miR-885-5p suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis and inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Non-coding RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis: Remarkable indicators and potential oncogenic mechanism

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), as key regulators involving in intercellular biological processes, are more prominent in many malignancies, especially for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we conduct a comprehensive review to summarize diverse ncRNAs roles in HCC metastatic mechanism. We focus on four signaling pathways that predominate in HCC metastatic process, including Wnt/β-catenin, HIF-1α, IL-6, and TGF-β pathways. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) employed different mechanisms to participate in the regulation of the key genes in these pathways, typical as interaction with DNA to control transcription, with RNA to control translation, and with protein to control stability. Therefore, ncRNAs may become potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC metastasis.

LncRNA KTN1-AS1 facilitates esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression via miR-885-5p/STRN3 axis

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignancies and frequent cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play regulatory roles and serve as biomarkers of multiple cancers, including ESCC. Our previous studies have confirmed that lncRNA Kinectin 1 antisense RNA 1 (KTN1-AS1) is highly expressed in ESCC and exerts oncogene function through RBBP4/HDAC1 complex.

OBJECTIVE

Our present study focused on exploring a novel molecular mechanism of KTN1-AS1 in ESCC.

METHODS

In this study, qRT-PCR assay, Western blot assay, Luciferase reporter assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were conducted.

RESULTS

We found that KTN1-AS1 could bind to miR-885-5p in ESCC cells, and miR-885-5p was low expressed in ESCC. Overexpression of miR-885-5p inhibited esophageal cancer cells proliferation and invasion in vitro. Mechanistic analysis demonstrated that miR-885-5p specifically targeted striatin 3 (STRN3), and KTN1-AS1/miR-885-5p promoted the EMT process by Hippo pathway in STRN3/YAP1 dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

To sum up, KTN1-AS1 facilitates ESCC progression by acting as a ceRNA for miR-885-5p to regulate STRN3 expression and the Hippo pathway, and KTN1-AS1 maybe used as a promising therapeutic target for ESCC.

Expression of miRNA-451 and miRNA-885 in Meningiomas

BACKGROUND/AIM

Meningiomas are one of the most common intracranial tumors, accounting for 30% of the tumors of the central nervous system. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs containing approximately 18-22 nucleotides that regulate gene expression by interfering with transcription or inhibiting translation. Recent studies have reported that miRNAs could provide information about the molecular pathogenesis of several types of tumors. This study aimed to examine the expression levels of miRNA-885 and -451 and to determine their potential roles as biomarkers in meningioma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In total, 29 patients with meningioma (9 males and 20 females) were included in this study. The expression levels of miRNA were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. In addition, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to analyze the predictive potential of miRNAs.

RESULTS

Our results indicated a significant increase in miRNA-451 expression levels (p=0.003); however, there was no significant change in miRNA-885 expression levels (p=0.139) in patients with meningioma compared with the control group. Moreover, miRNA-885 and miRNA-451 expression levels did not differ significantly based on the histopathological grade of meningioma.

CONCLUSION

miRNA-451 may be a novel potential marker for the diagnosis and prognosis, and a target for meningioma treatment.

Circulating miRNA expression in extracellular vesicles is associated with specific injuries after multiple trauma and surgical invasiveness

Introduction

Two trauma treatment principles are Early Total Care (ETC), and Damage Control Orthopedics (DCO). Cellular mechanisms that underlie the connection between treatment type, its systemic effects, and tissue regeneration are not fully known. Therefore, this study aimed to: 1) profile microRNA (miRNA) expression in plasma derived Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) from a porcine multiple trauma model at different timepoints, comparing two surgical treatments; and 2) determine and validate the miRNA's messengerRNA (mRNA) targets.

Methods

The porcine multiple trauma model consisted of blunt chest trauma, liver laceration, bilateral femur fractures, and controlled haemorrhagic shock. Two treatment groups were defined, ETC (n=8), and DCO (n=8). Animals were monitored under Intensive Care Unit-standards, blood was sampled at 1.5, 2.5, 24, and 72 hours after trauma, and EVs were harvested from plasma. MiRNAs were analysed using quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction arrays. MRNA targets were identified in silico and validated in vivo in lung and liver tissue.

Results

The arrays showed distinct treatment specific miRNA expression patterns throughout all timepoints, and miRNAs related to the multiple trauma and its individual injuries. EV-packed miRNA expression in the ETC group was more pro-inflammatory, indicating potentially decreased tissue regenerative capacities in the acute post-traumatic phase. In silico target prediction revealed several overlapping mRNA targets among the identified miRNAs, related to inflammation, (pulmonary) fibrosis, and Wnt-signalling. These were, among others, A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10, Collagen Type 1 Alpha 1 Chain, Catenin Beta Interacting Protein 1, and Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription 3. Validation of these mRNA targets in the lung showed significant, treatment specific deregulations which matched the expression of their upstream miRNAs. No significant mRNA deregulations were observed in the liver.

Discussion

This study showed treatment specific, EV-packed miRNA expression patterns after trauma that correlated with mRNA expressions in the lungs, target organs over distance. A systemic response to the increased surgical trauma in the ETC group was identified, with various miRNAs associated with injuries from the trauma model, and involved in (systemic) inflammation, tissue regeneration. EV-transported miRNAs demonstrated a clear role in multiple trauma, warranting further research into tissue-tissue talk and therapeutic applications of EVs after trauma.

Emerging role of MicroRNA-Based theranostics in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with its high mortality and short survival rate, continues to be one of the deadliest malignancies despite relentless efforts and several technological advances. The poor prognosis of HCC and the few available treatments are to blame for the low survival rate, which emphasizes the importance of creating new, effective diagnostic markers and innovative therapy strategies. In-depth research is being done on the potent biomarker miRNAs, a special class of non-coding RNA and has shown encouraging results in the early identification and treatment of HCC in order to find more viable and successful therapeutics for the disease. It is beyond dispute that miRNAs control cell differentiation, proliferation, and survival and, depending on the genes they target, can either promote tumorigenesis or suppress it. Given the vital role miRNAs play in the biological system and their potential to serve as ground-breaking treatments for HCC, more study is required to fully examine their theranostic potential.

