MicroRNA-154 as a prognostic factor in bladder cancer inhibits cellular malignancy by targeting RSF1 and RUNX2

Telomere maintenance-related genes are important for survival prediction and subtype identification in bladder cancer

Background: Bladder cancer ranks among the top three in the urology field for both morbidity and mortality. Telomere maintenance-related genes are closely related to the development and progression of bladder cancer, and approximately 60%-80% of mutated telomere maintenance genes can usually be found in patients with bladder cancer. Methods: Telomere maintenance-related gene expression profiles were obtained through limma R packages. Of the 359 differential genes screened, 17 prognostically relevant ones were obtained by univariate independent prognostic analysis, and then analysed by LASSO regression. The best result was selected to output the model formula, and 11 model-related genes were obtained. The TCGA cohort was used as the internal group and the GEO dataset as the external group, to externally validate the model. Then, the HPA database was used to query the immunohistochemistry of the 11 model genes. Integrating model scoring with clinical information, we drew a nomogram. Concomitantly, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the immune profile and drug sensitivity of the bladder cancer. Referring to the matrix heatmap, delta area plot, consistency cumulative distribution function plot, and tracking plot, we further divided the sample into two subtypes and delved into both. Results: Using bioinformatics, we obtained a prognostic model of telomere maintenance-related genes. Through verification with the internal and the external groups, we believe that the model can steadily predict the survival of patients with bladder cancer. Through the HPA database, we found that three genes, namely ABCC9, AHNAK, and DIP2C, had low expression in patients with tumours, and eight other genes-PLOD1, SLC3A2, RUNX2, RAD9A, CHMP4C, DARS2, CLIC3, and POU5F1-were highly expressed in patients with tumours. The model had accurate predictive power for populations with different clinicopathological features. Through the nomogram, we could easily assess the survival rate of patients. Clinicians can formulate targeted diagnosis and treatment plans for patients based on the prediction results of patient survival, immunoassays, and drug susceptibility analysis. Different subtypes help to further subdivide patients for better treatment purposes. Conclusion: According to the results obtained by the nomogram in this study, combined with the results of patient immune-analysis and drug susceptibility analysis, clinicians can formulate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans for patients. Different subtypes can be used to further subdivide the patient for a more precise treatment plan.

Identification and analysis of microRNA editing events in recurrent bladder cancer based on RNA sequencing: MicroRNA editing level is a potential novel biomarker

Background: With the continued advancement of RNA-seq (RNA-sequencing), microRNA (miRNA) editing events have been demonstrated to play an important role in different malignancies. However, there is yet no description of the miRNA editing events in recurrent bladder cancer.

Objective: To identify and compare miRNA editing events in primary and recurrent bladder cancer, as well as to investigate the potential molecular mechanism and its impact on patient prognosis.

Methods: We examined the mRNA and miRNA transcriptomes of 12 recurrent bladder cancer cases and 13 primary bladder cancer cases. The differentially expressed mRNA sequences were analyzed. Furthermore, we identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in recurrent bladder cancer. The Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analyses on DEGs and gene set enrichment analysis were performed. The consensus molecular subtype (CMS) classification of bladder cancer was identified using the Consensus MIBC package in R (4.1.0); miRNA sequences were then further subjected to differentially expressed analysis and pathway enrichment analysis. MiRNA editing events were identified using miRge3.0. miRDB and TargetScanHuman were used to predict the downstream targets of specific differentially edited or expressed miRNAs. The expression levels of miR-154-5p and ADAR were validated by RT-qPCR. Finally, survival and co-expression studies were performed on the TCGA-BLCA cohort.

Results: First, the mRNA expression levels in recurrent bladder cancer changed significantly, supporting progression via related molecular signal pathways. Second, significantly altered miRNAs in recurrent bladder cancer were identified, with miR-154-5p showing the highest level of editing in recurrent bladder cancer and may up-regulate the expression levels of downstream targets HS3ST3A1, AQP9, MYLK, and RAB23. The survival analysis results of TCGA data revealed that highly expressed HS3ST3A1 and RAB23 exhibited poor prognosis. In addition, miR-154 editing events were found to be significant to CMS classification.

Conclusion: MiRNA editing in recurrent bladder cancer was detected and linked with poor patient prognosis, providing a reference for further uncovering the intricate molecular mechanism in recurrent bladder cancer. Therefore, inhibiting A-to-I editing of miRNA may be a viable target for bladder cancer treatment, allowing current treatment choices to be expanded and individualized.

