MicroRNA-196b-5p promotes malignant progression of colorectal cancer by targeting ING5

Detailed role of microRNA-mediated regulation of PI3K/AKT axis in human tumors

The regulation of signal transmission and biological processes, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, migration, and angiogenesis are greatly influenced by the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Highly conserved endogenous non-protein-coding RNAs known as microRNAs (miRNAs) have the ability to regulate gene expression by inhibiting mRNA translation or mRNA degradation. MiRNAs serve key role in PI3K/AKT pathway as upstream or downstream target, and aberrant activation of this pathway contributes to the development of cancers. A growing body of research shows that miRNAs can control the PI3K/AKT pathway to control the biological processes within cells. The expression of genes linked to cancers can be controlled by the miRNA/PI3K/AKT axis, which in turn controls the development of cancer. There is also a strong correlation between the expression of miRNAs linked to the PI3K/AKT pathway and numerous clinical traits. Moreover, PI3K/AKT pathway-associated miRNAs are potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, therapy, and prognostic evaluation. The role and clinical applications of the PI3K/AKT pathway and miRNA/PI3K/AKT axis in the emergence of cancers are reviewed in this article.

MicroRNA-152-3p and MicroRNA-196a-5p Are Downregulated When Müller Cells Are Promoted by Components of the Internal Limiting Membrane: Implications for Macular Hole Healing

Müller cells play a critical role in the closure of macular holes, and their proliferation and migration are facilitated by the internal limiting membrane (ILM). Despite the importance of this process, the underlying molecular mechanism remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects of ILM components on the microRNA (miRNA) profile of Müller cells. Rat Müller cells (rMC-1) were cultured with a culture insert and varying concentrations of ILM component coatings, namely, collagen IV, laminin, and fibronectin, and cell migration was assessed by measuring cell-free areas in successive photographs following insert removal. MiRNAs were then extracted from these cells and analyzed. Mimics and inhibitors of miRNA candidates were transfected into Müller cells, and a cell migration assay and additional cell viability assays were performed. The results revealed that the ILM components promoted Müller cell migration (p < 0.01). Among the miRNA candidates, miR-194-3p was upregulated, whereas miR-125b-1-3p, miR-132-3p, miR-146b-5p, miR-152-3p, miR-196a-5p, miR-542-5p, miR-871-3p, miR-1839-5p, and miR-3573-3p were significantly downregulated (p < 0.05; fold change > 1.5). Moreover, miR-152-3p and miR-196a-5p reduced cell migration (p < 0.05) and proliferation (p < 0.001), and their suppressive effects were reversed by their respective inhibitors. In conclusion, miRNAs were regulated in ILM component-activated Müller cells, with miR-152-3p and miR-196a-5p regulating Müller cell migration and proliferation. These results serve as a basis for understanding the molecular healing process of macular holes and identifying potential new target genes in future research.

Circ_0078607 increases platinum drug sensitivity via miR-196b-5p/GAS7 axis in ovarian cancer

Platinum-based chemotherapy is one of the predominant strategies for treating ovarian cancer (OC), however, platinum resistance greatly influences the therapeutic effect. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to participate in the pathogenesis of platinum resistance. Our aim was to explore the involvement of circ_0078607 in OC cell cisplatin (DDP) resistance and its potential mechanisms. Circ_0078607, miR-196b-5p, and growth arrest-specific 7 (GAS7) levels were assessed by qPCR. Circ_0078607 stability was assessed by ribonuclease R digestion and actinomycin D treatment. Cell viability of various conic of DDP treatment was measured by CCK-8. The cell proliferation was determined by CCK-8 and colony formation assay. Western blotting was performed for determining GAS7, ABCB1, CyclinD1 and Bcl-2 protein levels. The direct binding between miR-196b-5p and circ_0078607 or GAS7 was validated by dual-luciferase reporter and RIP assay. DDP resistance in vivo was evaluated in nude mice. Immunohistochemistry staining for detecting Ki67 expression in xenograft tumours. Circ_0078607 and GAS7 was down-regulated, but miR-196b-5p was up-regulated in OC samples and DDP-resistant cells. Overexpression of circ_0078607 inhibited DDP resistance, cell growth and induced apoptosis in DDP-resistant OC cells. Mechanistically, circ_0078607 sequestered miR-196b-5p to up-regulate GAS7. MiR-196b-5p mimics reversed circ_0078607 or GAS7 overexpression-mediated enhanced sensitivity. Finally, circ_0078607 improved the sensitivity of DDP in vivo. Circ_0078607 attenuates DDP resistance via miR-196b-5p/GAS7 axis, which highlights the therapeutic potential of circ_0078607 to counter DDP resistance in OC.

