MicroRNA-488 inhibits proliferation and glycolysis in human prostate cancer cells by regulating PFKFB3

Transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications in the glycolytic pathway for targeted cancer therapy

Cancer cells largely rely on aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect to generate essential biomolecules and energy for their rapid growth. The key modulators in glycolysis including glucose transporters and enzymes, e.g. hexokinase 2, enolase 1, pyruvate kinase M2, lactate dehydrogenase A, play indispensable roles in glucose uptake, glucose consumption, ATP generation, lactate production, etc. Transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications (PTMs) of these critical modulators are important for signal transduction and metabolic reprogramming in the glycolytic pathway, which can provide energy advantages to cancer cell growth. In this review we recapitulate the recent advances in research on glycolytic modulators of cancer cells and analyze the strategies targeting these vital modulators including small-molecule inhibitors and microRNAs (miRNAs) for targeted cancer therapy. We focus on the regulation of the glycolytic pathway at the transcription level (e.g., hypoxia-inducible factor 1, c-MYC, p53, sine oculis homeobox homolog 1, N6-methyladenosine modification) and PTMs (including phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, etc.) of the key regulators in these processes. This review will provide a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of the key modulators in the glycolytic pathway and might shed light on the targeted cancer therapy at different molecular levels.

Noncoding RNA-Mediated High Expression of PFKFB3 Correlates with Poor Prognosis and Tumor Immune Infiltration of Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

There is growing evidence showing that 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase (PFKFB3) plays crucial roles in different types of human cancers, including LUAD; however, the specific mechanism by which PFKFB3 plays a role in LUAD remains unclear.

Methods

We investigated the expression of PFKFB3 and explored the underlying mechanism as well as the correlation with immune markers using several online datasets, such as Tumor Immune Estimate Resource (TIMER), UALCAN, and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases, miRWalk, Targetscan, MiRDB and starBase database. Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis were performed to verify the corresponding outcomes.

Results

It was shown that the mRNA expression of PFKFB3 was lower in LUAD than in the normal tissues, while its protein expression was not consistent with the mRNA level. The expression of PFKFB3 was correlated with clinicopathological parameters and several signaling pathways. The potential long chain (lnc)RNA/microRNA/PFKFB3 axis and the possible mechanism by which tumor progression in LUAD is promoted was predicted. We obtained the LINC01798/LINC02086/AP000845.1/HAGLR-miR-17-5p-PFKFB3 axis after comprehensive analyses of expression, correlation, and survival. Moreover, the expression of PFKFB3 was positively correlated with immune cells and immune checkpoint expression, including PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that noncoding RNAs mediated the upregulation of PFKFB3 and was associated with a poor prognosis and immune tumor infiltration in LUAD.

MicroRNA-488: A miRNA with diverse roles and clinical applications in cancer and other human diseases

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate the expression of approximately 50 % of all protein-coding genes. They have been demonstrated to act as key regulators in various pathophysiological processes and play significant roles in a wide range of human diseases, particularly cancer. Current research highlights the aberrant expression of microRNA-488 (miR-488) in multiple human diseases and its critical involvement in disease initiation and progression. Moreover, the expression level of miR-488 has been linked to clinicopathological features and patient prognosis across different diseases. However, a comprehensive systematic review of miR-488 is lacking. Therefore, our study aims to consolidate the current knowledge surrounding miR-488, with a primary focus on its emerging biological functions, regulatory mechanisms, and potential clinical applications in human diseases. Through this review, we aim to establish a comprehensive understanding of the diverse roles of miR-488 in the development of various diseases.

Downregulation of Long Noncoding RNA Myocardial Infarction Associated Transcript Suppresses Cell Proliferation, Migration, Invasion, and Glycolysis by Regulation of miR-488-3p/IGF1R Pathway in Colorectal Cancer

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant public problem and the third cause of cancer-induced death all over the world. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) has been reported as a vital mediator in human cancer. However, the precise role of lncRNA myocardial infarction associated transcript (MIAT) in CRC is unclear. Materials and Methods: The abundance of MIAT, miR-488-3p, and the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Western blot assay was carried out to assess the protein level in CRC samples or control group. The cell activity, abilities of migration and invasion, and glycolysis were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazol-3-ium bromide (MTT), transwell, and testing glucose consumption and lactate product, correspondingly. The target association between miR-488-3p, MIAT, or IGF1R was predicted and established by bioinformatics tools, dual-luciferase reporter, and RNA pull-down assays, correspondingly. The effects of MIAT silencing in vivo were analyzed by animal experiments. Results: LncRNA MIAT was upregulated in CRC sample and that was positively correlated with IGF1R expression. Loss-of-functional assay suggested that knockdown of MIAT impeded cell activity, migration, invasion, and glycolysis of CRC cells in vivo, along with xenograft growth in vivo. Moreover, silencing of IGF1R inhibited the progression of CRC. Therefore, overexpression of IGF1R could abolish silencing of MIAT-induced effects on CRC cells. Mechanistically, MIAT was a sponge for miR-488-3p, thereby regulating IGF1R expression in CRC. Conclusion: The present study confirmed that the "MIAT/miR-488-3p/IGF1R" pathway was involved in the development of CRC, which may be the target for developing therapeutic approaches for CRC.

