Dual targeting of ANGPT1 and TGFBR2 genes by miR-204 controls angiogenesis in breast cancer

The Tumor-Suppressive Role of miR-204-5p Through Targeting Ezrin in Breast Cancer: Experimental Evidence From Cell Lines and Clinical Samples

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer (BC) remains one of the most prevalent malignancies and leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. MicroRNA-204-5p (miR-204-5p) has been implicated in various cancers, where its downregulation is associated with adverse clinicopathological features and poor prognosis. Ezrin, a member of the ERM (Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin) family, links membrane proteins to the actin cytoskeleton and has been reported to play roles in tumor progression. However, the regulatory relationship between miR-204-5p and Ezrin in breast cancer remains unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted bioinformatics analyses using the TCGA BRCA dataset and GEO datasets GSE97811 and GSE144534 to evaluate the expression patterns of miR-204-5p and Ezrin. In vitro assays, including cell proliferation, migration, and invasion analyses, were performed to assess the functional effects of miR-204-5p in BC cells. Western blotting and luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm the regulatory relationship between miR-204-5p, Ezrin, and the AKT signaling pathway.

RESULTS

miR-204-5p was significantly downregulated in breast cancer tissues and was associated with aggressive tumor characteristics and poor patient prognosis. Conversely, Ezrin was upregulated in BC tissues and identified as a direct target of miR-204-5p. Overexpression of miR-204-5p inhibited BC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while also reducing Ezrin expression. Mechanistic studies indicated that suppression of Ezrin by miR-204-5p led to downregulation of the AKT signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that miR-204-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer by targeting Ezrin and inhibiting the AKT pathway. This suggests a potential therapeutic role for miR-204-5p in the treatment of breast cancer.

Deciphering the prognostic impact of aberrant DNA methylation on ANGPT1 gene in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is a multifaceted disease distinguished by a range of molecular subtypes and varying clinical prognoses. The involvement of DNA methylation in the dysregulation of gene expression has been linked to the development and progression of BC. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between ANGPT1 gene expression and DNA methylation in BC patients. Eight Saudi female blood samples were used to undergo for whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA sequencing for the identification of novel DNA methylation targets. Several public domain BC datasets including the METABRIC cohort, TCGA, and Kaplan Meier Plotter datasets, were used to explore the prognostic significance of ANGPT1 gene. Then, the demethylation agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine was used to examine the potential association between DNA methylation and ANGPT1 expression. Finally, the validation was conducted on blood samples from 49 Saudi females using methylight techniques. Our results shows that upregulation of ANGPT1 gene expression exhibited hypomethylation pattern in BC samples. these results were confirmed by MCF7 cell line experiments. Demethylating using 5-aza in MCF7 and MCF10A showed a high expression of ANGPT1 in both cell lines. ANGPT1 mRNA expression was found to poor prognostic biomarker and lower Breast Cancer-Specific Survival (BCSS) in BC patients. The potential importance of abnormal DNA methylation in the development and advancement of BC is significant. ANGPT1 may act as an oncogene and could be extensively studied further to behave as a predictive biomarker for breast cancer.

Development of a Novel Risk Signature for Predicting the Prognosis and Immunotherapeutic Response of Prostate Cancer by Integrating Ferroptosis and Immune-Related Genes

Ferroptosis and immune response correlation studies have not been reported in prostate cancer (PCa), and the main goal of this paper is to identify biomarkers that can be used for early diagnosis of prostate cancer. Data on PCa were retrieved from the TCGA and MSKCC2010 databases. Thereafter, the differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes (DE-FRGs: ACSF2) and immune-related genes (DE-IRGs: ANGPT1, NPPC, and PTGDS) were identified using the "limma" package. Additionally, we used univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to obtain biochemical relapse (BCR)-free survival-related genes and construct a risk signature. Patients with high-risk scores were characterized by poor BCR-free survival, relatively low immune cell abundance, and comparably weak expression of immune checkpoint molecules. Moreover, gene set variation analysis (GSVA) was performed to explore the biological pathways related to the risk signature. Single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGESA) was applied to evaluate the status of immune cells in patients with PCa, which demonstrated that the risk score was intimately affiliated with immune response and cancer pathways. Ultimately, the connection between the risk score and response of PCa patients to immunotherapy was appraised using the TIDE algorithm. The TIDE algorithm implied that the high-risk score PCa population might benefit more from immunotherapy regimens. Finally, qRT-PCR were used to evaluate the expression of DE-FRGs and DE-IRGs in PCa cell and normal prostate epithelial cells. The result of qRT-PCR showed that the mRNA expression levels of ACSF2, ANGPT1, NPPC, and PTGDS in normal prostate epithelial cell were higher than that in PCa cells. Therefore, a risk score model was generated based on one DE-FRG and three DE-IRGs, which could predict the BCR-free survival and response of immunotherapy for patients with PCa.

Role of MicroRNA-204 in Regulating the Hallmarks of Breast Cancer: An Update

microRNA-204-5p (miR-204) is a small noncoding RNA with diverse regulatory roles in breast cancer (BC) development and progression. miR-204 is implicated in the instauration of fundamental traits acquired during the multistep development of BC, known as the hallmarks of cancer. It may act as a potent tumor suppressor by inhibiting key cellular processes like angiogenesis, vasculogenic mimicry, invasion, migration, and metastasis. It achieves this by targeting multiple master genes involved in these processes, including HIF-1α, β-catenin, VEGFA, TGFBR2, FAK, FOXA1, among others. Additionally, miR-204 modulates signaling pathways like PI3K/AKT and interacts with HOTAIR and DSCAM-AS1 lncRNAs, further influencing tumor progression. Beyond its direct effects on tumor cells, miR-204 shapes the tumor microenvironment by regulating immune cell infiltration, suppressing pro-tumorigenic cytokine production, and potentially influencing immunotherapy response. Moreover, miR-204 plays a crucial role in metabolic reprogramming by directly suppressing metabolic genes within tumor cells, indirectly affecting metabolism through exosome signaling, and remodeling metabolic flux within the tumor microenvironment. This review aims to present an update on the current knowledge regarding the role of miR-204 in the hallmarks of BC. In conclusion, miR-204 is a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker in BC, emphasizing the need for further research to fully elucidate its complex roles in orchestrating aggressive BC behavior.

Crosstalk between breast cancer-derived microRNAs and brain microenvironmental cells in breast cancer brain metastasis

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy in women, constituting 15.2% of all new cancers diagnosed in the United States. Distant breast cancer metastasis accounts for the majority of breast cancer-related deaths; brain metastasis is the third most common site for metastatic breast cancer but is associated with worst prognosis of approximately eight months of survival. Current treatment options for breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) are limited and ineffective. To help identify new and effective therapies for BCBM, it is important to investigate the mechanisms by which breast cancer cells metastasize to the brain and thrive in the brain microenvironment. To this end, studies have reported that primary breast tumor cells can prime brain microenvironmental cells, including, astrocytes and microglia, to promote the formation of BCBM through the release of extracellular vesicle-microRNAs (miRNAs). Breast tumor-derived miRNAs can also promote breast cancer cell invasion through the blood-brain barrier by disrupting the integrity of the brain microvascular endothelial cells. In this review, we summarize current literature on breast cancer-derived BCBM-promoting miRNAs, cover their roles in the complex steps of BCBM particularly their interactions with microenvironmental cells within the brain metastatic niche, and finally discuss their therapeutic applications in the management of BCBM.

Biomarker potential of competing endogenous RNA networks in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common condition affecting women of reproductive age globally. PCOS continues to be the largest contributing factor to female infertility despite significant progress in our knowledge of the molecular underpinnings and treatment of the condition. The fact that PCOS is a very diverse condition makes it one of the key reasons why we haven't been able to overcome it. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are implicated in the development of PCOS, according to growing evidence. However, it is unclear how the complex regulatory relationships between the many ncRNA types contribute to the growth of this malignancy. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), a recently identified mechanism in the RNA world, suggests regulatory interactions between various RNAs, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), transcribed pseudogenes, and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Recent studies on PCOS have shown that dysregulation of multiple ceRNA networks (ceRNETs) between these ncRNAs plays crucial roles in developing the defining characteristics of PCOS development. And it is believed that such a finding may open a new door for a deeper comprehension of PCOS's unexplored facets. In addition, it may be able to provide fresh biomarkers and effective therapy targets for PCOS. This review will go over the body of information that exists about the primary roles of ceRNETs before highlighting the developing involvement of several newly found ceRNETs in a number of PCOS characteristics.

