MiR-206 may suppress non-small lung cancer metastasis by targeting CORO1C

Machine Learning Gene Signature to Metastatic ccRCC Based on ceRNA Network

Clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a silent-development pathology with a high rate of metastasis in patients. The activity of coding genes in metastatic progression is well known. New studies evaluate the association with non-coding genes, such as competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA). This study aims to build a ceRNA network and a gene signature for ccRCC associated with metastatic development and analyze their biological functions. Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we constructed the ceRNA network with differentially expressed genes, assembled nine preliminary gene signatures from eight feature selection techniques, and evaluated the classification metrics to choose a final signature. After that, we performed a genomic analysis, a risk analysis, and a functional annotation analysis. We present an 11-gene signature: SNHG15, AF117829.1, hsa-miR-130a-3p, hsa-mir-381-3p, BTBD11, INSR, HECW2, RFLNB, PTTG1, HMMR, and RASD1. It was possible to assess the generalization of the signature using an external dataset from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC-RECA), which showed an Area Under the Curve of 81.5%. The genomic analysis identified the signature participants on chromosomes with highly mutated regions. The hsa-miR-130a-3p, AF117829.1, hsa-miR-381-3p, and PTTG1 were significantly related to the patient's survival and metastatic development. Additionally, functional annotation resulted in relevant pathways for tumor development and cell cycle control, such as RNA polymerase II transcription regulation and cell control. The gene signature analysis within the ceRNA network, with literature evidence, suggests that the lncRNAs act as "sponges" upon the microRNAs (miRNAs). Therefore, this gene signature presents coding and non-coding genes and could act as potential biomarkers for a better understanding of ccRCC.

Curcumin inhibits colon cancer malignant progression and promotes T cell killing by regulating miR-206 expression

Colon cancer is a great threat to human health. Curcumin, as a traditional Chinese medicine extract with anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects, can affect the development of diverse human diseases including cancer. The aim of this research was to probe the mechanism by which curcumin regulates colon cancer progression. Colon cancer cells were processed with graded concentrations of curcumin. The proliferation and apoptosis of the treated cells were determined by MTT, colony formation assay and flow cytometry. Expression of signaling pathway-related proteins and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) was measured by western blotting. The effect of curcumin on tumor cell growth was verified through T cell-mediated killing and ELISA assays. The relationship between target gene expression and the survival rate of colon cancer patients was analyzed by a survival curve. Curcumin treatment restrained proliferation and accelerated apoptosis of colon cancer cells. It elevated miR-206 expression, which in turn affected colon cancer cell function. miR-206 enhanced colon cancer cell apoptosis and inhibited PD-L1 expression; thus, curcumin enhanced the killing effect of T cells on tumor cells by suppressing PD-L1 through inhibiting the JAK/STAT3 pathway. Patients with high expression of miR-206 had better survival rates than those with low expression. Curcumin can regulate miR-206 expression and inhibit the malignant behavior of colon cancer cells and enhance T cell killing through the JAK/STAT3 pathway.

A Comprehensive Review on the Importance of MiRNA-206 in the Animal Model and Human Diseases

MicroRNA-206 (miR-206) is a microRNA that is involved in many human diseases, such as myasthenia gravis, osteoarthritis, depression, cancers, etc. Both inhibition effects and progression roles of miR-206 have been reported for the past few years. High expression of miR-206 was observed in patients with osteoarthritis, gastric cancer and epithelial ovarian cancer compared to normal people. The study also showed that miR-206 promotes cancer progression in breast cancer patients and avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Meanwhile, several studies have shown that expression levels of miR-206 were down-regulated in laryngeal carcinoma cell multiplication, as well as in hepatocellular carcinoma, non-small lung cancer and infantile hemangioma. Moreover, miR-206 was up-regulated in the mild stage of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients and then down-regulated in the moderate and severe stages, indicating that miR-206 has the double effects of starting and aggravating the disease. In neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, miR-206 also plays an important role in the progression of the disease; the level of miR-206 is most highly expressed in the brains of patients with depression. In the current review, we summarize the role of miR-206 in various diseases, and miR-206 may be developed as a new biomarker for diagnosing diseases in the near future.

