MicroRNA-505 functions as a tumor suppressor in endometrial cancer by targeting TGF-α

Advances in MiRNAs Involved in Endometrial Carcinoma

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is a common malignancy worldwide. Existing evidence has revealed that EC could be associated with abnormal gene expression. Meantime, evidence supports that miRNAs act as critical regulators in gene expression through the binding to the 3'- untranslated region (3'-UTR). Accordingly, this review concludes some recent studies focusing on miRNAs that influence EC, aiming at understanding the association between miRNAs and EC more clearly and providing a reference for further studies on miRNA-related drugs treating EC.

Role of microRNA-505 during tumor progression and metastasis

Late diagnosis of cancer in advanced stages due to the lack of screening methods is considered as the main cause of poor prognosis and high mortality rate among these patients. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the molecular tumor biology in order to introduce biomarkers that can be used in cancer screening programs and early diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have key roles in regulation of the cellular pathophysiological processes. Due to the high stability of miRNAs in body fluids, they are widely used as the non-invasive tumor markers. According to the numerous reports about miR-505 deregulation in a wide range of cancers, we investigated the role of miR-505 during tumor progression. It was shown that miR-505 mainly has the tumor suppressor functions through the regulation of signaling pathways, chromatin remodeling, and cellular metabolism. This review has an effective role in introducing miR-505 as a suitable marker for the early cancer diagnosis.

The Role of miRNAs in the Development, Proliferation, and Progression of Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancers in developing and developed countries. Although the detection of this cancer is high at the early stages, there is still a lack of markers to monitor the disease, its recurrence, and metastasis. MiRNAs are in charge of the post-transcriptional regulation of genes responsible for the most important biological processes, which is why they are increasingly used as biomarkers in many types of cancer. Many studies have demonstrated the influence of miRNAs on the processes related to carcinogenesis. The characteristics of miRNA expression profiles in endometrial cancer will allow their use as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This paper focuses on the discussion of selected miRNAs based on the literature and their role in the development of endometrial cancer.

Circulating and Endometrial Tissue microRNA Markers Associated with Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Response to Treatment

In developed countries, endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common neoplasms of the female reproductive system. MicroRNAs (miRs) are a class of single-stranded noncoding RNA molecules with lengths of 19-25 nucleotides that bind to target messenger RNA (mRNA) to regulate post-transcriptional gene expression. Although there is a large amount of research focused on identifying miRs with a diagnostic, prognostic, or response to treatment capacity in EC, these studies differ in terms of experimental methodology, types of samples used, selection criteria, and results obtained. Hence, there is a large amount of heterogeneous information that makes it difficult to identify potential miR biomarkers. We aimed to summarize the current knowledge on miRs that have been shown to be the most suitable potential markers for EC. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar without date restrictions or filters. We described 138 miRs with potential diagnostic, prognostic, or treatment response potential in EC. Seven diagnostic panels showed higher sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of EC than individual miRs. We further identified miRs up- or downregulated depending on the FIGO stage, precursor lesions, and staging after surgery, which provides insight into which miRs are expressed chronologically depending on the disease stage and/or that are modulated depending on the tumor grade based on histopathological evaluation.

Therapeutic advancements in targeting BCL-2 family proteins by epigenetic regulators, natural, and synthetic agents in cancer

Cancer is amongst the deadliest and most disruptive disorders, having a much higher death rate than other diseases worldwide. Human cancer rates continue to rise, thereby posing the most significant concerns for medical health professionals. In the last two decades, researchers have gone past several milestones in tackling cancer while gaining insight into the role of apoptosis in cancer or targeting various biomarker tools for prognosis and diagnosis. Apoptosis which is still a topic full of complexities, can be controlled considerably by B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) and its family members. Therefore, targeting proteins of this family to prevent tumorigenesis, is essential to focus on the pharmacological features of the anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic members, which will help to develop and manage this disorder. This review deals with the advancements of various epigenetic regulators to target BCL-2 family proteins, including the mechanism of several microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Similarly, a rise in natural and synthetic molecules' research over the last two decades has allowed us to acquire insights into understanding and managing the transcriptional alterations that have led to apoptosis and treating various neoplastic diseases. Furthermore, several inhibitors targeting anti-apoptotic proteins and inducers or activators targeting pro-apoptotic proteins in preclinical and clinical stages have been summarized. Overall, agonistic and antagonistic mechanisms of BCL-2 family proteins conciliated by epigenetic regulators, natural and synthetic agents have proven to be an excellent choice in developing cancer therapeutics.

The role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis and therapeutic resistance of endometrial cancer: a spotlight on the convergence of signaling pathways

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the 2nd common cancer in females after breast cancer. Besides, it's the most common among gynecological cancers. Several epigenetic factors such as miRNAs have been reported to affect EC aspects including initiation, progression, angiogenesis, and resistance to therapy. miRNAs could regulate the expression of various genes involved in EC pathogenesis. This effect is attributed to miRNAs' effects in proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. miRNAs also influence crucial EC-related mechanistic pathways such as JAK/STAT axis, EGFR, TGF-β signaling, and P53. Beside pathogenesis, miRNAs also have the potential to affect EC response to treatments including radio and chemotherapy. Thus, this review aims to illustrate the link between miRNAs and EC; focusing on the effects of miRNAs on EC signaling pathways.

CircRTN1 acts as a miR-431-5p sponge to promote thyroid cancer progression by upregulating TGFA

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore the role and underlying mechanism of circular RNA (circRNA) reticulon 1 (circRTN1) in thyroid cancer (TC).

METHODS

The expression levels of circRTN1, microRNA-431-5p (miR-431-5p), and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFA) mRNA were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Cell proliferation was evaluated using colony formation and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. Cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were measured using the transwell assay. The protein levels of ki-67, Bax, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), and TGFA were detected using Western blot assay. The interaction between miR-431-5p and circRTN1 or TGFA was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. The effect of circRTN1on TC in vivo was explored via xenograft tumor assay.

RESULTS

The expression of circRTN1 was increased in TC tissues and cells. Knockdown of circRTN1 suppressed TC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and increased cell apoptosis. MiR-431-5p was a target of circRTN1, and miR-431-5p downregulation reversed the role of circRTN1 knockdown in TC cells. TGFA was identified as a direct target of miR-431-5p, and miR-431-5p exerted the anti-tumor role in TC cells by downregulating TGFA. Moreover, circRTN1 sponged miR-431-5p to regulate TGFA expression. Furthermore, circRTN1 knockdown inhibited tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

CircRTN1 acted as a cancer-promoting circRNA in TC by regulating the miR-431-5p/TGFA axis, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for TC treatment.

miR-548ag functions as an oncogene by suppressing MOB1B in the development of obesity-related endometrial cancer

Obesity is a high-risk factor in the development of endometrial cancer (EC). Our previous study observed that miR-548ag was significantly overexpressed in the sera of obese individuals. Here, we report the function of miR-548ag and its mechanism in promoting the obesity-related progression of EC. The content of miR-548ag was increased in the serum of obese EC individuals. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the survival rate of EC patients with a higher expression of miR-548ag was significantly reduced. The Mps One Binder Kinase Activator 1B (MOB1B, the core member of the Hippo signaling pathway) is a direct target gene of miR-548ag, which is inversely correlated with the expression of miR-548ag. The overexpression of miR-548ag enhances the proliferation, invasion, and migration, and inhibits apoptosis by downregulating the expression of MOB1B, leading to the deactivation of the Hippo pathway in EC cell lines and contributing to tumor progression in vivo. Our study has established that miR-548ag functions as an oncogene by suppressing MOB1B in the development of obesity-related EC.