Insilco prediction of the role of the FriZZled5 gene in colorectal cancer

INTRODUCTION

In this study, we aimed to elucidate the crosstalk between the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and colorectal cancer (CRC) associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using a bioinformatics analysis of putative common biomarkers and a systems biology approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The following criteria were used to search the GEO and ArrayExpress databases for terms related to CRC and IBD: 1. The dataset containing the transcriptomic data, and 2. Untreated samples by medications or drugs. A total of 42 datasets were selected for additional analysis. The GEO2R identified the differentially expressed genes. The genes involved in the Wnt signaling pathway were extracted from the KEGG database. Enrichment analysis and miRNA target prediction were conducted through the ToppGene online tool.

RESULTS

In CRC datasets, there were 1168 up- and 998 down-regulated probes, whereas, in IBD datasets, there were 256 up- and 200 down-regulated probes. There were 65 upregulated and 57 downregulated genes shared by CRC and IBD. According to KEGG, there were 166 genes in the Wnt pathway. FriZZled5 (FZD5) was a down-regulated gene in both CRC and IBD, as determined by the intersection of CRC- and IBD-related DEGs with the Wnt pathway. It was also demonstrated that miR-191, miR-885-5p, miR-378a-3p, and miR-396-3p affect the FriZZled5 gene expression.

CONCLUSION

It is possible that increased expression of miR-191 and miR-885-5p, or decreased expression of miR-378a -3p and miR396-3, in IBD and CRC results in decreased expression of the FZD5 gene. Based on the function of this gene, FZD5 may be a potential therapeutic target in IBD that progresses to CRC.

Arsenic Trioxide Affects the Proliferation of Gastric Cancer Cells through MiR-885-5p/CDC73 Axis

Background

To explore Arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) and its regulated miR-885-5p/CDC73 signaling pathway involved in the development of gastric cancer.

Methods

Fifty-two healthy patients and patients with gastric cancer were enrolled 2019-2020 in He Xian Memorial Hospital, Guangzhou, China. The patients with gastric cancer were divided into control group and As₂O₃ administration group. After 2 courses of treatment, their peripheral blood was collected to analyze the therapeutic effect. miR-885-5p expression in peripheral blood was analyzed by qRT-PCR. As₂O₃ was added into MGC-803 gastric cancer cell line at 0, 10, 20, 40 and 80 μmol/L. The proliferation rate and 48h IC50 value of gastric cancer cells were investigated by CCK-8, and the effect of As2O3 on miR-885-5p expression in the cells was analyzed.

Results

After 4 weeks of treatment, the objective efficiency of control group and As₂O₃ administration group was 17.3% and 13.4%, respectively, without significant statistical difference. The overall benefit rate of As₂O₃ administration group was significantly higher than that of the normal treatment group (P=0.049). qRT-PCR experiment results found that miR-885-5p significantly highly expressed in peripheral blood in the As₂O₃ administration group, while miR-885-5p in gastric cancer was lower compared with normal people. Adding As₂O₃ to the gastric cancer cells could significantly inhibit miR-885-5p expression, while miR-885-5p in gastric cancer cells affected cell expression by targeted regulation, affecting cell proliferation.

Conclusion

As₂O₃ may be used as a drug treatment program for gastric cancer, and mainly regulates the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by affecting the miR-885-5p/CDC73 target axis to participate in the development of gastric cancer.

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling as a Driver of Stemness and Metabolic Reprogramming in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Simple Summary

Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been reported to play crucial role in pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this review, we focus on the regulatory role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer stemness and metabolic reprogramming, which are two emerging hallmarks of cancer. Understanding the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in regulation of the above processes reveals novel therapeutic strategy against this deadly disease.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer death worldwide due to its high rates of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been shown to play a significant role in HCC development, progression and clinical impact on tumor behavior. Accumulating evidence has revealed the critical involvement of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in driving cancer stemness and metabolic reprogramming, which are regarded as emerging cancer hallmarks. In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanism of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and its role in HCC. Furthermore, we provide an update on the regulatory roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in metabolic reprogramming, cancer stemness and drug resistance in HCC. We also provide an update on preclinical and clinical studies targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling alone or in combination with current therapies for effective cancer therapy. This review provides insights into the current opportunities and challenges of targeting this signaling pathway in HCC.

MicroRNAs as serum biomarker for Senecio brasiliensis poisoning in cattle

Senecio spp. is one of the most frequent plant-related poisonings in cattle. Its ingestion generates the disease seneciosis, characterized by hepatic damages. Liver biopsies and serum markers dosage are tools used in diagnosis; however, many breeding cattle are undiagnosed. MicroRNAs are non-coding RNA, stable in biological fluids. Their difference in expression levels may indicate the presence of the poisoning. We analyzed the miRNA profiling to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers for Senecio brasiliensis poisoning. The expression of miR-21, miR-885, miR-122, miR-181b, miR-30a, miR-378, and let-7 f were evaluated in the serum of exposed cattle. At least one histological change was found in liver and lower quantity of albumin and high AST and ALP were also detected. MiRNAs miR-30a, miR-378, miR-21, miR-885, and miR-122 presented significantly higher expression in intoxicated animals than in healthy animals. Furthermore, miR-122, miR-885, and, especially, miR-21 signatures demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, with potential application for detecting poisoning.

MicroRNA serum profiles and chronic graft versus host disease

Chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) is the most common long-term complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). During the last decade, the interest of micro RNAs (miRNAs) in the pathophysiological process of cGVHD has increased. The objectives of this study were to investigate a wide range of serum miRNAs in allografted patients and identify associations between miRNAs and cGVHD. The study included 79 allotransplanted adults, where serum samples were obtained one year after the allo-HSCT, and miRNA profiling analysis in serum was performed. 50 of the 79 patients (63%) had signs of cGVHD at the one-year post-allo-HSCT control. miRNA-sequencing analysis revealed 1380 different miRNAs detected for at least one patient, while 233 miRNAs (17%) were detected in more than 70 patients. We identified ten miRNAs that differed significantly between patients with and without cGVHD (p <0.005, false discovery rate (FDR) <0.1), and all or these miRNAs were detected for >75 of the patients. Furthermore, five distinct miRNAs; miR-365-3p, miR-148-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-378-3p, and miR-192-5p, were found to be particularly associated with cGVHD in our analysis and validated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Based on only three miRNAs, miR-365-3p, miR-148-3p, and miR-378-3p, we developed a miRNA signature which by bioinformatic approaches and linear regression model utterly improved our potential diagnostic biomarker model for cGVHD. We conclude that miRNAs are differently expressed among patients with and without cGVHD, although further and larger studies are needed to validate our present findings.

