MiR-187 suppresses non-small-cell lung cancer cell proliferation by targeting FGF9

Bioinformatics analysis and validation of CSRNP1 as a key prognostic gene in non-small cell lung cancer

Cysteine and serine-rich nuclear protein 1 (CSRNP1) has shown prognostic significance in various cancers, but its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains elusive. We investigated CSRNP1 expression in NSCLC cases using bioinformatics tools from the GEO public repository and validated our findings through RT-qPCR in tumor and adjacent normal tissues. KEGG and GO enrichment analyses were employed to unveil the significant deregulation in signaling pathways. Additionally, clinical significance of CSRNP1 in NSCLC was determined through receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis, and its impact on survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. To explore the functional impact of CSRNP1, we silenced its expression in NSCLC cells and assessed the effects on cell viability, migration, and invasion using MTT, Transwell, and wound-healing assays, respectively. Additionally, we investigated the influence of CSRNP1 silencing on the phosphorylation patterns of critical signaling proteins such as p53, p-Akt, and p-MDM2. Our results demonstrated significantly lower CSRNP1 expression in NSCLC tumor tissues (P < 0.01). ROC analysis indicated that NSCLC patients with high CSRNP1 expression exhibited extended overall survival and disease-free survival. Furthermore, CSRNP1 silencing promoted NSCLC cells viability, migration, and invasion (P < 0.05). Mechanistically, CSRNP1 silencing led to increased phosphorylation of AKT and MDM2, along with a concurrent reduction in p53 protein expression, suggesting its impact on NSCLC through deregulated cell cycle processes. In conclusion, our study underscores the significance of CSRNP1 in NSCLC pathogenesis, offering insights for targeted therapeutic interventions of NSCLC.

Zishen Yutai Pills Promote Angiogenesis at the Maternal-Fetal Interface in Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion Mice by Regulating miR-187/VEGF Axis

Ethnopharmacological Relevance

Zishen Yutai pills (ZYP), a traditional Chinese patent medicine, was listed in China in 1981. It is composed of 15 traditional Chinese medicines and has the effects of regulating menstruation, helping pregnancy, and preventing abortion. In clinical practice, it is effective in preventing habitual and threatened miscarriages, and continuing to explore its mechanism of action is very meaningful research.

Aim of the Study

To explore the possible mechanism of ZYP promoting angiogenesis at the maternal-fetal interface in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).

Materials and Methods

In vitro experiments, placental trophoblast cells (PTCs) were isolated from the placental tissue of RSA mice and divided into six groups: Control group, Model group, ZYP group, miR-187 inhibitor NC group, miR-18 7 inhibitor group, and miR-187 inhibitor+ZYP group. Cell viability and cell cycle were measured using CCK8 and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression levels of miR-187, VEGF, VEGF-R1, and VEGF-R2 were measured using RT-qPCR, WB, and IF staining. Animal experiments first establish an RSA mice model (CBA/J × DBA/2) and then randomly divide the mice into four groups (n=10): normal pregnancy group, RSA model group, ZYP group, and progesterone capsule group. Observed the changes in embryo absorption rate, pathological morphology of decidual tissue, and ultrastructure of vascular endothelial cells in each group of mice. RT-qPCR, WB, and IF staining methods were used to determine the expression of miR-187, VEGF, VEGF-R1, and VEGF-R2.

Results

In vitro, ZYP promoted the viability of PTCs and regulated their cell cycle, and ZYP down-regulated miR-187, up-regulated VEGF, VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2 levels. miR-187 inhibitor showed the same effects, and further ZYP intervention enhanced the effects. In vivo, ZYP remarkably reduced embryo resorption rates, and improved the pathological morphology of decidual tissues and ultrastructure of vascular endothelial cells. Moreover, ZYP down-regulated miR-187, up-regulated VEGF, VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2.

Conclusion

In summary, ZYP can regulate the expression of VEGF via miR-187, then promote the angiogenesis at the maternal-fetal interface, and playing a therapeutic role in RSA.

ALOX5AP is a new prognostic indicator in acute myeloid leukemia

BACKGROUND

The overexpression of ALOX5AP has been observed in many types of cancer and has been identified as an oncogene. However, its role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has not been extensively studied. This study aimed to identify the expression and methylation patterns of ALOX5AP in bone marrow (BM) samples of AML patients, and further explore its clinical significance.

METHODS

Eighty-two de novo AML patients and 20 healthy donors were included in the study. Meanwhile, seven public datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were included to confirm the alteration of ALOX5AP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to determine the discriminative capacity of ALOX5AP expression to discriminate AML. The prognostic value of ALOX5AP was identified by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. It was further validated in four independent cohorts (n = 1186). Significantly different genes associated with ALOX5AP expression were subsequently compared by LinkedOmics, and Metascape database.

RESULTS

The level of ALOX5AP expression was significantly increased in bone marrow cells of AML patients compared with healthy donors (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis suggested that ALOX5AP expression might be a potential biomarker to discriminate AML from controls. ALOX5AP overexpression was associated with decreased overall survival (OS) in AML according to the TCGA data (P = 0.006), which was validated by other four independent cohorts. DNA methylation levels of ALOX5AP were significantly lower in AML patients compared to normal samples (P < 0.05), as confirmed in the Diseasemeth database and the independent cohort GSE63409. ALOX5AP level was positively associated with genes with proleukemic effects such as PAX2, HOX family, SOX11, H19, and microRNAs that act as oncogenes in leukemia, such as miR125b, miR-93, miR-494, miR-193b, while anti-leukemia-related genes and tumor suppressor microRNAs such as miR-582, miR-9 family and miR-205 were negatively correlated.

CONCLUSION

ALOX5AP overexpression, associated with its hypomethylation, predicts poorer prognosis in AML.

MicroRNA-185-5p targets tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta to regulate non-small cell lung cancer progression

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide, as well as the leading cause of cancer-related death. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, which accounts for 85% of occurrences) is the main type of LC. MiRNAs appear to play a role in the occurrence and progression of many malignancies, according to mounting data. The underlying mechanism of miRNAs in regulating NSCLC cell biological activity and progression, on the other hand, is still being investigated.

METHODS

QRT-PCR were used to detect miR-185-5p expression and YWHAZ mRNA in NSCLC. The CCK-8 assay was used to determine the tumor cells' ability to proliferate. Transwall assay was used to test the migratory and invasive properties of cells. Cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta (YWHAZ), E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin and cleaved-caspase3 protein expression were assessed using Western Blot. The bioinformatics analysis software StarBase2.0 predicted miR-185-5p downstream targets. To confirm the target association between miR-185-5p and YWHAZ, a luciferase experiment was used. In addition, an NCl-H1299 xenograft model was created to assess the anti-tumor impact of miR-185-5p in vivo. The expression level of YWHAZ in tumor tissues of small xenograft tumor model was detected by immunohistochemistry assay.