HIF-2α-targeted interventional chemoembolization multifunctional microspheres for effective elimination of hepatocellular carcinoma

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is widely used for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the long-term hypoxic microenvironment caused by TACE seriously affects the therapeutic effect of TACE. HIF-2α plays a crucial role on the chronic hypoxia process, which might be an ideal target for TACE therapy. Herein, a multifunctional polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/hyaluronic acid (HA)-based microsphere (PT/DOX-MS) co-loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and PT-2385, an effective HIF-2α inhibitor, was developed for enhanced TACE treatment efficacy. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that PT/DOX-MS had a superior ability to treat HCC by blocking the tumor cells in G2/M phase, prompting cell apoptosis, and inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. The antitumor mechanisms of PT/DOX-MS were possibly due to that the introduction of PT-2385 could effectively inhibit the expression level of HIF-2α in hypoxic HCC cells, thereby down-regulating the expression levels of Cyclin D1, VEGF and TGF-α. In addition, the combination of DOX and PT-2385 could jointly inhibit VEGF expression, which was another reason accounting for the combined anti-cancer effect of PT/DOX-MS. Overall, our study demonstrated that PT/DOX-MS is a promising embolic agent for enhanced HCC treatment via the combined effect of hypoxia microenvironment improvement, chemotherapy, and embolization.

Exosomes on Endometrial Cancer: A Biomarkers Treasure Trove?

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the main causes of cancer-related death among women. In the last decade, the incidence of EC is on the rise, and the relative 5-year survival remains unchanged. This creates a dire need for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that can only result from a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease. In this direction, exosomes are under heavy research, with two main aims: to identify the potential diagnostic and prognostic markers and to develop technologies based on their use as therapeutic vectors targeting EC cells. Exosomes are widely available in all bodily fluids and are sources of ideal biomarkers for liquid biopsies. They are extracellular vesicles containing DNA, RNA, lipids, and proteins, which they transfer between cells, serving multiple functions and being implicated in both the physiological processes and the pathogenesis of diseases. Of all the biomolecules contained in exosomes, microRNAs (miRNAs) seem to have the most clinical utility in the diagnosis and treatment of EC. Exosomal miRNAs mediate the communication between EC cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and have a pivotal role in the tumor cells' proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the formation of a tumor microenvironment. They participate in many processes that are tied to carcinogenesis and cancer progression, and they are therefore considered as attractive therapeutic targets. Here, we review the functions of exosomes in EC, focusing on potential biomarkers of diagnostic and prognostic significance or potential therapeutic use.

Hsa-miR-181a-5p, hsa-miR-182-5p, and hsa-miR-26a-5p as potential biomarkers for BCR-ABL1 among adult chronic myeloid leukemia treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors at the molecular response

BACKGROUND

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first-line therapy for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) show a high success rate. However, a low number of patients with long-term treatment-free remission (TFR) were observed. Molecular relapse after imatinib discontinuation occurred at 50% at 24 months, with 80% occurrence within the first 6 months. One of the reasons for relapse is untimely TKIs discontinuation caused by large errors from estimates at very low-level or undetectable disease, thus warranting new biomarkers for CML.

METHODS

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was used to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) at the molecular response in CML adult patients receiving TKIs treatment. A total of 86 samples were collected, 30 from CML patients responsive and 28 from non-responsive to imatinib therapy, and 28 from blood donors. NGS was conducted whereby 18 miRNAs were selected and validated by real-time RT-qPCR in triplicate.

RESULTS

Hsa-miR-181a-5p was expressed significantly (p-value< 0.05) with 2.14 and 2.33-fold down-regulation in both patient groups, respectively meanwhile hsa-miR-182-5p and hsa-miR-26a-5p were significant only in the non-responsive group with 2.08 and 2.39 fold up-regulation. The down-regulation was consistent with decreased amounts of BCR-ABL1 in patients taking TKIs regardless of molecular responses. The up-regulation was consistent with the substantial presence of BCR-ABL1 in CML patients treated with TKIs at the molecular response.

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, these miRNAs have potential as new therapeutic biomarkers for BCR-ABL1 status in adult CML patients treated with TKIs at molecular responses. These could improve current approaches and require further analysis to look for targets of these miRNAs in CML.

[WITHDRAWN] miR-144-3p Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Endometrial Cancer by Targeting PRR11

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.

Identification of common microRNA between COPD and non-small cell lung cancer through pathway enrichment analysis

BACKGROUND

Different factors have been introduced which influence the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). COPD as an independent factor is involved in the development of lung cancer. Moreover, there are certain resemblances between NSCLC and COPD, such as growth factors, activation of intracellular pathways, as well as epigenetic factors. One of the best approaches to understand the possible shared pathogenesis routes between COPD and NSCLC is to study the biological pathways that are activated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical biomolecules that implicate the regulation of several biological and cellular processes. As such, the main goal of this study was to use a systems biology approach to discover common dysregulated miRNAs between COPD and NSCLC, one that targets most genes within common enriched pathways.

RESULTS

To reconstruct the miRNA-pathways for each disease, we used the microarray miRNA expression data. Then, we employed "miRNA set enrichment analysis" (MiRSEA) to identify the most significant joint miRNAs between COPD and NSCLC based on the enrichment scores. Overall, our study revealed the involvement of the targets of miRNAs (such as has-miR-15b, hsa-miR-106a, has-miR-17, has-miR-103, and has-miR-107) in the most important common biological pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the promising results of the pathway analysis, the identified miRNAs can be utilized as the new potential signatures for therapy through understanding the molecular mechanisms of both diseases.

Circular RNA TAF4B Promotes Bladder Cancer Progression by Sponging miR-1298-5p and Regulating TGFA Expression

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (Bca) is the most common malignant tumor of the urinary system. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recognized as key regulators in tumorigenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying circRNAs involved in the progression of BCa remain largely unknown.

METHODS

We detected the expression level of circular RNA TAF4B (circTAF4B) by qRT-PCR assay. Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Wound healing and Transwell assays were performed to measure cell migration and invasion capability. Moreover, we performed qRT-PCR and western blotting assays to determine the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. A nuclear/cytoplasmic fractionation assay was used to measure the subcellular location of circTAF4B. RNA pull-down and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to detect the target microRNA of circTAF4B. A mouse xenograft model was produced to analyze the effect of circTAF4B on the tumorigenesis of BCa.

RESULTS

In this study, we identified a novel circular RNA, circTAF4B, that is significantly upregulated in BCa and correlated with poor prognosis. Downregulated circTAF4B abolished the growth, metastasis and EMT process in BCa cells. Mechanistically, we found that circTAF4B facilitated the expression of transforming growth factor A (TGFA) by sponging miR-1298-5p. Finally, circTAF4B enhanced the proliferation and EMT process of BCa cells in vivo.

CONCLUSION

In summary, our study demonstrated that circTAF4B played a carcinogenic role in the growth, metastasis, and EMT process of BCa by regulating the miR-1298-5p/TGFA axis. Thus, circTAF4B may become a diagnostic and therapeutic target for BCa.