MicroRNAs as messengers of liver diseases: has the message finally been decrypted?

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which are regarded as crucial regulators of gene expression and diverse aspects of cell biology, can be present in various body fluids as highly stable molecules. It is also known that miRNAs exert tissue-specific regulation of gene transcription. Large amount of clinical and experimental evidence provided the rationale for raising the intriguing question of whether miRNAs can mediate cell-cell communication. For those reasons, miRNAs have been considered as the 'Holy Grail' of biomarkers allowing non-invasive diagnostic screening and early detection of a variety of diseases, including solid and non-solid cancers. In a study published in Clin. Sci. (Lond.) (2011) 120(5):183-193 (https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20100297), Gui et al. investigated the hypothesis that circulating miRNAs could be used to identify patients with liver pathologies. Specifically, the authors profiled circulating miRNAs in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver cirrhosis (LC), and healthy controls and found that serum miR-885-5p levels were significantly higher in samples of patients with HCC (6.5-fold increase) and LC (8.8-fold increase). In this commentary, we highlight biological aspects associated with mir-122-the 'liver-specific' miRNA, which has been associated with a diverse range of liver pathologies. In addition, we discuss the relevance of mir-885-5p as potential biomarker for detecting human cancers. Finally, we provide some clues about how presumably unrelated miRNAs such as miR-122 and miR-885-5p may act in similar biological processes (BPs), making the miRNA regulatory networks more complex than anticipated.

Circular RNA circRAB31 acts as a miR-885-5psponge to suppress gastric cancer progressionvia the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway

Emerging evidence indicated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play essential roles in cancer progression. A large number of circRNAs have been reported to modulate cancer carcinogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms by which circRNAs regulate gastric cancer remain largely unclear. By using circRNA microarray, we identified that circRAB31 may serve as a tumor suppressor. circRAB31 was downregulated in gastric cancer tissues and gastric cancer cell lines compared with normal tissues and a human gastric epithelial cell line (GES-1). Overexpression of circRAB31 suppressed gastric cancer proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo, whereas silencing of circRAB31 had the opposite effects. Bioinformatic analysis as well as pull-down and luciferase assays revealed that circRAB31 exerted tumor-suppressive functions by binding directly to miR-885-5p. In addition, we demonstrated that circRAB31 could suppress PI3K/AKT signaling via the phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN)-a downstream target gene of miR-885-5p. In summary, our results demonstrated that circRAB31 could serve as a sponge of miR-885-5p to regulate gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by affecting the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling.

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling as a Driver of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression: An Emphasis on Molecular Pathways

Liver cancers cause a high rate of death worldwide and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered as the most common primary liver cancer. HCC remains a challenging disease to treat. Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is considered a tumor-promoting factor in various cancers; hence, the present review focused on the role of Wnt signaling in HCC, and its association with progression and therapy response based on pre-clinical and clinical evidence. The nuclear translocation of β-catenin enhances expression level of genes such as c-Myc and MMPs in increasing cancer progression. The mutation of CTNNB1 gene encoding β-catenin and its overexpression can lead to HCC progression. β-catenin signaling enhances cancer stem cell features of HCC and promotes their growth rate. Furthermore, β-catenin prevents apoptosis in HCC cells and increases their migration via triggering EMT and upregulating MMP levels. It is suggested that β-catenin signaling participates in mediating drug resistance and immuno-resistance in HCC. Upstream mediators including ncRNAs can regulate β-catenin signaling in HCC. Anti-cancer agents inhibit β-catenin signaling and mediate its proteasomal degradation in HCC therapy. Furthermore, clinical studies have revealed the role of β-catenin and its gene mutation (CTNBB1) in HCC progression. Based on these subjects, future experiments can focus on developing novel therapeutics targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling in HCC therapy.

Wnt Signaling Pathway Is among the Drivers of Liver Metastasis

Liver metastasis, originating either from a primary liver or other cancer types, represent a large cancer-related burden. Therefore, studies that add to better understanding of its molecular basis are needed. Herein, the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in liver metastasis is outlined. Its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), motility, migration, metastasis formation, and other steps of the metastatic cascade are presented. Additionally, the roles of the Wnt signaling pathway in the liver metastasis formation of colorectal, breast, gastric, lung, melanoma, pancreatic, and prostate cancer are explored. The special emphasis is given to the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in the communication between the many of the components of the primary and secondary cancer microenvironment that contribute to the metastatic outgrowth in the liver. The data presented herein are a review of the most recent publications and advances in the field that add to the idea that the Wnt pathway is among the drivers of liver metastasis and that its targeting could potentially relieve liver metastasis–related complications.