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of checkpoint genes on the tumour side of the immunological synapse

Cancer is a disease of the genome, therefore, its development has a clear Mendelian component, demonstrated by well-studied genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 in breast cancer risk. However, it is known that a single genetic variant is not enough for cancer to develop leading to the theory of multistage carcinogenesis. In many cases, it is a sequence of events, acquired somatic mutations, or simply polygenic components with strong epigenetic effects, such as in the case of brain tumours. The expression of many genes is the product of the complex interplay between several factors, including the organism's genotype (in most cases Mendelian-inherited), genetic instability, epigenetic factors (non-Mendelian-inherited) as well as the immune response of the host, to name just a few. In recent years the importance of the immune system has been elevated, especially in the light of the immune checkpoint genes discovery and the subsequent development of their inhibitors. As the expression of these genes normally suppresses self-immunoreactivity, their expression by tumour cells prevents the elimination of the tumour by the immune system. These discoveries led to the rapid growth of the field of immuno-oncology that offers new possibilities of long-lasting and effective treatment options. Here we discuss the recent advances in the understanding of the key mechanisms controlling the expression of immune checkpoint genes in tumour cells.

Comprehensive analysis of peripheral blood non-coding RNAs identifies a diagnostic panel for fungal infection after transplantation

The occurrence of fungal infection seriously affects the survival and life quality of transplanted patients. The accurate diagnosis is of particular importance in the early stage of infection. To develop a novel diagnostic method for this kind of patient, we established a post-transplant immunosuppressed mice model with fungus inoculation and collected their peripheral blood at specific time points after infection. After screening by microarray, differentially expressed miRNAs and lncRNAs were selected and homologously analyzed with those of human beings from the gene database. These miRNAs and lncRNAs candidates were validated by qRT-PCR in peripheral blood samples from transplanted patients. We found that, compared with normal transplanted patients, the levels of miR-215 and miR-let-7 c were up-regulated in the plasma of patients with fungal infection (P < 0.01), while levels of miR-154, miR-193a, NR_027669.1, and NR_036506.1 were down-regulated in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (P < 0.01). Principal component analysis shows that the expression pattern of the above RNAs was different between the two groups. A 6-noncoding-RNA detection panel was established by the support vector machine analysis, whose area under the ROC curve was 0.927. The accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and specificity of this model were 0.928, 0.919, 0.944, and 0.910, respectively. Though our detection panel has excellent diagnostic efficacy, its clinical application value still needs to be further confirmed by multi-center prospective clinical trials.

miR-154 Influences HNSCC Development and Progression through Regulation of the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Process and Could Be Used as a Potential Biomarker

MicroRNAs and their role in cancer have been extensively studied for the past decade. Here, we analyzed the biological role and diagnostic potential of miR-154-5p and miR-154-3p in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). miRNA expression analyses were performed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data accessed from cBioPortal, UALCAN, Santa Cruz University, and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The expression data were correlated with clinicopathological parameters. The functional enrichment was assessed with Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). The immunological profiles were assessed using the ESTIMATE tool and RNAseq data from TCGA. All statistical analyses were performed with GraphPad Prism and Statistica. The study showed that both miR-154-5p and miR-154-3p were downregulated in the HNSCC samples and their expression levels correlated with tumor localization, overall survival, cancer stage, tumor grade, and HPV p16 status. GSEA indicated that individuals with the increased levels of miR-154 had upregulated AKT-MTOR, CYCLIN D1, KRAS, EIF4E, RB, ATM, and EMT gene sets. Finally, the elevated miR-154 expression correlated with better immune response. This study showed that miR-154 is highly involved in HNSCC pathogenesis, invasion, and immune response. The implementation of miR-154 as a biomarker may improve the effectiveness of HNSCC treatment.

Novel lncRNA LINC01614 Facilitates Bladder Cancer Proliferation, Migration and Invasion Through the miR-217/RUNX2/Wnt/β-Catenin Axis

Background

LncRNA plays a vital role in tumorigenesis and development. This study aimed to explore the novel lncRNA affecting bladder cancer progression.

Methods

The open-access data of bladder cancer patients, including transcriptome profiles and corresponding clinical information were all obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. All the statistical analysis were performed using R software, SPSS and GraphPad Prism 8. CCK8, colony formation, apoptosis detection and tumorigenicity assay were used to assess cell proliferation ability. Transwell assay and wound-healing assay were used to evaluate cell metastasis potential.

