miR-129-2 mediates down-regulation of progesterone receptor in response to progesterone in breast cancer cells

miR-129-2-3p inhibits colon cancer cell proliferation by down-regulating the expression of BZW1

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

MicroRNA (miRNA) is involved in diverse biological and physiological processes of tumors. Dysregulation of miRNA will induce a series of human diseases. miR-129-2-3p has vital effects in the pathogenesis of various tumors. However, the regulatory function of miR-129-2-3p in colon cancer remains to be clarified. This study investigated the role of miR-129-2-3p targeting BZW1 in proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of colon cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Here, RT-qPCR was applied to measure the miR-129-2-3p levels in colon cancer tissues. The predicted targets of miR-129-2-3p were identified by bioinformatics and verified using luciferase reporter assay. The effects of miR-129-2-3p on colon cancer were detected by CCK-8, colony formation, transwell chamber test, wound healing, and flow cytometry assays. Finally, the influence of miR-129-2-3p on tumor growth was studied. Nude mice were xenografted with transfected Lovo cells by subcutaneous injection of 5 × 105 cells in 100 µl. HE staining and TUNEL were used to assess metastasis ability.

RESULTS

miR-129-2-3p level in colon cancer tissue was significantly reduced. Furthermore, it was verified that BZW1 was a target of miR-129-2-3p, and its expression in colon cancer cells was inhibited by miR-129-2-3p. Additionally, miR-129-2-3p inhibited colon cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, mobility ability and tumor growth, and promoted cell apoptosis by targeting BZW1. miR-129-2-3p overexpression in tumor xenografts in vivo decreased BZW1 expression, and suppressed tumor growth.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, these findings indicated that miR-129-2-3p exerts a suppressive role in colon cancer cells by directly targeting BZW1, and may have significant therapeutic implications for patients with colon cancer.

MicroRNAs in Endometriosis: Insights into Inflammation and Progesterone Resistance

Endometriosis, a non-malignant gynecological disorder influenced by estrogen, involves the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Its development includes processes such as inflammation, progesterone resistance, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation. Epigenetic factors, particularly the dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs), have emerged as key factors in these mechanisms in endometriosis. This review aims to unveil the intricate molecular processes that control inflammation, progesterone resistance, and miRNA functions in endometriosis. In addition, it provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding regarding the involvement of miRNAs in the inflammatory aspects of this condition. This synthesis encompasses research investigating the molecular underpinnings of inflammation, along with the biogenesis and roles of miRNAs in endometriosis. Furthermore, it examines human studies and functional analyses to establish the intricate connection between miRNAs, inflammation, and progesterone resistance in the context of endometriosis. The results highlight the significant impact of dysregulated miRNAs on the inflammatory pathways and hormonal imbalances characteristic of endometriosis. Consequently, miRNAs hold promise as potential non-invasive biomarkers and targeted therapeutic agents aimed at addressing inflammation and enhancing the response to progesterone treatment in individuals with endometriosis.

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic analysis of breast cancer with a hormone receptor status of ER(-)/PR(+)

Background

It is unknown whether ER(-)/PR(+) breast cancer is an independent breast cancer subtype, how it differs from other subtypes, and what its significance is regarding treatment and prognosis. This study compared ER(-)/PR(+) breast cancer with other subtypes to better understand the biological characteristics and prognosis of ER(-)/PR(+) breast cancer, to guide clinical treatment and establish a theoretical foundation.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data for patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The clinicopathological characteristics of ER(-)/PR(+) breast cancer, including age, tumor size, lymph node status, HER-2 status, pathological type and histological grade, were compared with other types of breast cancer. A risk scoring system was developed based on independent risk factors influencing prognosis to predict the patient's prognosis, and a nomogram model was created to predict the patient's survival rate. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and calibration curve was used to evaluate the predictive performance of the nomogram.