RESULTS

Decreased miR-185-5p expression levels were observed in NSCLC. In vitro, over-expressed miR-185-5p decreased cell viability, proliferation, invasion/migration, and induced cell apoptosis, while inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. Dual-luciferase gene experiments confirmed that YWHAZ binds to miR-185-5p. Overexpression of YWHAZ partially restored the inhibitory effects of miR-185-5p on cell behaviors.

CONCLUSION

MiR-185-5p was down-regulated in NSCLC, and that overexpressed miR-185-5p inhibited malignant behaviors of cells and tumor growth by negatively regulating YWHAZ.

CircRNA B cell linker regulates cisplatin sensitivity in nonsmall cell lung cancer via microRNA-25-3p/BarH‑like homeobox 2 axis

Cisplatin (DDP) was a commonly used drug in the treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the current resistance of patients to DDP seriously affected its therapeutic effect. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to regulate drug resistance in cells. The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of circRNA B cell linker (circ_BLNK) in DDP resistance of NSCLC. The abundances of circ_BLNK, microRNA-25-3p (miR-25-3p) and BarH‑like homeobox 2 (BARX2) were examined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide assay, EdU assay and flow cytometry. Transwell assay was applied to assess cell migration and invasion. Protein levels were quantified by western blot analysis. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was enforced to confirm the links among circ_BLNK, miR-25-3p and BARX2. The mice models were enforced to evaluate tumorigenicity. Herein, circ_BLNK and BARX2 were lower-expressed, whereas miR-25-3p was higher-expressed in A549/DDP and H1299/DDP cells than their homologous parental NSCLC cells. Circ_BLNK increases improved DDP sensitivity of NSCLC cells by promoting cell apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation, migration and invasion. Moreover, we confirmed that circ_BLNK regulated BARX2 by inhibiting miR-25-3p. Accordingly, overexpression of circ_BLNK improved DDP sensitivity of NSCLC cells via miR-25-3p/BARX2 axis. Besides, circ_BLNK reduced cell resistance to DDP, thereby inhibiting tumor development in mice. Circ_BLNK promoted the DDP sensitivity of NSCLC via regulating miR-25-3p/BARX2 axis.

Comparison of Oncogenes, Tumor Suppressors, and MicroRNAs Between Schizophrenia and Glioma: The Balance of Power

The risk of cancer in schizophrenia has been controversial. Confounders of the issue are cigarette smoking in schizophrenia, and antiproliferative effects of antipsychotic medications. The author has previously suggested comparison of a specific cancer like glioma to schizophrenia might help determine a more accurate relationship between cancer and schizophrenia. To accomplish this goal, the author performed three comparisons of data; the first a comparison of conventional tumor suppressors and oncogenes between schizophrenia and cancer including glioma. This comparison determined schizophrenia has both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting characteristics. A second, larger comparison between brain-expressed microRNAs in schizophrenia with their expression in glioma was then performed. This identified a core carcinogenic group of miRNAs in schizophrenia offset by a larger group of tumor-suppressive miRNAs. This proposed "balance of power" between oncogenes and tumor suppressors could cause neuroinflammation. This was assessed by a third comparison between schizophrenia, glioma and inflammation in asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma (ALRCM). This revealed that schizophrenia shares more oncogenic similarity to ALRCM than glioma.

The imminent role of microRNAs in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

Unfortunately, despite the severe problem associated with salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC), it has not been studied in detail yet. Therefore, the time has come to understand the oncogenic cause of SACC and find the correct molecular markers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic target to tame this disease. Recently, we and others have suggested that non-coding RNAs, specifically microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, can be ideal biomarkers for cancer(s) diagnosis and progression. Herein, we have shown that various miRNAs, like miR-155, miR‑103a‑3p, miR-21, and miR-130a increase the oncogenesis process, whereas some miRNAs such as miR-140-5p, miR-150, miR-375, miR-181a, miR-98, miR-125a-5p, miR-582-5p, miR-144-3p, miR-320a, miR-187 and miR-101-3p, miR-143-3p inhibit the salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma progression. Furthermore, we have found that miRNAs also target many vital genes and pathways like mitogen-activated protein kinases-snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (MAPK-Snai2), p38/JNK/ERK, forkhead box C1 protein (FOXC1), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), integrin subunit beta 3 (ITGB3), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/NF-κB, programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), neuroblastoma RAS (N-RAS), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, MEK/ERK, ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 2 (UBA2), tumor protein D52 (TPD52) which play a crucial role in the regulation of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma. Therefore, we believe that knowledge from this manuscript will help us find the pathogenesis process in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma and could also give us better biomarkers of diagnosis and prognosis of the disease.

miR-187/PDLIM1 Gets Involved in Gastric Cancer Progression and Cisplatin Sensitivity of Cisplatin by Mediating the Hippo-YAP Signaling Pathway

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in the digestive system across the world. The function and mechanism of PDLIM1, a cancer-suppressing gene, in gastric cancer progression remain unclear. This study is aimed at investigating the expression features and function of PDLIM1 in GC. RT-qPCR and western blot were used to compare the profiles of PDLIM1 and miR-187 between GC and normal tissues. The cell models of PDLIM1 overexpression and low expression were established in gastric cancer cell lines MKN45 and AGS. CCK8 and BrdU assays measured cell proliferation. Flow cytometry monitored cell apoptosis. Transwell analyzed cell invasion and migration. The influence of miR-187 overexpression on gastric cancer development was assessed. We predicted the targeted correlation between miR-187 and PDLIM1 through bioinformatics, which was corroborated via dual luciferase activity assay and RIP. Meanwhile, the cell model of PDLIM1 overexpression was built in AGS cells transfected with miR-187 mimics. A rescue experiment was conducted to assess the impact of PDLIM1 overexpression on the procancer function of miR-187. As a result, in contrast with normal paracancer tissues, PDLIM1 was substantially downregulated in GC tissues. Moreover, PDLIM1 overexpression considerably dampened proliferation, invasion, and migration in GC cells, boosted the cell apoptosis, and bolstered their sensitivity to cisplatin. PDLIM1 knockdown or miR-187 overexpression dramatically fostered GC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration and repressed cell apoptosis. Mechanism studies demonstrated that PDLIM1 vigorously restrained the profiles of the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway and the downstream target genes. miR-187 targeted PDLIM1, while miR-187 overexpression cramped PDLIM1 expression. The rescue experiment suggested that PDLIM1 overexpression weakened the procancer function of miR-187 in GC cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that PDLIM1 presented a low expression in GC tissues, while miR-187/PDLIM1 participated in GC development and cisplatin sensitivity by mediating the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway.