Results

Our result showed that the lncRNA LINC01614 was highly expressed in bladder cancer tissue and cell lines. Meanwhile, patients with high LINC01614 expression level tend to have poor clinical features and shorter survival time. Further experiments demonstrated that the inhibition of LINC01614 could significantly hamper the proliferation and invasion of bladder cancer cells. Then, we found that the LINC01614 could regulate RUNX2 expression through miR-137. GSEA analysis indicated that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway might be the downstream pathway of LINC01614. Further experiments showed that the LINC01614 act as an oncogene in bladder cancer partly depending on the RUNX2/Wnt/β-catenin axis, making it an underlying therapeutic target.

Conclusion

In all, LINC01614 facilitates bladder cancer cells proliferation, migration and invasion through the miR-217/RUNX2/Wnt/β-catenin axis.

RSF1 requires CEBP/β and hSNF2H to promote IL-1β-mediated angiogenesis: the clinical and therapeutic relevance of RSF1 overexpression and amplification in myxofibrosarcomas

Myxofibrosarcoma is genetically complex and lacks effective nonsurgical treatment strategies; thus, elucidation of novel molecular drivers is urgently needed. Reanalyzing public myxofibrosarcoma datasets, we identified mRNA upregulation and recurrent gain of RSF1 and characterized this chromatin remodeling gene. Myxofibrosarcoma cell lines were employed to elucidate the oncogenic mechanisms of RSF1 by genetic manipulation and two IL-1β-neutralizing antibodies (RD24, P2D7KK), highlighting the regulatory basis and targetability of downstream IL-1β-mediated angiogenesis. Tumor samples were assessed for RSF1, IL-1β, and microvascular density (MVD) by immunohistochemistry and for RSF1 gene status by FISH. In vivo, RSF1-silenced and P2D7KK-treated xenografts were analyzed for tumor-promoting effects and the IL-1β-linked therapeutic relevance of RSF1, respectively. In vitro, RSF1 overexpression promoted invasive and angiogenic phenotypes with a stronger proangiogenic effect. RT-PCR profiling identified IL1B as a top-ranking candidate upregulated by RSF1. RSF1 required hSNF2H and CEBP/β to cotransactivate the IL1B promoter, which increased the IL1B mRNA level, IL-1β secretion and angiogenic capacity. Angiogenesis induced by RSF1-upregulated IL-1β was counteracted by IL1B knockdown and both IL-1β-neutralizing antibodies. Clinically, RSF1 overexpression was highly associated with RSF1 amplification, IL-1β overexpression, increased MVD and higher grades (all P ≤ 0.01) and independently predicted shorter disease-specific survival (P = 0.019, hazard ratio: 4.556). In vivo, both RSF1 knockdown and anti-IL-1β P2D7KK (200 μg twice weekly) enabled significant growth inhibition and devascularization in xenografts. In conclusion, RSF1 overexpression, partly attributable to RSF1 amplification, contributes a novel proangiogenic function by partnering with CEBP/β to cotransactivate IL1B, highlighting its prognostic, pathogenetic, and therapeutic relevance in myxofibrosarcomas.

RSF1 in cancer: interactions and functions

RSF1, remodelling and spacing factor 1, is an important interphase centromere protein and is overexpressed in many types of cancers and correlated with poor overall survival. RSF1 has functions mainly in maintaining chromosome stability, facilitating DNA repair, maintaining the protein homeostasis of RSF1 and suppressing the transcription of some oncogenes when RSF1 protein is expressed at an optimal level; however, RSF1 overexpression facilitates drug resistance and cell cycle checkpoint inhibition to prompt cancer proliferation and survival. The RSF1 expression level and gene background are crucial for RSF1 functions, which may explain why RSF1 has different functions in different cancer types. This review summarizes the functional domains of RSF1, the overexpression status of RSF1 and SNF2H in cancer based on the TCGA and GTE_X databases, the cancer-related functions of RSF1 in interacting with H2Aub, HDAC1, CENP-A, PLK1, ATM, CENP-S, SNF2H, HB_X, BubR1, cyclin E1, CBP and NF-κB and the potential clinical value of RSF1, which will lay a theoretical foundation for the structural biology study of RSF1 and application of RSF1 inhibitors, truncated RSF1 proteins and SNF2H inhibitors in the treatment of RSF1-overexpressing tumours.

