase assay, MAP1LC3B, a precursor of LC3-II, was confirmed as a direct target of miR-342-3p. Finally, in SU-DHL-16 cells, overexpression of miR-342-3p downregulated the known target DNMT1, with promoter demethylation and re-expression of tumor suppressor E-cadherin.

Conclusions

Intronic miR-342-3p is co-regulated with its host gene EVL by tumor-specific promoter DNA methylation in B cell lymphoma. The tumor suppressor function of miR-342-3p was mediated via inhibition of pro-survival autophagy by targeting MAP1LC3B and downregulation of DNMT1 with demethylation and re-expression of tumor suppressor genes.

MiR-342-3p inhibits cell migration and invasion through suppressing forkhead box protein Q1 in ovarian carcinoma

Previous studies have shown that microRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of ovarian carcinoma (OC). However, the abnormal expression and function of miR-342-3p have not been reported in OC. Therefore, this research was designed to explore its role in OC. In this study, qRT-PCR assay showed that the expression level of miR-342-3p was reduced in OC tissues and cell lines. Functionally, Transwell assay suggested that overexpression of miR-342-3p suppressed cell migration and invasion in OC. In addition, forkhead box protein Q1 (FOXQ1) was confirmed to be a direct target gene by luciferase activity assay. Furthermore, FOXQ1 was found to be upregulated and function as an oncogene in OC. More importantly, miR-342-3p was negatively correlated with FOXQ1 expression in OC tissues. Furthermore, overexpression of FOXQ1 could partially rescue inhibitory effect of miR-342-3p on cell migration and invasion in OC. In brief, we concluded that miR-342-3p inhibited migration and invasion of OC cells through suppressing FOXQ1 expression.

FoxF1 protects rats from paraquat-evoked lung injury following HDAC2 inhibition via the microRNA-342/KLF5/IκB/NF-κB p65 axis

PURPOSE

Forkhead box f1 (FoxF1), a transcription factor, was implicated in lung development. However, the molecular mechanism of FoxF1 in lung injury, specifically in injury caused by paraquat (PQ), one of the most frequently used herbicides, is unknown. Accordingly, we performed this study to investigate whether FoxF1 attenuates PQ-induced lung injury and to determine the possible mechanism.

METHODS

We used PQ-treated Beas-2B cells to measure the expression of FoxF1. Later, ChIP-qPCR was applied to detect the levels of histone acetylation in cells, followed by the validation of the relationship between histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC2) and FoxF1. Subsequently, the correlation between FoxF1 and microRNA (miR)-342 and the downstream mechanism of miR-342 were evaluated by bioinformatics analysis. The apoptosis and the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PQ-treated cells were detected to evaluate the roles of HDAC2, FoxF1 and miR-342 in vitro. Finally, a rat model was developed to evaluate the effects of HDAC2, miR-342 and Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) on PQ-induced lung injury in vivo.

RESULTS

PQ treatment significantly enhanced FoxF1 promoter deacetylation, thereby inhibiting FoxF1 expression. After inhibition of HDAC2 activity, apoptosis and oxidative stress induced by PQ were significantly reversed. Nevertheless, further inhibition of miR-342 or overexpression of KLF5 promoted apoptosis and oxidative stress induced by PQ, and IκB/NF-κB p65 signaling was significantly activated after PQ treatment.

CONCLUSION

PQ treatment inhibited miR-342 expression by promoting HDAC2-induced deacetylation of the FoxF1 promoter, thereby promoting KLF5 expression and the IκB/NF-κB p65 signaling activation, and finally exacerbating PQ-induced lung injury in rats.

Exosome-transferred long non-coding RNA ASMTL-AS1 contributes to malignant phenotypes in residual hepatocellular carcinoma after insufficient radiofrequency ablation

Objectives

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging RNA regulators in cancer progression, including in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, insufficient radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been reported to lead to recurrence and metastasis of residual HCC tumours. Herein, we aimed to the role of ASMTL‐AS1 in residual HCC after insufficient RFA.

Materials and methods

In vitro insufficient RFA model was simulated in Huh7 cells and subsequently named Huh7‐H cells. In vitro and in vivo assays were conducted to investigate ASMTL‐AS1 function in HCC.

Results

LncRNA ASMTL‐AS1 low expressed in normal human liver was found to be highly expressed in HCC tissues and further increased in tumours after insufficient RFA. ASMTL‐AS1 expression was related to stage, metastasis and prognosis in HCC. Huh7‐H possessed higher ASMTL‐AS1 level and more aggressive than Huh7 cells. ASMTL‐AS1 contributed to the malignancy of HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, ASMTL‐AS1 was trans‐activated by MYC and promoted NLK expression to activate YAP signalling via sequestering miR‐342‐3p in HCC. Interestingly, ASMTL‐AS1 could be wrapped by exosomes and then convey malignancy through NLK/YAP axis between cells even in residual HCC after insufficient RFA.