Investigation of the effects of phthalates on in vitro thyroid models with RNA-Seq and ATAC-Seq

Introduction

Phthalates are a class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that have been shown to negatively correlate with thyroid hormone serum levels in humans and to cause a state of hyperactivity in the thyroid. However, their mechanism of action is not well described at the molecular level.

Methods

We analyzed the response of mouse thyroid organoids to the exposure to a biologically relevant dose range of the phthalates bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-iso-decylphthalate (DIDP), di-iso-nonylphthalate (DINP), and di-n-octylphthalate (DnOP) for 24 h and simultaneously analyzed mRNA and miRNA expression via RNA sequencing. Using the expression data, we performed differential expression and gene set enrichment analysis. We also exposed the human thyroid follicular epithelial cell line Nthy-ori 3-1 to 1 µM of DEHP or DINP for 5 days and analyzed changes in chromatin accessibility via ATAC-Seq.

Results

Dose-series analysis showed how the expression of several genes increased or decreased at the highest dose tested. As expected with the low dosing scheme, the compounds induced a modest response on the transcriptome, as we identified changes in only mmu-miR-143-3p after DINP treatment and very few differentially expressed genes. No effect was observed on thyroid markers. Ing5, a component of histones H3 and H4 acetylation complexes, was consistently upregulated in three out of four conditions compared to control, and we observed a partial overlap among the genes differentially expressed by the treatments. Gene set enrichment analysis showed enrichment in the treatment samples of the fatty acid metabolism pathway and in the control of pathways related to the receptor signalling and extracellular matrix organization. ATAC-Seq analysis showed a general increase in accessibility compared to the control, however we did not identify significant changes in accessibility in the identified regions.

Discussion

With this work, we showed that despite having only a few differentially expressed genes, diverse analysis methods could be applied to retrieve relevant information on phthalates, showing the potential of in vitro thyroid-relevant systems for the analysis of endocrine disruptors.

METTL3 Promotes Osteo/Odontogenic Differentiation of Stem Cells by Inhibiting miR-196b-5p Maturation

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been considered a potential method for the regeneration of tooth and maxillofacial bone defects based on the multidirectional differentiation characteristics of MSCs. miRNAs have been found to play a key role in the differentiation of MSCs. However, its effectiveness still needs to be improved, and its internal mechanism is still unclear. In the present study, our data discovered that the knockdown of miR-196b-5p promoted alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, mineralization in vitro, and expressions of osteo/odontogenic differentiation markers DSPP and OCN and enhanced in vivo osteo/odontogenic differentiation of stem cells of the apical papilla (SCAPs). Mechanistically, the results indicated that METTL3-dependent N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation inhibited miR-196b-5p maturation by the microprocessor protein DGCR8. Moreover, miR-196b-5p indirectly negatively regulates METTL3 in SCAPs. Then, METTL3 was found to strengthen the ALP activity assay, mineralization, and expressions of osteo/dentinogenic differentiation markers. Taken together, our findings highlight the critical roles of the METTL3-miR-196b-5p signaling axis in an m6A-dependent manner in osteo/odontogenic differentiation of SCAPs, identifying some potential targets for tooth and maxillofacial bone defects.

MicroRNA-455-3p accelerate malignant progression of tumor by targeting H2AFZ in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) becomes the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in 2020. Emerging studies have indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in tumorigenesis and progression. The dysfunctions of miR-455-3p are observed in many cancers. However, its biological function in CRC remains to be confirmed. By sequencing serum sample, miR-455-3p was found to be up-regulated in CRC patients. RT-qPCR demonstrated that the miR-455-3p expression was both higher in the serum and tumor tissues of CRC patients. Furthermore, it indicated that miR-455-3p had the ability in promoting cell proliferation, suppressing cell apoptosis, and stimulating cell migration. In vivo experiments also showed that miR-455-3p promoted tumor growth. Additionally, H2AFZ was proved as the direct gene target of miR-455-3p by dual-luciferase assay. Taken together, miR-455-3p functioned as a tumor promoter in CRC development by regulating H2AFZ directly. Thus, it has enormous potential as a biomarker in the diagnosis of CRC.

