Regulation of LOXL2 and SERPINH1 by antitumor microRNA-29a in lung cancer with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Mechanical signatures in cancer metastasis

The cancer metastatic cascade includes a series of mechanical barrier-crossing events, involving the physical movement of cancer cells from their primary location to a distant organ. This review describes the physical changes that influence tumour proliferation, progression, and metastasis. We identify potential mechanical signatures at every step of the metastatic cascade and discuss some latest mechanobiology-based therapeutic interventions to highlight the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Targeting HSP47 for cancer treatment

Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) serves as an endoplasmic reticulum residing collagen-specific chaperone and plays an important role in collagen biosynthesis and structural assembly. HSP47 is encoded by the SERPINH1 gene, which is located on chromosome 11q13.5, one of the most frequently amplified regions in human cancers. The expression of HSP47 is regulated by multiple cellular factors, including cytokines, transcription factors, microRNAs, and circular RNAs. HSP47 is frequently upregulated in a variety of cancers and plays an important role in tumor progression. HSP47 promotes tumor stemness, angiogenesis, growth, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and metastatic capacity. HSP47 also regulates the efficacy of tumor therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Inhibition of HSP47 expression has antitumor effects, suggesting that targeting HSP47 is a feasible strategy for cancer treatment. In this review, we highlight the function and expression of regulatory mechanisms of HSP47 in cancer progression and point out the potential development of therapeutic strategies in targeting HSP47 in the future.

HSP47 in human diseases: Navigating pathophysiology, diagnosis and therapy

Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) is a chaperone protein responsible for regulating collagen maturation and transport, directly impacting collagen synthesis levels. Aberrant HSP47 expression or malfunction has been associated with collagen-related disorders, most notably fibrosis. Recent reports have uncovered new functions of HSP47 in various cellular processes. Hsp47 dysregulation in these alternative roles has been linked to various diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders, thereby highlighting its potential as both a diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiological roles of HSP47 in human diseases, its potential as a diagnostic tool, clinical screening techniques and its role as a target for therapeutic interventions.

Alteration of SERPINH1 is associated with elevated expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and its clinicopathological significance

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and contributes significantly to the burden of disease in South Asia, partially due to the lack of effective screening strategies. Identifying essential biomarkers is crucial for improved prognosis and treatment. This study investigates the potential of SERPINH1 as a prognostic marker in HNSCC, highlighting its significance amidst the molecular complexity.

METHODS

The Cancer Genome Atlas HNSCC cohort, comprised of 520 tumors and 44 normal tissues, was analyzed using cBioportal, UALCAN, and Protein atlas tools. Expression patterns, survival outcomes, and clinical correlations of SERPINH1 were evaluated. In-depth analyses involved oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patient samples, protein expression, and functional exploration using various in-silico tools.

RESULTS

SERPINH1 exhibited significant alteration and upregulation in HNSCC and OSCC, indicating its pan-cancer potential. Immunohistochemistry confirmed its overexpression in primary HNSCC tumors. Association analyses linked altered SERPINH1 levels with tumor stage, grade, metastasis, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, and patient prognosis. Functional analyses unveiled SERPINH1's involvement in critical cellular pathways and interactions with various proteins.

CONCLUSION

The significant alteration of SERPINH1 associated with upregulated expression in HNSCC and OSCC positions it as a promising diagnostic and prognostic marker. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, paving the way for targeted therapeutic interventions and continued exploration of various malignancies.

SERPINH1 promoted the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer by activating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Serpin peptidase inhibitor clade H member 1 (SERPINH1) was initially recognized as an oncogene implicated in various human malignancies. Nevertheless, the clinical relevance and functional implications of SERPINH1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain largely elusive.

AIM

To investigate the effects of SERPINH1 on CRC cells and its specific mechanism.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting analysis, The Cancer Genome Atlas data mining and immunohistochemistry were employed to examine SERPINH1 expression in CRC cell lines and tissues. A series of in-vitro assays were performed to demonstrate the function of SERPINH1 and its possible mechanisms in CRC.

RESULTS

SERPINH1 demonstrated elevated expression levels in both CRC cells and tissues, manifested at both mRNA and protein tiers. Elevated SERPINH1 levels correlated closely with advanced T stage, lymph node involvement, and distant metastasis, exhibiting a significant association with poorer overall survival among CRC patients. Subsequent investigations unveiled that SERPINH1 overexpression notably bolstered CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in vitro, while conversely, SERPINH1 knockdown elicited the opposite effects. Gene set enrichment analysis underscored a correlation between SERPINH1 upregulation and genes associated with cell cycle regulation. Our findings underscored the capacity of heightened SERPINH1 levels to expedite G1/S phase cell cycle progression via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway activation, thereby facilitating CRC cell invasion and migration.

CONCLUSION

These findings imply a crucial involvement of SERPINH1 in the advancement and escalation of CRC, potentially positioning it as a novel candidate for prognostic assessment and therapeutic intervention in CRC management.

Serpin family H member 1 and its related collagen gene network are the potential prognostic biomarkers and anticancer targets for glioma

Serpin family H member 1 (SERPINH1) is responsible for encoding the protein known as heat shock protein 47, which functions as a molecular chaperone specific to collagen (COL). This protein has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for COL-related disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of SERPINH1 in the tumorigenicity of gliomas. To achieve this, we utilized various bioinformatics tools to analyze gene expression, overall survival, protein-protein interactions, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas database revealed that SERPINH1 and four COL family members (COL1A1, COL3A1, COL4A1, and COL4A2) expression are significantly upregulated in glioma tissues compared with normal nontumor tissues. GO, KEGG, and GSEA analyses exhibited that SERPINH1 is implicated in the establishment and degradation of COL-containing extracellular matrix (ECM), focal adhesion, and ECM-receptor interaction in glioma. SERPINH1 is an independent prognostic factor, exhibiting a positive association with the augmentation of neutrophils and macrophages, as well as the manifestation of immune checkpoint molecules within glioma. Experimental assessments conducted both in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that the suppression of SERPINH1 impeded the migratory, invasive, and proliferative capacities of glioma cells, while concurrently fostering cellular apoptosis. Consequently, SERPINH1 emerges as an oncogenic gene and an independent prognostic marker for glioma, potentially facilitating the advancement of immunotherapeutic interventions for the treatment of glioma.

