The Pervasive Role of the miR-181 Family in Development, Neurodegeneration, and Cancer

Integrated transcriptomics of multiple sclerosis peripheral blood mononuclear cells explored potential biomarkers for the disease

Background

Despite their importance, blood RNAs have not been comprehensively studied as potential diagnostic markers for multiple sclerosis (MS). Herein, by the integration of GSE21942 and GSE203241 microarray profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, this study explored potential biomarkers for the disease.

Methods

After identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), functional enrichment analyses were performed, and PPI and miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were constructed. After implementing weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and discovering MS-specific modules, the converging results of differential expression analysis and WGCNA were subjected to machine learning methods. Lastly, the diagnostic performance of the prominent genes was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results

COPG1, RPN1, and KDM3B were initially highlighted as potential biomarkers based on their acceptable diagnostic efficacy in the integrated data, as well as in both GSE141804 and GSE146383 datasets as external validation sets. However, given that they were downregulated in the integrated data while they were upregulated in the validation sets, they could not be considered as potential biomarkers for the disease. In addition to this inconsistency, evaluating their diagnostic performance in other external datasets (GSE247181, GSE59085, and GSE17393) did not reveal their diagnostic efficacy.

Conclusions

This study could not unveil promising blood biomarkers for MS, possibly due to a small sample size and unaccounted confounding factors. Considering PBMCs and blood specimens as valuable sources for the identification of biomarkers, further transcriptomic analyses are needed to discover potential biomarkers for the disease.

MicroRNA-targeted nanoparticle delivery systems for cancer therapy: current status and future prospects

Recently, the regulatory effects of microRNAs (miRNAs) on gene expression have been exploited for applications in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, neurological diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. However, the susceptibility of miRNAs to degradation during somatic circulation and the challenges associated with their delivery to target tissues and cells have limited the clinical application of miRNAs. For application in tumor therapy, it is essential for miRNAs to specifically target cancer cells. Therefore, various novel miRNA delivery systems that protect miRNA against the activity of serum nuclease and deliver miRNA to target cells have been developed and optimized. This review introduces the passive and active targeting strategies of nanoparticles, summarizes the recent progress of miRNA nanocarriers with tumor-targeting ability, and discusses various nanoparticle delivery systems and their antitumor applications. Additionally, this review focuses on the translational challenges and potential strategies for advancing miRNA-based therapies into the clinic.

Copy number variations contribute to malignant tumor development in children with serious birth defects

There are two key signatures of pediatric cancers: (a) higher prevalence of germline alterations and (b) heterogeneity in alteration types. Recent population-based assessments have demonstrated that children with birth defects (BDs) are more likely to develop cancer even without chromosomal anomalies; therefore, explorations of genetic alterations in children with BDs and cancers could provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms for pediatric tumor development. We performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on blood-derived DNA for 1556 individuals without chromosomal anomalies, including 454 BD probands with at least one type of malignant tumor, 757 cancer-free children with BDs, and 345 healthy individuals, focusing on copy number variation (CNV) analysis. Roughly half of the children with BD-cancer have CNVs that are not identified in BD-only/healthy individuals, and CNVs are not evenly distributed among these patients. Strong heterogeneity was observed, with a limited number of cancer predisposition genes containing CNVs in more than three patients. Moreover, functional enrichments of genes with CNVs showed that dozens of patients have variations related to the same biological pathways, such as deletions of genes with neurological functions and duplications of immune response genes. Phenotype clustering uncovered recurrences of patients with sarcoma: A notable enrichment was observed involving non-coding RNA regulators, showing strong signals related to growth and cancer regulations in functional analysis. In conclusion, we conducted one of the first genomic studies exploring the impact of CNVs on cancer development in children with BDs, unveiling new insights into the underlying biological processes.

Could let-7f, miR-10b, miR-34a, miR-181b, and miR-181d Be Useful Tools as a Target Therapy for Uterine Leiomyosarcoma?

Background/Objectives: We have previously identified let-7f-5p, miR-10b-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-181b-5p, and miR-181d-5p as differentially expressed between uterine leiomyoma (LM) and leiomyosarcoma (LMS) tissue samples. The present study aimed to characterize these miRNA expression profiles and to assess the functional role of miR-34a and miR-181b in uterine LM and LMS cells. Methods: All the selected miRNAs showed downregulation in LMS cells compared to LM cells, but only miR-34a and miR-181b expression patterns matched those of patient samples. Therefore, these two miRs were selected for further analyses. Results: Loss of function analysis demonstrated that miR-34a and miR-181b silencing inhibited LM cell proliferation and migration. MiR-34a silencing induced CCND1 and MDM4 expression and inhibited KMT2D, BCL2, and NOTCH2 in LM. Silencing of miR-181b promotes TIMP3 and FGFR1 expression in LM and diminishes BCL2, NOTCH2, ATM, IRS1, and PRLR. Gain of function analysis revealed that the introduction of miR-34a and miR-181b mimics suppressed proliferation and migration in malignant LMS cells. Additionally, transfection with a miR-34a mimic downregulated NOTCH2 and BCL2 expression and enhanced the expression of CCND1, KMT2D, and TP53 in LMS cells. Moreover, miR-181b overexpression decreased TIMP3, NOTCH2, ATM, and IRS1 expression and increased the expression of FGFR1 in this cell. Importantly, the single introduction of either a miR-34a or miR-181b mimic was able to decrease the invasion capacity of LMS cells. Conclusions: Our studies demonstrated that miR-34a or miR-181b may play an anti-oncogenic role in uterine tumors; further studies are needed to better understand the role and regulatory mechanism of these miRNAs in LMS cancer development, which will help provide prognostic and therapeutic options for patients with LMS.

The Multifaceted Roles of MicroRNA-181 in Stem Cell Differentiation and Cancer Stem Cell Plasticity

Stem cells are undifferentiated or partially differentiated cells with an extraordinary ability to self-renew and differentiate into various cell types during growth and development. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a critical developmental process, enhances stem cell-like properties in cells, and is associated with both normal stem cell function and the formation of cancer stem cells. Cell stemness and the EMT often coexist and are interconnected in various contexts. Cancer stem cells are a critical tumor cell population that drives tumorigenesis, cancer progression, drug resistance, and metastasis. Stem cell differentiation and the generation of cancer stem cells are regulated by numerous molecules, including microRNAs (miRNAs). These miRNAs, particularly through the modulation of EMT-associated factors, play major roles in controlling the stemness of cancer stem cells. This review presents an up-to-date summary of the regulatory roles of miR-181 in human stem cell differentiation and cancer cell stemness. We outline studies from the current literature and summarize the miR-181-controlled signaling pathways responsible for driving human stem cell differentiation or the emergence of cancer stem cells. Given its critical role in regulating cell stemness, miR-181 is a promising target for influencing human cell fate. Modulation of miR-181 expression has been found to be altered in cancer stem cells' biological behaviors and to significantly improve cancer treatment outcomes. Additionally, we discuss challenges in miRNA-based therapies and targeted delivery with nanotechnology-based systems.

Role of miR-181 Family Members in Stroke: Insights into Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential

Stroke is a major cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, making early diagnosis and effective treatment crucial for reducing its impact. In response to the limited efficacy of current treatments, alternative therapeutic strategies, such as novel biomarkers and therapies, are emerging to address this critical unmet medical need. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Due to their dysregulation, they have been implicated in the onset and progression of various diseases. Recent research highlighted the important role of miR-181 family members in the context of stroke. Polymorphisms such as rs322931 in miR-181b are associated with increased stroke risk. miR-181 family members are aberrantly expressed and related to various aspects of stroke pathology, affecting inflammatory responses or neuronal survival. We provide a comprehensive overview of how alterations in miR-181 expression influence stroke mechanisms and their potential as therapeutic targets.

miRNA-based electrochemical biosensors for ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer, a prevalent and deadly cancer among women, presents a significant challenge for early detection due to its heterogeneous nature. MicroRNAs, short non-coding regulatory RNA fragments, play a role in various cellular processes. Aberrant expression of these microRNAs has been observed in the carcinogenesis-related processes of many cancer types. Numerous studies highlight the critical role of microRNAs in the initiation and progression of ovarian cancer. Given their clinical importance and predictive value, there has been considerable interest in developing simple, prompt, and sensitive miRNA biosensor strategies. Among these, electrochemical sensors have demonstrated advantageous characteristics such as simplicity, sensitivity, low cost, and scalability. These microRNA-based electrochemical biosensors are valuable tools for early detection and point-of-care applications. This article discusses the potential role of microRNAs in ovarian cancer and recent advances in the development of electrochemical biosensors for miRNA detection in ovarian cancer samples.