The Role of miRNAs in the Regulation of Endometrial Cancer Invasiveness and Metastasis-A Systematic Review

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common genital cancer in women with increasing death rates. MiRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression on the post-transcriptional levels. Multiple studies demonstrated a fundamental role of miRNAs in the regulation of carcinogenesis. This systematic review is a comprehensive overview of the role of miRNAs in the regulation of cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis in EC. The literature was searched for studies investigating the role of miRNAs in the regulation of invasiveness and metastasis in EC. We explored PubMed, Embase, and Scopus using the following keywords: miRNA, metastasis, invasiveness, endometrial cancer. Data were collected from 163 articles that described the expression and role of 106 miRNAs in the regulation of EC invasiveness and metastasis out of which 63 were tumor suppressor miRNAs, and 38 were oncomiRNAs. Five miRNAs had a discordant role in different studies. Moreover, we identified 66 miRNAs whose expression in tumor tissue or concentration in serum correlated with at least one clinical parameter. These findings suggest a crucial role of miRNAs in the regulation of EC invasiveness and metastasis and present them as potential prognostic factors for patients with EC.

Non-Coding RNAs as Prognostic Markers for Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC) has been classified over the years, for prognostic and therapeutic purposes. In recent years, classification systems have been emerging not only based on EC clinical and pathological characteristics but also on its genetic and epigenetic features. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are emerging as promising markers in several cancer types, including EC, for which their prognostic value is currently under investigation and will likely integrate the present prognostic tools based on protein coding genes. This review aims to underline the importance of the genetic and epigenetic events in the EC tumorigenesis, by expounding upon the prognostic role of ncRNAs.

Small Non-Coding-RNA in Gynecological Malignancies

Gynecologic malignancies, which include cancers of the cervix, ovary, uterus, vulva, vagina, and fallopian tube, are among the leading causes of female mortality worldwide, with the most prevalent being endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancer. Gynecologic malignancies are complex, heterogeneous diseases, and despite extensive research efforts, the molecular mechanisms underlying their development and pathology remain largely unclear. Currently, mechanistic and therapeutic research in cancer is largely focused on protein targets that are encoded by about 1% of the human genome. Our current understanding of 99% of the genome, which includes noncoding RNA, is limited. The discovery of tens of thousands of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), possessing either structural or regulatory functions, has fundamentally altered our understanding of genetics, physiology, pathophysiology, and disease treatment as they relate to gynecologic malignancies. In recent years, it has become clear that ncRNAs are relatively stable, and can serve as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, as well as guide therapy choices. Here we discuss the role of small non-coding RNAs, i.e., microRNAs (miRs), P-Element induced wimpy testis interacting (PIWI) RNAs (piRNAs), and tRNA-derived small RNAs in gynecological malignancies, specifically focusing on ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancer.

The long noncoding RNA DLGAP1-AS2 facilitates cholangiocarcinoma progression via miR-505 and GALNT10

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly invasive malignant tumor with high mortality. Most cases of CCA are already advanced when they are detected, resulting in poor prognosis. As such, there is an ongoing need for the identification of effective biomarkers for CCA. The long noncoding RNA DLGAP1-AS2 has been reported to have prognostic value in glioma and Wilms' tumor. Here, we investigated the function of DLGAP1-AS2 in CCA. The differential expression of DLGAP1-AS2 in CCA tissues and normal tissues was first examined using data from the The Cancer Genome Atlas database and then in CCA cell lines by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). The target gene was predicted by bioinformatics analysis, and the binding sites were confirmed using luciferase assay. DLGAP1-AS2 is up-regulated in CCA, and high DLGAP1-AS2 expression promotes cell viability and is associated with poor prognosis. Notably, DLGAP1-AS2 acts as a sponge to suppress miR-505 expression, and miR-505 reduces the expression of N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 10 (GALNT10) in CCA cells. Biofunctional experiments revealed that a miR-505 inhibitor almost completely removed the inhibitory effect of si-DLGAP1-AS2 on CCA cell malignant progression, whereas the malignant phenotype of cells cotransfected with si-DLGAP1-AS2 and si-GALNT10 was significantly reduced as compared with the control. In summary, the DLGAP1-AS2/miR-505/GALNT10 axis may contribute to regulating the malignant progression of CCA and may have potential as a novel target for CCA therapy.

MiR-101 reduces cell proliferation and invasion and enhances apoptosis in endometrial cancer via regulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR

This article has been retracted, and the online PDF replaced with this retraction notice.

MicroRNA-505, Suppressed by Oncogenic Long Non-coding RNA LINC01448, Acts as a Novel Suppressor of Glycolysis and Tumor Progression Through Inhibiting HK2 Expression in Pancreatic Cancer

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play vital regulatory roles in pancreatic cancer (PC) initiation and progression. We aimed to explore the biological functions and underlying mechanisms of miR-505-3p (miR-505) in PC.

Methods: We first screened miRNA expression profiles using microarray in PC tissues and normal tissues, and then studied the function and underlying mechanism of miR-505. Moreover, we evaluated the regulatory effect of lncRNA LINC01448 on miR-505.

Results: We demonstrated miR-505 that was significantly downregulated in PC tissues. We further revealed that miR-505 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, sphere formation, glucose consumption, and lactate production by targeting HK2. In addition, overexpression of miR-505 led to tumor growth inhibition in vivo, demonstrating that it acts as a tumor suppressor in PC. LINC01448 was identified as an oncogenic lncRNA that could reduce miR-505 expression. Subsequent studies confirmed that LINC01448 enhanced cell proliferation, invasion, sphere formation, glucose consumption, and lactate production by regulating the miR-505/HK2 pathway.

Conclusions: These findings demonstrated that miR-505, suppressed by LINC01448, could function as a key tumor suppressor by targeting HK2 in PC, elucidating an important role of the LINC01448/miR-505/HK2 pathway in regulating PC glycolysis and progression.

Promoter Methylation-mediated Silencing of the MiR-192-5p Promotes Endometrial Cancer Progression by Targeting ALX1

Background: Epigenetic regulation by promoter methylation-mediated silencing of cancer-related microRNAs plays vital roles in tumorigenesis. MiR-192-5p promotes tumor progression in various human cancers with conflicting biological effects. However, its expression levels and biological functions in endometrial carcinoma (EC) have not been reported. Methods: The methylation status of miR-192-5p in tissue samples and cell lines, was examined using bisulfite sequencing PCR. miR-192-5p expression was also measured. EC cell lines transfected with specifically designed vectors overexpressing miR-192-5p, its target gene ALX1 or both, were constructed. Tumorigenicity of these cell lines were examined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Dual-luciferase reporter assay were employed to verify the target of miR-192-5p. Results: The promoter region of miR-192-5p gene was highly methylated and its expression significantly repressed in EC samples. Moreover, a higher level of promoter methylation as well as a lower expression of miR-192-5p, was significantly associated with advanced Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and shorter disease-free survival in patients with curatively resected EC. Functional studies demonstrated that miR-192-5p overexpression inhibited in vitro tumor progression, in vivo tumorigenicity and the expression of several oncoproteins that was highly related to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. ALX1 was verified as a direct target of miR-192-5p and demonstrated to mediate the tumor-suppressive function of miR-192-5p. Conclusion: miR-192-5p is a tumor suppressor miRNA that is epigenetically silenced by promoter methylation and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in EC.