Wrong place, wrong time: Runt-related transcription factor 2/SATB2 pathway in bone development and carcinogenesis

Upregulation or aberrant expression of genes such as special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 (SATB2) is necessary for normal cell differentiation and tissue development and is often associated with carcinogenesis and metastatic progression. SATB2 is a critical transcription factor for biological development of various specialized cell lineages, such as osteoblasts and neurons. The dysregulation of SATB2 expression has recently been associated with various types of cancer, while the mechanisms and pathways by which it mediates tumorigenesis are not well elucidated. Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) is a master regulator for osteogenesis, and it shares common pathways with SATB2 to regulate bone development. Interestingly, these two transcription factors co-occur in several epithelial and mesenchymal cancers and are linked by multiple cancer-related proteins and microRNAs. This review examines the interactions between RUNX2 and SATB2 in a network necessary for normal bone development and the circumstances in which the expression of RUNX2 and SATB2 in the wrong place and time leads to carcinogenesis.

Emerging Biomarkers for Predicting Bladder Cancer Lymph Node Metastasis

Bladder cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Early detection of lymph node metastasis of bladder cancer is essential to improve patients' prognosis and overall survival. Current diagnostic methods are limited, so there is an urgent need for new specific biomarkers. Non-coding RNA and m6A have recently been reported to be abnormally expressed in bladder cancer related to lymph node metastasis. In this review, we tried to summarize the latest knowledge about biomarkers, which predict lymph node metastasis in bladder cancer and their mechanisms. In particular, we paid attention to the impact of non-coding RNA on lymphatic metastasis of bladder cancer and its specific molecular mechanisms, as well as some prediction models based on imaging, pathology, and biomolecules, in an effort to find more accurate diagnostic methods for future clinical application.

Comprehensive Analysis of Correlations in the Expression of miRNA Genes and Immune Checkpoint Genes in Bladder Cancer Cells

Personalised medicine is the future and hope for many patients, including those with cancers. Early detection, as well as rapid, well-selected treatment, are key factors leading to a good prognosis. MicroRNA mediated gene regulation is a promising area of development for new diagnostic and therapeutic methods, crucial for better prospects for patients. Bladder cancer is a frequent neoplasm, with high lethality and lacking modern, advanced therapeutic modalities, such as immunotherapy. MicroRNAs are involved in bladder cancer pathogenesis, proliferation, control and response to treatment, which we summarise in this perspective in response to lack of recent review publications in this field. We further performed a correlation-based analysis of microRNA and gene expression data in bladder cancer (BLCA) TCGA dataset. We identified 27 microRNAs hits with opposite expression profiles to genes involved in immune response in bladder cancer, and 24 microRNAs hits with similar expression profiles. We discuss previous studies linking the functions of these microRNAs to bladder cancer and assess if they are good candidates for personalised medicine therapeutics and diagnostics. The discussed functions include regulation of gene expression, interplay with transcription factors, response to treatment, apoptosis, cell proliferation and angiogenesis, initiation and development of cancer, genome instability and tumour-associated inflammatory reaction.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts and the related Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) promote bladder cancer progression

Bladder urothelial cancer (BLCA) has a high incidence worldwide. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment are gradually recognized to play an important role in the occurrence and progression of cancer. However, the research on BLCA CAFs is still in its infancy, and the CAFs related genes are still unclear. We used the identified BLCA-specific CAFs gene signature in our previous work to calculate the CAFs infiltration score of the sample. Furthermore, we used data from multiple public databases to prove that CAFs high infiltration is associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis. In order to select the powerful genes in BLCA that are related to CAFs infiltration and affect prognosis, we chose transcription factors as the research object, and finally defined RUNX2 as the candidate gene for functional verification. In the immunohistochemical images, tissues with higher RUNX2 expression also had deeper staining of CAFs markers. We used public databases and collected specimens to prove that RUNX2 is overexpressed at the mRNA and protein levels in BLCA tissues. Through functional enrichment analysis, RUNX2 is mainly related to epithelialmesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix. Finally, we knocked down RUNX2 in vitro and observed a significant decrease in the metastasis and proliferation ability. In conclusion, high infiltration of CAFs is associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in BLCA. RUNX2 is a transcription factor related to CAFs, which is overexpressed in bladder cancer and affects the prognosis. RUNX2 is a potential marker relating CAFs and therapy target in BLCA.