Comprehensive data mining reveals RTK/RAS signaling pathway as a promoter of prostate cancer lineage plasticity through transcription factors and CNV

Prostate cancer lineage plasticity is a key driver in the transition to neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), and the RTK/RAS signaling pathway is a well-established cancer pathway. Nevertheless, the comprehensive link between the RTK/RAS signaling pathway and lineage plasticity has received limited investigation. In particular, the intricate regulatory network governing the interplay between RTK/RAS and lineage plasticity remains largely unexplored. The multi-omics data were clustered with the coefficient of argument and neighbor joining algorithm. Subsequently, the clustered results were analyzed utilizing the GSEA, gene sets related to stemness, multi-lineage state datasets, and canonical cancer pathway gene sets. Finally, a comprehensive exploration of the data based on the ssGSEA, WGCNA, GSEA, VIPER, prostate cancer scRNA-seq data, and the GPSAdb database was conducted. Among the six modules in the clustering results, there are 300 overlapping genes, including 3 previously unreported prostate cancer genes that were validated to be upregulated in prostate cancer through RT-qPCR. Function Module 6 shows a positive correlation with prostate cancer cell stemness, multi-lineage states, and the RTK/RAS signaling pathway. Additionally, the 19 leading-edge genes of the RTK/RAS signaling pathway promote prostate cancer lineage plasticity through a complex network of transcriptional regulation and copy number variations. In the transcriptional regulation network, TP63 and FOXO1 act as suppressors of prostate cancer lineage plasticity, whereas RORC exerts a promoting effect. This study provides a comprehensive perspective on the role of the RTK/RAS pathway in prostate cancer lineage plasticity and offers new clues for the treatment of NEPC.

MicroRNA-204 Regulates Angiogenesis and Vasculogenic Mimicry in CD44+/CD24- Breast Cancer Stem-like Cells

Tumors have high requirements in terms of nutrients and oxygen. Angiogenesis is the classical mechanism for vessel formation. Tumoral vascularization has the function of nourishing the cancer cells to support tumor growth. Vasculogenic mimicry, a novel intratumoral microcirculation system, alludes to the ability of cancer cells to organize in three-dimensional (3D) channel-like architectures. It also supplies the tumors with nutrients and oxygen. Both mechanisms operate in a coordinated way; however, their functions in breast cancer stem-like cells and their regulation by microRNAs remain elusive. In the present study, we investigated the functional role of microRNA-204 (miR-204) on angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry in breast cancer stem-like cells. Using flow cytometry assays, we found that 86.1% of MDA-MB-231 and 92% of Hs-578t breast cancer cells showed the CD44+/CD24- immunophenotype representative of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). The MDA-MB-231 subpopulation of CSCs exhibited the ability to form mammospheres, as expected. Interestingly, we found that the restoration of miR-204 expression in CSCs significantly inhibited the number and size of the mammospheres. Moreover, we found that MDA-MB-231 and Hs-578t CSCs efficiently undergo angiogenesis and hypoxia-induced vasculogenic mimicry in vitro. The transfection of precursor miR-204 in both CSCs was able to impair the angiogenesis in the HUVEC cell model, which was observed as a diminution in the number of polygons and sprouting cells. Remarkably, miR-204 mimics also resulted in the inhibition of vasculogenic mimicry formation in MDA-MB-231 and Hs-578t CSCs, with a significant reduction in the number of channel-like structures and branch points. Mechanistically, the effects of miR-204 were associated with a diminution of pro-angiogenic VEGFA and β-catenin protein levels. In conclusion, our findings indicated that miR-204 abrogates the angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry development in breast cancer stem-like cells, suggesting that it could be a potential tool for breast cancer intervention based on microRNA replacement therapies.

Systematic pan-cancer analysis of RNF186 with potential implications in progression and prognosis in human cancer

AIMS

Cancer remains a significant global public health issue. There is growing proof that Ring Finger Protein 186 (RNF186) may play a function in pan-cancer, however, this has not yet been thoroughly determined. This study aims to analyze RNF186 with potential implications in progression and prognosis in human cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive bioinformatics approaches combined with experimental verification were used across 33 types of cancers in this study to conduct a pan-cancer investigation of RNF186 from the perspectives of gene expression, prognosis, genomic alterations, immunological markers, gene set, and function.

KEY FINDINGS

RNF186 is a valuable prognostic biomarker in several cancer types, especially breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA) and uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC). The levels of RNF186 promoter methylation and genetic alterations may be responsible for some cancers' abnormal expression. Furthermore, RNF186 expression was determined to be associated with immune checkpoint genes. Analysis of RNF186-related genes revealed that proteasome and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway were primarily involved in the cellular function of RNF186. Additionally, our research first confirmed that RNF186 may function as an oncogene and contribute to cancer proliferation, migration and invasion in UCEC. In contrast, RNF186 may play an inhibitory role in BRCA progression. This function depends on the ligase activity of RNF186.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study suggests that RNF186 is a novel critical target for tumor progression in BRCA and UCEC. It reveals that RNF186 may be associated with tumor immunotherapy, which may provide an effective predictive evaluation of the prognosis of immunotherapy.

Role of Angiogenesis and Its Biomarkers in Development of Targeted Tumor Therapies

Angiogenesis plays a significant role in the human body, from wound healing to tumor progression. "Angiogenic switch" indicates a time-restricted event where the imbalance between pro- and antiangiogenic factors results in the transition from prevascular hyperplasia to outgrowing vascularized tumor, which eventually leads to the malignant cancer progression. In the last decade, molecular players, i.e., angiogenic biomarkers and underlying molecular pathways involved in tumorigenesis, have been intensely investigated. Disrupting the initiation and halting the progression of angiogenesis by targeting these biomarkers and molecular pathways has been considered as a potential treatment approach for tumor angiogenesis. This review discusses the currently known biomarkers and available antiangiogenic therapies in cancer, i.e., monoclonal antibodies, aptamers, small molecular inhibitors, miRNAs, siRNAs, angiostatin, endostatin, and melatonin analogues, either approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or currently under clinical and preclinical investigations.

Angiogenesis and prostate cancer: MicroRNAs comes into view

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is an important stage in the growth of cancer. Extracellular matrix, endothelial cells, and soluble substances must be carefully coordinated during the multistep procedure of angiogenesis. Inducers and inhibitors have been found to control pretty much every phase. In addition to benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, and angiogenesis have a critical role in the initiation and progression of prostate cancer. MicroRNA (miRNA) is endogenous, short, non-coding RNA molecules of almost 22 nucleotides play a role in regulating cellular processes and regulating several genes' expression. Through controlling endothelial migration, differentiation, death, and cell proliferation, miRNAs have a significant function in angiogenesis. A number of pathological and physiological processes, particularly prostate cancer's emergence, depend on the regulation of angiogenesis. Investigating the functions played with miRNAs in angiogenesis is crucial because it might result in the creation of novel prostate cancer therapies that entail regulating angiogenesis. The function of several miRNAs and its targeting genes engaged in cancer of the prostate angiogenesis will be reviewed in this review in light of the most recent developments. The potential clinical utility of miRNAs potentially a novel therapeutic targets will also be explored, as well as their capacity to control prostate cancer angiogenesis and the underlying mechanisms.

Aberrant expression of bone morphogenetic proteins in the disease progression and metastasis of breast cancer

Background

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play crucial roles in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of cancers. Controversy remains about the exact implications of BMPs and their antagonists in breast cancer (BC), due to their diverse and complex biological functions and signalling. A comprehensive study of the whole family and their signalling in breast cancer is provoked.

Methods

Aberrant expression of BMP, BMP receptors and antagonists in primary tumours in breast cancer were analysed by using TCGA-BRCA and E-MTAB-6703 cohorts. Related biomarkers including ER, HER, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and bone metastasis were involved to identify the relationship with BMPs in breast cancer.

Results

The present study showed BMP8B was significantly increased in breast tumours, while BMP6 and ACVRL1 were decreased in breast cancer tissues. The expressions of BMP2, BMP6, TGFBR1 and GREM1 were significantly correlated with BC patients' poor overall survival. Aberrant expression of BMPs, together with BMP receptors, were explored in different subtypes of breast cancer according to ER, PR and HER2 status. Furthermore, higher levels of BMP2, BMP6 and GDF5 were revealed in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) whilst BMP4, GDF15, ACVR1B, ACVR2B and BMPR1B were relatively higher in Luminal type BC. ACVR1B and BMPR1B were positively correlated with ERα but were inversely correlated with ERβ. High expression of GDF15, BMP4 and ACVR1B were associated with poorer overall survival in HER2 positive BC. BMPs also play dual roles in tumour growth and metastasis of BC.

Conclusion

A shift pattern of BMPs was showed in different subtypes of breast cancer suggesting a subtype specific involvement. It provokes more research to shed light on the exact role of these BMPs and receptors in the disease progression and distant metastasis through a regulation of proliferation, invasion and EMT.

Core genes in lung adenocarcinoma identified by integrated bioinformatic analysis

This study aims to identify potential core genes of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Three datasets (GSE32863, GSE43458, and GSE116959) were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between LUAD and normal tissues were filtrated by GEO2R tool. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed via Metascape database. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and core genes were identified using STRING and Cytoscape. Core genes expressions and their relevant clinical characteristics were performed via Oncomine and UALCAN databases respectively. The correlation between core genes and immune infiltrates was investigated by TIMER database. Kaplan-Meier plotter was performed for survival analysis. The signal pathway network of core genes was mapped by KEGG Mapper analysis tool. In this study, ten core genes were significantly related to overall survival (OS) of LUAD patients, which can provide clues for prognosis of LUAD.

