Clinical Significance of microRNA-196b-5p in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and its Potential Molecular Mechanism

ADAMTS9-AS2 regulates PPP1R12B by adsorbing miR-196b-5p and affects cell cycle-related signaling pathways inhibiting the malignant process of esophageal cancer

This study explored the mechanism that ADAMTS9-AS2/miR-196b-5p/PPP1R12B/cell cycle pathway axis in inhibiting the malignant progression of esophageal cancer (EC), providing a new idea for targeted molecular therapy of EC. The expression data of EC tissue were acquired from TCGA database. The target lncRNA, downstream miRNA and its target gene were determined by bioinformatics analysis. ADAMTS9-AS2, miR-196b-5p and PPP1R12B levels in EC tissue and cells were assayed through qRT-PCR. Western blot was applied to assess protein level of PPP1R12B in cells and tissues, as well as protein expression of CDK1, cyclin A2, cyclin B1 and Plk1 in EC cells. Cell proliferation was assayed via CCK-8 assay. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. Cell migratory and invasive abilities were measured through scratch healing and transwell assays. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to analyze relationship among ADAMTS9-AS2, miR-196b-5p and PPP1R12B. RIP was introduced to assess binding among the three. Dual-luciferase assay was utilized to verify targeted binding sites. The tumor formation in nude mice assay was utilized to detect tumorigenesis of EC cells in vivo. ADAMTS9-AS2 was significantly lowly expressed while miR-196b-5p was increased in EC tissue and cells. ADAMTS9-AS2 bound to miR-196b-5p and constrained its expression. Overexpressed ADAMTS9-AS2 inhibited EC cell malignant progression via downregulating miR-196b-5p, while overexpressed miR-196b-5p reversed this inhibitory effect. ADAMTS9-AS2 modulated PPP1R12B level by competitively inhibiting miR-196b-5p. PPP1R12B played a modulatory role in EC by inhibiting cell cycle pathway. Overexpressed ADAMTS9-AS2 regulated the tumor-forming ability of EC cells in vivo through miR-196b-5p/PPP1R12B/cell cycle signaling pathway axis. ADAMTS9-AS2 downregulated PPP1R12B by adsorbing miR-196b-5p, so as to regulate the cell cycle signaling pathway to inhibit EC malignant progression.

Extracellular Vesicles Derived From Human Corneal Endothelial Cells Inhibit Proliferation of Human Corneal Endothelial Cells

Corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs) are a monolayer of hexagonal cells that are responsible for maintaining the function and transparency of the cornea. Damage or dysfunction of CEnCs could lead to blindness. Human CEnCs (HCEnCs) have shown limited proliferative capacity in vivo hence, their maintenance is crucial. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are responsible for inter- and intra-cellular communication, proliferation, cell-differentiation, migration, and many other complex biological processes. Therefore, we investigated the effect of EVs (derived from human corneal endothelial cell line–HCEC-12) on corneal endothelial cells. HCEC-12 cells were starved with serum-depleted media for 72 h. The media was ultracentrifuged at 100,000xg to isolate the EVs. EV counting, characterization, internalization and localization were performed using NanoSight, flow cytometry, Dil labeling and confocal microscopy respectively. HCEC-12 and HCEnCs were cultured with media supplemented with EVs. Extracted EVs showed a homogeneous mixture of exosomes and microvesicles. Cells with EVs decreased the proliferation rate; increased apoptosis and cell size; showed poor wound healing response in vitro and on ex vivo human, porcine, and rabbit CECs. Thirteen miRNAs were found in the EV sample using next generation sequencing. We observed that increased cellular uptake of EVs by CECs limit the proliferative capacity of HCEnCs. These preliminary data may help in understanding the pathology of corneal endothelial dysfunction and provide further insights in the development of future therapeutic treatment options.

Exosome-derived miR-196b-5p facilitates intercellular interaction in infantile hemangioma via down-regulating CDKN1B

Background

Though infantile hemangioma (IH) is a common benign vascular tumor, its pathogenesis remains unclear. This study explored the function of hemangioma-derived stem cells (HemSCs) derived exosomes, which exerted an intercellular effect on hemangioma-derived endothelial cells (HemECs).