Expression profiles, biological functions and clinical significance of circRNAs in bladder cancer

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), which are single-stranded closed-loop RNA molecules lacking terminal 5′ caps and 3′ poly(A) tails, are attracting increasing scientific attention for their crucial regulatory roles in the occurrence and development of various diseases. With the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing technologies, increasing numbers of differentially expressed circRNAs have been identified in bladder cancer (BCa) via exploration of the expression profiles of BCa and normal tissues and cell lines. CircRNAs are critically involved in BCa biological behaviours, including cell proliferation, tumour growth suppression, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, invasion, migration, metastasis, angiogenesis, and cisplatin chemoresistance. Most of the studied circRNAs in BCa regulate cancer biological behaviours via miRNA sponging regulatory mechanisms. CircRNAs have been reported to be significantly associated with many clinicopathologic characteristics of BCa, including tumour size, grade, differentiation, and stage; lymph node metastasis; tumour numbers; distant metastasis; invasion; and recurrence. Moreover, circRNA expression levels can be used to predict BCa patients’ survival parameters, such as overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and progression-free survival (PFS). The abundance, conservation, stability, specificity and detectability of circRNAs render them potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for BCa. Additionally, circRNAs play crucial regulatory roles upstream of various signalling pathways related to BCa carcinogenesis and progression, reflecting their potential as therapeutic targets for BCa. Herein, we briefly summarize the expression profiles, biological functions and mechanisms of circRNAs and the potential clinical applications of these molecules for BCa diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy.

MicroRNAs and target molecules in bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is considered as one of the most common malignant tumors in humans with complex pathogenesis including gene expression variation, protein degradation, and changes in signaling pathways. Many studies on involved miRNAs in BC have demonstrated that they could be used as potential biomarkers in the prognosis, response to treatment, and screening before the cancerous phenotype onset. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate many cellular processes through their different effects on special targets along with modifying signaling pathways, apoptosis, cell growth, and differentiation. The diverse expression of miRNAs in cancerous tissues could mediate procedures leading to the oncogenic or suppressor behavior of certain genes in cancer cells. Since a specific miRNA may have multiple targets, an mRNA could also be regulated by multiple miRNAs which further demonstrates the actual role of miRNAs in cancer. In addition, miRNAs can be utilized as biomarkers in some cancers that cannot be screened in the early stages. Hence, finding blood, urine, or tissue miRNA biomarkers by novel or routine gene expression method could be an essential step in the prognosis and control of cancer. In the present review, we have thoroughly evaluated the recent findings on different miRNAs in BC which can provide comprehensive information on better understanding the role of diverse miRNAs and better decision making regarding the new approaches in the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, and treatment of BC.

Phosphorylated MAPK14 Promotes the Proliferation and Migration of Bladder Cancer Cells by Maintaining RUNX2 Protein Abundance

Background

Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14) acts as an integration point for multiple biochemical signal pathways. High expressions of MAPK14 have been found in a variety of tumors. Runt‑related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) is related to many tumors, especially in tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the mechanism of these two genes in bladder cancer remains unclear.

Methods

TCGA database and Western blot were used to analyze the mRNA and protein levels of the target gene in bladder cancer tissues and adjacent tissues. The proliferation ability of bladder cancer cells was tested by colony forming and EdU assay. The migration ability of cells was detected by transwell assay. Immunoprecipitation was utilized to detect protein-protein interaction. Cycloheximide chase assay was used to measure the half-life of RUNX2 protein.

Results

Phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (P-MAPK14, Thr180/Tyr182) was highly expressed in bladder cancer tissues and bladder cancer cell lines. Accordingly, P-MAPK14 could be combined with RUNX2 and maintain its protein stability and promote the proliferation and migration of bladder cancer cells. In addition, the functional degradation caused by the downregulation of MAPK14 and P-MAPK14 could be partially compensated by the overexpression of RUNX2.

Conclusion

These results suggest that P-MAPK14 might play an important role in the development of bladder cancer and in the regulation of RUNX2 protein expression. P-MAPK14 might become a potential target for the treatment of bladder cancer.