Results

The rates of T3-4, lymph node positivity, HER-2 positivity, infiltrating non-special pathological type, and G3 were significantly higher in ER(-)/PR(+) than in ER(+)/PR(+) cancer (p <0.001). ER(-)/PR(+) was similar to biological activity of ER(-)/PR(-) type. ER(-)/PR(+)/HER-2(+) patients had a better survival prognosis than ER(-)/PR(+) HER-2(-) patients (p<0.05). The prognosis of ER-/PR+ breast cancer was significantly associated with age, HER-2 status, and T stage.

Conclusion

ER(-)/PR(+) breast cancer is more similar to ER(-)/PR(-) breast cancer than other breast cancer subtypes, with an early age of onset, a high proportion of infiltrating non-special types, a high histological grade, and a high HER-2 positivity rate. Whether HER-2 positivity can improve the prognosis of ER(-)/PR(+)breast cancer is worth further discussion. The risk scoring system we developed can effectively distinguish between high-risk and low-risk patients. The nomogram we created had a concordance index of 0.736, and the calibration curve showed good agreement between the predicted and observed outcomes.

Deciphering the mechanisms of action of progesterone in breast cancer

A practice-changing, randomized, controlled clinical study established that preoperative hydroxyprogesterone administration improves disease-free and overall survival in patients with node-positive breast cancer. This research perspective summarizes evidences from our studies that preoperative hydroxyprogesterone administration may improve disease-free and overall survival in patients with node-positive breast cancer by modulating cellular stress response and negative regulation of inflammation. Non-coding RNAs, particularly DSCAM-AS1, play a regulatory role in this process, along with the upregulation of the kinase gene SGK1 and activation of the SGK1/AP-1/NDRG1 axis. Progesterone-induced modification of the progesterone receptor and estrogen receptor genomic binding pattern is also involved in orchestrating estrogen signaling in breast cancer, preventing cell migration and invasion, and improving patient outcomes. We also highlight the role of progesterone in endocrine therapy resistance, which could lead to novel treatment options for patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and for those who develop resistance to traditional endocrine therapies.

Regulation of progesterone receptor expression in endometriosis, endometrial cancer, and breast cancer by estrogen, polymorphisms, transcription factors, epigenetic alterations, and ubiquitin-proteasome system

The uterus and breasts are hormone-responsive tissues. Progesterone and estradiol regulate gonadotropin secretion, prepare the endometrium for implantation, maintain pregnancy, and regulate the differentiation of breast tissue. Dysregulation of these hormones causes endometriosis, endometrial cancer, and breast cancer, damaging the physical and mental health of women. Emerging evidence has shown that progesterone resistance or elevated progesterone activity is the primary hormonal substrate of these diseases. Since progesterone acts through its specific nuclear receptor, the abnormal expression of the progesterone receptor (PR) dysregulates progesterone function. This review discusses the regulatory mechanisms of PR expression in patients with endometriosis, and endometrial or breast cancer, including estrogen, polymorphisms, transcription factors, epigenetics, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system. (1) Estrogen promotes the expression of PRA (a PR isoform) mRNA and protein through the interaction of estrogen receptors (ERs) and Sp1 with half-ERE/Sp1 binding sites. ERs also affect the binding of Sp1 and Sp1 sites to promote the expression of PRB (another PR isoform)(2) PR polymorphisms, mainly PROGINS and + 331 G/A polymorphism, regulate PR expression by affecting DNA methylation and transcription factor binding. (3) The influence of epigenetic alterations on PR expression occurs through DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNA. (4) As one of the main protein degradation pathways in vivo, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) regulates PR expression by participating in protein degradation. These mechanisms may provide new molecular targets for diagnosing and treating endometriosis, endometrial, and breast cancer.

Progesterone modulates the DSCAM-AS1/miR-130a/ESR1 axis to suppress cell invasion and migration in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

A preoperative-progesterone intervention increases disease-free survival in patients with breast cancer, with an unknown underlying mechanism. We elucidated the role of non-coding RNAs in response to progesterone in human breast cancer.

