miR-664a-3p functions as an oncogene by targeting Hippo pathway in the development of gastric cancer

Small Extracellular Vesicles from Young Healthy Human Plasma Inhibit Cardiac Fibrosis After Myocardial Infarction via miR-664a-3p Targeting SMAD4

Purpose

Cardiac fibrosis, a key contributor to ventricular pathologic remodeling and heart failure, currently lacks effective therapeutic approaches.

Patients and Methods

Small extracellular vesicles from young healthy human plasma (Young-sEVs) were characterized via protein marker, transmission electron microscopy, and nanoparticle tracking analysis, then applied in cellular models and mouse models of cardiac fibrosis. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to identify protective signaling pathways in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs).

Results

Young-sEVs significantly inhibited cardiac fibrosis and subsequent cardiac dysfunction post-myocardial infarction (MI) in mice. The main findings included that echocardiographic assessments four weeks post-MI indicated that Young-sEVs improved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening (LVFS), and reduced left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (LVIDd) and systole (LVIDs). Treatment with Young-sEVs also decreased Masson-positive fibroblast areas and collagen synthesis in cardiac tissue. However, sEVs from the old control group did not achieve the above effect. Consistent with in vivo results, Young-sEVs could also inhibit the proliferation, migration, and collagen synthesis of CFs in the TGF-β1-induced cellular fibrosis model. High-throughput microRNA (miRNA) sequencing and qRT-PCR analysis revealed that miR-664a-3p was abundant in Young-sEVs. The high expression of miR-664a-3p significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and collagen synthesis of TGF-β1-induced CFs. However, suppressing the expression of miR-664a-3p in Young-sEVs eliminated their therapeutic effect on cardiac fibrosis in mice. Further studies confirmed SMAD4 as a direct downstream target of miR-664a-3p, whose overexpression could reverse the anti-fibrotic effects of miR-664a-3p.

Conclusion

In summary, these findings firstly revealed that Young-sEVs could directly bind to the 3'-untranslated region of SMAD4 mRNA through miR-664a-3p, thereby inhibiting the TGF-β/SMAD4 signaling pathway to protect heart from fibrosis and improve cardiac function. Considering the ease of obtaining plasma-derived sEVs, our study offers a promising therapeutic strategy for heart failure, with the potential for rapid clinical translation in the near future.

ATP11A Promotes Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Cancer Cells via the Hippo Pathway

Background: ATP11A, a P-type ATPase, functions as flippases at the plasma membrane to maintain cellular function and vitality in several cancers. However, the role of ATP11A in gastric cancer remains unknown. This study aimed to identify ATP11A related to the biological behavior of gastric cancer, and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases were used to analyze the expression and prognosis of ATP11A. The biofunctions of ATP11A were explored through Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). The expression of ATP11A were validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC), qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Transwell, wound healing, CCK8 and colony-formation were to detected the migration, invasion and proliferation of gastric cancer cells. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Hippo pathway markers were examined by Western blotting. Results: The expression of ATP11A was higher in gastric cancer tissues than in normal tissues, and high ATP11A levels were related to worse prognosis of gastric cancer patients. Additionally, we proved that ATP11A promoted the migration, invasion and proliferation in gastric cancer cells. Furthermore, ATP11A was found to promote EMT by devitalizing the Hippo pathway. Conclusion: ATP11A promoted migration, invasion, proliferation and EMT via Hippo signaling devitalization in gastric cancer cells.

ACSS2 enables melanoma cell survival and tumor metastasis by negatively regulating the Hippo pathway

Introduction

Acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2), one of the enzymes that catalyze the conversion of acetate to acetyl-CoA, has been proved to be an oncogene in various cancers. However, the function of ACSS2 is still largely a black box in melanoma.

Methods

The ACSS2 expression was detected in melanoma cells and melanocytes at both protein and mRNA levels. Cell viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion were investigated after ACSS2 knockdown. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology was employed to identify differentially expressed genes caused by ACSS2 knockdown, which were then verified by immunoblotting analysis. Animal experiments were further performed to investigate the influence of ACSS2 on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo.

Results

Firstly, we found that ACSS2 was upregulated in most melanoma cell lines compared with melanocytes. In addition, ACSS2 knockdown dramatically suppressed melanoma cell migration and invasion, whereas promoted cell apoptosis in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Furthermore, tumor growth and metastasis were dramatically suppressed by ACSS2 knockdown in vivo. RNA-Seq suggested that the Hippo pathway was activated by ACSS2 knockdown, which was forwardly confirmed by Western blotting and rescue experiments. Taken together, we demonstrated that ACSS2 enables melanoma cell survival and tumor metastasis via the regulation of the Hippo pathway.

Discussion

In summary, this study demonstrated that ACSS2 may promote the growth and metastasis of melanoma by negatively regulating the Hippo pathway. Targeting ACSS2 may be a promising target for melanoma treatment.

Diagnostic plasma small extracellular vesicles miRNA signatures for pancreatic cancer using machine learning methods

BACKGROUND

Identifying biomarkers may lead to easier detection and a better understanding of pathogenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

METHODS

Plasma small extracellular vesicles (sEV) from 106 participants, including 20 healthy controls (HC), 12 chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients, 12 benign pancreatic tumour (BPT) patients, and 58 PDAC patients, were profiled for microRNA (miRNA) sequencing. Three machine learning methods were applied to establish and evaluate the diagnostic model.