New developments in the biology of fibroblast growth factors

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family is composed of 18 secreted signaling proteins consisting of canonical FGFs and endocrine FGFs that activate four receptor tyrosine kinases (FGFRs 1-4) and four intracellular proteins (intracellular FGFs or iFGFs) that primarily function to regulate the activity of voltage-gated sodium channels and other molecules. The canonical FGFs, endocrine FGFs, and iFGFs have been reviewed extensively by us and others. In this review, we briefly summarize past reviews and then focus on new developments in the FGF field since our last review in 2015. Some of the highlights in the past 6 years include the use of optogenetic tools, viral vectors, and inducible transgenes to experimentally modulate FGF signaling, the clinical use of small molecule FGFR inhibitors, an expanded understanding of endocrine FGF signaling, functions for FGF signaling in stem cell pluripotency and differentiation, roles for FGF signaling in tissue homeostasis and regeneration, a continuing elaboration of mechanisms of FGF signaling in development, and an expanding appreciation of roles for FGF signaling in neuropsychiatric diseases. This article is categorized under: Cardiovascular Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Congenital Diseases > Stem Cells and Development Cancer > Stem Cells and Development.

Long non-coding RNAs and exosomal lncRNAs: Potential functions in lung cancer progression, drug resistance and tumor microenvironment remodeling

Among the different kinds of tumors threatening human life, lung cancer is one that is commonly observed in both males and females. The aggressive behavior of lung cancer and interactions occurring in tumor microenvironment enhances the malignancy of this tumor. The lung tumor cells have demonstrated capacity in developing chemo- and radio-resistance. LncRNAs are a category of non-coding RNAs that do not encode proteins, but their aberrant expression is responsible for tumor development, especially lung cancer. In the present review, we focus on both lncRNAs and exosomal lncRNAs in lung cancer, and their ability in regulating proliferation and metastasis. Cell cycle progression and molecular mechanisms related to lung cancer metastasis such as EMT and MMPs are regulated by lncRNAs. LncRNAs interact with miRNAs, STAT, Wnt, EZH2, PTEN and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways to affect progression of lung cancer cells. LncRNAs demonstrate both tumor-suppressor and tumor-promoting functions in lung cancer. They can be considered as biomarkers in lung cancer and especially exosomal lncRNAs present in body fluids are potential tools for minimally invasive diagnosis. Furthermore, we discuss regulation of lncRNAs by anti-cancer drugs and genetic tools as well as the role of these factors in therapy response of lung cancer cells.

CircRNA hsa_circ_0070659 predicts poor prognosis and promotes non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression via microRNA-377 (miR-377) / Ras-Associated Binding Protein 3C (RAB3C) pathway

A large number of circular RNAs (circRNAs) are dysregulated in lung cancer and affect the progression and prognosis of lung disease. Herein, this study selected specific circular RNA (circ_0070659) by bioinformatics analysis and aimed to investigate the role of circ_0070659 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The differentially expressed circRNA (hsa_circ_0070659) in NSCLC was screened from public databases (GEO), and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was carried out to identify the circ_0070659 levels in cancer tissues and cells. NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities after circ_0070659 silencing was detected by colony formation assay, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and Transwell assay. Targeted binding between microRNA-377 (miR-377) and circ_0070659 or Ras-Associated Binding Protein 3C (RAB3C) was verified by western blot, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and RNA pull-down assay. Our experimental results showed that circ_0070659 levels were largely increased in tumor tissues and cells. Biologically, knockdown of circ_0070659 obviously inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, circ_0070659 promoted RAB3C-mediated proliferation and invasion through sponging miR-377. Furthermore, miR-377 inhibitor reversed the inhibitory ability of circ_0070659 silencing on malignant biological behavior of NSCLC cells. Our study revealed a novel signaling pathway that circ_0070659/miR-377/RAB3C axis regulates tumor progression, and it may become a new therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Tumor-associated fibroblasts derived exosomes induce the proliferation and cisplatin resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells through RIG-I/IFN-β signaling

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common type of malignant cancer. There is growing evidence suggesting that exosomes may participate in the cellular communication of tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs). However, the cisplatin resistance of TAF-derived exosomes to ESCC cells remains to be further studied. Exosomes were isolated from TAFs and characterized with Western blot and TEM assays. ESCC cell lines (TE-1 and KYSE-150) were incubated with TAFs-derived exosomes. To explore the biological function of TAF-derived exosomes in ESCC cell proliferation, apoptosis, and chemosensitivity, we conducted MTT assays and Flow Cytometry. The effects in vivo were also verified via Xenograft mice models. We found that TAFs-derived exosomes led to enhanced cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis of cells, accompanied by increased expression of RIG-I/IFN-β, and TAFs derived exosomes may affect the chemosensitivity to cisplatin via RIG-I/IFN-β signaling in ESCC. Taken together, ESCC cells could communicate with TAFs cells via TAFs-derived exosomes. Our findings might represent a novel mechanism involved in ESCC and may provide a potential biomarker for ESCC.

Long noncoding RNA regulatory factor X3- antisense RNA 1 promotes non-small cell lung cancer via the microRNA-577/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 axis

Lung cancer is the most frequent malignancy, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is its most common pathological type. Molecular targeted therapy has been testified to be effective in intervening in the occurrence and development of malignancies. This study investigates the effect of lncRNA Regulatory Factor X3- antisense RNA 1 (RFX3-AS1) in NSCLC progression. The RFX3-AS1 profile in NSCLC tissues and cells was measured by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The RFX3-AS1 overexpression model was constructed. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) experiment and cell colony formation assay were adopted to test cell viability. The cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry (FCM). Cell migration and invasion were monitored by the Transwell assay, and Western blot was implemented to verify the protein profiles of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), E-cadherin, Vimentin and N-cadherin. In vivo, we validated the impact of RFX3-AS1 overexpression on the NSCLC xenograft mouse model. The targeting relationships between RFX3-AS1 and miR-577, miR-577 and STAT3 were confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The results manifested that overexpressing RFX3-AS1 markedly facilitated NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and suppressed cell apoptosis. In contrast, miR-577, which was a downstream target of RFX3-AS1, dramatically impeded the malignant biological behaviors of NSCLC cells. STAT3 was a direct target of miR-577, and it was negatively regulated by the latter. STAT3 activation reversed miR-577-mediated anti-tumor roles. In brief, RFX3-AS1 aggravated NSCLC progression by regulating the miR-577/STAT3 axis.

