HOXB1 Is a Tumor Suppressor Gene Regulated by miR-3175 in Glioma

HOX gene dysregulation in glioblastoma: a narrative review of current advances

HOX (homeobox) genes are virtually absent in healthy adult brains but are detected in malignant brain tumors, particularly gliomas. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified adult-type diffuse gliomas into three distinct categories: astrocytomas (isocitrate dehydrogenase [IDH]-mutated), oligodendrogliomas (IDH-mutated and 1p/19q-deleted), and glioblastomas, IDH-wildtype (GBM). GBM is the most common and aggressive primary malignant tumor of the Central Nervous System (CNS), characterized by its high recurrence rate and rapid growth. Dysregulation of HOX genes is a well-established phenomenon in both solid and liquid malignancies, playing crucial roles in various fundamental characteristics of cancer, including GBM. In recent years, HOX genes have gained recognition not only as key regulators of tumor progression but also as potential biomarkers for predicting disease outcomes and as promising therapeutic targets for GBM. This review compiles the latest research on HOX genes in GBM, encompassing studies published before and after the 2021 WHO classification of CNS tumors. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of key findings on the role of HOX gene clusters, which are groups of genes involved in regulating the development of the body plan along the anterior-posterior axis, in GBM initiation, progression, prognosis, and treatment response.

HOXB and HOXD genes contribute to the carcinogenic processes in glioblastoma: evidence form a bioinformatics analysis

PURPOSE

Glioblastoma is an aggressive cancer that affects the brain. The Homeobox B and D (HOXB/D) family has been linked to tumor progression, but their exact mechanism remains unclear.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study aimed to identify critical HOXB/D family members associated with glioblastoma and analyze their expression in glioblastoma using the GEPIA2 database. The study also assessed genetic alterations, their related transcription factors, miRNAs, gene-gene interactions, and correlations between their expression and immune infiltration using databases like cBioPortal, miRNet, GeneMANIA, and GSCA.

RESULTS

We showed that HOXB2/3/7 and HOXD3/8/9/10/11/13 expression was higher in glioblastoma samples compared to normal samples. Increased expression of HOXB2/5/8/9/13 was associated with negative effects on overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free survival (PFS), while overexpression of HOXB2/5/9 was linked to inferior PFS. Heightened levels of HOXD4/9, HOXD9/11, and HOXD9/10/11 expression in glioblastoma patients were correlated with unfavorable outcomes in terms of OS, DSS, and PFS. HOXB/D genes were related to 20 different genes, mainly enriched in the Activation of HOX Genes During Differentiation R-HSA-5619507 pathway. Immune cells were linked to specific genes in glioblastoma, with HOXB2 and HOXD3 expression potentially causing resistance to Methotrexate and Z-LLNle-CHO, HOXB7 indicating sensitivity to Lapatinib but resistance to 18 other small molecules, HOXD8 leading to resistance against 5 small molecules, and upregulated HOXD9, HOXD10, and HOXD13 suggesting sensitivity to 2, 4, and 9 small molecules, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, we showed contribution of HOXB and HOXD genes in the carcinogenic processes and proposed them as possible targets for treatment options.

LINC00312 Inhibits Lung Cancer Progression through the miR-3175/SEMA6A Axis

This study aims to clarify molecular mechanisms and tumor-associated functions of LINC00312 in lung cancer. GEO database was used to acquire lung cancer-related expression microarrays. Then, relevant databases were applied to predict the downstream miRNA for LINC00312 and the target mRNA for the potential miRNA, with their associations deeply confirmed through dual-luciferase and RIP assays. The expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition -related proteins (N-cadherin, Vimentin, MMP-2, and MMP-9) were examined by Western blot. The proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated through in vitro experiments including CCK-8 and Transwell assays and further validated by nude mouse xenograft tumor experiment. LINC00312, serving as a tumor suppressor, was down-regulated in lung cancer cells. RIP assay proved that miR-3175 bound LINC00312 and SEMA6A. The dual-luciferase assay showed that miR-3175 specifically targeted SEMA6A, suppressing the expression of SEMA6A. Overexpressing LINC00312 remarkably inhibited the binding between miR-3175 and SEMA6A. Overexpressing miR-3175 or silencing SEMA6A could hamper the effects of LINC00312 on lung cancer cells. LINC00312 inhibits lung cancer occurrence and progression via the miR-3175/SEMA6A axis.