Translational Studies Reveal the Divergent Effects of Simtuzumab Targeting LOXL2 in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

The composition of extracellular matrix (ECM) is altered during pathologic scarring in damaged organs including the lung. One major change in the ECM involves the cross-linking of collagen, which promotes fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation. We examined the role of lysyl oxidase (LOX)-like 2 in lung progenitors and fibroblasts cultured from normal or IPF lung samples and in a humanized mouse model of IPF using a monoclonal antibody (Simtuzumab). Primary lung fibroblasts from normal donor lungs and IPF lung explants were examined for expression of LOXL2. Targeting LOXL2 with Simtuzumab on normal and IPF fibroblasts was examined both in vitro and in vivo for synthetic, functional, and profibrotic properties. LOXL2 was increased at transcript and protein level in IPF compared with normal lung samples. In a dose-dependent manner, Simtuzumab enhanced differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. Inhibition of LOXL2 also enhanced fibroblast invasion and accelerated the outgrowth of fibroblasts from dissociated human lung cell preparations. Finally, preventative or delayed delivery of Simtuzumab enhanced lung fibrosis in a humanized mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis. Consistent with its failure in a Phase 2 clinical trial, Simtuzumab exhibited no therapeutic efficacy in translational in vitro and in vivo assays.

Construction of a prognostic model for lung adenocarcinoma based on heat shock protein-related genes and immune analysis

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) represents a prevalent form of cancer, with low early diagnosis rates and high mortality rates, posing a global health challenge. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) assume a crucial role within the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) of LUAD. Here, a collection of 97 HSP-related genes (HSPGs) was assembled based on prior literature reports, of which 36 HSPGs were differentially expressed in LUAD. In The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort, we constructed a prognostic model for risk stratification and prognosis prediction by integrating 13 HSPGs. In addition, the prognostic significance and predictive efficacy of the HSP-related riskscore were examined and validated in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohort. To facilitate the clinical use of this riskscore, we also established a nomogram scale by verifying its effectiveness through different methods. In light of these outcomes, we concluded a significant correlation between HSPs and TME in LUAD, and the riskscore can be a reliable prognostic indicator. Furthermore, this study evaluated the differences in immunophenoscore, tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion score, and sensitivity to several common chemotherapy drugs among LUAD individuals in different risk groups, which may aid in clinical decision-making for immune therapy and chemotherapy in LUAD individuals.

Epigenetic hallmarks in pulmonary fibrosis: New advances and perspectives

Epigenetics indicates that certain phenotypes of an organism can undergo heritable changes in the absence of changes in the genetic DNA sequence. Many studies have shown that epigenetic patterns play an important role in the lung and lung diseases. Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is also a type of lung disease. PF is an end-stage change of a large group of lung diseases, characterized by fibroblast proliferation and massive accumulation of extracellular matrix, accompanied by inflammatory injury and histological destruction, that is, structural abnormalities caused by abnormal repair of normal alveolar tissue. It causes loss of lung function in patients with multiple complex diseases, leading to respiratory failure and subsequent death. However, current treatment options for IPF are very limited and no drugs have been shown to significantly prolong the survival of patients. Therefore, based on a systematic understanding of the disease mechanisms of PF, this review integrates the role of epigenetics in the development and course of PF, describes preventive and potential therapeutic targets for PF, and provides a theoretical basis for further exploration of the mechanisms of PF.

Identification of hub genes and microRNAs with prognostic values in esophageal cancer by integrated analysis

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the eighth most common cancer in the world, and the sixth most common cause of cancer-related mortality. The aim of the present study was to identify cell and molecular mechanisms involved in EC, and to provide the potential targets for diagnosis and treatment. Here, a microarray dataset (GSE20347) was screened to find differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Different bioinformatic methods were used to analyze the identified DEGs. The up-regulated DEGs were significantly involved in different biological processes and pathways including extracellular matrix organization and ECM-receptor interaction. FN1, CDK1, AURKA, TOP2A, FOXM1, BIRC5, CDC6, UBE2C, TTK, and TPX2 were identified as the most important genes among the up-regulated DEGs. Our analysis showed that has-miR-29a-3p, has-miR-29b-3p, has-miR-29c-3p, and has-miR-767-5p had the largest number of common targets among the up-regulated DEGs. These findings strengthen the understanding of EC development and progression, as well as representing potential markers for EC diagnosis and treatment.

HSP47: A Therapeutic Target in Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease characterized by a progressive decline in lung function and poor prognosis. The deposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by myofibroblasts contributes to the stiffening of lung tissue and impaired oxygen exchange in IPF. Type I collagen is the major ECM component and predominant collagen protein deposited in chronic fibrosis, suggesting that type I collagen could be a target of drugs for fibrosis treatment. Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47), encoded by the serpin peptidase inhibitor clade H, member 1 gene, is a stress-inducible collagen-binding protein. It is an endoplasmic reticulum-resident molecular chaperone essential for the correct folding of procollagen. HSP47 expression is increased in cellular and animal models of pulmonary fibrosis and correlates with pathological manifestations in human interstitial lung diseases. Various factors affect HSP47 expression directly or indirectly in pulmonary fibrosis models. Overall, understanding the relationship between HSP47 expression and pulmonary fibrosis may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Tumor matrix stiffness provides fertile soil for cancer stem cells

Matrix stiffness is a mechanical characteristic of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that increases from the tumor core to the tumor periphery in a gradient pattern in a variety of solid tumors and can promote proliferation, invasion, metastasis, drug resistance, and recurrence. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a rare subpopulation of tumor cells with self-renewal, asymmetric cell division, and differentiation capabilities. CSCs are thought to be responsible for metastasis, tumor recurrence, chemotherapy resistance, and consequently poor clinical outcomes. Evidence suggests that matrix stiffness can activate receptors and mechanosensor/mechanoregulator proteins such as integrin, FAK, and YAP, modulating the characteristics of tumor cells as well as CSCs through different molecular signaling pathways. A deeper understanding of the effect of matrix stiffness on CSCs characteristics could lead to development of innovative cancer therapies. In this review, we discuss how the stiffness of the ECM is sensed by the cells and how the cells respond to this environmental change as well as the effect of matrix stiffness on CSCs characteristics and also the key malignant processes such as proliferation and EMT. Then, we specifically focus on how increased matrix stiffness affects CSCs in breast, lung, liver, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. We also discuss how the molecules responsible for increased matrix stiffness and the signaling pathways activated by the enhanced stiffness can be manipulated as a therapeutic strategy for cancer.

Prognostic analysis of lung adenocarcinoma based on cancer-associated fibroblasts genes using scRNA-sequencing

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are an important component of the tumor microenvironment (TME). CAFs can promote tumor occurrence and metastasis by promoting cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and drug resistance. Nevertheless, how CAFs are related to Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has not yet been revealed, especially since the CAFs-related prediction model has yet to be established. We combined Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and Bulk-RNA data to develop a predictive model of 8 CAFs-associated genes. Our model predicted LUAD prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy. TME, mutation landscape and drug sensitivity differences were also systematically analyzed between the LUAD patients of high- and low-risk. Moreover, the model prognostic performance was validated in four independent validation cohorts in the Gene expression omnibus (GEO) and the IMvigor210 immunotherapy cohort.