MicroRNA-204-5p: A pivotal tumor suppressor

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding single-stranded RNA molecules with a length of approximately 18-25 nt nucleotides that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. MiR-204-5p originates from the sixth intron of the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 3 (TRPM3) gene. MiR-204-5p is frequently downregulated in various cancer types and is related to the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of cancer patients. So far, many studies have determined that miR-204-5p functions as a tumor suppressor for its extensive and powerful capacity to inhibit tumor proliferation, metastasis, autophagy, and chemoresistance in multiple cancer types. MiR-204-5p appears to be a promising prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for human cancers. This review summarized the latest advances on the role of miR-204-5p in human cancers.

Angioregulatory role of miRNAs and exosomal miRNAs in glioblastoma pathogenesis

Glioblastoma (GB) is a highly aggressive cancer of the central nervous system, occurring in the brain or spinal cord. Many factors such as angiogenesis are associated with GB development. Angiogenesis is a procedure by which the pre-existing blood vessels create new vessels that play an essential role in health and disease, including tumors. Also, angiogenesis is one of the significant factors thought to be responsible for treatment resistance in many tumors, including GB. Hence, an improved understanding of the molecular processes underlying GB angiogenesis will pave the way for developing potential new treatments. Recently, it has been found that microRNAs (miRNAs) and exosomal miRNAs have a crucial role in inducing or inhibiting the angiogenesis process in GB development. A better knowledge of the miRNA's regulation pathway in the angiogenesis process in cancer offers unique mechanistic insight into the mechanism of tumor-associated neovascularization. Because of advancements in miRNA characterization and delivery methods, miRNAs can also be employed in clinical settings as potential biomarkers for anti-angiogenic treatment response as well as therapies targeting tumor angiogenesis. The recent finding and insights about miRNAs' angioregulatory role and exosomal miRNAs in GB are provided throughout the review. Also, we discuss the new concept of miRNAs-based therapies for GB in the future.

Targeting Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives of Novel Anti-Angiogenic Approaches

Angiogenesis is a vital process for the growth and dissemination of solid cancers. Numerous molecular pathways are known to drive angiogenic switch in cancer cells promoting the growth of new blood vessels and increased incidence of distant metastasis. Several angiogenesis inhibitors are clinically available for the treatment of different types of advanced solid cancers. These inhibitors mostly belong to monoclonal antibodies or small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting the classical vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors. Nevertheless, breast cancer is one example of solid tumors that had constantly failed to respond to angiogenesis inhibitors in terms of improved survival outcomes of patients. Accordingly, it is of paramount importance to assess the molecular mechanisms driving angiogenic signaling in breast cancer to explore suitable drug targets that can be further investigated in preclinical and clinical settings. This review summarizes the current evidence for the effect of clinically available anti-angiogenic drugs in breast cancer treatment. Further, major mechanisms associated with intrinsic or acquired resistance to anti-VEGF therapy are discussed. The review also describes evidence from preclinical and clinical studies on targeting novel non-VEGF angiogenic pathways in breast cancer and several approaches to the normalization of tumor vasculature by targeting pericytes, utilization of microRNAs and extracellular tumor-associate vesicles, using immunotherapeutic drugs, and nanotechnology.

miR-548j-5p regulates angiogenesis in peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a vascular disease involving diffuse atherosclerosis, and is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most severe complication of PAD. In addition to medical and interventional treatment, therapeutic angiogenesis is a novel therapy for PAD. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered key regulators of gene expression, but their role in ischemic-induced angiogenesis is poorly-characterized. There is currently a limited understanding of the specific miRNAs associated with PAD. To determine the regulation of miRNAs, we obtained miRNA profiles using RNA isolated from patients with PAD and a control group. The effects of specific miRNAs on angiogenesis were evaluated by assessing the in vitro angiogenic function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), performing an in vivo angiogenesis assay, and employing a mouse hindlimb ischemic model. Our results demonstrated that circulating miR-548j-5p was significantly reduced in patients with PAD as compared with the controls. miR-548j-5p promoted EPC angiogenesis by enhancing migration and tube formation. The endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1 signaling pathways appeared to be potential targets of miR-548j-5p. Furthermore, the results of a directed in vivo angiogenesis assay of EPCs and a hindlimb ischemia mouse model demonstrated that miR-548j-5p enhanced the capillary density and blood flow recovery in hindlimb ischemia. In conclusion, our data indicated that up-regulation of miR-548j-5p promotes angiogenesis in ischemic tissue and may represent a novel therapeutic approach for PAD.

Signaling pathways modulated by miRNAs in breast cancer angiogenesis and new therapeutics

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors by suppressing the expression of target genes, some of which are engaged in angiogenic signaling pathways directly or indirectly. Tumor development and metastasis are dependent on angiogenesis, and it is the main reason for the poor prognosis of cancer patients. New blood vessels are formed from pre-existing vessels when angiogenesis occurs. Thus, it is essential to develop primary tumors and the spread of cancer to surrounding tissues. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs involved in various biological processes. They can bind to the 3'-UTR of their target genes and prevent them from expressing. MiRNAs control the activity of endothelial cells (ECs) through altering many biological pathways, which plays a key role in cancer progression and angiogenesis. Recent findings revealed that tumor-derived extracellular vesicles participated directly in the control of tumor angiogenesis by delivering miRNAs to ECs. miRNAs recently show great promise in cancer therapies to inhibit angiogenesis. In this study, we showed the miRNA-regulated signaling pathways in tumor angiogenesis with highlighting the anti-angiogenic therapy response and miRNA delivery methods that have been used to inhibit angiogenesis in both in vivo and in vitro studies.

MicroRNA-204/CREB5 axis regulates vasculogenic mimicry in breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is characterized by formation of three-dimensional (3D) channels-like structures by tumor cells, supplying the nutrients needed for tumor growth. VM is stimulated by hypoxic tumor microenvironment, and it has been associated with increased metastasis and clinical poor outcome in cancer patients. cAMP responsive element (CRE)-binding protein 5 (CREB5) is a hypoxia-activated transcription factor involved in tumorigenesis. However, CREB5 functions in VM and if its regulated by microRNAs remains unknown in breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to study the functional relationships between VM, CREB5 and microRNA-204-5p (miR-204) in breast cancer cells.

METHODS

CREB5 expression was evaluated by mining the public databases, and using RT-qPCR and Western blot assays. CREB5 expression was silenced using short-hairpin RNAs in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. VM formation was analyzed using matrigel-based cultures in hypoxic conditions. MiR-204 expression was restored in cancer cells by transfection of RNA mimics. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to evaluate the binding of miR-204 to 3'UTR of CREB5.

RESULTS

Our data showed that CREB5 mRNA expression was upregulated in a set of breast cancer cell lines and clinical tumors, and it was positively associated with poor prognosis in lymph nodes positive and grade 3 basal breast cancer patients. Silencing of CREB5 impaired the hypoxia-induced formation of 3D channels-like structures representative of the early stages of VM in MDA-MB-231 cells. In contrast, VM formation was not observed in MCF-7 cells. Interestingly, we found that CREB5 expression was negatively regulated by miR-204 mimics in breast cancer cells. Functional analysis confirmed that miR-204 binds to CREB5 3'-UTR indicating that it's an ulterior effector.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested that CREB5 could be a potential biomarker of disease progression in basal subtype of breast cancer, and that perturbations of the miR-204/CREB5 axis plays an important role in VM development in breast cancer cells.

Integrated Analysis of Circular RNA-Associated ceRNA Network Reveals Potential circRNA Biomarkers in Human Breast Cancer

Circular RNA (circRNA) is closely related to tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Yet, the roles of cancer-specific circRNAs in the circRNA-related ceRNA network of breast cancer (BRCA) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to construct a ceRNA network associated with circRNA and to explore new therapeutic and prognostic targets and biomarkers for breast cancer. We downloaded the circRNA expression profile of BRCA from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) microarray datasets and downloaded the miRNA and mRNA expression profiles of BRCA from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs), differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), and differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) were identified, and a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network was constructed based on circRNA-miRNA pairs and miRNA-mRNA pairs. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were performed on mRNAs regulated by circRNAs in ceRNA networks. Survival analysis and correlation analysis of all mRNAs and miRNAs in the ceRNA network were performed. A total of 72 DEcircRNAs, 158 DEmiRNAs, and 2762 DE mRNAs were identified. The constructed ceRNA network contains 60 circRNA-miRNA pairs and 140 miRNA-mRNA pairs, including 40 circRNAs, 30 miRNAs, and 100 mRNAs. Functional enrichment indicated that DEmRNAs regulated by DEcircRNAs in ceRNA networks were significantly enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, microRNAs in cancer, and proteoglycans in cancer. Survival analysis and correlation analysis of all mRNAs and miRNAs in the ceRNA network showed that 13 mRNAs and 6 miRNAs were significantly associated with overall survival, and 48 miRNA-mRNA interaction pairs had a significant negative correlation. A PPI network was established, and 21 hub genes were determined from the network. This study provides an effective bioinformatics basis for further understanding of the molecular mechanisms and predictions of breast cancer. A better understanding of the circRNA-related ceRNA network in BRCA will help identify potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.