Comprehensive analysis of a homeobox family gene signature in clear cell renal cell carcinoma with regard to prognosis and immune significance

The homeobox (HOX) family genes have been linked to multiple types of tumors, while their effect on malignant behaviors of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and clinical significance remains largely unknown. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the expression profiles and prognostic value of HOX genes in ccRCC using datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. We developed a prognostic signature comprising eight HOX genes (HOXB1, HOXA7, HOXB5, HOXD8, HOXD9, HOXB9, HOXA9, and HOXA11) for overall survival prediction in ccRCC and it allowed patients to be subdivided into high- and low-risk groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis in all the internal and external cohorts revealed significant difference in clinical outcome of patients in different risk groups, indicating the satisfactory predictive power of the signature. Additionally, we constructed a prognostic nomogram by integrating signature-derived risk score and clinical factors such as gender, age, T and M status, which might be helpful for clinical decision-making and designing tailored management schedules. Immunological analysis revealed that the regulatory T cells (Tregs) infiltrated differently between the two subgroups in both TCGA and ICGC cohorts. ssGSEA method showed that the enrichment scores for mast cells were significantly lower in high-risk group compared with the low-risk group, which was consistent in both TCGA and ICGC cohorts. As for the related immune function, the enrichment scores of APC co-inhibition, para-inflammation, and type II IFN response were consistently lower in high-risk group in both cohorts. Of the eight HOX genes, the mRNA and protein levels of HOXD8 were downregulated in ccRCC than that in normal tissues, and decreased expression of HOXD8 was associated with increased tumor grade and stage, and lymph node metastasis. Survival analysis revealed that lower expression of HOXD8 predicted worse overall survival in ccRCC. In conclusion, our HOX gene-based signature was a favorable indicator to predict the prognosis of ccRCC cases and associated with immune cell infiltration. HOXD8 might be a tumor suppressor gene in ccRCC and a potential predictor of tumor progression.

18F-FDG and 68 Ga-FAPI PET/CT for the evaluation of periprosthetic joint infection and aseptic loosening in rabbit models

Purpose

We built a joint replacement loosening model based on the original rabbit model of infection and evaluated the performance characteristics of ¹⁸F-FDG and ⁶⁸ Ga-FAPI in evaluating infection and loosening.

Methods

After surgery, the rabbits were divided into four groups, with six individuals in the control group and 10 each in the aseptic loosening, S. aureus and S. epidermidis groups. PET/CT and serological examination were performed three times at two-week intervals. After the rabbits were euthanized, micro-CT, tissue pathology, pullout tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed.

Results

The pullout test and SEM showed the feasibility of the aseptic loosening model. ¹⁸F-FDG showed similar performance in the control and loosening groups. The SUVmax of the S. aureus group was consistently higher than that of the S. epidermidis group. As for ⁶⁸ Ga-FAPI, the SUVmax of the control group was lowest in the second week and gradually increased over subsequent weeks. The SUVmax of the loosening group began to exceed that of the control group after the second week. The SUVmax of the S. aureus group in the second week was the lowest among the four groups and increased as the number of weeks increased. The pathology results showed concordance with the performance of PET/CT. Linear regressions between SUVmax and serology showed that ¹⁸F-FDG was positively correlated with CRP and IL-6, while ⁶⁸ Ga-FAPI revealed negative correlations with CRP and IL-6 in the second week and positive correlations in the sixth week. In addition, the SUVmax and MT(target)V of both ¹⁸F-FDG and ⁶⁸ Ga-FAPI were negatively correlated with bone volume/trabecular volume (TV) and bone surface area/TV.

Conclusion

In this longitudinal observation, ⁶⁸ Ga-FAPI showed greater sensitivity than ¹⁸F-FDG in detecting diseases, and ⁶⁸ Ga-FAPI had no intestinal or muscular uptake. The MT(target)V of ⁶⁸ Ga-FAPI was larger than that of ¹⁸F-FDG, which meant that ⁶⁸ Ga-FAPI had the potential to define the scope of lesions more accurately. Finally, the SUVmax of ⁶⁸ Ga-FAPI could not differentiate between loosening and infection; further study of the diagnostic criteria is warranted.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-022-05537-w.

Increased Expression of Homeobox 5 Predicts Poor Prognosis: A Potential Prognostic Biomarker for Glioma

Background

The homeobox gene 5 (HOXB5) encodes a transcription factor that regulates the embryonic development of the central nervous system. Notably, its expression pattern and prognostic role in glioma remain unelucidated.

Methods

This study identified the relationship between HOXB5 and glioma by investigating HOXB5 expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Genotype Tissue Expression databases and validating the obtained data using the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas database. Western blots were used to identify HOXB5 expression levels in glioma cells and clinical samples. Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the prognostic value of HOXB5. The key functions and signaling pathways related to HOXB5 were analyzed using GO, KEGG, and GSEA. Immune infiltration was calculated using the microenvironment cell populations-counter, estimate the proportion of immune and cancer, and ESTIMATE algorithms.

Results

The expression of HOXB5 was upregulated in glioma and generally increased with malignancy. HOXB5 was an independent prognostic factor for glioma patients. A nomogram was further built that integrated HOXB5, and it showed stratifying prediction accuracy and efficiency. HOXB5 was associated with the regulation of cell growth, endothelial cell growth, and the IL-6/JAK-STAT3 pathway, and was determined to possibly promote stomatal specimen enrichment and angiogenesis.

Conclusion

HOXB5 protein is overexpressed in glioma and might serve as a good predictive factor of this disease.