Hub gene target of glioblastoma: LOX, SERPINH1 and TGFBI

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant tumor. The long-term prognosis of the patients is poor. Therefore, it is of important clinical value to further explore the pathogenesis and look for molecular markers for early diagnosis and targeted treatment. Two expression profiling datasets [GSE50161 (GPL570 platform), GSE116520 (GPL10558 platform)] were respectively downloaded from the gene expression omnibus database. Volcano diagrams show the Differently expressed genes (DEGs) of GSE50161 and GSE116520. A Venn diagram revealed 467 common DEGs between the 2 datasets. Lysyl oxidase (LOX), serpin family H member 1 (SERPINH1) and transforming growth factor beta induced (TGFBI) were negatively correlated with the overall survival rate in patients with GBM. The hub genes are high in GBM tumor tissues. The relative expression levels of LOX, SERPINH1 and TGFBI were significantly higher in GBM samples, compared with the normal brain tissues groups. Bioinformatics technology could be a useful tool to predict progression of GBM and to explore the mechanism of GBM.LOX, SERPINH1 and TGFBI may be involved in the mechanism of the occurrence and development of GBM, and may be used as molecular targets for early diagnosis and specific treatment. DEGs identified using GEO2R. Functional annotation of DEGs using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and gene body pathway enrichment analysis. Construction of a protein-protein interaction network. The pathway and process enrichment analysis of the hub genes were performed by Metascape. Survival analysis was performed in gene expression profiling interactive analysis. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was performed to verify. The animal model was established for western blot test analysis.

Long noncoding RNA HCP5 promotes osteosarcoma cell proliferation, invasion, and migration via the miR-29b-3p-LOXL2 axis

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the second most common primary malignant bone tumors in adolescents that causes cancer-related deaths. Previous studies have confirmed the promoting role of lncRNA HCP5 in the development of OS, but the specific mechanism is still not well understood. MiRNA levels were measured via RT-qPCR and protein expression was detected via western blotting. Cell proliferation was analyzed by CCK-8 assays and colony formations assay were conducted to measure colony formation ability. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to detect the targeting relationship between HCP5 and miR-29b-3p, and between miR-29b-3p and LOXL2. Wound healing assays and Transwell assays were conducted to verify the migration and invasion abilities of OS cells. Correlations between the levels of HCP5 and miR-29b-3p, and between miR-29b-3p and LOXL2 were determined by Pearson correlation coefficient analysis. MiR-29b-3p expression was decreased and HCP5 and LOXL2 levels were increased in OS tissues and cell lines. MiR-29b-3p could directly act on LOXL2 and knockdown of LOXL2 restrained the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OS cells. Moreover, transfection with sh-HCP5-1 and sh-HCP5-2 suppressed the malignant biological behavior of OS cells. HCP5 directly targeted miR-29b-3p, and promoted OS proliferation, migration, and invasion via the miR-29b-3p/LOXL2 axis. The lncRNA HCP5 may upregulate LOXL2 expression by targeting miR-29b-3p, thereby promoting OS proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Identifying General Tumor and Specific Lung Cancer Biomarkers by Transcriptomic Analysis

The bioinformatic pipeline previously developed in our research laboratory is used to identify potential general and specific deregulated tumor genes and transcription factors related to the establishment and progression of tumoral diseases, now comparing lung cancer with other two types of cancer. Twenty microarray datasets were selected and analyzed separately to identify hub differentiated expressed genes and compared to identify all the deregulated genes and transcription factors in common between the three types of cancer and those unique to lung cancer. The winning DEGs analysis allowed to identify an important number of TFs deregulated in the majority of microarray datasets, which can become key biomarkers of general tumors and specific to lung cancer. A coexpression network was constructed for every dataset with all deregulated genes associated with lung cancer, according to DAVID’s tool enrichment analysis, and transcription factors capable of regulating them, according to oPOSSUM´s tool. Several genes and transcription factors are coexpressed in the networks, suggesting that they could be related to the establishment or progression of the tumoral pathology in any tissue and specifically in the lung. The comparison of the coexpression networks of lung cancer and other types of cancer allowed the identification of common connectivity patterns with deregulated genes and transcription factors correlated to important tumoral processes and signaling pathways that have not been studied yet to experimentally validate their role in lung cancer. The Kaplan–Meier estimator determined the association of thirteen deregulated top winning transcription factors with the survival of lung cancer patients. The coregulatory analysis identified two top winning transcription factors networks related to the regulatory control of gene expression in lung and breast cancer. Our transcriptomic analysis suggests that cancer has an important coregulatory network of transcription factors related to the acquisition of the hallmarks of cancer. Moreover, lung cancer has a group of genes and transcription factors unique to pulmonary tissue that are coexpressed during tumorigenesis and must be studied experimentally to fully understand their role in the pathogenesis within its very complex transcriptomic scenario. Therefore, the downstream bioinformatic analysis developed was able to identify a coregulatory metafirm of cancer in general and specific to lung cancer taking into account the great heterogeneity of the tumoral process at cellular and population levels.

The MIR100HG/miR-29a-3p/Tab1 axis modulates TGF-β1-induced fibrotic changes in type II alveolar epithelial cells BLM-caused lung fibrogenesis in mice

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced fibrotic changes in alveolar epithelium is a critical event in pulmonary fibrosis. Herein, we recognized that lncRNA mir-100-let-7a-2-mir-125b-1 cluster host gene (MIR100HG) was abnormally upregulated within human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) lung tissue, bleomycin (BLM)-caused pulmonary fibrotic model mice and TGF-β1-stimulated mice type II alveolar epithelial cells. In vivo, MIR100HG knockdown attenuated BLM-caused lung fibrogenesis in mice; in vitro, MIR100HG knockdown attenuated TGF-β1-induced fibrotic changes in mice type II alveolar epithelial cells. Through direct binding, MIR100HG knockdown upregulated microRNA-29a-3p (miR-29a-3p) expression; through serving as competing endogenous RNA for miR-29a-3p, MIR100HG knockdown downregulated TGF-beta activated kinase 1/MAP3K7 binding protein 1 (Tab1) expression. Finally, under TGF-β1 stimulation, Tab1 knockdown attenuated TGF-β1-induced fibrotic changes and partially attenuated the effects of miR-29a-3p inhibition. In conclusion, we demonstrated the aberrant upregulation of lncRNA MIR100HG in BLM-caused lung fibrogenesis and TGF-β1-stimulated MLE 12 cells. The MIR100HG/miR-29a-3p/Tab1 axis could modulate TGF-β1-induced fibrotic changes in type II alveolar epithelial cells and, thus, might be promising targets for pulmonary fibrosis therapy.

Fibrosis in Mesothelioma: Potential Role of Lysyl Oxidases

Immunotherapies (such as checkpoint inhibitors) and standard chemotherapies (such as cisplatin) have limitations in the successful treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Fibrosis is the accumulation of collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues, making them denser than that of healthy tissues and thereby affecting drug delivery and immune cell infiltration. Moreover, fibrosis severely affects the patient's breathing and quality of life. The production of collagen and its assembly is highly regulated by various enzymes such as lysyl oxidases. Many solid tumors aberrantly express the family of lysyl oxidases (LOX/LOXL). This review examines how LOX/LOXLs were found to be dysregulated in noncancerous and cancerous settings, discusses their roles in solid tumor fibrosis and pathogenesis and explores the role of fibrosis in the development and poor clinical outcomes of patients with MPM. We examine the current preclinical status of drugs targeting LOX/LOXLs and how the incorporation of such drugs may have therapeutic benefits in the treatment and management of patients with MPM.

Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Lung Diseases

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), notably microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), have recently gained increasing consideration because of their versatile role as key regulators of gene expression. They adopt diverse mechanisms to regulate transcription and translation, and thereby, the function of the protein, which is associated with several major biological processes. For example, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and metabolic pathways demand fine-tuning for the precise development of a specific tissue or organ. The deregulation of ncRNA expression is concomitant with multiple diseases, including lung diseases. This review highlights recent advances in the post-transcriptional regulation of miRNAs and lncRNAs in lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Further, we also discuss the emerging role of ncRNAs as biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets for lung diseases. However, more investigations are required to explore miRNAs and lncRNAs interaction, and their function in the regulation of mRNA expression. Understanding these mechanisms might lead to early diagnosis and the development of novel therapeutics for lung diseases.

MiR-29c inhibits the metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma and promotes its cell cycle arrest by targeting SERPINH1

Background

A large number of studies have shown that the imbalance of micro RNA (miRNA) and its target genes can promote the development of tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological role and molecular mechanism of serpin peptidase inhibitor clade H member 1 (SERPINH1) and its upstream regulator miR-29c in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods

The expression levels of SERPINH1 and miR-29c were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. The proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and cell cycle were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, would healing assay, transwell assay, flow cytometry, and dual luciferase reporter assay.

Results

High expression of SERPINH1 was detected in patients with OSCC and it can be used as a prognostic biomarker for OSCC. Cell function experiments showed that silencing the expression of SERPINH1 inhibited the proliferation and migration of OSCC cells and caused cell cycle arrest at S phase. Bioinformatics analysis showed that there was a binding site between miR-29c and SERPINH1, indicating that miR-29c may regulate the expression of SERPINH1. In addition, miR-29c overexpression inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of OSCC cells, and the subsequent rescue experiment showed that SERPINH1 overexpression can reverse the inhibitory effect of miR-29c in OSCC cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest.

Conclusions

The miRNA, miR-29c can regulate the proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle of OSCC cells by targeting SERPINH1.

MiRNA, a New Treatment Strategy for Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is the most common chronic, progressive interstitial lung disease, mainly occurring in the elderly, with a median survival of 2-4 years after diagnosis. Its high mortality rate attributes to the delay in diagnosis due to its generic symptoms, and more importantly, to the lack of effective treatments. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that are involved in many essential cellular processes, including extracellular matrix remodeling, alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, etc. We summarized the dysregulated miRNAs in TGF-β signaling pathway-mediated PF in recent years with dual effects, such as anti-fibrotic let-7 family and pro-fibrotic miR-21 members. Therefore, this review will set out the latest application of miRNAs to provide a new direction for PF treatment.

The function of non-coding RNAs in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Non-coding ribonucleic acids (ncRNAs) are a diverse group of RNA molecules that are mostly not translated into proteins after transcription, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with longer than 200 nucleotides non-coding transcripts and microRNAs (miRNAs) which are only 18–22 nucleotides. As families of evolutionarily conserved ncRNAs, lncRNAs activate and repress genes via a variety of mechanisms at both transcriptional and translational levels, whereas miRNAs regulate protein-coding gene expression mainly through mRNA silencing. ncRNAs are widely involved in biological functions, such as proliferation, differentiation, migration, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease with a poor prognosis. The etiology of IPF is still unclear. Increasing evidence shows the close correlations between the development of IPF and aberrant expressions of ncRNAs than thought previously. In this study, we provide an overview of ncRNAs participated in pathobiology of IPF, seeking the early diagnosis biomarker and aiming for potential therapeutic applications for IPF.

Bioinformatic Analysis of Key Genes and Pathways Related to Keloids

Background

The pathophysiology of keloids is complex, and the treatment for keloids is still an unmet medical need. Our study is aimed at identifying the hub genes among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal skin tissue and keloids and key pathways in the development of keloids.

Materials and Methods

We downloaded the GSE92566 and GSE90051 microarray data, which contain normal skin tissue and keloid gene expression data. GSE92566 was treated as a discovery dataset for summarizing the significantly DEGs, and GSE90051 served as a validation dataset. Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway, Reactome enrichment analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, and gene set variation analysis were performed for the key functions and pathways enriched in DEGs. Moreover, we also validated the hub genes identified from the protein-protein interaction network and predicted miRNA-hub gene interactions.

Results

117 downregulated DEGs and 204 upregulated DEGs in GSE92566 were identified. Extracellular and collagen-related pathways were prominent in upregulated DEGs, while the keratinization-related pathway was associated with downregulated DEGs. The hub genes included COL5A1, COL5A2, and SERPINH1, which were also validated in GSE90051.

Conclusion

This study identified several hub genes and provided insights for the underlying pathways and miRNA-hub gene interactions for keloid development through bioinformatic analysis of two microarray datasets. Additionally, our results would support the development of future therapeutic strategies.

HSP47: a potential target for fibrotic diseases and implications for therapy

Introduction: Chronic fibrotic disorders are challenging clinical problems. The major challenge is the identification of specific targets expressed selectively in fibrotic tissues. Collagen accumulation is the hallmark fibrosis. HSP47 is a collagen-specific chaperon with critical role in collagen folding. This review discusses the anti-fibrotic potential of HSP47. Areas covered: This review compiles data retrieved from the PubMed database with keywords 'HSP47+fibrosis' from 01/2005 to 06/2020. We examined 1) collagen biology and its role in fibrotic diseases, 2) HSP47 role in fibrosis, 3) HSP47 inhibition strategies and 4) clinical investigations. The identification of the HSP47-collagen binding site led to the development of methods to screen HSP47 inhibitors with anti-fibrotic potential. Specific in vivo  delivery systems of HSP47 siRNA to fibrotic tissue reduced collagen production/secretion associated with fibrosis inhibition in preclinical models. This strategy is about to be tested in clinical trials. Expert opinion: As a collagen-specific chaperon, HSP47 is a promising therapeutic target in fibrosis. Preclinical models have shown encouraging anti-fibrotic results. Anti-HSP47 strategies need to be further evaluated in clinical trials. The increase in circulating-HSP47 in lung fibrosis patients highlights the potential of HSP47 as a noninvasive biomarker and may represent an important step toward personalized medicine in fibrotic disorders.