Role of MicroRNAs and Long Non-Coding RNAs in Regulating Angiogenesis in Human Breast Cancer- A Molecular Medicine Perspective

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are proficient in regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally. Considering the recent trend in exploiting non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as cancer therapeutics, the potential use of miRNAs and lncRNAs as biomarkers and novel therapeutic agents against angiogenesis is an important scientific aspect. An estimated 70% of the genome is actively transcribed, only 2% of which codes for known protein-coding genes. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a large and diverse class of RNAs > 200 nucleotides in length, and not translated into protein, and are of utmost importance and it governs the expression of genes in a temporal, spatial, and cell context-dependent manner. Angiogenesis is an essential process for organ morphogenesis and growth during development, and it is relevant during the repair of wounded tissue in adults. It is coordinated by an equilibrium of pro-and anti-angiogenic factors; nevertheless, when affected, it promotes several diseases, including breast cancer. Signaling pathways involved here are tightly controlled systems that regulate the appropriate timing of gene expression required for the differentiation of cells down a particular lineage essential for proper tissue development. Lately, scientific reports are indicating that ncRNAs, such as miRNAs, and lncRNAs, play critical roles in angiogenesis related to breast cancer. The specific roles of various miRNAs and lncRNAs in regulating angiogenesis in breast cancer, with particular focus on the downstream targets and signaling pathways regulated by these ncRNAs with molecular medicine perspective, are highlighted in this write-up.

MicroRNAs: Important Players in Breast Cancer Angiogenesis and Therapeutic Targets

The high incidence of breast cancer (BC) is linked to metastasis, facilitated by tumor angiogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that have an essential role in gene expression and are significantly linked to the tumor development and angiogenesis process in different types of cancer, including BC. There's increasing evidence showed that various miRNAs play a significant role in disease processes; specifically, they are observed and over-expressed in a wide range of diseases linked to the angiogenesis process. However, more studies are required to reach the best findings and identify the link among miRNA expression, angiogenic pathways, and immune response-related genes to find new therapeutic targets. Here, we summarized the recent updates on miRNA signatures and their cellular targets in the development of breast tumor angiogenetic and discussed the strategies associated with miRNA-based therapeutic targets as anti-angiogenic response.

LncRNA NEAT1 Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression Through miR-17-5p/TGFβR2 Axis Up-Regulated Angiogenesis

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been indicated to play critical roles in gastric cancer (GC) tumorigenesis and progression. However, their roles in GC remain to be further elucidated.

Methods

RT-qPCR and fluorescence in situ hybridzation (FISH) were conducted to detect the expression of lncRNA NEAT1 in GC tissues and cell lines. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed to screen out potential phenotypes and pathways that NEAT1 may participate in. NEAT1-silenced AGS and MGC803 cells were constructed and a series of functional experiments to investigate the roles of NEAT1 in GC angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. RNA pull down and luciferase reporter assays were utilized to illustrate the mechanisms underlying the functions of NEAT1 in GC.

Results

We observed that NEAT1 was upregulated in most GC specimens and cell lines. NEAT1 high was correlated with poor prognosis of GC patients. In vitro experiments showed that NEAT1 promoted GC angiogenesis by enhancing proliferation, migration, and tube formation ability of endothelial cells. Mechanism researches revealed that NEAT1 could competitively sponge miR-17-5p which targeted TGFβR2 directly. Subsequently, activate TGFβ/Smad pathway by following with upregulation of a series of classical proangiogenic factors especially VEGF.

Conclusion

The study unveiled that the LncRNA NEAT1/miR-17-5p/TGFβR2 axis is a novel mechanism in GC angiogenesis. Disrupting this axis may be a potential strategy for GC treatment.

Traditional Chinese Medication Qiliqiangxin Attenuates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy via Activating PPARγ

Background: Diabetic cardiomyopathy is the primary complication associated with diabetes mellitus and also is a major cause of death and disability. Limited pharmacological therapies are available for diabetic cardiomyopathy. Qiliqiangxin (QLQX), a Chinese medication, has been proven to be beneficial for heart failure patients. However, the role and the underlying protective mechanisms of QLQX in diabetic cardiomyopathy remain largely unexplored. Methods: Primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were treated with glucose (HG, 40 mM) to establish the hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis model in vitro. Streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg/day for 5 consecutive days) was intraperitoneally injected into mice to establish the diabetic cardiomyopathy model in vivo. Various analyses including qRT-PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence [terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining] histology (hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining), and cardiac function (echocardiography) were performed in these mice. QLQX (0.5 μg/ml in vitro and 0.5 g/kg/day in vivo) was used in this study. Results: QLQX attenuated hyperglycemia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via activating peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). In vivo, QLQX treatment protected mice against STZ-induced cardiac dysfunction and pathological remodeling. Conclusions: QLQX attenuates diabetic cardiomyopathy via activating PPARγ.

Exosomal lncRNA-H19 promotes osteogenesis and angiogenesis through mediating Angpt1/Tie2-NO signaling in CBS-heterozygous mice

Rationale: Emerging evidence indicates that the growth of blood vessels and osteogenesis is tightly coordinated during bone development. However, the molecular regulators of intercellular communication in the bone microenvironment are not well studied. Therefore, we aim to investigate whether BMMSC-Exo promotes osteogenesis and angiogenesis via transporting lnc-H19 in the CBS- heterozygous mouse model. Methods: Using RT2 lncRNA PCR array screening, we identify a bone-specific, long noncoding RNA-H19 (lncRNA-H19/lnc-H19) in exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC-Exo) during osteogenesis. Using bioinformatics analysis, we further discovered the seed sequence of miR-106a that could bind to lnc-H19. A luciferase reporter assay was performed to demonstrate the direct binding of miR-106a to the target gene angiopoietin 1 (Angpt1). We employed an immunocompromised Nude mouse model, to evaluate the effects of BMMSC-Exo on angiogenesis in vivo. Using a micro-CT scan, we monitored microstructural changes of bone in the experimental mice. Results: BMMSC-Exo possessed exosomal characteristics including exosome size, and typical markers including CD63, CD9, and TSD101. In vitro, BMMSC-Exo significantly promoted endothelial angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Mechanistic studies have shown that exosomal lnc-H19 acts as "sponges" to absorb miR-106 and regulate the expression of angiogenic factor, Angpt1 that activates lnc-H19/Tie2-NO signaling in mesenchymal and endothelial cells. Both of these effects on osteogenesis and angiogenesis are inhibited by antagonizing Tie2 signaling. Treatment of BMMSC-Exo also restored the bone formation and mechanical quality in vivo. Conclusion: These findings provide a novel insight into how the extracellular role of exosomal lnc-H19 affects osteogenesis and angiogenesis through competing endogenous RNA networks.

Angioregulatory microRNAs in breast cancer: Molecular mechanistic basis and implications for therapeutic strategies

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Cancer-associated angiogenesis is a fundamental process in tumor growth and metastasis.

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Angioregulatory miRNA–target gene interaction is not only involved in sprouting vessels of breast tumors but also, trans-differentiation of breast cancer cells to endothelial cells in a process termed vasculogenic mimicry.

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Successful targeting of tumor angiogenesis is still a missing link in the treatment of Breast cancer (BC) due to the low effectiveness of anti-angiogenic therapies in this cancer.

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Response to anti-angiogenic therapeutics are controlled by a miRNAs, so the identification of interaction networks of miRNAs–targets can be applicable in determining anti-angiogeneic therapy and new biomarkers in BC.

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Angioregulatory miRNAs in breast cancer cells and their microenvironment have therapeutic potential in cancer treatment.

Background

Cancer-associated angiogenesis is a fundamental process in tumor growth and metastasis. A variety of signaling regulators and pathways contribute to establish neovascularization, among them as small endogenous non-coding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) play prominent dual regulatory function in breast cancer (BC) angiogenesis.

Aim of Review

This review aims at describing the current state-of-the-art in BC angiogenesis-mediated by angioregulatory miRNAs, and an overview of miRNAs dysregulation association with the anti-angiogenic response in addition to potential clinical application of miRNAs-based therapeutics.

Key Scientific Concepts of Review

Angioregulatory miRNA–target gene interaction is not only involved in sprouting vessels of breast tumors but also, trans-differentiation of BC cells to endothelial cells (ECs) in a process termed vasculogenic mimicry. Using canonical and non-canonical angiogenesis pathways, the tumor cell employs the oncogenic characteristics such as miRNAs dysregulation to increase survival, proliferation, oxygen and nutrient supply, and treatment resistance. Angioregulatory miRNAs in BC cells and their microenvironment have therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. Although, miRNAs dysregulation can serve as tumor biomarker nevertheless, due to the association of miRNAs dysregulation with anti-angiogenic resistant phenotype, clinical benefits of anti-angiogenic therapy might be challenging in BC. Hence, unveiling the molecular mechanism underlying angioregulatory miRNAs sparked a booming interest in finding new treatment strategies such as miRNA-based therapies in BC.