High expression of HOXB3 predicts poor prognosis and correlates with tumor immunity in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the most prevalent human cancers worldwide. The homeobox-B (HOXB) gene cluster has been reported to contribute to cancer development. Nevertheless, the expression status, clinical significance and biological role of HOXB genes in LUAD remain largely unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study comprehensively investigated the transcriptional levels and prognostic values of the HOXB genes in LUAD based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Flow cytometry, CCK-8, and Transwell assays were used for detecting apoptosis, proliferation, and migration, respectively. We discovered that eight members of the HOXB cluster genes (HOXB2, HOXB3, HOXB4, HOXB6, HOXB7, HOXB8, HOXB9, and HOXB13) were dysregulated in LUAD tumor tissues. Increased expression of HOXB3, HOXB6, HOXB7, HOXB8, or HOXB9 was independently associated with unsatisfactory overall survival (OS) in LUAD patients. In addition, a high level of HOXB3 also predicted poor patient relapse-free survival (RFS), suggesting that HOXB3 may play a vital role in the progression of LUAD compared to other members of the HOXB cluster. Additionally, further analysis by TIMER and TISIDB algorithms revealed that HOXB3 was positively correlated with a panel of immune checkpoint molecules (ICMs), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and tumor immune regulators (TIRs). Gene enrichment analysis based on KEGG showed that HOXB3 was closely associated with multiple tumor-related biological processes and signaling pathways. Functionally, the in vitro experiments revealed that depletion of HOXB3 significantly alleviated the resistance of LUAD cells to apoptosis, and suppressed cell proliferation and migration.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that HOXB3 may play an oncogenic role in LUAD and correlate with tumor immunity.

Novel Risk Associations between microRNA Polymorphisms and Gastric Cancer in a Chilean Population

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in the world, with variations across geographical regions and ethnicities. Emerging evidence indicates that miRNA expression is dysregulated in GC and its polymorphisms may contribute to these variations, which has yet to be explored in Latin American populations. In a case-control study of 310 GC patients and 311 healthy donors from Chile, we assessed the association of 279 polymorphisms in 242 miRNA genes. Two novel polymorphisms were found to be associated with GC: rs4822739:C>G (miR-548j) and rs701213:T>C (miR-4427). Additionally, rs1553867776:T>TCCCCA (miR-4274) and rs12416605:C>T (miR-938) were associated with intestinal-type GC, and rs4822739:C>G (miR-548j) and rs1439619:T>G (miR-3175) with TNM I-II stage. The polymorphisms rs6149511:T> TGAAGGGCTCCA (miR-6891), rs404337:G>A (miR-8084), and rs1439619:T>G (miR-3175) were identified among H.pylori-infected GC patients and rs7500280:T>C (miR-4719) and rs1439619:T>G (miR-3175) were found among H. pylori cagPAI+ infected GC cases. Prediction analysis suggests that seven polymorphisms could alter the secondary structure of the miRNA, and the other one is located in the seed region of miR-938. Targets of miRNAs are enriched in GC pathways, suggesting a possible biological effect. In this study, we identified seven novel associations and replicated one previously described in Caucasian population. These findings contribute to the understanding of miRNA genetic polymorphisms in the GC pathogenesis.

Comprehensive bioinformatics analyses identified Homeobox B9 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for gastric cancer

Background

The Homeobox B (HOXB) family promotes tumor progression, but the mechanism of its action in gastric cancer (GC) is unclear. We sought to identify the HOXB family members that are critical to the prognosis of GC patients.

Methods

The Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), cBioPortal, UALCAN, Kaplan-Meier plotter, and the GeneMANIA databases were used to analyze the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels, prognostic value, and gene-gene interaction network of the HOXB9 family members in GC. The expression of HOXB9 in GC and its relationship with various clinicopathological parameters and the prognosis of patients were verified by immunohistochemistry.

Results

The expression of HOXB3, HOXB5, HOXB6, HOXB7, HOXB9, and HOXB13 mRNA was significantly upregulated in GC. There was a significant correlation between the upregulation of HOXB3, HOXB5, and HOXB9 mRNA and a low overall survival (OS) rate. The high expression of HOXB7, HOXB9, and HOXB13 mRNA was closely correlated to tumor grade and stage. HOXB9 was the HOXB family member most closely related to the occurrence and development of GC. A further analysis showed that HOXB9 might be involved in deoxyribonucleic acid repair and division regulation. A validation study showed that the advanced cancer group had a higher level of HOXB9 expression than the early cancer group. The high expression of HOXB9 in gastric tissue plays an important role in the survival and prognosis of GC patients.

Conclusions

HOXB family members have different degrees of abnormal expression in GC. High HOXB9 expression in GC tissues was significantly correlated with a worse prognosis. Thus, HOXB9 is a potential novel biomarker and therapeutic target for GC.