LINC00461 Promoted Endometrial Carcinoma Growth and Migration by Targeting MicroRNA-219-5p/Cyclooxygenase-2 Signaling Axis

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) ranks as the most common female genital cancer in developed countries. Lately, more and more long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as vital regulators in numerous physiological and pathological processes, including EC. However, the expression pattern and precise functions of different lncRNAs in EC remain unclear. In this study, we reported LINC00461 was upregulated in EC patient tissues and cell lines. In addition, LINC00461 knockdown could remarkably suppress cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, cell migration, and promote cell apoptosis in EC cells. We discovered LINC00461 could sponge microRNA-219-5p (miR-219-5p) and suppress its expression, thereby upregulating expression level of miR-219-5p's target, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In vivo animal models, LINC00461 knockdown inhibited tumor growth by increasing miR-219-5p level and reducing COX-2 expression, thus confirming LINC00461 functions as an oncogene in EC. In this study, a novel regulatory role of LINC00461/miR-219-5p/COX-2 axis was systematically investigated in context of EC, with the aim to provide promising intervention targets for EC therapy from bench to clinic. [Formula: see text].

Exosomal miR-499a-5p Inhibits Endometrial Cancer Growth and Metastasis via Targeting VAV3

Background/Aim

The current therapeutic strategies for endometrial cancer are limited and unsatisfactory. Accumulating evidence suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in tumor growth and metastasis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived exosomes (Exos) are considered as better miRNA delivery vehicles. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effect of exosomal miR-499a-5p (miR-499) in human endometrial cancer metastasis.

Methods

Microarray analysis and RT-PCR were performed to detect the relative expression of miR-499 in endometrial cancer tissues and cell lines. MSC-derived Exos were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Western blot (WB), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). miR-499 was loading into Exos using electroporation. Cell proliferation and angiogenesis capacity were tested by 5-ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay and tube formation assay, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter assay (DLR) was used to confirm the connection of miR-499 and VAV3.

Results

We found that the expression of miR-499 was significantly downregulated in cancer tissues compared with adjacent tissues in endometrial cancer patients. Moreover, exosomal miR-499 not only dramatically suppressed endometrial cancer cells proliferation, endothelial cells tube formation in vitro, but also inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo. In addition, we confirmed that miR-499 directly targets the 3'UTR sequence of VAV3.

Conclusion

The novel identified exosomal miR-499 functions as a tumor suppressor in endometrial cancer though regulating VAV3, and these findings could be a valid molecular target for endometrial cancer therapy.

Vorinostat and fenretinide synergize in preclinical models of T-cell lymphoid malignancies

T-cell lymphoid malignancies (TCLMs) are in need of novel and more effective therapies. The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and the synthetic cytotoxic retinoid fenretinide have achieved durable clinical responses in T-cell lymphomas as single agents, and patients who failed prior HDAC inhibitor treatment have responded to fenretinide. We have previously shown fenretinide synergized with the class I HDAC inhibitor romidepsin in preclinical models of TCLMs. There exist some key differences between HDAC inhibitors. Therefore, we determined if the pan-HDAC inhibitor vorinostat synergizes with fenretinide. We demonstrated cytotoxic synergy between vorinostat and fenretinide in nine TCLM cell lines at clinically achievable concentrations that lacked cytotoxicity for non-malignant cells (fibroblasts and blood mononuclear cells). In vivo, vorinostat + fenretinide + ketoconazole (enhances fenretinide exposures by inhibiting fenretinide metabolism) showed greater activity in subcutaneous TCLM xenograft models than other groups. Fenretinide + vorinostat increased reactive oxygen species (ROS, measured by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate dye), resulting in increased apoptosis (via transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay) and histone acetylation (by immunoblotting). The synergistic cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and histone acetylation of fenretinide + vorinostat was abrogated by the antioxidant vitamin C. Like romidepsin, vorinostat combined with fenretinide achieved synergistic cytotoxic activity and increased histone acetylation in preclinical models of TCLMs, but not in non-malignant cells. As vorinostat is an oral agent and not a P-glycoprotein substrate it may have advantages in such combination therapy. These data support conducting a clinical trial of vorinostat combined with fenretinide in relapsed and refractory TCLMs.

Ultrasound Microbubble-Mediated microRNA-505 Regulates Cervical Cancer Cell Growth via AKT2

The application of ultrasound and microbubbles (USMB-) mediated microRNA (miR) is a promising approach of gene delivery for cancer treatment. We aimed to discuss the effects of USMB-miR-505 on cervical cancer (CC) development. miR-505 mediated by USMB was prepared. The effect of miR-505 on its transfection efficiency and the effect of miR-505 on HeLa cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were studied. The target gene of miR-505 was predicted, and its expression in CC was detected. The effect of the target gene on HeLa cells was further verified. USMB-miR-505 showed a higher transfection efficiency than miR-505 alone. The inhibitory effect of miR-505 mediated by USMB on HeLa cells was better than miR-505. miR-505 targeted AKT2, which was upregulated in CC. Overexpression of AKT2 reversed the inhibitory effect of USMB-miR-505 on HeLa cell malignant behaviors. Overall, we highlighted that USMB-miR-505 inhibited HeLa cell malignant behaviors by targeting AKT2.

miR-4500 suppresses cell proliferation and migration in bladder cancer via inhibition of STAT3/CCR7 pathway

Bladder cancer (BC) is a prevalent type of cancer that occurs in human urinary system threatening the human health. microRNA-4500 (miRNA-4500) is a novel miRNA that serves as a potential biomarker in several types of cancers. However, the in-depth molecular mechanism of miR-4500 in BC has not yet been fully elucidated. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactionq and Western blot analysis were applied to analyze the expressions of miR-4500, STAT3, and C-C chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7). Gain-of-function assays involving Cell Counting Kit-8, 5'-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation assay, and Transwell were employed to evaluate miR-4500 function in cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation, RNA immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assay were performed to explore the molecular mechanism underlying function of miR-4500. We found the downregulation of miR-4500 in BC cells, and ectopic expression of miR-4500 hampered cell proliferation, migration, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Importantly, miR-4500 directly targeted STAT3 3'-untranslated region, leading to repression on STAT3 expression. Intriguingly, STAT3 transcriptionally regulated CCR7. Rescue experiments validated the presence of miR-4500/STAT3/CCR7 axis in control of BC growth and progression. Our data highlighted miR-4500 as a potent cancericidal gene in BC, and might provide a theoretical grounding for development of target-oriented therapies of patients afflicted with BC.

microR-505/heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein M inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the expression of microRNA-505 (miR-505) and explore its clinical significance, biological function and mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Expression of miR-505 was measured in 128 paired HCC tissues and five cell lines by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). MTT assay, Transwell migration, invasion assays and apoptosis assay were performed to explore the functional role of miR-505. The target gene of miR-505 was assessed using the bioinformatics assay and the related signaling pathway was confirmed using western blot. Results: Expression of miR-505 in HCC serum and tissues were downregulated. The overexpression of miR-505 in HCC cells inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis, as well as enhanced cell apoptosis by directly downregulating heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein M (HNRNPM). The activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was suppressed by the overexpression of miR-505 but was promoted by the upregulation of HNRNPM. Conclusion: The results suggest that the regulation of miR-505/HNRNPM may be a novel strategy to improve the targeted therapy of HCC.