In silico analysis prediction of HepTH1-5 as a potential therapeutic agent by targeting tumour suppressor protein networks

Many studies reported that the activation of tumour suppressor protein, p53 induced the human hepcidin expression. However, its expression decreased when p53 was silenced in human hepatoma cells. Contrary to Tilapia hepcidin TH1-5, HepTH1-5 was previously reported to trigger the p53 activation through the molecular docking approach. The INhibitor of Growth (ING) family members are also shown to directly interact with p53 and promote cell cycle arrest, senescence, apoptosis and participate in DNA replication and DNA damage responses to suppress the tumour initiation and progression. However, the interrelation between INGs and HepTH1-5 remains unknown. Therefore, this study aims to identify the mechanism and their protein interactions using in silico approaches. The finding revealed that HepTH1-5 and its ligands had interacted mostly on hotspot residues of ING proteins which involved in histone modifications via acetylation, phosphorylation, and methylation. This proves that HepTH1-5 might implicate in an apoptosis signalling pathway and preserve the protein structure and function of INGs by reducing the perturbation of histone binding upon oxidative stress response. This study would provide theoretical guidance for the design and experimental studies to decipher the role of HepTH1-5 as a potential therapeutic agent for cancer therapy. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Endothelial miR-196b-5p regulates angiogenesis via the hypoxia/miR-196b-5p/HMGA2/HIF1α loop

Angiogenesis is involved in development, reproduction, wound healing, homeostasis, and other pathophysiological events. Imbalanced angiogenesis predisposes patients to various pathological processes, such as angiocardiopathy, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be important in regulating cellular processing and physiological events including angiogenesis. However, the role of miRNAs that regulate angiogenesis (angiomiRs) is not fully understood. Here, we observed a downregulation of the miR-196 family in endothelial cells upon hypoxia. Functionally, miR-196b-5p inhibited the angiogenic functions of endothelial cells in vitro and suppressed angiogenesis in Matrigel plugs and skin wound healing in vivo. Mechanistically, miR-196b-5p bound onto the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of high-mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) mRNA and repressed the translation of HMGA2, which in turn represses HIF1α accumulation in endothelial cells upon hypoxia. Together, our results establish the role of endothelial miR-196b-5p as an angiomiR that negatively regulates endothelial growth in angiogenesis via the hypoxia/miR-196b-5p/HMGA2/HIF1α loop. miR-196b-5p and its regulatory loop could be an important addition to the molecular mechanisms underlying angiogenesis and may serve as potential targets for antiangiogenic therapy.

The roles of ING5 in cancer: A tumor suppressor

As a Class II tumor suppressor, ING5 contains nuclear localization signal, plant homeodomain, novel conserved region, and leucine zipper-like domains. ING5 proteins form homodimer into a coil-coil structure, and heterodimers with ING4, histone H3K4me3, histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complex, Tip60, Cyclin A1/CDK2, INCA1 and EBNA3C for the transcription of target genes. The acetylated proteins up-regulated by ING5 are preferentially located in nucleus and act as transcription cofactors, chromatin and DNA binding functions, while those down-regulated by ING5 mostly in cytoplasm and contribute to metabolism. ING5 promotes the autoacetylation of HAT p300, p53, histone H3 and H4 for the transcription of downstream genes (Bax, GADD45, p21, p27 and so forth). Transcriptionally, YY1 and SRF up-regulate ING5 mRNA expression by the interaction of YY1-SRF-p53-ING5 complex with ING5 promoter. Translationally, ING5 is targeted by miR-196, miR-196a, miR-196b-5p, miR-193a-3p, miR-27-3p, miR-200b/200a/429, miR-1307, miR-193, miR-222, miR-331-3p, miR-181b, miR-543 and miR-196-b. ING5 suppresses proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor growth of various cancer cells via the suppression of EGFR/PI3K/Akt, IL-6/STAT3, Akt/NF-κB/NF-κB/MMP-9 or IL-6/CXCL12 pathway. ING5-mediated chemoresistance is closely linked to anti-apoptosis, overexpression of chemoresistant genes, the activation of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathways. Histologically, ING5 abrogation in gastric stem-like and pdx1-positive cells causes gastric dysplasia and cancer, and conditional ING5 knockout in pdx1-positive and gastric chief cells increases MNU-induced gastric carcinogenesis. Intestinal ING5 deletion increases AOM/DSS- induced colorectal carcinogenesis and decreases high-fat-diet weight. The overexpression and nucleocytoplasmic translocation of ING5 are seen during carcinogenesis, and ING5 expression was inversely associated with aggressive behaviors and poor prognosis in a variety of cancers. These findings indicated that ING5 might be used for a molecular marker for carcinogenesis and following progression, and as a target for gene therapy if its chemoresistant function might be ameliorated.