Circular RNA in Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma: Identification of Targets and New Treatment Modalities

Despite availability of several treatment options for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, the survival rate of patients for five years is in the range of 22%. Therefore, identification of new targets and treatment modalities for this disease is an important issue. In this context, we screened the PubMed database for up-regulated circular RNAs (circRNAs) which promote growth of NSCLC in preclinical models in vitro as well as in vivo xenograft models in immuno-compromised mice. This approach led to potential targets for further validation and inhibition with small molecules or antibody-derived entities. In case of preclinical validation, the corresponding circRNAs can be inhibited with small interfering RNAs (siRNA) or short hairpin RNAs (shRNA). The identified circRNAs act by sponging microRNAs (miRs) preventing cleavage of the mRNA of the corresponding targets. We identified nine circRNAs up-regulating transmembrane receptors, five circRNAs increasing expression of secreted proteins, nine circRNAs promoting expression of components of signaling pathways, six circRNAs involved in regulation of splicing and RNA processing, six circRNAs up-regulating actin-related and RNA processing components, seven circRNAs increasing the steady-state levels of transcription factors, two circRNAs increasing high-mobility group proteins, four circRNAs increasing components of the epigenetic modification system and three circRNAs up-regulating protein components of additional systems.

MicroRNA-185-5p targets tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta to regulate non-small cell lung cancer progression

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide, as well as the leading cause of cancer-related death. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, which accounts for 85% of occurrences) is the main type of LC. MiRNAs appear to play a role in the occurrence and progression of many malignancies, according to mounting data. The underlying mechanism of miRNAs in regulating NSCLC cell biological activity and progression, on the other hand, is still being investigated.

METHODS

QRT-PCR were used to detect miR-185-5p expression and YWHAZ mRNA in NSCLC. The CCK-8 assay was used to determine the tumor cells' ability to proliferate. Transwall assay was used to test the migratory and invasive properties of cells. Cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. Tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta (YWHAZ), E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin and cleaved-caspase3 protein expression were assessed using Western Blot. The bioinformatics analysis software StarBase2.0 predicted miR-185-5p downstream targets. To confirm the target association between miR-185-5p and YWHAZ, a luciferase experiment was used. In addition, an NCl-H1299 xenograft model was created to assess the anti-tumor impact of miR-185-5p in vivo. The expression level of YWHAZ in tumor tissues of small xenograft tumor model was detected by immunohistochemistry assay.

RESULTS

Decreased miR-185-5p expression levels were observed in NSCLC. In vitro, over-expressed miR-185-5p decreased cell viability, proliferation, invasion/migration, and induced cell apoptosis, while inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. Dual-luciferase gene experiments confirmed that YWHAZ binds to miR-185-5p. Overexpression of YWHAZ partially restored the inhibitory effects of miR-185-5p on cell behaviors.

CONCLUSION

MiR-185-5p was down-regulated in NSCLC, and that overexpressed miR-185-5p inhibited malignant behaviors of cells and tumor growth by negatively regulating YWHAZ.

Increased SEC23A Expression Correlates with Poor Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Stomach Adenocarcinoma

Background: Previous studies have described that the SEC23A gene is involved in the occurrence and development of various tumor entities. However, little is known about its expression and relevance in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD). The aim of this study was to bioinformatically analyze the role of SEC23A in STAD, followed by patient tissue sample analyses. Materials and methods: SEC23A expression levels in STAD and normal gastric tissues were analyzed in the Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases; results were verified in fresh clinical STAD specimens on both gene and protein expression levels. SEC23A expression correlated with survival parameters by Kaplan–Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The top genes co-expressed with SEC23A were identified by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) using the clusterProfiler package in R. Furthermore, the R package (immunedeconv), integrating the CIBERSORT algorithm, was used to estimate immune cell infiltration levels in STAD. Results: SEC23A gene and sec23a protein expression were both significantly upregulated in STAD, and this correlated with the pT stage. Moreover, high SEC23A expression was associated with poor disease-free and overall survival of STAD patients. Cox analyses revealed that besides age and pathologic stage, SEC23A expression is an independent risk factor for STAD. GSEA indicated that SEC23A was positively associated with ECM-related pathways. In the CIBERSORT analysis, the level of SEC23A negatively correlated with various infiltrating immune cell subsets, including follicular helper T cells, Tregs, activated NK cells and myeloid dendritic cells. Finally, the expression levels of immune checkpoint-related genes, including HAVCR2 and PDCD1LG2, were significantly increased in the high SEC23A expression group. Conclusions: We observed the significantly upregulated expression of SEC23A in STAD, an association with disease progression, patients’ prognosis and infiltrating immune cell subsets. Thus, we propose SEC23A as an independent prognostic factor with a putative role in immune response regulation in STAD.