Association of Androgenic Regulation and MicroRNAs in Acinar Adenocarcinoma of Prostate

Background: Prostate cancer represents 3.8% of cancer deaths worldwide. For most prostate cancer cells to grow, androgens need to bind to a cellular protein called the androgen receptor (AR). This study aims to demonstrate the expression of five microRNAs (miRs) and its influence on the AR formation in patients from the northern region of Brazil. Material and Methods: Eighty-four tissue samples were investigated, including nodular prostatic hyperplasia (NPH) and acinar prostatic adenocarcinoma (CaP). Five miRs (27a-3p, 124, 130a, 488-3p, and 506) were quantified using the TaqMan^® Real Time PCR method and AR was measured using Western blotting. Results: Levels of miRs 124, 130a, 488-3p, and 506 were higher in NPH samples. Conversely, in the CaP cases, higher levels of miR 27a-3p and AR were observed. Conclusion: In the future, these microRNAs may be tested as markers of CaP at the serum level. The relative expression of AR was 20% higher in patients with prostate cancer, which suggests its potential as a biomarker for prostate malignancy.

MiR-652-5p elevated glycolysis level by targeting TIGAR in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The effect of glycolysis remains largely elusive in acute T lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Increasing evidence has indicated that the dysregulation of miRNAs is involved in glycolysis, by targeting the genes coding glycolysis rate-limiting enzymes. In our previous studies, we found that overexpression of the ARRB1-derived miR-223 sponge repressed T-ALL progress and reduced the expression of miR-652-5p. However, little is known about miR-652-5p on T-ALL. Here, we showed that impaired miR-652-5p expression inhibited growth, promoted apoptosis of T-ALL cells in vitro and prolonged overall survival (OS) in vivo. Based on the GO enrichment of miR-652-5p target genes, we uncovered that impaired miR-652-5p decreased glycolysis, including reduced the lactate, pyruvate, ATP level and the total extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), elevated oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in T-ALL cell lines. Mechanically, miR-652-5p targeted the 3ʹUTR of Tigar mRNA and inhibited its expression. Furthermore, the alteration of glycosis level was attributed to Tigar overexpression, consistent with the effect of impaired miR-652-5p. Additionally, Tigar suppressed the expression of PFKFB3, a glycolysis rate-limiting enzyme, in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, our results demonstrate that impaired miR-652-5p/Tigar axis could repress glycolysis, thus to slow growth of T-ALL cells, which support miR-652-5p as a novel potential drug target for T-ALL therapeutics.

Long noncoding RNA GSEC promotes neutrophil inflammatory activation by supporting PFKFB3-involved glycolytic metabolism in sepsis

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of neutrophil activation in sepsis. LncRNAs play important roles in manipulating cell metabolism; however, their specific involvement in neutrophil activation in sepsis remains unclear. Here we found that 11 lncRNAs and 105 mRNAs were differentially expressed in three transcriptome datasets (GSE13904, GSE28750, and GSE64457) of gene expression in blood leukocytes and neutrophils of septic patients and healthy volunteers. After Gene Ontology biological process analysis and lncRNA-mRNA pathway network construction, we noticed that GSEC lncRNA and PFKFB3 were co-expressed and associated with enhanced glycolytic metabolism. Our clinical observations confirmed the expression patterns of GSEC lncRNA and PFKFB3 genes in neutrophils in septic patients. Performing in vitro experiments, we found that the expression of GSEC lncRNA and PFKFB3 was increased when neutrophils were treated with inflammatory stimuli. Knockdown and overexpression experiments showed that GSEC lncRNA was essential for mediating PFKFB3 mRNA expression and stability in neutrophil-like dHL-60 cells. In addition, we found that GSEC lncRNA-induced PFKFB3 expression was essential for mediating dHL-60 cell inflammatory cytokine expression. Performing mechanistic experiments, we found that glycolytic metabolism with PFKFB3 involvement supported inflammatory cytokine expression. In summary, our study uncovers a mechanism by which GSEC lncRNA promotes neutrophil inflammatory activation in sepsis by supporting glycolytic metabolism with PFKFB3.