TRIM50 Inhibits Proliferation and Metastasis of Gastric Cancer via Promoting β-Catenin Degradation

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignancy with a poor prognosis. Tripartite motif-containing 50 (TRIM50) belongs to the TRIM family and is reported to be related to numerous cancers. This study aimed to investigate the function of TRIM50 in GC.

Methods

Three microarray datasets (GSE13911, GSE79973, and GSE19826) containing GC and adjacent nontumor tissues were used for bioinformatics analysis to screen GC-related genes and assess the associations between GC development and TRIM50 expression. Then, TRIM50 expression in GC cells was detected at mRNA and protein levels. After TRIM50 was knockdown or overexpressed, the effect of TRIM50 on the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells was analyzed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, scratch, and Transwell assays. The interaction between TRIM50 and β-catenin was analyzed. The expression of cell cycle-, migration-, invasion-, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins was detected by Western blot. Furthermore, we measured the role of TRIM50 overexpression on tumor growth as well as the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in vivo. In addition, XAV939 (a WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor) was used to clarify the mechanism of TRIM50 on GC.

Results

Bioinformatics revealed that TRIM50 expression was decreased in GC samples and associated with GC development. In vitro study revealed that TRIM50 overexpression impeded the GC cell proliferation and metastasis, while TRIM50 knockdown presented the opposite results. In addition, TRIM50 interacted with β-catenin to induce the degradation of β-catenin. In in vivo assay, TRIM50 overexpression inhibited tumor growth and blocked the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In addition, TRIM50 knockdown-promoted cell proliferation and metastasis in GC cells were inverted by XAV939.

Conclusion

TRIM50 overexpression may inhibit cell proliferation and metastasis in GC via β-catenin degradation, indicating that TRIM50 could be a target for the treatment of GC.

Transcriptional Regulation of ING5 and its Suppressive Effects on Gastric Cancer

ING5 targets histone acetyltransferase or histone deacetylase complexes for local chromatin remodeling. Its transcriptional regulation and suppressive effects on gastric cancer remain elusive. Luciferase assay, EMSA, and ChIP were used to identify the cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors of the ING5 gene. We analyzed the effects of SAHA on the aggressive phenotypes of ING5 transfectants, and the effects of different ING5 mutants on aggressive phenotypes in SGC-7901 cells. Finally, we observed the effects of ING5 abrogation on gastric carcinogenesis. EMSA and ChIP showed that both SRF (−717 to −678 bp) and YY1 (−48 to 25bp) interacted with the promoter of ING5 and up-regulated ING5 expression in gastric cancer via SRF-YY1-ING5-p53 complex formation. ING5, SRF, and YY1 were overexpressed in gastric cancer, (P<0.05), and associated with worse prognosis of gastric cancer patients (P<0.05). ING5 had positive relationships with SRF and YY1 expression in gastric cancer (P<0.05). SAHA treatment caused early arrest at S phase in ING5 transfectants of SGC-7901 (P<0.05), and either 0.5 or 1.0 μM SAHA enhanced their migration and invasion (P<0.05). The wild-type and mutant ING5 transfectants showed lower viability and invasion than the control (P<0.05) with low CDC25, VEGF, and MMP-9 expression. Gastric spontaneous adenocarcinoma was observed in Atp4b-cre; ING5^f/f, Pdx1-cre; ING5^f/f, and K19-cre; ING5^f/f mice. ING5 deletion increased the sensitivity of MNU-induced gastric carcinogenesis. ING5 mRNA might be a good marker of gastric carcinogenesis, and poor prognosis. ING5 expression was positively regulated by the interaction of SRF-YY1-ING5-p53 complex within the ING5 promoter from −50 bp upstream to the transcription start site. ING5 deletion might contribute to the tumorigenesis and histogenesis of gastric cancer.