Tumor Suppressor miR-613 Alleviates Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell via Repressing M2 Macrophage Polarization

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a crucial crux of cancer-related death, and M2 macrophage polarization facilitates NSCLC development. MicroRNA-613 (miR-613) is a tumor suppressor. This research aimed to clarify the miR-613 function in NSCLC and its impact on M2 macrophage polarization. Methods. miR-613 expressions in NSCLC tissues and cells were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR. For miR-613 function in NSCLC, cell proliferation analysis, cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry, western blot, transwell, and wound-healing were conducted. Meanwhile, the miR-613 impact on M2 macrophage polarization was assessed by the NSCLC models. Results. miR-613 was lessened in NSCLC cells and tissues. It was corroborated that miR-613 overexpression retrained NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration but facilitated cell apoptosis. Moreover, miR-613 overexpression restrained NSCLC development by repressing M2 macrophage polarization.

Conclusion

Tumor suppressor miR-613 ameliorated NSCLC by restraining M2 macrophage polarization.

CCND2 and miR-206 as potential biomarkers in the clinical diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma by fine-needle aspiration cytology

BACKGROUND

To investigate the relationship between cyclin D2 (CCND2) and miR-206 expression in fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid carcinoma.

METHODS

A total of 65 patients with thyroid carcinoma were selected as the subjects and 65 patients with benign thyroid nodules were in control group. The fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules was performed. CCND2 and miR-206 levels were detected by PCR.

RESULTS

Compared with the patients with benign thyroid nodules, the expression level of miR-206 in fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid cancer patients decreased significantly and the expression level of CCND2 increased significantly. CCND2 and miR-206 expression was negatively correlated in thyroid cancer tissues. Area under curve (AUC) of miR-206 level in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was 0.889, and the sensitivity and specificity were 92.3% and 81.5%, respectively. AUC of CCND2 level in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was 0.837, and the sensitivity and specificity were 67.7% and 89.2%, respectively. The AUC of combined detection of CCND2 and miR-206 in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was 0.959, and the sensitivity and specificity were 93.8% and 87.7%, respectively. The levels of miR-206 and CCND2 were significantly correlated with TNM staging and lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-206 and CCND2 may become new biomarkers for clinical diagnosis of thyroid cancer based on the fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules.

Circ_0110498 facilitates the cisplatin resistance of non-small cell lung cancer by mediating the miR-1287-5p/RBBP4 axis

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play vital roles in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. Our research analyzed the role of circ_0110498 on the cisplatin (DDP) resistance of NSCLC.

METHODS

Cell glycolysis was analyzed by measuring glucose consumption and lactate production. Protein expression was determined by western blot analysis. The expression of circ_0110498, microRNA (miR)-1287-5p and RBBP4 was detected by RT-qPCR assay. Cell counting kit-8, colony formation and transwell assays, together with flow cytometry were conducted to analyze cell DDP resistance, proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis.

RESULTS

Circ_0110498 expression was elevated in DDP-resistant NSCLC tissues and cells. Circ_0110498 silencing not only suppressed the DDP resistance of NSCLC cells by inhibiting cell growth, metastasis and glycolysis, but also enhanced the DDP sensitivity of NSCLC tumors. MiR-1287-5p was sponged by circ_0110498, and its inhibitor also reversed the effect of circ_0110498 silencing on the DDP resistance of NSCLC cells. MiR-1287-5p interacted with RBBP4, and RBBP4 overexpression partly reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-1287-5p on the DDP resistance of NSCLC cells.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0110498 facilitated DDP resistance partly through mediating the miR-1287-5p/RBBP4 signaling in NSCLC.

