miR-142-3p simultaneously targets HMGA1, HMGA2, HMGB1, and HMGB3 and inhibits tumorigenic properties and in-vivo metastatic potential of human cervical cancer cells

The role and diagnostic value of deregulated miRNAs in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a significant global health concern, particularly affecting women in low-income countries. Despite advancements in screening programs, CC continues to pose a substantial mortality risk, highlighting the need to explore diagnostic and treatment modalities. This review focuses on the role of deregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) in CC development, emphasizing their potential as biomarkers for early detection and prognosis in body fluids. miRNAs have emerged as critical regulators of key cellular processes, including proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, and their dysregulation is closely linked to CC progression. Upregulated miRNAs such as miR-146b-3p, miR-1908, and miR-21 promote CC progression by targeting tumor suppressor genes, while downregulated miRNAs like miR-23-3p and miR-4262 are associated with reduced tumor aggressiveness. miRNAs also hold significant promise as non-invasive prognostic biomarkers. Their expression levels correlate with clinical outcomes, including tumor stage, metastasis, and overall survival, making them valuable tools for risk stratification and personalized treatment strategies. Liquid biopsies, which detect circulating miRNAs in bodily fluids, offer a minimally invasive approach to monitor tumor dynamics and predict patient outcomes. Furthermore, exosomal miRNAs are emerging as promising diagnostic and prognostic tools for CC. Advanced diagnostic technologies and bioinformatics tools are anticipated to enhance the identification of evident miRNA biomarkers in the clinical settings. Standardized protocols for sample collection and analysis will improve the reproducibility of miRNA studies, while a deeper understanding of miRNA biology may unlock their potential as therapeutic targets. In conclusion, this review consolidates current research on deregulated miRNAs in CC, highlighting their diagnostic and prognostic significance. The findings underscore the potential of miRNAs to revolutionize CC management through innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

MicroRNA-142-3p Overcomes Drug Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting YES1 and TWF1

Resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs, e.g., sorafenib and lenvatinib) presents a significant hurdle for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, underscoring the need to decipher the underlying mechanisms for improved therapeutic strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as critical modulators in HCC progression and TKI resistance. In this study, we report a positive correlation between the expression levels of a tumor suppressor miRNA, miR-142-3p, and increased sensitivity to sorafenib and lenvatinib, supported by clinical data from the BIOSTORM HCC cohort. Overexpression of miR-142-3p in TKI-resistant HCC cells significantly inhibited proliferation and colony formation, induced apoptosis, increased cell cycle arrest at the G2 phase, and reduced migration and invasion by reversing epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Notably, combining miR-142-3p with lenvatinib synergistically inhibited growth in both inherent and acquired TKI-resistant HCC cells by modulating critical signaling pathways, including STAT3, PI3K/AKT, MAPK, YAP1, and by impeding autophagic influx. RNA-sequencing of a TKI-resistant HCC cell line ± miR-142-3p overexpression identified YES1 and TWF1 as direct downstream target genes of miR-142-3p, both of which are key genes associated with drug resistance in HCC. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of these genes mirrored the antitumor effects of miR-142-3p and enhanced TKI sensitivity, with YES1 knockdown decreasing YAP1 phosphorylation, and TWF1 knockdown inhibiting autophagy. Collectively, these findings indicate that restoring miR-142-3p expression or targeting its downstream effectors YES1 and TWF1 offers a promising strategy to overcome drug resistance and improve therapeutic outcome in HCC.

Structure and Functions of HMGB3 Protein

HMGB3 protein belongs to the group of HMGB proteins from the superfamily of nuclear proteins with high electrophoretic mobility. HMGB proteins play an active part in almost all cellular processes associated with DNA-repair, replication, recombination, and transcription-and, additionally, can act as cytokines during infectious processes, inflammatory responses, and injuries. Although the structure and functions of HMGB1 and HMGB2 proteins have been intensively studied for decades, very little attention has been paid to HMGB3 until recently. In this review, we summarize the currently available data on the molecular structure, post-translational modifications, and biological functions of HMGB3, as well as the possible role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system-dependent HMGB3 degradation in tumor development.