Role of a schistosoma haematobium specific microRNA as a predictive and prognostic tool for bilharzial bladder cancer in Egypt

Urinary bladder cancer is a common malignancy in Egypt, thus reliable methodologies are required for screening and early detection. In this study, we analyzed the gene expression of a Schistosoma hematobium specific microRNA "Sha-miR-71a" and mitogen-associated protein kinase-3 (MAPK-3) in the urine samples of 50 bladder cancer patients and 50 patients with benign bilharzial cystitis. Fifty control subjects were also tested. Indirect hemagglutination test (IHA) diagnosed 70% of studied cancer cases as bilharzial associated bladder cancer (BBC), while histopathological examination detected only 18%. Urinary Sha-miR-71a & MAPK-3 revealed enhanced expression in BBC (p-value = 0.001) compared to non-bilharzial bladder cancer (NBBC) cases. Patients with chronic bilharzial cystitis exhibited a significant increase in gene expression compared to those with acute infection (p-value = 0.001). Sha-miR-71a and MAPK-3 showed good sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of BBC when analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. They were also prognostic regarding malignancy grade. Both biomarkers showed a positive correlation. Our results revealed that IHA is a reliable test in the diagnosis of bilharziasis associated with bladder cancer, and that Sha-miR-71a and MAPK-3 provide non-invasive specific biomarkers to diagnose BBC, as well as a potential role in testing bilharzial patients for risk to develop cancer.

MicroRNA-154: A Novel Candidate for Diagnosis and Therapy of Human Cancers

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding, single-stranded, tiny RNAs with 21-23 nucleotides that regulate several biological functions through binding to target mRNAs and modulating gene expression at post-transcriptional levels. Recent studies have described crucial roles for miRNAs in pathophysiology of numerous human cancers. They can act as an oncogene and promote cancer or as a tumor suppressor and alleviate the disease. Recently discovered microRNA-154 (miR-154) has been proposed to be involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes including cancer. With this aspect, aberrant expression of miR-154 has been demonstrated in variety of human malignancies, suggesting an important role for miR-154 in tumorigenesis. To be specific, it is considered as a tumor suppressor miRNA and exerts its beneficial effects by targeting several genes. This review systematically summarizes the recent advances done on the role of miR-154 in different cancers and discusses its potential prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic values.

Upregulation of miRNA-154-5p prevents the tumorigenesis of osteosarcoma

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a primary malignant bone sarcoma in human worldwide. It has been shown that the level of microRNA-154-5p (miR-154-5p) was downregulated in human OS tissues. However, the mechanisms by which miR-154-5p regulates the proliferation, apoptosis and invasion in OS remain unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the role of miR-154-5p during the tumorigenesis of OS.

METHODS

The level of miR-154-5p in human OS tissues was detected by RT-qPCR. In addition, the effects of miR-154-5p on apoptosis and invasion of OS cells were assessed by flow cytometry and transwell assays, respectively. Meanwhile, the dual luciferase reporter system assay was performed to explore the interaction of miR-154-5p and E2F5.

RESULTS

The level of miR-154-5p was downregulated in OS tissues. Overexpression of miR-154-5p significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of MG63 cells. In addition, upregulation of miR-154-5p obviously induced apoptosis in MG63 cells via upregulation of Bax and cleaved caspase 3, and downregulation of Bcl-2. Moreover, luciferase reporter assay identified that E2F5 was the binding target of miR-154-5p. Meanwhile, overexpression of miR-154-5p induced cell cycle arrest in MG63 cells via inhibiting the expressions of E2F5, Cyclin E1 and CDK2. Furthermore, in vivo assays indicated that overexpression of miR-154-5p notably inhibited the tumor growth in an OS xenograft model.

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that miR-154-5p may function as a potential tumor suppressor in OS. Therefore, miR-154-5p might be a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of OS.

Inhibition of human cervical cancer cell invasion by IL-37 involving runt related transcription factor 2 suppression

Background

IL-37 is a newly anti-inflammatory cytokine whose function is largely unknown in cancer. Our preliminary experiment found IL-37 could inhibit the invasion of human cervical cancer (CC) cells and influence the expression of RUNX family whose function was also unclear in CC. The present study aims to further investigate the effects of IL-37 on cell invasion and runt related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) expression in CC cell lines.

Methods

Firstly, plasmid overexpressing IL-37 or RUNX2 was transfected into Siha and C33A cells by Hilymax. Then, the effects of IL-37 on the mRNA expression of RUNX1, RUNX2 and RUNX3 gene were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression was measured by Western blot and the grayscale scanning analysis. Finally, the effects of IL-37 or RUNX2 on cell invasion were tested by transwell assay.