Deciphering the Role of microRNA Mediated Regulation of Coronin 1C in Glioblastoma Development and Metastasis

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly heterogenic and malignant brain tumour with a median survival of 15 months. The initial identification of primary glioblastomas is often challenging. Coronin 1C (CORO1C) is a key player in actin rearrangement and cofilin dynamics, as well as enhancing the processes of neurite overgrowth and migration of brain tumour cells. Different bioinformatic databases were accessed to measure CORO1C expression at the mRNA and protein level in normal and malignant brains. CORO1C expression was observed in brain regions which have retained high synaptic plasticity and myelination properties. CORO1C was also expressed mainly within the hippocampus formation, including the Cornu Ammonis (CA) fields: CA1-CA4. Higher expression was also noticed in paediatric GBM in comparison to their adult counterparts. Pediatric cell populations were observed to have an increased log2 expression of CORO1C. Furthermore, 62 miRNAs were found to target the CORO1C gene. Of these, hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-512-3p, hsa-miR-136-5p, hsa-miR-206, hsa-miR-128-3p, and hsa-miR-21-5p have shown to act as tumour suppressors or oncomiRs in different neoplasms, including GBM. The elevated expression of CORO1C in high grade metastatic brain malignancies, including GBM, suggests that this protein could have a clinical utility as a biomarker linked to an unfavorable outcome.

MicroRNA-206 in human cancer: Mechanistic and clinical perspectives

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs approximately 20-25 nt in length, play important roles via directly binding to the corresponding 3' UTR of target mRNAs. Recent research has shown that miRNAs cover a wide range of diseases, including several types of cancer. It is interesting to note that miR-206 operates as a tumor suppressor and is downregulated in abundant cancer types, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and so forth. Interestingly, a growing number of studies have also reported that miR-206 could function as an oncogene and promote tumor cell proliferation. Thereby, miR-206 may act as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors under certain conditions. In addition, it was widely acknowledged that restoring tumor-suppressor miR-206 has emerged as an unconventional cancer therapy strategy. Therefore, miR-206 might be a newfangled procedure for achieving a more significant treatment outcome for cancer patients. This review summarizes the role of miR-206 in several cancer types and the contributions made between miR-206 and the diagnosis, treatment, and drug resistance of solid tumors.

TP63 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor Regulated by GAS5/miR-221-3p Signaling Axis in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Background

Tumor protein p63 (TP63) has been proven to play a role as a tumor suppressor in some human cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of TP63 and analyze the underlying pathway dysregulating TP63 in NSCLC.

Methods

RT-qPCR and Western blotting assays were used to determine gene expression in NSCLC cells. The luciferase reporter assay was performed to explore the transcriptional regulation. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle and cell apoptosis. Transwell and CCK-8 assays were performed to test cell invasion and cell proliferation, respectively.

Results

GAS5 interacted with miR-221-3p, and its expression was significantly reduced in NSCLC. GAS5, as a molecular sponge, upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of TP63 by inhibiting miR-221-3p in NSCLC cells. The upregulation of GAS5 inhibited cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion, which was partially reversed by the knockdown of TP63. Interestingly, we found that GAS5-induced TP63 upregulation promoted tumor chemotherapeutic sensitivity to cisplatin therapy in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusion

Our results revealed the mechanism by which GAS5 interacts with miR-221-3p to regulate TP63, and targeting GAS5/miR-221-3p/TP63 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for NSCLC cells.

The conserved Pelado/ZSWIM8 protein regulates actin dynamics by promoting linear actin filament polymerization

Actin filament polymerization can be branched or linear, which depends on the associated regulatory proteins. Competition for actin monomers occurs between proteins that induce branched or linear actin polymerization. Cell specialization requires the regulation of actin filaments to allow the formation of cell type-specific structures, like cuticular hairs in Drosophila, formed by linear actin filaments. Here, we report the functional analysis of CG34401/pelado, a gene encoding a SWIM domain-containing protein, conserved throughout the animal kingdom, called ZSWIM8 in mammals. Mutant pelado epithelial cells display actin hair elongation defects. This phenotype is reversed by increasing actin monomer levels or by either pushing linear actin polymerization or reducing branched actin polymerization. Similarly, in hemocytes, Pelado is essential to induce filopodia, a linear actin-based structure. We further show that this function of Pelado/ZSWIM8 is conserved in human cells, where Pelado inhibits branched actin polymerization in a cell migration context. In summary, our data indicate that the function of Pelado/ZSWIM8 in regulating actin cytoskeletal dynamics is conserved, favoring linear actin polymerization at the expense of branched filaments.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs)-Derived miR-206 Promotes Breast Cancer Development by Activating Hedgehog Gene Signaling