miR-505 inhibits proliferation of osteosarcoma via HMGB1

Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor, and clinically detectable metastases can be detected in ~ 15–20% of patients when they seek medical advice; patients with metastatic disease have extremely poor prognosis. Here, we examined the involvement of the microRNA miR‐505 in osteosarcoma. Eighty‐four patients seeking treatment for osteosarcoma were included in the study group (SG), and 63 healthy subjects were allocated to the control group (CG). Normal human bone cells MG‐63 and U20S cells were transfected with miR‐505 mimics, miR‐NC, HMGB1 RNA for targeted inhibition (si‐HMGB1), and si‐NC to examine the effects on HMGB1 expression. Cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis were measured using CCK‐8, scratch assays, and flow cytometry (FCM), respectively, and the relationship between miR‐505 and HMGB1 was determined using the dual‐luciferase reporter assay. In patient tissues and serum, miR‐505 was expressed at a low level, and HMGB1 was expressed at a high level, with an area under curve of > 0.9. Furthermore, the expression of miR‐505 and HMGB1 in tissues had a positive association with that in the serum, whereas the expression of miR‐505 had a negative association with that of HMGB1 in tissues only. Overexpression of miR‐505 and silencing of HMGB1 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells and increased the rate of apoptosis, whereas the co‐transfected miR‐505 mimics + si‐HMGB1 demonstrated a more significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells and a higher apoptosis rate. miR‐505 may inhibit the proliferation and invasion and promote apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells by targeting and suppressing HMGB1.

circRNA_0084043 contributes to the progression of diabetic retinopathy via sponging miR-140-3p and inducing TGFA gene expression in retinal pigment epithelial cells

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a frequent complication of diabetes and it can lead to visual impairment and blindness. However, the mechanism of their regulation remains little known. circRNAs can function as crucial competing endogenous RNA, which can sponge corresponding miRNAs and affect mRNA expression in various diseases, including DR. In our current research, we observed that circRNA_0084043 was elevated in high glucose (HG)-incubated ARPE-19 cells. Then, we focused on whether and how circRNA_0084043 participated in retinal vascular dysfunction under conditions diabetes. Apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress are hallmark of DR progression. This work was aimed to investigate the signaling mechanisms of circRNA_0084043 in these pathogenesis of DR. We discovered loss of circRNA_0084043 significantly increased cell survival and repressed HG-triggered apoptosis. In addition, knockdown of circRNA_0084043 remarkably reduced oxidative stress as evidenced by the down-regulated malondialdehyde (MDA) content, enhanced activities of Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX). Addition, silence of circRNA_0084043 effectively restrained HG-stimulated inflammation as proved by repressing inflammatory cytokines Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α), Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Cox-2 in ARPE-19 cells. Subsequently, we successfully predicted that miR-140-3p was a downstream target of circRNA_0084043, which could be negatively regulated by circRNA_0084043. Mechanistically, loss of miR-140-3p abrogated the beneficial effects of circRNA_0084043 siRNA on ARPE-19 cells. Transforming Growth Factor alpha (TGFA) can exhibit a role in multiple diseases. Taken these together, these data demonstrated that loss of circRNA_0084043 depressed HG-induced damage via sponging miR-140-3p and regulating TGFA.

Actin‑like protein 8 executes a promoting function in the malignant progression of endometrial cancer: identification of a promising biomarker

Endometrial cancer (EC) is generally considered as a disease that affects older women. We attempt to explore the role of actin‑like protein 8 (ACTL8) in EC and how it achieves its function. Based on the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we found that ACTL8 expression was up-regulated in EC tissues and correlated with shorter overall survival of EC patients. ACTL8 expression was significantly associated with age, clinical-stage, or grade. Cox proportional hazards model analysis revealed that ACTL8 expression, grade, and clinical-stage were promising independent prognostic factors of EC. Knockdown of ACTL8 repressed the proliferative, migrating and invading capabilities of human EC cell lines KLE and Ishikawa. Silencing ACTL8 up-regulated the negative cell cycle regulator p21 and epithelial marker E-cadherin, and down-regulated the positive cell cycle regulator Cyclin A, mesenchymal markers MMP-9 and N-cadherin in KLE cells. Collectively, these outcomes illustrated that ACTL8 might act as a tumor facilitator during EC progression.

The circular RNA-NRIP1 plays oncogenic roles by targeting microRNA-505 in the renal carcinoma cell lines

We explored the roles and regulatory mechanisms of the circular RNA (circRNA) nuclear receptor-interacting protein 1 (NRIP1; circNRIP1) in ACHN and CAKI-1 cells. ACHN and CAKI-1 cells were transfected with small-interfering-circNRIP1 (si-circNRIP1) and microRNA-505 (miR-505) inhibitor or the corresponding controls. Cell viability was detected with the Cell Counting Kit-8. The protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved-caspase-3, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), protein kinase B (AKT), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were individually determined via Western blot. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to examine the expressions of circNRIP1 and miR-505 both in tumor cells and tissues. The apoptotic rate, the colony numbers, and the migration rate were separately determined by the Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide and flow cytometer, colony formation assay, and migration assay. We found that circNRIP1 was overexpressed in tumor tissue but miR-505 was overproduced. Silencing circZNF292 induced inhibition of cell viability, colony formation, and migration, as well as the activity of AMPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascades but enhancement of apoptosis. si-circNRIP1 stimulated the upregulation of miR-505, whose silence abolished the effects of si-circNRIP1 on these elements mentioned above. In conclusion, the circNRIP1 played oncogenic roles in the ACHN and the CAKI-1 cell lines by targeting miR-505 via stimulating AMPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascades.

MiR-505 promotes M2 polarization in choroidal neovascularization model mice by targeting transmembrane protein 229B

We aimed to analyse the relative abundance of miR-505 in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. Relative expression of miR-505 was analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Macrophage polarization was characterized by measurement of molecular markers including Ym-1, Arg-1, TNF-α and iNOS via both real-time PCR and Western blot. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) content was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) formation was evaluated by choroidal flat mount technique. The regulatory action of miR-505-5p on 3'UTR of Transmembrane Protein 229B (TMEM229B) was interrogated by luciferase reporter assay. miR-505 was aberrantly upregulated in both AMD and laser-induced choroidal neovascularization mouse model. Administration with miR-505 specific inhibitor suppressed M2 polarization in CNV mice as indicated by decreasing both Ym-1 and Arg-1. Meanwhile, VEGF expression and CNV formation were greatly suppressed by miR-505 inhibition as well. The similar phenotype was consolidated in Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-stimulated bone marrow-derived macrophages. At the molecular level, miR-505-5p directly targeted and negatively regulated TMEM229B expression, while forced ectopic expression of TMEM229B significantly rescued miR-505-imposed M2 polarization. Our data have uncovered the critical contribution of miR-505 in AMD, which is predominantly mediated by downregulation of TMEM229B.