Identification of Key Pathways and Genes in Obesity Using Bioinformatics Analysis and Molecular Docking Studies

Obesity is an excess accumulation of body fat. Its progression rate has remained high in recent years. Therefore, the aim of this study was to diagnose important differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated in its development, which may be used as novel biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets for obesity. The gene expression profile of E-MTAB-6728 was downloaded from the database. After screening DEGs in each ArrayExpress dataset, we further used the robust rank aggregation method to diagnose 876 significant DEGs including 438 up regulated and 438 down regulated genes. Functional enrichment analysis was performed. These DEGs were shown to be significantly enriched in different obesity related pathways and GO functions. Then protein-protein interaction network, target genes - miRNA regulatory network and target genes - TF regulatory network were constructed and analyzed. The module analysis was performed based on the whole PPI network. We finally filtered out STAT3, CORO1C, SERPINH1, MVP, ITGB5, PCM1, SIRT1, EEF1G, PTEN and RPS2 hub genes. Hub genes were validated by ICH analysis, receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis and RT-PCR. Finally a molecular docking study was performed to find small drug molecules. The robust DEGs linked with the development of obesity were screened through the expression profile, and integrated bioinformatics analysis was conducted. Our study provides reliable molecular biomarkers for screening and diagnosis, prognosis as well as novel therapeutic targets for obesity.

Roles of Lysyl Oxidase Family Members in the Tumor Microenvironment and Progression of Liver Cancer

The lysyl oxidase (LOX) family members are secreted copper-dependent amine oxidases, comprised of five paralogues: LOX and LOX-like l-4 (LOXL1-4), which are characterized by catalytic activity contributing to the remodeling of the cross-linking of the structural extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM remodeling plays a key role in the angiogenesis surrounding tumors, whereby a corrupt tumor microenvironment (TME) takes shape. Primary liver cancer includes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), ranked as the seventh most common cancer globally, with limited therapeutic options for advanced stages. In recent years, a growing body of evidence has revealed the key roles of LOX family members in the pathogenesis of liver cancer and the shaping of TME, indicating their notable potential as therapeutic targets. We herein review the clinical value and novel biological roles of LOX family members in tumor progression and the TME of liver cancers. In addition, we highlight recent insights into their mechanisms and their potential involvement in the development of target therapy for liver cancer.

LOXL2 in cancer: regulation, downstream effectors and novel roles

Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) is a copper and lysine tyrosyl-quinone (LTQ)-dependent amine oxidase belonging to the lysyl oxidase (LOX) family, the canonical function of which is to catalyze the crosslinking of elastin and collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Many studies have revealed that the aberrant expression of LOXL2 in multiple cancers is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastasis, poor prognosis, chemoradiotherapy resistance, and tumor progression. LOXL2 is regulated in many ways, such as transcriptional regulation, alternative splicing, microRNA regulation, posttranslational modification, and cleavage. Beyond affecting the extracellular environment, various intracellular roles, such as oxidation and deacetylation activities in the nucleus, have been reported for LOXL2. Additionally, LOXL2 contributes to tumor cell invasion by promoting cytoskeletal reorganization. Targeting LOXL2 has become a potential therapeutic strategy to combat many types of cancers. Here, we provide an overview of the regulation and downstream effectors of LOXL2 and discuss the intracellular role of LOXL2 in cancer.

Evolving roles of lysyl oxidase family in tumorigenesis and cancer therapy

The lysyl oxidase (LOX) family is comprised of LOX and four LOX-like proteins (LOXL1, LOXL2, LOXL3, and LOXL4), and mainly functions in the remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM) and the cross-linking of collagen and elastic fibers. Recently, a growing body of research has demonstrated that LOX family is critically involved in the regulation of cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis. In this review, we discuss the roles of LOX family members in the development and progression of different types of human cancers. Furthermore, we also describe the potential inhibitors of LOX family proteins and highlight that LOX family might be an important therapeutic target for cancer therapy.

Regulation of aberrantly expressed SERPINH1 by antitumor miR-148a-5p inhibits cancer cell aggressiveness in gastric cancer

RNA-sequencing-based microRNA (miRNA) expression signatures have revealed that miR-148a-5p (the passenger strand of the miR-148a-duplex) is downregulated in various kinds of cancer tissues. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database showed that low expression of miR-148a-5p was predictive of a lower survival rate (p = 0.041) in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Downregulation of miR-148a-5p was confirmed in GC clinical specimens, and its ectopic expression attenuated GC cell proliferation. Our search for miRNA target genes identified a total of 18 oncogenic targets of miR-148a-5p in GC cells. Among these targets, high expression levels of six genes (THBS2, P4HA3, SERPINH1, CDH11, BCAT1, and KCNG3) were closely associated with a poor prognosis (10-year survival rates) in GC patients (p < 0.05) according to TCGA database analyses. Furthermore, we focused on SERPINH1 as a chaperone protein involved in collagen folding in humans. Aberrant expression of SERPINH1 (mRNA and protein levels) was confirmed in GC clinical specimens. Knockdown assays of SERPINH1 using siRNAs resulted in inhibition of the aggressive phenotype of GC cells. Exploring the molecular networks controlled by miRNAs (including miRNA passenger strands) will broaden our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of GC.

The expression profiles and prognostic values of HSPs family members in Head and neck cancer

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) ranks as the sixth most common malignancy. The identification of highly specific and sensitive prognostic markers and potential drug targets can contribute to enhanced patient prognosis and individualized treatments. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) act as molecular chaperones and play a crucial role in maintaining cell homeostasis. Recently, research has indicated that HSPs also act as "evil chaperones" in cancer development.

Methods

In this study, we assessed the expression of HSPs in HNSC patients using the ONCOMINE, GEPIA, and UALCAN databases. Mutations of HSP genes were also analysed using the cBioPortal database. Additionally, the expression levels of HSPs were verified using the Human Protein Altas (THPA) database.

Results

We found that the expression levels of HSPH1, HSPD1, SERPINH1, HSPA4, and HSP90AA1 were significantly higher in tissues from HNSC patients compared with normal tissues. Moreover, HSPH1, HSPD1, SERPINH1, HSPA4 and HSP90AA1 expressions were linked to disease progression. Survival analysis with the GEPIA and OncoLnc databases indicated that upregulation of HSPH1, HSPD1, SERPINH1, HSPA4 and HSP90AA1 was related to poor overall survival (OS).

Conclusion

This study suggests that the HSPH1, HSPD1, SERPINH1, HSPA4 and HSP90AA1 genes are potential clinical targets and prognostic biomarkers for patients with HNSC.