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are an integral part of the tumor microenvironment and involved in tumor evolution. Our aim is to further illuminate the relationship of exosomes of BMSC origin and breast cancer cells in breast cancer. Differential diagnosis was performed by identifying exosomal miR-206 secreted by BMSCs, and RT-PCR detected miR-206 expression in tumor tissues. Transwell assayed cell function and Target scan analyzed the regulatory relationship between Rab23 and miR-206. Rab23 expression was examined by western-blot after the addition of Rab23 and the effect of Rab23 on hedgehog was further verified. We demonstrated that exosomal miR-206 from BMSCs is expressed in tumor tissues and miR-206 mimics significantly inhibited tumor cell invasion and proliferation. miR-206 targets Rab23 and negatively regulates its expression. Further results showed that the addition of Rab23 could activate hedgehog signaling and promote the development of breast cancer. In conclusion, our study reveals that BMSC-derived miR-206 activates hedgehog gene signaling and promotes the breast carcinogenesis development by regulating Rab23 expression.

MicroRNA-206 inhibits HCV proliferation through depressing ACC1 lipid synthesis signalling pathway

MicroRNAs are considered to play important roles in cell biological and pathological progress. microRNA-206 (miR-206) was reported to participate in lipogenesis, and lipid droplets were necessary for the life cycle of HCV proliferation. Whether miR-206 was associated with HCV proliferation and the potential mechanism are not clear. In this study, we firstly identified that miR-206 could inhibit HCV proliferation at the RNA and protein level. Bioinformatical prediction of target genes binding to miR-206 was performed to investigate whether inhibiting function was due to a lipogenesis pathway. Then, the acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) gene was selected as target gene of miR-206. The dual-luciferase reporter assay results showed that luciferase significantly decreased in cells transfected with 3'-UTR of the ACC1 gene and miR-206. The RNA and protein levels of the ACC1 gene and its pathway genes were significantly lower in cells transfected with miR-206 than in controls. Furthermore, the lipid droplet numbers also significantly decreased in cells transfected with miR-206. In conclusion, miR-206 could inhibit HCV proliferation through depressing ACC1 lipogenesis pathway and decreasing the lipid droplet numbers. miR-206 might be used as anti-HCV biochemical drug in the future.

The Role of the Selected miRNAs as Diagnostic, Predictive and Prognostic Markers in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, overtaking colon, breast, and prostate cancer-related deaths. Due to the limited diagnostic possibilities, it is often diagnosed after it has reached an advanced stage. The delayed diagnosis significantly worsens the patient’s prognosis. In recent years, we have observed an increased interest in the use of microRNAs (miRNAs) as diagnostic, predictive, and prognostic markers in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The abnormal expression levels of the miRNAs could be used to detect NSCLC in its early stages while it is still asymptomatic. This could drastically improve the clinical outcome. Furthermore, some miRNAs could serve as promising predictive and prognostic factors for NSCLC. Some of the currently available studies have shown a correlation between the miRNAs’ levels and the sensitivity of tumour cells to different treatment regimens. Analysing and modulating the miRNAs’ expression could be a way to predict and improve the treatment’s outcome.

Quercetin as a JAK-STAT inhibitor: a potential role in solid tumors and neurodegenerative diseases

The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway is involved in many immunological processes, including cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses. Some of these processes can contribute to cancer progression and neurodegeneration. Owing to the complexity of this pathway and its potential crosstalk with alternative pathways, monotherapy as targeted therapy has usually limited long-term efficacy. Currently, the majority of JAK-STAT-targeting drugs are still at preclinical stages. Meanwhile, a variety of plant polyphenols, especially quercetin, exert their inhibitory effects on the JAK-STAT pathway through known and unknown mechanisms. Quercetin has shown prominent inhibitory effects on the JAK-STAT pathway in terms of anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity, as well as control of neurodegenerative diseases. This review discusses the pharmacological effects of quercetin on the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in solid tumors and neurodegenerative diseases.