RESULTS

The plasma sEV miRNA diagnostic signature (d-signature) selected using the three machine learning methods could distinguish PDAC patients from non-PDAC individuals, HC, and benign pancreatic disease (BPD, CP plus BPT) both in training and validation cohort. Combining the d-signature with carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) performed better than with each model alone. Plasma sEV miR-664a-3p was selected by all methods and used to predict PDAC diagnosis with high accuracy combined with CA19-9. Plasma sEV miR-664a-3p was significantly positively associated with the presence of vascular invasion, lower surgery ratio, and poor differentiation. MiR-664a-3p was mainly distributed in the PDAC cancer stroma, including fibers and vessels, and was accompanied by VEGFA expression. Overexpression of miR-664a-3p could promote the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our study demonstrated the potential utility of the sEV-miRNA d-signature in the diagnosis of PDAC via machine learning methods. A novel sEV biomarker, miR-664a-3p, was identified for the diagnosis of PDAC. It can also potentially promote angiogenesis and metastasis, provide insight into PDAC pathogenesis, and reveal novel regulators of this disease.

Investigating the Role of FoxP3 in Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastasis with BAP1 or SEDT2 Mutation

Forkhead box protein P3 (FoxP3) primarily functions as the master regulator in regulatory T cells (Tregs) differentiation, but its high level of expression has also been found in tumor cells recently. The aim of our study was to clarify the role of FoxP3 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) progression and metastasis. We verified the FoxP3 characteristic clinicopathological data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database using bioinformatics tools. Meanwhile, RNA sequencing was performed to determine the FoxP3 biofunction in RCC progression. Our results showed that high expression of FoxP3 was found in BAP1- or SETD2-mutant patients with RCC, and a higher FoxP3 expression was related to worse prognosis. However, there was no statistically significant relationship between the FoxP3 IHC score and RCC malignant progression owning to the limited number of patients in our tissue microarray. Using in vitro FoxP3 loss-of-function assays, we verified that silencing FoxP3 in 786-O and ACHN cells could inhibit the cell migration/invasion capability, which was consistent with the data from RNA sequencing in 786-O cells and from the TCGA datasets. Using an in vivo nude mice orthotopic kidney cancer model, we found that silencing FoxP3 could inhibit tumor growth. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that BAP1 or SEDT2 mutation could lead to higher expression of FoxP3 in RCC patients, and FoxP3 could eventually stimulate RCC cells' invasion and metastasis, which might indicate that FoxP3 could function as a potential oncogene in RCC progression.

Hippo pathway dysregulation in gastric cancer: from Helicobacter pylori infection to tumor promotion and progression

The Hippo pathway plays a critical role for balancing proliferation and differentiation, thus regulating tissue homeostasis. The pathway acts through a kinase cascade whose final effectors are the Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its paralog transcriptional co‑activator with PDZ‑binding motif (TAZ). In response to a variety of upstream signals, YAP and TAZ activate a transcriptional program that modulates cellular proliferation, tissue repair after injury, stem cell fate decision, and cytoskeletal reorganization. Hippo pathway signaling is often dysregulated in gastric cancer and in Helicobacter pylori-induced infection, suggesting a putative role of its deregulation since the early stages of the disease. In this review, we summarize the architecture and regulation of the Hippo pathway and discuss how its dysregulation fuels the onset and progression of gastric cancer. In this setting, we also focus on the crosstalk between Hippo and other established oncogenic signaling pathways. Lastly, we provide insights into the therapeutic approaches targeting aberrant YAP/TAZ activation and discuss the related clinical perspectives and challenges.

The Role of FOXP3 on Tumor Metastasis and Its Interaction with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) is an important transcription factor for regulatory T cells (Tregs) and plays an important role in their immunosuppressive function. In recent years, studies have found that FOXP3 is expressed in many kinds of tumors and plays different roles in tumors' biological behaviors, including tumor proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance, and prognosis. However, the effects of FOXP3 on tumor metastasis and its interaction with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remain unclear. Therefore, in this review, we focus on the effects of FOXP3 on tumor metastasis and its relationship with TCM, which can provide evidence for further research and therapy in clinical settings.

HDAC6/FOXP3/HNF4α axis promotes bile acids induced gastric intestinal metaplasia

Bile reflux is one of the main causes of gastric intestinal metaplasia (IM) which is an important precancerous lesion. Our previous study has shown that ectopic expression of Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) promotes the activation of intestinal markers in bile acids (BA) induced gastric IM cells; however, the mechanism underlying how HDAC6-mediated epigenetic modifications regulate intestinal markers is not clear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the downstream targets of HDAC6 and the underlying mechanism in the process of BA induced gastric IM. We demonstrated that deoxycholic acid (DCA) upregulated HDAC6 in gastric cells, which further inhibited the transcription of Forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3). Then, FOXP3 transcriptionally inhibited Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α), which further inhibits the expression of downstream intestinal markers. These molecules have been shown to be clinically relevant, as FOXP3 levels were negatively correlated with HDAC6 and HNF4α in IM tissues. Transgenic mice experiments confirmed that HNF4α overexpression combined with DCA treatment induced gastric mucosa to secrete intestinal mucus and caused an abnormal mucosal structure. Our findings suggest that HDAC6 reduces FOXP3 through epigenetic modification, thus forming a closed loop HDAC6/FOXP3/HNF4α to promote gastric IM. Inhibition of HDAC6 may be a potential approach to prevent gastric IM in patients with bile reflux.