MiRNA Dysregulation in Brain Injury: An In Silico Study to Clarify the Role of a MiRNA Set

BACKGROUND

The identification of specific circulating miRNAs has been proposed as a valuable tool for elucidating the pathophysiology of brain damage or injury and predicting patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to apply several bioinformatic tools in order to clarify miRNA interactions with potential genes involved in brain injury, emphasizing the need of using a computational approach to determine the most likely correlations between miRNAs and target genes. Specifically, this study centers on elucidating the roles of miR-34b, miR-34c, miR-135a, miR-200c, and miR-451a.

METHODS

After a careful evaluation of different software available (analyzing the strengths and limitations), we applied three tools, one to perform an analysis of the validated targets (miRTarBase), and two to evaluate functional annotations (miRBase and TAM 2.0).

RESULTS

Research findings indicate elevated levels of miR-135a and miR-34b in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) within the first day post-injury, while miR-200c and miR-34c were found to be upregulated after 7 days. Moreover, miR-451a and miR-135a were found overexpressed in the serum, while miRNAs 34b, 34c, and 200c, had lower serum levels at baseline post brain injury.

CONCLUSION

This study emphasizes the use of computational methods in determining the most likely relationships between miRNAs and target genes by investigating several bioinformatic techniques to elucidate miRNA interactions with potential genes. Specifically, this study focuses on the functions of miR-34b, miR-34c, miR-135a, miR-200c, and miR-451a, providing an up-to-date overview and suggesting future research directions for identifying theranomiRNAs related to brain injury, both at the tissue and serum levels.

Overview of the Different Classes of Small RNAs During B-Cell Development

B lymphocytes (B cells) are a type of white blood cell that play an essential role in the adaptive immune response. They are derived from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells and undergo several developmental stages in the bone marrow and secondary lymphoid organs to become effector cells. B cells can act as antigen-presenting cells, secrete cytokines, generate immunological memory as memory B cells, and produce and secrete high-affinity antibodies as plasma B cells.B-cell development occurs in discontinuous steps within specific organs and niche environments, progressing through checkpoints controlled by the relative levels of numerous transcription factors, cytokines, and surface receptors. These complex interactions of distinct developmental programs operate through balanced control mechanisms rather than simple "on/off" signals.Over the past two decades, much has been learned about short non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules that play a critical role in fine-tuning gene expression by targeting specific messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for degradation or translational repression. In the intricate orchestration of B-cell development, ncRNAs contribute to the delicate balance between proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis by influencing key checkpoints in the maturation process.Therefore, in this chapter, I will review the role of different classes of small ncRNAs, including microRNAs, glycoRNAs, tRNA-derived fragments, and ribosomal RNA-derived fragments, in modulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and their contribution to the intricate regulatory network that controls B-cell maturation.

Apolipoprotein C1 and apoprotein E as potential therapeutic and prognostic targets for adrenocortical carcinoma

BackgroundApolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) and Apoprotein E (APOE) play important roles in lipid transport and metabolism. In recent years, APOC1 and APOE have been shown to play key roles in the occurrence and development of various cancers. However, the expression levels, gene regulatory networks, prognostic values, and target predictions of APOC1 and APOE in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) remain unclear.MethodsVarious bioinformatics analysis methods were used, including gene expression profiling interactive analysis, the University of Alabama at Birmingham cancer data analysis portal, biomarker exploration of solid tumors software, the BioPortal for Cancer Genomics, search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes/proteins, gene multiple association network integration algorithm, Metascape, transcriptional regulatory relationships unraveled by sentence-based text-mining, LinkedOmics, and genomics of drug sensitivity in cancer analysis.ResultsAPOC1 and APOE expression were strongly downregulated in patients with ACC. APOC1 and APOE expression levels were lower in male patients with ACC than those in female patients. Furthermore, APOC1 and APOE expression levels affected the prognosis of patients with ACC. The main functions of APOC1 and its altered neighboring genes (ANG) were organophosphate ester transport, rRNA processing, and positive regulation of cytokine production. Cytolysis, protein ubiquitination, and histone modification were the main functions of APOE and its ANGs. The transcription factor E2F1, tumor protein p53, miR-182, miR-493, Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2, and cyclin dependent kinase 1 were key regulatory targets of APOC1, APOE, and the ANGs. APOC1 and APOE expression in patients with ACC were positively associated with immune cell infiltration. Furthermore, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 immunotherapy strongly downregulated the expression of APOC1 in patients with ACC. Both pilaralisib and elesclomol strongly inhibited SW13 cell growth.ConclusionsThis study preliminarily clarified that APOC1 and APOE might be potential therapeutic and prognostic targets for ACC, and identified new targets and treatment strategies for ACC.

Exploiting the role of CSF NfL, CHIT1, and miR-181b as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by relentless and progressive loss of motor neurons. A molecular diagnosis, supported by the identification of specific biomarkers, might promote the definition of multiple biological subtypes of ALS, improving patient stratification and providing prognostic information. Here, we investigated the levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), chitotriosidase (CHIT1) and microRNA-181b (miR-181b) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of ALS subjects (N = 210) as well as neurologically healthy and neurological disease controls (N = 218, including N = 74 with other neurodegenerative diseases) from a large European multicentric cohort, evaluating their specific or combined utility as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. NfL, CHIT1 and miR-181b all showed significantly higher levels in ALS subjects compared to controls, with NfL showing the most effective diagnostic performance. Importantly, all three biomarkers were increased compared to neurodegenerative disease controls and, specifically, to patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD; N = 44), with NfL and CHIT1 being also higher in ALS than in alpha-synucleinopathies (N = 22). Notably, ALS patients displayed increased CHIT1 levels despite having, compared to controls, a higher prevalence of a polymorphism lowering CHIT1 expression. While no relationship was found between CSF miR-181b and clinical measures in ALS (disease duration, functional disability, and disease progression rate), CSF NfL was the best independent predictor of disease progression and survival. This study deepens our knowledge of ALS biomarkers, highlighting the relative specificity of CHIT1 for ALS among neurodegenerative diseases and appraising the potential diagnostic utility of CSF miR-181b.

miR-181a: regulatory roles, cancer-associated signaling pathway disruptions, and therapeutic potential

INTRODUCTION

microRNA-181a (miR-181a) is a crucial post-transcriptional regulator of many mRNA transcripts and noncoding-RNAs, influencing cell proliferation, cancer cell stemness, apoptosis, and immune responses. Its abnormal expression is well-characterized in numerous cancers, establishing it as a significant genomic vulnerability and biomarker in cancer research.

AREAS COVERED

Here, we summarize miR-181a's correlation with poor patient outcomes across numerous cancers and the mechanisms governing miR-181a's activity and processing. We comprehensively describe miR-181a's involvement in multiple regulatory cancer signaling pathways, cellular processes, and the tumor microenvironment. We also discuss current therapeutic approaches to targeting miR-181a, highlighting their limitations and future potential.

EXPERT OPINION

miR-181a is a clinically relevant pan-cancer biomarker with potential as a therapeutic target. Its regulatory control of tumorigenic signaling pathways and immune responses positions it as a promising candidate for personalized treatments. The success of miR-181a as a target relies on the development of specific therapeutics platforms. Future research on miR-181a's role in the tumor microenvironment and the RNA binding proteins that regulate its stability will help uncover new techniques to targeting miR-181a. Further research into miR-181a serum levels in patients undergoing therapy will help to better stratify patients and enhance therapeutic success.

sChemNET: a deep learning framework for predicting small molecules targeting microRNA function

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in human disorders, from cancers to infectious diseases. Targeting miRNAs or their target genes with small molecules offers opportunities to modulate dysregulated cellular processes linked to diseases. Yet, predicting small molecules associated with miRNAs remains challenging due to the small size of small molecule-miRNA datasets. Herein, we develop a generalized deep learning framework, sChemNET, for predicting small molecules affecting miRNA bioactivity based on chemical structure and sequence information. sChemNET overcomes the limitation of sparse chemical information by an objective function that allows the neural network to learn chemical space from a large body of chemical structures yet unknown to affect miRNAs. We experimentally validated small molecules predicted to act on miR-451 or its targets and tested their role in erythrocyte maturation during zebrafish embryogenesis. We also tested small molecules targeting the miR-181 network and other miRNAs using in-vitro and in-vivo experiments. We demonstrate that our machine-learning framework can predict bioactive small molecules targeting miRNAs or their targets in humans and other mammalian organisms.