Clinical impact of the lung tissue transcriptome in a teenager with multifocal invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma-a case report

The transcriptional profiling of cancer and normal tissues harboring cancer can be a clinical and discovery tool, especially for the study of rare tumors. Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) is a rare lung cancer histotype, which mostly affects the elderly and commonly has a poor prognosis. We investigated the exceptional case of a teenager, exposed to passive smoke and chemical carcinogens, who developed a multifocal IMA with bilateral involvement. The malignancy was asymptomatic and was diagnosed occasionally during hospitalization for acute abdominal pain due to adnexitis. The young patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and lung samples were analysed by RNA-Sequencing. The transcriptome of patient’s normal and neoplastic lung tissues was compared with matched healthy controls and IMA signature cases, using Gene Set Enrichment Analyses, Gene Ontology and Genotype Tissue Expression database. Compared to healthy controls, the patient’s lung tissue lacked the expression of lymphocyte and humoral-mediated immune response genes, whereas genes driving the response to stimulus, chemical and organic substances, primarily, CXCL8, ACKR1, RAB7B, HOXC9, HOXD9, KLF5 and NKX2-8 were overexpressed. Genes driving extracellular structure organization, cell adhesion, cell movement, metabolic and apoptotic processes were down-modulated in patient’s lung tissue. When compared to IMA signature cases, the patient’s IMA revealed a prevalent expression of genes regulating the response to stimulus, myeloid and neutrophil activation and immune system processes, primarily CD1a and CXCL13/BCA1, whereas stemness genes and proto-oncogenes, such as SOX4, HES1, IER3 and SERPINH1 were downmodulated. These transcriptional signature associated with a favorable clinical course, since the patient was healthy five years after initial diagnosis. The transcriptome of the normal tissues bearing tumor provides meaningful information on the gene pathways driving tumor histogenesis, with a prospective impact on early diagnosis. Unlike the tumor histotype-related transcriptional signature, the individual patient’s signature enables tailored treatment and accurate prognosis.

miR-29a is a potential protective factor for fibrogenesis in gluteal muscle contracture

Circulating miRNAs have been proposed as the effective diagnostic biomarkers for muscular fibrosis-associated diseases. However, circulating biomarkers for early diagnosis of contracture muscles are limited in gluteal muscle contracture (GMC) patients. Here we sought to explore the abnormally expressed miRNAs in plasma and contraction bands of GMC patients. The results showed miR-29a-3p expression in plasma and contraction bands tissue was significantly reduced in GMC patients compared with normal control. Cell viability and levels of proliferation-associated protein cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent-kinase 2 (CDK2) were powerfully inhibited by miR-29a mimics and enhanced by miR-29a inhibitor compared with negative control. Furthermore, miR-29a mimics effectively impeded, while miR-29a inhibitor enhanced the expression of collagen I and collagen III, followed by the secretion of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), TGF-beta3 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in primary human contraction bands (CB) fibroblasts. The miR-29a-3p negatively regulated the expression of TGF-beta1 through binding to the 3´ UTR region of SERPINH1 (encoding heat shock protein HSP47), but had no effect on Smad2 activity. The miR-29a-3p was inversely correlated with HSP47 in contraction bands tissue from GMC patients. Collectively, miR-29a was notably depressed and regulated cell viability and fibrosis by directly targeting HSP47 in GMC, which suggest that circulating miR-29a might be a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and provides a novel therapeutic target for GMC.

miRNAs in Lung Development and Diseases

The development of the lung involves a diverse group of molecules that regulate cellular processes, organ formation, and maturation. The various stages of lung development are marked by accumulation of small RNAs that promote or repress underlying mechanisms, depending on the physiological environment in utero and postnatally. To some extent, the pathogenesis of various lung diseases is regulated by small RNAs. In this review, we discussed miRNAs regulation of lung development and diseases, that is, COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary arterial hypertension, and also highlighted possible connotations for human lung health.

Analysis and Identification of Tumorigenic Targets of MicroRNA in Cancer Cells by Photoreactive Chemical Probes

Photoactive RNA probes have unique advantages in the identification of microRNA (miR) targets due to their ability for efficient conjugation to the target sequences by covalent crosslinking, providing stable miR-mRNA complexes for further analysis. Here, we report a highly efficient and straightforward method for miR target identification that is based on photo-reactive chemical probes and RNA-seq technology (denotes PCP-Seq). UV reactive probes were prepared by incorporating psoralen in the specific position of the seed sequence of miR. Cancer cells that were transfected with the miR probes were treated with UV, following the isolation of poly(A) RNA and sequencing of the transcriptome. Quantitative analysis of RNA-seq reads and subsequent validation by qPCR, dual luciferase assay as well as western blotting confirmed that PCP-Seq could highly efficiently identify multiple targets of different miRs in the lung cancer cell line, such as targets PTTG1 and PTGR1 of miR-29a and ILF2 of miR-34a. Collectively, our data showed that PCP-Seq is a robust strategy for miR targets identification, and unique in the identification of the targets that escape degradation by miRISC and maintain normal cellular level, although their translation is repressed.

Evaluation of Micro-RNA Levels, Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients Recieving Chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study was to compare oxidative DNA damage markers, apoptosis markers and changes in miRNA levels in patients diagnosed with cancer and treated through chemotherapy. Our secondary objective was also to evaluate tumor responses that can be determined after post-chemotherapy clinical evaluations by physical examinations, laboratory results and radiological imagings, and to compare the clinical results to oxidative stress and apoptosis markers and micro RNA levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To do that we designed a prospective observational cross-sectional study. A total of 34 cancer patients and 27 healthy controls were included in the study from the Harran University School of Medicine Department of Oncology. Newly diagnosed chemotherapy or radiotherapy naive patients without any chronic diseases were included into the study. Patients with a poor performance status (ECOG 2 and 3) and patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded. The cancer patients received chemotherapy according to their scheduled periods. Blood samples were taken from the patients before the first chemotherapy course and before the second chemotherapy round. Patients were called for toxicity control on the 10th day after the chemotherapy. Pre-chemotherapy, post-chemotherapy and control group miR-29a expression levels, change in apoptosis markers and oxidative DNA damage markers were obtained and compared. We studied 8-hydroxy 2-deoxyguanosine, total oxidant status, total anti-oxidant status, and oxidative status index for oxidative stress markers. We studied M30 and M65 as apoptosis markers. Clinical results of efficiency of the chemotherapy was acquired and compared to biochemical markers based on chemotherapy results. Chemotherapy toxicities were recorded.

RESULTS

As a result, we found oxidative DNA damage markers and apoptosis markers were high in the cancer group, demonstrating that oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis might play a direct or indirect role in cancer etiology. However, there were subtle differences between pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy levels. Mir-29a expressions were lower in cancer patients as compared to controls. However, the expression levels were not significantly change in pre- and postchemotherapy status. Moreover, we found no relationship between clinical status of patients (progression and regression) and studied biochemical markers.

CONCLUSION

Thus, checking for DNA damage markers and taking precautions to lower the levels of these markers in individuals with cancer risk may be helpful in preventing cancer.