Homeobox Genes in Cancers: From Carcinogenesis to Recent Therapeutic Intervention

The homeobox (HOX) genes encoding an evolutionarily highly conserved family of homeodomain-containing transcriptional factors are essential for embryogenesis and tumorigenesis. HOX genes are involved in cell identity determination during early embryonic development and postnatal processes. The deregulation of HOX genes is closely associated with numerous human malignancies, highlighting the indispensable involvement in mortal cancer development. Since most HOX genes behave as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in human cancer, a better comprehension of their upstream regulators and downstream targets contributes to elucidating the function of HOX genes in cancer development. In addition, targeting HOX genes may imply therapeutic potential. Recently, novel therapies such as monoclonal antibodies targeting tyrosine receptor kinases, small molecular chemical inhibitors, and small interfering RNA strategies, are difficult to implement for targeting transcriptional factors on account of the dual function and pleiotropic nature of HOX genes-related molecular networks. This paper summarizes the current state of knowledge on the roles of HOX genes in human cancer and emphasizes the emerging importance of HOX genes as potential therapeutic targets to overcome the limitations of present cancer therapy.

DCAF1-targeting microRNA-3175 activates Nrf2 signaling and inhibits dexamethasone-induced oxidative injury in human osteoblasts

Activation of nuclear-factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling can protect human osteoblasts from dexamethasone-induced oxidative injury. DDB1 and CUL4 associated factor 1 (DCAF1) is a novel ubiquitin E3 ligase for Nrf2 protein degradation. We identified a novel DCAF1-targeting miRNA, miR-3175. RNA pull-down, Argonaute 2 RNA-immunoprecipitation, and RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization results confirmed a direct binding between miR-3175 and DCAF1 mRNA in primary human osteoblasts. DCAF1 3'-untranslated region luciferase activity and its expression were significantly decreased after miR-3175 overexpression but were augmented with miR-3175 inhibition in human osteoblasts and hFOB1.19 osteoblastic cells. miR-3175 overexpression activated Nrf2 signaling, causing Nrf2 protein stabilization, antioxidant response (ARE) activity increase, and transcription activation of Nrf2-dependent genes in human osteoblasts and hFOB1.19 cells. Furthermore, dexamethasone-induced oxidative injury and apoptosis were largely attenuated by miR-3175 overexpression in human osteoblasts and hFOB1.19 cells. Importantly, shRNA-induced silencing or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Nrf2 knockout abolished miR-3175 overexpression-induced osteoblast cytoprotection against dexamethasone. Conversely, DFAC1 knockout, by the CRISPR/Cas9 method, activated the Nrf2 cascade and inhibited dexamethasone-induced cytotoxicity in hFOB1.19 cells. Importantly, miR-3175 expression was decreased in necrotic femoral head tissues of dexamethasone-taking patients, where DCAF1 mRNA was upregulated. Together, silencing DCAF1 by miR-3175 activated Nrf2 signaling to inhibit dexamethasone-induced oxidative injury and apoptosis in human osteoblasts.

MicroRNA-301b-3p facilitates cell proliferation and migration in colorectal cancer by targeting HOXB1

Previous studies revealed that miR-301b-3p was essential to the onset and development of several cancers, but the implied functions of miR-301b-3p in colorectal cancer (CRC) remained largely unclear. The current study is aimed to exploring the potential roles and possible mechanism of miR-301b-3p in CRC. The abundance of miR-301b-3p and HOXB1 in CRC clinical specimens and cell lines was verified using RT-qPCR. The CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing and transwell assays were adopted to evaluate cell proliferation and migration. The interactivity of miR-301b-3p and homeobox B1 (HOXB1) was identified using bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter. The results of RT-qPCR indicated that miR-301b-3p was significantly upregulated in CRC clinical specimens and cell lines. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-301b-3p speeds up CRC cell proliferation and migration. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter verified that HOXB1 acted as the downstream targeted mRNA. Furthermore, silencing of HOXB1 also obviously accelerated the proliferation and migration ability of CRC cells. miR-301b-3p facilitated cell proliferation and migration in CRC, which was partly reversed by overexpressing HOXB1. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that miR-301b-3p facilitated CRC cell growth and migration via targeting HOXB1. Our results identified that miR-301b-3p served as a significant oncogene in CRC, which may provide a novel biomarker for diagnosis and therapeutic objective for CRC.

Whole-Genome Methylation Study of Congenital Lung Malformations in Children

Background and Objectives

The treatment of asymptomatic patients with congenital pulmonary malformations (CPMs) remains controversial, partially because the relationship between congenital lung malformations and malignancy is still undefined. Change in methylation pattern is a crucial event in human cancer, including lung cancer. We therefore studied all differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in a series of CPMs in an attempt to find methylation anomalies in genes already described in association with malignancy.

Methods

The DNA extracted from resected congenital lung malformations and control lung tissue was screened using Illumina MethylationEPIC arrays. Comparisons between the group of malformed samples or the malformed samples of same histology or each malformed sample and the controls and between a pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) and controls were performed. Moreover, each malformed sample was pairwise compared with its respective control. All differentially methylated regions (DMRs) with an adjusted p-value <0,05 were studied.

Results

Every comparison highlighted a number of DMRs closed to genes involved either in cell proliferation or in embryonic development or included in the Cancer Gene Census. Their abnormal methylation had been already described in lung tumors.

Conclusions

Methylation anomalies already described in lung tumors and also shared by the PPB were found in congenital lung malformations, regardless the histology. The presence of methylation abnormalities is suggestive of a correlation between congenital lung malformations and some step of malignant transformation.

