miR-374b-5p suppresses RECK expression and promotes gastric cancer cell invasion and metastasis

MiR-374a/b-5p Suppresses Cell Growth in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Through Blocking Exosomal ANXA1-Induced Macrophage M2 Polarization

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), comprising 85% of all thyroid cancers, is an epithelial malignancy. The potential for malignant transformation in normal cells by thyroid cancer cells via exosomal Annexin A1 (ANXA1) delivery is investigated in this study. Our aim is to determine the impact of PTC cells on macrophage polarization through exosomal ANXA1 secretion and its implications for tumor progression. Exosomes in PTC cells were examined using transmission electron microscopy, exosome labeling, and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was employed to quantify gene expression levels. Protein levels were determined through Western blot analysis. The interplay between genes was assessed using luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. Functional experiments were conducted to investigate PTC cell proliferation and apoptosis. Our findings reveal that ANXA1 promotes PTC cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis. Exosomes derived from PTC cells were found to promote macrophage M2 polarization. ANXA1 stimulates M2 polarization through the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. MicroRNA-374a-5p (miR-374a-5p) and microRNA-374b-5p (miR-374b-5p) were identified as inhibitors of ANXA1 expression and PI3K/AKT pathway activity, thereby inhibiting macrophage M2 polarization. Furthermore, miR-374a-5p and miR-374b-5p were observed to suppress PTC cell proliferation through their regulatory action on ANXA1. Our study suggests that miR-374a/b-5p inhibits PTC cell growth by blocking the macrophage M2 polarization induced by exosomal ANXA1.

Marine anticancer drugs in modulating miRNAs and antioxidant signaling

Several marine drugs exert anticancer effects by inducing oxidative stress, which becomes overloaded and kills cancer cells when redox homeostasis is imbalanced. The downregulation of antioxidant signaling induces oxidative stress, while its upregulation attenuates oxidative stress. Marine drugs have miRNA-modulating effects against cancer cells. However, the potential antioxidant targets of such drugs have been rarely explored. This review aims to categorize the marine-drug-modulated miRNAs that downregulate their antioxidant targets, causing oxidative stress in anticancer treatments. We also categorize the downregulation of oxidative-stress-inducing miRNAs in antioxidant protection among non-cancer cells. We summarize the putative antioxidant targets of miRNA-modulating marine drugs by introducing a bioinformatics tool (miRDB). Finally, the marine drugs affecting antioxidant targets are surveyed. In this way, the connections between marine drugs and their modulating miRNA and antioxidant targets are innovatively categorized to provide a precise network for exploring their potential anticancer functions and protective effects on non-cancer cells.

MiR-21 Regulates Growth and Migration of Cervical Cancer Cells by RECK Signaling Pathway

Expression of miR-21 has been found to be altered in almost all types of cancers, and it has been classified as an oncogenic microRNA. In addition, the expression of tumor suppressor gene RECK is associated with miR-21 overexpression in high-grade cervical lesions. In the present study, we analyze the role of miR-21 in RECK gene regulation in cervical cancer cells. To identify the downstream cellular target genes of upstream miR-21, we silenced endogenous miR-21 expression using siRNAs. We analyzed the expression of miR-21 and RECK, as well as functional effects on cell proliferation and migration. We found that in cervical cancer cells, there was an inverse correlation between miR-21 expression and RECK mRNA and protein expression. SiRNAs to miR-21 increased luciferase reporter activity in construct plasmids containing the RECK-3'-UTR microRNA response elements MRE21-1, MRE21-2, and MRE21-3. The role of miR-21 in cell proliferation was also analyzed, and cancer cells transfected with siRNAs exhibited a markedly reduced cell proliferation and migration. Our findings indicate that miR-21 post-transcriptionally down-regulates the expression of RECK to promote cell proliferation and cell migration inhibition in cervical cancer cell survival. Therefore, miR-21 and RECK may be potential therapeutic targets in gene therapy for cervical cancer.

TNFRSF1B Gene Variants in Clinicopathological Aspects and Prognosis of Patients with Cutaneous Melanoma

Regulatory T lymphocytes play a critical role in immune regulation and are involved in the aberrant cell elimination by facilitating tumor necrosis factor connection to the TNFR2 receptor, encoded by the TNFRSF1B polymorphic gene. We aimed to examine the effects of single nucleotide variants TNFRSF1B c.587T>G, c.*188A>G, c.*215C>T, and c.*922C>T on the clinicopathological characteristics and survival of cutaneous melanoma (CM) patients. Patients were genotyped using RT-PCR. TNFRSF1B levels were measured using qPCR. Luciferase reporter assay evaluated the interaction of miR-96 and miR-1271 with the 3'-UTR of TNFRSF1B. The c.587TT genotype was more common in patients younger than 54 years old than in older patients. Patients with c.*922CT or TT, c.587TG or GG + c.*922CT or TT genotypes, as well as those with the haplotype TATT, presented a higher risk of tumor progression and death due to the disease effects. Individuals with the c.*922TT genotype had a higher TNFRSF1B expression than those with the CC genotype. miR-1271 had less efficient binding with the 3'-UTR of the T allele when compared with the C allele of the SNV c.*922C>T. Our findings, for the first time, demonstrate that TNFRSF1B c.587T>G and c.*922C>T variants can serve as independent prognostic factors in CM patients.

New insights into the potential effects of PET microplastics on organisms via extracellular vesicle-mediated communication

Plastics have become an integral part of our daily lives. In the environment, plastics break down into small pieces (<5 mm) that are referred to as microplastics. Microplastics are ubiquitous and widespread in the environment, and all living organisms are exposed to their effects. The present study provides new insights into the potential effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics on organisms via extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated communication. The study demonstrated that serum-derived EVs are able to transport plastic particles. In addition, PET microplastics alter the content of miRNA in EVs. The identified differentially regulated miRNAs may target genes associated with lifestyle diseases, such as cardiovascular or metabolic diseases, and carcinogenesis. This work expands our understanding of PET microplastics' effects on organisms via EV-mediated communication and identifies directions for further research and strategies.

Comprehensive analysis to construct a novel immune-related prognostic panel in aging-related gastric cancer based on the lncRNA‒miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth frequent malignancy and is responsible for the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Gastric cancer is an aging-related disease, with incidence and mortality rates increasing with aging. The development of GC is affected by lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. This study aimed to establish a prognostic panel for GC based on competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. Methods: RNA sequences were obtained from the TCGA database. Different expressions of RNAs were scrutinized with the EdgeR package. The ceRNA network was built using the starBase database and the Cytoscape. The prognostic panel was constituted with the LASSO algorithm. We developed a nomogram comprising clinical characteristic and risk score. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to evaluate the accuracy of the nomogram prediction. Hub RNAs expressions were detected by qPCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot respectively. Clinical relevance and survival analyses were analyzed. The relationship between RNAs and immune infiltrations, as well as immune checkpoints, was analyzed and evaluated using the CIBERSORT, TIMER and TISIDB databases. Results: Four DElncRNAs, 21 DEmiRNAs and 45 DEmRNAs were included in the ceRNA network. A 3-element panel (comprising lncRNA PVT1, hsa-miR-130a-3p and RECK) with poor overall survival (OS) was established and qPCR was applied to validate the expressions of hub RNAs. Hub RNAs were firmly associated with T, M, and N stage. The CIBERSORT database showed that the high lassoScore group exhibited a significantly high ratio of resting memory CD4⁺ T cells, M2 macrophages and a significantly low ratio of activated memory CD4⁺ T cells and M1 macrophages. According to the TIMER database, this panel was linked to immune infiltrations and immune cell gene markers. TISIDB database indicated that RECK was positively correlated with immune checkpoints (including CD160, CD244, PDCD1, and TGFBR1). Discussion: A novel triple prognostic panel of GC constructed based on the ceRNA network was associated with clinical prognostic, clinicopathological features, immune infiltrations, immune checkpoints and immune gene markers. This panel might provide potential therapeutic targets for GC and more experimental verification research is needed.