RNA-Binding Protein Lin28B Promotes Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Blast Crisis by Transcriptionally Upregulating miR-181d

The blast crisis (BC) of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has poor efficacy against existing treatments and extremely short survival. However, the molecular mechanism of CML-chronic phase (CP) transformation to CML-BC is not yet fully understood. Here, we show that Lin28B, an RNA-binding protein, acted as an activator enhancing the transformation to CML-BC by mediating excessive cell proliferation. The level of Lin28B expression was apparently elevated in patients with CML-BC compared with newly diagnosed patients with CML-CP. The overexpression of Lin28B promoted the proliferation of leukemia cells. Mechanistically, we identified Lin28B as a DNA-binding protein by binding to the promoter region of miR-181d and upregulating its expression, which inhibited the expression of programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) by binding to the PDCD4 3'UTR region, thereby enhancing the proliferation of CML cells. Overall, the "Lin28B-miR-181d-PDCD4" regulatory axis promoted CML blast crisis. Implications: Our findings highlight the oncogenic role of Lin28B in CML blast crisis, acting as a DNA-binding protein that transcriptionally upregulates miR-181d expression.

Advances in MicroRNA Therapeutics: From Preclinical to Clinical Studies

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of gene expression involved in various pathophysiological processes. Their ability to modulate multiple pathways simultaneously and their involvement in numerous diseases make miRNAs attractive tools and targets in therapeutic development. Significant efforts have been made to advance miRNA research in the preclinical stage, attracting considerable investment from biopharmaceutical companies. Consequently, an increasing number of miRNA-based therapies have entered clinical trials for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications across a wide range of diseases. While individual miRNAs can regulate a broad array of mRNA targets, this also complicates the management of adverse effects seen in clinical trials. Several candidates have been discontinued due to toxicity concerns, underscoring the need for comprehensive risk assessments of miRNA therapeutics. Despite no miRNA-based strategies have yet received approval from regulatory agencies, prominent progress in the miRNA modulation approaches and in the nano-delivery systems have been made in the last decade, leading to the development of novel safe and well-tolerated miRNA drug candidates. In this review, we present recent advances in the development of miRNA therapeutics currently in preclinical or clinical stages for treating both rare genetic disorders and multifactorial common conditions. We also address the challenges related to the safety and targeted delivery of miRNA therapies, as well as the identification of the most effective therapeutic candidates in preclinical and clinical trials.

Dysregulated MicroRNAs in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

MiRNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs acting as gene expression regulators by modulating the lifespan of messenger RNA. Commonly referred to as the most frequent leukemia in the Western world, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a lymphoproliferative malignancy characterized by clonal expansion of CD19, CD23, and CD5-positive mature B-cells. While this pathology is regarded as less aggressive and has a variety of treatment options, the cause of its clinical heterogeneity is not yet understood. Moreover, the prognostic markers and treatment recommendations based on predictive markers are limited. This review aims to investigate some miRNAs that are dysregulated and possibly involved in CLL pathogenesis as a starting point for the proposal of new prognostic and predictive markers and, as more agents targeting miRNA expression become available, their potential role as therapeutic targets.

miRNA-Mediated Mechanisms in the Generation of Effective and Safe Oncolytic Viruses

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by inhibiting the translation of target transcripts. The expression profiles of miRNAs vary in different tissues and change with the development of diseases, including cancer. This feature has begun to be used for the modification of oncolytic viruses (OVs) in order to increase their selectivity and efficacy. OVs represent a relatively new class of anticancer drugs; they are designed to replicate in cancer tumors and destroy them. These can be natural viruses that can replicate within cancer tumor cells, or recombinant viruses created in laboratories. There are some concerns regarding OVs' toxicity, due to their ability to partially replicate in healthy tissues. In addition, lytic and immunological responses upon OV therapy are not always sufficient, so various OV editing methods are used. This review discusses the latest results of preclinical and clinical studies of OVs, modifications of which are associated with the miRNA-mediated mechanism of gene silencing.

Short 2'-O-methyl/LNA oligomers as highly-selective inhibitors of miRNA production in vitro and in vivo

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) that share identical or near-identical sequences constitute miRNA families and are predicted to act redundantly. Yet recent evidence suggests that members of the same miRNA family with high sequence similarity might have different roles and that this functional divergence might be rooted in their precursors' sequence. Current knock-down strategies such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or miRNA sponges cannot distinguish between identical or near identical miRNAs originating from different precursors to allow exploring unique functions of these miRNAs. We here develop a novel strategy based on short 2'-OMe/LNA-modified oligonucleotides to selectively target specific precursor molecules and ablate the production of individual members of miRNA families in vitro and in vivo. Leveraging the highly conserved Xenopus miR-181a family as proof-of-concept, we demonstrate that 2'-OMe/LNA-ASOs targeting the apical region of pre-miRNAs achieve precursor-selective inhibition of mature miRNA-5p production. Furthermore, we extend the applicability of our approach to the human miR-16 family, illustrating its universality in targeting precursors generating identical miRNAs. Overall, our strategy enables efficient manipulation of miRNA expression, offering a powerful tool to dissect the functions of identical or highly similar miRNAs derived from different precursors within miRNA families.

3D exploration of gene expression in chicken embryos through combined RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, and clearing

BACKGROUND

Fine characterization of gene expression patterns is crucial to understand many aspects of embryonic development. The chicken embryo is a well-established and valuable animal model for developmental biology. The period spanning from the third to sixth embryonic days (E3 to E6) is critical for many organ developments. Hybridization chain reaction RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization (HCR RNA-FISH) enables multiplex RNA detection in thick samples including embryos of various animal models. However, its use is limited by tissue opacity.

RESULTS

We optimized HCR RNA-FISH protocol to efficiently label RNAs in whole mount chicken embryos from E3.5 to E5.5 and adapted it to ethyl cinnamate (ECi) tissue clearing. We show that light sheet imaging of HCR RNA-FISH after ECi clearing allows RNA expression analysis within embryonic tissues with good sensitivity and spatial resolution. Finally, whole mount immunofluorescence can be performed after HCR RNA-FISH enabling as exemplified to assay complex spatial relationships between axons and their environment or to monitor GFP electroporated neurons.

CONCLUSIONS

We could extend the use of HCR RNA-FISH to older chick embryos by optimizing HCR RNA-FISH and combining it with tissue clearing and 3D imaging. The integration of immunostaining makes possible to combine gene expression with classical cell markers, to correlate expressions with morphological differentiation and to depict gene expressions in gain or loss of function contexts. Altogether, this combined procedure further extends the potential of HCR RNA-FISH technique for chicken embryology.

The DNA-repair protein APE1 participates with hnRNPA2B1 to motif-enriched and prognostic miRNA secretion

The base excision repair (BER) Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) enzyme is endowed with several non-repair activities including miRNAs processing. APE1 is overexpressed in many cancers but its causal role in the tumorigenic processes is largely unknown. We recently described that APE1 can be actively secreted by mammalian cells through exosomes. However, APE1 role in EVs or exosomes is still unknown, especially regarding a putative regulatory function on vesicular small non-coding RNAs. Through dedicated transcriptomic analysis on cellular and vesicular small RNAs of different APE1-depleted cancer cell lines, we found that miRNAs loading into EVs is a regulated process, dependent on APE1, distinctly conveying RNA subsets into vesicles. We identified APE1-dependent secreted miRNAs characterized by enriched sequence motifs and possible binding sites for APE1. In 33 out of 34 APE1-dependent-miRNA precursors, we surprisingly found EXO-motifs and proved that APE1 cooperates with hnRNPA2B1 for the EV-sorting of a subset of miRNAs, including miR-1246, through direct binding to GGAG stretches. Using TCGA-datasets, we showed that these miRNAs identify a signature with high prognostic significance in cancer. In summary, we provided evidence that the ubiquitous DNA-repair enzyme APE1 is part of the EV protein cargo with a novel post-transcriptional role for this ubiquitous DNA-repair enzyme that could explain its role in cancer progression. These findings could open new translational perspectives in cancer biology.