LncRNA SND1-IT1 facilitates TGF-β1-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via miR-124/COL4A1 axis in gastric cancer

The transformation of tumor cells from an epithelial to a mesenchymal-like phenotype, designated as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), represents a key hallmark of human cancer metastasis, including gastric cancer (GC). However, a large set of non-coding RNAs have been studied for their functions that initiate or inhibit this phenotypic switch in GC cells by regulating oncogenes or tumor suppressors. In this paper, we aimed to identify lncRNA SND1-IT1, miR-124, and COL4A1 gene in the context of GC with a specific focus on their effects on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced EMT. The study included 52 paired samples of lesion tissues and adjacent lesion-free tissues surgically resected from patients diagnosed with GC. HGC-27 cells were stimulated with exogenous TGF-β1 (2 ng/mL). Expression of lncRNA SND1-IT1, miR-124, and COL4A1 was determined by RT-qPCR. CCK-8 assays, Transwell assays, immunoblotting analysis of EMT-specific markers, and tumor invasion markers were performed to evaluate cell viability, migration, and invasion of cultured HGC-27 cells. Luciferase activity assay was employed to examine miR-124 binding with lncRNA SND1-IT1 and COL4A1, respectively. LncRNA SND1-IT1 was upregulated in GC tissues and cells. TGF-β1-stimulated EMT and regulated lncRNA SND1-IT1, miR-124, and COL4A1 expressions in HGC-27 cells. LncRNA SND1-IT1 knockdown tempered HGC-27 cell viability, migration and invasion. LncRNA SND1-IT1 participated in TGF-β1-stimulated EMT in GC by sponging miR-124. MiR-124 attenuated TGF-β1-stimulated EMT in GC by targeting COL4A1. These results primarily demonstrated TGF-β1 can regulate cancer cell migration, invasion and stimulate EMT through the SND1-IT1/miR-124/COL4A1 axis in GC.

Up-regulation of MTHFD2 is associated with clinicopathological characteristics and poor survival in ovarian cancer, possibly by regulating MOB1A signaling

Background

MTHFD2 is a folate-coupled metabolic enzyme, which has been proved to participant in the metabolic reprogramming and tumor cell-sustaining proliferative capacity. However, the function of MTHFD2 in the development of ovarian cancer and its potential molecular mechanisms is still unclear.

Materials and methods

The expression, various mutations, prognosis, and related network signaling pathways of MTHFD2 were analyzed using bioinformatics-related websites, including Oncomine, GEPIA, UCSC, cBioPortal, KM Plotter, TISIDB and TIMER. The prognostic value of MTHFD2 expression was validated by our own ovarian cancer samples using RT-qPCR. The migration ad invasion of ovarian cancer cells were further analyzed by CCK-8 and transwell assay. The Western-blot assay was performed to explore the protein levels of MTHFD2 and MOB1A.

Results

We obtained the following important results. (1) MTHFD2 expression was markedly up-regulated in ovarian cancer than normal samples. (2) Among patients with ovarian cancer, those with higher MTHFD2 expression was associated with lower survival rate. (3) The major mutation type of MTHFD2 in ovarian cancer samples was missense mutation. (4) MTHFD2 knockdown inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, as well as the expression of MOB1A in vitro.

Conclusion

MTHFD2, as a NAD + -dependent enzyme, accelerated tumor progression by up-regulating MBO1A, suggesting that this protein may be an independent prognostic factor and a potential therapeutic target for future ovarian cancer treatments.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13048-022-00954-w.

A Panel of Circulating microRNAs as a Potential Biomarker for the Early Detection of Gastric Cancer

Background

The high mortality rate of Gastric Cancer (GC) is a consequence of delayed diagnosis. The early diagnosis of GC could increase the five-year survival rate among patients. We aimed to find a panel of microRNAs (miRNA) for the detection of GC in the early stages.

Methods

In this case-control study, we selected consistently upregulated miRNAs from the results of 12 high-throughput miRNA profiling studies in GC. In the profiling phase, the differential expressions of 13 candidate miRNAs were analyzed by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) in two pooled RNA samples prepared from the plasma of eight GC patients and eight matched controls. In the validation phase, significantly upregulated miRNAs from the profiling phase were further evaluated in the plasma samples of 97 patients with stage I-IV gastric adenocarcinoma and 100 healthy controls.

Results

In the profiling phase, six miRNAs (miR-18a, 21, 25, 92a, 125b and 221) were significantly upregulated in the GC patients compared to the controls (p<0.05). However, in the validation phase, only significant up-regulation of miR-18a, 21 and 125b was confirmed (p<0.05). A panel of miR-18a/21/125b was able to detect GC patients with stage I-IV from the controls (p<0.001; AUC=0.92, sensitivity=86%; specificity=85%). In addition, the panel could distinguish the early-stage GC (I+II) from the control group with an AUC of 0.83, a sensitivity of 83%, and a specificity of 75%.

Conclusion

A panel of circulating miR18a/21/125b could be suggested as a potential biomarker for the early detection of GC.

Traditional Chinese medicine for precancerous lesions of gastric cancer: A review

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common type of cancer and the third leading cause of death due to cancer worldwide. The gastric mucosa often undergoes many years of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PLGC) stages before progressing to gastric malignancy. Unfortunately, there are no effective Western drugs for patients with PLGC. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been proven effective in treating PLGC. Classical TCM formulas and chemical components isolated from some Chinese herbal medicines have been administered to treat PLGC, and the main advantage is their comprehensive intervention with multiple approaches and multiple targets. In this review, we focus on recent studies using TCM treatment for PLGC, including clinical observations and experimental research, with a focus on targets and mechanisms of drugs. This review provides some ideas and a theoretical basis for applying TCM to treat PLGC and prevent GC.

MiR-199b-5p Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression by Regulating HHIP Expression

Objectives

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. More and more evidences support the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumor progression. However, the role of miRNAs in human GC remains largely unknown.

Methods

Based on the published gastric cancer expression profile data, combined with bioinformatics analysis, potential miRNAs in the process of GC were screened. The expression of miR-199b-5p in GC cells and patients’ plasma was detected by RT-PCR. The effects of miR-199b-5p on GC in vitro were detected by EdU proliferation assay, colony formation assay, Transwell assay and wound healing assay. Western blot was used to detect epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related proteins. The subcutaneous tumorigenesis model and metastatic tumor model of mice were used to study its effect in vivo. Bioinformatics and Dual luciferase reporter assay were used to verify the effect of miR-199b-5p and its target gene.