Construction and validation of gastric cancer diagnosis model based on machine learning

Aim: To screen differentially expressed genes related to gastric cancer based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and construct a gastric cancer diagnosis model by machine learning. Methods: Transcriptional data, genomic data, and clinical information of gastric cancer tissues and non-gastric cancer tissues were downloaded from the TCGA database, and differentially expressed genes of gastric cancer messenger RNA (mRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) were screened out. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyzed the differentially expressed genes, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) of differentially expressed genes was constructed. Core differentially expressed genes were screened by Cytoscape software’s molecular complex detection (MCODE) plug-in. The differential genes of lncRNA were analyzed by univariate Cox regression analysis and lasso regression for further dimension reduction to obtain the core genes. The core genes were screened by machine learning to construct the gastric cancer diagnosis model. The efficiency of the gastric cancer diagnosis model was verified externally by the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Results: Finally, 10 genes including long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1821 (LINC01821), AL138826.1, AC022164.1, adhesion G protein-coupled receptor D1-antisense RNA 1 (ADGRD1-AS1), cyclin B1 (CCNB1), kinesin family member 11 (KIF11), Aurora kinase B (AURKB), cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), nucleolar and spindle associated protein 1 (NUSAP1), and TTK protein kinase (TTK) were screened as gastric cancer diagnostic model genes. After efficiency analysis, it was found that the random forest algorithm model had the best comprehensive evaluation, with an accuracy of 92% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9722, which was more suitable for building a gastric cancer diagnosis model. The GSE54129 data set was used to verify the gastric cancer diagnosis model with an AUC of 0.904, indicating that the gastric cancer diagnosis model had high accuracy. Conclusions: Machine learning can simplify the bioinformatics analysis process and improve efficiency. The core gene discovered in this study is expected to become a gene chip for the diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Extracellular vesicle microRNAs in celiac disease patients under a gluten-free diet, and in lactose intolerant individuals

BACKGROUND

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder triggered by an abnormal immunological response to gluten ingestion and is associated with deregulated expression of cellular microRNAs (miRNAs) of the gut mucosa. It is frequently misdiagnosed as lactose intolerance (LI) due to symptom resemblance. Microvilli loss may be counteracted by a rigorous gluten-free diet (GFD).

AIMS

To identify altered extracellular vesicle miRNAs from plasma among CD patients on GFD (n=34), lactose intolerant individuals on restrictive diet (n=14) and controls (n=23), and to predict biological pathways in which these altered miRNAs may play a part.

METHODS

Five different small RNA samples of each group were pooled twice and then screened by new-generation sequencing. Four miRNAs were selected to be quantified by RT-qPCR in the entire sample.

RESULTS

The levels of four miRNAs - miR-99b-3p, miR-197-3p, miR-223-3p, and miR-374b-5p - differed between CD patients and controls (P<0.05). Apart from miR-223-3p, all these miRNAs tended to have altered levels also between LI and controls (P<0.10). The results for miR-99b-3p and miR-197-3p between CD and controls were confirmed by RT-qPCR, which also indicated different levels of miR-99b-3p and miR-374b-5p between CD-associated LI and LI (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These miRNAs may have targets that affect cell death, cell communication, adhesion, and inflammation modulation pathways. Hence, altered miRNA levels could be associated with CD-related aspects and gut mucosa recovery.

The role of non-coding RNAs in chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancers

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including colorectal, gastric, hepatic, esophageal, and pancreatic tumors, are responsible for large numbers of deaths around the world. Chemotherapy is the most common approach used to treat advanced GI cancer. However, chemoresistance has emerged as a critical challenge that prevents successful tumor elimination, leading to metastasis and recurrence. Chemoresistance mechanisms are complex, and many factors and pathways are involved. Among these factors, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are critical regulators of GI tumor development and subsequently can induce resistance to chemotherapy. This occurs because ncRNAs can target multiple signaling pathways, affect downstream genes, and modulate proliferation, apoptosis, tumor cell migration, and autophagy. ncRNAs can also induce cancer stem cell features and affect the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Thus, ncRNAs could possibly act as new targets in chemotherapy combinations to treat GI cancer and to predict treatment response.

Bladder cancer-associated transcript 1 promotes melanoma cell proliferation and invasion via the miR-374b-5p/U2-associated factor homology motif kinase 1 axis

Melanoma is a malignancy derived from melanocytes and is associated with high mortality rates worldwide. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been confirmed to be pivotal regulators in multiple types of cancer. Many lncRNAs are aberrantly expressed in tumors and perform vital functions in cancer progression. Nevertheless, the biological role of lncRNA bladder cancer-associated transcript 1 (BLACAT1) in melanoma progression remains unexplored. In this study, the collected data showed that BLACAT1 was highly expressed in melanoma. Mechanistically, miR-374b-5p bound to BLACAT1, and U2-associated factor homology motif kinase 1 (UHMK1) was a downstream target of miR-374b-5p. BLACAT1 upregulated UHMK1 expression by acting as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-374-5b. BLACAT1 deficiency resulted in the upregulation of miR-374b-5p expression and the downregulation of UHMK1 expression in melanoma cells. Moreover, BLACAT1 activated PI3K and AKT signaling by upregulating UHMK1 expression, as shown by western blotting analyses. Functionally, UHMK1 overexpression or miR-374b-5p knockdown reversed the suppressive effect of BLACAT1 depletion on melanoma cell proliferation and invasion. In conclusion, BLACAT1 promotes melanoma cell proliferation and invasion by upregulating UHMK1 expression via miR-374b-5p to activate the PI3K/AKT pathway. These results might provide promising insight into the investigation of prognostic biomarkers of melanoma.

Construction of a ceRNA network in glioma and analysis of its clinical significance

Background

Glioma is the most common central nervous system tumor with a poor survival rate and prognosis. Previous studies have found that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) play important roles in regulating various tumor mechanisms. We obtained RNA-Seq data of glioma and normal brain tissue samples from TCGA and GTEx databases and extracted the lncRNA and mRNA expression data. Further, we analyzed these data using weighted gene co-expression network analysis and differential expression analysis, respectively. Differential expression analysis was also carried out on the mRNA data from the GEO database. Further, we predicted the interactions between lncRNA, miRNA, and targeted mRNA. Using the CGGA data to perform univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis on mRNA.