Investigating the potential neuroprotective benefits of taurine and Dihydrotestosterone and Hydroxyprogesterone levels in SH-SY5Y cells

Background

Taurine, an amino acid abundantly found in the brain and other tissues, has potential neuroprotective properties. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a commonly occurring type of dementia, which becomes more prevalent as people age. This experiment aimed to assess the neuroprotective effects of taurine on SH-SY5Y cells by examining its impact on Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), Dihydroprogesterone (DHP), as well as the expression of miRNA-21 and miRNA-181.

Methods

The effects of various taurine concentrations (0.25, and 0.75 mg/mL), and LPS (0.1, and 12 mg/mL) on the SH-SY5Y cell line were assessed using the MTT assay. The levels of DHT and DHP were quantified using an ELISA kit. Additionally, the expression levels of miRNA-181 and miRNA-21 genes were examined through Real-Time PCR analysis.

Results

The results of the MTT assay showed that treatment with taurine at concentrations of 0.25, and 0.75 mg/mL reduces the toxicity of LPS in SH-SY5Y cells. ELISA results indicated that taurine at a concentration of 0.25, and 0.75 mg/mL significantly elevated DHT and DHP hormones in the SH-SY5Y cell line compared to the untreated group (p < 0.01). The expression levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were decreased under the influence of LPS in SH-SY5Y cells after taurine treatment (p < 0.01). Gene expression analysis revealed that increasing taurine concentration resulted in heightened expression of miRNA-181 and miRNA-21, with the most significant increase observed at a concentration of 0.75 mg/mL (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study findings revealed that the expression of miRNA-181 and miRNA-21 can be enhanced by taurine. Consequently, exploring the targeting of taurine, miRNA-181, and miRNA-21 or considering hormone therapy may offer potential therapeutic approaches for treating AD or alleviating severe symptoms. Nonetheless, in order to fully comprehend the precise mechanisms involved, additional research is required.

miR-181a/b-5p negatively regulates keratinocytes proliferation by targeting MELK

Accumulating evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) have a vital effect on the pathogenesis of psoriasis. This study is conducted to investigate the potential involvement of miR-181a-5p and miR-181b-5p in the proliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes. Cell viability and proliferation were evaluated respectively in this study using the CCK-8 and the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. The expression of Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase (MELK) and Keratin 16 (KRT16) mRNA and protein in tissues and cells was assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. The Luciferase reporter system analyzes the connection between miR-181a-5p/miR-181b-5p and MELK. The results showed that miR-181a/b-5p expression was downregulated in the psoriasis lesions and negatively regulated the proliferation of keratinocytes. MELK was directly targeted by miR-181a-5p/miR-181b-5p. In addition, HaCaT keratinocytes proliferation was inhibited by knockdown of MELK while promoted dramatically by MELK overexpression. Notably, miR-181a/b-5p mimics could attenuate the effects of MELK in keratinocytes. In conclusion, our research findings suggested miR-181a-5p and miR-181b-5p negatively regulate keratinocyte proliferation by targeting MELK, providing potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for psoriasis.

Targeting miR-181a/b in retinitis pigmentosa: implications for disease progression and therapy

BACKGROUND

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetically heterogeneous group of degenerative disorders causing progressive vision loss due to photoreceptor death. RP affects other retinal cells, including the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). MicroRNAs (miRs) are implicated in RP pathogenesis, and downregulating miR-181a/b has shown therapeutic benefit in RP mouse models by improving mitochondrial function. This study investigates the expression profile of miR-181a/b in RPE cells and the neural retina during RP disease progression. We also evaluate how miR-181a/b downregulation, by knocking out miR-181a/b-1 cluster in RPE cells, confers therapeutic efficacy in an RP mouse model and explore the mechanisms underlying this process.

RESULTS

Our findings reveal distinct expression profiles, with downregulated miR-181a/b in RPE cells suggesting a protective response and upregulated miR-181a/b in the neural retina indicating a role in disease progression. We found that miR-181a/b-2, encoded in a separate genomic cluster, compensates for miR-181a/b-1 ablation in RPE cells at late time points. The transient downregulation of miR-181a/b in RPE cells at post-natal week 6 (PW6) led to improved RPE morphology, retarded photoreceptor degeneration and decreased RPE aerobic glycolysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study elucidates the underlying mechanisms associated with the therapeutic modulation of miR-181a/b, providing insights into the metabolic processes linked to its RPE-specific downregulation. Our data further highlights the impact of compensatory regulation between miR clusters with implications for the development of miR-based therapeutics.

MicroRNA-181 in cardiovascular disease: Emerging biomarkers and therapeutic targets

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) have attracted considerable attention for their roles in several cardiovascular disease states, including both the physiological and pathological processes. In this review, we will briefly describe microRNA-181 (miR-181) transcription and regulation and summarize recent findings on the roles of miR-181 family members as biomarkers or therapeutic targets in different cardiovascular-related conditions, including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, hypertension, and heart failure. Lessons learned from these studies may provide new theoretical foundations for CVD.

microRNA and the Post-Transcriptional Response to Oxidative Stress during Neuronal Differentiation: Implications for Neurodevelopmental and Psychiatric Disorders

Oxidative stress is one of the most important environmental exposures associated with psychiatric disorders, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In a previous study, we observed a substantial alteration of the gene expression landscape in neuron-like cells that were differentiated from SH-SY5Y cells after or during exposure to oxidative stress, with a subset of dysregulated genes being enriched for neurodevelopmental processes. To further explore the regulatory mechanisms that might account for such profound perturbations, we have now applied small RNA-sequencing to investigate changes in the expression of miRNAs. These molecules are known to play crucial roles in brain development and response to stress through their capacity to suppress gene expression and influence complex biological networks. Through these analyses, we observed more than a hundred differentially expressed miRNAs, including 80 previously reported to be dysregulated in psychiatric disorders. The seven most influential miRNAs associated with pre-treatment exposure, including miR-138-5p, miR-96-5p, miR-34c-5p, miR-1287-5p, miR-497-5p, miR-195-5p, and miR-16-5p, supported by at least 10 negatively correlated mRNA connections, formed hubs in the interaction network with 134 genes enriched with neurobiological function, whereas in the co-treatment condition, miRNA-mRNA interaction pairs were enriched in cardiovascular and immunity-related disease ontologies. Interestingly, 12 differentially expressed miRNAs originated from the DLK1-DIO3 location, which encodes a schizophrenia-associated miRNA signature. Collectively, our findings suggest that early exposure to oxidative stress, before and during prenatal neuronal differentiation, might increase the risk of mental illnesses in adulthood by disturbing the expression of miRNAs that regulate neurodevelopmentally significant genes and networks.

Exploring the Key Signaling Pathways and ncRNAs in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer to be diagnosed, and it has a substantial mortality rate. Despite numerous studies being conducted on CRC, it remains a significant health concern. The disease-free survival rates notably decrease as CRC progresses, emphasizing the urgency for effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. CRC development is caused by environmental factors, which mostly lead to the disruption of signaling pathways. Among these pathways, the Wingless/Integrated (Wnt) signaling pathway, Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signaling pathway, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, and p53 signaling pathway are considered to be important. These signaling pathways are also regulated by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). They have emerged as crucial regulators of gene expression in CRC by changing their expression levels. The altered expression patterns of these ncRNAs have been implicated in CRC progression and development, suggesting their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets. This review provides an overview of the five key signaling pathways and regulation of ncRNAs involved in CRC pathogenesis that are studied to identify promising avenues for diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Dysregulated microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs associated with extracellular matrix stiffness

Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness regulates development and homeostasis in vivo and affects both physiological and pathological processes. A variety of studies have demonstrated that mRNAs, such as Piezo1, integrin β1, and Yes-associated protein (YAP)/tafazzin (TAZ), can sense the mechanical signals induced by ECM stiffness and transmit them from the extracellular space into the cytoplasm. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), have been reported to play important roles in various cellular processes. Therefore, the interactions between ncRNAs and ECM stiffness, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms, have become intriguing. In this review, we summarize recent findings on miRNAs and lncRNAs that interact with ECM stiffness. Several miRNAs and lncRNAs are involved in the progression of liver cancer, breast cancer, osteosarcoma, and cardiovascular diseases under the regulation of ECM stiffness. Through these ncRNAs, cellular behaviors including cell differentiation, proliferation, adhesion, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are affected by ECM stiffness. We also integrate the ncRNA signaling pathways associated with ECM stiffness, in which typical signaling pathways like integrin β1/TGFβ1, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT, and EMT are involved. Although our understanding of the relationships between ncRNAs and ECM stiffness is still limited, further investigations may provide new insights for disease treatment. ECM-associated ncRNAs may serve as disease biomarkers or be targeted by drugs.

