miR-96 enhances the proliferation of cervical cancer cells by targeting FOXO1

A comprehensive review on the functional role of miRNA clusters in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) poses a significant health threat in women globally. MicroRNA clusters (MCs), comprising multiple miRNA-encoding genes, are pivotal in gene regulation. Various factors, including circular RNA and DNA methylation, govern MC expression. Dysregulated MC expression correlates strongly with CC development via promoting the acquisition of cancer hallmarks. Certain MCs show promise for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy selection due to their distinct expression patterns in normal, premalignant and tumor tissues. This review explains the regulation and biological functions of MCs and highlights the clinical relevance of abnormal MC expression in CC.

MicroRNAs as the critical regulators of Forkhead box protein family during gynecological and breast tumor progression and metastasis

Gynecological and breast tumors are one of the main causes of cancer-related mortalities among women. Despite recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic methods, tumor relapse is observed in a high percentage of these patients due to the treatment failure. Late diagnosis in advanced tumor stages is one of the main reasons for the treatment failure and recurrence in these tumors. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the molecular mechanisms involved in progression of these tumors to introduce the efficient early diagnostic markers. Fokhead Box (FOX) is a family of transcription factors with a key role in regulation of a wide variety of cellular mechanisms. Deregulation of FOX proteins has been observed in different cancers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as a group of non-coding RNAs have important roles in post-transcriptional regulation of the genes involved in cellular mechanisms. They are also the non-invasive diagnostic markers due to their high stability in body fluids. Considering the importance of FOX proteins in the progression of breast and gynecological tumors, we investigated the role of miRNAs in regulation of the FOX proteins in these tumors. MicroRNAs were mainly involved in progression of these tumors through FOXM, FOXP, and FOXO. The present review paves the way to suggest a non-invasive diagnostic panel marker based on the miRNAs/FOX axis in breast and gynecological cancers.

MicroRNAs as master regulators of FOXO transcription factors in cancer management

MicroRNAs are critical regulators of the plethora of genes, including FOXO "forkhead" dependent transcription factors, which are bonafide tumour suppressors. The FOXO family members modulate a hub of cellular processes like apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, differentiation, ROS detoxification, and longevity. Aberrant expression of FOXOs in human cancers has been observed due to their down-regulation by diverse microRNAs, which are predominantly involved in tumour initiation, chemo-resistance and tumour progression. Chemo-resistance is a major obstacle in cancer treatment. Over 90% of casualties in cancer patients are reportedly associated with chemo-resistance. Here, we have primarily discussed the structure, functions of FOXO and also their post-translational modifications which influence the activities of these FOXO family members. Further, we have addressed the role of microRNAs in carcinogenesis by regulating the FOXOs at post-transcriptional level. Therefore, microRNAs-FOXO axis can be exploited as a novel cancer therapy. The administration of microRNA-based cancer therapy is likely to be beneficial to curb chemo-resistance in cancers.

Self-assembled DNA nanostructure containing oncogenic miRNA-mediated cell proliferation by downregulation of FOXO1 expression

FOXO1 transcription factor not only limits the cell cycle progression but also promotes cell death as a tumor suppressor protein. Though the expression of FOXO1 is largely examined in breast cancer, the regulation of FOXO1 by miRNA is yet to be explored. In the current study, self-assembled branched DNA (bDNA) nanostructures containing oncogenic miRNAs were designed and transfected to the MCF7 cell line to decipher the FOXO1 expression. bDNA containing oncogenic miRNAs 27a, 96, and 182 synergistically downregulate the expression of FOXO1 in MCF7 cells. The down-regulation is evident both in mRNA and protein levels suggesting that bDNA having miRNA sequences can selectively bind to mRNA and inhibit translation. Secondly, the downstream gene expression of p21 and p27 was also significantly downregulated in presence of miR-bDNA nanostructures. The cell proliferation activity was progressively increased in presence of miR-bDNA nanostructures which confirms the reduced tumor suppression activity of FOXO1 and the downstream gene expression. This finding can be explored to design novel bDNA structures which can downregulate the tumor suppressor proteins in normal cells and induce cell proliferation activity to identify early-phase markers of cancer.

ox-LDL regulates proliferation and apoptosis in VSMCs by controlling the miR-183-5p/FOXO1

BACKGROUND

microRNA-mRNA axes that are involved in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation/apoptosis imbalance need to be further investigated.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the functional role of miR-183-5p/FOXO1 in VSMCs and its interaction with ox-LDL.

METHODS

RNA sequencing was used to detect transcriptome changes of VSMCs treated with ox-LDL. miR-183-5p and FOXO1 expression levels in VSMCs after ox-LDL treatment were assessed using qRT-PCR and western blotting. The regulatory effect of miR-183-5p on FOXO1 has been tried to prove using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. The functions of miR-183-5p, and FOXO1 were analyzed by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry assay. The tissue samples or serum samples of high fat-feeding mice and carotid atherosclerosis patients were collected, and the levels of miR-183-5p/FOXO1 were analyzed.