Conclusions

Exosomal ASMTL‐AS1 aggravates the malignancy in residual HCC after insufficient RFA via miR‐342‐3p/NLK/YAP signalling, opening a new road for the treatment of HCC and the prevention of recurrence or metastasis of residual HCC after insufficient RFA.

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract alleviates arsenic-induced lung damage through NF-κB signaling

IMPACT STATEMENT

Arsenic-induced respiratory inflammatory damage is an important occupational hazard in many areas of the world, particularly in underdeveloped and developing countries. Effective treatments are lacking and expensive. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of proanthocyanidin (PC) and the molecular mechanisms in vivo and in vitro. The present study showed that PC extracted from grape seed could attenuate the lung damage in a mouse model of arsenic poisoning. The effects were observed at the level of lung histology and inflammasome expression. This study suggests that a natural compound is effective in mitigating the toxic effects of arsenic in the lungs, providing an inexpensive and more readily accessible method for treating arsenic exposure in some parts of the world.

LncRNA LINC00313 Knockdown Inhibits Tumorigenesis and Metastasis in Human Osteosarcoma by Upregulating FOSL2 through Sponging miR-342-3p

PURPOSE

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone tumor, with high morbidity in infants and adolescents. Long noncoding RNA LINC00313 has been found to modulate papillary thyroid cancer tumorigenesis and to be dysregulate in lung cancer. However, the role of LINC00313 in OS has not yet been addressed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated mRNA and protein expression using real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting. Cell proliferation was evaluated using MTT; apoptosis and autophagy were assessed with flow cytometry, Western blotting, and/or GFP-LC3 assay. Transwell assay was conducted to measure cell migration and invasion. Potential target sites for LINC00313 and miR-342-3p were predicted with starBase v.2.0 and TargetScan Human, and verified using luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down assay. In vivo, xenogeneic tumors were induced with U2OS and MG-63 cells, separately.

RESULTS

LINC00313 was upregulated and miR-342-3p was downregulated in OS tissues and cells. High expression of LINC00313 was associated with shorter overall survival. FOSL2 downregulation and miR-342-3p overexpression suppressed cell proliferation and migratory and invasive abilities while promoting apoptosis and autophagy, all of which were consistent with the effects of LINC00313 knockdown. miR-342-3p, sponged by LINC00313, inversely modulated FOSL2 by targeting MG-63 cells, and FOSL2 expression was positively controlled by LINC00313. LINC00313 knockdown suppressed tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

LINC00313 is upregulated in OS, and LINC00313 knockdown plays a vital anti-tumor role in OS cell progression through a miR-342-3p/FOSL2 axis. Our study suggests that LINC00313 may be a novel, promising biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of OS.

MicroRNA-342 targets Cofilin 1 to suppress the growth, migration and invasion of human breast cancer cells

MicroRNA-342-3p (miR-342) has been shown to act as a tumor-suppressor in different cancer types. However, the role and therapeutic implications of miR-342 via modulation of Cofilin 1 (CFL1) has not been studied in any type of cancer. Given the importance of Cofilin signalling in breast, this study was undertaken to explore the therapeutic implications of miR-342 and its target CFL1 in breast cancer. Herein, we found that miR-342 was significantly (P < 0.05) downregulated in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. Functional assays revealed that overexpression of miR-342 caused a significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of the proliferation, colony formation, invasion and migration of the MDA-MB-436 and CAMA-1 breast cancer cells via induction of apoptosis. Bioinformatic approaches and the dual luciferase reporter assay confirmed the interaction between miR-342 and its target CFL1. Moreover, we found that CFL1 was aberrantly overexpressed in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-342 caused remarkable depletion in the expression of CFL1 in MDA-MB-436 breast cancer cells. Silencing of CFL1 in CAMA-1 and MDA-MB-436 cells caused remarkable decrease in the proliferation, colony formation and migration of these cells, similar to that of miR-342 ovexpression. However, overexpression of CFL1 in MDA-MB-346 cells could avoid the tumor suppressive effects of miR-342. Our data provide novel information about the implications of miR-342 and its target CFL1 in breast cancer treatment.