A MiR181/Sirtuin1 regulatory circuit modulates drug response in biliary cancers

Despite recent advances, biliary tract cancer (BTC) remains one of the most lethal tumor worldwide due to late diagnosis, limited therapeutic strategies and resistance to conventional therapies. In recent years, high-throughput technologies have enabled extensive genome, and transcriptome sequencing unveiling, among others, the regulatory potential of microRNAs (miRNAs). Compelling evidence shown that miRNA are attractive therapeutic targets and promising candidates as biomarkers for various therapy-resistant tumors. The analysis of miRNA profile successfully identified miR-181c and -181d as significantly downregulated in BTC patients. Low miR-181c and -181d expression levels were correlated with worse prognosis and poor treatment efficacy. In fact, progression-free survival analysis indicated poor survival rates in miR-181c and -181d low expressing patients. The expression profile of miR-181c and -181d in BTC cell lines revealed that both miRNAs were dysregulated. Functional in vitro experiments in BTC cell lines showed that overexpression of miR-181c and -181d affected cell viability and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy compared to controls. In addition, by using bioinformatic tools we showed that the miR-181c/d functional role is determined by binding to their target SIRT1 (Sirtuin 1). Moreover, BTC patients expressing high levels of miR-181 and low SIRT1 shown an improved survival and treatment response. An integrative network analysis demonstrated that, miR-181/SIRT1 circuit had a regulatory effect on several important metabolic tumor-related processes. Our study demonstrated that miR-181c and -181d act as tumor suppressor miRNA in BTC, suggesting the potential use as therapeutic strategy in resistant cancers and as predictive biomarker in the precision medicine of BTC.

MicroRNA-34a-5p: A pivotal therapeutic target in gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer incidence has been increasing globally, and it remains challenging to expect long prognosis with the current systemic chemotherapy. We identified a novel nucleic acid-mediated therapeutic target against gallbladder cancer by using innovative organoid-based gallbladder cancer models generated from KrasLSL-G12D/+; Trp53f/f mice. Using comprehensive microRNA expression analyses and a bioinformatics approach, we identified significant microRNA-34a-5p downregulation in both murine gallbladder cancer organoids and resected human gallbladder cancer specimens. In three different human gallbladder cancer cell lines, forced microRNA-34a-5p expression inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell-cycle arrest at the G1 phase by suppressing direct target (CDK6) expression. Furthermore, comprehensive RNA sequencing revealed the significant enrichment of gene sets related to the cell-cycle regulators after microRNA-34a-5p expression in gallbladder cancer cells. In a murine xenograft model, locally injected microRNA-34a-5p mimics significantly inhibited gallbladder cancer progression and downregulated CDK6 expression. These results provide a rationale for promising therapeutics against gallbladder cancer by microRNA-34a-5p injection, as well as a strategy to explore therapeutic targets against cancers using organoid-based models, especially for those lacking useful genetically engineered murine models, such as gallbladder cancer.

Bta-miR-181d and Bta-miR-196a mediated proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in Bovine Myogenic Cells

Skeletal muscle is an important component of livestock and poultry organisms. The proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts are highly coordinated processes, which rely on the regulation of miRNA. MiRNAs are widely present in organisms and play roles in various biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. MiR-181d and miR-196a, identified as tumor suppressors, have been found to be involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, directed differentiation, and cancer cell invasion. However, their role in beef cattle skeletal muscle metabolism remains unclear. In this study, we discovered that overexpression of bta-miR-181d and bta-miR-196a in Qinchuan cattle myoblasts inhibited proliferation and apoptosis while promoting myogenic differentiation through EDU staining, flow cytometry analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blotting. RNA-seq analysis of differential gene expression revealed that after overexpression of bta-miR-181d and bta-miR-196a, the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, the phosphorylation levels of key proteins p-AKT in the PI3K signaling pathway and p-MAPK in the MAPK signaling pathway were significantly decreased after overexpression of bta-miR-181d and bta-miR-196a. Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence that bta-miR-181d and bta-miR-196a may regulate proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation processes in Qinchuan cattle myoblasts by affecting the phosphorylation status of key proteins in PI3K-Akt and MAPK-ERK signaling pathways.

Enhanced reparatory effect of EI1 on dental pulp via extracellular matrix remodeling by miR-181b-2-3p inhibitor

Background/purpose

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is crucial for dental pulp repair. The aim of this paper is to investigate the ECM remodeling effect of miR-181b-2-3p (a microRNA) and to verify the reparatory effect of EI1 (an epigenetic drug) and miR-181b-2-3p inhibitor on dental pulp.

Materials and methods

Levels of ECM-related factors in EI1-treated human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The anti-inflammation effect of EI1 was examined in Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated hDPCs. miR-181b-2-3p mimics or inhibitors were transfected into hDPCs and then the cells' functions were detected. A dual luciferase reporter assay was used to identify the targets of miR-181b-2-3p. Pulpotomy using miR-181b-2-3p antagomirs and EI1 as pulp capping materials was performed in male six-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats.

Results

EI1 upregulated ECM-related genes expression in hDPCs, but failed to upregulate the collagen1A1 (COL1A1) protein level. Pro-inflammatory factors were downregulated by EI1 in Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated hDPCs. Overexpression of miR-181b-2-3p downregulated the expression of transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) and fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 precursor (FNDC5), while the inhibition had the opposite effect. Dual luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that miR-181b-2-3p targets TGF-β2, FNDC5 and integrin alpha 4 protein (ITGA4). Compared to EI1 was used alone, EI1 combined with the inhibitor upregulated the protein levels of COL1A1, fibronectin (FN1) and TGF-β2 in hDPCs, promoted hDPCs migration, and exhibited reparatory effects on inflamed rat pulp tissue.

Conclusion

miR-181b-2-3p inhibitor could enhance the reparatory effect of EI1 via ECM remodeling in dental pulp both in vitro and in vivo.

INVESTIGATION THE EXPRESSION LEVELS OF MIR-181 AND HOXA11 GENE IN EUTOPIC AND ECTOPIC ENDOMETRIAL TISSUE

Objectives

The exact pathogenesis of the endometriosis is not apparent. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. MicroRNAs can be used a diagnostic and therapeutic tools in different disorders such as endometriosis. MiR-181 has a function in embryo implantation. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of miR-181 and its relationship with HOXA11 gene expression in ectopic and eutopic endometrium tissues in women with endometriosis.

Study design

Thirty-four women participated in this study. Ectopic tissue samples (N=17) were collected via laparoscopic surgery, and eutopic tissue samples (N=17) were obtained from an endometrial biopsy. Endometrial tissue samples without endometriosis were considered the control group. Tissue samples were placed in RNase-free microtube with RNAlater™ Stabilization Solution (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and were kept at -80 °C. Quantitative real time-PCR for MiR-181 and HOXA11 genes were performed.

Results

MiR-181 expression level increased in eutopic tissue samples compared to the control group. This expression showed a significantly decrease in an ectopic group compared to the eutopic group. It was observed that HOXA11expression decreased remarkably in eutopic group compared to the control group and increased in ectopic group compared to the eutopic group.

Conclusion

MiR-181 and HOXA11 are promising strategies in endometriosis disease. Understanding this relation and regulation roles contribute to realizing the etiology of endometriosis.