Results

We constructed a Cox proportional hazard regression model containing four mRNAs and performed immune infiltration analysis. Moreover, we also constructed a ceRNA network including 21 lncRNAs, two miRNAs, and four mRNAs, and identified seven lncRNAs related to survival that have not been previously studied in gliomas. Through the gene set enrichment analysis, we found four lncRNAs that may have a significant role in tumors and should be explored further in the context of gliomas.

Conclusions

In short, we identified four lncRNAs with research value for gliomas, constructed a ceRNA network in gliomas, and developed a prognostic prediction model. Our research enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying gliomas, providing new insights for developing targeted therapies and efficiently evaluating the prognosis of gliomas.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-08035-w.

The regulatory relationship and function of LncRNA FAM225A-miR-206-ADAM12 in gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role and functions of FAM225A in gastric cancer.

METHODS

The expressions of FAM225A, miR-206, ADAM12 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. Functional experiments including cell counting kit-8, colony formation, wound-healing, and Transwell assays were conducted to analyze the biological characteristics of gastric cancer cells in different groups. Bioinformatics, dual-luciferase reporter assay and Pearson correlation coefficients were performed for determining the regulatory relationship of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA. In vivo nude mouse xenografts and immunohistochemistry were used to verify the results in vitro.

RESULTS

In gastric cancer, FAM225A and ADAM12 expressions were up-regulated, while miR-206 expression was down-regulated. Opposite to the regulatory effects of overexpressed FAM225A, blocking FAM225A expression reduced cell viability, migration, invasion and number of cell clones, increased E-Cadherin expression, inhibited N-Cadherin and Vimentin expressions, and ultimately promoted tumor growth. MiR-206 inhibitor partially offset the effects of siFAM225A. Moreover, FAM225A competitively bound to miR-206 to up-regulate ADAM12 expression. Overexpressed ADAM12 partially reversed the effect of miR-206 mimic on the biological characteristics of gastric cancer cells and EMT-related proteins.

CONCLUSION

Our research revealed that FAM225A-miR-206-ADAM12 axis may be a potential pathway for regulating gastric cancer.

Reversion inducing cysteine rich protein with Kazal motifs and cardiovascular diseases: The RECKlessness of adverse remodeling

The Reversion Inducing Cysteine Rich Protein With Kazal Motifs (RECK) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored membrane-bound regulator of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). It is expressed throughout the body and plays a role in extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis and inflammation. In initial studies, RECK expression was found to be downregulated in various invasive cancers and associated with poor prognostic outcome. Restoring RECK, however, has been shown to reverse the metastatic phenotype. Downregulation of RECK expression is also reported in non-malignant diseases, such as periodontal disease, renal fibrosis, and myocardial fibrosis. As such, RECK induction has therapeutic potential in several chronic diseases. Mechanistically, RECK negatively regulates various matrixins involved in cell migration, proliferation, and adverse remodeling by targeting the expression and/or activation of multiple MMPs, A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase Domain-Containing Proteins (ADAMs), and A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase With Thrombospondin Motifs (ADAMTS). Outside of its role in remodeling, RECK has also been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effects. In cardiac diseases, for example, it has been shown to counteract several downstream effectors of Angiotensin II (Ang-II) that play a role in adverse cardiac and vascular remodeling, such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6)/IL-6 receptor (IL-6R)/glycoprotein 130 (IL-6 signal transducer) signaling and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) transactivation. This review article focuses on the current understanding of the multifunctional effects of RECK and how its downregulation may contribute to adverse cardiovascular remodeling.

Identification of tumor mutation burden-related hub genes and the underlying mechanism in melanoma

Background: Tumor mutation burden (TMB) has emerged as an important predictive factor for drug resistance in cancers; however, the specific mechanism underlying TMB function in melanoma remains elusive. Methods: Data on somatic mutations, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), miRNA sequencing (miRNA-seq), and clinical characteristics for 472 melanoma patients were extracted from the TCGA cohort. RNA-seq data of melanoma cell lines were obtained from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, and sensitivity of cell lines to therapeutic agents is available in the Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal. TMB was calculated based on somatic mutation data. Differentially expressed gene analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis, protein-protein interaction networks, Minimal Common Oncology Data Elements, and survival analysis were leveraged to determine TMB-related hub genes. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying hub gene function. The influence of key genes on drug sensitivity was analyzed to investigate their clinical significance. Results: Elevated TMB levels were significantly correlated with improved survival outcomes. In addition, six tumor-infiltrating immune cells, including naive B cells, regulatory T cells, memory resting CD4 T cells, memory B cells, activated mast cells, and resting NK cells, were significantly overexpressed in the low-TMB group relative to the high-TMB group. Furthermore, we identified FLNC, NEXN, and TNNT3 as TMB-related hub genes, and constructed their ceRNA networks, including five miRNAs (has-miR-590-3p, has-miR-374b-5p, has-miR-3127-5p, has-miR-1913, and has-miR-1291) and 31 lncRNAs (FAM66C, MIAT, NR2F2AS1, etc.). Finally, we observed that TMB-related genes were associated with distinct therapeutic responses to AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors. Conclusions: We identified three TMB-associated key genes, established their ceRNA networks, and investigated their influence on therapeutic responses, which could provide insights into future precision medicine.

Identification of a miRNA based model to detect prognostic subgroups in patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma

In order to differentiate prognostic subgroups of patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma, we analyzed the expression of 800 miRNAs with the NanoString nCounter human miRNA assay on a cohort of 228 FFPE samples of patients enrolled in the RICOVER-60 and MegaCHOEP trials. We identified significant miRNA signatures for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) by LASSO-penalized linear Cox-regression. High expression levels of miR-130a-3p and miR-423-5p indicate a better prognosis, whereas high levels of miR-374b-5p, miR-590-5p, miR-186-5p, and miR-106b-5p increase patients' risk levels for OS. Regarding PFS high expression of miR-365a-5p in addition to the other two miRNAs improves the prognosis and high levels of miR374a-5p, miR-106b-5p, and miR-590-5p, connects with increased risk and poor prognosis. We identified miRNA signatures to subdivide patients into two different risk groups. These prognostic models may be used in risk stratification in future clinical trials and help making personalized therapy decisions.

MicroRNA in Gastric Cancer Development: Mechanisms and Biomarkers

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common and difficult diseases to treat. The study of signaling pathway regulation by microRNA provides information on the mechanisms of GC development and is the basis for biomarker creation. In this study, a circuit of microRNA interactions with signaling pathways was constructed. The microRNAs, associated with metastasis and chemoresistance, are described. In most cases, microRNAs in GC regulate the Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, RAS/RAF/ERK/MAPK, NF-kB, TGF-β, and JAK/STAT pathways. Part of the microRNA acts on several target genes that function in different pathways. This often leads to an intensification of the induced processes. MicroRNAs have also been described that have the opposite effect on different pathways, causing different functional consequences. By acting on several target genes, or genes associated with several pathways, microRNAs can function in a signaling network. MicroRNAs associated with metastasis most often interact with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. MicroRNAs affecting chemoresistance, in most cases, affect the regulators of apoptosis and are associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The characteristics of microRNAs proposed as candidates for GC biomarkers were analyzed. The currently developed diagnostic and prognostic panels of microRNAs are also considered.