Non-Coding RNAs in Colorectal Cancer: Their Functions and Mechanisms

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy with high mortality. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying CRC remain unclear. Controversies over the exact functions of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the progression of CRC have been prevailing for multiple years. Recently, accumulating evidence has demonstrated the regulatory roles of ncRNAs in various human cancers, including CRC. The intracellular signaling pathways by which ncRNAs act on tumor cells have been explored, and in CRC, various studies have identified numerous dysregulated ncRNAs that serve as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in the process of tumorigenesis through diverse mechanisms. In this review, we have summarized the functions and mechanisms of ncRNAs (mainly lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs) in the tumorigenesis of CRC. We also discuss the potential applications of ncRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic tools, as well as therapeutic targets in CRC. This review details strategies that trigger the recognition of CRC-related ncRNAs, as well as the methodologies and challenges of studying these molecules, and the forthcoming clinical applications of these findings.

Extracellular Vesicles Derived From Human Corneal Endothelial Cells Inhibit Proliferation of Human Corneal Endothelial Cells

Corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs) are a monolayer of hexagonal cells that are responsible for maintaining the function and transparency of the cornea. Damage or dysfunction of CEnCs could lead to blindness. Human CEnCs (HCEnCs) have shown limited proliferative capacity in vivo hence, their maintenance is crucial. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are responsible for inter- and intra-cellular communication, proliferation, cell-differentiation, migration, and many other complex biological processes. Therefore, we investigated the effect of EVs (derived from human corneal endothelial cell line–HCEC-12) on corneal endothelial cells. HCEC-12 cells were starved with serum-depleted media for 72 h. The media was ultracentrifuged at 100,000xg to isolate the EVs. EV counting, characterization, internalization and localization were performed using NanoSight, flow cytometry, Dil labeling and confocal microscopy respectively. HCEC-12 and HCEnCs were cultured with media supplemented with EVs. Extracted EVs showed a homogeneous mixture of exosomes and microvesicles. Cells with EVs decreased the proliferation rate; increased apoptosis and cell size; showed poor wound healing response in vitro and on ex vivo human, porcine, and rabbit CECs. Thirteen miRNAs were found in the EV sample using next generation sequencing. We observed that increased cellular uptake of EVs by CECs limit the proliferative capacity of HCEnCs. These preliminary data may help in understanding the pathology of corneal endothelial dysfunction and provide further insights in the development of future therapeutic treatment options.

Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of functional molecules in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3rd most common cancer and the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related death. Numerous studies have found that aberrations in cellular molecules play an important role in the development of tumors. Studying and determining the interactions between these molecules can contribute to the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of tumors.

METHODS

The GSE151021, GSE156720, and GSE156719 data sets were analyzed to screen the differentially expressed messenger RNAs (DEmRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (DElncRNAs), and microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) in CRC. Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) and the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins software were used to examine gene enrichment and the hub genes. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2) and UALCAN was used to verify the expression of the hub genes. To analyze the overall survival (OS) of the hub genes, Kaplan-Meier plotter (KM plotter) was performed. Finally, the miRCancer database, TargetScan, and GSE156719 were used to identify the targets of the identified miRNAs. To predict the lncRNA-miRNA interactions, we used DIANA-LncBase v2 and GSE156720. Finally, the visualization protein‑protein interaction (PPI), competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed using Cytoscape v3.1.