Methods

First, HemSCs and HemECs were extracted and cultured. HemSCs derived exosomes (HemSCs-exos) were harvested. miRNA sequencing and target prediction were used to explore differentially expressed miRNAs and potential binding targets. After HemECs were co-cultured with HemSCs-exos, a series of in vitro assays were then performed including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, cell apoptosis assay, cell cycle assay and tube formation assay to evaluate proliferation, angiogenesis abilities, etc. qRT-PCR and Western blot were conducted to detect the expression level of target genes and proteins.

Results

After co-culturing with HemSCs-exos, proliferation, and angiogenesis abilities of HemECs were enhanced, while apoptosis and cell cycle arrest rate were decreased. MiR-196b-5p was observed to be significantly highly expressed in HemSCs-exos. CDKN1B was identified as the binding target of miR-196b-5p. HemECs' proliferation and angiogenesis abilities were elevated when co-cultured with exosomes from HemSCs transfected with miR-196b-5p mimic. In addition, apoptosis rate declined, and lower cells were arrested in G0/G1 phases. Cyclin E, bcl-2 were significantly highly expressed, whereas p27, Bax expression were significantly down-regulated. The positive effect of miR-196b-5p in HemSCs-exos was dramatically reversed when HemECs were transfected with oe-CDKN1B.

Conclusions

The current study found a novel intercellular interaction between IH cells. Briefly, exosome-derived miRNA-196b-5p in HemSCs could facilitate proliferation and angiogenesis abilities, and attenuate apoptosis and cell cycle repression rate of HemECs by directly binding with CDKN1B.

miR-196b-5p Promotes Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells via Targeting RSPO2

Objective

To explore the biological role of miR-196b-5p/RSPO2 in the occurrence and development of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and to provide a basis for finding new therapeutic targets for LUAD.

Methods

Differentially expressed genes were analyzed based on LUAD microarray, and the target gene of the target miRNA was predicted. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-196b-5p and RSPO2 mRNA in normal human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B and LUAD cell lines A549, NCI-H1792 and NCI-H226. Western blot was used to evaluate protein expression. Cell proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities were detected by CCK-8 and transwell assays. Dual-luciferase assay was conducted to verify the targeting relationship between miR-196b-5p and RSPO2.

Results

The results of qRT-PCR showed that miR-196b-5p was significantly highly expressed in LUAD cells, and the expression level of its downstream target gene RSPO2 was significantly decreased. The results of CCK-8 and transwell assays exhibited that miR-196b-5p promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of LUAD cells, while RSPO2 inhibited the malignant progression of LUAD cells. Dual-luciferase assay confirmed the targeted binding relationship between miR-196b-5p and RSPO2. Overexpression of RSPO2 partially reversed the promotion of miR-196b-5p on proliferation, migration and invasion of LUAD cells.

Conclusion

miR-196b-5p promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of LUAD cells by targeting and down-regulating RSPO2, which provided ideas for searching new targets for the diagnosis and treatment of LUAD.

Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Proteins Binding Human mRNAs As a Novel Signature Predicting Overall Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been confirmed in cancers through binding specific mRNAs to invade human cells. Therefore, the aim of this study described here was to develop and validate novel SARS-CoV-2 proteins binding human mRNAs (SPBRs) signature to predict overall survival (OS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using multivariate Cox regression analysis, a set of SPBRs was identified to establish a multigene signature in the Cancer Genome Atlas repositories cohort. Furthermore, a nomogram was established based on the signature and clinical risk factors to improve risk stratification for individual patients. External validation was performed in the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) cohort. A six-SPBR signature was built to classify patients into two risk groups using a risk score with different OS in two cohorts (all p < 0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated the signature was an independent predictor of HCC. Moreover, the signature presented an excellent diagnostic power in differentiating HCC and normal tissues. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated that high-risk group was closely enriched in cell cycle, DNA replication, microRNAs in cancer, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. The novel signature demonstrated great clinical value in predicting the OS for patients with HCC, and will provide a good reference between cancer research and SARS-CoV-2 and help individualized treatment in HCC.

Long Non-Coding RNA NRAD1 and LINC00152 are Highly Expressed and Associated with Prognosis in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is prevalent throughout the world. The aim of this study is to explore new long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with hepatocellular carcinoma and detect their expression levels in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and tissues. These results will provide new clues on further function and biomarker studies of HCC-related lncRNAs.

Patients and Methods

All patients were diagnosed as HCC between 30th, March, 2015 and 30th, July, 2018. LncRNA human gene expression microarray was applied to the profiling of lncRNAs in four cancerous tissues and the paired paracancerous tissues.