MicroRNA-374b-5p Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Targeting FOXP1 and Predicts Prognosis of Cancer Patients

Background

Lung cancer remains the most frequent malignancy worldwide with increasing morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the expression of microRNA-374b-5p (miR-374b-5p) in tissues and cell lines of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to evaluate the prognostic value of miR-374b-5p as well as its biological function in tumor progression.

Materials and Methods

Expression of miR-374b-5p in NSCLC patients and cells was estimated using quantitative real-time PCR. The prognostic value of miR-374b-5p was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function cell experiments were performed to examine the effects of miR-374b-5p on NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. A luciferase activity assay was used to confirm the target gene of miR-374b-5p.

Results

miR-374b-5p expression levels were decreased in tumorous tissues and cell lines compared with the normal tissues or cells (P < 0.05). The expression of miR-374b-5p was associated with the patients’ tumor size, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (all P < 0.05). Patients with low miR-374b-5p expression have a shorter survival time (log-rank P = 0.001), and the downregulated expression of miR-374b-5p was determined to be an independent prognostic indicator of NSCLC. In NSCLC cells, the overexpression of miR-374b-5p could inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion and could directly target FOXP1.

Conclusion

This study found that the decreased miR-374b-5p predicts poor prognosis of NSCLC, and the upregulation of miR-374b-5p can inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. The data obtained from this study provide a novel candidate prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.

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

Background

miR-196b-5p expression is deregulated in many malignant tumors. Although miR-196b-5p has been implicated in the malignant transformation of colorectal cancer, its role in this specific type of cancer has not been fully explored. Thus, the present study was aimed to examine the cellular function of miR-196b-5p and its role in malignant biological behavior in colorectal cancer.

Methods

miR-196b-5p expression was measured in colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines using quantitative real-time PCR. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and Transwell assay were used to detect proliferation, migration, and invasion in cell lines, whereas flow cytometry was applied to study apoptosis. Western blot analysis was performed to measure the protein levels. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to investigate the interaction between miR-196b-5p and ING5. Tumor formation was evaluated in mice.

Results

MiR-196b-5p was abundantly expressed in colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines, whereas ING5 was expressed at low levels. MiR-196b-5p was successfully overexpressed or knocked down in colorectal cancer cells. We found that miR-196b-5p overexpression significantly accelerated the proliferation, cell cycle, migration and invasion, while inhibited cell apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. However, miR-196b-5p inhibitor showed the opposite effects. Moreover, ING5 overexpression or knockdown was successfully performed in colorectal cancer cells. ING5 overexpression suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion, the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt as well as MEK, and promoted cell apoptosis, which could be reversed by ING5 knockdown. Additionally, ING5 was identified as a target of miR-196b-5p through bioinformatics analysis and a luciferase activity assay. Furthermore, ING5 knockdown could attenuate the decrease in proliferation, migration, invasion, and the protein levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-MEK, which were induced by miRNA-196b-5p inhibitor. Besides, miR-196b-5p knockdown inhibited tumor growth, whereas ING5 knockdown elevated it in vivo.

Conclusions

In conclusion, miR-196b-5p promotes cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and inhibits apoptosis in colorectal cancer by targeting ING5.

Circulating MicroRNA-19b Identified From Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture Patients Increases Bone Formation

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in regulating gene expression and have been reported to be involved in various metabolic diseases, including osteoporosis. Although the transcriptional regulation of osteoblast differentiation has been well characterized, the role of circulating miRNAs in this process is poorly understood. Here we discovered that the level of circulating miR-19b was significantly lower in osteoporotic patients with vertebral compression fractures than that of healthy controls. The expression level of miR-19b was increased during osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and MC3T3-E1 cells, and transfection with synthetic miR-19b could promote osteoblastic differentiation of hMSCs and MC3T3-E1 cells. PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10) was found to be directly repressed by miR-19b, with a concomitant increase in Runx2 expression and increased phosphorylation of AKT (protein kinase B, PKB). The expression level of circulating miR-19b in aged ovariectomized mice was significantly lower than in young mice. Moreover, the osteoporotic bone phenotype in aged ovariectomized mice was alleviated by the injection of chemically modified miR-19b (agomiR-19b). Taken together, our results show that circulating miR-19b plays an important role in enhancing osteoblastogenesis, possibly through regulation of the PTEN/pAKT/Runx2 pathway, and may be a useful therapeutic target in bone loss disorders, such as osteoporosis. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Long Non-Coding RNA MAGI2-AS3 is a New Player with a Tumor Suppressive Role in High Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma

High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma (HGSC) is the most incidental and lethal subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) with a high mortality rate of nearly 65%. Recent findings aimed at understanding the pathogenesis of HGSC have attributed its principal source as the Fallopian Tube (FT). To further comprehend the exact mechanism of carcinogenesis, which is still less known, we performed a transcriptome analysis comparing FT and HGSC. Our study aims at exploring new players involved in the development of HGSC from FT, along with their signaling network, and we chose to focus on non-coding RNAs. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are increasingly observed to be the major regulators of several cellular processes and could have key functions as biological markers, as well as even a therapeutic approach. The most physiologically relevant and significantly dysregulated non-coding RNAs were identified bioinformatically. After analyzing the trend in HGSC and other cancers, MAGI2-AS3 was observed to be an important player in EOC. We assessed its tumor-suppressive role in EOC by means of various assays. Further, we mapped its signaling pathway using its role as a miRNA sponge to predict the miRNAs binding to MAGI2AS3 and showed it experimentally. We conclude that MAGI2-AS3 acts as a tumor suppressor in EOC, specifically in HGSC by sponging miR-15-5p, miR-374a-5p and miR-374b-5p, and altering downstream signaling of certain mRNAs through a ceRNA network.