METHODS

Whole transcriptome sequencing dataset of 30 breast primary tumors (10 tumors exposed to hydroxyprogesterone and 20 tumors as control) were re-analyzed to identify differentially expressed non-coding RNAs followed by real-time PCR analyses to validate the expression of candidates. Functional analyses were performed by genetic knockdown, biochemical, and cell-based assays.

RESULTS

We identified a significant downregulation in the expression of a long non-coding RNA, Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule antisense DSCAM-AS1, in response to progesterone treatment in breast cancer. The progesterone-induced expression of DSCAM-AS1 could be effectively blocked by the knockdown of progesterone receptor (PR) or treatment of cells with mifepristone (PR-antagonist). We further show that knockdown of DSCAM-AS1 mimics the effect of progesterone in impeding cell migration and invasion in PR-positive breast cancer cells, while its overexpression shows an opposite effect. Additionally, DSCAM-AS1 sponges the activity of miR-130a that regulates the expression of ESR1 by binding to its 3'-UTR to mediate the effect of progesterone in breast cancer cells. Consistent with our findings, TCGA analysis suggests that high levels of miR-130a correlate with a tendency toward better overall survival in patients with breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

This study presents a mechanism involving the DSCAM-AS1/miR-130a/ESR1 genomic axis through which progesterone impedes breast cancer cell invasion and migration. The findings highlight the utility of progesterone treatment in impeding metastasis and improving survival outcomes in patients with breast cancer.

Changes in the Level of Methylation of a Group of microRNA Genes as a Factor in the Development and Progression of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

We studied changes in the level of methylation of a number of microRNA genes hypermethylated in non-small cell lung cancer and its histological subtypes as well as the relationship of methylation of a group of microRNA genes with clinical and morphological features of the tumor with smoking status. A significantly high level of methylation of 7 genes (MIR124-1/3, MIR125B-1, MIR129-2, MIR137, MIR1258, and MIR339) was revealed in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell lung cancer in comparison with samples of adjacent histologically unchanged lung tissue. In squamous cell lung cancer, a significantly high level of methylation of the MIR124-2 gene in the tumor was also shown. In addition, differences in the methylation profile of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma at stages III-IV of the oncological process were revealed. A high level of methylation of the MIR137 and MIR1258 genes was shown for adenocarcinoma and MIR339, MIR129-2, and MIR124-2 for squamous cell carcinoma. Significant differences in the level of methylation of MIR124-2 and MIR375 genes were revealed for smoking patients with squamous cell lung cancer.

Ligand-Dependent Downregulation of Guanylyl Cyclase/Natriuretic Peptide Receptor-A: Role of miR-128 and miR-195

Cardiac hormones act on the regulation of blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular homeostasis. These hormones include atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP) and activate natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPRA), which enhance natriuresis, diuresis, and vasorelaxation. In this study, we established the ANP-dependent homologous downregulation of NPRA using human embryonic kidney-293 (HEK-293) cells expressing recombinant receptor and MA-10 cells harboring native endogenous NPRA. The prolonged pretreatment of cells with ANP caused a time- and dose-dependent decrease in ¹²⁵I-ANP binding, Guanylyl cyclase (GC) activity of receptor, and intracellular accumulation of cGMP leading to downregulation of NPRA. Treatment with ANP (100 nM) for 12 h led to an 80% decrease in ¹²⁵I-ANP binding to its receptor, and BNP decreased it by 62%. Neither 100 nM c-ANF (truncated ANF) nor C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) had any effect. ANP (100 nM) treatment also decreased GC activity by 68% and intracellular accumulation cGMP levels by 45%, while the NPRA antagonist A71915 (1 µM) almost completely blocked ANP-dependent downregulation of NPRA. Treatment with the protein kinase G (PKG) stimulator 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cGMP (CPT-cGMP) (1 µM) caused a significant increase in ¹²⁵I-ANP binding, whereas the PKG inhibitor KT 5823 (1 µM) potentiated the effect of ANP on the downregulation of NPRA. The transfection of miR-128 significantly reduced NPRA protein levels by threefold compared to control cells. These results suggest that ligand-dependent mechanisms play important roles in the downregulation of NPRA in target cells.