Up-regulation of SNHG6 activates SERPINH1 expression by competitive binding to miR-139-5p to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression

We aimed to assess the roles of small nucleolar RNA host gene 6 (SNHG6) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, and establish the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulation mechanism for HCC therapy. SNHG6 is one of the host genes in small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), which make a difference in the development of human cancers. SERPINH1 is a gene encoding a member of the serpin superfamily of serine proteinase inhibitors with miRNA predicted by TargetScan and DIANA Tools. SNHG6, serpin family H member 1 (SERPINH1) and miR-139-5p expression levels in HCC tissues and cells were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Migration and invasion of HCC cells were measured by transwell assay. Cell cycle analysis was determined by using flow cytometry. 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and colony formation assay were performed for cell viability analysis. The expression of SERPINH1 was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted to identify the targeted relationship between miR-139-5p and SNHG6, as well as SERPINH1 and miR-139-5p. The positive regulation between SNHG6 and SERPINH1 was demonstrated in this study. In contrast, miR-139-5p was significantly down-regulated in HCC cells, the inhibition of miR-139-5p promotes the proliferation of HCC cells, and accelerated the cell cycle of HCC cells. Our study demonstrated the co-expression of SNHG6 and SERPINH1 in HCC cells for the first time, which revealed that SNHG6 could serve as a novel oncogene for the HCC therapy by its regulation.

Screening and Survival Analysis of Hub Genes in Gastric Cancer Based on Bioinformatics

Screening for hub genes associated with gastric cancer and elucidating possible molecular mechanisms of gastric cancer. Five gastric cancer-related gene expression profiles were extracted from the GEO database, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained using GEO2R. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses were performed by DAVID, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the DEGs was constructed by STRING and Cytoscape software. Survival value for hub gene comes from the Kaplan-Meier plotter platform. In addition, potential miRNAs of hub genes were predicted by miRWalk. Four hundred seventy-six DEGs were identified in the five expression profiles, these genes are mainly involved in extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction, chemical carcinogenesis, gastric acid secretion, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Combined with the results of the PPI network and CytoHubba, six hub genes were screened: SERPINH1, NPY, PTGDR, GPER, ADHFE1, and AKR1C1. These genes are highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues, and the overexpression level of these genes is associated with poor survival. A series of miRNAs such as hsa-miRNA-92a-1, hsa-miRNA-647, and hsa-miRNA-507 may play a key role in hub gene regulation. Our studies indicate that SERPINH1, NPY, PTGDR, GPER, ADHFE1, and AKR1C1 may be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for gastric cancer in the future.

Identification of Crucial Candidate Genes and Pathways in Glioblastoma Multiform by Bioinformatics Analysis

The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying glioblastoma multiform (GBM) and its biomarkers. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were diagnosed using the limma software package. The ToppGene (ToppFun) was used to perform pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the DEGs. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, extracted modules, miRNA-target genes regulatory network and TF-target genes regulatory network were used to obtain insight into the actions of DEGs. Survival analysis for DEGs was carried out. A total of 590 DEGs, including 243 up regulated and 347 down regulated genes, were diagnosed between scrambled shRNA expression and Lin7A knock down. The up-regulated genes were enriched in ribosome, mitochondrial translation termination, translation, and peptide biosynthetic process. The down-regulated genes were enriched in focal adhesion, VEGFR3 signaling in lymphatic endothelium, extracellular matrix organization, and extracellular matrix. The current study screened the genes in the PPI network, extracted modules, miRNA-target genes regulatory network, and TF-target genes regulatory network with higher degrees as hub genes, which included NPM1, CUL4A, YIPF1, SHC1, AKT1, VLDLR, RPL14, P3H2, DTNA, FAM126B, RPL34, and MYL5. Survival analysis indicated that the high expression of RPL36A and MRPL35 were predicting longer survival of GBM, while high expression of AP1S1 and AKAP12 were predicting shorter survival of GBM. High expression of RPL36A and AP1S1 were associated with pathogenesis of GBM, while low expression of ALPL was associated with pathogenesis of GBM. In conclusion, the current study diagnosed DEGs between scrambled shRNA expression and Lin7A knock down samples, which could improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms in the progression of GBM, and these crucial as well as new diagnostic markers might be used as therapeutic targets for GBM.

Molecular Pathogenesis of Gene Regulation by the miR-150 Duplex: miR-150-3p Regulates TNS4 in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Based on our miRNA expression signatures, we focused on miR-150-5p (the guide strand) and miR-150-3p (the passenger strand) to investigate their functional significance in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Downregulation of miR-150 duplex was confirmed in LUAD clinical specimens. In vitro assays revealed that ectopic expression of miR-150-5p and miR-150-3p inhibited cancer cell malignancy. We performed genome-wide gene expression analyses and in silico database searches to identify their oncogenic targets in LUAD cells. A total of 41 and 26 genes were identified as miR-150-5p and miR-150-3p targets, respectively, and they were closely involved in LUAD pathogenesis. Among the targets, we investigated the oncogenic roles of tensin 4 (TNS4) because high expression of TNS4 was strongly related to poorer prognosis of LUAD patients (disease-free survival: p = 0.0213 and overall survival: p = 0.0003). Expression of TNS4 was directly regulated by miR-150-3p in LUAD cells. Aberrant expression of TNS4 was detected in LUAD clinical specimens and its aberrant expression increased the aggressiveness of LUAD cells. Furthermore, we identified genes downstream from TNS4 that were associated with critical regulators of genomic stability. Our approach (discovery of anti-tumor miRNAs and their target RNAs for LUAD) will contribute to the elucidation of molecular networks involved in the malignant transformation of LUAD.

Extracellular Processing of Lysyl Oxidase-like 2 and Its Effect on Amine Oxidase Activity

Overexpression of lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) is associated with several hepatic and vascular fibrotic diseases and tumor progression in some aggressive cancers. Secreted LOXL2 promotes extracellular matrix cross-linking by catalyzing the oxidative deamination of peptidyl lysine. A great deal remains to be learned about the post-translational modifications of LOXL2, including whether such modifications modulate enzymatic and disease-promoting activities; such knowledge would inform the development of potential therapies. We discovered that upon secretion in cell culture, LOXL2 undergoes proteolytic processing of the first two of four scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domains at the N-terminus. A similar pattern of processing was also evident in tissue extracts from an invasive ductal carcinoma patient. Processing occurred at ³¹⁴Arg-³¹⁵Phe-³¹⁶Arg-³¹⁷Lys↓-³¹⁸Ala-, implicating proprotein convertases. siRNA-mediated knockdown of proprotein convertases (furin, PACE4, and PC5/6), as well as incubation with their recombinant forms, showed that PACE4 is the major protease that acts on extracellular LOXL2. Unlike LOX, which requires cleavage of its propeptide for catalytic activation, cleavage of LOXL2 was not essential for tropoelastin oxidation or for cross-linking of collagen type IV in vitro. However, in the latter case, processing enhanced the extent of collagen cross-linking ∼2-fold at ≤10 nM LOXL2. These results demonstrate an important difference in the regulatory mechanisms for LOX and LOXL2 catalytic activity. Moreover, they pave the way for further studies of potential differential functions of LOXL2 isoforms in fibrosis and tumor progression.