Results

IL-37 inhibited the mRNA expression of RUNX1 and RUNX2, and increased that of RUNX3 in CC cells. Among the three RUNX genes, RUNX2 showed the most significant change in mRNA expression (decreased by78.5% in Siha cells and by 61.5% in C33A cells) and thus was chosen for the following study. Overexpressed IL-37 inhibited cell invasion by 36.23% in Siha cells (P<0.05) and 26.21% in C33A cells (P<0.01). Overexpression of RUNX2 promoted cell invasion. Up-regulation of IL-37 suppressed markedly the mRNA and protein expression of RUNX2. Furthermore, overexpressed RUNX2 partially restored the inhibited cell invasion by IL-37 to 86.62% in Siha cells (P<0.01) and 87.08% in C33A cells (P<0.01).

Conclusions

IL-37 can significantly inhibit the cell invasion of Siha and C33A cells, which involves the suppression of RUNX2.

SNHG20 knockdown suppresses proliferation, migration and invasion, and promotes apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer through acting as a miR-154 sponge

Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) play critical roles in the development and progression of cancers. However, little is known about the function and mechanism of lncRNAs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we investigated the expression and functional role of lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 20 (SNHG20) as well as its underlying mechanism in NSCLC. Our results showed that SNHG20 was significantly up-regulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. High SNHG20 expression was implicated with poor prognosis in NSCLC patients. Moreover, SNHG20 knockdown suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, SNHG20 could function as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to elevate ZEB2 and RUNX2 expression by sponging miR-154. Rescue assays revealed that miR-154 inhibition could reverse the inhibitory effect of SNHG20 silence on proliferation, migration and invasion in NSCLC cells. More importantly, SNHG20 knockdown suppressed tumor growth in NSCLC in vivo through suppressing miR-154 and elevating ZEB2 and RUNX2 expression. In summary, knockdown of lncRNA SNHG20 suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion, and promotes apoptosis through up-regulating ZEB2 and RUNX2 expression by sponging miR-154 in NSCLC, providing a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC patients.

MicroRNA‑154 functions as a tumor suppressor in bladder cancer by directly targeting ATG7

Aberrant expression of miR‑154 is usually found in cancer studies; however, the role of miR‑154 has seldom been reported in bladder cancer (BCa). In this study, we observed that miR‑154 expression was significantly downregulated in BCa tissues and cell lines, and was associated with several clinicopathological characteristics, including advanced T stage, lymphatic invasion, and distant metastasis. Low expression level of miR‑154 was associated with poor survival outcomes in BCa patients. Overexpression of miR‑154 led to significant decrease in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of BCa cells, while knockdown of miR‑154 yielded the opposite effect. ATG7 was identified as a direct target of miR‑154. ATG7 expression was negatively correlated with miR‑154 expression in BCa tissues. Silencing of ATG7 achieved a similar effect to miR‑154 overexpression; overexpression of ATG7 reversed the inhibitory effect of miR‑154 on BCa cell proliferation, migration and invasion. A xenograft study revealed that miR‑154 inhibited BCa cell growth in vivo, and suppressed ATG7 expression. Altogether, this study demonstrated that miR‑154 may function as a tumor suppressor in BCa and indicated that miR‑154 may be a potential therapeutic target for BCa patients.

Hypoxia-elevated circELP3 contributes to bladder cancer progression and cisplatin resistance

Hypoxia plays a critical role in cancer biology. It induces genomic instability, which in turn helps cancer cells respond adaptively to meet the needs of carcinogenesis, cancer progression and relapse. Circular RNA has not been reported among the variety of downstream factors in this adaptive response. Although a few studies have demonstrated the important role of circular RNAs in driving human bladder cancer progression, their carcinogenic roles are still under investigated. Here, we identified a hypoxia-elevated circular RNA, circELP3, that contributes to bladder cancer progression and cisplatin resistance. Decreasing the level of circELP3 via siRNA clearly reduced the in vitro proliferation and cisplatin resistance of bladder cancer cells and promoted apoptosis. Interfering with circELP3 suppressed tumor xenograft growth in nude mice in vivo. In addition, lower circELP3-expressing bladder cancer cells displayed poorer self-renewal capacity, as demonstrated by lower levels of sphere formation and stem cell marker expression. Furthermore, in human bladder cancer patients, strong correlations between a high circELP3 level and advanced tumor grade and lymph node metastasis were observed. In summary, we provide the first direct evidence that circular RNA participates in the adaptive response to hypoxia and may play a role in the progression and drug resistance of bladder cancer.