MicroRNAs and Progesterone Receptor Signaling in Endometriosis Pathophysiology

Endometriosis is a significant disease characterized by infertility and pelvic pain in which endometrial stromal and glandular tissue grow in ectopic locations. Altered responsiveness to progesterone is a contributing factor to endometriosis pathophysiology, but the precise mechanisms are poorly understood. Progesterone resistance influences both the eutopic and ectopic (endometriotic lesion) endometrium. An inability of the eutopic endometrium to properly respond to progesterone is believed to contribute to the infertility associated with the disease, while an altered responsiveness of endometriotic lesion tissue may contribute to the survival of the ectopic tissue and associated symptoms. Women with endometriosis express altered levels of several endometrial progesterone target genes which may be due to the abnormal expression and/or function of progesterone receptors and/or chaperone proteins, as well as inflammation, genetics, and epigenetics. MiRNAs are a class of epigenetic modulators proposed to play a role in endometriosis pathophysiology, including the modulation of progesterone signaling. In this paper, we summarize the role of progesterone receptors and progesterone signaling in endometriosis pathophysiology, review miRNAs, which are over-expressed in endometriosis tissues and fluids, and follow this with a discussion on the potential regulation of key progesterone signaling components by these miRNAs, concluding with suggestions for future research endeavors in this area.

Lost but Not Least-Novel Insights into Progesterone Receptor Loss in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PgR) are crucial prognostic and predictive biomarkers that are usually co-expressed in breast cancer (BC). However, 12-24% of BCs present ERα(+)/PgR(-) phenotype at immunohistochemical evaluation. In fact, BC may either show primary PgR(-) status (in chemonaïve tumor sample), lose PgR expression during neoadjuvant treatment, or acquire PgR(-) phenotype in local relapse or metastasis. The loss of PgR expression in ERα(+) breast cancer may signify resistance to endocrine therapy and poorer outcomes. On the other hand, ERα(+)/PgR(-) BCs may have a better response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy than double-positive tumors. Loss of PgR expression may be a result of pre-transcriptional alterations (copy number loss, mutation, epigenetic modifications), decreased transcription of the PGR gene (e.g., by microRNAs), and post-translational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation, sumoylation). Various processes involved in the down-regulation of PgR have distinct consequences on the biology of cancer cells. Occasionally, negative PgR status detected by immunohistochemical analysis is paradoxically associated with enhanced transcriptional activity of PgR that might be inhibited by antiprogestin treatment. Identification of the mechanism of PgR loss in each patient seems challenging, yet it may provide important information on the biology of the tumor and predict its responsiveness to the therapy.

Role of microRNA-129 in cancer and non-cancerous diseases (Review)

An increasing number of studies indicate that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are involved in diverse biological signaling pathways and play important roles in the progression of various diseases, including both oncological and non-oncological diseases. These small non-coding RNAs can block translation, resulting in a low expression level of target genes. miR-129 is an miRNA that has been the focus of considerable research in recent years. A growing body of evidence shows that the miR-129 family not only functions in cancer, including osteosarcoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and ovarian, prostate, lung, breast and colon cancer, but also in non-cancerous diseases, including heart failure (HF), epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease (AD), obesity, diabetes and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). It is therefore necessary to summarize current research progress on the role of miR-129 in different diseases. The present review includes an updated summary of the mechanisms of the miR-129 family in oncological and non-oncological diseases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review focusing on the role of miR-129 in non-cancerous diseases such as obesity, HF, epilepsy, diabetes, IVDD and AD.