The mechanistic, diagnostic and therapeutic novel nucleic acids for hepatocellular carcinoma emerging in past score years

Despite The Central Dogma states the destiny of gene as 'DNA makes RNA and RNA makes protein', the nucleic acids not only store and transmit genetic information but also, surprisingly, join in intracellular vital movement as a regulator of gene expression. Bioinformatics has contributed to knowledge for a series of emerging novel nucleic acids molecules. For typical cases, microRNA (miRNA), long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA) exert crucial role in regulating vital biological processes, especially in malignant diseases. Due to extraordinarily heterogeneity among all malignancies, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has emerged enormous limitation in diagnosis and therapy. Mechanistic, diagnostic and therapeutic nucleic acids for HCC emerging in past score years have been systematically reviewed. Particularly, we have organized recent advances on nucleic acids of HCC into three facets: (i) summarizing diverse nucleic acids and their modification (miRNA, lncRNA, circRNA, circulating tumor DNA and DNA methylation) acting as potential biomarkers in HCC diagnosis; (ii) concluding different patterns of three key noncoding RNAs (miRNA, lncRNA and circRNA) in gene regulation and (iii) outlining the progress of these novel nucleic acids for HCC diagnosis and therapy in clinical trials, and discuss their possibility for clinical applications. All in all, this review takes a detailed look at the advances of novel nucleic acids from potential of biomarkers and elaboration of mechanism to early clinical application in past 20 years.

MiR-342-3p inhibition promotes cell proliferation and invasion by directly targeting ID4 in pre-eclampsia

AIM

This study aimed to explore the miR-342-3p expression in pre-eclampsia (PE) placentas and confirm whether miR-342-3p exerts effects on proliferation and migration of HTR-8/SVneo trophoblastic cells.

METHODS

The PE placentas (n = 8) were taken from gravidas complicated by PE and delivered after 34 weeks. The chorionic plates and the basal plates were separately taken from the placenta disc near the position of umbilical cord insertion. RT-qPCR was used to measure the expression of miR-342-3p in the chorionic plates and the basal plates. Cell invasion assay and MMT assay were used to assess the effects of miR-342-3p on proliferation and migration of HTR-8/SVneo trophoblastic cells. Luciferase reporter assay and Western blotting were used to analyze the target of miR-342-3p and investigate the detailed mechanisms.

RESULTS

The expression of miR-342-3p was upregulated in both basal plates and chorionic plates in patients with PE compared with healthy pregnant individuals. MiR-342-3p inhibitor suppressed the cell viability and invasion, and induced apoptosis in trophoblast cells. Furthermore, inhibitor of DNA binding (ID)-4 (ID4) was a direct target of miR-342-3p, and knockdown of ID4 abrogated the regulation effect of miR-342-3p on cell viability, apoptosis and invasion.

CONCLUSION

Inhibition of miR-342-3p expression may suppress the occurrence of PE by targeting ID4 in vitro.

Nuclear Factor κB Signaling and Its Related Non-coding RNAs in Cancer Therapy

Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) acts as a nuclear factor that is composed of five main subunits. It is a pluripotent and crucial dimer transcription factor that has a close relationship with many serious illnesses, especially its influences on cell proliferation, inflammation, and cancer initiation and progression. NF-κB acts as part of the signaling pathway and determines its effect on the expression of several other genes, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), p53, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and non-coding RNA (ncRNA). Continuous activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway has been seen in many cancer types. While the NF-κB signaling pathway is tightly regulated in physiological settings, quite frequently it is constitutively activated in cancer, and the molecular biology mechanism underlying the deregulated activation of NF-κB signaling remains unclear. In this review, we discuss the regulatory role and possible clinical significance of ncRNA (microRNA [miRNA] and long non-coding RNA [lncRNA]) in NF-κB signaling in cancer, including in the conversion of inflammation to carcinogenesis. Non-coding RNA plays an essential and complex role in the NF-κB signaling pathway. NF-κB activation can also induce the ncRNA status. Targeting NF-κB signaling by ncRNA is becoming a promising strategy of drug development and cancer treatment.

miR‑342‑3p suppresses cell migration and invasion in preeclampsia by targeting platelet‑derived growth factor receptor α

miR-342-3p expression was increased in the placentas of women with preeclampsia (PE) according to previous examinations; the mechanism underlying the development and progression of PE requires further investigation. The present study aimed to explore the mechanism and functionality of microRNA (miR)-342-3p in trophoblastic cells. The expression of miR-342-3p and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRA) in the placentas of 30 patients with PE and 30 normal controls was detected. In addition, HTR8/SVneo cells were transfected with miR-342-3p mimics, small interfering RNA (siR)-PDGFRA or their corresponding negative controls; then the proliferation, migration, invasion and the distribution of the cell cycle of these cells were analyzed. Additionally, a dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed. According to these analyses, the expression of miR-342-3p was significantly increased, while that of PDGFRA was significantly lower in the PE group compared with the normal group. Transfection with miR-342-3p mimics led to a significant decrease in cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and also affected the cell cycle. Furthermore, miR-342-3p mimics reduced the expression of PDGFRA; miR-342-3p overexpression also reduced the mRNA and protein levels of BCL-2 and Caspase-3. In addition, transfection of siR-PDGFRA exhibited similar effects to those of miR-342-3p mimics. Finally, PDGFRA was reported to be a direct target of miR-342-3p. In conclusion, miR-342-3p was proposed to inhibit the proliferation, migration, invasion and G1/S phase transition of HTR8/SVneo cells by suppressing PDGFRA. Our findings suggest that miR-342-3p may be a novel clinical indicator or prognostic marker for PE.