RESULTS

By analyzing GSE151021 and GSE156720, 23 upregulated mRNAs and 10 downregulated mRNAs were identified as sharing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between CRC and adjacent tissues. Furthermore, nucleolar protein 14 (NOP14), the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling molecule, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced protein 1 (PMAIP1), the BCL2 apoptosis regulator (BCL2), and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) were considered hub genes. The constructed lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network revealed 7 intersecting miRNAs (4 upregulated and 3 downregulated), 79 lncRNAs (40 upregulated and 39 downregulated), and 5 mRNAs (3 upregulated and 2 downregulated). Finally, we determined that the dysregulation of lncRNAs, such as HCG16, CASC9, SNHG16, HAND2-AS1, and NR2F1-AS1, secluded altered the expression of several miRNAs, such as hsa-miR-193a-5p, hsa-miR-485-5p, hsa-miR-17-5p, and hsa-miR-92a-3p, and affected the occurrence and development of CRC.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified a series of DElncRNAs, DEmRNAs, and DEmiRNAs in CRC that might be considered potential biomarkers in understanding the complex molecular pathways leading to CRC development.

Circular RNA circ_0000423 promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion via the microR-582-3p/Disheveled-Axin domain containing 1 axis

For humans, gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignancy. Multiple circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been confirmed to be important cancer-promoting or tumor-suppressive factors. The present study discusses the roles and mechanisms of circ_0000423 in GC development. In this study, circ_0000423 expression in GC patient tissue samples and cell lines was detected via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Disheveled-Axin domain containing 1 (DIXDC1) expression in GC cells was examined via Western blot. Besides, cell counting kit-8 was utilized for detecting GC cell viability. GC cell migration and invasion were examined through Transwell assays. Bioinformatics and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were employed to verify the regulatory relationships between microRNA-582-3p (miR-582-3p) and circ_0000423 or DIXDC1. In the present study, we demonstrated that circ_0000423 was highly expressed in GC. Circ_0000423 knockdown suppressed GC cell viability, migration and invasion. Moreover, miR-582-3p was confirmed as a direct target of circ_0000423, and an upstream regulator of DIXDC1. MiR-582-3p inhibition or DIXDC1 overexpression could reverse the above-mentioned effects of knocking down circ_0000423 on GC cells. In conclusion, circ_0000423 facilitates GC progression by modulating the miR-582-3p/DIXDC1 axis.

An updated review of the pre-clinical role of microRNAs and their contribution to colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the main causes of malignancy-related mortality worldwide. It was well-identified that microRNAs (miRNAs) decisively participate in cellular biological pathways; in a way that their deregulated expression causes CRC progression. miRNAs can control the translation and degradation of mRNAs by binding to various molecular targets involved in different biological processes, including growth, apoptosis, cell cycle, autophagy, angiogenesis, metastasis, etc. The functions of these dysregulated miRNAs may be either oncogenic or tumor-suppressive. Therefore, these miRNAs can be contributed to prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches in CRC. In this study, we reviewed the tumor-suppressive and oncogenic functions of miRNAs in CRC and assessed their molecular activities in CRC development. However, further investigation for the involvement of dysregulated miRNAs in CRC progression is required.

Bioinformatic Analysis of Potential Biomarker for hsa-miR-196b-5p in Mesothelioma

Purpose: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare neoplasia with a poor prognosis, and the majority of patients have advanced disease at the time of presentation. Exposure to asbestos is the most important risk factor for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Materials and Methods: To determine the cytotoxicity of geldanamycin in mesothelioma H28 cells, the MTT assay was used. To determine changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression in geldanamycin-treated H28 cells, miRNA microarray analysis was performed. To determine the function of miR-196b-5p, we performed Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses of miR-196b-5p targets predicted by miRwalk. Results: Our data showed that geldanamycin treatment reduced H28 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. MicroRNA array analyses showed that expression of hsa-miR-196b-5p was downregulated in geldanamycin-treated H28 cells. Geldanamycin regulated miRNAs with roles in processes such as aging, angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell cycle, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, DNA repair, and secretion. Survival analysis showed that decreased expression of hsa-miR-196b-5p was significantly associated with a better outcome in mesothelioma patients. Expression of miR-196b-5p was also significantly associated with the developmental stages of mesothelioma. To narrow down the target genes of miR-196b-5p, we determined the overlap between the predicted target genes of miR-196b-5p and downregulated mRNAs in ovarian cancer based on the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset GSE12345. PDE1A, LAMA4, and PAPPA were identified as both miR-196b-5p targets and downregulated genes in GSE12345 and were thus considered targets of miR-196b-5p. Gene-miRNA expression correlation analysis showed that PDE1A, LAMA4, and PAPPA expression was negatively correlated with miR-196b-5p expression. Conclusions: We suggest that geldanamycin has potential for the treatment of mesothelioma via regulating miR-196b-5p. Furthermore, miR-196b-5p may be a potential biomarker for mesothelioma.