Expression analysis of progesterone‑regulated miRNAs in cells derived from human glioblastoma

Glioblastomas (GBMs) are the most frequent and malignant type of brain tumor. It has been reported that progesterone (P4) regulates the progression of GBMs by modifying the expression of genes that promote cell proliferation, migration and invasion; however, it is not fully understood how these processes are regulated. It is possible that P4 mediates some of these effects through changes in the microRNA (miRNA) expression profile in GBM cells. The present study investigated the effects of P4 on miRNAs expression profile in U-251MG cells derived from a human GBM. U-251MG cells were treated for 6 h with P4, RU486 (an antagonist of the intracellular progesterone receptor), the combined treatment (P4+RU486) and cyclodextrin (vehicle) and then a miRNA microarray analysis conducted. The expression analysis revealed a set of 190 miRNAs with differential expression in the treatments of P4, RU486 and P4+RU486 in respect to the vehicle and P4 in respect to P4+RU486, of which only 16 were exclusively regulated by P4. The possible mRNA targets of the miRNAs regulated by P4 could participate in the regulation of proliferation, cell cycle progression and cell migration of GBMs. The present study provided insight for understanding epigenetic modifications regulated by sex hormones involved in GBM progression, and for identifying potential therapeutic strategies for these brain tumors.

Knockdown of microRNA-130b improves doxorubicin sensitivity in bladder urothelial carcinoma by negatively regulating cylindromatosis expression

INTRODUCTION

Chemotherapeutic resistance reduces the sensitivity of bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) to chemotherapeutic drugs and contributes a barrier leading to treatment failure. The purpose of this research project is to investigate the regulatory effects of miR-130b on chemotherapeutic drug resistance of BUC and its mechanism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The relative expression of miRNA-130b and cylindromatosis (CYLD) was examined using real-time quantitative PCR. The cell proliferation and doxorubicin sensitivity were detected with the enhanced CCK-8 assay. The specific combination of miR-130b and CYLD was verified with the luciferase reporter gene assay. Protein expression was detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

Our study found that miR-130b was up-regulated in doxorubicin-insensitive BUC tissues and cell lines, and its high expression was negatively related to doxorubicin sensitivity in BUC. The miR-130b knockdown reduced the IC₅₀ of doxorubicin and improved doxorubicin sensitivity of J82/Dox and T24/Dox cells. For the regulation mechanism analysis of miR-130b, bioinformatics analysis software was used to predict the potential targets of miR-130b, including the CYLD gene. The following luciferase activities assay, quantitative real time-PCR and western blot identified the CYLD gene as a target of miR-130b. Knockdown of CYLD reversed miR-130b's regulatory roles in doxorubicin sensitivity in J82/Dox and T24/Dox cells.

CONCLUSIONS

High expression of miR-130b is negatively related to doxorubicin sensitivity in BUC, and knockdown of miR-130b improves doxorubicin sensitivity in BUC by negatively regulating CYLD expression. Our findings will provide guidance for the clinical chemotherapy of BUC.

Integrated copy number and miRNA expression analysis in triple negative breast cancer of Latin American patients

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a clinically aggressive breast cancer subtype, affects 15–35% of women from Latin America. Using an approach of direct integration of copy number and global miRNA profiling data, performed simultaneously in the same tumor specimens, we identified a panel of 17 miRNAs specifically associated with TNBC of ancestrally characterized patients from Latin America, Brazil. This panel was differentially expressed between the TNBC and non-TNBC subtypes studied (p ≤ 0.05, FDR ≤ 0.25), with their expression levels concordant with the patterns of copy number alterations (CNAs), present mostly frequent at 8q21.3-q24.3, 3q24-29, 6p25.3-p12.2, 1q21.1-q44, 5q11.1-q22.1, 11p13-p11.2, 13q12.11-q14.3, 17q24.2-q25.3 and Xp22.33-p11.21. The combined 17 miRNAs presented a high power (AUC = 0.953 (0.78–0.99);95% CI) in discriminating between the TNBC and non-TNBC subtypes of the patients studied. In addition, the expression of 14 and 15 of the 17miRNAs was significantly associated with tumor subtype when adjusted for tumor stage and grade, respectively. In conclusion, the panel of miRNAs identified demonstrated the impact of CNAs in miRNA expression levels and identified miRNA target genes potentially affected by both CNAs and miRNA deregulation. These targets, involved in critical signaling pathways and biological functions associated specifically with the TNBC transcriptome of Latina patients, can provide biological insights into the observed differences in the TNBC clinical outcome among racial/ethnic groups, taking into consideration their genetic ancestry.