Semen miRNAs Contained in Exosomes as Non-Invasive Biomarkers for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Although it is specific for prostatic tissue, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has resulted in an over-diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) and many unnecessary biopsies of benign disease due to a well-documented low cancer specificity, thus improvement is required. We profiled the expression level of miRNAs contained in semen exosomes from men with moderately increased PSA levels to assess their usefulness, either alone or in addition to PSA marker, as non-invasive biomarkers, for the early efficient diagnosis and prognosis of PCa. An altered miRNA expression pattern was found by a high throughput profiling analysis in PCa when compared with healthy individuals (HCt) exosomal semen samples. The presence of vasectomy was taken into account for the interpretation of results. Fourteen miRNAs were selected for miRNA validation as PCa biomarkers in a subsequent set of semen samples. In this explorative study, we describe miRNA-based models, which included miRNA expression values together with PSA levels, that increased the classification function of the PSA screening test with diagnostic and/or prognostic potential: [PSA + miR-142-3p + miR-142-5p + miR-223-3p] model (AUC:0,821) to discriminate PCa from BPH (Sn:91,7% Sp:42,9% vs Sn:100% Sp:14,3%); and [PSA + miR-342-3p + miR-374b-5p] model (AUC: 0,891) to discriminate between GS ≥ 7 tumours and men presenting PSA ≥ 4 ng/ml with no cancer or GS6 tumours (Sn:81,8% Sp:95% vs Sn:54,5% Sp:90%). The pathway analysis of predicted miRNA target genes supports a role for these miRNAs in PCa aetiology and/or progression. Our study shows semen exosome miRNA-based models as molecular biomarkers with the potential to improve PCa diagnosis/prognosis efficiency. As the next step, further prospective studies on larger cohorts of patients are required to validate the diagnostic and/or prognostic role of the miRNA panel before it could be adopted into clinical practice.

miR-374a-5p: A New Target for Diagnosis and Drug Resistance Therapy in Gastric Cancer

Chemoresistance is one of the causes associated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of chemoresistance. Exosome-mediated delivery of anti-cancer molecules and drugs have emerged as a new approach for cancer therapy. We first examined the expression of miR-374a-5p in gastric cancer serum by qRT-PCR and explored the clinicopathological parameters. We then performed in vitro cell and molecular studies, including CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and western blot, to determine the roles of miR-374a-5p in gastric cancer chemoresistance and identified its downstream target by luciferase reporter assay. We also used in vivo animal studies to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of miR-374a-5p inhibitor and exosome-mediated delivery of miR-374a-5p inhibitor in gastric cancer. miR-374a-5p expression level was elevated in gastric cancer serum, and its upregulation predicted poor prognosis. miR-374a-5p overexpression promoted while miR-374a-5p knockdown inhibited gastric cancer chemoresistance in vitro and in vivo. miR-374a-5p bound to Neurod1 to antagonize its effect on chemoresistance. Exosome-mediated delivery of miR-374a-5p inhibitor could increase Neurod1 expression, promote cell apoptosis, and suppress chemoresistance. miR-374a-5p had a promoting role in gastric cancer chemoresistance, which would provide a novel biomarker for gastric cancer diagnosis and prognosis and offer a potential target for gastric cancer drug resistance therapy.

MicroRNA expression profiling provides novel insights into immune-related pathways involved in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers, and an increasing number of studies have found that microRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in gastric cancer progression; however, the roles of specific miRNAs involved in the immune response to this disease remain unclear. We compared the miRNA expression in tissues from primary gastric cancer patients and healthy controls to find miRNAs dysregulated in gastric cancer and used bioinformatics tools to determine potential roles of these miRNAs in the immune system. We evaluated 25 primary gastric cancer tissues and five healthy gastric tissues. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for a set of miRNAs, followed by the prediction of their target genes and functional enrichment analysis of these targets. Analysis of a microarray dataset showed that the miRNA miR-196a-5p was significantly upregulated, while miR-374a-5p and miR-375 were downregulated in gastric cancer patients. In addition, miR-374-5p was significantly downregulated in patients with metastasis compared with its expression levels in non-metastatic patients (p = 0.03). Bioinformatics analysis suggested that the pathways regulated by these differentially expressed miRNAs were related to the immune response, cell adhesion, and cell migration. Most importantly, this study provides a new insight into the potential use of multiple miRNAs to find distinct pathways of immune regulation in gastric cancer.

MiR-3653 inhibits the metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colon cancer by targeting Zeb2

Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been widely recognized to play critical roles in the pathogenic processes of colon cancer. However, the expression and functions of miR-3653 in colon cancer remain uncovered. This study revealed for the first time that miR-3653 expression was significantly decreased in colon cancer tissues and cell lines. MiR-3653 overexpression led to decreased migration and invasion of HCT116 cells while miR-3653 knockdown resulted in opposite influence of the metastatic behaviors of HT29 cells. qRT-PCR and western blot demonstrated that miR-3653 suppressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of colon cancer cells using both gain- and loss- of function assay. Mechanically, miR-3653 was found to interact with the 3'-UTR of Zeb2 through the complementary sequences and inhibited the expression of Zeb2 in colon cancer cells. Rescue experiments demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of miR-3653 overexpression on cell metastasis and EMT was abrogated by forced expression of Zeb2. This study demonstrates that miR-3653 suppresses the metastasis and EMT of colon cells by targeting Zeb2, and serves as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in colon cancer.

Exome-Wide Rare Variant Analysis From the DiscovEHR Study Identifies Novel Candidate Predisposition Genes for Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Family history is a known risk factor for endometrial cancer. The incidence of endometrial cancer in a first-degree relative elevates the relative risk to range between 1.3 and 2.8. It is unclear to what extent or what other novel germline variants are at play in endometrial cancer. We aim to address this question by utilizing whole exome sequencing as a means to identify novel, rare variant associations between exonic regions and endometrial cancer. The MyCode community health initiative is an excellent resource for this study with germline whole exome data for 60,000 patients available in the first phase, and further 30,000 patients independently sequenced in the second phase as part of DiscovEHR study. We conducted exome-wide rare variant association using 472 cases and 4,110 controls in 60,000 patients (discovery cohort); and 261 cases and 1,531 controls from 30,000 patients (replication cohort). After binning rare germline variants into genes, case-control association tests performed using Optimal Unified Approach for Rare-Variant Association, SKAT-O. Seven genes, including RBM12, NDUFB6, ATP6V1A, RECK, SLC35E1, RFX3 (Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.05) and ATP8A1 (suggestive P < 10⁻⁵), and one long non-coding RNA, DLGAP4-AS1 (Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.05), were associated with endometrial cancer. Notably, RECK, and ATP8A1 were replicated from the replication cohort (suggestive threshold P < 0.05). Additionally, a pathway-based rare variant analysis, using pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants, identified two significant pathways, pyrimidine metabolism and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.05). In conclusion, our results using the single-source electronic health records (EHR) linked to genomic data highlights candidate genes and pathways associated with endometrial cancer and indicates rare variants involvement in endometrial cancer predisposition, which could help in personalized prognosis and also further our understanding of its genetic etiology.

LncRNA MAGI2-AS3 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and migration by targeting the miR-374b-5p/SMG1 signaling pathway

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proven to play critical roles in cancer progression. Recently, lncRNA MAGI2-AS3 has been revealed to be a tumor suppressor and inhibit cell growth by targeting the Fas/FasL signalling pathway in breast cancer. However, the role and underlying mechanism of MAGI2-AS3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unknown. In the current study, we found that MAGI2-AS3 expression is downregulated in HCC tissues and closely associated with some clinical characteristics (tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage) and poor overall survival. Overexpression of MAGI2-AS3 inhibits HCC cell proliferation and migration in vitro, while impedes tumor growth in vivo accordantly. In addition, our data suggest that MAGI2-AS3 could function as an endogenous sponge of miR-374b-5p by directly binding to it and suppressing its expression. Furthermore, miR-374b-5p upregulation could restore the inhibitory effect of MAGI2-AS3 on HCC cells processes. Moreover, suppressor with morphogenetic effect on genitalia family member 1 (SMG1) is positively regulated by MAGI2-AS3 via absorbing miR-374b-5p in HCC cells. More important, SMG1 knockdown reverses the suppressive function of MAGI2-AS3 in HCC cell processes. Taken together, we reveal a functional MAGI2-AS3/miR-374b-5p/SMG1 axis that suppresses HCC progression, potently suggesting a new road for HCC treatment.