Combined In Situ Hybridization and Immunohistochemistry on Archival Tissues Reveals Stromal microRNA-204 as Prognostic Biomarker for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Simple Summary

In addition to the transformation of epithelial cells, dysfunction of stroma is crucial in carcinogenesis; cancer-associated stroma can regulate the phenotype of cancer cells and thereby influence the clinical outcome. Our study aimed to investigate the correlation of stromal miR-204 with progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and assert its clinical utility. We first established a chromogen-based method that combined immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for exact delimitation of stroma from the tumor islands and concomitant visualization of miRs, and have developed a guide to digital miR quantification using the publicly available tool ImageJ and the licensed software Aperio ImageScope. We have then applied the method for investigating stromal miR-204 as a putative prognostic biomarker on an OSCC cohort and identified expression of miR204 in the stroma at tumor front as an independent prognostic biomarker for this disease.

Abstract

Micro-RNAs (miRs) are emerging as important players in carcinogenesis. Their stromal expression has been less investigated in part due to lack of methods to accurately differentiate between tumor compartments. This study aimed to establish a robust method for dual visualization of miR and protein (pan-cytokeratin) by combining chromogen-based in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), and to apply it to investigate stromal expression of miR204 as a putative prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Four different combinations of methods were tested and ImageJ and Aperio ImageScope were used to quantify miR expression. All four dual ISH-IHC methods tested were comparable to single ISH in terms of positive pixel area percentage or integrated optical density of miRs staining. Based on technical simplicity, one of the methods was chosen for further investigation of miR204 on a cohort of human papilloma virus (HPV)-negative primary OSCC (n = 169). MiR204 stromal expression at tumor front predicted recurrence-free survival (p = 0.032) and overall survival (p = 0.036). Multivariate Cox regression further confirmed it as an independent prognostic biomarker in OSCC. This study provides a methodological platform for integrative biomarker studies based on simultaneous detection and quantification of miRs and/or protein and reveals stromal miR204 as a prognostic biomarker in OSCC.

Regulators at Every Step-How microRNAs Drive Tumor Cell Invasiveness and Metastasis

Tumor cell invasiveness and metastasis are the main causes of mortality in cancer. Tumor progression is composed of many steps, including primary tumor growth, local invasion, intravasation, survival in the circulation, pre-metastatic niche formation, and metastasis. All these steps are strictly controlled by microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNA that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs can act as oncomiRs that promote tumor cell invasion and metastasis or as tumor suppressor miRNAs that inhibit tumor progression. These miRNAs regulate the actin cytoskeleton, the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) receptors including integrins and ECM-remodeling enzymes comprising matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), hence modulating cell migration and invasiveness. Moreover, miRNAs regulate angiogenesis, the formation of a pre-metastatic niche, and metastasis. Thus, miRNAs are biomarkers of metastases as well as promising targets of therapy. In this review, we comprehensively describe the role of various miRNAs in tumor cell migration, invasion, and metastasis.

Urinary expression of long non-coding RNA TUG1 in non-diabetic patients with glomerulonephritides

Metabolic alterations serve a significant role in the pathogenesis of kidney disease. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) is a known regulator of podocyte health and mitochondrial biogenesis. Although TUG1 protects against podocyte loss in models of diabetic nephropathy, it is unknown if urinary TUG1 expression is associated with clinical and histopathological findings in non-diabetic patients diagnosed with glomerulonephritides. In the present study, the expression of TUG1, podocyte-specific markers (nephrin and podocin) and mitochondrial biogenesis-associated mRNAs (transcription factor A mitochondrial, cytochrome C oxidase subunit 5A and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α) were examined in urinary sediment of non-diabetic patients with biopsy-confirmed glomerulonephritides and healthy controls. Urinary expression of TUG1 was significantly lower in patients with glomerulonephritides, particularly those diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Furthermore, TUG1 levels were associated with urinary expression of podocyte-specific markers and mRNAs associated with mitochondrial biogenesis. Loss of TUG1 expression in urinary sediment was strongly associated with FSGS, highlighting the potential of this lncRNA and its mitochondrial biogenesis-associated targets as non-invasive biomarkers of assessing podocytopathy.

Non-coding RNAs regulate angiogenic processes

Angiogenesis has critical roles in numerous physiologic processes during embryonic and adult life such as wound healing and tissue regeneration. However, aberrant angiogenic processes have also been involved in the pathogenesis of several disorders such as cancer and diabetes mellitus. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is implicated in the regulation of this process in several physiologic and pathologic conditions. Notably, several non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been shown to influence angiogenesis through modulation of expression of VEGF or other angiogenic factors. In the current review, we summarize the function and characteristics of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs which regulate angiogenic processes. Understanding the role of these transcripts in the angiogenesis can facilitate design of therapeutic strategies to defeat the pathogenic events during this process especially in the human malignancies. Besides, angiogenesis-related mechanisms can improve tissue regeneration after conditions such as arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction and limb ischemia. Thus, ncRNA-regulated angiogenesis can be involved in the pathogenesis of several disorders.

MiR-183-5p Promotes Proliferation, Metastasis and Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer Cells through Negatively Regulating Four and a Half LIM Protein 1

Purpose

Four and a half LIM protein 1 (FHL1) is involved in breast cancer (BC) development, but the regulatory mechanism involved remain unclear. In the present study, we examined the role of FHL1 in BC development.

Methods

The expression of FHL1, miR-183-5p, and miR-96-5p in BC tissues was analyzed using StarBase analysis. FHL1 expression in BC tissues, a normal human breast epithelial cell line, and BC cell lines was detected using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The relationship between FHL1 and miR-183-5p/miR-96-5p was analyzed via Pearson's rank correlation, TargetScan, and a dual-luciferase reporter assay. BT549 and MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with either FHL1 and miR-183-5p mimics, or siFHL1 and a miR-183-5p inhibitor, respectively. The viability, colony number, migration, invasion, and tube length of BT549 and MDA-MB-231 cells were examined using cell counting kit-8, colony formation, wound-healing, Transwell, and tube formation assays, respectively. The levels of FHL1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), p53, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin were quantified using western blotting and qRT-PCR.

Results

FHL1 expression was downregulated in BC tissues and cells, whereas miR-183-5p and miR-96-5p were upregulated in BC tissues (negative correlation with FHL1 expression). FHL1 overexpression inhibited the viability, colony number, migration, and invasion of BC cells and the expression of VEGF, N-cadherin, and vimentin, and increased the expression of FHL1, p53, and E-cadherin in BT549 cells. Furthermore, a miR-183-5p mimic reversed these effects of FHL1 overexpression, whereas FHL1 silencing caused opposite results to those observed in MDA-MB-231 cells; however, this was reversed by a miR-183-5p inhibitor.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that miR-183-5p promotes cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis by negatively regulating FHL1 in BC.

MicroRNA-Dependent Targeting of RSU1 and the IPP Adhesion Complex Regulates the PTEN/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

(1) Background: The microRNA (miR)-directed control of gene expression is correlated with numerous physiological processes as well as the pathological features of tumors. The focus of this study is on the role of miRs in the regulation of RSU1 and proteins in the IPP (integrin linked kinase, PINCH and parvin) complex. Because the IPP adaptor proteins link β integrins to actin cytoskeleton, and the RSU1 signaling protein connects the complex to the activation of cJun, ATF2 and the transcription of PTEN, their reduction by miRs has the potential to alter both adhesion and survival signaling. (2) Methods: Multiple database analyses were used to identify miRs that target RSU1 and PINCH1. miR transfection validated the effects of miRs on RSU1, PINCH1 and downstream targets in breast cancer cell lines. (3) Results: The miRs targeting RSU1 mRNA include miR-182-5p, -409-3p, -130a-3p, -221-3p, -744-5p and -106b-5p. Data show that miR-182-5p and -409-3p reduce RSU1, PINCH1 and inhibit the ATF2 activation of PTEN expression. miR-221-3p and miR-130a-3p target RSU1 and PINCH1 and, conversely, RSU1 depletion increases miR-221-3p and miR-130a-3p. (4) Conclusions: miRs targeting RSU1 and PINCH1 in mammary epithelial or luminal breast cancer cell lines reduced RSU1 signaling to p38 MAP kinase and ATF2, inhibiting the expression of PTEN. miR-221-3p, known to target PTEN and cell cycle regulators, also targets RSU1 and PINCH1 in luminal breast cancer cell lines.

