MicroRNA-219a-2-3p modulates the proliferation of thyroid cancer cells via the HPSE/cyclin D1 pathway

CircACTR2 promotes bladder cancer progression through IKBKB-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway activation

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have significant roles in tumor progression. The role of circRNA derived from ARP2 actin-related protein 2 homolog (circACTR2) has been reported in various human diseases. However, the functions and regulatory mechanisms of circACTR2 in Bladder Cancer (BCa) remain unknown.

Objectives

This study aims to explore the biological role and regulatory mechanism of circACTR2 in BCa.

Methods

We analyzed the effects of circACTR2 on BCa through bioinformatics analyses, RT-qPCR, and cell function assays.

Results

We observed the upregulation of circACTR2 in BCa tissues and validated its circular structure. Loss-of-function assays demonstrated that silencing circACTR2 suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and migration of BCa cells. Mechanistic investigation revealed that circACTR2 sponges miR-219a-2-3p to elevate the expression of the inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase subunit beta (IKBKB). This induced upregulation of IKKβ protein promoted the nuclear translocation of p65, thereby activating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that circACTR2 promotes BCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway via the miR-219a-2-3p/IKBKB axis, potentially unveiling a new therapeutic target for BCa.

Identification of Shared Biomarkers and Immune Infiltration Signatures between Vitiligo and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Background

Vitiligo and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) are concomitant autoimmune diseases characterized by the destruction of melanocytes or thyrocytes. We aimed to explore the immunological mechanism of this comorbidity and screen their potential biomarkers.

Methods

We downloaded the microarray datasets from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and immune-related genes (IRGs) were selected. The immune-related differentially expressed genes (IRDEGs) were obtained by taking the intersection. Candidate biomarkers were elected by Cytoscape software. CIBERSORT was used to depict immune cell infiltration prospects. Correlation analysis was conducted between infiltrating cells and several indicators. The results were validated by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).

Results

Three datasets and 60 IRDEGs were obtained in total. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that the T cell receptor signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, receptor-ligand activity, and signaling receptor activator activity were significantly enriched. We screened out four hub genes, including IFNG, STAT1, IL1B, and CXCL10. The ROC curve indicated the highest diagnostic value of CXCL10 in both vitiligo and HT. Immuno-infiltration analysis revealed significant changes in T cell subsets and macrophage subtypes, which were correlated with four hub genes, melanocyte markers, and thyroid-specific antigens. qPCR validated the hub genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with comorbidity.

Conclusion

IFNG, STAT1, IL1B, and CXCL10, were the key IRDEGs to vitiligo and HT. These genes may participate in the comorbidity by remodeling the immune cell infiltration pattern, and cross-expressed antigens may mediate the common damage of melanocytes and thyroid tissues.

Comparison of Oncogenes, Tumor Suppressors, and MicroRNAs Between Schizophrenia and Glioma: The Balance of Power

The risk of cancer in schizophrenia has been controversial. Confounders of the issue are cigarette smoking in schizophrenia, and antiproliferative effects of antipsychotic medications. The author has previously suggested comparison of a specific cancer like glioma to schizophrenia might help determine a more accurate relationship between cancer and schizophrenia. To accomplish this goal, the author performed three comparisons of data; the first a comparison of conventional tumor suppressors and oncogenes between schizophrenia and cancer including glioma. This comparison determined schizophrenia has both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting characteristics. A second, larger comparison between brain-expressed microRNAs in schizophrenia with their expression in glioma was then performed. This identified a core carcinogenic group of miRNAs in schizophrenia offset by a larger group of tumor-suppressive miRNAs. This proposed "balance of power" between oncogenes and tumor suppressors could cause neuroinflammation. This was assessed by a third comparison between schizophrenia, glioma and inflammation in asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma (ALRCM). This revealed that schizophrenia shares more oncogenic similarity to ALRCM than glioma.

Chimeric RNA RRM2-C2orf48 plays an oncogenic role in the development of NNK-induced lung cancer

Chimeric RNAs have been used as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for multiple types of cancers. However, less attention has been paid to their mechanism of action in neoplasia. Here, we reported that high-expressed chimeric RNA RRM2-C2orf48 was found in malignantly transformed BEAS-2B cells induced by 4-(methyl nitrosamine)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in 74 lung cancer patients and several lung cancer cell lines. The expression level of RRM2-C2orf48 was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, tumor-lymph node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and smoking. Overexpressing RRM2-C2orf48 promoted cell growth and accelerated the process of NNK-induced lung cancer. RRM2-C2orf48 knockdown inhibited the growth of RRM2-C2orf48-overexpressing BEAS-2B cells. Finally, we identified miR-219a-2-3p as a potential target of RRM2-C2orf48 in lung cancer. In summary, chimeric RNA RRM2-C2orf48 accelerated the process of NNK-induced lung cancer, and miR-219a-2-3p may be involved in this process.

LINC00657 regulate colorectal carcinoma invasion and migration by enhancing heparanase expression through recruiting SMAD family member 2

Long noncoding RNAs are master regulators of several cancer phenotypes, such as cell growth, apoptosis, and motility. This study is designed to resolve the relevance of LINC00657 with tumor invasion and migration and its action mechanism in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). LINC00657 and HPSE levels were first examined in cancerous tissues from CRC patients and CRC cells. Then functional experiments were conducted to evaluate the abilities of HCT116 and SW620 cells to proliferate, migrate, and invade when LINC00657 or HPSE was knocked down, or LINC00657 knockdown and SMAD2 overexpression were simultaneously introduced. Snail and E-cadherin levels in the CRC cells were evaluated. Next, the binding between LINC00657 and SMAD2 or between SMAD2 and HPSE was determined. LINC00657-silencing HCT116 cells were inoculated into nude mice, and the tumorigenesis and the levels of Snail and E-cadherin were evaluated. LINC00657 and HPSE were increasingly expressed in CRC. Knockdown of LINC00657 or HPSE inhibited the malignant properties of CRC cells, decreased Snail expression, and strengthened E-cadherin level. LINC00657 and HPSE could both bind to SMAD2. SMAD2 overexpression counteracted the inhibiting effect of LINC00657 silencing on HPSE expression and the growth and invasion of CRC cells. In vivo experiments further verified the suppression of LINC00657 knockdown on tumor growth and metastasis. LINC00657 recruits SMAD2 to HPSE promoter region to elevate HPSE transcription, thus accelerating CRC invasion and migration.