Intermittent hypoxia increased the expression of ESM1 and ICAM-1 in vascular endothelial cells via the downregulation of microRNA-181a1

Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) exposes cells throughout the body to intermittent hypoxia (IH). Intermittent hypoxia is a risk factor not only for hypertension and insulin resistance but also for vascular dysfunction. We have reported correlations between IH, insulin resistance and hypertension. However, the details of why IH leads to vascular dysfunction remain unclear. In this study, we investigated inflammation-related transcripts in vascular endothelial cells (human HUEhT-1 and mouse UV2) exposed to IH by real-time RT-PCR and found that intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM1) mRNAs were significantly increased. ELISA confirmed that, in the UV2 cell medium, ICAM-1 and ESM1 were significantly increased by IH. However, the promoter activities of ICAM-1 and ESM1 were not upregulated. On the other hand, IH treatment significantly decreased microRNA (miR)-181a1 in IH-treated cells. The introduction of miR-181a1 mimic but not miR-181a1 mimic NC abolished the IH-induced upregulation of Ican-1 and ESM1. These results indicated that ICAM-1 and ESM1 were upregulated by IH via the IH-induced downregulation of miR-181a1 in vascular endothelial cells and suggested that SAS patients developed atherosclerosis via the IH-induced upregulation of ICAM-1 and ESM1.

Intracranial self-stimulation reverses impaired spatial learning and regulates serum microRNA levels in a streptozotocin-induced rat model of Alzheimer disease

BACKGROUND

The assessment of deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a therapeutic alternative for treating Alzheimer disease (AD) is ongoing. We aimed to determine the effects of intracranial self-stimulation at the medial forebrain bundle (MFB-ICSS) on spatial memory, neurodegeneration, and serum expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in a rat model of sporadic AD created by injection of streptozotocin. We hypothesized that MFB-ICSS would reverse the behavioural effects of streptozotocin and modulate hippocampal neuronal density and serum levels of the miRNAs.

METHODS

We performed Morris water maze and light-dark transition tests. Levels of various proteins, specifically amyloid-β precurser protein (APP), phosphorylated tau protein (pTAU), and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and neurodegeneration were analyzed by Western blot and Nissl staining, respectively. Serum miRNA expression was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Male rats that received streptozotocin had increased hippocampal levels of pTAU S202/T205, APP, and SIRT1 proteins; increased neurodegeneration in the CA1, dentate gyrus (DG), and dorsal tenia tecta; and worse performance in the Morris water maze task. No differences were observed in miRNAs, except for miR-181c and miR-let-7b. After MFB-ICSS, neuronal density in the CA1 and DG regions and levels of miR-181c in streptozotocin-treated and control rats were similar. Rats that received streptozotocin and underwent MFB-ICSS also showed lower levels of miR-let-7b and better spatial learning than rats that received streptozotocin without MFB-ICSS.

LIMITATIONS

The reversal by MFB-ICSS of deficits induced by streptozotocin was fairly modest.

CONCLUSION

Spatial memory performance, hippocampal neurodegeneration, and serum levels of miR-let-7b and miR-181c were affected by MFB-ICSS under AD-like conditions. Our results validate the MFB as a potential target for DBS and lend support to the use of specific miRNAs as promising biomarkers of the effectiveness of DBS in combatting AD-associated cognitive deficits.

[Research advances in genetic polymorphisms in Kawasaki disease]

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic inflammatory vascular disorder that predominantly affects children and is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. Although the etiology of this disease remains unclear, genome-wide association and genome-wide linkage studies have shown that some susceptible genes and chromosomal regions are associated with the development and progression of KD. With the advancement of high-throughput DNA sequencing techniques, more and more genomic information related to KD is being discovered. Understanding the genes involved in the pathogenesis of KD may provide novel insights into the diagnosis and treatment of KD. By analyzing related articles and summarizing related research advances, this article mainly discusses the T cell activation-enhancing genes that have been confirmed to be closely associated with the development and progression of KD and reveals their association with the pathogenesis of KD and coronary artery lesions.

The role of microRNAs involved in the disorder of blood-brain barrier in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

miRNAs are involved in various vital processes, including cell growth, development, apoptosis, cellular differentiation, and pathological cellular activities. Circulating miRNAs can be detected in various body fluids including serum, plasma, saliva, and urine. It is worth mentioning that miRNAs remain stable in the circulation in biological fluids and are released from membrane-bound vesicles called exosomes, which protect them from RNase activity. It has been shown that miRNAs regulate blood-brain barrier integrity by targeting both tight junction and adherens junction molecules and can also influence the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Some recent studies have examined the impact of certain commonly used drugs in Multiple Sclerosis on miRNA levels. In this review, we will focus on the recent findings on the role of miRNAs in multiple sclerosis, including their role in the cause of MS and molecular mechanisms of the disease, utilizing miRNAs as diagnostic and clinical biomarkers, using miRNAs as a therapeutic modality or target for Multiple Sclerosis and drug responses in patients, elucidating their importance as prognosticators of disease progression, and highlighting their potential as a future treatment for MS.

miR-181b-5p/SOCS2/JAK2/STAT5 axis facilitates the metastasis of hepatoblastoma

Introduction

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is a malignant liver tumor predominantly found in children and tumor metastasis is one of the main causes of poor prognosis in affected patients. The precise molecular mechanisms responsible for HB metastasis remain incompletely understood. However, there is evidence suggesting a connection between the dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) and the progression of tumor metastasis in HB.

Methods

The study utilized weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to analyze a miRNA microarray dataset of HB. The expression of miR-181b-5p in HB tissues and cells was detected using quantitative real-time PCR. The impact of miR-181b-5p on the metastatic capacity of HB was evaluated through scratch and Transwell assays. The effects of exogenously expressing miR-181b on the metastatic phenotypes of HB cells were evaluated in vivo. Furthermore, a luciferase reporter assay was performed to validate a potential target of miR-181b-5p in HB.

Results

We found that miR-181b-5p was highly expressed in HB tissues and HB cell lines. Overexpression of miR-181b enhanced scratch healing, cell migration, and invasion abilities in vitro, as well as enhancing HB lung metastasis potential in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling 2 (SOCS2) was a direct target of miR-181b. The overexpression of miR-181b resulted in the suppression of SOCS2 expression, subsequently activating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathways. The rescue experiment showed that SOCS2 overexpression attenuated the effects of miR-181b on HB cells.

Conclusion

Our study showed that miR-181b promotes HB metastasis by targeting SOCS2 and may be a potential therapeutic target for HB.

miRNAs as short non-coding RNAs in regulating doxorubicin resistance

The treatment of cancer patients has been prohibited by chemoresistance. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anti-tumor compound disrupting proliferation and triggering cell cycle arrest via inhibiting activity of topoisomerase I and II. miRNAs are endogenous RNAs localized in cytoplasm to reduce gene level. Abnormal expression of miRNAs changes DOX cytotoxicity. Overexpression of tumor-promoting miRNAs induces DOX resistance, while tumor-suppressor miRNAs inhibit DOX resistance. The miRNA-mediated regulation of cell death and hallmarks of cancer can affect response to DOX chemotherapy in tumor cells. The transporters such as P-glycoprotein are regulated by miRNAs in DOX chemotherapy. Upstream mediators including lncRNAs and circRNAs target miRNAs in affecting capacity of DOX. The response to DOX chemotherapy can be facilitated after administration of agents that are mostly phytochemicals including curcumol, honokiol and ursolic acid. These agents can regulate miRNA expression increasing DOX's cytotoxicity. Since delivery of DOX alone or in combination with other drugs and genes can cause synergistic impact, the nanoparticles have been introduced for drug sensitivity. The non-coding RNAs determine the response of tumor cells to doxorubicin chemotherapy. microRNAs play a key role in this case and they can be sponged by lncRNAs and circRNAs, showing interaction among non-coding RNAs in the regulation of doxorubicin sensitivity.

MiR-181a targets STING to drive PARP inhibitor resistance in BRCA- mutated triple-negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are approved for the treatment of BRCA-mutated breast cancer (BC), including triple-negative BC (TNBC) and ovarian cancer (OvCa). A key challenge is to identify the factors associated with PARPi resistance; although, previous studies suggest that platinum-based agents and PARPi share similar resistance mechanisms.

METHODS

Olaparib-resistant (OlaR) cell lines were analyzed using HTG EdgeSeq miRNA Whole Transcriptomic Analysis (WTA). Functional assays were performed in three BRCA-mutated TNBC cell lines. In-silico analysis were performed using multiple databases including The Cancer Genome Atlas, the Genotype-Tissue Expression, The Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer, and Gene Omnibus Expression.