The Mechanism of Warburg Effect-Induced Chemoresistance in Cancer

Although chemotherapy can improve the overall survival and prognosis of cancer patients, chemoresistance remains an obstacle due to the diversity, heterogeneity, and adaptability to environmental alters in clinic. To determine more possibilities for cancer therapy, recent studies have begun to explore changes in the metabolism, especially glycolysis. The Warburg effect is a hallmark of cancer that refers to the preference of cancer cells to metabolize glucose anaerobically rather than aerobically, even under normoxia, which contributes to chemoresistance. However, the association between glycolysis and chemoresistance and molecular mechanisms of glycolysis-induced chemoresistance remains unclear. This review describes the mechanism of glycolysis-induced chemoresistance from the aspects of glycolysis process, signaling pathways, tumor microenvironment, and their interactions. The understanding of how glycolysis induces chemoresistance may provide new molecular targets and concepts for cancer therapy.

TFEB Signalling-Related MicroRNAs and Autophagy

The oncogenic Transcription Factor EB (TFEB), a member of MITF-TFE family, is known to be the most important regulator of the transcription of genes responsible for the control of lysosomal biogenesis and functions, autophagy, and vesicles flux. TFEB activation occurs in response to stress factors such as nutrient and growth factor deficiency, hypoxia, lysosomal stress, and mitochondrial damage. To reach the final functional status, TFEB is regulated in multimodal ways, including transcriptional rate, post-transcriptional regulation, and post-translational modifications. Post-transcriptional regulation is in part mediated by miRNAs. miRNAs have been linked to many cellular processes involved both in physiology and pathology, such as cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. miRNAs also play a significant role in autophagy, which exerts a crucial role in cell behaviour during stress or survival responses. In particular, several miRNAs directly recognise TFEB transcript or indirectly regulate its function by targeting accessory molecules or enzymes involved in its post-translational modifications. Moreover, the transcriptional programs triggered by TFEB may be influenced by the miRNA-mediated regulation of TFEB targets. Finally, recent important studies indicate that the transcription of many miRNAs is regulated by TFEB itself. In this review, we describe the interplay between miRNAs with TFEB and focus on how these types of crosstalk affect TFEB activation and cellular functions.

Role of ZEB family members in proliferation, metastasis and chemoresistance of prostate cancer cells: Revealing signaling networks

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. A variety of strategies including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy are applied for PCa treatment. PCa cells are responsive towards therapy at early stages, but they can obtain resistance in the advanced stage. Furthermore, their migratory ability is high in advanced stages. It seems that genetic and epigenetic factors play an important in this case. Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox (ZEB) is a family of transcription with two key members including ZEB1 and ZEB2. ZEB family members are known due to their involvement in promoting cancer metastasis via EMT induction. Recent studies have shown their role in cancer proliferation and inducing therapy resistance. In the current review, we focus on revealing role of ZEB1 and ZEB2 in PCa. ZEB family members that are able to significantly promote proliferation and viability of cancer cells. ZEB1 and ZEB2 enhance migration and invasion of PCa cells via EMT induction. Overexpression of ZEB1 and ZEB2 is associated with poor prognosis of PCa. ZEB1 and ZEB2 upregulation occurs during PCa progression and can provide therapy resistance to cancer cells. PRMT1, Smad2, and non-coding RNAs can function as upstream mediators of the ZEB family. Besides, Bax, Bcl-2, MRP1, N-cadherin and E-cadherin can be considered as downstream targets of ZEB family in PCa.

MicroRNA-mediated autophagy regulation in cancer therapy: The role in chemoresistance/chemosensitivity

Chemoresistance has doubled the effort needed to reach an effective treatment for cancer. Now, scientists should consider molecular pathways and mechanisms involved in chemoresistance to overcome cancer. Autophagy is a "self-digestion" mechanism in which potentially toxic and aged organelles and macromolecules are degraded. Increasing evidence has shown that autophagy possesses dual role in cancer cells (onco-suppressor or oncogene). So, it is vital to identify its role in cancer progression and malignancy. MicroRNAs (miRs) are epigenetic factors capable of modulation of autophagy in cancer cells. In the current review, we emphasize on the relationship between miRs and autophagy in cancer chemotherapy. Besides, we discuss upstream mediators of miR/autophagy axis in cancer chemotherapy including long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, Nrf2 c-Myc, and HIF-1α. At the final section, we provide a discussion about how anti-tumor compounds affect miR/autophagy axis in ensuring chemosensitivity. These topics are described in this review to show how autophagy inhibition/induction can lead to chemosensitivity/chemoresistance, and miRs are considered as key players in these discussions.

Mir-488 alleviates chemoresistance and glycolysis of colorectal cancer by targeting PFKFB3

BACKGROUND

Considering the boosting effect of glycolysis on tumor chemoresistance, this investigation aimed at exploring whether miR-488/PFKFB3 axis might reduce drug resistance of colorectal cancer (CRC) by affecting glycolysis, proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells.

