Comparative mRNA/micro-RNA co-expression network drives melanomagenesis by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and vasculogenic mimicry signaling

MicroRNA-770 promotes polarization of macrophages and hemorrhoids by suppressing RYBP expression and monoubiquitination of histone H2A on Lys119 modification

Hemorrhoid disease (HD) is a common proctological condition whose onset is associated with an abnormal inflammatory microenvironment; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, pathological examination revealed a significant increase in MΦ1 macrophages in the hemorrhoidal tissue of patients with HD, along with elevated levels of inflammatory factors. qPCR results demonstrated that the expression of several members of the DLK1-DIO3 microRNA cluster, particularly miR-770, was significantly higher in the hemorrhoid tissue of patients with HD than in that of the control group. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that RYBP is a target gene negatively regulated by miR-770. Additionally, qPCR and western blot analyses indicated that overexpression of miR-770 significantly downregulated the expression of PRC1 family genes and RYBP in THP-1 cells, while concurrently upregulating the expression of inflammatory factors such as NFKB, IL1b, IL4, TNF, and IFNG. The overexpression of miR-770 significantly induced the polarization of THP-1 cells toward MΦ1. Mechanistic studies using ChIP-seq revealed that miR-770 overexpression significantly reduced the number of gene promoters in MΦ1 cells that bind to histone H2AK119-Ub sites. Furthermore, the number of enriched DNA fragments from genes that bind to the + 1 transcription start site of histone H2AK119-Ub, such as NFKB1, IL1B, and TNF, was significantly lower than that observed in the control group. Therefore, we confirmed that miR-770, a genomic imprinted member of the DLK1-DIO3 region, negatively regulated the expression of the PRC1 family member RYBP, reduced the level of ubiquitination modification at histone H2AK119-Ub, and promoted the transcriptional activation of pro-inflammatory genes. This ultimately leads to MΦ1 polarization and the release of inflammatory factors, elucidating the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the occurrence of hemorrhoids.

Decoding the Promise and Challenges of miRNA-Based Cancer Therapies: An Essential Update on miR-21, miR-34, and miR-155

MicroRNAs (miRNAs)-based therapies hold great promise for cancer treatment, challenges such as expression variability, off-target effects, and limited clinical effectiveness have led to the withdrawal of many clinical trials. This review investigates the setbacks in miRNA-based therapies by examining miR-21, miR-34, and miR-155, highlighting their functional complexity, off-target effects, and the challenges in delivering these therapies effectively. Moreover, It highlights recent advances in delivery methods, combination therapies, and personalized treatment approaches to overcome these challenges. This review highlights the intricate molecular networks involving miRNAs, particularly their interactions with other non-coding RNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), emphasizing the pivotal role of miRNAs in cancer biology and therapeutic strategies. By addressing these hurdles, this review aims to steer future research toward harnessing the potential of miRNA therapies to target cancer pathways effectively, enhance anti-tumor responses, and ultimately improve patient outcomes in precision cancer therapy.

Skin biophysical parameters and serum dermokine levels in airline pilots: a comparative study with office workers

Introduction

Concerns are growing in the aviation industry about occupational skin diseases like malignant melanoma (MM) among airline pilots (APs), due to the unique working environment that exposes them to various skin stressors.

Aim

To compare five skin biophysical parameters in a group of 40 male APs, each matched in terms of age and service tenure (minimum of 5 years) with a control group of 40 male office workers (OWs). Considering the potential role of dermokine (DMKN) in skin barrier dysfunction and the pathogenesis of MM, we further analyzed the serum levels of this molecule and correlated them with the measured skin parameters.

Material and methods

Stratum corneum skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), sebum content, erythema index (EI), and melanin index (MI) were quantified by non-invasive instruments in the cheek region. Serum DMKN levels were measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

Results

Compared with OWs, the skin of APs exhibited a decrease in hydration levels in the stratum corneum, coinciding with a higher TEWL. However, there was no significant variance in sebum content between the groups. MI was notably higher in APs than in OWs, as was EI. In APs, serum DMKN levels were independently associated with MI (β = 0.56, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

We found a significant link between the profession of an airline pilot and changes in skin biophysical parameters. Further research into the interplay between serum DMKN levels and the risk of MM in APs is warranted.

The important role of miR-770 as a novel potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for human cancer and other diseases

MicroRNA-770 (miR-770) is an RNA gene, located on chromosome 14q32.2. It has important effects on the pathobiology of cancers and other human diseases. It is known to be a tumor suppressor in breast cancer, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, and glioblastoma. In colorectal adenocarcinoma and oral squamous cell carcinoma, miR-770 is regarded as an oncogenic miRNA. In several disorders, miR-770 dysregulation has been recognized as a potential biomarker for disease diagnosis and prognosis. Dysregulation of miR-770 has also been demonstrated in non-malignant human disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, diabetic nephropathy, Hirschsprung's disease, osteoarthritis, silicosis, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the current review, we have obtained the miR-770 target genes, ontology, and related pathways. We have also provided a comprehensive review of miR-770 in both malignant and non-malignant disorders and explained its possible therapeutic implications.