A Novel Immune-Associated Gene Signature for Overall Survival Prediction in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective

To explore a novel Immune-associated gene signature for overall survival (OS) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods

Expression profiles of genes and corresponding clinical materials of OSCC patients were obtained through the TCGA database. With a LASSO Cox regression model, a multigene signature was established to predict the OS of OSCC patients. Some molecular experiments including RNA interference, MTT, and Transwell assay were applied to verify the role of the risk gene FGF9 in OSCC.

Results

43 immune-related prognostic DEGs were identified in OSCC. A 17-gene signature was established to assign the patients to either a high-risk group (HG) or a low-risk group (LG). The HG presented a shorter OS than the LG (P < 0.05). According to multivariate Cox regression analyses, the risk score was considered an independent factor for OS prediction (training set: HR = 3.485, 95% CI = 2.037-5.961, P < 0.001; test set: HR = 4.531, 95% CI = 2.120-9.682, P < 0.001). ROC curve-based analysis revealed the signature's ability for prediction. According to functional analysis, the immune cell expression and immune function of the HG were significantly inhibited. After knocking down the high-risk gene FGF9, the migration, proliferation, and invasion capabilities of OSCC cells HSC6 were significantly suppressed (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

A novel immune-associated gene signature was identified for predicting the prognosis of OSCC. These risk genes show great potential as targets for OSCC treatment.

Long non-coding RNA-PCGEM1 contributes to prostate cancer progression by sponging microRNA miR-129-5p to enhance chromatin licensing and DNA replication factor 1 expression

PCGEM1 facilitates prostate cancer (PCa) progression. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of action of PCGEM1 in PCa. The expression of PCGEM1, microRNA miR-129-5p, chromatin licensing, and DNA replication factor 1 (CDT1) was detected by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). A series of function experiments including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), caspase-3 activity, and cell cycle assays were performed to evaluate the influence of PCGEM1, miR-129-5p, and CDT1 on the biological processes of PCa cells. CyclinD1, cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), Bax, and Bcl-2 protein levels were measured by western blotting. Subcellular isolation revealed the distribution of PCa cells. The connections between PCGEM1, miR-129-5p, and CDT1 were evaluated by luciferase, RIP assay, and Pearson correlation analysis. Both PCGEM1 and CDT1 were upregulated in PCa, while miR-129-5p was downregulated and negatively correlated with PCGEM1 and CDT1. Downregulation of PCGEM1 or CDT1 inhibited the viability, promoted apoptosis and cycle arrest of PCa cells in vitro, and controlled tumor growth in vivo. PCGEM1 plays a crucial role in the progression of PCa by sponging miR-129-5p as a ceRNA of CDT1. PCGEM1 is a CDT1-dependent PCa promoter site that absorbs miR-129-5p.

Methyltransferase-like 3 induces the development of cervical cancer by enhancing insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins 3-mediated apoptotic chromatin condensation inducer 1 mRNA stability

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays a critical role in the tumorigenesis of cervical cancer (CC). Here, we aimed to investigate the potential role of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in CC. Gene expression was determined via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cellular functions were detected using colony formation, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and Transwell assays. The interactions among METTL3, insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3), and apoptotic chromatin condensation inducer 1 (ACIN1) were confirmed using the MeRIP and RIP assays. An in vivo assay was performed to verify the role of METTL3 in CC development. METTL3 is overexpressed in CC, and therefore, its knockdown inhibits the proliferation and migration of CC cells. Silencing METTL3 inhibits tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, a positive association was observed between METTL3 and ACIN1. METTL3 interacts with IGF2BP3 to promote the mRNA stability of ACIN1, the overexpression of which induces the aggressiveness of CC cells. METTL3 promotes ACIN1 mRNA stability to accelerate CC progression, implying that METTL3 is a promising biomarker in CC.

Long non-coding RNA LINRIS is upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer and its silencing inhibits cell proliferation by suppressing microRNA-10a maturation

Long noncoding RNA LINRIS (LINC00920) is known to participate in colorectal cancer. This study aimed to explore the role of LINRIS in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC and adjacent non-tumor tissues were collected from 62 NSCLC patients. LINRIS expression was detected using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCRs). The 62 NSCLC patients were monitored every month for 5 years to evaluate the role of LINRIS in predicting the prognosis of NSCLC. The effects of LINRIS silencing on microRNA-10a (miR-10a) precursor and mature miR-10a levels were assessed by RT-qPCR. Cell proliferation was measured using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays. LINRIS expression was upregulated in NSCLC tissues. High LINRIS levels predicted poor survival of NSCLC patients. LINRIS were positively correlated with mature (miR-10a) levels but not miR-10a precursor. In NSCLC cells, LINRIS silencing showed no role in miR-10a precursor accumulation but downregulated mature miR10a level. Moreover, LINRIS silencing inhibited cell proliferation, while miR-10a overexpression increased cell proliferation and inhibited the role of LINRIS silencing. Overall, LINRIS silencing may inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation by suppressing miR-10a maturation.

Abbreviations: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); Reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR); LncRNA long intergenic noncoding RNA for IGF2BP2 stability (LINRIS).

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2-stabilized long non-coding RNA Taurine up-regulated gene 1 (TUG1) promotes cisplatin-resistance of colorectal cancer via modulating autophagy

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to influence the chemoresistance of colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, the study is designed to investigate the regulatory function and mechanism of Taurine up-regulated gene 1 (TUG1) in the cisplatin resistance of CRC. qRT-PCR checked the expressions of TUG1, Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2), and miR-195-5p in CRC tissues and cells. The TUG1 or miR-195-5p overexpression model was engineered in CRC cells, followed by treatment with DDP or the autophagy inhibitor (Chloroquine, CQ). CCK8 (Cell Counting Kit-8) and the colony formation experiment monitored cell proliferation. Flow cytometry examined apoptosis, Transwell tracked migration and invasion, and Western blot ascertained the protein profiles of autophagy proteins (LC3I/LC3II and Beclin1) and the HDGF/DDX5/β-catenin pathway. Dual-luciferase gene reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation confirmed the binding correlation between TUG1 and miR-195-5p and between miR-195-5p and HDGF. Furthermore, in-vivo experiments in nude mice probed the function and mechanism of IGF2BP2 in CRC cell growth. The profiles of TUG1 and IGF2BP2 were elevated in CRC tissues, and IGF2BP2 enhanced TUG1's expression in CRC cells. TUG1 activated autophagy to facilitate CRC cells' resistance to DDP. TUG1 targets miR-195-5p, and miR-195-5p targets HDGF. Overexpression of miR-195-5p abated the cancer-promoting function of TUG1 and curbed the profile of the HDGF/DDX5/β-catenin axis. TUG1 stabilized by IGF2BP2 boosted CRC cell proliferation, migration, migration, and autophagy via the miR-195-5p/HDGF/DDX5/β-catenin axis, hence enhancing CRC cell's resistance to DDP.