Updating the role of matrix metalloproteinases in mineralized tissue and related diseases

Bone development and healing processes involve a complex cascade of biological events requiring well-orchestrated synergism with bone cells, growth factors, and other trophic signaling molecules and cellular structures. Beyond health processes, MMPs play several key roles in the installation of heart and blood vessel related diseases and cancer, ranging from accelerating metastatic cells to ectopic vascular mineralization by smooth muscle cells in complementary manner. The tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) have an important role in controlling proteolysis. Paired with the post-transcriptional efficiency of specific miRNAs, they modulate MMP performance. If druggable, these molecules are suggested to be a platform for development of "smart" medications and further clinical trials. Thus, considering the pleiotropic effect of MMPs on mammals, the purpose of this review is to update the role of those multifaceted proteases in mineralized tissues in health, such as bone, and pathophysiological disorders, such as ectopic vascular calcification and cancer.

miRNA-mRNA Associated With Survival in Endometrial Cancer

Although various factors may contribute to its initiation and progression, the etiology and prognostic factors of endometrial carcinoma (EC) remains not fully understood. We sought to understand the role of changes in transcriptome during the progress of EC by exploring public datasets. The aberrant expression characteristics of EC based on RNA-Seq and miRNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess the relationship between differently expressed genes (DEGs) and patient survival. As a result, 320 out of 4,613 differently expressed mRNAs (DE mRNAs) and 68 out of 531 differently expressed miRNAs (DE miRNAs) with a significantly poorer survival were determined. We predicted eight paired DE miRNAs and DE mRNAs through TargetScan. Patients with three out of the eight paired low rate of miRNA/mRNA (miR-497/EMX1, miR-23c/DMBX1, and miR-670/KCNS1) expression had a significantly poorer survival. Furthermore, the simultaneous presence of these selected low miRNA/mRNA pairs occurred in most patients and resulted in a significantly poorer survival rate. Luciferase reporter assay identified that EMX1 was a direct target of miR-497. Both low expression of miR-497 and overexpression of EMX1 were significantly associated with more advanced clinicopathologic characteristics (stage, tumor status, grade, and histology) besides survival (all P values < 0.05). Multivariate analysis also demonstrated that miR-497 remained an independent prognostic variable for overall survival. In summary, we identified that a series of DE mRNAs and miRNAs, including eight paired DE miRNAs and mRNAs, were associated with survival in EC. Clinical evaluation of downregulated miR-497 and paired upregulated EMX1 confirmed the value of our prediction analysis. The simultaneous presence of low rate of these selected low miRNA/mRNA pairs (miR-497/EMX1, miR-23c/DMBX1, and miR-670/KCNS1) might have a better prediction value. Therefore, further studies are required to validate these findings.

MiR-505 suppressed the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via targeting IGF-1R

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers globally. An increasing body of evidence has demonstrated the critical function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the initiation and progression of human cancers. Here, we showed that miR-505 was down-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. Reduced expression of miR-505 was significantly correlated with the worse prognosis of HCC patients. Overexpression of miR-505 suppressed the proliferation, colony formation and induced apoptosis of both HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Further mechanism study uncovered that miR-505 bound the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the insulin growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) and inhibited the expression of IGF-1R in HCC cells. The down-regulation of IGF-1R by miR-505 further suppressed the phosphorylation of AKT at the amino acid S473. Consistently, the abundance of glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 (GLUT1) was reduced with the overexpression of miR-505. Down-regulation of GLUT1 by miR-505 consequently attenuated the glucose uptake, lactate production and ATP generation of HCC cells. Collectively, our results demonstrated the tumor suppressive function of miR-505 possibly via inhibiting the glycolysis of HCC cells. These findings suggested miR-505 as an interesting target for designing anti-cancer strategy in HCC.

A six-microRNA signature can better predict overall survival of patients with esophagus adenocarcinoma

Background

The microRNAs (miRNAs) have been validated as prognostic markers in many cancers. Here, we aimed at developing a miRNA-based signature for predicting the prognosis of esophagus adenocarcinoma (EAC).

Methods

The RNA-sequencing data set of EAC was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Eighty-four patients with EAC were classified into a training set and a test set randomly. Using univariate Cox regression analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), we identified prognostic factors and constructed a prognostic miRNA signature. The accuracy of the signature was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Result

In general, in the training set, six miRNAs (hsa-mir-425, hsa-let-7b, hsa-mir-23a, hsa-mir-3074, hsa-mir-424 and hsa-mir-505) displayed good prognostic power as markers of overall survival for EAC patients. Relative to patients in the low-risk group, those assigned to the high-risk group according to their risk scores of the designed miRNA model displayed reduced overall survival. This 6-miRNA model was validated in test and entire set. The area under curve (AUC) for ROC at 3 years was 0.959, 0.840, and 0.868 in training, test, and entire set, respectively. Molecular functional analysis and pathway enrichment analysis indicated that the target messenger RNAs associated with 6-miRNA signature were closely related to several pathways involved in carcinogenesis, especially cell cycle.

Conclusion

In summary, a novel 6-miRNA expression-based prognostic signature derived from the EAC data of TCGA was constructed and validated for predicting the prognosis of EAC.

MicroRNA-505-5p functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 5 in cervical cancer

MicroRNAs (miRs) are considered to be tumor suppressors or oncogenes as they regulate cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and differentiation. Recently, microRNA-505 (miR-505) has been reported as being involved in the progression of several human cancers. In the present study, we aim to investigate the expression rate and functional role of miR-505-5p in cervical cancer (CC) to determine its significance regarding the disease’s development.

The expression of miR-505-5p and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) in specimens of patients with CC and CC cell lines was examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western Blot. The relationship between miR-505-5p and CDK5 was verified by luciferase reporter assay. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Scratch wound healing assay and transwell assay were used to detect the roles of miR-505-5p and CDK5 in CC cell functions. Western Blot was utilized to explore the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers.

The result showed that in CC tissues and CC cell lines miR-505-5p was down-regulated while CDK5 level was up-regulated. MiR-505-5p was closely correlated with the metastasis-associated clinicopathological features. Overexpression of miR-505-5p inhibited cell viability, cell metastasis and EMT in CC cells. CDK5 was confirmed as a direct target of miR-505-5p and inverse relationship between them was also observed. Overexpression of CDK5 reduces the inhibitory effects of miR-505-5p in CC.

Taken together, these results determine that miR-505-5p is a tumor suppressor miRNA which regulates tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via binding to the functional target CDK5 and demonstrates its potential for future use in the treatment of CC.

miR‑505 suppresses prostate cancer progression by targeting NRCAM

Previous researchers have demonstrated that microRNA-505 (miR-505) is negatively correlated with progression in various malignancies. However, the detailed function and molecular mechanisms of miR-505 have yet to be completely elucidated in prostate cancer (PCa). The present study initially identified the potential role of miR-505 in PCa using in vitro experiments, and demonstrated that restoration of miR-505 inhibited proliferation, invasion and migration, yet induced cell cycle arrest and promoted apoptosis in PCa cells. The present study also demonstrated that the expression of neuron-glial-related cell adhesion molecule (NRCAM) was markedly upregulated in PCa cells when compared with benign prostate epithelium. A luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that miR-505 directly targeted NRCAM in PCa cells. In addition, NRCAM stimulation antagonized the inhibitory effects of miR-505 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of PCa cells. Furthermore, lower levels of miR-505 and higher levels of NRCAM may serve as a predictor of worse biochemical recurrence-free survival or disease-free survival in patients with PCa. In conclusion, the present study revealed the inhibitory effects of miR-505 on PCa tumorigenesis, which potentially occur by targeting NRCAM. The combined analysis of NRCAM and miR-505 may predict disease progression in patients with PCa following radical prostatectomy.