MicroRNAs as important contributors in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most fatal and fourth most frequently diagnosed neoplasm in the world. Numerous non-coding RNAs have been shown to contribute in the development of CRC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are among the mostly assessed non-coding RNAs in CRC. These transcripts influence expression and activity of TGF-β, Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK, PI3K/AKT and other CRC-related pathways. In the context of CRC, miRNAs interact with long non-coding RNAs to influence CRC course. Stool and serum levels of miRNAs have been used to distinguish CRC patients from healthy controls, indicating diagnostic roles of these transcripts in CRC. Therapeutic application of miRNAs in CRC has been assessed in animal models, yet has not been verified in clinical settings. In the current review, we have provided a recent update on the role of miRNAs in CRC development as well as diagnostic and prognostic approaches.

Baicalein Induces Apoptosis of Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Regulating the Expression of miR-139-3p and miR-196b-5p

Pancreatic cancer is a common malignant tumor with a high incidence and mortality rate. The prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer is considerably poor due to the lack of effective treatment in clinically. Despite numerous studies have revealed that baicalein, a natural product, is responsible for suppressing multiple cancer cells proliferation, motility and invasion. The mechanism by which baicalein restraining pancreatic cancer progression remains unclear. In this study, we firstly verified that baicalein plays a critical role in inhibiting pancreatic tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. Then we analyzed the alteration of microRNAs (miRNAs) expression levels in Panc-1 cells incubated with DMSO, 50 and 100 μM baicalein by High-Throughput sequencing. Intriguingly, we observed that 20 and 39 miRNAs were accordingly up- and down-regulated through comparing Panc-1 cells exposed to 100 μM baicalein with the control group. Quantitative PCR analysis confirmed that miR-139-3p was the most up-regulated miRNA after baicalein treatment, while miR-196b-5p was the most down-regulated miRNA. Further studies showed that miR-139-3p induced, miR-196b-5p inhibited the apoptosis of Panc-1 cells via targeting NOB1 and ING5 respectively. In conclusion, we demonstrated that baicalein is a potent inhibitor against pancreatic cancer by modulating the expression of miR-139-3p or miR-196b-5p.

Exosome-derived miR-196b-5p facilitates intercellular interaction in infantile hemangioma via down-regulating CDKN1B

Background

Though infantile hemangioma (IH) is a common benign vascular tumor, its pathogenesis remains unclear. This study explored the function of hemangioma-derived stem cells (HemSCs) derived exosomes, which exerted an intercellular effect on hemangioma-derived endothelial cells (HemECs).

Methods

First, HemSCs and HemECs were extracted and cultured. HemSCs derived exosomes (HemSCs-exos) were harvested. miRNA sequencing and target prediction were used to explore differentially expressed miRNAs and potential binding targets. After HemECs were co-cultured with HemSCs-exos, a series of in vitro assays were then performed including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, cell apoptosis assay, cell cycle assay and tube formation assay to evaluate proliferation, angiogenesis abilities, etc. qRT-PCR and Western blot were conducted to detect the expression level of target genes and proteins.

Results

After co-culturing with HemSCs-exos, proliferation, and angiogenesis abilities of HemECs were enhanced, while apoptosis and cell cycle arrest rate were decreased. MiR-196b-5p was observed to be significantly highly expressed in HemSCs-exos. CDKN1B was identified as the binding target of miR-196b-5p. HemECs' proliferation and angiogenesis abilities were elevated when co-cultured with exosomes from HemSCs transfected with miR-196b-5p mimic. In addition, apoptosis rate declined, and lower cells were arrested in G0/G1 phases. Cyclin E, bcl-2 were significantly highly expressed, whereas p27, Bax expression were significantly down-regulated. The positive effect of miR-196b-5p in HemSCs-exos was dramatically reversed when HemECs were transfected with oe-CDKN1B.

Conclusions

The current study found a novel intercellular interaction between IH cells. Briefly, exosome-derived miRNA-196b-5p in HemSCs could facilitate proliferation and angiogenesis abilities, and attenuate apoptosis and cell cycle repression rate of HemECs by directly binding with CDKN1B.