LncRNA nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 1 antisense RNA 1 (NR2F1-AS1) aggravates nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis and extracellular matrix degradation

Emerging reports uncover that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) help regulate intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Here, we probe the function of lncRNA nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 1 antisense RNA 1 (NR2F1-AS1) in IVDD. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to verify the expression of NR2F1-AS1 and miR-145-5p in nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues from IVDD patients or NP cells dealt with IL-1β or TNF-α. Flow cytometry or the TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed to validate the apoptosis of NP cells with selective regulation of NR2F1-AS1 and miR-145-5p. ECM-related genes, FOXO1, Bax, and Bcl2 were evaluated by qRT-PCR or Western blot (WB). The targeted relationships between NR2F1-AS1 and miR-145-5p, miR-145-5p and FOXO1 were testified by the dual-luciferase reporter assay and the RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Our outcomes substantiated that NR2F1-AS1 was up-regulated, while miR-145-5p was down-regulated in intervertebral disc tissues of IVDD patients or NP cells treated with IL-1β or TNF-α. Besides, overexpressing NR2F1-AS1 intensified ECM degradation and NP cell apoptosis induced by IL-1β, while knocking down NR2F1-AS1 or up-regulating miR-145-5p reversed IL-1β-mediated effects in NP cells. Meanwhile, NR2F1-AS1 choked miR-145-5p and abated its effects in NP cells. This study confirms that NR2F1-AS1 modulates IVDD progression by up-regulating the FOXO1 pathway through the sponge of miR-145-5p as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA).

MiR-187 regulates the proliferation, migration and invasion of human trophoblast cells by repressing BCL6-mediated activation of PI3K/AKT signaling

INTRODUCTION

Recurrent miscarriage (RM), refers to two or more consecutive spontaneous miscarriage in a pregnant woman. RM is caused by many factors, and microRNAs play an important role in the development and pathology of RM. In the present study, we investigated the function of miR-187 in the pathogenesis of RM and its effects on human trophoblast cells.

METHODS

The localization of miR-187 in the human placenta in early pregnancy was determined by in situ hybridization. QRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-187 in villi of normal early pregnancy induced abortion group and recurrent spontaneous miscarriage group. Then, HTR8/SVneo cells were used to investigated the effect of miR-187 on BCL6 expression and biological activity of trophoblasts.

RESULTS

We found that the expression of miR-187 in villi of RM group was higher than that of normal abortion group and miR-187 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HTR8 cells. We also found that miR-187 promoted apoptosis, inhibited EMT, and inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway in HTR8 cells. In addition, we also found that BCL6 is a direct target of miR-187 and is negatively regulated by miR-187. In addition, BCL6 reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-187 on HTR8/SVneo cells. These data demonstrate that miR-187-induced repression of PI3K/AKT signaling is mediated by BCL6 in HTR8 cells.

DISSCUSSION

MiR-187 inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblasts through a mechanism that involves regulation of BCL6.

The abnormal expression of chromosomal region maintenance 1 (CRM1)-survivin axis in ovarian cancer and its related mechanisms regulating proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the main type of cancer that affects the female reproductive system and has a high morbidity and mortality rate. This study aimed to explore the regulatory effect of the chromosomal region maintenance 1 (CRM1)-survivin axis on the progression of OC. Ovarian cancer cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-survivin and short hairpin RNA (sh)-CRM1. Cell proliferation was analyzed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), 5-ethynyl-2´-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, and colony formation assays. Apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were performed to analyze the expression of RNA and protein, respectively. qRT-PCR and prognostic correlation analyses revealed that CRM1 is highly expressed in OC cells and related to survival. The results of qRT-PCR, CCK8, colony formation test, EdU staining, flow cytometry, and Western blotting showed that CRM1 silencing inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of OVCAR 3 and SKOV3 cells and promoted cell apoptosis by promoting Caspase-3 activation. Survivin was positively regulated by CRM1 and promoted the development of OC. The results of the rescue experiment showed that overexpression of survivin reversed the inhibitory effect of CRM1 knockdown on the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells and its inhibitory effect on apoptosis. Our findings confirm the role of the CRM1-survivin signal transduction axis in OC by regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of OC cells, and may thus serve as a potential therapeutic target for OC.

microRNA-20b-5p overexpression combing Pembrolizumab potentiates cancer cells to radiation therapy via repressing programmed death-ligand 1

Radiation therapy (RT) is widely applied in cancer treatment. The sensitivity of tumor cells to RT is the key to the treatment. This study probes the role and mechanism of miR-20b-5p in Pembrolizumab’s affecting the radiosensitivity of tumor cells. After Pembrolizumab treatment or cell transfection (miR-20b-5p mimics and miR-20b-5p inhibitors), tumor cells (NCI-H460 and ZR-75-30) were exposed to RT. The sensitivity of NCI-H460 and ZR-75-30 to RT was evaluated by monitoring cell proliferation and apoptosis. The dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) were adopted to evaluate the binding relationship between miR-20b-5p and CD274 (PD-L1). The xenograft model was established in nude mice to examine the mechanism of action of Pembrolizumab in vivo. Our outcomes exhibited that either Pembrolizumab treatment or miR-20b-5p overexpression potentiated radiosensitivity of tumor cells. Overexpressing miR-20b-5p enhanced radiosensitization of Pembrolizumab in vivo and in vitro by targeting PD-L1 and inactivating PD-L1/PD1. Overall, miR-20b-5p overexpression combined with Pembrolizumab potentiated cancer cells’ sensitivity to RT by repressing PD-L1/PD1.Abbreviations Akt: serine/threonine kinase 1; cDNA: complementary DNA; CO₂: carbon dioxide; EDTA: Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid; ENCORI: The Encyclopedia of RNA Interactomes; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; IGF2BP2: insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2; IHC: Immunohistochemistry; LncRNA MALAT1: Long non-coding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1; miRNAs: MicroRNAs; Mt: Mutant type; MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide; NC: negative control; NR2F2: nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 2; NSCLC: non-small cell lung cancer; OD: optical density; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; PD-L1: Programmed death-ligand 1; PD-1: programmed death 1; PI3K: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; qRT-PCR: Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; RIP: RNA immunoprecipitation; RIPA: Radio Immunoprecipitation Assay; RRM2: ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M2; RT: Radiation therapy; U6: U6 small nuclear RNA; V: volume; WB: Western blot; Wt: wild type; x ± sd: mean ± standard deviation.