Results

Through bioinformatics analysis, we screened a novel miRNA miR-199b-5p that was significantly up-regulated in GC tissue and associated with poor prognosis of GC patients. RT-PCR results showed that its expression was also up-regulated in GC cell lines and patients’ plasma. MiR-199b-5p can significantly promote GC cell proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo. Western blot showed that miR-199b-5p could promote the EMT process of GC. HHIP has been proved to be a target of miR-199b-5p, and the recovery of HHIP can weaken the effect of miR-199b-5p.

Conclusion

MiR-199b-5p may play an oncogene role in GC by targeting HHIP, suggesting that miR-199b-5p may be a potential therapeutic target for GC.

Photocontrolled apoptosis induction using precursor miR-664a and an RNA carrier-conjugated with photosensitizer

Methods to spatially induce apoptosis are useful for cancer therapy. To control the induction of apoptosis, methods using light, such as photochemical internalization (PCI), have been developed. We hypothesized that photoinduced delivery of microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate apoptosis could spatially induce apoptosis. In this study, we identified pre-miR-664a as a novel apoptosis-inducing miRNA via mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Further, we demonstrated the utility of photoinduced cytosolic dispersion of RNA (PCDR), which is an intracellular RNA delivery method based on PCI. Indeed, apoptosis is spatially regulated by pre-miR-664a and PCDR. In addition, we found that apoptosis induced by pre-miR-664a delivered by PCDR was more rapid than that by lipofection. These results suggest that pre-miR-664a is a nucleic acid drug candidate for cancer therapy and PCDR and pre-miR-664a-based strategies have potential therapeutic uses for diseases affecting various cell types.

miRNome and Functional Network Analysis of PGRMC1 Regulated miRNA Target Genes Identify Pathways and Biological Functions Associated With Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Background

Increased expression of the progesterone receptor membrane component 1, a heme and progesterone binding protein, is frequently found in triple negative breast cancer tissue. The basis for the expression of PGRMC1 and its regulation on cellular signaling mechanisms remain largely unknown. Therefore, we aim to study microRNAs that target selective genes and mechanisms that are regulated by PGRMC1 in TNBCs.

Methods

To identify altered miRNAs, whole human miRNome profiling was performed following AG-205 treatment and PGRMC1 silencing. Network analysis identified miRNA target genes while KEGG, REACTOME and Gene ontology were used to explore altered signaling pathways, biological processes, and molecular functions.

Results

KEGG term pathway analysis revealed that upregulated miRNAs target specific genes that are involved in signaling pathways that play a major role in carcinogenesis. While multiple downregulated miRNAs are known oncogenes and have been previously demonstrated to be overexpressed in a variety of cancers. Overlapping miRNA target genes associated with KEGG term pathways were identified and overexpression/amplification of these genes was observed in invasive breast carcinoma tissue from TCGA. Further, the top two genes (CCND1 and YWHAZ) which are highly genetically altered are also associated with poorer overall survival.

Conclusions

Thus, our data demonstrates that therapeutic targeting of PGRMC1 in aggressive breast cancers leads to the activation of miRNAs that target overexpressed genes and deactivation of miRNAs that have oncogenic potential.

Recent advances of miRNAs in the development and clinical application of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. The mechanism of how GC develops is vague, and therapies are inefficient. The function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumorigenesis has attracted the attention from many scientists. During the development of GC, miRNAs function in the regulation of different phenotypes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis, drug sensitivity and resistance, and stem-cell-like properties. MiRNAs were evaluated for use in diagnostic and prognostic predictions and exhibited considerable accuracy. Although many problems exist for the application of therapy, current studies showed the antitumor effects of miRNAs. This paper reviews recent advances in miRNA mechanisms in the development of GC and the potential use of miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of GC.

MicroRNA-664a-3p inhibits the proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells in polycystic ovary syndrome and promotes apoptosis by targeting BCL2A1

Background

To investigate whether micro ribonucleic acid-664a-3p (miR-664a-3p) targeting BCL2A1 affects the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells.

Methods

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-664a-3p in granulosa cells, granular tumor cell lines (KGN), and normal ovarian epithelial cell lines (IOSE80) in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) group and the control group. After overexpressing miR-664a-3p or inhibiting its expression in KGN cells, qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of related genes. At the same time, a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometer were used to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis. The TargetScan website was used to predict the potential binding sites of miR-664a-3p and B-cell lymphoma 2-related protein A1 (BCL2A1), which was further verified by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and the luciferase reporter gene method.

Results

The expression of miR-664a-3p was significantly decreased in both PCOS tissues and KGN cells (both P<0.05), and the overexpression of miR-664a-3p inhibited the proliferation of KGN cells and induced their apoptosis. Moreover, our results confirmed that miR-664a-3p directly targets BCL2A1 (P<0.05), and the inhibitory effect of miR-664a-3p on KGN cells was reversed by BCL2A1 overexpression (both P<0.05). The up-regulation of BCL2A1 promotes cell proliferation and reduces cell apoptosis by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway (both P<0.05).

Conclusions

The up-regulation of miR-664a-3p inhibits the proliferation of KGN cells and increases apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of BCL2A1 and blocking the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.

microRNAs Promoting Growth of Gastric Cancer Xenografts and Correlation to Clinical Prognosis

The annual death toll for gastric cancer is in the range of 700,000 worldwide. Even in patients with early-stage gastric cancer recurrence within five years has been observed after surgical resection and following chemotherapy with therapy-resistant features. Therefore, the identification of new targets and treatment modalities for gastric cancer is of paramount importance. In this review we focus on the role of microRNAs with documented efficacy in preclinical xenograft models with respect to growth of human gastric cancer cells. We have identified 31 miRs (-10b, -19a, -19b, -20a, -23a/b, -25, -27a-3p, -92a, -93, -100, -106a, -130a, -135a, -135b-5p, -151-5p, -187, -199-3p, -215, -221-3p, -224, -340a, -382, -421, -425, -487a, -493, -532-3p, -575, -589, -664a-3p) covering 26 different targets which promote growth of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo as xenografts. Five miRs (miRs -10b, 151-5p, -187, 532-3p and -589) additionally have an impact on metastasis. Thirteen of the identified miRs (-19b, -20a/b, -25, -92a, -106a, -135a, -187, -221-3p, -340a, -421, -493, -575 and -589) have clinical impact on worse prognosis in patients.