HIV-1 Tat and cocaine impact astrocytic energy reservoir influence on miRNA epigenetic regulation

Astrocytes are the primary regulator of energy metabolism in the central nervous system (CNS), and impairment of astrocyte's energy resource may trigger neurodegeneration. HIV infections and cocaine use are known to alter epigenetic modification, including miRNAs, which can target gene expression post-transcriptionally. However, miRNA-mediated astrocyte energy metabolism has not been delineated in HIV infection and cocaine abuse. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), we identified a total of 1900 miRNAs, 64 were upregulated and 68 miRNAs were downregulated in the astrocytes by HIV-1 Tat with cocaine exposure. Moreover, miR-4727-3p, miR-5189-5p, miR-5090, and miR-6810-5p expressions were significantly impacted, and their gene targets were identified as VAMP2, NFIB, PPM1H, MEIS1, and PSD93 through the bioinformatic approach. In addition, the astrocytes treated with the nootropic drug piracetam protects these miRNAs. These findings provide evidence that the miRNAs in the astrocytes may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for HIV and cocaine abuse-induced neurodegeneration.

miR-885-5p Inhibits Invasion and Metastasis in Gastric Cancer by Targeting Malic Enzyme 1

Several studies have reported that miR-885-5p was dysregulated in a variety of cancers. However, there are few studies on the biological function of miR-885-5p in gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we investigated the biological function and underlying mechanism of miR-885-5p in GC. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to examine the expression of miR-885-5p in GC. Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict the target of miR-885-5p and confirmed using the luciferase reporter assay. Wound-healing and Transwell assay were conducted to evaluate the biological function of miR-885-5p and malic enzyme 1 (ME1). Western blotting was used to assess molecular changes. Hepatic and lung metastasis models were constructed and used to verify the role of miR-885-5p. We found that the expression of miR-885-5p was significantly downregulated in GC. Overexpression of miR-885-5p inhibited invasion and metastasis of GC in vivo and in vitro, while inhibition of miR-885-5p has the opposite result in vitro. ME1 is a direct target of miR-885-5p, overexpressed in GC, associated with poor prognosis. Overexpression of miR-885-5p negatively regulates ME1 and causes changes in downstream molecules Vimentin and Fibronectin. Our research found that miR-885-5p plays a tumor suppressor gene and could potentially serve as a biomarker and therapeutic target in GC.

Investigation of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in colorectal cancer using an integrative bioinformatics approach

AIM

The aim of this study was to integrate both coding and non-coding available microarray data in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) with bioinformatics analyses to attain a more inclusive pathobiologic map of their molecular interactions and functions.

BACKGROUND

Identification of competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), especially circRNAs, has become a new hotspot in cancer research, although their roles and underlying mechanisms in CRC development remain mostly unknown.

METHODS

Microarray data was retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and analyzed. Several bioinformatics tools and databases were applied for further elucidation. Principal component analysis (PCA) was run separately for four datasets. The dysregulated circRNA-miRNA-mRNA, co-expression, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were established.

RESULTS

PCA discloses colorectal tumors; normal tissue can be distinguished not only by mRNAs expression profile, but also by both circRNA and miRNA expression profiles. In this study, 14 DE mRNAs, 85 DE miRNAs, and 36 DE circRNAs were identified in CRC tissue and compared with normal tissue. Taking their potential interactions into account, a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed. The results disclosed some DE circRNAs with potential oncogenic (circ_0014879) or tumor suppressive (circ_0001666 and circ_0000977) effects. Finally, the PPI network suggests pivotal roles for DOCK2 and PTPRC dysregulation in the progression of CRC, possibly by facilitating tumor escape from immune surveillance.

CONCLUSION

The current study proposes a novel regulatory network consisting of DE circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in CRC development that highlights the roles of DE circRNAs at the upstream of oncotranscriptomic cascade in CRC development, suggesting their potential to be utilized as both prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers.

miRNA profiles of canine cutaneous mast cell tumours with early nodal metastasis and evaluation as potential biomarkers

Cutaneous mast cell tumours (MCTs) are common skin neoplasms in dogs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators involved in several cellular processes, and they can function as tumour promoters or suppressors. However, the role of miRNAs in canine MCTs has not yet been elucidated. Thus, the current study aimed to characterize miRNA profiles and to assess their value as biomarkers for MCTs. miRNA expression profiles were assessed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples by next-generation sequencing. Ten samples were MCT tissues, and 7 were healthy adjacent tissues. Nine dysregulated miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) were then validated using RT-qPCR in a larger group of MCT samples, allowing the calculation of ROC curves and performance of multiple factor analysis (MFA). Pathway enrichment analysis was performed to investigate miRNA biological functions. The results showed that the expression of 63 miRNAs (18 up- and 45 downregulated) was significantly affected in MCTs. Five DE-miRNAs, namely, miR-21-5p, miR-92a-3p, miR-338, miR-379 and miR-885, were validated by RT-qPCR. The diagnostic accuracy of a panel of 3 DE-miRNAs—miR-21, miR-379 and miR-885—exhibited increased efficiency in discriminating animals with MCTs (AUC = 0.9854) and animals with lymph node metastasis (AUC = 0.8923). Multiple factor analysis revealed clusters based on nodal metastasis. Gene Ontology and KEGG analyses confirmed that the DE-miRNAs were involved in cell proliferation, survival and metastasis pathways. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the miRNA expression profile is changed in the MCT microenvironment, suggesting the involvement of the altered miRNAs in the epigenetic regulation of MCTs and identifying miR-21, miR-379 and miR-885 as promising biomarkers.

MicroRNA-885 regulates the growth and epithelial mesenchymal transition of human liver cancer cells by suppressing tropomodulin 1 expression

MicroRNA-885 (miR-885) has been shown to act as vital regulator of tumorigenesis and its tumor-suppressive role has been investigated in several human cancers. However, the role of miR-885 in regulation of epithelial mesenchymal transition of liver cancer cells yet unknown. This study was undertaken to investigate the tumor-suppressive role of miR-885 and investigate its effects on epithelial mesenchymal transition of human liver cancer cells. The results revealed that miR-885 to be significantly (P < 0.05) repressed in liver cancer and tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-885 resulted in significant (P < 0.05) decline in the proliferation of liver cancer cells. Additionally, migration and invasion of the liver cancer cells was also suppressed upon miR-182 overexpression which was associated with alteration of the proteins associated with epithelial mesenchymal transition. TMOD1 was identified as the target of miR-885 and the regulatory role of miR-885 was elucidated to be exerted via post-transcriptional silencing of TMOD1. The silencing of TMOD1 by miR-885 inhibited the expression of mesenchymal markers but enhanced the expression levels of epithelial markers. The results of present study revealed miR-885 proved the tumor-suppressive role of miR-885 in liver cancer and points towards its therapeutic implications in liver cancer management.