Results

We retrospectively reviewed 63 patients with primary HCC who underwent a curative liver resection at the Department of Hepatology, Qingdao Sixth People’s Hospital. The expression level of lncRNA NRAD1 and LINC00152 was detected by real-time PCR. Prognostic factors were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models. By microarray profiling of lncRNAs, 256 lncRNAs were found to be differentially expressed, including 162 upregulated and 94 downregulated (P<0.05, fold change>2). Two candidate lncRNAs were determined as the targets in this study, which were NRAD1 (upregulated by 6.35 fold), LINC00152 (upregulated by 4.53 fold). NRAD1 and LINC00152 were downregulated in the normal liver cell lines Chang liver, HL7702, THLE-2, THLE-3, FL62891 and AML12, which were significantly lower than HCC cell lines SMMC-7721, Hep3B, HuH7, MHCC-97H, HCC-LM and SK-Hep-1 (P<0.05). Overexpression of lncRNA NRAD1 and LINC00152 was associated with decreasing OS rates, respectively (P=0.0263 and P=0.0285). Meanwhile, overexpression of NRAD1 and LINC00152 was associated with decreasing PFS rates, respectively (P=0.0174 and P=0.0041). After adjusting for competing risk factors, we identified that microvascular invasion (P=0.014), tumor size (P=0.026), lncRNA NRAD1 (P=0.001) and LINC00152P9 (P=0.036) expression levels were independent prognostic factors associated with prognosis of patients with HCC.

Conclusion

We found lncRNA NRAD1 and LINC00152 expressed significantly higher in HCC tissues compared with non-tumorous tissues. Overexpression of lncRNA NRAD1 and LINC00152 were independent risk factors associated with the prognosis of patients with HCC.

Clinical significance and biological function of transcriptional repressor GATA binding 1 in gastric cancer: a study based on data mining, RT-qPCR, immunochemistry, and vitro experiment

Transcriptional repressor GATA binding 1 (TRPS1) is a newly discovered transcription factor, which has been reported in many tumors, except for gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we aimed to grope for clinical significance and biological function of TRPS1 in GC. TRPS1 expression in GC and its relationship with clinicopathological features were analyzed based on public databases, and verified by immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Cox regression model were used to estimate the influence of TRPS1 on the univariate prognosis and multivariate survival risk factors of GC. The effects of TRPS1 on malignant biological behaviors of GC cells were studied by CCK8 cell proliferation, scratch test, and Transwell assay. The function of TRPS1 was further analyzed by signaling pathway analysis. TRPS1 mRNA expression in GC tissues was up-regulated and was of great significance in some prognostic factors. Protein expression of TRPS1 in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues. Over-expression of TRPS1 was a poor prognostic indicator for GC patients. TRPS1 knockdown could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells. The important role of TRPS1 was in the extracellular matrix, and it was involved in actin binding and proteoglycan in cancer. The hub genes of TRPS1 (FN1, ITGB1) were defined. TRPS1 may be a tumor promoter and promote the development of GC by influencing the malignant biological behaviors of GC. TRPS1 is expected to be a key diagnostic and prognostic indicator for GC patients.

Immunohistochemical basigin expression level in thyroid cancer tissues

Background

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine malignancy; basigin (also known as BSG) plays a crucial role in tumor cell invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. This study was designed to identify the change of BSG expression in TC and its possible potential mechanism.

Methods

The BSG expression levels in TC were demonstrated using data collected from in-house immunohistochemical (IHC), RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), microarrays, and literatures. Integrated analysis was performed to determined BSG expression levels in TC comprehensively. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed with the integration of BSG co-expressed genes and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in TC tissues to explore the potential mechanisms of BSG in TC.

Results

The protein expression level of BSG was significantly higher in TC cases based on the IHC experiments. In addition, the combined SMD for BSG expression was 0.39 (p < 0.0001), the diagnostic odds ratio was 3.69, and the AUC of the sROC curve was 0.6986 using 1182 TC cases and 437 non-cancerous cases from 17 independent datasets. Furthermore, BSG co-expressed genes tended to be enriched in gene terms of the extracellular matrix (ECM), cell adhesion, and cell-cell interactions. The expression levels of nine hub BSG co-expressed genes were markedly upregulated in TC cases.

Conclusion

BSG expression levels were closely correlated with the progression of TC and may affect the signals of the ECM, cell adhesion, and cell-cell interactions.