MicroRNA-873 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of endometrial cancer cells by directly targeting hepatoma-derived growth factor

An accumulation of evidence has demonstrated that abnormal microRNA (miRNA or miR) expression is associated with different types of cancer, including endometrial cancer (EC). The dysregulation of miRNAs may serve important roles in the development and progression of EC by regulating multiple aggressive biological behaviors, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis and angiogenesis. An in-depth understanding of the miRNAs associated with EC initiation and progression may be crucial for identifying successful therapeutic techniques. miR-873 has been demonstrated to be dysregulated in different types of cancer. However, the expression status and regulatory roles of miR-873 are yet to be elucidated in EC. In the present study, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was carried out to detect miR-873 expression in EC tissues and cell lines. Cell Counting Kit-8 and in vitro invasion assays were utilized to determine the influence of miR-873 on the proliferation and invasion of EC cells. miR-873 expression was revealed to be downregulated in EC tissues and cell lines. Decreased miR-873 expression was significantly associated with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and lymph node metastasis of patients with EC. Functional assays revealed that resumed miR-873 expression suppressed the proliferation and invasion of EC cells. Additionally, hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) was indicated to be a direct target gene of miR-873 in EC cells. HDGF was highly expressed in EC tissues and inversely correlated with miR-873 expression. HDGF silencing also imitated the tumor-suppressor activity of miR-873 overexpression in EC cells. A series of rescue experiments identified that recovered HDGF expression hindered the anti-proliferative and anti-invasive roles of miR-873 upregulation in EC cells. In conclusion, the present study indicated that miR-873 serves an important role as a tumor suppressor in EC development by directly targeting HDGF. The results may provide a novel insight into clinical treatments, which can be used to prevent EC aggression.

A novel lncRNA n384546 promotes thyroid papillary cancer progression and metastasis by acting as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-145-5p to regulate AKT3

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important regulators in the development of cancer cells. However, the role and mechanisms of most lncRNAs in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remain unknown. In this study, we investigated lncRNA expression profiles of PTC using RNA-seq in two groups of PTC tissues and adjacent normal tissues, and validated by real-time PCR analysis in another 53 pairs of tissues. We identified a novel lncRNA, n384546, which is highly expressed in PTC tissues and cell lines. n384546 expression was associated with clinicopathological features of PTC patients, such as tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage. Functionally, knockdown of n384546 inhibited PTC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we identified miR-145-5p as a key miRNA target of n384546 using online bioinformatics tools. Anti-miR-145 could partially reverse the effects of n384546 knockdown. Furthermore, we found that n384546 could regulate the expression of AKT3 by sponging miR-145-5p, which was confirmed using an in vitro luciferase assay. In conclusion, we validated n384546 as a novel oncogenic lncRNA in PTC and determined that the n384546/miR-145-5p/AKT3 pathway contributes to PTC progression, which might be used as potential therapeutic targets for PTC patients.

Downregulation of miR-505 promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and predicts poor prognosis in breast cancer

microRNAs are involved in the tumor progression of various cancer types. The present study aimed to determine the prognostic significance of microRNA-505 (miR-505) in patients with breast cancer and investigate the functional role of miR-505 in BCa progression. The expression of miR-505 was estimated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the prognostic value of miR-505 in patients with BCa. Cell experiments were performed to assess the biological function of miR-505 during BCa progression. A significant downregulated expression level of miR-505 was observed in BCa tissues and cells compared with the corresponding controls (P<0.001). The expression of miR-505 was significantly associated with distant metastasis status (P=0.013) and Tumor-Node-Metastasis staging (P=0.002). Furthermore, the overall survival time was significantly shorter for patients with low miR-505 expression compared with those with high miR-505 expression (P<0.001). In addition, miR-505 was identified as an independent prognostic factor for BCa. The results of cell experiments revealed that an overexpression of miR-505 could significantly inhibit BCa cell proliferation, migration and invasion, whereas a downregulation of miR-505 significantly enhanced BCa cell proliferation, migration and invasion (P<0.05). In summary, all data indicated that a low miR-505 expression level is associated with a poor prognosis for patients with BCa and promotes tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Therefore, the aberrant expression of miR-505 may serve as a therapeutic target for BCa.

miR-505 acts as a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer progression through targeting HMGB1

Gastric cancer (GC) is a frequent type of malignant tumor worldwide. GC metastasis results in the majority of clinical treatment failures. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are identified to exhibit crucial roles in GC. Our current study aimed to explore the biological roles of miR-505 in GC progression. It was observed that miR-505 was robustly decreased in GC cells compared with human normal gastric epithelial GES-1 cells. Overexpression of miR-505 was able to repress GC progression in AGS and BGC-823 cells. In addition, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) has been identified as a crucial oncogene in several cancer types. By carrying out bioinformatics analysis, HMGB1 was predicted as a direct target of miR-505. Meanwhile, HMGB1 was found to be significantly increased in GC cells and it was confirmed in our study that miR-505 can directly target HMGB1 in vitro. miR-505 mimics can inhibit HMGB1 messenger RNA and protein expression dramatically. Subsequently, knockdown of HMGB1 can inhibit GC cell proliferation, colony formation, and induce cell apoptosis. Furthermore, HMGB1 silence suppressed GC cell migration and invasion greatly in vitro. Finally, it was validated that miR-505 can inhibit GC progression by targeting HMGB1 in vivo. Taken these together, it was indicated that miR-505/HMGB1 axis was involved in the development of GC. miR-505 can serve as a potential prognostic indicator in GC therapy.

MicroRNA-101-3p suppresses proliferation and migration in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting the HGF/c-Met pathway

MicroRNAs are involved in each stage of tumor development. Activation of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-Met axis facilitates the proliferation and migration of cancer cells, and the HGF/c-MET pathway provides potential targets for anticancer treatment. However, the interaction between HGF and miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. Previous studies have shown that miR-101 is downregulated in various types of cancer and acts as a tumor suppressor, but the role of miR-101 in HCC has not yet been well defined. Here, we show that HGF is upregulated while microRNA-101-3p is significantly downregulated in the tumor tissues of HCC. By combining bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays, we demonstrated that HGF is a direct target of miR-101. In vitro experiments indicated that miR-101 inhibits the migration and proliferation of HCC cells by targeting the HGF/c-MET axis, and in vivo studies showed that overexpressed miR-101 dramatically suppresses tumor growth. Therefore, the present study identifies miR-101 as a negative regulator of HGF/c-MET and suggests that miRNAs can be used as targeted drugs for the clinical treatment of HCC.

Extracellular vesicle‑delivered miR‑505‑5p, as a diagnostic biomarker of early lung adenocarcinoma, inhibits cell apoptosis by targeting TP53AIP1

Lung adenocarcinoma (LA) is the most commonly occurring histological type of non‑small cell lung cancer. Diagnosis and treatment of LA remain a major clinical challenge. In the present study, to identify early LA biomarkers, extracellular vesicles (EVs) were separated from the plasma samples from 153 patients with LA and 75 healthy controls. microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling was performed at the screening stage (5 patients with LA vs. 5 controls), followed by verification at the validation stage (40 patients with LA vs. 20 controls) using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR). The four disordered miRNAs (miR‑505‑5p, miR‑486‑3p, miR‑486‑3p and miR‑382‑3p) identified in the plasma EVs were further evaluated at the testing stage (108 patients with LA vs. 50 controls) by RT‑qPCR. It was revealed that miR‑505‑5p was upregulated, whereas miR‑382‑3p was downregulated, in the EVs from patients with LA. Furthermore, miR‑505‑5p was also upregulated in tumor tissues, compared with adjacent non‑tumor control tissues. Subsequently, the direct targets of miR‑505‑5p were predicted using bioinformatics analyses, and verified by luciferase assay and immunoblotting. The present study determined that miR‑505‑5p functions as an oncogene, promoting lung cancer cell proliferation and inhibiting cancer cell apoptosis via the targeting of tumor protein P53‑regulated apoptosis‑inducing protein 1 (TP53AIP1). Finally, it was confirmed that miR‑505‑5p in plasma EVs could be delivered to lung cancer cells, inhibiting cell apoptosis and promoting cell proliferation by targeting TP53AIP1. In conclusion, the present study indicated that miRNA‑505‑5p functions as an oncogene that may be used as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of LA.