The role of high mobility group AT-hook 1 in viral infections: Implications for cancer pathogenesis

The crucial role of high mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) proteins in nuclear processes such as gene transcription, DNA replication, and chromatin remodeling is undeniable. Elevated levels of HMGA1 have been associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes and adverse differentiation status across various cancer types. HMGA1 regulates a diverse array of biological pathways, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha/nuclear factor-kappa B (TNF-α/NF-κB), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Hippo, Rat sarcoma/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Ras/ERK), protein kinase B (Akt), wingless-related integration site/beta-catenin (Wnt/beta-catenin), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3-K/Akt). While researchers have extensively investigated tumors in the reproductive, digestive, urinary, and hematopoietic systems, mounting evidence suggests that HMGA1 plays a critical role as a tumorigenic factor in tumors across all functional systems. Given its broad interaction network, HMGA1 is an attractive target for viral manipulation. Some viruses, including herpes simplex virus type 1, human herpesvirus 8, human papillomavirus, JC virus, hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus type 1, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2, and influenza viruses, utilize HMGA1 influence for infection. This interaction, particularly in oncogenesis, is crucial. Apart from the direct oncogenic effect of some of the mentioned viruses, the hit-and-run theory postulates that viruses can instigate cancer even before being completely eradicated from the host cell, implying a potentially greater impact of viruses on cancer development than previously assumed. This review explores the interplay between HMGA1, viruses, and host cellular machinery, aiming to contribute to a deeper understanding of viral-induced oncogenesis, paving the way for innovative strategies in cancer research and treatment.

HMGA2 promotes cancer metastasis by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex physiological process that transforms polarized epithelial cells into moving mesenchymal cells. Dysfunction of EMT promotes the invasion and metastasis of cancer. The architectural transcription factor high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is highly overexpressed in various types of cancer (e.g., colorectal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, uterine leiomyomas) and significantly correlated with poor survival rates. Evidence indicated that HMGA2 overexpression markedly decreased the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin (CDH1) and increased that of vimentin (VIM), Snail, N-cadherin (CDH2), and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) by targeting the transforming growth factor beta/SMAD (TGFβ/SMAD), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and WNT/beta-catenin (WNT/β-catenin) signaling pathways. Furthermore, a new class of non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, circular RNAs, and long non-coding RNAs) plays an essential role in the process of HMGA2-induced metastasis and invasion of cancer by accelerating the EMT process. In this review, we discuss alterations in the expression of HMGA2 in various types of cancer. Furthermore, we highlight the role of HMGA2-induced EMT in promoting tumor growth, migration, and invasion. More importantly, we discuss extensively the mechanism through which HMGA2 regulates the EMT process and invasion in most cancers, including signaling pathways and the interacting RNA signaling axis. Thus, the elucidation of molecular mechanisms that underlie the effects of HMGA2 on cancer invasion and patient survival by mediating EMT may offer new therapeutic methods for preventing cancer progression.

CircHERC1 promotes non-small cell lung cancer cell progression by sequestering FOXO1 in the cytoplasm and regulating the miR-142-3p-HMGB1 axis

BACKGROUND

Noncoding RNAs such as circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abundant in the human body and influence the occurrence and development of various diseases. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common malignant cancers. Information on the functions and mechanism of circRNAs in lung cancer is limited; thus, the topic needs more exploration. The purpose of this study was to identify aberrantly expressed circRNAs in lung cancer, unravel their roles in NSCLC progression, and provide new targets for lung cancer diagnosis and therapy.

METHODS

High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze differential circRNA expression in patients with lung cancer. qRT‒PCR was used to determine the level of circHERC1 in lung cancer tissues and plasma samples. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were implemented to observe the impacts of circHERC1 on the growth, invasion, and metastasis of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, dual luciferase reporter assays, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down experiments were performed to confirm the underlying mechanisms of circHERC1. Nucleocytoplasmic localization of FOXO1 was determined by nucleocytoplasmic isolation and immunofluorescence. The interaction of circHERC1 with FOXO1 was verified by RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and western blot assays. The proliferation and migration of circHERC1 in vivo were verified by subcutaneous and tail vein injection in nude mice.

RESULTS

CircHERC1 was significantly upregulated in lung cancer tissues and cells, ectopic expression of circHERC1 strikingly facilitated the proliferation, invasion and metastasis, and inhibited the apoptosis of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. However, knockdown of circHERC1 exerted the opposite effects. CircHERC1 was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. Further mechanistic research indicated that circHERC1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-142-3p to relieve the repressive effect of miR-142-3p on its target HMGB1, activating the MAPK/ERK and NF-κB pathways and promoting cell migration and invasion. More importantly, we found that circHERC1 could bind FOXO1 and sequester it in the cytoplasm, adjusting the feedback AKT pathway. The accumulation of FOXO1 in the cytosol and nuclear exclusion promoted cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. CircHERC1 is a new circRNA that promotes tumor function in NSCLC and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS

CircHERC1 is a new circRNA that promotes tumor function in NSCLC and may serve as a potential diagnosis biomarker and therapeutic target for NSCLC. Our findings indicate that circHERC1 facilitates the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC cells by regulating the miR-142-3p/HMGB1 axis and activating the MAPK/ERK and NF-κB pathways. In addition, circHERC1 can promote cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis by sequestering FOXO1 in the cytoplasm to regulate AKT activity and BIM transcription.