Dermokine mutations contribute to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and advanced melanoma through ERK/MAPK pathways

To discover vulnerabilities associated with dermokine (DMKN) as a new trigger of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) -driven melanoma, we undertook a genome-wide genetic screening using transgenic. Here, we showed that DMKN expression could be constitutively increased in human malignant melanoma (MM) and that this correlates with poor overall survival in melanoma patients, especially in BRAF-mutated MM samples. Furthermore, in vitro, knockdown of DMKN inhibited the cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of MM cancer cells by the activation of ERK/MAPK signaling pathways and regulator of STAT3 in downstream molecular. By interrogating the in vitro melanoma dataset and characterization of advanced melanoma samples, we found that DMKN downregulated the EMT-like transcriptional program by disrupting EMT cortical actin, increasing the expression of epithelial markers, and decreasing the expression of mesenchymal markers. In addition, whole exome sequencing was presented with p.E69D and p.V91A DMKN mutations as a novel somatic loss of function mutations in those patients. Moreover, our purposeful proof-of-principle modeled the interaction of ERK with p.E69D and p.V91A DMKN mutations in the ERK-MAPK kinas signaling that may be naturally associated with triggering the EMT during melanomagenesis. Altogether, these findings provide preclinical evidence for the role of DMKN in shaping the EMT-like melanoma phenotype and introduced DMKN as a new exceptional responder for personalized MM therapy.

The p110α/ΔNp63α complex mutations in triple-negative breast cancer: Potential targets for transcriptional-based therapies

BACKGROUND

Hotspot mutations occurring in the p110α domain of the PIK3CA gene, specifically p110αH1047R/L increase tumor metastasis and cell motility in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). These mutations also affect the transcriptional regulation of ΔNp63α, a significant isoform of the p53 protein involved in cancer progression. This study attempts to investigate the transcriptional impact of p110αH1047R/L mutations on the PIK3CA/ΔNp63α complex in TNBC carcinogenesis.

METHODS

We performed site-directed mutagenesis to introduce p110αH1047R/L mutations and evaluated their oncogenic effects on the growth, invasion, migration, and apoptosis of three different TNBC cell lines in vitro. We investigated the impact of these mutations on the p110α/ΔNp63α complex and downstream transcriptional signaling pathways at the gene and protein levels. Additionally, we used bioinformatics techniques such as molecular dynamics simulations and protein-protein docking to gain insight into the stability and structural changes induced by the p110αH1047R/L mutations in the p110α/ΔNp63α complex and downstream signaling pathway.

RESULTS

The presence of PIK3CA oncogenic hotspot mutations in the p110α/ΔNp63α complex led to increased scattering of TNBC cells during growth, migration, and invasion. Our in vitro mutagenesis assay showed that the p110αH1047R/L mutations activated the PI3K-Akt-mTOR and tyrosine kinase receptor pathways, resulting in increased cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis in TNBC cells. These mutations decreased the repressing effect of ΔNp63α on the p110α kinase domain, leading to the enhancement of downstream signaling pathways of PI3K and tyrosine kinase receptors and oncogenic transformation in TNBC. Additionally, our findings suggest that the physical interaction between the DNA binding domain of ΔNp63α and the kinase domain of p110α may be partially impaired, potentially leading to alterations in the conformation of the p110α/ΔNp63α complex.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that targeting the p110αH1047R/L mutations in TNBC could be a promising strategy for developing transcriptional-based therapies. Restoring the interaction between ΔNp63α and the p110α kinase domain, which is disrupted by these mutations, may provide a new approach to treating TNBC.

Physicochemical aspects of the tumour microenvironment as drivers of vasculogenic mimicry

Tumour vascularisation is vital for cancer sustainment representing not only the main source of nutrients and oxygen supply but also an escape route for single or clustered cancer cells that, once detached from the primary mass, enter the blood circulation and disseminate to distant organs. Among the mechanisms identified to contribute to tumour vascularisation, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is gaining increasing interest in the scientific community representing an intriguing target for cancer treatment. VM indeed associates with highly aggressive tumour phenotypes and strongly impairs patient outcomes. Differently from vessels of healthy tissues, tumour vasculature is extremely heterogeneous and tortuous, impeding efficient chemotherapy delivery, and at the meantime hyperpermeable and thus extremely accessible to metastasising cancer cells. Moreover, tumour vessel disorganisation creates a self-reinforcing vicious circle fuelling cancer malignancy and progression. Because of the inefficient oxygen delivery and metabolic waste removal from tumour vessels, many cells within the tumour mass indeed experience hypoxia and acidosis, now considered hallmarks of cancer. Being strong inducers of vascularisation, therapy resistance, inflammation and metastasis, hypoxia and acidosis create a permissive microenvironment for cancer progression and dissemination. Along with these considerations, we decided to focus our attention on the relationship between hypoxia/acidosis and VM. Indeed, besides tumour angiogenesis, VM is strongly influenced by both hypoxia and acidosis, which could potentiate each other and fuel this vicious circle. Thus, targeting hypoxia and acidosis may represent a potential target to treat VM to impair tumour perfusion and cancer cell sustainment.