Paeoniflorin ameliorates chronic stress-induced depression-like behavior in mice model by affecting ERK1/2 pathway

Depression is a mental and emotional disorder that has made an opening great burden to the society. Paeoniflorin showed remarkable antidepressant-like effects in multiple animal models with depressive disorders. However, the molecule of paeoniflorin on depression is less studied. This study aims to explore the effect and the molecular mechanism of paeoniflorin on depression in a chronic restraint stress (CRS) mice model. CRS model of C57BL/6 J mice was set up. Sucrose preference test (SPT), tail suspension test (TST), open field test (OFT) and forced swimming test (FST) were used to assess depression symptoms. Immunofluorescence staining, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were implemented to detect the expression changes of the proteins involved in extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway. Results showed that paeoniflorin treatment decreased the degree of depression in the CRS mice. Further analysis showed that the expression of ERK1/2 proteins was significantly downregulated, while paeoniflorin could elevate the expression of ERK1/2 proteins in CRS mice. Finally, it showed that inhibiting signaling ERK1/2 pathway could aggravate the depressive behavior when treatment with ERK-specific inhibitor U0126, while the condition could be partially relieved when treated with paeoniflorin. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that paeoniflorin attenuated chronic stress-induced depression-like behavior in mice by affecting the ERK1/2 pathway. These findings provided the basis for the molecular mechanism of paeoniflorin on the effect of depression, which support paeoniflorin might act as an important drug in the treatment of depression.

Hydroxysafflor yellow A inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal cancer cells through the PPARγ/PTEN/Akt signaling pathway

The natural compound Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) has been demonstrated to exert anti-cancer effect on multiple cancers. This study aimed to clarify the role of HSYA in inhibiting colorectal cancer (CRC) in vitro and the underlying mechanisms. Different concentrations of HSYA (0, 25, 50, and 100 μM) was exposed to HCT116 CRC cells, then cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were estimated by colony formation assay, TUNEL staining, wound-healing, and transwell assays, respectively. Western blotting assay was utilized to observe the expression of proteins involved in cell apoptosis, migration, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)/PTEN/Akt signaling, including PCNA, Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved-caspase3, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, PPARγ, and phosphorylated (p)-Akt. HCT116 cells that treated with 100 μM HSYA were also pre-treated with PPARγ antagonist, GW9662, or knockdown with PPARγ using short hairpin (sh)-RNA, to down-regulate PPARγ expression. Then, the above functional analysis was repeated. Results demonstrated that HSYA (25, 50 and 100 μM) significantly reduced HCT116 cell viability, but had no effect on the cell viability of human normal intestinal epithelial cell HIEC. HSYA also inhibited colony formation, migration, and invasion but promoted apoptosis of HCT116 cell in a concentration-dependent manner. Besides, the PPARγ/PTEN/Akt signaling was activated upon HSYA treatment. Finally, GW9662 and PPARγ knockdown blocked all the effects of HSYA on HCT116 cells. In conclusion, HSYA could exhibit anti-cancer effect on CRC via activating PPARγ/PTEN/Akt signaling, thereby inhibiting cells proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro.

MicroRNA-582-5p promotes triple-negative breast cancer invasion and metastasis by antagonizing CMTM8

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) commonly have aggressive properties. microRNA-582-5p (miR-582-5p) modulates the progression of several cancers. Yet, the role of miR-582-5p in TNBC progression is undetermined. In the current study, we investigated miR-582-5p expression levels and clinical significance in TNBC. The impact of miR-582-5p modulation on the biological behaviors of TNBC cells were measured. The downstream gene(s) regulated by miR-582-5p in TNBC was explored. We showed that compared to adjacent normal breast tissues, the miR-582-5p level was elevated in TNBC samples. The upregulation of miR-582-5p correlated with lymph node metastasis. Overexpression of miR-582-5p enhanced TNBC cell migration and invasion, whereas knockdown of miR-582-5p had an adverse impact on aggressive phenotype. In vivo xenograft mouse studies demonstrated that miR-582-5p overexpression accelerated TNBC growth and metastasis. Mechanistically, miR-582-5p selectively inhibited CMTM8, leading to a reduction of CMTM8 expression. CMTM8 showed suppressive effects on TNBC cell migration and invasion. Rescue experiments revealed that overexpression of CMTM8 impaired miR-582-5p-induced migration and invasion in TNBC cells. Overall, our data uncover an oncogenic role for miR-582-5p in TNBC metastasis through inhibition of CMTM8. We suggest miR-582-5p as a promising target for managing TNBC.

Non-Coding RNAs: lncRNAs, miRNAs, and piRNAs in Sexual Development

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a group of RNAs that do not encode functional proteins, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). In the last 2 decades an effort has been made to uncover the role of ncRNAs during development and disease, and nowadays it is clear that these molecules have a regulatory function in many of the developmental and physiological processes where they have been studied. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of ncRNAs during gonad determination and development, focusing mainly on mammals, although we also provide information from other species, in particular when there is not much information on the function of particular types of ncRNAs during mammalian sexual development.