miR-142 Suppresses Endometrial Cancer Proliferation In Vitro and In Vivo by Targeting Cyclin D1

Endometrial cancer (EC), a prevalent gynecologic tumor, is a great threat to women. We aimed to explore miR-142's effects on EC and the relevant mechanisms. Cell proliferation was evaluated with MTT, cell counting, and colony formation assay. MRNA abundances of miR-142 and cyclin D1 (CCND1) were examined with quantitative real-time PCR. CCND1 protein level in cells was analyzed with Western blot. miR-142's downstream target was identified with targetscan and luciferase reporter assay. Nude mice were injected subcutaneously with Ishikawa (ISK) cells transfected with or without miR-142 mimics. Ki-67 and CCND1 expressions in tumors of xenograft mice were analyzed with immunohistochemical assay. miR-142 was expressed at a lower level in human EC tumor samples than matched normal tissues, and its mRNA level in EC patients without metastasis was higher than that in patients with metastatic EC. Additionally, low-level miR-142 was closely linked with the poor prognosis of EC patients. miR-142 restricted ISK and HEC-1A cell proliferation. Targetscan and luciferase reporter assay proved the target relationship between miR-142 and CCND1. Moreover, high-level CCND1 was positively correlated with the poor prognosis of EC patients. Besides, miR-142 mimics restricted tumor growth in ISK xenografted mice, as well as inhibited the expression of Ki67 and CCND1 in excised tumors. miR-142 restricted EC proliferation by targeting CCND1.

MicroRNA-505 suppresses gastric cancer cell proliferation and invasion by directly targeting Polo-like kinase-1

Purpose

The expression of microRNA-505 (miR-505) has been investigated in various cancers; however, its effect and mechanism in relation to gastric cancer (GC) are yet to be determined. Thus, the current evaluation aimed to examine the expression and potential role of miR-505 in GC.

Materials and methods

Quantitative real-time PCR was carried out to analyze miR-505 expression in GC cells and tissues. We observed that miR-505 is differentially expressed in GC cells following transfection of its mimics or inhibitors. Changes in cell invasion, cell proliferation, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition markers were measured.

Results

These findings indicated that miR-505 expression is downregulated in both GC cell lines and GC tissues. In addition, knockdown miR-505 induced the invasion and proliferation of GC cells. Transfection of miR-505 mimics led to an elevation in N-cadherin expression but a decrease in E-cadherin expression. Furthermore, we have shown that miR-505 binds to the 3′-UTR region of Polo-like kinase-1.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that miR-505 suppresses GC cell proliferation and invasion; it may be a valuable candidate gene for seeking therapy strategy for GC.

MiR-708-5p inhibits the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by targeting Sirt3

Numbers of studies have indicated that miRNA-708 plays an important role in many types of cancer. However, the role of miRNA-708 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has yet to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the role of miRNA-708-5p in the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of PDAC in vitro, as well as the underlying mechanism. We found that miRNA-708-5p was upregulated in PDAC tissues and cell lines, and high miRNA-708 expression indicated poor prognosis in PDAC patients. Besides, the CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay and transwell assay results suggested that miRNA-708-5p overexpression enhanced the ability of proliferation, invasion and migration in PDAC cell lines. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blotting and luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that SIRT3 was a direct target of miRNA-708-5p. Furthermore, a series of rescue experiments manifested that SIRT3 was involved in the oncogenic function of miRNA-708-5p in PDAC cells. Taken together, our study established a novel miRNA-708-5p/SIRT3 axis in the progression of pancreatic cancer and provided insight for pancreatic cancer treatment.

miR‑505 inhibits cell growth and EMT by targeting MAP3K3 through the AKT‑NFκB pathway in NSCLC cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs, which generally regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been reported in numerous cancer types, including lung cancer. In the present study, the role of miR-505 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells was investigated. miR-505 served a tumor suppressor role in NSCLC cells. By reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction detection, it was demonstrated that miR-505 was downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, which is negatively associated with large tumor size, Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage and distant metastasis in patients with NSCLC. Functional studies revealed that miR-505 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition progress in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Mechanically, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (MAP3K3) was identified as a direct target of miR-505 by binding to its 3′untranslated region and demonstrated to mediate the tumor suppressor roles of miR-505 in NSCLC cells. The effect of miR-505 on the activation of AKT/nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) pathway, which was downstream targets of MAP3K3, was further analyzed by western blot analysis and immunofluorescence analyses. The data demonstrated the inhibition of the AKT/NFκB pathway upon overexpressing miR-505 and the activation of AKT/NFκB pathway upon silencing miR-505. Collectively, the data revealed the novel role and target of miR-505 in NSCLC cells, which may provide novel insights regarding its role in the carcinogenesis of NSCLC and its potential values for clinical applications.

Differential microRNA expression in cultured palatal fibroblasts from infants with cleft palate and controls

Background

The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in animal models of palatogenesis has been shown, but only limited research has been carried out in humans. To date, no miRNA expression study on tissues or cells from cleft palate patients has been published. We compared miRNA expression in palatal fibroblasts from cleft palate patients and age-matched controls.

Material and Methods

Cultured palatal fibroblasts from 10 non-syndromic cleft lip and palate patients (nsCLP; mean age: 18 ± 2 months), 5 non-syndromic cleft palate only patients (nsCPO; mean age: 17 ± 2 months), and 10 controls (mean age: 24 ± 5 months) were analysed with next-generation small RNA sequencing. All subjects are from Western European descent. Sequence reads were bioinformatically processed and the differentially expressed miRNAs were technically validated using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

Results

Using RNA sequencing, three miRNAs (hsa-miR-93-5p, hsa-miR-18a-5p, and hsa-miR-92a-3p) were up-regulated and six (hsa-miR-29c-5p, hsa-miR-549a, hsa-miR-3182, hsa-miR-181a-5p, hsa-miR-451a, and hsa-miR-92b-5p) were down-regulated in nsCPO fibroblasts. One miRNA (hsa-miR-505-3p) was down-regulated in nsCLP fibroblasts. Of these, hsa-miR-505-3p, hsa-miR-92a, hsa-miR-181a, and hsa-miR-451a were also differentially expressed using RT-PCR with a higher fold change than in RNAseq.

Limitations

The small sample size may limit the value of the data. In addition, interpretation of the data is complicated by the fact that biopsy samples are taken after birth, while the origin of the cleft lies in the embryonic period. This, together with possible effects of the culture medium, implies that only cell-autonomous genetic and epigenetic differences might be detected.

Conclusions

For the first time, we have shown that several miRNAs appear to be dysregulated in palatal fibroblasts from patients with nsCLP and nsCPO. Furthermore, large-scale genomic and expression studies are needed to validate these findings.