Hypoxic bone marrow mesenchymal cell-extracellular vesicles containing miR-328-3p promote lung cancer progression via the NF2-mediated Hippo axis

Lung cancer is the most aggressive tumour afflicting patients on a global scale. Extracellular vesicle (EV)-delivered microRNAs (miRs) have been reported to play critical roles in cancer development. The current study aimed to investigate the role of hypoxic bone marrow mesenchymal cell (BMSC)-derived EVs containing miR-328-3p in lung cancer. miR-328-3p expression was determined in a set of lung cancer tissues by RT-qPCR. BMSCs were infected with lentivirus-mediated miR-328-3p knock-down and then cultured in normoxic or hypoxic conditions, followed by isolation of EVs. Following ectopic expression and depletion experiments in lung cancer cells, the biological functions of miR-328-3p were analysed using CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and Transwell assay. Xenograft in nude mice was performed to test the in vivo effects of miR-328-3p delivered by hypoxic BMSC-derived EVs on tumour growth of lung cancer. Finally, the expression of circulating miR-328-3p was detected in the serum of lung cancer patients. miR-328-3p was highly expressed in EVs derived from hypoxic BMSCs. miR-328-3p was delivered to lung cancer cells by hypoxic BMSC-derived EVs, thereby promoting lung cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. miR-328-3p targeted NF2 to inactivate the Hippo pathway. Moreover, EV-delivered miR-328-3p increased tumour growth in vivo. Additionally, circulating miR-328-3p was bioactive in the serum of lung cancer patients. Taken together, our results demonstrated that hypoxic BMSC-derived EVs could deliver miR-328-3p to lung cancer cells and that miR-328-3p targets the NF2 gene, thereby inhibiting the Hippo pathway to ultimately promote the occurrence and progression of lung cancer.

Regulation of Hippo signaling pathway in cancer: A MicroRNA perspective

Recent studies have suggested that Hippo signaling is not only involved in controlling organ size in Drosophila but can also regulate cell proliferation, tissue homeostasis, differentiation, apoptosis and regeneration. Any dysregulation of Hippo signaling, especially the hyper activation of its downstream effectors YAP/TAZ, can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and malignant transformation. In majority of cancers, expression of YAP/TAZ is extremely high and this increased expression of YAP/TAZ has been shown to be an independent predictor of prognosis and indicator of increased cell proliferation, metastasis and poor survival. In this review, we have summarized the most recent findings about the cross talk of Hippo signaling pathway with other signaling pathways and its regulation by different miRNAs in various cancer types. Recent evidence has suggested that Hippo pathway is also involved in mediating the resistance of different cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs and in a few cancer types, this is brought about by regulating miRNAs. Therefore, the delineation of the underlying mechanisms regulating the chemotherapeutic resistance might help in developing better treatment options. This review has attempted to provide an overview of different drugs/options which can be utilized to target oncogenic YAP/TAZ proteins for therapeutic interventions.

MOB: Pivotal Conserved Proteins in Cytokinesis, Cell Architecture and Tissue Homeostasis

The MOB family proteins are constituted by highly conserved eukaryote kinase signal adaptors that are often essential both for cell and organism survival. Historically, MOB family proteins have been described as kinase activators participating in Hippo and Mitotic Exit Network/ Septation Initiation Network (MEN/SIN) signaling pathways that have central roles in regulating cytokinesis, cell polarity, cell proliferation and cell fate to control organ growth and regeneration. In metazoans, MOB proteins act as central signal adaptors of the core kinase module MST1/2, LATS1/2, and NDR1/2 kinases that phosphorylate the YAP/TAZ transcriptional co-activators, effectors of the Hippo signaling pathway. More recently, MOBs have been shown to also have non-kinase partners and to be involved in cilia biology, indicating that its activity and regulation is more diverse than expected. In this review, we explore the possible ancestral role of MEN/SIN pathways on the built-in nature of a more complex and functionally expanded Hippo pathway, by focusing on the most conserved components of these pathways, the MOB proteins. We discuss the current knowledge of MOBs-regulated signaling, with emphasis on its evolutionary history and role in morphogenesis, cytokinesis, and cell polarity from unicellular to multicellular organisms.

Altered expression of microRNA-92b-3p predicts survival outcomes of patients with prostate cancer and functions as an oncogene in tumor progression

The global incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) has been increasing in recent years. Meanwhile, some studies have indicated the association between malignancies, such as lung and gastric cancer and PCa, and microRNAs (miRNAs). The present study was designed to assess the prognostic value of miR-92b-3p in patients with PCa and further investigate the biological function of miR-92b-3p. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to estimate the expression of miR-92b-3p in PCa tissues and cell lines compared with normal tissues and cells. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the overall survival rate of patients with PCa. A Cox regression analysis was used to verify the prognostic value of miR-92b-3p. The biological function of miR-92b-3p was investigated using cell experiments. The findings of the present study revealed the upregulated expression of miR-92b-3p in PCa tissues and cells compared with normal tissues and cells. The overexpression of miR-92b-3p was significantly associated with the distant metastasis status and Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage of patients with PCa and predicted poor prognosis of PCa. In addition, the cell experiment results indicated that miR-92b-3p overexpression in PCa cells promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion. The present study revealed that the overexpression of miR-92b-3p predicted poor prognosis in patients with PCa. Decreased expression of miR-92b-3p can suppress PCa cell proliferation, migration and invasion, which indicated that miR-92b-3p may function as an oncogene and serve as a novel therapeutic target for PCa.