Circular RNA PIP5K1A (circPIP5K1A) accelerates endometriosis progression by regulating the miR-153-3p/Thymosin Beta-4 X-Linked (TMSB4X) pathway

As a common gynecologic disease, endometriosis (EM) poses a threat to the reproductive health of about 10% women globally. Recent studies have revealed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are deeply implicated in EM pathogenesis. However, the functions of circPIP5K1A in EM have not been studied yet. Our study intended to uncover the molecular mechanism of circPIP5K1A in EM. In this work, gene and protein expressions were determined by RT-qPCR or Western blotting. CCK-8, wound healing, transwell, and flow cytometry assays were conducted to analyze cell viability, migration, invasion, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Additionally, bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay, as well as RIP assay were performed to investigate the combination between miR-153-3p and circPIP5K1A or TMSB4X. Herein, we found remarkable high circPIP5K1A expression in EM tissues and cells. Silencing of circPIP5K1A suppressed proliferation, restrained cell cycle, increased cell apoptosis, and decreased migration and invasion in EM cells. In addition, miR-153-3p inhibition could abrogate the impacts of circPIP5K1A knockdown on EM progression in vitro. Also, we found that circPIP5K1A regulated TMSB4X level via interaction with miR-153-3p in EM cells. Besides, circPIP5K1A promoted EM progression via TMSB4X. Moreover, TMSB4X could activate the TGF-β signaling in hEM15A cells. To sum up, our study elucidated that circPIP5K1A accelerated EM progression in vitro by activating the TGF-β signaling pathway via the miR-153-3p/TMSB4X axis, providing a potential clinical target for EM treatment.

Circular RNA Circ_0000677 promotes cell proliferation by regulating microRNA-106b-5p/CCND1 in non-small cell lung cancer

Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have become an intense focus of research and large numbers of circRNAs have been identified, awaiting functional elucidation. Thus, the present study aims to examine the regulation of circRNAs and its molecular mechanism in lung cancer growth. Here, we show that circular RNA circ_0000677 was overexpressed and correlated with poor prognosis in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Functionally, circ_0000677 knockdown markedly inhibited proliferation of NSCLC cells by observing of immunofluorescence staining of Ki67, clone formation assay, and xenograft experiments. In mechanism, circ_0000677 acted as a sponge of microRNA-106b and further regulated CCDND1 gene expression in NSCLC cells by dual luciferase activity assay and their expression examination. Taken together, these findings suggest a role for circ_0000677/miR-106b/CCND1 regulation axis in promoting NSCLC growth and progression.

miR-337-5p promotes the development of cardiac hypertrophy by targeting Ubiquilin-1 (UBQLN1)

Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive response of the myocardium to the pressure overload of the heart. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are shown to be directly involved in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. However, the function of miR-337-5p and its potential contribution to the serine/threonine-protein kinase, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in cardiac hypertrophy remains unknown. In the present study, miR-337-5p expression was examined in cardiomyocytes treated with angiotensin II (Ang II). An adenovirus vector system was employed to knockdown miR-337-5p expression to investigate its functions in cardiac hypertrophy. The results revealed a significant increase in the expression of miR-337-5p in cardiomyocytes treated with Ang II as compared with controls. In addition, downregulation of miR-337-5p expression inhibited cardiac hypertrophy both in vitro and in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter assays demonstrated Ubiquilin-1 (UBQLN1) as the direct target of miR-337-5p, and revealed its function in the modulation of mTOR signaling. Rescue experiments indicated that UBQLN1 overexpression reversed the effects of miR-337-5p, and further verified this interaction. In summary, the results of the present study show that miR-337-5p silencing attenuates cardiac hypertrophy by targeting UBQLN1. Therefore, miR-337-5p plays a critical role in cardiac hypertrophy and may serve as a new therapeutic target.

MicroRNA miR-495 regulates the development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by targeting C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-3 (CTRP3)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a type of lethal cancer in the world and its treatment options produce limited and unsatisfactory effectiveness. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) that play critical roles in tumorigenesis have shown promising clinical therapeutic potential. Here, we reported that miRNA-495 (miR-495) plays important roles in inhibiting HCC cell growth via its regulation of cell-cycle progression as well as senescence. MiR-495 showed low levels in human HCC tissues and cells. Overexpressing miR-495 in HCC cells caused strong cell growth inhibition, which results from cell-cycle arrest and senescence. CTRP3 functioned as a possible target of miR-495 in HCC cells by bioinformatics prediction and biological assay. By inhibiting the expression of CTRP3 with siRNA, HCC cells also showed similar growth inhibition as miR-495 overexpression. The re-expression of CTRP3 in HCC cells with high-level miR-495 abolished miR-495 and caused cell growth inhibition. These results strongly suggested that CTRP3 was the functional target that weakened the effects of miR-495 in HCC cells. The in vivo experiment demonstrated miR-495 overexpression had great therapeutic effects on HCC in xenograft. Above all, this research revealed that miR-495 is essential in suppressing HCC growth, and its application serves as a promising strategy for HCC treatment.

Long non-coding RNA MCM3AP antisense RNA 1 promotes non-small cell lung cancer progression through targeting microRNA-195-5p

Lung cancer (LC) ranks first among all causes of cancer-related death, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) taking up 85% of lung cancer cases. Although lncRNA MCM3AP antisense RNA 1 (MCM3AP-AS1) has been reported to be an oncogenic factor in NSCLC, its detailed mechanism in NSCLC is unknown. In this study, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to determine MCM3AP-AS1, microRNA (miR)-195-5p and E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) mRNA expressions in NSCLC tissues and cells. Western blot was utilized to determine the expression levels of E2F3, BCL2-associated X protein (Bax), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), E-cadherin and N-cadherin. CCK-8 and Transwell assays were conducted to examine cell proliferation, migration and invasion, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation experiments were used to determine the regulatory relationships between MCM3AP-AS1 and miR-195-5p, and miR-195-5p and E2F3. We demonstrated that MCM3AP-AS1 was overexpressed in NSCLC tissues and cells, and MCM3AP-AS1 overexpression accelerated the proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. In addition, MCM3AP-AS1 overexpression markedly up-modulated Bcl-2 expression and repressed Bax expression; MCM3AP-AS1 overexpression also significantly up-regulated N-cadherin expression and suppressed E-cadherin expression in NSCLC cells. What is more, in NSCLC cells, miR-195-5p was a target of MCM3AP-AS1, and the latter worked as a molecular sponge for miR-195-5p to regulate E2F3 expression. Collectively, MCM3AP-AS1, serving as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to regulate miR-195-5p/E2F3 axis, promotes NSCLC progression, which is a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of microRNA-2355-3p and contribution to the progression in lung adenocarcinoma

The aim of this study was to delve into the clinical significance and biological function of miR-2355-3p in LUAD. Tissues and blood samples from 116 LUAD patients and blood samples of 90 healthy volunteers were collected. The relative expression of miR-2355-3p was evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The receiver operating curve (ROC) was plotted for diagnostic value estimation. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were constructed, and multivariate survival analyses were performed for prognostic value estimation. A luciferase reporter assay was carried out to confirm the interaction of miR-2355-3p and ZCCHC14. The CCK-8 and transwell assays were conducted to explore the function of miR-2355-3p on LUAD cells. Rescue experiments were performed to verify the interaction. miR-2355-3p showed an upregulated expression in the samples of LUAD patients. For diagnostic value estimation, the AUC was 0.905 with a sensitivity was 84.5% and specificity of 83.3%. For the estimation of prognostic value, the P-value of log-rank test on K-M curves was 0.002 and 0.006 for overall survival and progression survival, respectively. Based on multivariate Cox regression analysis, miR-2355-3p was a powerful prognostic tool with a P-value of 0.027. ZCCHC14 has binding sites with miR-2355-3p, an expression level, and luciferase activity negatively correlated with miR-2355-3p expression. Knockdown of miR-2355-3p inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of LUAD cells, but ZCCHC14 can rescue this inhibition. miR-2355-3p has the potential to be a diagnostic marker and prognostic marker for LUAD. Inhibition of miR-2355-3p in LUAD cells can suppress the progression of LUAD at least partly by direct targeting ZCCHC14.