An overview of the multifaceted roles of miRNAs in gastric cancer: Spotlight on novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs that have displayed strong association with gastric cancer (GC). Through the repression of target mRNAs, miRNAs regulate many biological pathways that are involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, metastasis as well as drug resistance. The detection of miRNAs in tissues and in body fluids emerges as a promising method in the diagnosis and prognosis of GC, due to their unique expression pattern in correlation with GC. Notably, miRNAs are also identified as potential therapeutic targets for GC therapy. The present review is thus to highlight the multifaceted roles of miRNAs in GC and in GC therapies, which would give indications for future research.

The latest progress on miR-374 and its functional implications in physiological and pathological processes

Non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been emerging players in cell development, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Based on their differences in length and structure, they are subdivided into several categories including long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs >200nt), stable non‐coding RNAs (60‐300nt), microRNAs (miRs or miRNAs, 18‐24nt), circular RNAs, piwi‐interacting RNAs (26‐31nt) and small interfering RNAs (about 21nt). Therein, miRNAs not only directly regulate gene expression through pairing of nucleotide bases between the miRNA sequence and a specific mRNA that leads to the translational repression or degradation of the target mRNA, but also indirectly affect the function of downstream genes through interactions with lncRNAs and circRNAs. The latest studies have highlighted their importance in physiological and pathological processes. MiR‐374 family member are located at the X‐chromosome inactivation center. In recent years, numerous researches have uncovered that miR‐374 family members play an indispensable regulatory role, such as in reproductive disorders, cell growth and differentiation, calcium handling in the kidney, various cancers and epilepsy. In this review, we mainly focus on the role of miR‐374 family members in multiple physiological and pathological processes. More specifically, we also summarize their promising potential as novel prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets from bench to bedside.

In silico identification of microRNAs predicted to regulate N-myristoyltransferase and Methionine Aminopeptidase 2 functions in cancer and infectious diseases

Protein myristoylation is a key protein modification carried out by N-Myristoyltransferase (NMT) after Methionine aminopeptidase 2 (MetAP2) removes methionine from the amino-terminus of the target protein. Protein myristoylation by NMT augments several signaling pathways involved in a myriad of cellular processes, including developmental pathways and pathways that when dysregulated lead to cancer or immune dysfunction. The emerging evidence pointing to NMT-mediated myristoylation as a major cellular regulator underscores the importance of understanding the framework of this type of signaling event. Various studies have investigated the role that myristoylation plays in signaling dysfunction by examining differential gene or protein expression between normal and diseased states, such as cancers or following HIV-1 infection, however no study exists that addresses the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of myristoylation. By performing a large scale bioinformatics and functional analysis of the miRNAs that target key genes involved in myristoylation (NMT1, NMT2, MetAP2), we have narrowed down a list of promising candidates for further analysis. Our condensed panel of miRNAs identifies 35 miRNAs linked to cancer, 21 miRNAs linked to developmental and immune signaling pathways, and 14 miRNAs linked to infectious disease (primarily HIV). The miRNAs panel that was analyzed revealed several NMT-targeting mRNAs (messenger RNA) that are implicated in diseases associated with NMT signaling alteration, providing a link between the realms of miRNA and myristoylation signaling. These findings verify miRNA as an additional facet of myristoylation signaling that must be considered to gain a full perspective. This study provides the groundwork for future studies concerning NMT-transcript-binding miRNAs, and will potentially lead to the development of new diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for several important diseases.

Downregulation of miR-374b-5p promotes chemotherapeutic resistance in pancreatic cancer by upregulating multiple anti-apoptotic proteins

Resistance to first-line chemotherapeutic drugs such as gemcitabine contributes to the poor prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNA) regulate chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer. By analyzing the miRNA sequencing dataset of pancreatic cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas, it was demonstrated that miR-374b-5p expression was dramatically reduced in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues, as well as decreased in chemoresistant compared with chemosensitive pancreatic carcinoma tissues. The decreased expression of miR-374-5p was associated with poor overall and progression-free survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, increased expression of miR-374b-5p abrogated, while the silencing miR-374b-5p increased the chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine in vitro. Importantly, the upregulation of miR-374b-5p ameliorated the chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine in vivo. It was also demonstrated that miR-374b-5p targeted several anti-apoptotic proteins, including B-cell lymphoma 2, Baculoviral IAP Repeat Containing 3 and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells, which further attenuated chemo-resistance in pancreatic cancer. Therefore, the results of the current study indicate that miR-374b-5p serves as a potential diagnostic marker. It also suggests that miR-374b-5p sensitizes cells to chemotherapy and may be used in combination with chemotherapeutic agents such as gemcitabine to treat patients with pancreatic cancer.

MicroRNA-374b inhibits liver cancer progression via down regulating programmed cell death-1 expression on cytokine-induced killer cells

Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) is an oncogene associated with suppressing proliferation and cytokine production of T cells in the progression of liver cancer. microRNAs (miRs) regulate gene expression via specific binding to the target 3′untranslated region of mRNA. In the present study, miR-374b was indicated to interact with PD-1 and affect the tumor-targeting capacity of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells. miR-374b inhibitor significantly increased PD-1 expression in CIK cells. A synthetic small interfering (si)RNA targeting PD-1 was employed to silence the expression level of PD-1 in CIK cells. Then, the antitumor effect of siPD-1 in CIK cells was investigated. In vitro study demonstrated that IFN-γ secretion and the concentration of lactate dehydrogenase were significantly increased in the PD-1 knockdown group; however, the viability of HepG2 cells in the PD-1 knockdown group had significantly decreased, compared with the HepG2 cells in the negative control group. In vivo study indicated that mice inoculated with HepG2 cells and CIK cells with PD-1 knocked down had a significantly smaller tumor volume, compared with the control group. To conclude, human CIK cells transfected with siPD-1 can target liver cancer cells and enhance immunotherapy efficacy, and therefore they have potential in the immunotherapy of liver cancer.

MicroRNAs miR-19, miR-340, miR-374 and miR-542 regulate MID1 protein expression

The MID1 ubiquitin ligase activates mTOR signaling and regulates mRNA translation. Misregulation of MID1 expression is associated with various diseases including midline malformation syndromes, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. While this indicates that MID1 expression must be tightly regulated to prevent disease states specific mechanisms involved have not been identified. We examined miRNAs to determine mechanisms that regulate MID1 expression. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small non-coding RNAs that recognize specific sequences in their target mRNAs. Upon binding, miRNAs typically downregulate expression of these targets. Here, we identified four miRNAs, miR-19, miR-340, miR-374 and miR-542 that bind to the 3'-UTR of the MID1 mRNA. These miRNAs not only regulate MID1 expression but also mTOR signaling and translation of disease associated mRNAs and could therefore serve as potential drugs for future therapy development.