Maimendong and Qianjinweijing Tang (Jin formula) suppresses lung cancer by regulation of miR-149-3p

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Maimendong and Qianjinweijing Tang (Jin formula), a classic Chinese formula, can enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce adverse effects in patients with lung cancer.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the anti-lung cancer effect of Jin formula in vivo and in vitro, and to explore the role of microRNA (miRNA) in the anti-lung cancer mechanism of Jin formula.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell survival was determined via a colorimetric method, and apoptotic condition was revealed by flow cytometric analysis. Cell migration and invasion were detected by scratch and transwell assays. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was applied to measure the changes of miRNA expression. Pathological histology of lung tissues were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting were used to detect the expression of marker proteins of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The relationship between miR-149-3p and MYC associated zinc finger protein (MAZ) was verified using a dual-luciferase reporter assay system.

RESULTS

Our findings demonstrated the anti-cancer effect of Jin formula in vitro, and revealed that Jin formula could suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion of human lung cancer A549 and H1299 cells. We also confirmed the capability of Jin formula to reduce tumor growth through the up-regulation of miR-149-3p and down-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in animal models. qRT-PCR analysis in vitro further confirmed a dose-dependent increase of miR-149-3p by treatment with Jin formula. Functional studies identified MAZ as a downstream target of miR-149-3p. Overexpression of miR-149-3p inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and induced apoptosis in A549 and H1299 cells, similar to our findings on the effects of Jin formula treatment. In contrast, inhibiting the expression of miR-149-3p reversed the anti-cancer effects of Jin formula. Additionally, we revealed that miR-149-3p was involved in the anti-cancer effects of Jin formula, at least in part, by inhibiting MAZ expression and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade.

CONCLUSION

Our study illustrated that Jin formula suppressed the development of lung cancer and the mechanism may be associated with the miR-149-3p/MAZ/Wnt/β-catenin axis.

Bioinformatic screening and identification of downregulated hub genes in adrenocortical carcinoma

The molecular mechanisms of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) carcinogenesis and progression remain unclear. In the present study, three microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were screened, which identified a total of 96 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was established for these DEGs and module analysis was performed using STRING and Cytoscape. A total of eight hub genes were identified from the most significant module; namely, calponin 1 (CNN1), myosin light chain kinase (MYLK), cysteine and glycine rich protein 1 (CSRP1), myosin heavy chain 11 (MYH11), fibulin extracellular matrix protein 2 (EFEMP2), fibulin 1 (FBLN1), microfibril associated protein 4 (MFAP4) and fibulin 5 (FBLN5). The biological functions of these hub genes were analyzed using the DAVID online tool. Changes in the expression of hub genes did not affect overall survival; however, downregulated EFEMP2 decreased disease-free survival. CSRP1 and MFAP4 expression levels were associated with adverse clinicopathological features. In conclusion, although all eight hub genes were downregulated in ACC, they appeared to have important functions in ACC carcinogenesis and progression. Identification of these genes complements the genetic expression profile of ACC and provides insight for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of ACC.

TOP2A Promotes Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells' Malignant Progression and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background: Topoisomerase IIA (TOP2A) gene encodes DNA topoisomerase enzyme and has been reported that TOP2A is broadly expressed in many types of cancers. Our study aims to investigate the prognostic effect of TOP2A on lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and the potential molecular mechanism of TOP2A to tumorigenesis.

Methods: Bioinformatical analysis, real-time PCR and Western blot were applied to explore the expression level of TOP2A. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate the effect of TOP2A on patients' prognosis. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability were examined by colony-formation, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay, wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay, respectively.

Results: We firstly investigated differentially expressed genes in lung adenocarcinoma and normal tissues of GEO (tumor = 666, normal = 184) and TCGA (tumor = 517, normal = 59) and these data showed that TOP2A is broadly expressed in LUAD and the expression level of TOP2A is associated with poor prognosis, which indicated that TOP2A is an upregulated prognostic related gene in LUAD. Then we identified that the expression level of TOP2A was upregulated in both surgically removed lung cancer tissues and lung cancer cell lines. Knockdown of TOP2A in A549 and GLC82 cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Inhibition of TOP2A reduced the expression levels of CCNB1 and CCNB2, which indicated that TOP2A targeting CCNB1 and CCNB2 promotes GLC82 and A549 cells proliferation and metastasis.

Conclusions: Our study revealed an important role of TOP2A in LUAD, and may provide a potential prognostic indicator and target for cancer therapy.