RESULTS

High miR-181a levels were identified in OlaR TNBC cell lines (p = 0.001) as well as in tumor tissues from TNBC patients (p = 0.001). We hypothesized that miR-181a downregulates the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and the downstream proinflammatory cytokines to mediate PARPi resistance. BRCA1 mutated TNBC cell lines with miR-181a-overexpression were more resistant to olaparib and showed downregulation in STING and the downstream genes controlled by STING. Extracellular vesicles derived from PARPi-resistant TNBC cell lines horizontally transferred miR-181a to parental cells which conferred PARPi-resistance and targeted STING. In clinical settings, STING levels were positively correlated with interferon gamma (IFNG) response scores (p = 0.01). In addition, low IFNG response scores were associated with worse response to neoadjuvant treatment including PARPi for high-risk HER2 negative BC patients (p = 0.001). OlaR TNBC cell lines showed resistance to platinum-based drugs. OvCa cell lines resistant to platinum showed resistance to olaparib. Knockout of miR-181a significantly improved olaparib sensitivity in OvCa cell lines (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

miR-181a is a key factor controlling the STING pathway and driving PARPi and platinum-based drug resistance in TNBC and OvCa. The miR-181a-STING axis can be used as a potential marker for predicting PARPi responses in TNBC and OvCa tumors.

EWS/FLI1 Characterization, Activation, Repression, Target Genes and Therapeutic Opportunities in Ewing Sarcoma

Despite their clonal origins, tumors eventually develop into complex communities made up of phenotypically different cell subpopulations, according to mounting evidence. Tumor cell-intrinsic programming and signals from geographically and temporally changing microenvironments both contribute to this variability. Furthermore, the mutational load is typically lacking in childhood malignancies of adult cancers, and they still exhibit high cellular heterogeneity levels largely mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. Ewing sarcomas represent highly aggressive malignancies affecting both bone and soft tissue, primarily afflicting adolescents. Unfortunately, the outlook for patients facing relapsed or metastatic disease is grim. These tumors are primarily fueled by a distinctive fusion event involving an FET protein and an ETS family transcription factor, with the most prevalent fusion being EWS/FLI1. Despite originating from a common driver mutation, Ewing sarcoma cells display significant variations in transcriptional activity, both within and among tumors. Recent research has pinpointed distinct fusion protein activities as a principal source of this heterogeneity, resulting in markedly diverse cellular phenotypes. In this review, we aim to characterize the role of the EWS/FLI fusion protein in Ewing sarcoma by exploring its general mechanism of activation and elucidating its implications for tumor heterogeneity. Additionally, we delve into potential therapeutic opportunities to target this aberrant fusion protein in the context of Ewing sarcoma treatment.

The Significant Role of microRNAs in Gliomas Angiogenesis: A Particular Focus on Molecular Mechanisms and Opportunities for Clinical Application

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with only 20-22 nucleic acids that inhibit gene transcription and translation by binding to mRNA. MiRNAs have a diverse set of target genes and can alter most physiological processes, including cell cycle checkpoints, cell survival, and cell death mechanisms, affecting the growth, development, and invasion of various cancers, including gliomas. So optimum management of miRNA expression is essential for preserving a normal biological environment. Due to their small size, stability, and capability of specifically targeting oncogenes, miRNAs have emerged as a promising marker and new biopharmaceutical targeted therapy for glioma patients. This review focuses on the most common miRNAs associated with gliomagenesis and development by controlling glioma-determining markers such as angiogenesis. We also summarized the recent research about miRNA effects on signaling pathways, their mechanistic role and cellular targets in the development of gliomas angiogenesis. Strategies for miRNA-based therapeutic targets, as well as limitations in clinical applications, are also discussed.

Blood miRNA levels associated with ADHD traits in children across six European birth cohorts

BACKGROUND

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent and highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder of major societal concern. Diagnosis can be challenging and there are large knowledge gaps regarding its etiology, though studies suggest an interplay of genetic and environmental factors involving epigenetic mechanisms. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) show promise as biomarkers of human pathology and novel therapies, and here we aimed to identify blood miRNAs associated with traits of ADHD as possible biomarker candidates and further explore their biological relevance.

METHODS

Our study population consisted of 1126 children (aged 5-12 years, 46% female) from the Human Early Life Exposome study, a study spanning six ongoing population-based European birth cohorts. Expression profiles of miRNAs in whole blood samples were quantified by microarray and tested for association with ADHD-related measures of behavior and neuropsychological functions from questionnaires (Conner's Rating Scale and Child Behavior Checklist) and computer-based tests (the N-back task and Attention Network Test).

RESULTS

We identified 29 miRNAs significantly associated (false discovery rate < .05) with the Conner's questionnaire-rated trait hyperactivity, 15 of which have been linked to ADHD in previous studies. Investigation into their biological relevance revealed involvement in several pathways related to neurodevelopment and function, as well as being linked with other neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders known to overlap with ADHD both in symptomology, genetic risk, and co-occurrence, such as autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia. An additional three miRNAs were significantly associated with Conner's-rated inattention. No associations were found with questionnaire-rated total ADHD index or with computer-based tests.

CONCLUSIONS

The large overlap of our hyperactivity-associated miRNAs with previous studies on ADHD is intriguing and warrant further investigation. Though this study should be considered explorative and preliminary, these findings contribute towards identifying a set of miRNAs for use as blood-based biomarkers to aid in earlier and easier ADHD diagnosis.

A potential osteogenic role for microRNA-181a-5p during palatogenesis

BACKGROUND

In a previous study, we found that the highly conserved hsa-miR-181a-5p is downregulated in palatal fibroblasts of non-syndromic cleft palate-only infants.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the spatiotemporal expression pattern of mmu-miR-181a-5p during palatogenesis and identify possible mRNA targets and their involved molecular pathways.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The expression of mmu-miR-181a-5p was analyzed in the developing palates of mouse embryos from E11 to E18 using qPCR and ISH. Mouse embryonic palatal mesenchyme cells from E13 were used to analyze mmu-miR-181a-5p expression during osteogenic differentiation. Differential mRNA expression and target identification were analyzed using whole transcriptome RNA sequencing after transfection with a mmu-miR-181a-5p mimic. Differentially expressed genes were linked with underlying pathways using gene set enrichment analysis.

RESULTS

The expression of mmm-miR-181a-5p in the palatal shelves increased from E15 and overlapped with palatal osteogenesis. During early osteogenic differentiation, mmu-miR-181a-5p was upregulated. Transient overexpression resulted in 49 upregulated mRNAs and 108 downregulated mRNAs (adjusted P-value < 0.05 and fold change > ± 1.2). Ossification (Stc1, Mmp13) and cell-cycle-related GO terms were significantly enriched for upregulated mRNAs. Analysis of possible mRNA targets indicated significant enrichment of Hippo signaling (Ywhag, Amot, Frmd6 and Serpine1) and GO terms related to cell migration and angiogenesis.

LIMITATIONS

Transient overexpression of mmu-miR-181a-5p in mouse embryonic palatal mesenchyme cells limited its analysis to early osteogenesis.

CONCLUSION

Mmu-miR-181-5p expression is increased in the developing palatal shelves in areas of bone formation and targets regulators of the Hippo signaling pathway.

Double-edged sword role of miRNA-633 and miRNA-181 in human cancers

Understanding the function and mode of operation of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer is of growing interest. The short non-coding RNAs known as miRNAs, which target mRNA in multicellular organisms, are described as controlling essential cellular processes. The miR-181 family and miR-633 are well-known miRNAs that play a key role in the development and metastasis of tumor cells. They may facilitate either tumor-suppressive or oncogenic function in malignant cells, according to mounting evidence. Metastatic cells that are closely linked to cancer cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis can be identified by abnormal levels of miR-181 and miR-633. Numerous studies have demonstrated their capacity to control drug resistance, cell growth, apoptosis, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis process. Interestingly, the levels of miR-181 and miR-633 and their potential target genes in the basic cellular process can vary depending on the type of cancer cells and their gene expression profile. Such miRNAs' interactions with other non-coding RNAs such as long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs can influence tumor behaviors. Herein, we concentrated on the multifaceted roles of miR-181 and miR-633 and potential targets in human tumorigenesis, ranging from cell growth and metastasis to drug resistance.