microRNA-342-3p targets FOXQ1 to suppress the aggressive phenotype of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

Background

microRNA (miR)-342–3p is frequently dysregulated in human cancers. In the present study, we aimed to explore the expression, prognostic significance, and biological relevance of miR-342-3p in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

We examined miR-342-3p expression in 79 paired NPC specimens and corresponding normal tissues and analyzed its prognostic impact on overall survival of NPC patients. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were conducted to determine the biological roles of miR-342-3p.

Results

Compared with matched normal nasopharyngeal tissues, miR-342-3p was significantly downregulated in NPC (P = 0.0038). Low miR-342-3p expression was significantly correlated with reduced overall survival (P = 0.0084). Ectopic expression of miR-342-3p significantly suppressed proliferation, colony formation, and invasion of NPC cells. In contrast, depletion of miR-342-3p facilitated NPC cell proliferation and invasion. In vivo xenograft studies confirmed that overexpression of miR-342-3p restrained the growth of NPC xenograft tumors. Mechanistically, FOXQ1 served as a functional target of miR-342-3p. There was a significantly negative correlation between miR-342-3p and FOXQ1 expression (r = − 0.487, P = 0.004) in NPC specimens. Overexpression of FOXQ1 rescued the inhibitory effects of miR-342-3p on NPC cell growth and invasion.

Conclusions

miR-342-3p downregulation predicts poor prognosis in NPC patients and shows suppressive activity against NPC growth and invasion through repression of FOXQ1. Restoration of miR-342-3p may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for NPC.

MicroRNA-342-3p functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting LIM and SH3 protein 1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Although microRNA-342-3p (miR-342-3p) deregulation has been implicated in the development of a variety of cancer types, its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression remains unclear. Overexpression of LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP1) in OSCC tissues, and its promotion of OSCC cell proliferation were recently reported. However, the regulatory mechanism underlining LASP1 expression remains unknown. In the present study, the notable downregulation of miR-342-3p in OSCC cell lines and clinical specimens was revealed. The Cell Counting kit-8 and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine-incorporation assays demonstrated that miR-342-3p suppressed OSCC cell proliferation. Additionally, LASP1 was identified as a target gene of miR-342-3p through bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays. Further experiments suggested that overexpression of LASP1 attenuated the suppressive effect of miR-342-3p on the proliferation of OSCC cells. In conclusion, the present data suggest that miR-342-3p functions as a tumor suppressor in OSCC via targeting of LASP1 and may be a promising therapeutic target for OSCC.

Investigation of the clinical significance and molecular mechanism of miR-21-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review based on 24 studies and bioinformatics investigation

To investigate the prospective roles and the clinicopathological application of microRNA-21-5p (miR-21-5p) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the present review is based on 24 studies and bioinformatics investigation. Firstly, HCC-associated miR-21-5p data were aggregated from literature databases and two public genomic data repositories, including the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Potential target genes of miR-21-5p in HCC were identified using TCGA and GEO, Natural Language Processing and 14 online software packages. The oncogenic roles of these target genes was probed for understanding using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. Hub genes were further investigated by protein-protein interaction network (PPI) analysis. Comprehensive meta-analysis, including 10 microarrays from GEO datasets, 13 literature studies and TCGA-based RNA sequencing data, indicated a reliable diagnostic capacity of miR-21-5p [area under the curve (AUC), 0.887; sensitivity, 0.78% and specificity, 0.79%]. The healthy control group (AUC, 0.926; sensitivity, 0.87% and specificity, 0.82%) demonstrated high diagnostic capacity of miR-21-5p compared with the chronic hepatitis B infection group (AUC, 0.904; sensitivity, 0.75% and specificity, 0.84%). A total of 10 significant enrichment pathways were indicated by KEGG analysis, with cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction exhibiting the highest score. A total of 5 genes, hepatocyte growth factor, forkhead box O1 (FOXO1), thrombospondin 1, estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 were selected from 39 overlapping genes, according to the PPI network. Target genes were assembled in GO terms associated with ‘response to chemical stimulus’, ‘cell surface’ and ‘growth factor binding’. In particular, low expression of FOXO1 and ESR1 was associated with miR-21-5p expression. In conclusion, upregulated expression of miR-21-5p may be a functional regulator of the metabolism or apoptosis in HCC and a novel tumor marker for the early diagnosis of HCC.