MOB1A regulates glucose deprivation-induced autophagy via IL6-STAT3 pathway in gallbladder carcinoma

MOB kinase activator 1A (MOB1A) plays an important role in many diseases and cancers. Here, we observed that MOB1A was substantially overexpressed in gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) tissues compared with nontumor tissues. The high expression of MOB1A was closely associated with poor survival in patients with GBC at advanced TNM stages. Furthermore, our study indicated that MOB1A promoted autophagy by activating the IL6/STAT3 signaling pathway and regulating the chemosensitivity to gemcitabine under glucose deprivation conditions both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, these findings suggested that MOB1A is critical for the development of GBC via the MOB1A-IL6/STAT3-autophagy axis.

LncRNA NEAT1 promotes gastric cancer progression via miR-1294/AKT1 axis

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were reported to promote the development of gastric cancer (GC). Nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) played a great role in diverse cancers, but the mechanism of NEAT1 in GC remains indistinct. NEAT1 and AKT1 were distinctly up-regulated and miR-1294 was down-regulated in GC tissues and cells. Cell proliferation and metastasis were refrained but apoptosis was promoted in GC cells after knockdown of NEAT1. NEAT1 negatively regulated miR-1294 expression, and the miR-1294 inhibitor reverted the si-NEAT1-induced effect on GC cells. NEAT1 modulated AKT1 expression through miR-1294, and the si-NEAT1-induced effect was relieved by AKT1. NEAT1 affected phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway via regulating miR-1294 and AKT1. NEAT1 could modulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis in GC cells by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway via the miR-1294/AKT1 axis, showing the great potential for NEAT1 as a valid biomarker in the progression and treatment of GC.

Long noncoding RNA FER1L4 suppresses proliferation, invasion, migration and lymphatic metastasis of gastric cancer cells through inhibiting the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most malignant tumors in the world. Growing evidence has highlighted the crucial role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the tumorigenesis of GC. The aim of the research was to elucidate the effects of lncRNA Fer-1-like family member 4 (FER1L4) in GC and identify the potential mechanisms. The present study investigated FER1L4 controlling cell survival and migration of SGC-7901 cells. Results indicated that the expression level of FER1L4 was distinctly decreased in GC cells, as evidenced by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. By using cell proliferation assay, Transwell assay, wound healing assay and western blotting, we found out that overexpression of FER1L4 in SGC-7901 cells hindered the capacities of cell proliferation, invasion, migration and lymphatic metastasis. Furthermore, results of the western blotting and immunofluorescence assay unveiled that overexpression of FER1L4 led to a notable reduction in the expression of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) and C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) in SGC-7901 cells. Besides, activation of Hippo pathway by upregulating Yes-associated protein (YAP) expression or treatment of CXCR4 inhibitor WZ811 reversed the inhibitory effects of FER1L4 on proliferation and metastasis of SGC-7901 cells. Moreover, co-transfection with YAP and FER1L4 overexpression plasmids abrogated the repressive effects of FER1L4 overexpression on proliferation and metastasis. Taken together, these results demonstrated that lncRNA FER1L4 suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, migration and lymphatic metastasis of GC cells by inactivation of the Hippo-YAP pathway, providing novel insights into regulatory mechanism under GC and new strategies for clinical practice.

Interaction of non-coding RNAs and Hippo signaling: Implications for tumorigenesis

Hippo signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that controls organ size by regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and stem cell self-renewal by "turning off" or "turning on" the kinase cascade chain reaction to manipulate the expression of downstream genes. Dysregulation of the Hippo pathway contributes to cancer development and metastasis. Emerging evidence has revealed new insights into tumorigenesis through the interplay between the Hippo pathway and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially microRNA, long non-coding RNA and circular RNA. Here, we reviewed the interactions between the Hippo pathway and ncRNAs and their implication for a variety of tumor-promoting or tumor-repressing effects. These interactions have the potential to serve as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets in clinical applications.

miR-874 inhibits gastric cancer cell proliferation by targeting SPAG9

Background

microRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in the development and progression of gastric cancer (GC). Although aberrant miR-874 expression has been reported in various human cancers, its role in GC remains obscure.

Methods

miR-874 expression was assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in 62 matched GC and adjacent normal tissues, as well as in GC cell lines and immortalized human gastric epithelial cells. CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry were used to assess the role of miR-874 in GC cell proliferation and apoptosis in vitro. Additionally, to determine the effects of miR-874 on GC cell proliferation and apoptosis in vivo, BALB/c nude mice were injected with GC cells transfected with a miR-874 mimic. The role of miR-874 in SPAG9 expression was assessed by luciferase assay, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR.

Results

miR-874 was downregulated in GC cell lines and tissues. miR-874 overexpression in GC cells led to inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Moreover, SPAG9 was identified as a direct miR-874 target, the expression of which was suppressed by miR-874. SPAG9 overexpression markedly promoted GC cell proliferation.

Conclusions

miR-874 inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in GC cells. SPAG9 downregulation was crucial for the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-874. Hence, the miR-874/SPAG9 axis could serve as a novel therapeutic target in GC.

LncRNA SNHG1 promotes EMT process in gastric cancer cells through regulation of the miR-15b/DCLK1/Notch1 axis

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant tumour originating from the gastric mucosa epithelium that seriously threatens human health. DCLK1, miR-15b and lncRNA SNHG1 play potential roles in the occurrence of GC, but the mechanism remains unclear.