MicroRNA-374b reduces the proliferation and invasion of colon cancer cells by regulation of LRH-1/Wnt signaling

Deregulation of microRNA (miRNA) has been suggested as a critical event in colon cancer development and progression. Recent studies have suggested that miR-374b is a novel cancer-related miRNA involved in several cancer types. Thus far, very little is known about the role of miR-374b in colon cancer; therefore, the goal of this study was to investigate the potential role of miR-374b in colon cancer. Here, we showed that miR-374b expression was significantly downregulated in colon cancer tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-374b inhibited the proliferation and invasion of colon cancer cells, while miR-374b suppression promoted colon cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1) was identified as a target of miR-374b in colon cancer cells. Both the mRNA and protein expression of LRH-1 were regulated by miR-374b. In addition, an inverse correlation between LRH-1 mRNA and miR-374b expression was evidenced in colon cancer specimens. Notably, overexpression of miR-374b also downregulated the Wnt signaling in colon cancer cells. Furthermore, restoration of LRH-1 expression significantly abolished the antitumor effect of miR-374b in colon cancer cells. These findings suggest that miR-374b inhibits colon cancer cell proliferation and invasion through downregulation of LRH-1 expression. Inhibiting LRH-1 by miR-374b may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of colon cancer.

Glomerulocapillary miRNA response to HLA-class I antibody in vitro and in vivo

Changes in miRNA expression glomerular of capillaries during antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) are poorly understood and could contribute to the deleterious inflammation and fibrosis of ABMR via suppression of target genes. A better understanding could lead to novel diagnostic tools and reveal novel therapeutic targets. We explored deregulated miRNAs in an glomeruloendothelial in vitro model of ABMR due to class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA) with and without complement activation. We studied a set of 16 promising candidate miRNAs in microdissected glomeruli a confirmation set of 20 human transplant biopsies (DSA+) compared to 10 matched controls without evidence for ABMR. Twelve out of these 16 glomerulocapillary miRNAs could successfully be confirmed as dysregulated in vivo with 10 upregulated (let-7c-5p, miR-28-3p, miR-30d-5p, miR-99b-5p, miR-125a-5p, miR-195-5p, miR-374b-3p, miR-484, miR-501-3p, miR-520e) and 2 downregulated (miR29b-3p, miR-885-5p) in DSA+ vs.

CONTROLS

A random forest analysis based on glomerular miRNAs identified 18/20 DSA+ and 8/10 controls correctly. This glomerulocapillary miRNA signature associated with HLA class I-DSA could improve our understanding of ABMR and be useful for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

miR-374 mediates the malignant transformation of gastric cancer-associated mesenchymal stem cells in an experimental rat model

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a critical component of the tumor microenvironment. Upon distinct pathological stimulus, MSCs show phenotypic and functional changes. Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer‑related deaths worldwide. The roles and mechanisms of MSCs in gastric cancer have not been well characterized. In the present study, we investigated the roles of MSCs in the malignant transformation from gastritis to gastric cancer using an N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric cancer model. We isolated MSCs from the gastric tissues of normal (RGN-MSCs) and MNNG-exposed rats (RGI-MSCs), and compared the biological properties of RGI-MSCs with RGN-MSCs. We found that RGI-MSCs had increased proliferative and migratory capabilities than these capacities noted in the RGN-MSCs. In addition, RGI-MSCs produced higher levels of IL-6, CXCL10 and MCP-1 than RGN-MSCs. Moreover, RGI-MSCs promoted the migration of normal gastric mucosa epithelial cells by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The upregulation of miR-374 in RGI-MSCs was partially responsible for their increased proliferative and migratory capabilities. Collectively, our findings provide new evidence for the roles of MSCs in gastric carcinogenesis, suggesting that targeting gastric cancer-associated MSCs may represent a novel avenue for gastric cancer therapy.

PTIP promotes recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal tumors worldwide, which is mainly due to the high recurrence and metastasis rate after hepatectomy. In this study, we found that PTIP expression was dramatically upregulated in human HCC tissues and cell lines. High expression of PTIP was shown to be associated with aggressive clinicopathological features, including liver cirrhosis, vascular invasion and advanced stage. In addition, PTIP overexpression was independently associated with shorter survival and increased HCC recurrence in patients. Knockdown of the PTIP expression significantly inhibited invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo, whereas ectopic expression of PTIP significantly promoted invasion and metastasis. Mechanistically, PTIP promotes HCC progress by facilitating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Notably, we also found that PTIP might increase miR-374a expression to promote EMT and metastasis in HCC. In summary, our study identified PTIP as a new potential prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for HCC.

miRNA-320a inhibits tumor proliferation and invasion by targeting c-Myc in human hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Downregulated expression levels of microRNA-320a (miR-320a) were found in primary breast cancers and colorectal cancer. Previous findings indicated that miRNA-320a may involve in the cancer development. In this study, we explored the roles of miR-320a by targeting c-Myc in the tumor growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression of miR-320a in 50 HCC tissues and four HCC cells. Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to confirm the direct downstream target of miR-320a in HEK-293 cells. The effect of miR-320a on endogenous c-Myc expression was investigated by transfecting miR-320a mimics into HepG2 and QGY-7703 cell lines. The c-Myc and miR-320a expressions were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and qRT-PCR in the same HCC tissues. Furthermore, the biological functional correlation of miR-320a with c-Myc was determined by studying the effect of miR-320a mimics or c-Myc small interfering RNA (siRNA) on HCC cell proliferation and invasion.

RESULTS

The expression of miR-320a was downregulated in 50 HCC tissues and 4 HCC cells. Luciferase assay revealed that c-Myc is a direct target of miR-320a. IHC and Western blot analysis showed that the c-Myc expression was inhibited by miR-320a in HCC tissues and cell lines. Upregulation of miR-320a suppressed the HCC cell proliferation and invasion capacity induced by inhibiting c-Myc, and the results were consistent with the effects of c-Myc siRNA on tumor suppression. These results revealed that miRNA-320a inhibits tumor proliferation and invasion by targeting c-Myc in HCC cells.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that miR-320a functions as a tumor suppressor in HCC. By targeting c-Myc directly, miR-320a inhibits the HCC cell growth. Our studies provide evidence of miR-320a as a potentially target for HCC treatment.

Dysregulation of MicroRNA-196b-5p and MicroRNA-375 in Gastric Cancer

Purpose

Dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) can contribute to cancer development by leading to abnormal proliferation of cells, apoptosis, and differentiation. Although several miRNAs that are related to gastric cancer have been identified, the reported results have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to determine miRNA expression profiles and validate miRNAs up- and down-regulated in gastric cancer.