Artificial miRNAs derived from miR-181 family members have potential in cancer therapy due to an altered spectrum of target mRNAs

miRNAs are a class of noncoding RNAs with gene regulation properties, and they function as key factors in cell homeostasis. The interaction of miRNAs with their target mRNAs is largely considered to rely on sequence complementarity; however, some evidence indicates that mature miRNAs can adopt diverse conformations with implications for their function. Using the oncogenic miR-181 family as a study model, we suggest that a potential relationship between the primary sequence and secondary structure of miRNAs may have an impact on the number and spectrum of targeted cellular transcripts. We further emphasize that specific alterations in miR-181 primary sequences might impose certain constraints on target gene selection compared with the wild-type sequences, leading to the targeting of new transcripts with upregulated function in cancer.

A novel LncRNA SPIRE1/miR-181a-5p/PRLR axis in mandibular bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells regulates the Th17/Treg immune balance through the JAK/STAT3 pathway in periodontitis

Periodontitis is a microbial-related chronic inflammatory disease associated with imbalanced differentiation of Th17 cells and Treg cells. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) possess wide immunoregulatory properties. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to the immunomodulation in the pathological mechanisms of inflammatory diseases. However, critical lncRNAs/miRNAs involved in immunomodulation of mandibular BM-MSCs largely remain to be identified. Here, we explored the molecular mechanisms behind the defective immunomodulatory ability of mandibular BM-MSCs under the periodontitis settings. We found that mandibular BM-MSCs from P. gingivalis-induced periodontitis mice had significantly reduced expression of LncRNA SPIRE1 than that from normal control mice. LncRNA SPIRE1 knockdown in normal BM-MSCs caused Th17/Treg cell differentiation imbalance during the coculturing of BM-MSCs and CD4 T cells. In addition, LncRNA SPIRE1 was identified as a competitive endogenous RNA that sponges miR-181a-5p in BM-MSCs. Moreover, miR-181a-5p inhibition attenuated the impact of LncRNA SPIRE1 knockdown on the ability of BM-MSCs in modulating Th17/Treg balance. Prolactin receptor (PRLR) was validated as a downstream target of miR-181a-5p. Notably, targeted knockdown of LncRNA SPIRE1 or PRLR or transfection of miR-181a-5p mimics activated the JAK/STAT3 signaling in normal BM-MSCs, while treatment with STAT3 inhibitor C188-9 restored the immunomodulatory properties of periodontitis-associated BM-MSCs. Furthermore, BM-MSCs with miR-181a-5p inhibition or PRLR-overexpression showed enhanced in vivo immunosuppressive properties in the periodontitis mouse model. Our results indicate that the JAK/STAT3 pathway is involved in the immunoregulation of BM-MSCs, and provide critical insights into the development of novel targeted therapies against periodontitis.

Cancer cell-derived extracellular vesicles activate hepatic stellate cells in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, primarily due to the development of metastatic disease. The liver is the most frequently affected site. The metastatic cascade relies on a complex interaction between the immune system, tumor, and distant organs. Communication between the tumor and the metastatic site can be mediated by tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo. The mechanisms underlying this process are starting to be understood through research that has rapidly expanded over the past 15 years. One crucial aspect is the remodeling of the microenvironment at the site of metastasis, which is essential for the formation of a premetastatic niche and the subsequent establishment of metastatic deposits. In the evaluated study, the authors use cellular experiments and a mouse model to investigate how tumour derived extracellular vesicles and their microRNA contents interact with hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). They demonstrate how this may lead to remodelling of the microenvironment and the formation of colorectal liver metastasis using their experimental model. In this mini review, we examine the current evidence surrounding tumour derived EVs and their effect on the tumour microenvironment to highlight potential areas for future research in CRC and other malignancies.

Possible therapeutic targets for NLRP3 inflammasome-induced breast cancer

Inflammation plays a major role in the development and progression of breast cancer(BC). Proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis are all linked to inflammation and tumorigenesis. Furthermore, tumor microenvironment (TME) inflammation-mediated cytokine releases play a critical role in these processes. By recruiting caspase-1 through an adaptor apoptosis-related spot protein, inflammatory caspases are activated by the triggering of pattern recognition receptors on the surface of immune cells. Toll-like receptors, NOD-like receptors, and melanoma-like receptors are not triggered. It activates the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 and is involved in different biological processes that exert their effects. The Nod-Like Receptor Protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome regulates inflammation by mediating the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and interacting with other cellular compartments through the inflammasome's central role in innate immunity. NLRP3 inflammasome activation mechanisms have received much attention in recent years. Inflammatory diseases including enteritis, tumors, gout, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and obesity are associated with abnormal activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Different cancer diseases have been linked to NLRP3 and its role in tumorigenesis may be the opposite. Tumors can be suppressed by it, as has been seen primarily in the context of colorectal cancer associated with colitis. However, cancers such as gastric and skin can also be promoted by it. The inflammasome NLRP3 is associated with breast cancer, but there are few specific reviews. This review focuses on the structure, biological characteristics and mechanism of inflammasome, the relationship between NLRP3 in breast cancer Non-Coding RNAs, MicroRNAs and breast cancer microenvironment, especially the role of NLRP3 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). And the potential strategies of using NLRP3 inflammasome to target breast cancer, such as NLRP3-based nanoparticle technology and gene target therapy, are reviewed.

MiRNA dysregulation underlying common pathways in type 2 diabetes and cancer development: an Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM)/Italian Association of Medical Diabetologists (AMD)/Italian Society of Diabetology (SID)/Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE)/Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) multidisciplinary critical view

Increasing evidence suggests that patients with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes (T2D), are characterized by an increased risk of developing different types of cancer, so cancer could be proposed as a new T2D-related complication. On the other hand, cancer may also increase the risk of developing new-onset diabetes, mainly caused by anticancer therapies. Hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and chronic inflammation typical of T2D could represent possible mechanisms involved in cancer development in diabetic patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a subset of non-coding RNAs, ⁓22 nucleotides in length, which control the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression through both translational repression and messenger RNA degradation. Of note, miRNAs have multiple target genes and alteration of their expression has been reported in multiple diseases, including T2D and cancer. Accordingly, specific miRNA-regulated pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of both conditions. In this review, a panel of experts from the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM), Italian Association of Medical Diabetologists (AMD), Italian Society of Diabetology (SID), Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE), and Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) provide a critical view of the evidence about the involvement of miRNAs in the pathophysiology of both T2D and cancer, trying to identify the shared miRNA signature and pathways able to explain the strong correlation between the two conditions, as well as to envision new common pharmacological approaches.

Molecular Pathology of Micropapillary Carcinomas: Is Characteristic Morphology Related to Molecular Mechanisms?

Micropapillary carcinoma is an entity defined histologically in many organs. It is associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. The main mechanism for its histopathologic appearance is reverse polarization. Although the studies on this subject are limited, carcinomas with micropapillary morphology observed in different organs are examined by immunohistochemical and molecular methods. Differences are shown in these tumors compared with conventional carcinomas regarding the rate of somatic mutations, mRNA and miRNA expressions, and protein expression levels. TP53 , PIK3CA , TERT , KRAS , EGFR , MYC , FGFR1 , BRAF , AKT1 , HER2/ERBB2 , CCND1 , and APC mutations, which genes frequently detected in solid tumors, have also been detected in invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) in various organs. 6q chromosome loss, DNAH9 , FOXO3 , SEC. 63 , and FMN2 gene mutations associated with cell polarity or cell structure and skeleton have also been detected in IMPCs. Among the proteins that affect cell polarity, RAC1, placoglobin, as well as CLDNs, LIN7A, ZEB1, CLDN1, DLG1, CDH1 (E-cadherin), OCLN, AFDN/AF6, ZEB1, SNAI2, ITGA1 (integrin alpha 1), ITGB1 (integrin beta 1), RHOA, Jagged-1 (JAG1) mRNAs differentially express between IMPC and conventional carcinomas. Prediction of prognosis and targeted therapy may benefit from the understanding of molecular mechanisms of micropapillary morphology. This review describes the molecular pathologic mechanisms underlying the micropapillary changes of cancers in various organs in a cell polarity-related dimension.