RESULTS

RNA sequencing data showed 81 miRNAs including miR-183-5p was significantly changed after ox-LDL treatment in VSMCs. FOXO1, a miR-183-5p's potential target, was also down-regulated in ox-LDL treated cells. qRT-PCR and western blot found that expression of FOXO1 mRNA and protein significantly reduced in VSMCs treated with ox-LDL, accompanied by overexpression of miR-183-5p. miR-183-5p inhibited FOXO1 mRNA by binding to its 3' UTR. Interference miR-183-5p/FOXO1 could change proliferation/apoptosis imbalance in VSMCs under ox-LDL stimulation. Higher levels of miR-183-5p but reduced FOXO1 can be found in the thoracic aorta tissues of high fat-feeding mice. In serum samples from individuals with carotid atherosclerosis, Higher levels of miR-183-5p were observed. the miR-183-5p level was positively related to the level of serum ox-LDL in patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Aberrant expression of miR-183-5p/FOXO1 pathway mediated ox-LDL-induced proliferation/apoptosis imbalance in VSMCs. The miR-183-5p/FOXO1 axis can potentially be utilized as the target in the treatment of patients with atherosclerosis.

The LOXL1 antisense RNA 1 (LOXL1-AS1)/microRNA-423-5p (miR-423-5p)/ectodermal-neural cortex 1 (ENC1) axis promotes cervical cancer through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway

As the fourth commonest malignancy among females worldwide, cervical cancer (CC) poses a huge challenge to human health. The pivotal regulatory roles of lncRNAs in cancers have been highlighted. LOXL1 antisense RNA 1 (LOXL1-AS1) has been reported to play a key role in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and other various cancers. Thus, we investigated the roles and mechanisms of lncRNA LOXL1-AS1 in CC. The in vivo experiments demonstrated that LOXL1-AS1 downregulation inhibited tumor growth and metastasis and proliferation of CC cells. The results of RT-qPCR demonstrated that LOXL1-AS1 and ectodermal-neural cortex 1 (ENC1) expression levels were upregulated in CC cells and tissues, while microRNA-423-5p (miR-423-5p) level was downregulated. As subcellular fractionation assays, RNA pull down assays and luciferase reporter assays revealed, LOXL1-AS1 bound to miR-423-5p and miR-423-5p targeted ENC1. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, wound healing and colony formation assays demonstrated that miR-423-5p upregulation and LOXL1-AS1 downregulation inhibited CC cell proliferation and migration, while ENC1 upregulation attenuated the inhibitory effects of miR-423-5p upregulation on the malignant phenotypes of CC cells. Western blotting was conducted to measure protein levels and the results showed that ENC1 knockdown inhibited the activation of ERK/MEK pathway. In summary, the LOXL1-AS1/miR-423-5p/ENC1 axis accelerates CC development through the MEK/ERK pathway.

MicroRNA-96: A therapeutic and diagnostic tumor marker

Cancer has been always considered as one of the main human health challenges worldwide. One of the main causes of cancer-related mortality is late diagnosis in the advanced stages of the disease, which reduces the therapeutic efficiency. Therefore, novel non-invasive diagnostic methods are required for the early detection of tumors and improving the quality of life and survival in cancer patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have pivotal roles in various cellular processes such as cell proliferation, motility, and neoplastic transformation. Since circulating miRNAs have high stability in body fluids, they can be suggested as efficient noninvasive tumor markers. MiR-96 belongs to the miR-183-96-182 cluster that regulates cell migration and tumor progression as an oncogene or tumor suppressor by targeting various genes in solid tumors. In the present review, we have summarized all of the studies that assessed the role of miR-96 during tumor progression. This review clarifies the molecular mechanisms and target genes recruited by miR-96 to regulate tumor progression and metastasis. It was observed that miR-96 mainly affects tumorigenesis by targeting the structural proteins and FOXO transcription factors.

lncRNA-SNHG14 Plays a Role in Acute Lung Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide through Regulating Autophagy via miR-223-3p/Foxo3a