Potential role of miR-214 in β-catenin gene expression within hepatocellular carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important gene regulators whose dysregulations can be involved in tumorigenesis. β-catenin, the main agent in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, controls various genes and its over-expression has been discovered in different kinds of cancers including Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Extensive research demonstrated that the Wnt signaling is one of the major affected pathways in HCC. This study aimed to find miRNA targeting β-catenin gene by bioinformatic approaches and confirm this correlation to propose new therapeutic targets for HCC. Prediction of miRNAs targeting 3'-Untranslated Regions (UTR) of β-catenin mRNA, were done using different types of credible bioinformatic databases. The luciferase assay was also recruited for further confirmation of the bioinformatic predictions. In the first step, the expression of β-catenin was assessed in the HepG2 cell line by real-time PCR technique. Next, transduction of HepG2 cells were done by lentiviral vectors containing the desired miRNA. Then, the expression level of miRNA and the β-catenin gene were evaluated. Based on the results obtained from different bioinformatic databases, miR-214 was selected as the potential miRNA with the highest probability in targeting β-catenin. Furthermore, Luciferase assay results confirmed the accuracy of our bioinformatic prediction. In line with our hypothesis, after the overexpression of miR-214 in HepG2 cells, β-catenin gene expression was reduced significantly. Gathered results indicate the miRNAs role in the down-regulation of their target genes. Hence, the results propose that miR-214 can prevent HCC development by suppressing β-catenin and may supply a newfound approach towards HCC therapy in humans.

Feedback activation of GATA1/miR-885-5p/PLIN3 pathway decreases sunitinib sensitivity in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Sunitinib is the most commonly used first-line therapy for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but intrinsic and extrinsic resistance to targeted therapies dramatically compromise the benefit of clinical outcome. Dissecting the underlying mechanisms and discovering reliable predictive biomarkers are urgently needed in clinic. Here, we discovered miR-885-5p was notably decreased after sunitinib treatment and associated with poor disease progression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). In vitro and in vivo studies identified miR-885-5p inhibition contributed to sunitinib resistance. Mechanistically, sunitinib treatment reduced GATA1 expression, which in turn reduced its binding to MIR885 promoter and resulted in miR-885-5p downregulation in transcriptional level. In addition, PLIN3 was confirmed to be directly targeted by miR-885-5p and its upregulation significantly increased lipid droplets formation to decrease sunitinib sensitivity. Therefore, GATA1/miR-885-5p/ PLIN3 pathway may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy and a biomarker for sunitinib treatment in ccRCC.

MicroRNA 885-5p Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Repressing AEG1

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third major cause of cancer-related death. Mounting evidence shows that microRNAs play critical roles in the initiation and progression of HCC and may potentially serve as diagnostic markers for HCC.

Methods and Results

In the present study, we explored the biological effects of miR-885-5p on HCC progression. We performed flow cytometry analyses of miR-885-5p in HCC cell lines and identified miR-885-5p as a recurrence-related microRNA. Overexpression of miR-885-5p significantly inhibited cell migration, invasion, proliferation, angiogenesis and EMT. Then, the correlation of miR-885-5p and AEG1 were confirmed by using luciferase assays, quantitative real-time PCR analysis and Western blotting. It was subsequently confirmed that Astrocyte Elevated Gene1 (AEG1) was a direct target gene of miR-885-5p.

Conclusion

miR-885-5p likely acts as a tumor suppressor by regulating AEG1, suggesting that miR-885-5p may be a potential biomarker and can be targeted in therapeutic strategies against HCC in the future.

MicroRNAs Involved in Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Target Candidates, Functionality and Efficacy in Animal Models and Prognostic Relevance

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is responsible for the second-leading cancer-related death toll worldwide. Although sorafenib and levantinib as frontline therapy and regorafenib, cabazantinib and ramicurimab have now been approved for second-line therapy, the therapeutic benefit is in the range of only a few months with respect to prolongation of survival. Aggressiveness of HCC is mediated by metastasis. Intrahepatic metastases and distant metastasis to the lungs, lymph nodes, bones, omentum, adrenal gland and brain have been observed. Therefore, the identification of metastasis-related new targets and treatment modalities is of paramount importance. In this review, we focus on metastasis-related microRNAs (miRs) as therapeutic targets for HCC. We describe miRs which mediate or repress HCC metastasis in mouse xenograft models. We discuss 18 metastasis-promoting miRs and 35 metastasis-inhibiting miRs according to the criteria as outlined. Six of the metastasis-promoting miRs (miR-29a, -219-5p, -331-3p, 425-5p, -487a and -1247-3p) are associated with unfavourable clinical prognosis. Another set of six down-regulated miRs (miR-101, -129-3p, -137, -149, -503, and -630) correlate with a worse clinical prognosis. We discuss the corresponding metastasis-related targets as well as their potential as therapeutic modalities for treatment of HCC-related metastasis. A subset of up-regulated miRs -29a, -219-5p and -425-5p and down-regulated miRs -129-3p and -630 were evaluated in orthotopic metastasis-related models which are suitable to mimic HCC-related metastasis. Those miRNAs may represent prioritized targets emerging from our survey.

Circulating microRNAs (miR-21, miR-223, miR-885-5p) along the clinical spectrum of HCV-related chronic liver disease in Egyptian patients

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small single stranded RNAs, function in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and incorporated in pathogenesis of HCV related chronic liver disease. This study was designed to evaluate the significance of serum miR-21, miR-223, and miR-885-5p as biomarkers in various clinicopathological stages of HCV related chronic liver disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Serum miR-21, miR-223, and miR-885-5p were quantified by quantitative RT PCR in 60 patients with HCV-related liver disease (presumably genotype 4), in addition to 25 healthy controls. HCV patients were classified into: chronic non-cirrhotic HCV (n = 15), HCV related liver cirrhosis (n = 15), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n = 30).