MicroRNA and mRNA expression associated with ectopic germinal centers in thymus of myasthenia gravis

BACKGROUND

A characteristic pathology of early onset myasthenia gravis is thymic hyperplasia with ectopic germinal centers (GC). However, the mechanisms that trigger and maintain thymic hyperplasia are poorly characterized. Dysregulation of small, non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes has been identified in the pathology of several autoimmune diseases. We assessed the miRNA and mRNA profiles of the MG thymus and have investigated their role in GC formation and maintenance.

METHODS

MG thymus samples were assessed by histology and grouped based upon the appearance of GC; GC positive and GC negative. A systems biology approach was used to study the differences between the groups. Our study included miRNA and mRNA profiling, quantitative real-time PCR validation, miRNA target identification, pathway analysis, miRNA-mRNA reciprocal expression pairing and interaction.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight mature miRNAs and forty-six annotated mRNA transcripts were differentially expressed between the two groups (>1.5 fold change, ANOVA p<0.05). The miRNAs were found to be involved in immune response pathways and identified in other autoimmune diseases. The cellular and molecular functions of the mRNAs showed involvement in cell death and cell survival, cellular proliferation, cytokine signaling and extra-cellular matrix reorganization. Eleven miRNA and mRNA pairs were reciprocally regulated. The Regulator of G protein Signalling 13 (RGS13), known to be involved in GC regulation, was identified in specimens with GC and was paired with downregulation of miR-452-5p and miR-139-5p. MiRNA target sites were validated by dual luciferase assay. Transfection of miRNA mimics led to down regulation of RGS13 expression in Raji cells.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates a distinct miRNA and mRNA expression pattern in ectopic GC in MG thymus. These miRNAs and mRNAs are involved in regulatory pathways common to inflammation and immune response, cell cycle regulation and anti-apoptotic pathways suggesting their involvement in support of GC formation in the thymus. We demonstrate for the first time that miR-139-5p and miR-452-5p negatively regulate RGS13 expression.

Potential clinical value and putative biological function of miR-122-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma: A comprehensive study using microarray and RNA sequencing data

In order to determine the diagnostic efficacy of microRNA (miR)-122-5p and to identify the potential molecular signaling pathways underlying the function of miR-122-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the expression profiles of data collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and literature databases were analyzed, along with any associations between clinicopathological characteristics and the diagnostic value of miR-122-5p in HCC. The intersection of 12 online prediction databases and differentially expressed genes from TCGA and GEO were utilized in order to select the prospective target genes of miR-122-5p in HCC. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and protein-protein interaction network (PPI) analyses were subsequently performed based on the selected target genes. The average expression level of miR-122-5p was decreased in HCC patients compared with controls from TCGA database (P<0.001), and the downregulation of miR-122-5p was significantly associated with HCC tissues (P<0.001), tumor vascular invasion (P<0.001), metastasis (P=0.001), sex (P=0.006), virus infection status (P=0.001) and tissue (compared with serum; P<0.001) in cases from the GEO database. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for miR-122-5p to diagnose HCC were 0.60 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.48–0.71] and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.70–0.89), respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) value was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.72–0.80), while in Meta-DiSc 1.4, the AUC was 0.76 (Q*=0.70). The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.60 (95% CI, 0.57–0.62) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.76–0.81), respectively. A total of 198 overlapping genes were selected as the potential target genes of miR-122-5p, and 7 genes were defined as the hub genes from the PPI network. Cell division cycle 6 (CDC6), minichromosome maintenance complex component 4 (MCM4) and MCM8, which serve pivotal functions in the occurrence and development of HCC, were the most significant hub genes. The regulation of cell proliferation for cellular adhesion and the biosynthesis of amino acids was highlighted in the GO and KEGG pathway analyses. The downregulation of miR-122-5p in HCC demonstrated diagnostic value, worthy of further attention. Therefore, miR-122-5p may function as a tumor suppressor by modulating genome replication.

Minipuberty and Sexual Dimorphism in the Infant Human Thymus

AIRE expression in thymus is downregulated by estrogen after puberty, what probably renders women more susceptible to autoimmune disorders. Here we investigated the effects of minipuberty on male and female infant human thymic tissue in order to verify if this initial transient increase in sex hormones - along the first six months of life - could affect thymic transcriptional network regulation and AIRE expression. Gene co-expression network analysis for differentially expressed genes and miRNA-target analysis revealed sex differences in thymic tissue during minipuberty, but such differences were not detected in the thymic tissue of infants aged 7-18 months, i.e. the non-puberty group. AIRE expression was essentially the same in both sexes in minipuberty and in non-puberty groups, as assessed by genomic and immunohistochemical assays. However, AIRE-interactors networks showed several differences in all groups regarding gene-gene expression correlation. Therefore, minipuberty and genomic mechanisms interact in shaping thymic sexual dimorphism along the first six months of life.