Reciprocal fine-tuning of progesterone and prolactin-regulated gene expression in breast cancer cells

Progesterone and prolactin are two key hormones involved in development and remodeling of the mammary gland. As such, both hormones have been linked to breast cancer. Despite the overlap between biological processes ascribed to these two hormones, little is known about how co-expression of both hormones affects their individual actions. Progesterone and prolactin exert many of their effects on the mammary gland through activation of gene expression, either directly (progesterone, binding to the progesterone receptor [PR]) or indirectly (multiple transcription factors being activated downstream of prolactin, most notably STAT5). Using RNA-seq in T47D breast cancer cells, we characterized the gene expression programs regulated by progestin and prolactin, either alone or in combination. We found significant crosstalk and fine-tuning between the transcriptional programs executed by each hormone independently and in combination. We divided and characterized the transcriptional programs into four broad categories. All crosstalk/fine-tuning shown to be modulated by progesterone was dependent upon the expression of PR. Moreover, PR was recruited to enhancer regions of all regulated genes. Interestingly, despite the canonical role for STAT5 in transducing prolactin-signaling in the normal and lactating mammary gland, very few of the prolactin-regulated transcriptional programs fine-tuned by progesterone in this breast cancer cell line model system were in fact dependent upon STAT5. Cumulatively, these data suggest that the interplay of progesterone and prolactin in breast cancer impacts gene expression in a more complex and nuanced manner than previously thought, and likely through different transcriptional regulators than those observed in the normal mammary gland. Studying gene regulation when both hormones are present is most clinically relevant, particularly in the context of breast cancer.

Targeting TRAF3IP2, Compared to Rab27, is More Effective in Suppressing the Development and Metastasis of Breast Cancer

Here we investigated the roles of Rab27a, a player in exosome release, and TRAF3IP2, an inflammatory mediator, in development and metastasis of breast cancer (BC) in vivo. Knockdown (KD) of Rab27a (MDA_KDRab27a) or TRAF3IP2 (MDA_KDTRAF3IP2) in triple negative MDA-MB231 cells reduced tumor growth by 70-97% compared to wild-type tumors (MDA_w). While metastasis was detected in MDA_w-injected animals, none was detected in MDA_KDRab27a- or MDA_KDTRAF3IP2-injected animals. Interestingly, micrometastasis was detected only in the MDA_KDRab27a-injected group. In addition to inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis, silencing TRAF3IP2 disrupted inter-cellular inflammatory mediator-mediated communication with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) injected into contralateral mammary gland, evidenced by the lack of tumor growth at MSC-injected site. Of translational significance, treatment of pre-formed MDA_w-tumors with a lentiviral-TRAF3IP2-shRNA not only regressed their size, but also prevented metastasis. These results demonstrate that while silencing Rab27a and TRAF3IP2 each inhibited tumor growth and metastasis, silencing TRAF3IP2 is more effective; targeting TRAF3IP2 inhibited tumor formation, regressed preformed tumors, and prevented both macro- and micrometastasis. Silencing TRAF3IP2 also blocked interaction between tumor cells and MSCs injected into the contralateral gland, as evidenced by the lack of tumor formation on MSCs injected site. These results identify TRAF3IP2 as a novel therapeutic target in BC.

HOX Transcript Antisense RNA HOTAIR Abrogates Vasculogenic Mimicry by Targeting the AngiomiR-204/FAK Axis in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells

HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is an oncogenic long non-coding RNA frequently overexpressed in cancer. HOTAIR can enhance the malignant behavior of tumors by sponging microRNAs with tumor suppressor functions. Vasculogenic mimicry is a hypoxia-activated process in which tumor cells form three-dimensional (3D) channel-like networks, resembling endothelial blood vessels, to obtain nutrients. However, the role of HOTAIR in vasculogenic mimicry and the underlying mechanisms are unknown in human cancers. In the current study, we investigated the relevance of HOTAIR in hypoxia-induced vasculogenic mimicry in metastatic MDA-MB-231 and invasive Hs-578t triple negative breast cancer cells. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database using cBioPortal confirmed that HOTAIR was upregulated in clinical breast tumors relative to normal mammary tissues. Our quantitative RT-PCR assays showed a significant increase in HOTAIR levels after 48 h hypoxia relative to normoxia in breast cancer cell lines. Remarkably, knockdown of HOTAIR significantly abolished the hypoxia-induced vasculogenic mimicry which was accompanied by a reduction in the number of 3D channel-like networks and branch points. Likewise, HOTAIR silencing leads to reduced cell migration abilities of cancer cells. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that HOTAIR has a potential binding site for tumor suppressor miR-204. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that HOTAIR is a competitive endogenous sponge of miR-204. Congruently, forced inhibition of HOTAIR in cells resulted in augmented miR-204 levels in breast cancer cells. Further bioinformatic analysis suggested that miR-204 can bind to the 3' untranslated region of focal adhesion kinase 1 (FAK) transcript involved in cell migration. Western blot and luciferase reporter assays confirmed that FAK is a novel target of miR-204. Finally, silencing of HOTAIR resulted in low levels of cytoplasmic FAK protein and alterations in the organization of cellular cytoskeleton and focal adhesions. In summary, our results showed, for the first time, that HOTAIR mitigates cell migration and vasculogenic mimicry by targeting the miR-204/FAK axis in triple negative breast cancer cells.

microRNAs Orchestrate Pathophysiology of Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis: Advances in Therapy

Brain metastasis (BM) predominantly occurs in triple-negative (TN) and epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (BC) patients, and currently, there is an unmet need for the treatment of these patients. BM is a complex process that is regulated by the formation of a metastatic niche. A better understanding of the brain metastatic processes and the crosstalk between cancer cells and brain microenvironment is essential for designing a novel therapeutic approach. In this context, the aberrant expression of miRNA has been shown to be associated with BM. These non-coding RNAs/miRNAs regulate metastasis through modulating the formation of a metastatic niche and metabolic reprogramming via regulation of their target genes. However, the role of miRNA in breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) is poorly explored. Thus, identification and understanding of miRNAs in the pathobiology of BCBM may identify a novel candidate miRNA for the early diagnosis and prevention of this devastating process. In this review, we focus on understanding the role of candidate miRNAs in the regulation of BC brain metastatic processes as well as designing novel miRNA-based therapeutic strategies for BCBM.

Effects of metformin and phenformin on apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in chemoresistant rectal cancer

Recurrence and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer remain important issues for patients treated with conventional therapeutics. Metformin and phenformin, previously used in the treatment of diabetes, have been shown to have anticancer effects in various cancers, including breast, lung and prostate cancers. However, their molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of these drugs in chemoresistant rectal cancer cell lines. We found that SW837 and SW1463 rectal cancer cells were more resistant to ionizing radiation and 5‐fluorouracil than HCT116 and LS513 colon cancer cells. In addition, metformin and phenformin increased the sensitivity of these cell lines by inhibiting cell proliferation, suppressing clonogenic ability and increasing apoptotic cell death in rectal cancer cells. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and transforming growth factor‐β/Smad signaling pathways were more activated in rectal cancer cells, and inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression using an inhibitor or siRNA sensitized rectal cancer cells to chemoresistant by inhibition of the expression of antiapoptotic proteins, such as X‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis, survivin and cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1. Moreover, metformin and phenformin inhibited cell migration and invasion by suppression of transforming growth factor β receptor 2‐mediated Snail and Twist expression in rectal cancer cells. Therefore, metformin and phenformin may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of chemoresistant rectal cancer by targeting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and transforming growth factor‐β/Smad signaling.

ssc-miR-204 regulates porcine preadipocyte differentiation and apoptosis by targeting TGFBR1 and TGFBR2

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) take part in a variety of biological processes by regulating target genes. Transforming growth factor β receptor 1 (TGFBR1) and TGFBR2 are crucial members of the TGF-β family and are serine/threonine kinase receptors. The aim of this study was to explore the functions of ssc-miR-204 in porcine preadipocyte differentiation and apoptosis with regard to the TGFβ/Smad pathway. We identified miRNAs predicted to target TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 using a database and selected ssc-miR-204 as a candidate miRNA. ssc-miR-204 overexpression dramatically reduced the levels of TGFBR1 and TGFBR2. However, after transfection with ssc-miR-204 inhibitor, TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 levels were dramatically increased. ssc-miR-204 overexpression dramatically promoted porcine preadipocyte differentiation and apoptosis. After transfection with ssc-miR-204 inhibitor, porcine preadipocyte differentiation and apoptosis were dramatically inhibited. After transfection with ssc-miR-204 mimics, Smad2, Smad3, Smad4, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 protein levels significantly decreased, and adipogenesis was regulated by inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway. Taken together, these results verified that ssc-miR-204 regulates porcine preadipocyte differentiation and apoptosis by targeting TGFBR1 and TGFBR2.