RESULTS

Serum levels of miR-885-5p in cirrhotic patients ± HCC (n = 45) were significantly higher than the non-cirrhotic patients (n = 15); p = 0.007 and healthy control; p = 0.001. However, no such significance was detected between HCC and non-HCC HCV patients; p = 0.12. Serum miRNA-885-5p was able to discriminate cirrhosis ± HCC from healthy controls using ROC analysis; AUC 0.85, 87% sensitivity and 80% specificity. On the other hand, HCC patients had significantly higher serum miR-2 1evels than non-HCC patients (non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic groups, n = 30); p = 0.048 and the control group; p = 0.002. ROC could differentiate HCC from control group; AUC 0.89, 80% sensitivity, 80% specificity. Both serum bilirubin and albumin showed significant weak correlation with miRNA-885-5p (r = 0.42, p = 0.001) and (r = -0.27, p = 0.04), respectively but no such correlation was observed with serum miRNA-21. In contrast, miRNA-223 showed no significant difference across the studied groups.

CONCLUSION

Along the spectrum of HCV-related chronic liver disease, miR-885-5p could be a potential marker for advanced liver damage while miR-21 could be a helpful diagnostic marker for HCC.

Circulating microRNAs as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer with high mortality, due to late diagnosis and limited treatment options. Blood miRNAs, which circulate in a highly stable, cell-free form, show promise as novel potential biomarkers for early detection of HCC. Whole miRNome profiling was performed to identify deregulated miRNAs between HCC and normal healthy (NH) volunteers. These deregulated miRNAs were validated in an independent cohort of HCC, NH and chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) volunteers and finally in a 3^rd cohort comprising NH, CHB, cirrhotic and HCC volunteers to evaluate miRNA changes during disease progression. The associations between circulating miRNAs and liver-damage markers, clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes were analysed to identify prognostic markers. Twelve miRNAs are differentially expressed between HCC and NH individuals in all three cohorts. Five upregulated miRNAs (miR-122-5p, miR-125b-5p, miR-885-5p, miR-100-5p and miR-148a-3p) in CHB, cirrhosis and HCC patients are potential biomarkers for CHB infection, while miR-34a-5p can be a biomarker for cirrhosis. Notably, four miRNAs (miR-1972, miR-193a-5p, miR-214-3p and miR-365a-3p) can distinguish HCC from other non-HCC individuals. Six miRNAs are potential prognostic markers for overall survival.

miRFA: an automated pipeline for microRNA functional analysis with correlation support from TCGA and TCPA expression data in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptional level and are emerging as potentially important biomarkers for various disease states, including pancreatic cancer. In silico-based functional analysis of miRNAs usually consists of miRNA target prediction and functional enrichment analysis of miRNA targets. Since miRNA target prediction methods generate a large number of false positive target genes, further validation to narrow down interesting candidate miRNA targets is needed. One commonly used method correlates miRNA and mRNA expression to assess the regulatory effect of a particular miRNA. The aim of this study was to build a bioinformatics pipeline in R for miRNA functional analysis including correlation analyses between miRNA expression levels and its targets on mRNA and protein expression levels available from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) and the cancer proteome atlas (TCPA). TCGA-derived expression data of specific mature miRNA isoforms from pancreatic cancer tissue was used.

RESULTS

Fifteen circulating miRNAs with significantly altered expression levels detected in pancreatic cancer patients were queried separately in the pipeline. The pipeline generated predicted miRNA target genes, enriched gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways. Predicted miRNA targets were evaluated by correlation analyses between each miRNA and its predicted targets. MiRNA functional analysis in combination with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggest that hsa-miR-885-5p could act as a tumor suppressor and should be validated as a potential prognostic biomarker in pancreatic cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our miRNA functional analysis (miRFA) pipeline can serve as a valuable tool in biomarker discovery involving mature miRNAs associated with pancreatic cancer and could be developed to cover additional cancer types. Results for all mature miRNAs in TCGA pancreatic adenocarcinoma dataset can be studied and downloaded through a shiny web application at https://emmbor.shinyapps.io/mirfa/ .

Three new circulating microRNAs may be associated with wet age-related macular degeneration

This study investigates the circulating microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the role of miRNA in wet AMD and its pathways. Exosomes were extracted from serum samples of AMD patients (n = 70) and a control group (n = 50). After isolating miRNA from the exosomes, miRNAs were transformed into cDNA. In the control and AMD samples, the expression was compared with a panel including 175 genes using the PCR array method. Target genes and pathways of miRNAs were detected by KEGG and Biocarta signaling pathway enrichments. Comparing the serum samples between groups revealed that the expression levels of 15 microRNAs within 175 genes had significantly changed. In the validation studies, miR-129-3p and miR-132-3p had no significant expression in AMD group compared to the controls. miR-486-5p and miR-626 had higher expression in AMD patients compared to the control group, while miR-885-5p showed significantly lower expression. Pathway analysis revealed that these miRNAs may have critical roles in the apoptosis and neovascularization pathways. The data suggest that some miRNAs within the serum may have a role in the pathogenesis of wet AMD. Further studies are needed to examine the use of these miRNAs as biomarkers.

MicroRNA-885-5p promotes osteosarcoma proliferation and migration by downregulation of cell division cycle protein 73 homolog expression

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor. Numerous studies have strongly implicated the ectopic expression of microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs), including miR-885-5p, which is aberrantly expressed in several cancer types, in multiple cancer-related processes. However, the role of miR-885-5p in OS remains unknown. In the present study, it was found that the expression of miR-885-5p was markedly upregulated in OS cell lines and clinical tissues. Moreover, high expression of miR-885-5p was significantly associated with the development of OS. The human OS MG-63 cell line was transfected with recombinant lentivirus to regulate miR-885-5p expression. Overexpressed miR-885-5p significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of MG-63 cells in vitro, while downregulating miR-885-5p expression reversed these effects. Furthermore, bioinformatic analysis was used to predict the potential target genes of miR-885-5p, and cell division cycle protein 73 homolog (CDC73) was identified as a novel and direct target of miR-885-5p. This interaction was further confirmed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and luciferase activity assays. These findings suggest that miR-885-5p serves a critical role in facilitating OS proliferation and migration, and can regulate CDC73 expression in OS cells and tissues. Thus, miR-885-5p could be a promising novel therapeutic biomarker for OS.