Loss of function of miR-342-3p results in MCT1 over-expression and contributes to oncogenic metabolic reprogramming in triple negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous and aggressive neoplasia lacking the expression of hormonal receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2. Accumulating evidence has highlighted the importance of miRNAs dysregulation in the establishment of cancer programs, but the functional role of many miRNAs remains unclear. The description of miRNAs roles might provide novel strategies for treatment. In the present work, an integrated analysis of miRNA transcriptional landscape was performed (N = 132), identifying the significant down-modulation of miR-342-3p in TNBC, probably because of the aberrant activity of estrogen receptor, which serves as a transcription factor of the miRNA, as demonstrated by a siRNA-knockdown approach. The enhanced expression of miR-342-3p significantly decreased cell proliferation, viability and migration rates of diverse TN cells in vitro. Bioinformatic and functional analyses revealed that miR-342-3p directly targets the monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1), which promotes lactate and glucose fluxes alteration, thus disrupting the metabolic homeostasis of tumor cells. Optical metabolic imaging assay defined a higher optical redox ratio in glycolytic cells overexpressing miR-342-3p. Furthermore, we found that hypoxic conditions and glucose starvation attenuate miR-342-3p expression, suggesting a crosstalk program between these metabolic factors. Consistently, miR-342-3p down-modulation is associated with an increased MCT1 expression level and glycolytic score in human triple negative tumors. Overall, we described for the first time the regulatory activity of miR-342-3p on relevant metabolic carcinogenic pathways in TN breast cancers.

MicroRNA-342 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by directly targeting ZEB1

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is prevalent in Africa and East Asia, particularly in the southern areas of China. Previous data has demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) may be involved in the formation and progression of NPC. The deregulation of miR-342 has been identified in multiple types of cancer. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no data concerning miR-342 in NPC. The present study aimed to measure miR-342 expression in NPC, and to investigate its roles in NPC initiation and progression, in addition to the underlying molecular mechanisms. miR-342 was significantly downregulated in NPC tissues and cell lines. Low miR-342 expression was associated with distant metastasis and tumor node metastasis stage in patients with NPC. The restoration of the expression of miR-342 suppressed cell proliferation and invasion of NPC in vitro. In addition, ZEB1 was identified as a direct target gene of miR-342 in NPC. Downregulation of ZEB1 mimicked the tumor-suppressive roles of miR-342 in NPC. Taken together, the present study identified that miR-342 directly targeted ZEB1 to inhibit NPC cell growth and invasion, which may provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatments of patients with this malignancy.

miR-342-3p suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation through inhibition of IGF-1R-mediated Warburg effect

Background

Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) is a well-studied oncogenic factor that promotes cell proliferation and energy metabolism and is overexpressed in numerous cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aerobic glycolysis is a hallmark of cancer, and drugs targeting its regulators, including IGF-1R, are being developed. However, the mechanisms of IGF-1R inhibition and the physiological significance of the IGF-1R inhibitors in cancer cells are unclear.

Materials and methods

Cell proliferation was evaluated by cell counting Kit-8 and colony formation assay. Western blot and real-time PCR were accordingly used to detect the relevant proteins, miRNA and gene expression. Luciferase reporter assays were used to illustrate the interaction between miR-342-3p and IGF-1R. The effect of miR-342-3p on glycolysis was determined by glucose uptake, ATP concentration, lactate generation, extracellular acidification rate and oxygen consumption rate assays. In vivo, subcutaneous tumor formation assay and PET were performed in nude mice.

Results

In this study, we demonstrate that by directly targeting the 3′-UTR (3′-untranslated regions) of IGF-1R, microRNA-342-3p (miR-342-3p) suppresses IGF-1R-mediated PI3K/AKT/GLUT1 signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo. Through suppression of IGF-1R, miR-342-3p dampens glycolysis by decreasing glucose uptake, lactate generation, ATP production, and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), and increasing oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in hepatoma cells. Importantly, glycolysis regulated by miR-342-3p is critical for its regulating HCC growth both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

Our findings provide clues regarding the role of miR-342-3p as a tumor suppressor in liver cancer mainly through the inhibition of IGF-1R. Targeting IGF-1R by miR-342-3p could be a potential therapeutic strategy in liver cancer.