Identifying and targeting angiogenesis-related microRNAs in ovarian cancer

Current anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer is based mainly on inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway. However, due to the transient and only modest benefit from such therapy, additional approaches are needed. Deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been demonstrated to be involved in tumor angiogenesis and offers opportunities for a new therapeutic approach. However, effective miRNA-delivery systems are needed for such approaches to be successful. In this study, miRNA profiling of patient data sets, along with in vitro and in vivo experiments, revealed that miR-204-5p could promote angiogenesis in ovarian tumors through THBS1. By binding with scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SCARB1), reconstituted high-density lipoprotein-nanoparticles (rHDL-NPs) were effective in delivering miR-204-5p inhibitor (miR-204-5p-inh) to tumor sites to suppress tumor growth. These results offer a new understanding of miR-204-5p in regulating tumor angiogenesis.

lncRNA ATXN8OS promotes breast cancer by sequestering miR‑204

Breast cancer (BC) is a common malignancy among women and the leading cause of female cancer mortality worldwide. In recent years, increasing evidence has shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in human cancer and that they are involved in many biological processes, including proliferation, migration, apoptosis and invasion. In the present study, the biological function and molecular mechanism of ataxin 8 opposite strand (ATXN8OS) in BC tissue and cell lines were investigated. It was found that ATXN8OS was markedly up-regulated in BC tissue and cell lines, and that its level of overexpression was inversely linked with the overall survival rate of patients with BC. Knockdown of ATXN8OS inhibited proliferation, viability and invasion in the human MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 BC cell lines. In addition, microRNA-204 (miR-204) was negatively associated with the expression of ATXN8OS in BC tissues and cell lines. A luciferase assay demonstrated a direct binding site for miR-204 within ATXN8OS, and inhibition of miR-204 stimulated the tumour-promoting effect of ATXN8OS on BC cells. In conclusion, the present study suggested that ATXN8OS acts as a tumour promoter by sequestering miR-204 during the development of BC, therefore providing a mechanistic insight which may facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of BC.

Identification of competitive endogenous RNAs network in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

MiRNAs can regulate gene expression directly or indirectly, and long noncoding RNAs as competing endogenous RNA (ceRNAs) can bind to miRNAs competitively and affect mRNA expression. The ceRNA network is still unclear in breast cancer. In this study, a ceRNA network was constructed, and new treatment and prognosis targets and biomarkers for breast cancer were explored.

METHODS

A total of 1 096 cancer tissues and 112 adjacent normal tissues to cancer from the TCGA database were used to screen out significant differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs), lncRNAs (DELs), and miRNAs (DEMis) to construct a ceRNA network. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were used to predict potential functions. Survival analysis was performed to predict which functions were significant for prognosis.

RESULTS

From the analysis, 2 139 DEMs, 1 059 DELs, and 84 DEMis were obtained. Targeting predictions for DEMis-DELs and DEMis-DEMs can yield 26 DEMs, 90 DELs, and 18 DEMis. We performed GO enrichment analysis, and the results showed that the upregulated DEMs were involved in nucleosomes, extracellular regions, and nucleosome assembly, while the downregulated DEMs were mainly involved in Z disk, muscle contraction, and structural constituents of muscle. KEGG pathway analysis was performed on all DEMs, and the pathways were enriched in retinol metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and tyrosine metabolism. Through survival analysis of the ceRNA network, we identified four DEMs, two DELs, and two DEMis that were significant for poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that constructing a ceRNA network and performing survival analysis on the network could screen out new significant treatment and prognosis targets and biomarkers.

Non-coding RNAs as potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer

Paradigm shifting studies especially involving non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) during last few decades have significantly changed the scientific perspectives regarding the complexity of cellular signalling pathways. Several studies have shown that the non-coding RNAs, initially ignored as transcriptional noise or products of erroneous transcription; actually regulate plethora of biological phenomena ranging from developmental processes to various diseases including cancer. Current strategies that are employed for the management of various cancers including that of breast fall short when their undesired side effects like Cancer Stem Cells (CSC) enrichment, low recurrence-free survival and development of drug resistance are taken into consideration. This review aims at exploring the potential role of ncRNAs as therapeutics in breast cancer, by providing a comprehensive understanding of their mechanism of action and function and their crucial contribution in regulating various aspects of breast cancer progression such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis, EMT, CSCs, drug resistance and metastasis. In addition, we also provide information about various strategies that can be employed or are under development to explore them as potential moieties that may be used for therapeutic intervention in breast cancer.

The expression profiling of circulating miR-204, miR-182, and lncRNA H19 as novel potential biomarkers for the progression of peptic ulcer to gastric cancer

Deregulation of noncoding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), are implicated in the initiation and progression of gastric cancer (GC). This study is a pilot case-control study carried out on 75 subjects, 40 of them were Helicobacter pylori-gastric ulcer patients and 35 were GC patients recruited from the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit in Al-Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, Cairo University in Egypt. Real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the expression level of serum miR-204, miR-182, and lncRNA H19 in patients with peptic ulcer-progressed GC vs nonprogressed peptic ulcer patients. Fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF-18)/FGF receptor 2 (FGFR2) expression and their downstream immunological and inflammatory signaling markers were assessed and their association with the addressed noncoding RNAs investigated. As regards miR-204 and miR-182, they were significantly increased (12.5 and 2.6 folds, respectively) in GU samples, compared with those of healthy control levels. The elevated levels of these miRNAs were significantly de-escalated in GC samples compared with GU and the fold decrease valued 2.2 fold for miR-204 and 1.8 folds for miR-182. On the other hand, the significant escalation in the level of lnRNA H19 in GU recorded a 16.6 fold increase and further elevation in its levels was evident in GC samples. The herein assessed miRNAs are correlated with disease duration and FGFR2 with miR-182 being significantly correlated with all inflammatory markers, TAC, INF-γ, matrix metallopeptidase 9, and FGF-18. In terms of diagnostic accuracy of assessed miRNAs (stages III to IV), the receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that serum lncRNA H19 showed the highest diagnostic accuracy (95.5%), specificity (100%), and sensitivity (90.9%), compared with miR-204 and miR-182, which showed the same specificity (60%), sensitivity (72.7%), and diagnostic accuracy (68.8%). Our findings conclude that lnRNA H19, miR-204, and miR-182 may function as novel prospective plasma biomarkers to detect GC and its progression from H. pylori-peptic ulcer, which would be helpful to improve the theranostics of GC.

A Novel OsteomiRs Expression Signature for Osteoblast Differentiation of Human Amniotic Membrane-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Human amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAM-MSCs) are a potential source of cells for therapeutic applications in bone regeneration. Recent evidence reveals a role for microRNAs (miRNAs) in the fine-tuning regulation of osteogenesis (osteomiRs) suggesting that they can be potential targets for skeleton diseases treatment. However, the functions of osteomiRs during differentiation of hAM-MSCs to osteogenic lineage are poorly understood. In this investigation, we discovered a novel miRNAs expression signature corresponding to the matrix maturation (preosteoblast) and mineralization (mature osteoblast) stages of dexamethasone-induced osteoblastic differentiation of hAM-MSCs. Comprehensive miRNAs profiling using TaqMan Low Density Arrays showed that 18 miRNAs were significantly downregulated, whereas 3 were upregulated in the matrix maturation stage (7 days after osteogenic induction) in comparison to undifferentiated cells used as control. Likewise, 47 miRNAs were suppressed and 25 were overexpressed at mineralization stage (14 days after osteogenic induction) in comparison to osteoprogenitors cells. Five out 93 miRNAs (miR-19b-3p, miR-335-3p, miR-197-3p, miR-34b-39, and miR-576-3p) were regulated at both 7 and 14 days suggesting a role in coordinated guidance of osteoblastic differentiation. Exhaustive bioinformatic predictions showed that the set of modulated miRNAs may target multiple genes involved in regulatory networks driving osteogenesis including key members of BMP, TGF-β, and WNT/β-catenin signaling pathways. Of these miRNAs, we selected miR-204, a noncoding small RNA that was expressed at matrix maturation phase and downregulated at maturation stage, for further functional studies. Interestingly, gain-of-function analysis showed that restoration of miR-204 using RNA mimics at the onset of mineralization stage dramatically inhibited deposition of calcium and osteogenic maturation of hAM-MSCs. Moreover in silico analysis detected a conserved miR-204 binding site at the 3'UTR of TGF-βR2 receptor gene. Using luciferase assays we confirmed that TGF-βR2 is a downstream effector of miR-204. In conclusion, we have identified a miRNAs signature for osteoblast differentiation of hAM-MSCs. The results from this study suggested that these miRNAs may act as potential inhibitors or activators of osteogenesis. Our findings also points towards the idea that miR-204/TGF-βR2 axis has a regulatory role in differentiation of hAM-MSCs committed to osteoblastic lineage.

Dual-Targeting of miR-124-3p and ABCC4 Promotes Sensitivity to Adriamycin in Breast Cancer Cells

AIMS

Increasing evidence links the abnormal expression of microRNAs and ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 4 (ABCC4) with tumor development and progression, as well as with chemoresistance. Our aims were to determine the therapeutic potential of targeting both miR-124-3p and ABCC4 in breast cancer cells and to determine if duel targeting increased their sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression of the ABCC4 protein and miR-124-3p were detected, respectively, by immunohistochemical staining and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in breast cancer tumor tissue, MCF-7 and MCF-7-ADR cell lines. Suppression of ABCC4 expression and miR-124-3p overexpression were performed in MCF-7-ADR cell lines. Western blot assays were used to detect expression of ABCC4 and permeability glycoprotein 1/multi-drug resistance protein 1 (P-gp) in cells. Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry, transwell, and scratch assays were conducted to detect cell proliferation, cell cycle, invasion, and migration of cells.