The heat shock protein 47 as a potential biomarker and a therapeutic agent in cancer research

Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) is an important chaperone required for the correct folding and secretion of collagen. Several studies revealed that HSP47 has a role in numerous steps of collagen synthesis, preventing procollagen aggregation and inducing hydroxylation of proline and lysine residues. HSP47 is encoded by the SERPINH1 gene, which is located on chromosome 11q13.5, one of the most frequently amplified regions in human cancer. The altered expression levels of HSP47 have been correlated with several types of cancer, such as cervical, breast, pancreatic and gastric cancers. Studies have shown that HSP47 promotes tumor angiogenesis, growth, migration and metastatic capacity. In this review, we highlight the fundamental aspects of the interaction between HSP47 and collagen and the recent discoveries of the role of this chaperone in different types of malignant neoplasias. We also discuss recent treatments using HSP47 as a therapeutic target, and present evidences that HSP47 is an essential protein for cancer biology and a potential molecular target for chemotherapy.

Dual strands of the miR-145 duplex (miR-145-5p and miR-145-3p) regulate oncogenes in lung adenocarcinoma pathogenesis

Our original microRNA (miRNA) expression signatures (based on RNA sequencing) revealed that both strands of the miR-145 duplex (miR-145-5p, the guide strand, and miR-145-3p, the passenger strand) were downregulated in several types of cancer tissues. Involvement of passenger strands of miRNAs in cancer pathogenesis is a new concept in miRNA biogenesis. In our continuing analysis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) pathogenesis, we aimed here to identify important oncogenes that were controlled by miR-145-5p and miR-145-3p. Downregulation of miR-145-5p and miR-145-3p was confirmed in LUAD clinical specimens. Functional assays showed that miR-145-3p significantly blocked the malignant abilities in LUAD cells, e.g., cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Thus, the data showed that expression of the passenger strand of the miR-145-duplex acted as an anti-tumor miRNA. In LUAD cells, we identified four possible target genes (LMNB2, NLN, SIX4, and DDC) that might be regulated by both strands of miR-145. Among the possible targets, high expression of LMNB2 predicted a significantly poorer prognosis of LUAD patients (disease-free survival, p = 0.0353 and overall survival, p = 0.0017). Overexpression of LMNB2 was detected in LUAD clinical specimens and its aberrant expression promoted malignant transformation of LUAD cells. Genes regulated by anti-tumor miR-145-5p and miR-145-3p are closely involved in the molecular pathogenesis of LUAD. We suggest that they are promising prognostic markers for this disease. Our approach, based on the roles of anti-tumor miRNAs, will contribute to improved understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of LUAD.

Identification of hub genes with prognostic values in gastric cancer by bioinformatics analysis

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignant cancer of digestive system. To identify key genes in GC, mRNA microarray GSE27342, GSE29272, and GSE33335 were downloaded from GEO database.

Methods

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained using GEO2R. DAVID database was used to analyze function and pathways enrichment of DEGs. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established by STRING and visualized by Cytoscape software. Then, the influence of hub genes on overall survival (OS) was performed by the Kaplan-Meier plotter online tool. Module analysis of the PPI network was performed using MCODE. Additionally, potential stem loop miRNAs of hub genes were predicted by miRecords and screened by TCGA dataset. Transcription factors (TFs) of hub genes were detected by NetworkAnalyst.

Results

In total, 67 DEGs were identified; upregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in biological process (BP) related to angiogenesis and extracellular matrix organization and the downregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in BP related to ion transport and response to bacterium. KEGG pathways analysis showed that the upregulated DEGs were enriched in ECM-receptor interaction and the downregulated DEGs were enriched in gastric acid secretion. A PPI network of DEGs was constructed, consisting of 43 nodes and 87 edges. Twelve genes were considered as hub genes owing to high degrees in the network. Hsa-miR-29c, hsa-miR-30c, hsa-miR-335, hsa-miR-33b, and hsa-miR-101 might play a crucial role in hub genes regulation. In addition, the transcription factors-hub genes pairs were displayed with 182 edges and 102 nodes. The high expression of 7 out of 12 hub genes was associated with worse OS, including COL4A1, VCAN, THBS2, TIMP1, COL1A2, SERPINH1, and COL6A3.

Conclusions

The miRNA and TFs regulation network of hub genes in GC may promote understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of gastric cancer and provide potential targets for GC diagnosis and treatment.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12957-018-1409-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Involvement of aberrantly expressed microRNAs in the pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that act as fine-tuners of the post-transcriptional control of protein-coding or noncoding RNAs by repressing translation or cleaving RNA transcripts in a sequence-dependent manner in cells. Accumulating evidence have been indicated that aberrantly expressed miRNAs are deeply involved in human pathogenesis, including cancers. Surprisingly, these small, single-stranded RNAs (18-23 nucleotides) have been shown to function as antitumor or oncogenic RNAs in several types of cancer cells. A single miRNA has regulating hundreds or thousands of different mRNAs, and individual mRNA has been regulated by multiple different miRNAs in normal cells. Therefore, tightly controlled RNA networks can be disrupted by dysregulated of miRNAs in cancer cells. Investigation of novel miRNA-mediated RNA networks in cancer cells could provide new insights in the field of cancer research. In this review, we focus on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and discuss current findings of the involvement of aberrantly expressed miRNAs in the pathogenesis of HNSCC.

Downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase 14 by the antitumor miRNA, miR-150-5p, inhibits the aggressiveness of lung squamous cell carcinoma cells

In the present study, in order to elucidate the aggressive nature of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSQ), we investigated the oncogenic RNA networks regulated by antitumor microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) in LUSQ cells. The analysis of our original miRNA expression signatures of human cancers revealed that microRNA‑150‑5p (miR‑150‑5p) was downregulated in various types of cancer, indicating that miR‑150‑5p acts as an antitumor miRNA by targeting several oncogenic genes. Thus, the aims of this study were to investigate the antitumor roles of miR‑150‑5p in LUSQ cells and to identify oncogenes regulated by miR‑150‑5p that are involved in the aggressive behavior of LUSQ. The downregulation of miR‑150‑5p was validated in clinical samples of LUSQ and cell lines (SK-MES‑1 and EBC‑1). The ectopic overexpression of miR‑150‑5p significantly suppressed cancer cell aggressiveness. Comprehensive gene expression analyses revealed that miR‑150‑5p regulated 9 genes in the LUSQ cells. Among these, matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14) was found to be a direct target of miR‑150‑5p, as shown by luciferase reporter assay. The knockdown of MMP14 using siRNA against MMP14 (si-MMP14) significantly inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion. The overexpression of MMP14 was detected in clinical specimens of LUSQ by immunohistochemistry. On the whole, these findings suggest that the downregulation of miR‑150‑5p and the overexpression of MMP14 may be deeply involved in the pathogenesis of LUSQ.