Expressions of Peptidoglycan Recognition Protein 1, Neuron Towards Axon Guidance Factor-1 and miR-142-3p and Their Correlations in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Purpose

We aimed to explore the expressions of peptidoglycan recognition protein 1 (PGLYRP-1), neuron towards axon guidance factor-1 (Netrin-1) and miR-142-3p and their correlations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients and Methods

Sixty patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated from January 2022 to January 2023 were enrolled as a rheumatoid group, 30 patients with osteoarthritis were selected as an osteoarthritis group, and 30 healthy volunteers were recruited as a control group. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction were employed to measure the expressions of PGLYRP-1, Netrin-1 and miR-142-3p, respectively. The correlations among PGLYRP-1, Netrin-1 and miR-142-3p expressions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis were analyzed.

Results

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, PGLYRP-1 expression was negatively correlated with Netrin-1 expression (r=-0.570, P=0.001) but positively correlated with miR-142-3p expression (r=0.599, P=0.001), and a negative correlation was found between Netrin-1 and miR-142-3p expressions (r=-0.468, P=0.001). The combined detection of PGLYRP-1, Netrin-1 and miR-142-3p was more sensitive and less specific for predicting the prognosis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis than the measurement of a single marker (P<0.05).

Conclusion

The combined measurement of PGLYRP-1, Netrin-1 and miR-142-3p has a predictive value for the prognosis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Identification of markers for predicting prognosis and endocrine metabolism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by miRNA-mRNA network mining and machine learning

Background

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) has a high incidence in Southern China and Asia, and its survival is extremely poor in advanced patients. MiRNAs play critical roles in regulating gene expression and serve as therapeutic targets in cancer. This study sought to disclose key miRNAs and target genes responsible for NPC prognosis and endocrine metabolism.

Materials and methods

Three datasets (GSE32960, GSE70970, and GSE102349) of NPC samples came from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Limma and WGCNA were applied to identify key prognostic miRNAs. There were 12 types of miRNA tools implemented to study potential target genes (mRNAs) of miRNAs. Univariate Cox regression and stepAIC were introduced to construct risk models. Pearson analysis was conducted to analyze the correlation between endocrine metabolism and RiskScore. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), MCP-counter, and ESTIMATE were performed for immune analysis. The response to immunotherapy was predicted by TIDE and SubMap analyses.

Results

Two key miRNAs (miR-142-3p and miR-93) were closely involved in NPC prognosis. The expression of the two miRNAs was dysregulated in NPC cell lines. A total of 125 potential target genes of the key miRNAs were screened, and they were enriched in autophagy and mitophagy pathways. Five target genes (E2F1, KCNJ8, SUCO, HECTD1, and KIF23) were identified to construct a prognostic model, which was used to divide patients into high group and low group. RiskScore was negatively correlated with most endocrine-related genes and pathways. The low-risk group manifested higher immune infiltration, anticancer response, more activated immune-related pathways, and higher response to immunotherapy than the high-risk group.

Conclusions

This study revealed two key miRNAs that were highly contributable to NPC prognosis. We delineated the specific links between key miRNAs and prognostic mRNAs with miRNA-mRNA networks. The effectiveness of the five-gene model in predicting NPC prognosis as well as endocrine metabolism provided a guidance for personalized immunotherapy in NPC patients.

MicroRNA-142-3P suppresses the progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma by targeting FN1 and inactivating FAK/ERK/PI3K signaling

OBJECTIVES

miR-142-3P is a tumor suppressor in various malignant cancers. However, the function of miR-142-3P in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to explore the function and mechanism of miR-142-3P in PTC.

METHODS

Real Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to assess the expression of miR-142-3P and Fibronectin 1 (FN1) in PTC. The correlation between FN1 and miR-142-3P expression was analyzed by Spearman's correlation analysis. Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU) assay, cell migration and invasion assay and wound healing measures evaluated the effect of miR-142-3P and FN1 on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Dural Luciferase reported gene assay evaluated the interaction between miR-142-3P and 3' untranslated region (UTR) of FN1. The Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition (EMT) and apoptosis related marker genes were measured using western blot analysis (WB).

RESULTS

miR-142-3P was significantly decreased in both PTC specimens and relevant cell lines. Functionally, miR-142-3P inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT, and induced the cell apoptosis in PTC. In addition, miR-142-3P bound directly with 3' UTR of FN1 and negatively regulated the expression of FN1 in PTC. FN1 expression is elevated in PTC, and its aberrant high correlated with declines in recurrence-free survival (RFS). Moreover, FN1 promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT, induced cell apoptosis in PTC cells. Depletion of FN1 rescues the effect of miR-142-3P inhibitor on cell proliferation, invasion, apoptosis and EMT via inactivating Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK)/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) / Phosphoinostide 3-kinase (P13K) signaling.