MicroRNA signatures associated with lymph node metastasis in intramucosal gastric cancer

Although a certain proportion of intramucosal carcinomas (IMCs) of the stomach does metastasize, the majority of patients are currently treated with endoscopic resection without lymph node dissection, and this potentially veils any existing metastasis and may put some patients in danger. In this regard, biological markers from the resected IMC that can predict metastasis are warranted. Here, we discovered unique miRNA expression profiles that consist of 21 distinct miRNAs that are specifically upregulated (miR-628-5p, miR-1587, miR-3175, miR-3620-5p, miR-4459, miR-4505, miR-4507, miR-4720-5p, miR-4742-5p, and miR-6779-5p) or downregulated (miR-106b-3p, miR-125a-5p, miR-151b, miR-181d-5p, miR-486-5p, miR-500a-3p, miR-502-3p, miR-1231, miR-3609, and miR-6831-5p) in metastatic (M)-IMC compared to nonmetastatic (N)-IMC, or nonneoplastic gastric mucosa. Intriguingly, most of these selected miRNAs showed stepwise increased or decreased expression from nonneoplastic tissue to N-IMC to M-IMC. This suggests that common oncogenic mechanisms are gradually intensified during the metastatic process. Using a machine-learning algorithm, we demonstrated that such miRNA signatures could distinguish M-IMC from N-IMC. Gene ontology and pathway analysis revealed that TGF-β signaling was enriched from upregulated miRNAs, whereas E2F targets, apoptosis-related, hypoxia-related, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways, were enriched from downregulated miRNAs. Immunohistochemical staining of samples from multiple institutions indicated that PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway components, MAPK1, phospho-p44/42 MAPK, and pS6 were highly expressed and the expression of SMAD7, a TGF-β pathway component, was decreased in M-IMC, which could aid in distinguishing M-IMC from N-IMC. The miRNA signature discovered in this study is a valuable biological marker for identifying metastatic potential of IMCs, and provides novel insights regarding the metastatic progression of IMC.

HOX gene cluster (de)regulation in brain: from neurodevelopment to malignant glial tumours

HOX genes encode a family of evolutionarily conserved homeodomain transcription factors that are crucial both during development and adult life. In humans, 39 HOX genes are arranged in four clusters (HOXA, B, C, and D) in chromosomes 7, 17, 12, and 2, respectively. During embryonic development, particular epigenetic states accompany their expression along the anterior-posterior body axis. This tightly regulated temporal-spatial expression pattern reflects their relative chromosomal localization, and is critical for normal embryonic brain development when HOX genes are mainly expressed in the hindbrain and mostly absent in the forebrain region. Epigenetic marks, mostly polycomb-associated, are dynamically regulated at HOX loci and regulatory regions to ensure the finely tuned HOX activation and repression, highlighting a crucial epigenetic plasticity necessary for homeostatic development. HOX genes are essentially absent in healthy adult brain, whereas they are detected in malignant brain tumours, namely gliomas, where HOX genes display critical roles by regulating several hallmarks of cancer. Here, we review the major mechanisms involved in HOX genes (de)regulation in the brain, from embryonic to adult stages, in physiological and oncologic conditions. We focus particularly on the emerging causes of HOX gene deregulation in glioma, as well as on their functional and clinical implications.

Silencing of microRNA-3175 represses cell proliferation and invasion in prostate cancer by targeting the potential tumor-suppressor SCN4B

MicroRNA-3175 (miR-3175) expression is upregulated in prostate cancer, but its roles and the underlying mechanisms in prostate cancer cell growth and invasion need to be elucidated. This study aimed to uncover the roles of miR-3175 in regulating cell growth and migration, as well as the expression of its predicted target gene cardiac sodium channel β4-subunit gene (SCN4B). Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and/or western blotting techniques were used to measure miR-3175 and SCN4B expression levels in prostate cancer cells. Inhibitor or mimics transfections were used to overexpress or silence miR-3175 in prostate cancer cells. MTT and Edu assays were applied to assess cell viability. Scratch assay and transwell chambers were used to examine cell migration and invasion abilities. The interaction between miR-3175 and SCN4B was determined by means of luciferase gene reporter, RT-qPCR, and western blotting assays. The results showed that miR-3175 expression was increased and SCN4B expression was decreased in prostate cancer cell lines as compared with normal human prostatic epithelial cells. Compared with the control group, knockdown of miR-3175 resulted in strong inhibitions of cell growth, migration, invasion, and N-cadherin expression, together with an increase in E-cadherin expression. In addition, knockdown of miR-3175 dramatically increased the luciferase activity of the luciferase vector of SCN4B, and increased SCN4B expression. Together, this study illustrated that downregulation of miR-3175 repressed the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells, which might be induced by SCN4B downregulation.