METHOD

Totally, 288 CRC patients were divided into metastasis/recurrence group (n = 107) and non-metastasis/recurrence group (n = 181) according to their prognosis about 1 year after the chemotherapy, and their 3-year overall survival was also tracked. Besides, miR-488 expression was determined in peripheral blood of CRC patients and also in CRC cell lines (ie, W620, HT-29, Lovo, and HCT116). The targeted relationship between miR-488 and PFKFB3 was predicted by Targetscan software and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Moreover, glycolysis and drug tolerance of CRC cells lines were assessed.

RESULTS

MiR-488 expression was significantly decreased in metastatic/recurrent CRC patients than those without metastasis/recurrence (P < .05), and lowly expressed miR-488 was suggestive of unfavorable 3-year survival, large tumor size, poor differentiation, in-depth infiltration, and advanced Duke stage of CRC patients (P < .05). Besides, CRC cell lines transfected by miR-488 mimic demonstrated decreases in glucose uptake and lactate secretion, increases in oxaliplatin/5-Fu-sensistivity, as well as diminished capability of proliferating, invading, and migratory (P < .05), which were reversible by extra transfection of pcDNA3.1-PFKFB3 (ie, miR-488 mimic + pcDNA3.1-PFKFB3 group). Finally, the mRNA level of PFKFB3 was down-regulated by miR-488 mimic in CRC cell lines after being targeted by it (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

The miR-488/PFKFB3 axis might clinically refine chemotherapeutic efficacy of CRC, given its modifying glycolysis and metastasis of CRC cells.

Mir-488 alleviates chemoresistance and glycolysis of colorectal cancer by targeting PFKFB3

BACKGROUND

Considering the boosting effect of glycolysis on tumor chemoresistance, this investigation aimed at exploring whether miR-488/PFKFB3 axis might reduce drug resistance of colorectal cancer (CRC) by affecting glycolysis, proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells.

METHOD

Totally, 288 CRC patients were divided into metastasis/recurrence group (n = 107) and non-metastasis/recurrence group (n = 181) according to their prognosis about 1 year after the chemotherapy, and their 3-year overall survival was also tracked. Besides, miR-488 expression was determined in peripheral blood of CRC patients and also in CRC cell lines (ie, W620, HT-29, Lovo, and HCT116). The targeted relationship between miR-488 and PFKFB3 was predicted by Targetscan software and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Moreover, glycolysis and drug tolerance of CRC cells lines were assessed.

RESULTS

MiR-488 expression was significantly decreased in metastatic/recurrent CRC patients than those without metastasis/recurrence (P < .05), and lowly expressed miR-488 was suggestive of unfavorable 3-year survival, large tumor size, poor differentiation, in-depth infiltration, and advanced Duke stage of CRC patients (P < .05). Besides, CRC cell lines transfected by miR-488 mimic demonstrated decreases in glucose uptake and lactate secretion, increases in oxaliplatin/5-Fu-sensistivity, as well as diminished capability of proliferating, invading, and migratory (P < .05), which were reversible by extra transfection of pcDNA3.1-PFKFB3 (ie, miR-488 mimic + pcDNA3.1-PFKFB3 group). Finally, the mRNA level of PFKFB3 was down-regulated by miR-488 mimic in CRC cell lines after being targeted by it (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

The miR-488/PFKFB3 axis might clinically refine chemotherapeutic efficacy of CRC, given its modifying glycolysis and metastasis of CRC cells.

Transcriptional suppression of androgen receptor by 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells

Androgen receptor (AR) plays a pivotal role as a target for amplification/mutation in pathogenesis and tumor progression in prostate, and thus, controlling AR activity or expression might be a feasible therapeutic approach for the treatment of prostate cancer. Here, we report the novel mechanisms by which 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) targets AR to stimulate cell death in both hormone-responsive and -refractory prostate cancer cells. We found that miR-488, a tumor suppressive microRNA, was markedly induced by GA treatment, resulting in the down-regulation of AR expression and inhibition of cellular responses mediated by androgens. Moreover, GA not only suppressed the expression of androgen target genes (TMPRSS2, PSA, and NKX3.1), but also enhanced the suppressive effect of anti-androgens (bicalutamide and flutamide) on LNCaP cell growth. Our data further provides evidence that down-regulation of AR expression by GA may occur through transcriptional suppression at AR promoter region between - 1014 and - 829. Ectopic expression of SFR and E2F3α reversed the inhibitory effect of GA on AR promoter activity as well as protein expression, suggesting that GA may target transcription factors SRF and E2F3α to regulate AR expression. Taken together, our study provides new insights on AR regulation and GA as a potential therapeutic candidate for human prostate cancer.