MicroRNA-342 Prohibits Proliferation and Invasion of Melanoma Cells by Directly Targeting Zinc-Finger E-Box-Binding Homeobox 1

As documented in numerous studies, microRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in various biological processes associated with melanoma occurrence and development. In this study, we found that miRNA-342 (miR-342) was significantly downregulated in melanoma tissues and cell lines. Additionally, the ectopic expression of miR-342 prohibited the cell proliferation and invasion of melanoma. Moreover, zinc-finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) was identified as a direct target gene of miR-342 in melanoma. Similar with the results induced by miR-342 overexpression, ZEB1 knockdown attenuated cell proliferation and invasion in melanoma. Furthermore, the restoration of ZEB1 expression reversed the suppressive effects of miR-342 on the proliferation and invasion of melanoma cells. These findings suggest that miR-342 may play tumor-suppressing roles in melanoma, at least partially, by directly inhibiting ZEB1 expression. Therefore, miR-342 may be developed as a potential candidate for the treatment of patients with this aggressive type of cancer.

Epigenetic silencing of EVL/miR-342 in multiple myeloma

miR-342-3p, localized to 14q32, is a tumor suppressor miRNA implicated in multiple cancers. As the promoter region of its host gene, EVL, is embedded in a CpG island, we postulated that miR-342-3p is an intronic miRNA co-regulated with its host gene by promoter DNA methylation in multiple myeloma (MM). By methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, verified by quantitative bisulfite pyrosequencing, methylation of EVL/miR-342 was absent in all healthy controls (n = 10) and 12 of 15 (80%) human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs), but partially methylated in 3 of 15 (20%) HMCLs, including KMS-12-PE, OCI-MY5, and RPMI-8226R. In HMCLs, by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, methylation of EVL/miR-342 correlated with lower expression of both EVL (P = 0.013) and miR-342-3p (P = 0.023). Moreover, in KMS-12-PE and RPMI-8226R cells, both partially methylated for EVL/miR-342, 5-AzadC treatment led to demethylation of EVL/miR-342 and re-expression of miR-342-3p. Upon removal of 5-AzadC, continuous culture resulted in restoration of EVL/miR-342 methylation and downregulation of miR-342-3p. In primary samples, methylation of EVL/miR-342 was detected in 1 of 18 (5.6%) monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), 8 of 63 (12.7%) diagnostic MM, and 5 of 30 (16.7%) relapsed MM. EVL/miR-342 methylation was preferentially detected in IgD MM but not found to impact survival. Collectively, in MM, miR-342-3p is an intronic miRNA regulated by promoter DNA methylation of its host gene, EVL, in a tumor-specific manner. Methylation of EVL/miR-342 was present in consecutive stages of myelomagenesis including MGUS, diagnostic MM, and relapsed MM.

Atherosclerosis is exacerbated by chitinase-3-like-1 in amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice

Although the important role of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in vascular diseases associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been demonstrated, the underlying molecular mechanisms and physiological consequences are unclear. We aimed to evaluate vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis in Swedish mutant of human APP transgenic (APPsw-Tg) and ApoE^-/-/APPsw-Tg mice. We also aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying any changes observed in these mice compared with non-Tg controls. Methods: The transgenic and non-Tg mouse strains were subjected to partial ligation of the left carotid artery to induce atherosclerotic changes, which were measured using histological approaches, immunohistochemistry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and gene expression microarrays. Results: Our results showed increased vascular inflammation, arterial wall thickness, and atherosclerosis in APPsw-Tg and ApoE^-/-/APPsw-Tg mice. We further found that the expression of chitinase-3-like-1 (Chi3l1) is increased in the APPsw-Tg mouse artery and Chi3l1 mediates endothelial cell (EC) inflammation and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) activation, which in turn exacerbates atherosclerosis. In addition, using two publicly available microarray datasets from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of people with AD and unaffected controls as well as inflamed human umbilical vein endothelial cells, we found that Chi3l1 and associated inflammatory gene were significantly associated with AD, evaluated by co-expression network analysis and functional annotation. Knockdown of Chi3l1 in the arterial endothelium in vivo suppressed the development of atherosclerosis. We also show that microRNA 342-3p (miR-342-3p) inhibits EC inflammation and VSMC activation through directly targeting Chi3l1, and that APPsw increased Chi3l1 expression by reducing miR-342-3p expression in the arterial endothelium, promoting atherosclerosis. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that targeting Chi3l1 might provide new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for vascular diseases in patients with AD.

COMMD7 is correlated with a novel NF-κB positive feedback loop in hepatocellular carcinoma

The correlation between nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and COMMD7 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development remained unclear. Here, our clinicopathological data showed that COMMD7 is overexpressed in HCC with a correlation to NF-κB. Using HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells that aberrantly overexpressed COMMD7, we found that NF-κB directly binds with COMMD7 promoter and serves as an activator for COMMD7 transcription by luciferase reporter assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). In both HepG2 cells and SMMC-7721 cells, the silencing of COMMD7 significantly inhibited the cell proliferation, whereas NF-κB silencing inhibited the expression of COMMD7 and further inhibited cell proliferation. In addition, cell apoptosis was promoted by COMMD7 silencing, and further promoted by NF-κB silencing. Cell migration and invasion were also inhibited by COMMD7 silencing, and further inhibited by NF-κB silencing. Thus, COMMD7 is correlated with a novel NF-κB positive feedback loop in hepatocellular carcinoma. Developing strategies for the treatment of HCC should consider the correlation between NF-κB and COMMD7, so as to improve the specificity and sensitivity of therapy and to reduce toxicity.