YAP/TAZ affects the development of pulmonary fibrosis by regulating multiple signaling pathways

YAP and TAZ are important co-activators of various biological processes in human body. YAP/TAZ plays a vital role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. Dysregulation of the YAP/TAZ signaling pathway is one of the most important causes of pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, considering its crucial role, summary of the signal mechanism of YAP/TAZ is of certain guiding significance for the research of YAP/TAZ as a therapeutic target. The present review provided a detailed introduction to various YAP/TAZ-related signaling pathways and clarified the specific role of YAP/TAZ in these pathways. In the meantime, we summarized and evaluated possible applications of YAP/TAZ in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Overall, our study is of guiding significance for future research on the functional mechanism of YAP/TAZ underlying lung diseases as well as for identification of novel therapeutic targets specific to pulmonary fibrosis.

LncRNA LINC00520 Predicts Poor Prognosis and Promotes Progression of Lung Cancer by Inhibiting MiR-3175 Expression

Purpose

The aim of this study was to study the roles and potential mechanism of LINC00520 in the progression of lung cancer.

Methods

The expression of LINC00520 and miR-3175 in lung cancer tissues and cells was detected by qRT-PCR. The relationship between LINC00520 level and disease stage was also calculated. Kaplan–Meier survival curve was drawn to observe the survival difference between high and low expression patients. Lipofectamine 2000 was used to transfect siLINC00520, miR-3175 inhibitor and their controls in lung cancer cells. CCK8 and colony formation assay were processed for cell proliferation. Transwell assay was undertaken for migration and invasion of lung cancer cells. MiRDB predicts the combination of LINC00520 and miR-3175. Luciferase and RNA pulldown assay were applied to verify the binding site. Correlation analysis of miR-3175 and LINC00520 expression in lung cancer tissues was shown.

Results

LINC00520 was highly expressed in lung cancer tissues and cells. Patients at III+IV stage were always with higher LINC00520 level than patients at I+II stage. Patients with high expression of lncRNA LINC00520 have short survival time (hazard ratio=1.7). Knockdown of LINC00520 inhibited proliferation, invasion and migration of lung cancer cells. LINC00520 targeted and negatively regulated miR-3175 (r=−0.528; P<0.001). MiR-3175 inhibitor rescued the effect of si-LINC00520 on lung cancer progression.

Conclusion

LncRNA LINC00520 could predict poor prognosis and promote progression of lung cancer by inhibiting miR-3175 expression.

The MicroRNA hsa-let-7g Promotes Proliferation and Inhibits Apoptosis in Lung Cancer by Targeting HOXB1

PURPOSE

The goal of this study was to explore the effects of hsa-let-7g on cell proliferation and apoptosis, and elucidate its role in lung cancer development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression levels of has-let-7g and HOXB1 in tissues and cells were measured by qRT-PCR. An inhibitor of hsa-let-7g or one targeting a control messenger RNA were transfected into A549 and H1944 lung cancer cells, and the effects of hsa-let-7g dysregulation on cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed using CCK-8 and apoptosis detection assays. HOXB1 was confirmed as the target gene of hsa-let-7g, based on luciferase reporter assay results. The relationship between hsa-let-7g and HOXB1 was confirmed by co-transfection of inhibitors of hsa-let-7g and HOXB1 followed by Western blot, CCK-8, and apoptosis detection assays.

RESULTS

We observed high expression of hsa-let-7g in lung cancer tissues compared to the corresponding normal tissues, and generally higher expression of hsa-let-7g in patients with advanced tumor classification. The results of CCK-8 and apoptosis detection experiments showed that the inhibition of hsa-let-7g significantly inhibited proliferation of A549 and H1944 cells, but also promoted apoptosis. HOXB1 is a specific target of hsa-let-7g, and downregulation of HOXB1 in lung cancer cells reversed the suppressive effects caused by knocking down hsa-let-7g.

CONCLUSION

These data collectively suggest that the expression of hsa-let-7g inhibits lung cancer cells apoptosis and promotes proliferation by down-regulating HOXB1. The results from this study demonstrate the potential of hsa-let-7g/HOXB1 axis as a therapeutic target for the treatment of lung cancer.

MiR-3175 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting Smad7 in human conjunctiva and pterygium

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of mRNAs. However, the function of miRNAs is unclear in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of pterygium, a disease characterized by abnormal fibrovascular proliferation and invasion on the ocular surface. Since MiR-3175 is upregulated in pterygium tissues compared to normal conjunctival tissues, in this study, we investigated the role of MiR-3175 in EMT of a cultured human conjunctival epithelium cell line (CCL) and further validated the findings in pterygium tissues from patients. Our study demonstrates that MiR-3175 promotes proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of CCL cells by directly inhibiting Smad7. In conclusion, our data suggested that the MiR-3175-Smad7 axis may play a critical role in pathogenesis and development of pterygium.

HOX genes as transcriptional and epigenetic regulators during tumorigenesis and their value as therapeutic targets

Several HOX genes are aberrantly expressed in a wide range of cancers interfering with their development and resistance to treatment. This seems to be often caused by alterations in the methylation profiles of their promoters. The role of HOX gene products in cancer is highly 'tissue specific', relying ultimately on their ability to regulate oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes, directly as transcriptional regulators or indirectly interfering with the levels of epigenetic regulators. Nowadays, different strategies have been tested the use of HOX genes as therapeutic targets for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, we trace the history of the research concerning the involvement of HOX genes in cancer, their connection with epigenetic regulation and their potential use as therapeutic targets.