Identifying the key genes and microRNAs in colorectal cancer liver metastasis by bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the principal causes of cancer‑associated mortality worldwide. The high incidence of liver metastasis is the leading risk factor of mortality in patients with CRC, and the mechanisms of CRC liver metastasis are poorly understood. In the present study, 7 datasets, including 3 gene expression profile datasets and 4 microRNA (miRNA) expression profile datasets were downloaded from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify potential key genes and miRNAs, which may be candidate biomarkers for CRC liver metastasis. Differentially expressed (DE) genes (DEGs) and DE miRNAs of primary CRC tumor tissues and liver metastatic CRC tumor tissues were selected using the GEO2R tool. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery online database. Furthermore, Cytoscape with cytoHubba and the Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) plug‑in were used to visualize a protein‑protein interaction (PPI) network for these DEGs, and to screen hub genes and gene modules in the PPI network. In addition, the online databases, TargetScan, miRanda, PITA, miRWalk and miRDB, were used to identify the target genes of the DE miRNAs. In the present study, 141 DEGs (97 upregulated and 44 downregulated) and 3 DE miRNAs (2 upregulated and 1 downregulated) were screened from the 3 gene expression microarray datasets and 4 miRNA expression microarray datasets, respectively. In total, 10 hub genes with a high degree of connectivity were selected from the PPI network, including albumin (ALB), coagulation factor II (F2), thrombin, apolipoprotein H (APOH), serpin family C member 1 (SERPINC1), apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1), α‑1‑microglobulin/bikunin precursor (AMBP), apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3), plasminogen (PLG), α‑2 HS glycoprotein (AHSG) and apolipoprotein B (APOB). The most important module was detected in the PPI network using the MCODE plug‑in. A total of 20 DEGs were identified to be potential target genes of these DE miRNAs, and novel miRNA‑DEGs regulatory axes were constructed. In vitro experiments were performed to demonstrate that miR‑885 promoted CRC cell migration by, at least partially, decreasing the expression of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and insulin‑like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP5). In conclusion, by using integrated bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments, key candidate genes were identified and novel miRNA‑mRNA regulatory axes in CRC liver metastasis were constructed, which may improve understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying CRC liver metastasis.

MicroRNA profiles in serum samples from patients with stable cirrhosis and miRNA-21 as a predictor of transplant-free survival

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have remarkable potential as diagnostic and prognostic markers because of their roles in disease pathogenesis. miRNAs can be released into the bloodstream, where they are sufficiently stable to be detected noninvasively. Here, we prospectively evaluated serum levels of miR-21, miR-34a, miR-122, miR-181b, and miR-885-5p in patients with stable cirrhosis. Total RNA was extracted from the sera of patients with cirrhosis and healthy individuals, and the expression levels of the target miRNAs were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Serum miRNAs levels were correlated with liver function parameters, etiology, and complications of cirrhosis. Circulating miR-34a, miR-122, and miR-885-5p levels were higher in patients with cirrhosis than in healthy individuals. These miRNAs were positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and the relative expression levels were higher in hepatitis C virus-infected patients and lower in patients with Child-Pugh C cirrhosis. miR-122 and miR-885-5p levels were also positively correlated with γ-glutamyl transpeptidase concentrations. miR-21 was associated with transplant-free survival in univariate Cox regression analysis and remained independently associated with survival after adjustment for age, Child-Pugh classification, Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, and history of previous decompensation in multivariate Cox regression analysis. These data suggested that miR-34a, miR-122, and miR-885-5p levels may be more related to the inflammatory process and ongoing hepatocyte damage in patients with cirrhosis. Moreover, miR-21 levels were independently associated with shorter transplant-free survival and may be used as a prognostic tool in outpatients with stable cirrhosis.

Inter-Individual Variability in Acute Toxicity of R-Pulegone and R-Menthofuran in Human Liver Slices and Their Influence on miRNA Expression Changes in Comparison to Acetaminophen

Monoterpenes R-pulegone (PUL) and R-menthofuran (MF), abundant in the Lamiaceae family, are frequently used in herb and food products. Although their hepatotoxicity was shown in rodent species, information about their effects in human liver has been limited. The aim of our study was to test the effects of PUL, MF and acetaminophen (APAP, as a reference compound) on cell viability and microRNA (miRNA) expression in human precision-cut liver slices. Slices from five patients were used to follow up on the inter-individual variability. PUL was toxic in all liver samples (the half-maximal effective concentration was 4.0 µg/mg of tissue), while MF and surprisingly APAP only in two and three liver samples, respectively. PUL also changed miRNA expression more significantly than MF and APAP. The most pronounced effect was a marked decrease of miR-155-5p expression caused by PUL even in non-toxic concentrations in all five liver samples. Our results showed that PUL is much more toxic than MF and APAP in human liver and that miR-155-5p could be a good marker of PUL early hepatotoxicity. Marked inter-individual variabilities in all our results demonstrate the high probability of significant differences in the hepatotoxicity of tested compounds among people.

miR-564 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion by targeting the GRB2-ERK1/2-AKT axis

Recent studies have shown that miR-564 is closely related to the development of various tumors, including breast cancer, lung cancer and glioma. However, few studies have examined miR-564 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we demonstrated that miR-564 expression in HCC tissues was lower than that in adjacent noncancerous tissues and that miR-564 expression was associated with tumor size, tumor number and vein invasion. Bioinformatics analyses showed that low levels of miR-564 were correlated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, upregulation of miR-564 impaired SMCC7721 and MHCC97H cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and reduced tumorigenesis in vivo. Next, we found that GRB2 was a direct target gene of miR-564 in the HCC cell lines. GRB2 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and negatively correlated with miR-564 expression levels. When GRB2 was downregulated by GRB2-siRNA, HCC cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis were impaired, and restoring GRB2 expression partially reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-564. Western blot analysis showed that miR-564 overexpression reduced GRB2 expression in HCC cell lines and inhibited ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation. miR-564 overexpression also upregulated the epithelial-like cell marker E-cadherin and downregulated the interstitial cell-like markers N-cadherin and vimentin. These results suggest that miR-564 inhibits the malignant phenotype of HCC cells by targeting the GRB2-ERK1/2-AKT axis. Consequently, miR-564 may be used as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target for HCC.