All-trans-retinoic acid suppresses rat embryo hindlimb bud mesenchymal chondrogenesis by modulating HoxD9 expression

In vertebrates, 5ʹ-Hoxd genes (Hoxd9), which are expressed in the hindlimb bud mesenchyme, participate in limb growth and patterning in early embryonic development. In the present study, We investigated the mechanisms by which ATRA regulates cultured E12.5 rat embryo hindlimb bud mesenchymal cells (rEHBMCs). Following exposure to ATRA over 24 h, mRNA and protein expression levels of HoxD9 were evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), and western blotting. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis. ATRA inhibited the condensation and proliferation, and promoted the apoptosis rate of the rEHBMCs in a dose-dependent manner. Sox9 and Col2a1 in rEHBMCs were downregulated by ATRA in a dose-dependent manner at both mRNA and protein levels. Similarly, HoxD9 was downregulated by ATRA in a dose-dependent manner, in parallel with the cartilage-specific molecules Sox9 and Col2a1. Both qPCR and western blotting showed that both Shh and Gli3 were downregulated. Overexpression of HoxD9 reversed the effects of ATRA. These results demonstrate that ATRA suppresses chondrogenesis in rEHBMCs by inhibiting the expression of HoxD9 and its downstream protein targets, including Sox9 and Col2a1. This effect may also be correlated with inhibition of the Shh-Gli3 signaling pathway.

Knockdown of DNA polymerase ζ relieved the chemoresistance of glioma via inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Previous reports suggest that DNA polymerase ζ is highly expressed in glioma tissues. The present study aimed to investigate the roles of the REV7 subunit of DNA polymerase ζ in glioma cell chemoresistance and its underlying mechanisms. The bioinformatics method was used to compare the expression of REV7 in glioma and normal tissues. The expression of REV7 in glioma tumor samples and the adjacent tissue was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, an in vitro analysis using glioma cells was used to test the effects of REV7 siRNA on the proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cell line U251 cells, and the effect of REV7 siRNA on the sensitivity of the U251 cells to cisplatin was also explored. The expression of REV7 in glioma tumors was significantly increased. Moreover, the knockdown of REV7 in glioma cells decreased the proliferation and increased the apoptosis of U251 cells; moreover, REV7 siRNA also increased the sensitivity of U251 cells to cisplatin. Finally, REV7 may regulate the proliferation, apoptosis, and chemosensitivity of U251 cells by affecting phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling. Our data suggest that REV7 is involved in the chemosensitivity of glioma cells and provides a theoretical basis for targeting DNA polymerase ζ to improve the sensitivity of glioma cells to chemotherapy.

Resveratrol acts via melanoma-associated antigen A12 (MAGEA12)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling to inhibit the proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

The present study examined how resveratrol affects cell growth and MAGEA12/Akt signaling pathway in OSCC cells. Cal-27 cells were transiently transfected with a plasmid encoding MAGEA12, and the effects of overexpression were assessed in terms of cell viability, colony formation and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Cal-27 cells and MAGEA12-overexpressing cells were treated with resveratrol, then the cell viability and colony formation were also assessed by CCK8 assay and microscope, respectively. Levels of MAGEA12, p-Akt, Akt, Cyclin D1, and CDK14 genes and these proteins were analyzed using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase-chain reaction and western blot. In the present research, we first generated and transiently transfected MAGEA12 plasmid into Cal-27 cells. Our results suggested that overexpressing MAGEA12 led to an increase in levels of phospho-Akt, which was associated with increased cell viability, colony formation. Moreover, overexpressing MAGEA12 also resulted in the up-regulation of Cyclin D1 and CDK14, indicating MAGEA12 induces the cell proliferation of Cal-27 cells. In addition, these effects were partially reversed by inhibiting Akt. Furthermore, resveratrol could inhibit the proliferation and colony in Cal-27 cells and decrease the expressions of MAGEA12 and p-Akt depending on the time and concentration. These effects were also partially reversed by MAGEA12 overexpression and Akt activation. In summary, resveratrol may suppress the growth of OSCC cells by inactivating MAGEA12/Akt signaling. These findings suggest that resveratrol may be a therapeutic drug for OSCC in clinical.

Upregulation of microRNA-1303 is a potential prognostic marker of non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the major subtype of lung cancer, imposing a huge disease burden worldwide. MicroRNA-1303 (miR-1303) has been demonstrated to be involved in several diseases, including cancers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of miR-1303 in NSCLC.

METHODS

We quantified the expression levels of miR-1303 in NSCLC tissues and cells using the qRT-PCR assay. Then the association between miR-1303 expression and clinical characteristics of patients was analyzed using the χ2 test. The Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression assays were used to investigate the prognostic value of miR-1303 in NSCLC. Furthermore, the functional proliferation, migration, and invasion assays were used to explore the miR-1303 functions in vitro.

RESULTS

The expression of miR-1303 was upregulated in NSCLC tissue samples and cells. The upregulation of miR-1303 was associated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. The survival time of NSCLC patients with high expression of miR-1303 was shorter than those with low expression. The functional analyses revealed that overexpression of miR-1303 in H1299 and A549 cells promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that miR-1303 may be a potential prognostic biomarker for NSCLC and be involved in the progression of NSCLC.

Role and mechanism of miR-187 in human cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs, approximately 22 nucleotides in length, and involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. MiRNAs play fundamental roles in many biological processes such as the development and progression of tumors. In this review, we briefly describe the expression of miR-187 in various types of cancer and discuss the role of miR-187 in cancer development and drug resistance. It is also possible to take miR-187 as an important indicator of diagnosis and prognosis of tumors.