Santamarine Inhibits NF-кB and STAT3 Activation and Induces Apoptosis in HepG2 Liver Cancer Cells via Oxidative Stress

Sesquiterpene lactones have long been used in traditional Chinese medicines to treat inflammatory diseases. Recently, sesquiterpene lactone family compounds have been recognized as potential anticancer agents. Thus, it is necessary to explore new sesquiterpene lactones and their antitumor mechanism for cancer treatments. In the present study, we have explored the potential anti-cancer activity of a novel sesquiterpene lactone compound “santamarine” (STM) in HepG2 cells. It inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis dose-dependently with IC₅₀ ~ 70 μM. Induction of apoptosis was found to be linked with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, decreased activity of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), glutathione (GSH) depletion, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) dissipation, Bcl-2 family proteins modulation, cytochrome c release, caspases-9, -8 and -3 activation and PARP cleavage. Further mechanistic study demonstrated that STM inhibited the constitutive and TNF-α-induced translocation of NF-кB into nucleus by decreasing phosphorylation of IkB-α. Moreover, STM inhibited STAT3 activation by decreasing phosphorylation at tyrosine705. NAC pretreatment reversed the effect of STM-mediated cell death, NF-кB inhibition and blockage of STAT3 activity, indicating the involvement of oxidative stress in STM-mediated anticancer activity. Further studies are needed to explore the exact molecular mechanism of STM-induced apoptosis to develop it into a lead for treatment of liver cancer in future.

MicroRNA-342 inhibits the progression of glioma by directly targeting PAK4

Glioma is an extremely aggressive and lethal type of brain tumour that originates from glial cells. MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation has been implicated in the occurrence and progression of many human cancers, including glioma. Thus, some specific miRNAs are potential therapeutic targets for glioma diagnosis, therapy and prognosis. MicroRNA-342 (miR‑342) has been reported to be abnormally expressed in various types of cancer. However, the precise roles of miR‑342 in glioma remain unknown. The present study showed that miR‑342 is relatively downregulated in glioma tissues and cell lines compared with that in adjacent normal tissues and normal human astrocytes. We observed that low miR‑342 expression levels are correlated with advanced WHO grades and low KPS scores of glioma patients. In addition, the results of the functional assays demonstrated that miR‑342 overexpression inhibits the proliferation and invasion of glioma cells and induces apoptosis. Further investigation revealed that P21 activated kinases 4 (PAK4) is a direct target of miR‑342 in glioma. PAK4 was significantly upregulated in glioma tissues and inversely correlated with miR‑342 expression. Moreover, PAK4 knockdown can mimic the effects of miR‑342 on glioma cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis. Notably, restoration of expression of PAK4 reversed the suppressive effects induced by the miR‑342 in the glioma cells. The upregulation of miR‑342 inactivated the AKT and ERK pathways in glioma. These findings may contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the carcinogenesis and progression of glioma, and to provide novel therapeutic target for the treatment of glioma patients.

Deoxyelephantopin and Isodeoxyelephantopin as Potential Anticancer Agents with Effects on Multiple Signaling Pathways

Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death worldwide. The development of drugs to target only one specific signaling pathway has limited therapeutic success. Developing chemotherapeutics to target multiple signaling pathways has emerged as a new prototype for cancer treatment. Deoxyelephantopin (DET) and isodeoxyelephantopin (IDET) are sesquiterpene lactone components of “Elephantopus scaber and Elephantopus carolinianus”, traditional Chinese medicinal herbs that have long been used as folk medicines to treat liver diseases, diabetes, diuresis, bronchitis, fever, diarrhea, dysentery, cancer, and inflammation. Recently, the anticancer activity of DET and IDET has been widely investigated. Here, our aim is to review the current status of DET and IDET, and discuss their anticancer activity with specific emphasis on molecular targets and mechanisms used by these compounds to trigger apoptosis pathways which may help to further design and conduct research to develop them as lead therapeutic drugs for cancer treatments. The literature has shown that DET and IDET induce apoptosis through multiple signaling pathways which are deregulated in cancer cells and suggested that by targeting multiple pathways simultaneously, these compounds could selectively kill cancer cells. This review suggests that DET and IDET hold promising anticancer activity but additional studies and clinical trials are needed to validate and understand their therapeutic effect to develop them into potent therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.