Expression profiling of microRNAs in human bone tissue from postmenopausal women

Bone tissue is composed of several cell types, which express their own microRNAs (miRNAs) that will play a role in cell function. The set of total miRNAs expressed in all cell types configures the specific signature of the bone tissue in one physiological condition. The aim of this study was to explore the miRNA expression profile of bone tissue from postmenopausal women. Tissue was obtained from trabecular bone and was analyzed in fresh conditions (n = 6). Primary osteoblasts were also obtained from trabecular bone (n = 4) and human osteoclasts were obtained from monocyte precursors after in vitro differentiation (n = 5). MicroRNA expression profiling was obtained for each sample by microarray and a global miRNA analysis was performed combining the data acquired in all the microarray experiments. From the 641 miRNAs detected in bone tissue samples, 346 (54%) were present in osteoblasts and/or osteoclasts. The other 46% were not identified in any of the bone cells analyzed. Intersection of osteoblast and osteoclast arrays identified 101 miRNAs shared by both cell types, which accounts for 30-40% of miRNAs detected in these cells. In osteoblasts, 266 miRNAs were detected, of which 243 (91%) were also present in the total bone array, representing 38% of all bone miRNAs. In osteoclasts, 340 miRNAs were detected, of which 196 (58%) were also present in the bone tissue array, representing 31% of all miRNAs detected in total bone. These analyses provide an overview of miRNAs expressed in bone tissue, broadening our knowledge in the microRNA field.

Prognostic value of microRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis

Background

Numerous articles reported that dysregulated expression levels of miRNAs correlated with survival time of HCC patients. However, there has not been a comprehensive meta-analysis to evaluate the accurate prognostic value of miRNAs in HCC.

Design

Meta-analysis.

Materials and Methods

Studies, published in English, estimating expression levels of miRNAs with any survival curves in HCC were identified up until 15 April, 2017 by performing online searches in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews by two independent authors. The pooled hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate the correlation between miRNA expression and overall survival (OS).

Results

54 relevant articles about 16 miRNAs, with 6464 patients, were ultimately included. HCC patients with high expression of tissue miR-9 (HR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.46–3.76), miR-21 (HR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.29–2.41), miR-34c (HR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.05–2.57), miR-155 (HR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.46–5.51), miR-221 (HR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.02–3.04) or low expression of tissue miR-22 (HR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.63–3.21), miR-29c (HR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.10–1.65), miR-34a (HR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.30–2.59), miR-199a (HR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.89–4.08), miR-200a (HR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.86–3.77), miR-203 (HR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.61–3.00) have significantly poor OS (P < 0.05). Likewise, HCC patients with high expression of blood miR-21 (HR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.07–2.80), miR-192 (HR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.15–5.10), miR-224 (HR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.14–2.12) or low expression of blood miR-148a (HR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.11–4.59) have significantly short OS (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

In conclusion, tissue miR-9, miR-21, miR-22, miR-29c, miR-34a, miR-34c, miR-155, miR-199a, miR-200a, miR-203, miR-221 and blood miR-21, miR-148a, miR-192, miR-224 demonstrate significantly prognostic value. Among them, tissue miR-9, miR-22, miR-155, miR-199a, miR-200a, miR-203 and blood miR-148a, miR-192 are potential prognostic candidates for predicting OS in HCC.

MiR-122 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting Snail1 and Snail2 and suppressing WNT/β-cadherin signaling pathway

The downregulation of microRNA-122 (miR-122) had been reported to be associated with tumor invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the underlying mechanisms of miR-122 involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) still need to be investigated. In the study, we demonstrated that miR-122 was significantly downregulated in HCC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. MiR-122 expression was closely correlated with tumor size, vascular invasion and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage of HCC patients. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log rank test demonstrated that lower miR-122 predicted poor Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) time in patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis confirmed that tumor size, vascular invasion, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage and lower miR-122 expression levels were independent risk factors for DFS or OS in HCC patients. Function assays demonstrated that upregulation of miR-122 inhibited the cell proliferation, colony formation and cell invasion in HCC cells, however, downregulation of miR-122 promoted cell proliferation, colony formation and cell invasion in HCC cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that increased miR-122 expression levels in HCC cells inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by suppressing the expression of ZEB1/2, Snail1/2, N-cadherin, Vimentin and upregulating the E-cadherin expression. However, downregulation of miR-122 caused an opposite effects. Mechanisms study found that miR-122 overexpression inhibited the EMT process by targeting Snail1 and Snail2 and regulated their expression levels in HCC cells. In addition, we also revealed that upregulated miR-122 expression suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Taken together, our results indicated that miR-122 may be a biomarker for predicting prognosis of HCC and therapeutic target for HCC patients.

LncRNA HSP90AA1-IT1 promotes gliomas by targeting miR-885-5p-CDK2 pathway

It is well established that ncRNAs are emerging as important regulators in various types of cancers, however, their functions and contributions in cancers remain insufficiently defined. In this study, we reported the expression levels of a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), named HSP90AA1-IT1 (HSP90AA1 intronic transcript 1), appeared to correlate with the pathological grades of gliomas and high level of HSP90AA1-IT1 indicated poor prognosis. Downregulation of HSP90AA1-IT1 in the glioma cell lines significantly suppressed cell viability, proliferation, EMT, invasion and migration in addition to an increase in apoptosis and aberrant cell cycle progression. The tumorigenic capacity of these cells in vivo were also inhibited. We further demonstrated that the oncogenic effects of HSP90AA1-IT1 could be mediated by a direct binding to miR-885-5p. Sharing the same binding sites with CDK2, a key regulator in gliomagenesis, HSP90AA1-IT1 competitively bound to miR-885-5p, thereby prevented CDK2 from miR-885-5p mediated post-transcriptional repression. Taken together, it is concluded that HSP90AA1-IT1, performs its function via regulating the development of gliomas through miR-885-5p-CDK2 signaling axis, and this has added new perspective to its role in tumorigenesis, thus providing potential therapeutic targets for glioma treatment.