Methods

Gene expression of DCLK1, miR-15b and lncRNA SNHG1 was investigated by qRT-PCR. Protein expression was detected by Western blotting. Migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells was tested by a Transwell assay and wound healing assay. Cell proliferation was measured by an MTT assay. Finally, the correctness of the prediction results was confirmed by a dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results

The expression of DCLK1, Notch1, and SNHG1 was increased in GC tissues, while the expression of miR-15b was decreased. Overexpression of lncRNA SNHG1 promoted the expression of DCLK1 and Nothc1 in GC cells. Moreover, miR-15b targeted DCLK1 to regulate Notch1 expression and inhibited the EMT process in GC cells. SNHG1 enhanced the effects of DCLK1/Notch1 on the EMT process through regulating miR-15b expression.

Conclusion

SNHG1 enhances the EMT process in GC cells through DCLK1-mediated Notch1 pathway, which can be a potential target for treating GC.

Small Nucleolar RNA, C/D Box 16 (SNORD16) Acts as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Colon Cancer

Colon cancer (CC) is considered one of the most common and lethal malignancies occurring both in male and female. Its widespread prevalence demonstrates the need for novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for CC. Emerging evidence has shown that small nucleolar RNAs play critical roles in tumor development. In this study, we investigated the expression profile and functions of SNORD16 in CC. Our data showed that SNORD16, rather than its host gene (RPL4), was upregulated in CC cell lines. Compared to matched adjacent normal tissues, CC tissues showed higher SNORD16 expression levels, and no correlation was found between SNORD16 and RPL4. Patients with high SNORD16 expression levels had a worse prognosis, and multivariate analysis showed the high SNORD16 expression was an independent prognostic factor for CC. In vitro gain- and loss-of-function studies revealed that SNORD16 can promote cell growth, proliferation, migration, and invasion of CC cells by inhibiting apoptosis. These results suggested that SNORD16 has an oncogenic role in CC and might be a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for CC.

miR-15b-5p Promotes Growth and Metastasis in Breast Cancer by Targeting HPSE2

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can participate in many behaviors of various tumors. Prior studies have reported that miR-15b-5p in different tumors can either promote or inhibit tumor progression. In breast cancer, the role of miR-15b-5p is unclear. The main objective of this paper is to explore miR-15b-5p effects and their mechanisms in breast cancer using both in vitro and in vivo experiments. This study showed that miR-15b-5p expression was upregulated in breast cancer compared with normal breast tissue and was positively correlated with poor overall survival in patients. Knockdown of miR-15b-5p in MCF-7 and MD-MBA-231 breast cancer cells restrained cell growth and invasiveness and induced apoptosis, whereas overexpression of miR-15b-5p achieved the opposite effects. We next revealed a negative correlation between miR-15b-5p and heparanase-2 (HPSE2) expression in breast cancer. Knockdown of miR-15b-5p significantly increased HPSE2 expression at both mRNA and protein levels in breast cancer cells in vitro. The underlying mechanisms of miR-15-5p in breast cancer were investigated using luciferase activity reporter assay and rescue experiments. In addition, miR-15b-5p knockdown significantly inhibited tumor growth in a xenograft model in mice. In summary, we showed that miR-15b-5p promotes breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by directly targeting HPSE2. Accordingly, miR-15b-5p may serve both as a tool for prognosis and as a target for therapy of breast cancer patients.

ZNF143 Suppresses Cell Apoptosis and Promotes Proliferation in Gastric Cancer via ROS/p53 Axis

Aim

This study was aimed at identifying the role of zinc finger protein 143 (ZNF143) in gastric cancer (GC) progression.

Methods

The impact of ZNF143 on the proliferation ability and apoptosis of GC cells was detected. The expression of ZNF143 and related targeted genes was determined using Western blot analysis. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of GC cells was examined using the ROS generation assay. The role of ZNF143 in the proliferation of GC cells in vivo was examined using tumor xenograft assay.

Results

The ectopic overexpression of ZNF143 promoted the proliferation of GC cells, while its knockdown reduced the effect in vitro. The downregulation of ZNF143 facilitated cell apoptosis. ZNF143 decreased the ROS level in GC cells, resulting in the reduction of cell apoptosis. Transfection with p53 reversed the antiapoptotic effect of ZNF143, while pifithrin-α, a specific inhibitor of p53, reduced the apoptosis in ZNF143-knockdown GC cells. However, p53 had no influence on the ROS level in GC cells. p53 played a key role in inhibiting ROS generation in GC cells, thereby inhibiting apoptosis. The transplanted tumor weight and volume were higher in the ZNF143-overexpressed group than in the ZNF143-knockdown group in vivo was examined using tumor xenograft assay.

Conclusion

ZNF143, as a tumor oncogene, promoted the proliferation of GC cells both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that ZNF143 might function as a novel target for GC therapy.in vitro. The downregulation of ZNF143 facilitated cell apoptosis. ZNF143 decreased the ROS level in GC cells, resulting in the reduction of cell apoptosis. Transfection with p53 reversed the antiapoptotic effect of ZNF143, while pifithrin-in vivo was examined using tumor xenograft assay.