Materials and Methods

We evaluated 34 primary gastric cancer tissues and paired adjacent nontumorous gastric tissues. Total RNA was extracted, and low-molecular-weight RNAs (<200 nucleotides) were isolated for further analysis. Two pairs of tissues were processed for GeneChip microarray analysis, and the identified up- and down-regulated miRNAs were validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results

In the set of differentially expressed miRNAs, 5 were overexpressed by more than 2 fold, and 5 were reduced by 2 fold or less in gastric cancer tissues compared with normal gastric tissues. Four of these miRNAs (miR-196b-5p, miR-375, miR-483-5p, and miR-486-5p) were then validated by qPCR, and the relative expression levels of 2 miRNAs (miR-196b-5p and miR-375) were significantly different between cancer and normal tissues.

Conclusions

Our results revealed that the expression of miR-196b-5p and miR-375 significantly correlates with gastric cancer. These miRNAs could therefore serve as diagnostic biomarkers of gastric cancer.

Significance of expression of MTA1 and RECK in carcinogenesis of colonic polyps

AIM

To detect the expression of MTA1 and RECK in colonic polyps and colorectal carcinoma tissues, and to explore the role of MTA1 and RECK in the carcinogenesis of colonic polyps.

METHODS

Immunochemical staining was used to detect the expression of MTA1 and RECK proteins in 104 cases of colorectal carcinoma, 114 cases of colonic polyps and 30 cases of normal colorectal mucosa.

RESULTS

The positive expression rate of MTA1 gradually increased from normal colorectal mucosa to tubular adenoma, villous adenoma and colorectal carcinoma (P < 0.05). The positive expression rate of MTA1 in middle-severe dysplasia group was significantly higher than that in the mild dysplasia group in colonic polyps (P < 0.05). The expression rates of RECK were 100.00%, 78.57%, 77.27%, and 53.85% in normal colonic tissue, tubular adenoma, villous adenoma and colon carcinoma, respectively. The positive expression rate of RECK gradually decreased from normal colonic tissues to tubular adenoma, villous adenoma and colon carcinoma. The expression rate of RECK in the severe dysplasia group was significantly lower than that in the mild dysplasia group in colonic polyps (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

MTA1 is highly expressed in colorectal carcinoma, but the expression of RECK is absent. MTA1 and RECK may be involved in the carcinogenesis of colonic polyps.

CCL3 promotes angiogenesis by dysregulation of miR-374b/ VEGF-A axis in human osteosarcoma cells

Osteosarcoma is the most frequent bone tumor, characterized by a high metastatic potential. However, the crosstalk between chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3), which facilitates tumor progression and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), an angiogenesis inducer and a highly specific mitogen for endothelial cells, has not been well explored in human osteosarcoma. Here we demonstrate the correlation of CCL3 and VEGF-A expressions, quantified by immunohistochemistry, with the tumor stage of human osteosarcoma tissues. Furthermore, CCL3 promotes VEGF-A expression in human osteosarcoma cells that subsequently induces human endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) migration and tube formation. Phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, and p38 was found after CCL3 stimulation. In addition, JNK, ERK, and p38 inhibitors also abolished CCL3-induced VEGF-A expression and angiogenesis. We noted that CCL3 reduces the expression of miR-374b and miR-374b mimic by reversing CCL3-promoted VEGF-A expression and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. This study shows that CCL3 promotes VEGF-A expression and angiogenesis in human osteosarcoma cells by down-regulating miR-374b expression via JNK, ERK, and p38 signaling pathways. Thus, CCL3 may be a new molecular therapeutic target in osteosarcoma angiogenesis and metastasis.

miR-326 Inhibits Gastric Cancer Cell Growth Through Downregulating NOB1

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in the development and progression of human cancers, including gastric cancer (GC). The discovery of miRNAs may provide a new and powerful tool for studying the mechanism, diagnosis, and treatment of GC. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of miR-326 in the development and progression of GC. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to measure the expression level of miR-326 in GC tissues and cell lines. We found that miR-326 was significantly downregulated during GC. In addition, overexpression of miR-326 inhibited GC cell proliferation. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) further showed that miR-326 significantly induced GC cell G2/M arrest. Subsequent dual-luciferase reporter assay identified one of the proto-oncogene NOB1 as a direct target of miR-326, and NOB1 can save growth inhibition caused by miR-326. We also confirmed that the growth inhibition caused by miR-326 is associated with AKT pathway activation. Taken together, our results indicate that miR-326 could serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic option for GC in the near future.

miR-590-5p regulates gastric cancer cell growth and chemosensitivity through RECK and the AKT/ERK pathway

Background

The aim of this study was to determine the role of miRNA-590-5p in gastric cancer (GC) progression.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure endogenous miR-590-5p levels in GC cells and tissues. Overexpression or knockdown of miR-590-5p in GC cells was performed by transfection with mimics or an inhibitor, respectively. MTT, matrigel transwell, and Western blot assays were used to assess the effects of miR-590-5p on cell proliferation, invasion, chemosensitivity of GC cells, and the AKT pathway, respectively. In silico prediction and luciferase reporter activity were used to identify potential targets of miR-590-5p. A xenograft model was also established to evaluate the function of miR-590-5p in vivo.

Results

The expression of miR-590-5p was significantly increased in GC cells and tissues, and upregulated miR-590-5p was associated with increased tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and poor survival. Overexpression of miR-590-5p promoted cell proliferation and invasion and reduced the sensitivity of GC cells to cisplatin and paclitaxel. In contrast, inhibition of miR-590-5p had the opposite effects on GC cells. RECK was identified as a direct target of miR-590-5p. Knockdown of RECK accelerated cell proliferation and motility and decreased the drug sensitivity. Furthermore, reintroduction of RECK inhibited the oncogenic effects of miR-590-5p by suppressing cell proliferation and invasion and increasing drug sensitivity. We found that the AKT/ERK and STAT3 signaling pathways were activated by miR-590-5p overexpression. The chemoresistance of miR-590-5p was also verified by in vivo analysis.

Conclusion

In summary, we suggest that the miR-590-5p/RECK/AKT axis contributes to GC and may serve as a promising therapeutic target for treatment.

NanoStringDiff: a novel statistical method for differential expression analysis based on NanoString nCounter data

The advanced medium-throughput NanoString nCounter technology has been increasingly used for mRNA or miRNA differential expression (DE) studies due to its advantages including direct measurement of molecule expression levels without amplification, digital readout and superior applicability to formalin fixed paraffin embedded samples. However, the analysis of nCounter data is hampered because most methods developed are based on t-tests, which do not fit the count data generated by the NanoString nCounter system. Furthermore, data normalization procedures of current methods are either not suitable for counts or not specific for NanoString nCounter data. We develop a novel DE detection method based on NanoString nCounter data. The method, named NanoStringDiff, considers a generalized linear model of the negative binomial family to characterize count data and allows for multifactor design. Data normalization is incorporated in the model framework through data normalization parameters, which are estimated from positive controls, negative controls and housekeeping genes embedded in the nCounter system. We propose an empirical Bayes shrinkage approach to estimate the dispersion parameter in the model and a likelihood ratio test to identify differentially expressed genes. Simulations and real data analysis demonstrate that the proposed method performs better than existing methods.