Parathyroid hormone-stimulation of Runx2 during osteoblast differentiation via the regulation of lnc-SUPT3H-1:16 (RUNX2-AS1:32) and miR-6797-5p

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) acts as a regulator of calcium homeostasis and bone remodeling. Runx2, an essential transcription factor in bone, is required for osteoblast differentiation. Noncoding RNAs such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating gene expression in osteoblasts. In this study, we investigated the effects of PTH on osteoblast differentiation via Runx2, lncRNA, and miRNA expression in human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) and human osteoblastic cells (MG63). PTH-treatment of hBMSCs for 24 h, 7 days, and 14 days stimulated Runx2 mRNA expression. Using bioinformatics tools, we identified 17 lncRNAs originating from human Runx2 gene. Among these, lnc-SUPT3H-1:16 (RUNX2-AS1:32) expression was highly up-regulated by the 7 d PTH-treatment in hBMSCs. We also identified miR-6797-5p as the putative target of lnc-SUPT3H-1:16 and Runx2 using bioinformatics tools. PTH-treatment increased the expression of miR-6797-5p in hBMSCs, and overexpression of miR-6797-5p decreased osteoblast differentiation in MG63 cells, suggesting a role for lnc-SUPT3H-1:16 as sponge molecule. A luciferase gene reporter assay identified direct targeting of miR-6797-5p with lnc-SUPT3H-1:16 and 3'UTR Runx2 in MG63 cells. Thus, PTH stimulated the expression of lnc-SUPT3H-1:16, miR-6797-5p and Runx2, and due to the sponging mechanism of lnc- SUPT3H-1:16 towards miR-6797-5p, Runx2 was protected, resulting in the promotion of osteoblast differentiation.

Oncogene miR-154-5p regulates cellular function and acts as a molecular marker with poor prognosis in renal cell carcinoma

AIMS

In adult population, the renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common urological malignancies. It is meaningful to research for the molecular markers which are involved in the occurrence and development of RCC. Therefore, we concentrate on illuminating the role of microRNA-154-5p in progression of RCC and explore its prognostic values.

MAIN METHODS

The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was applied to determine expression level of miR-154-5p in tissues. Afterwards, the transfected cell lines ACHN and 786-O were used for the CCK-8 assay, MTT assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay and flow cytometric assay to explore the role of miR-154-5p in regulating cellular function. In addition, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) renal cancer samples were used for detecting the relationship between expression level of miR-154-5p and clinical information. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses, and the Kaplan-Meier survival curves were performed to evaluate the prognostic value of miR-154-5p in RCC.

KEY FINDINGS

The RT-qPCR indicated that miR-154-5p is up-regulated in RCC pathologic specimens and cell lines. Results of study also demonstrated that upregulation of miR-154-5p reduced cell apoptosis and promoted cell proliferation, viability, migration as well as invasion in RCC cells. The prognosis analyses indicated that the expression level of miR-154-5p is associated with the prognosis of renal cancer, and the overall survival of patients with low expression is longer.

SIGNIFICANCE

The present study revealed that the oncogene miR-154-5p regulates cellular function and acts as a molecular marker with poor prognosis in renal cell carcinoma.

Downregulation of circular RNA hsa_circ_0000144 inhibits bladder cancer progression via stimulating miR-217 and suppressing RUNX2 expression

Although increasing aberrantly expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified among many human cancer tissues, their roles in tumor progression still remain largely unknown. In bladder cancer, the function of hsa_circ_0000144 has not been reported. In our study, we found hsa_circ_0000144 as a novel oncogene in bladder cancer by bioinformatics analysis. We found that hsa_circ_0000144 expression was significantly upregulated in bladder cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues, and its high expression was related with poor prognosis. Additionally, knockdown of hsa_circ_0000144 remarkably suppressed the proliferation and invasion of bladder cancer cells in vitro. Hsa_circ_0000144 silence also led to reduced tumor volumes in vivo. In mechanism, we found that hsa_circ_0000144 was a sponge of miR-217 while miR-217 targeted RUNX2. Our results indicated that the expression of miR-217 was inversely correlated with that of both hsa_circ_0000144 and RUNX2 in bladder cancer tissues. Rescue assays showed that either inhibition of miR-217 or restoration of RUNX2 reversed the suppressive effects of hsa_circ_0000144 knockdown on bladder cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that hsa_circ_0000144 exerts oncogenic roles in bladder cancer via repressing miR-217 to facilitate RUNX2 expression.