lncRNAs play important roles in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced acute lung injury. But the mechanism still needs further research. In the present study, we investigate the functional role of the lncRNA-SNHG14/miR-223-3p/Foxo3a pathway in LPS-induced ALI and tried to confirm its regulatory effect on autophagy. Transcriptomic profile changes were identified by RNA-seq in LPS-treated alveolar type II epithelial cells. The expression changes of lncRNA-SNHG14/miR-223-3p/Foxo3a were confirmed using qRT-PCR and west blot. The binding relationship of lncRNA-SNHG14/miR-223-3p/and miR-223-3p/Foxo3a was verified using dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down assays. Using gain-of-function or loss-of-function approaches, the effect of lncRNA-SNHG14/miR-223-3p/Foxo3a was investigated in LPS-induced acute lung injury mice model and in vitro. Increasing of lncRNA-SNHG14 and Foxo3a with reducing miR-223-3p was found in LPS-treated A549 cells and lung tissue collected from the LPS-induced ALI model. lncRNA-SNHG14 inhibited miR-223-3p but promoted Foxo3a expression as a ceRNA. Artificially changes of lncRNA-SNHG14/miR-223-3p/Foxo3a pathway promoted or protected cell injury from LPS in vivo and in vitro. Autophagy activity could be influenced by lncRNA-SNHG14/miR-223-3p/Foxo3a pathway in cells with or without LPS treatment. In conclusion, aberrant expression changes of lncRNA-SNHG14 participated alveolar type II epithelial cell injury and acute lung injury induced by LPS through regulating autophagy. One underlying mechanism is that lncRNA-SNHG14 regulated autophagy by controlling miR-223-3p/Foxo3a as a ceRNA. It suggested that lncRNA-SNHG14 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for patients with sepsis-induced ALI.

LncRNA LINC00342 contributes to the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer via targeting miR-19a-3p/NPEPL1 axis

Background

Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 00342 (LINC00342) has been identified as a novel oncogene. However, the functional role of LINC00342 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear.

Methods

The expression of LINC00342 is detected by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analysis. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion and xenograft model are examined to analyze the biological functions of LINC00342 in vitro and in vivo using colony formation, would healing and transwell analyses. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays are used to identify the target interactions between LINC00342, miR-19a-3p and aminopeptidase like 1 (NPEPL1).

Results

LINC00342 was highly expressed in CRC. Down-regulation of LINC00342 inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells. Moreover, knocking down LINC00342 inhibited the tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistic investigation revealed that LINC00342 might sponge miR-19a-3p to regulate NPEPL1 expression. Further investigation indicated that the ontogenesis facilitated by LINC00342 was inhibited due to the depletion of NPEPL1.

Conclusion

LINC00342 promotes CRC progression by competitively binding miR-19a-3p with NPEPL1.

Application of an Autophagy-Related Gene Prognostic Risk Model Based on TCGA Database in Cervical Cancer

Background: Autophagy plays an important role in the development of cancer. However, the prognostic value of autophagy-related genes (ARGs) in cervical cancer (CC) is unclear. The purpose of this study is to construct a survival model for predicting the prognosis of CC patients based on ARG signature.

Methods: ARGs were obtained from the Human Autophagy Database and Molecular Signatures Database. The expression profiles of ARGs and clinical data were downloaded from the TCGA database. Differential expression analysis of CC tissues and normal tissues was performed using R software to screen out ARGs with an aberrant expression. Univariate Cox, Lasso, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to construct a prognostic model which was validated by using the test set and the entire set. We also performed an independent prognostic analysis of risk score and some clinicopathological factors of CC. Finally, a clinical practical nomogram was established to predict individual survival probability.

Results: Compared with normal tissues, there were 63 ARGs with an aberrant expression in CC tissues. A risk model based on 3 ARGs was finally obtained by Lasso and Cox regression analysis. Patients with high risk had significantly shorter overall survival (OS) than low-risk patients in both train set and validation set. The ROC curve validated its good performance in survival prediction, suggesting that this model has a certain extent sensitivity and specificity. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor. Finally, we mapped a nomogram to predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival for CC patients. The calibration curves indicated that the model was reliable.

Conclusion: A risk prediction model based on CHMP4C, FOXO1, and RRAGB was successfully constructed, which could effectively predict the prognosis of CC patients. This model can provide a reference for CC patients to make precise treatment strategy.

miR-96-5p attenuates malathion-induced apoptosis of human kidney cells by targeting the ER stress marker DDIT3

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are major players in cellular responses to xenobiotic compounds and toxins. However, their functions in organophosphate-induced cytotoxicity remain unclear. This study investigated the involvement of miR-96-5p in the non-cholinergic toxicity of malathion in normal human kidney cells (HK-2 cells). Malathion decreased HK-2 cell viability and the expression of miR-96-5p in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, transfection with miR-96-5p mimics attenuated malathion-induced HK-2 cell apoptosis, whereas transfection with a miR-96-5p inhibitor increased HK-2 cell apoptosis. Luciferase assays indicated that miR-96-5p could bind directly to the 3'-untranslated region of DDIT3, a well-known marker of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Further analyses of the expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins indicated that miR-96-5p may function to reduce malathion-induced HK-2 cell apoptosis via regulation of the DDIT3/B-cell lymphoma (BCL)-2/caspase-3 signaling pathway. In summary, the results of the present study indicate that miR-96-5p protects HK-2 cells from malathion-induced ER stress-dependent apoptosis by targeting DDIT3.