Aberrant expression of miR‑130a‑3p in ankylosing spondylitis and its role in regulating T‑cell survival

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of endogenous small non‑coding RNAs that regulate target genes, and play a critical role in many biological processes. However, the underlying mechanism of specific miRNA, miR‑130a‑3p, in AS remains largely unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of miR‑130a‑3p in the development of AS. In the present study, it was revealed that miR‑130a‑3p was downregulated in T cells from HLA‑B27‑positive AS patients compared with the HLA‑B27‑negative healthy controls. Next, bioinformatics software TargetScan 7.2 was used to predict the target genes of miR‑130a‑3p, and a luciferase reporter assay indicated that HOXB1 was the direct target gene of miR‑130a‑3p. Furthermore, it was determined that HOXB1 expression was upregulated in T cells from HLA‑B27‑positive AS patients. In addition, the results of the present study indicated that miR‑130a‑3p inhibitor significantly inhibited cell proliferation ability and induced cell apoptosis of Jurkat T cells, while the miR‑130a‑3p mimic promoted proliferation ability and inhibited cell apoptosis of Jurkat T cells. Notably, all the effects of the miR‑130a‑3p mimic on Jurkat T cells were reversed by HOXB1‑plasmid. Collectively, our data indicated that miR‑130a‑3p was decreased in T cells from AS patients and it could regulate T‑cell survival by targeting HOXB1.

miR-423-5p inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of glioblastoma cells by targeting phospholipase C beta 1

Glioma is a common brain tumor which is highly invasive, responds poorly to therapy, and has a poor prognosis. There is growing evidence that an abnormal expression of many genes is related to glioma and leads to glioma cell growth and metastasis. Phospholipase C beta 1 (PLCB1) plays critical roles in intracellular transduction and regulating signal activation, which are important to tumorigenesis. Therefore, it could bind to miRNA as a target gene. The purpose of our study was to confirm that PLCB1 plays a critical role in suppressing glioma progression. We found that the expression of miR-423-5p was reduced, but the expression of PLCB1 was increased, in glioma tissues and cells. To explore whether miR-423-5p affects PLCB1, a bioinformatics approach suggested that miR-423-5p can directly target PLCB1. Moreover, we observed, using luciferase reporter assays, that miR-423-5p could target PLCB1 3'-UTR. Functionally, the overexpression of miR-423-5p could attenuate the proliferation, invasion, and migration and promote the apoptosis of glioma cells. Furthermore, we found that miR-423-5p could enhance p-ERK expression in glioma cells. Taken together, we deduced that miR-423-5p inhibited proliferation and metastasis by targeting PLCB1, and it also promotes apoptosis in glioma cells. These results suggest that miR-423-5p directly targets PLCB1 3'-UTR and could inhibit cell invasion and migration through the ERK-dependent pathway in glioma, and the miR-423-5p/PLCB1 axis may be a potential target for new potential therapeutic strategies to treat glioma.

The Epigenomics of Pituitary Adenoma

Background: The vast majority of pituitary tumors are benign and behave accordingly; however, a fraction are invasive and are more aggressive, with a very small fraction being frankly malignant. The cellular pathways that drive transformation in pituitary neoplasms are poorly characterized, and current classification methods are not reliable correlates of clinical behavior. Novel techniques in epigenetics, the study of alterations in gene expression without changes to the genetic code, provide a new dimension to characterize tumors, and may hold implications for prognostication and management. Methods: We conducted a review of primary epigenetic studies of pituitary tumors with a focus on histone modification, DNA methylation, and transcript modification. Results: High levels of methylation have been identified in invasive and large pituitary tumors. DNA methyltransferase overexpression has been detected in pituitary tumors, especially in macroadenomas. Methylation differences at CpG sites in promoter regions may distinguish several types of tumors from normal pituitary tissue. Histone modifications have been linked to increased p53 expression and longer progression-free survival in pituitary tumors; sirtuins are expressed at higher values in GH-expressing compared to nonfunctional adenomas and correlate inversely with size in somatotrophs. Upregulation in citrullinating enzymes may be an early pathogenic marker of prolactinomas. Numerous genes involved with cell growth and signaling show altered methylation status for pituitary tumors, including cell cycle regulators, components of signal transduction pathways, apoptotic regulators, and pituitary developmental signals. Conclusions: The limited clinical predictive capacity of the current pituitary tumor classification system suggests that tumor subclasses likely remain to be discovered. Ongoing epigenetic studies could provide a basis for adding methylation and/or acetylation screening to standard pituitary tumor workups. Identifying robust correlations between tumor epigenetics and corresponding histological, radiographic, and clinical course information could ultimately inform clinical decision-making.