Proteomics contribution to the elucidation of the steroid hormone receptors functions

Steroid hormones have far-ranging biological impacts and more are continuously being uncovered. Over the last decades, proteomics approaches have become key to better understand biological processes. Due to multiple technical breakthroughs allowing for the concurrent identification and/or quantification of thousands of analytes using mass spectrometers, researchers employing proteomics tools today can now obtain truly holistic views of multiple facets of the human proteome. Here, we review how the field of proteomics has contributed to discoveries about steroid hormones, their receptors and their impact on human pathologies. In particular, the involvement of steroid receptors in cancer initiation, development, metastasis and treatment will be highlighted. Techniques at the forefront of the proteomics field will also be discussed to present how they can contribute to a better understanding of steroid hormone receptors.

Progesterone Effects in the Nervous System

The sex hormone progesterone is mainly known as a key factor in establishing and maintaining pregnancy. In addition, progesterone has been shown to induce morphological changes in the central and peripheral nervous system by increasing dendrito-, spino-, and synaptogenesis in Purkinje cells (Wessel et al.: Cell Mol Life Sci (2014a) 1723-1740) and increasing axonal outgrowth in dorsal root ganglia (Olbrich et al.: Endocrinology (2013) 3784-3795). These effects mediated mainly by the classical progesterone receptors (PRs) A and B seem to be limited to young neurons. It may be assumed that microRNAs (miRNAs), which are potent regulators of nervous system maturation and degeneration, are also involved in the regulation of progesterone-mediated neuronal plasticity by altering the expression patterns of the corresponding PR A/B receptors (Theis and Theiss: Neural Regen Res (2015) 547-549, Pieczora et al.: Cerebellum (2017) 376-387). This review critically discusses current data on the neuroprotective effect of progesterone and its corresponding receptors in the nervous system, with possible regulatory processes by miRNAs. Preclinical studies on stroke and traumatic brain injury revealed neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects of progesterone in the treatment of severe neurological diseases in animal models, but have so far failed in humans. In this context, the identification of specific miRNAs that regulate the expression of progesterone and PR could help to exploit the neuroprotective potential of progesterone for the treatment of various neurological disorders. Anat Rec, 302:1276-1286, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Up-regulation of the kinase gene SGK1 by progesterone activates the AP-1-NDRG1 axis in both PR-positive and -negative breast cancer cells

Preoperative progesterone intervention has been shown to confer a survival benefit to breast cancer patients independently of their progesterone receptor (PR) status. This observation raises the question how progesterone affects the outcome of PR-negative cancer. Here, using microarray and RNA-Seq-based gene expression profiling and ChIP-Seq analyses of breast cancer cells, we observed that the serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase gene (SGK1) and the tumor metastasis-suppressor gene N-Myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) are up-regulated and that the microRNAs miR-29a and miR-101-1 targeting the 3'-UTR of SGK1 are down-regulated in response to progesterone. We further demonstrate a dual-phase transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of SGK1 in response to progesterone, leading to an up-regulation of NDRG1 that is mediated by a set of genes regulated by the transcription factor AP-1. We found that NDRG1, in turn, inactivates a set of kinases, impeding the invasion and migration of breast cancer cells. In summary, we propose a model for the mode of action of progesterone in breast cancer. This model helps decipher the molecular basis of observations in a randomized clinical trial of the effect of progesterone on breast cancer and has therefore the potential to improve the prognosis of breast cancer patients receiving preoperative progesterone treatment.