RESULTS

We found that ABCC4 protein expression was significantly increased, while the miR-124-3p level was significantly decreased in breast cancer tissue and cell lines. Tumor size and clinical tumor node metastasis stage were significantly correlated with elevated expression of ABCC4 and decreased expression of miR-124-3p. Interestingly, ABCC4 expression was significantly increased in MCF-7-ADR cells, while miR-124-3p level was significantly decreased compared with MCF-7 cells. The inhibition of ABCC4 and miR-124-3p overexpression both led to a significant decrease in cell proliferation, invasion, and migration of MCF-7-ADR cells, and combination of suppression of ABCC4 with miR-124-3p overexpression had a synergistic inhibitory effect. Our results further demonstrated that inhibition of ABCC4 expression and overexpression of miR-124-3p significantly enhanced the sensitivity to adriamycin (ADR) in MCF-7-ADR cells, and that simultaneous dual-targeting of miR-124-3p and ABCC4 had a stronger promotive effect on the sensitivity to ADR in MCF-7-ADR cells. Moreover, western blot analysis showed that miR-124-3p overexpression significantly inhibited P-gp expression in MCF-7-ADR cells.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate that the combination of downregulation of ABCC4 with overexpression of miR-124-3p significantly increased sensitivity to ADR in MCF-7-ADR cells. This finding suggests that similar dual targeting may serve as a means to enhance therapies for drug-resistant breast cancers.

Tumor Suppressor miRNA-204-5p Regulates Growth, Metastasis, and Immune Microenvironment Remodeling in Breast Cancer

Various miRNAs play critical roles in the development and progression of solid tumors. In this study, we describe the role of miR-204-5p in limiting growth and progression of breast cancer. In breast cancer tissues, miR-204-5p was significantly downregulated compared with normal breast tissues, and its expression levels were associated with increased survival outcome in patients with breast cancer. Overexpression of miR-204-5p inhibited viability, proliferation, and migration capacity in human and murine breast cancer cells. In addition, miR-204-5p overexpression resulted in a significant alteration in metabolic properties of cancer cells and suppression of tumor growth and metastasis in mouse breast cancer models. The association between miR-204-5p expression and clinical outcomes of patients with breast cancer showed a nonlinear pattern that was reproduced in experimental assays of cancer cell behavior and metastatic capacities. Transcriptome and proteomic analysis revealed that various cancer-related pathways including PI3K/Akt and tumor-immune interactions were significantly associated with miR-204-5p expression. PIK3CB, a major regulator of PI3K/Akt pathway, was a direct target for miR-204-5p, and the association between PIK3CB-related PI3K/Akt signaling and miR-204-5p was most evident in the basal subtype. The sensitivity of breast cancer cells to various anticancer drugs including PIK3CB inhibitors was significantly affected by miR-204-5p expression. In addition, miR-204-5p regulated expression of key cytokines in tumor cells and reprogrammed the immune microenvironment by shifting myeloid and lymphocyte populations. These data demonstrate both cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous impacts of tumor suppressor miR-204-5p in breast cancer progression and metastasis. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates that regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling by miR-204-5p suppresses tumor metastasis and immune cell reprogramming in breast cancer.

AngiomiRs: MicroRNAs driving angiogenesis in cancer (Review)

Angiogenesis is an important hallmark of cancer serving a key role in tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, tumor angiogenesis has become an attractive target for development of novel drug therapies. An increased amount of anti‑angiogenic compounds is currently in preclinical and clinical development for personalized therapies. However, resistance to current angiogenesis inhibitors is emerging, indicating that there is a need to identify novel anti‑angiogenic agents. In the last decade, the field of microRNA biology has exploded revealing unsuspected functions in tumor angiogenesis. These small non‑coding RNAs, which have been dubbed as angiomiRs, may target regulatory molecules driving angiogenesis, such as cytokines, metalloproteinases and growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet‑derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, hypoxia inducible factor‑1, as well as mitogen‑activated protein kinase, phosphoinositide 3‑kinase and transforming growth factor signaling pathways. The present review discusses the current progress towards understanding the functions of miRNAs in tumor angiogenesis regulation in diverse types of human cancer. Furthermore, the potential clinical application of angiomiRs towards anti‑angiogenic tumor therapy was explored.

Entamoeba histolytica Up-Regulates MicroRNA-643 to Promote Apoptosis by Targeting XIAP in Human Epithelial Colon Cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that function as negative regulators of gene expression. Recent evidences suggested that host cells miRNAs are involved in the progression of infectious diseases, but its role in amoebiasis remains largely unknown. Here, we reported an unexplored role for miRNAs of human epithelial colon cells during the apoptosis induced by Entamoeba histolytica. We demonstrated for the first time that SW-480 colon cells change their miRNAs profile in response to parasite exposure. Our data showed that virulent E. histolytica trophozoites induced apoptosis of SW-480 colon cells after 45 min interaction, which was associated to caspases-3 and -9 activation. Comprehensive profiling of 667 miRNAs using Taqman Low-Density Arrays showed that 6 and 15 miRNAs were significantly (FC > 1.5; p < 0.05) modulated in SW-480 cells after 45 and 75 min interaction with parasites, respectively. Remarkably, no significant regulation of the 6-miRNAs signature (miR-526b-5p, miR-150, miR-643, miR-615-5p, miR-525, and miR-409-3p) was found when SW-480 cells were exposed to non-virulent Entamoeba dispar. Moreover, we confirmed that miR-150, miR-643, miR-615-5p, and miR-525 exhibited similar regulation in SW-480 and Caco2 colon cells after 45 min interaction with trophozoites. Exhaustive bioinformatic analysis of the six-miRNAs signature revealed intricate miRNAs-mRNAs co-regulation networks in which the anti-apoptotic XIAP, API5, BCL2, and AKT1 genes were the major targets of the set of six-miRNAs. Of these, we focused in the study of functional relationships between miR-643, upregulated at 45 min interaction, and its predicted target X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). Interestingly, interplay of amoeba with SW-480 cells resulted in downregulation of XIAP consistent with apoptosis activation. More importantly, loss of function studies using antagomiRs showed that forced inhibition of miR-643 leads to restoration of XIAP levels and suppression of both apoptosis and caspases-3 and -9 activation. Congruently, mechanistic studies using luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-643 exerts a postranscripcional negative regulation of XIAP by targeting its 3'-UTR indicating that it's a downstream effector. In summary, we provide novel lines of evidence suggesting that early-branched eukaryote E. histolytica may promote apoptosis of human colon cells by modulating, in part, the host microRNome which highlight an unexpected role for miRNA-643/XIAP axis in the host cellular response to parasites infection.

DSCAM-AS1 promotes tumor growth of breast cancer by reducing miR-204-5p and up-regulating RRM2

Breast cancer (BC) is a common malignancy worldwide. More than 3 700 000 women die of BC every year. DSCAM-AS1 was overexpressed several kinds of cancer and miR-204-5p was lowly expressed, which indicated that miR-204-5p had anti-tumor activity and DSCAM-AS1 had pro-tumor activity. We intended to analyze DSCAM-AS1, miR-204-5p, and ribonucleotide reductase M2 (RRM2). Microarray analysis and quantitative Real Time fluorescence Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) were employed to determine DSCAM-AS1 and miR-204-5p expression. Luciferase reporter assay was applied to examine the target relationship between DSCAM-AS1, miR-204-5p, and RRM2. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8 assay), transwell assay, and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. The expression of DSCAM-AS1, miR-204-5p, and RRM2 were confirmed by Western blot. We also conducted in vivo assay to verify the effect of DSCAM-AS1. DSCAM-AS1 was up-regulated, while miR-204-5p was down-regulated in BC tissues and cells. DSCAM-AS1 directly targeted miR-204-5p. DSCAM-AS1 promoted the proliferation and invasion of BC cells by reducing miR-204-5p and inhibiting miR-204-5p expression. DSCAM-AS1 expression was related to the expression of RRM2, and miR-204-5p could reverse the function of DSCAM-AS1. RRM2 was up-regulated in BC cells, and miR-204-5p inhibited RRM2 expression by targeting RRM2. Overexpression of RRM2 stimulated proliferation and cell invasion and impeded apoptosis. In vivo experiments showed that knockdown of DSCAM-AS1 decreased the tumorigenesis of BC cells, increased the expression of miR-204-5p. DSCAM-AS1 promoted proliferation and impaired apoptosis of BC cells by reducing miR-204-5p and enhancing RRM2 expression. DSCAM-AS1/miR-204-5p/RRM2 may serve as novel therapeutic targets for BC.