CONCLUSION

miR-142-3P suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT through modulating FN1/FAK/ERK/PI3K signaling in PTC, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target for PTC.

Anti-hsa-miR-59 alleviates premature senescence associated with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome in mice

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a lethal premature aging disorder without an effective therapeutic regimen. Because of their targetability and influence on gene expression, microRNAs (miRNAs) are attractive therapeutic tools to treat diseases. Here we identified that hsa-miR-59 (miR-59) was markedly upregulated in HGPS patient cells and in multiple tissues of an HGPS mouse model (Lmna^G609G/G609G ), which disturbed the interaction between RNAPII and TFIIH, resulting in abnormal expression of cell cycle genes by targeting high-mobility group A family HMGA1 and HMGA2. Functional inhibition of miR-59 alleviated the cellular senescence phenotype of HGPS cells. Treatment with AAV9-mediated anti-miR-59 reduced fibrosis in the quadriceps muscle, heart, and aorta, suppressed epidermal thinning and dermal fat loss, and yielded a 25.5% increase in longevity of Lmna^G609G/G609G mice. These results identify a new strategy for the treatment of HGPS and provide insight into the etiology of HGPS disease.

HMGB3 inhibition by miR-142-3p/sh-RNA modulates autophagy and induces apoptosis via ROS accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction and reduces the tumorigenic potential of human breast cancer cells

AIMS

High mobility group box (HMGB) family proteins, HMGB1, HMGB2, HMGB3, and HMGB4 are oncogenic. The oncogenic nature of HMGB1 is characterized by its association with autophagy, ROS, and MMP. Since HMGB3 is its paralog, we hypothesized that it might also modulate autophagy, ROS, and MMP. Hence, we targeted HMGB3 using its shRNA or miR-142-3p and assessed the changes in autophagy, ROS, MMP, and tumorigenic properties of human breast cancer cells.

MAIN METHODS

Cell viability was assessed by resazurin staining and annexin-V/PI dual staining was used for confirming apoptosis. Colony formation, transwell migration, invasion and luciferase reporter (for miRNA-target validation) assays were also performed. ROS and MMP were detected using DHE and MitoTracker dyes, respectively. A zebrafish xenograft model was used to assess the role of miR-142-3p on in vivo metastatic potential of breast cancer cells.

KEY FINDINGS

Breast cancer tissues from Indian patients and TCGA samples exhibit overexpression of HMGB3. miR-142-3p binds to 3' UTR of HMGB3, leading to its downregulation that subsequently inhibits colony formation and induces apoptosis involving increased ROS accumulation and decreased MMP, phospho-mTOR and STAT3. Our findings show that HMGB3 is directly involved in the miR-142-3p-mediated disruption of autophagy and induction of apoptotic cell death via modulation of LC3, cleaved PARP and Bcl-xL. In addition, miR-142-3p inhibited migration, invasion and metastatic potential of breast cancer cells.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings highlighted the role of HMGB3, for the first time, in the modulation of autophagy and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells, and these results have therapeutic implications.

High Mobility Group Box 1: Biological Functions and Relevance in Oxidative Stress Related Chronic Diseases

In the early 1970s, a group of non-histone nuclear proteins with high electrophoretic mobility was discovered and named high-mobility group (HMG) proteins. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is the most studied HMG protein that detects and coordinates cellular stress response. The biological function of HMGB1 depends on its subcellular localization and expression. It plays a critical role in the nucleus and cytoplasm as DNA chaperone, chromosome gatekeeper, autophagy maintainer, and protector from apoptotic cell death. HMGB1 also functions as an extracellular alarmin acting as a damage-associated molecular pattern molecule (DAMP). Recent findings describe HMGB1 as a sophisticated signal of danger, with a pleiotropic function, which is useful as a clinical biomarker for several disorders. HMGB1 has emerged as a mediator in acute and chronic inflammation. Furthermore, HMGB1 targeting can induce beneficial effects on oxidative stress related diseases. This review focus on HMGB1 redox status, localization, mechanisms of release, binding with receptors, and its activities in different oxidative stress-related chronic diseases. Since a growing number of reports show the key role of HMGB1 in socially relevant pathological conditions, to our knowledge, for the first time, here we analyze the scientific literature, evaluating the number of publications focusing on HMGB1 in humans and animal models, per year, from 2006 to 2021 and the number of records published, yearly, per disease and category (studies on humans and animal models).