MicroRNA-301b-3p accelerates the growth of gastric cancer cells by targeting zinc finger and BTB domain containing 4

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be aberrantly expressed and exert essential roles in the tumorigenesis and progression of gastric cancer (GC). miR-301b-3p has been recognized as a cancer-related miRNA in lung cancer, bladder cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the function of miR-301b-3p in GC progression and its underlying mechanism have not been studied yet. In this study, we found that miR-301b-3p expression was up-regulated in GC tissues compared to adjacent noncancerous tissues. Furthermore, the elevated levels of miR-301b-3p were detected in GC cell lines (SGC-7901, AGS, MKN-45 and MGC-803) as compared with GES-1 cells. Interestingly, GC tissues from patients with tumor size ≥ 5 cm and advanced tumor stages showed obvious higher levels of miR-301b-3p compared to matched controls. Functionally, miR-301b-3p knockdown prominently inhibited cell proliferation, and induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and apoptosis in MGC-803 cells. Meanwhile, ectopic expression of miR-301b-3p conversely regulated these biological behaviors of MKN-45 cells. Next, we found that miR-301b-3p knockdown increased, whereas miR-301b-3p overexpression reduced the expression of zinc finger and BTB domain containing 4 (ZBTB4) in GC cells. Accordingly, luciferase reporter assay identified ZBTB4 as a direct target of miR-301b-3p. ZBTB4 overexpression markedly restrained the growth of MGC-803 cells. More importantly, ZBTB4 silencing partially reversed miR-301b-3p knockdown-induced tumor suppressive effects on MGC-803 cells. In conclusion, we firstly revealed that miR-301-3p was highly expressed in GC and contributed to tumor progression via attenuating ZBTB4, which might provide a novel molecular-targeted strategy for GC treatment.

Upregulated RACK1 attenuates gastric cancer cell growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Purpose: As there have been few studies on the effects of the receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) on gastric cancer (GC), we aimed to explore such effects and the mechanism that may be involved.

Patients and methods: Normal gastric epithelial cells and six GC cell lines were used to detect the mRNA expression of RACK1. Overexpressing RACK1 was transfected in HGC27 and MGC803 cells. The effects of overexpressing RACK1 on cell viability, migration, and invasion were determined by cell counting kit-8, wound scratch, and Transwell assay, respectively. The expressions of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling related genes were detected using quantitative real-time PCR or Western blot. Wnt pathway agonist LiCl was added into RACK1 overexpressing GC cells, and then cell viability, migration, and invasion were also detected.

Results: RACK1 was downregulated in GC cell lines. Under the circumstance that overexpressing RACK1 was successfully transfected in the two lowest RACK1-expressing GC cells, significant inhibition of cell viability, migration, and invasion, promotion to the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin, as well as a decrease in the N-cadherin and Snail expressions could be observed. Overexpressing RACK1 also enhanced the protein level of phosphorylation-β-catenin/β-catenin and attenuated c-Jun protein expression. Additionally, LiCl could partially reverse the inhibitory effects of cell viability, migration and invasion by overexpressing RACK.

Conclusion: We found RACK1 possibly inhibited epithelial–mesenchymal transition of GC cells through limitation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, thereby suppressing cell migration and invasion; RACK1 could also suppress cell growth.

miR-664a-3p functions as an oncogene by targeting Hippo pathway in the development of gastric cancer

OBJECTIVES

It has been accounted that miR-664a-3p has different functions in several malignancies; however, the precise role and underlying mechanism in gastric cancer have not been elucidated. Our study aims to explore the function of miR-664a-3p on the progression of gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

qRT-PCR was applied to detect the expression of miR-664a-3p in GC tissues and cells. The functions of miR-664a-3p on GC in vitro were examined by cell proliferation assay, and transwell assay. Related proteins of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and signal pathway were evaluated by Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis. The bioinformatic, dual-luciferase assay or ChIP assay were employed to identify the interaction between miR-664a-3p and its target gene or Foxp3. The effects in vivo were investigated through a mouse tumorigenicity model.

RESULTS

miR-664a-3p was frequently upregulated in GC tissues and cells. Elevated expression of miR-664a-3p significantly promoted proliferation and invasion in vitro and in vivo. MOB1A was confirmed to be a target of miR-664a-3p and restoration of MOB1A attenuated the effects of miR-664a-3p. A series of investigations indicated that miR-664a-3p contributed to EMT process and inactivated the Hippo pathway by downregulating MOB1A.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, we revealed that miR-664a-3p functions as an oncogene by targeting Hippo pathway in the development of gastric cancer.

Overexpression Of hsa-miR-664a-3p Is Associated With Cigarette Smoke-Induced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Via Targeting FHL1

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is recognized as a chronic lung disease with incomplete reversible airflow limitation, but its pathophysiology was still not clear. This study aimed at investigating regulatory roles of special miRNA-mRNA axis in COPD development.

METHODS

Differentially expressed miRNAs and downstream mRNAs were screened from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset by using the LIMMA package in R software. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was used to construct a co-expression network for COPD. The correlation of dysregulated miRNA(s) and COPD was analyzed, and miRNAs with significant differences were validated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from COPD patients by real-time PCR. Regulatory roles of candidate miRNAs and targeted mRNAs were investigated in vitro study.

RESULTS

Thirteen modules of co-expressed miRNAs and mRNAs were constructed from a selected cohort with WGCNA. Turquoise module with 12 differentially expressed miRNAs and 120 mRNAs was significantly correlated with COPD. The expression of hsa-miR-664a-3p, an upregulated miRNA in the module, was increased both in lung tissue and PBMCs from COPD patients, whereas that targeted four and a half LIM domains 1 (FHL1) gene was decreased and positively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC%) (r = 0.59, p < 0.01). In vitro, luciferase activity assay revealed FHL1 as a target of hsa-miR-664a-3p and it could be directly downregulated by overexpression of hsa-miR-664a-3p. Furthermore, cigarette smoke extract could increase hsa-miR-664a-3p level and decrease FHL1 level in Beas-2B cells.

CONCLUSION

The present study validated significant upregulation of hsa-miR-664a-3p in COPD patients, and its target gene FHL1 was downregulated and positively correlated with FEV1/FVC%; both hsa-miR-664a-3p and FHL1 could be regulated by cigarette smoke extract. Results of bioinformatic analyses and expanded validation suggest that the axis from hsa-miR-664a-3p to FHL1 might play a key role in cigarette smoke-induced COPD, and the exact mechanism should be confirmed in further studies.