Hsa-let-7g promotes osteosarcoma by reducing HOXB1 to activate NF-kB pathway

MicroRNA (miRNA) is known to be involved in regulating the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of cancer cells in osteosarcoma. In this study, We aim to explore the expression of hsa-let-7 g and its role in pathogenesis of osteosarcoma. By analyzing clinical data. We found high expression of hsa-let-7 g in patients with osteosarcoma. The patients with higher expression of hsa-let-7 g showed poorer prognosis and lower survival rate. After downregulation of hsa-let-7 g in cell model and animal model, we found that with downregulation of hsa-let-7 g, the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells was significantly reduced, the level of migration and invasion was down-regulated, the cell cycle was inhibited, and cell apoptosis was increased. Through Dual Luciferase Reporter, immunohistochemistry, western blot and other experiments, it was found that hsa-let-7 g down-regulated HOXB1 gene and activated NF-kB pathway to promote the development of osteosarcoma. In conclusion, hsa-let-7 g is highly expressed in osteosarcoma tissues, and high expression of hsa-let-7 g can promote the occurrence of osteosarcoma by down-regulating HOXB1 and activating NF-kB pathway.

miR‑501‑3p sensitizes glioma cells to cisplatin by targeting MYCN

Cisplatin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for glioma patients, treatment often leads to chemoresistance. Accumulating evidence has demosntrated that microRNA (miRNA/miR) is involved in drug resistance of glioma cells. Nevertheless, the role of miR‑501‑3p in glioma cell resistance to cisplatin is unclear. In the present study, it was revealed that miR‑501‑3p expression was decreased in glioma tissues and further underexpressed in cisplatin‑resistant glioma cells compared with wild‑type (WT) glioma cells. Furthermore, cisplatin treatment inhibited the level of miR‑501‑3p in a time‑dependent way. Ectopic expression of miR‑501‑3p suppressed glioma cell growth and invasion, but increased cisplatin‑resistant glioma cell apoptosis. Furthermore, miR‑501‑3p sensitized glioma cells to cisplatin‑induced proliferation arrest and death. Mechanistically, it was demonstrated that miR‑501‑3p targeted MYCN in glioma cells. In addition, it was revealed that miR‑501‑3p inhibited MYCN expression by a luciferase reporter assay and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Notably, restoration of MYCN reversed the effects of miR‑501‑3p in cisplatin‑resistant glioma cells. In conclusion, these results suggested that miR‑501‑3p may serve a promising marker for cisplatin resistance.

High Expression of Pirh2 is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Glioma

p53-induced protein with a RING-H2 domain (Pirh2), also known as Rchy1, is an ubiquitin E3 ligase that regulates the turnover and functionality of several proteins involved in cell proliferation and differentiation, cell cycle checkpoints, and cell death. However, it remains unclear whether aberrant expression of Pirh2 is involved in the development of glioma, a major type of primary brain tumor in adults. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses showed that Pirh2 was highly expressed in glioma specimens, compared with normal brain tissues. High Pirh2 expression was positively correlated with higher tumor grade, as well as Ki-67 expression. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with high Pirh2 expression had worsened prognosis, compared with those with low Pirh2 expression. Moreover, to determine whether Pirh2 could regulate malignant behavior of glioma cells, we transfected glioma cells with interfering RNA targeting Pirh2 to specifically silence Pirh2 expression. Mechanistically, our results indicated that knockdown of Pirh2 induced the apoptosis of glioma cells. In addition, depletion of Pirh2 diminished the expression of PCNA and cyclin D1 and led to cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Taken together, these findings for the first time suggest that Pirh2 might play an important role in the regulation of glioma proliferation and apoptosis and thus serve as a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of glioma.

miRNA‑1271 inhibits cell proliferation in neuroglioma by targeting fibronectin 1

miR-1271 is a multifunctional post-translational modulator, which is involved in several diseases. However, the association between microRNA (miR)-1271 and fibronectin 1 (FN1) remains to be fully elucidated in neuroglioma. In the present study, it was hypothesized that a post-translational mechanism of miR-1271 regulates the expression of FN1 in the progression of neuroglioma. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance and underlying molecular mechanisms of miRNA-1271 in the development of glioma. The miR-1271 levels in glioma tissues and cell lines were assessed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). miR-1271 mimics and inhibitors were transfected to gain or loss of miR-1271 function. Cell proliferation was analyzed by using an MTT assay. The targeted genes were predicted by a bioinformatics algorithm and confirmed by a dual luciferase reporter assay. The mRNA and protein levels were assessed by RT-qPCR and western blotting. The results showed that miR-1271 was downregulated in glioma tumor tissues and cell lines. In addition, it was demonstrated that low levels of miR-1271 in patients with glioma were correlated with low survival rate. In vitro, the cell viability was significantly suppressed following transfection with miRNA-1271 mimics and increased following transfection with the miRNA-1271 inhibitor. The miRNA-1271 mimics induced cell apoptosis and the miRNA-1271 inhibitor suppressed cell apoptosis in H4 and U251 cell lines. Furthermore, the 3′-untranslated region of FN1 was bound by miR-1271. Therefore, it was concluded that miR-1271 inhibited glioma cell growth by targeting FN1, and a low level of miR-1271 in glioma tumor tissues was associated with lower survival rates in patients with glioma.