MiRNAs in Lung Cancer: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potential

Lung cancer is the dominant emerging factor in cancer-related mortality around the globe. Therapeutic interventions for lung cancer are not up to par, mainly due to reoccurrence/relapse, chemoresistance, and late diagnosis. People are currently interested in miRNAs, which are small double-stranded (20–24 ribonucleotides) structures that regulate molecular targets (tumor suppressors, oncogenes) involved in tumorigeneses such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and angiogenesis via post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA. Many studies suggest the emerging role of miRNAs in lung cancer diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics. Therefore, it is necessary to intensely explore the miRNOME expression of lung tumors and the development of anti-cancer strategies. The current review focuses on the therapeutic, diagnostic, and prognostic potential of numerous miRNAs in lung cancer.

miRNAs as cornerstones in colorectal cancer pathogenesis and resistance to therapy: A spotlight on signaling pathways interplay - A review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the world's third most prevalent cancer and the main cause of cancer-related mortality. A lot of work has been put into improving CRC patients' clinical care, including the development of more effective methods and wide biomarkers variety for prognostic, and diagnostic purposes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate a variety of cellular processes and play a significant role in the CRC progression and spread via controlling their target gene expression by translation inhibition or mRNA degradation. Consequently, dysregulation and disruption in their function, miRNAs are linked to CRC malignant pathogenesis by controlling several cellular processes involved in the CRC. These cellular processes include increased proliferative and invasive capacity, cell cycle aberration, evasion of apoptosis, enhanced EMT, promotion of angiogenesis and metastasis, and decreased sensitivity to major treatments. The miRNAs control cellular processes in CRC via regulation of pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin signaling, PTEN/AKT/mTOR axis, KRAS, TGFb signaling, VEGFR, EGFR, and P53. Hence, the goal of this review was to review miRNA biogenesis and present an updated summary of oncogenic and tumor suppressor (TS) miRNAs and their potential implication in CRC pathogenesis and responses to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We also summarise the biological importance and clinical applications of miRNAs in the CRC.

Exosomal MiRNAs in Osteosarcoma: Biogenesis and Biological Functions

MiRNAs are a group of non-coding RNA molecules that function in mRNA translational inhibition via base-pairing with complementary sequences in target mRNA. In oncology, miRNAs have raised great attention due to their aberrant expression and pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of multiple malignancies including osteosarcoma. MiRNAs can be transported by exosome, the nano-extracellular vesicle with a diameter of 30–150 nm. Recently, a growing number of studies have demonstrated that exosomal miRNAs play a critical role in tumor initiation and progression, by exerting multiple biological functions including metastasis, angiogenesis, drug resistance and immunosuppression. In this review, we aim to depict the biogenesis of exosomal miRNAs and summarize the potential diagnostic and therapeutic functions of exosomal miRNAs in osteosarcoma.

miRNA Pattern in Hypoxic Microenvironment of Kidney Cancer—Role of PTEN

MicroRNAs are post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, and disturbances of their expression are the basis of many pathological states, including cancers. The miRNA pattern in the context of tumor microenvironment explains mechanisms related to cancer progression and provides a potential target of modern therapies. Here we show the miRNA pattern in renal cancer focusing on hypoxia as a characteristic feature of the tumor microenvironment and dysregulation of PTEN, being a major tumor suppressor. Methods comprised the CRSPR/Cas9 mediated PTEN knockout in the Renca kidney cancer cell line and global miRNA expression analysis in both in vivo and in vitro (in normoxic and hypoxic conditions). The results were validated on human cancer models with distinct PTEN status. The increase in miR-210-3p in hypoxia was universal; however, the hypoxia-induced decrease in PTEN was associated with an increase in miR-221-3p, the loss of PTEN affected the response to hypoxia differently by decreasing miR-10b-5p and increasing miR-206-3p. In turn, the complete loss of PTEN induces miR-155-5p, miR-100-5p. Upregulation of miR-342-3p in knockout PTEN occurred in the context of the whole tumor microenvironment. Thus, effective identification of miRNA patterns in cancers must consider the specificity of the tumor microenvironment together with the mutations of key suppressors.

Pan-cancer analysis of microRNA expression profiles highlights microRNAs enriched in normal body cells as effective suppressors of multiple tumor types: A study based on TCGA database

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are frequently deregulated in various types of cancer. While antisense oligonucleotides are used to block oncomiRs, delivery of tumour-suppressive miRNAs holds great potential as a potent anti-cancer strategy. Here, we aim to determine, and functionally analyse, miRNAs that are lowly expressed in various types of tumour but abundantly expressed in multiple normal tissues.

METHODS

The miRNA sequencing data of 14 cancer types were downloaded from the TCGA dataset. Significant differences in miRNA expression between tumor and normal samples were calculated using limma package (R programming). An adjusted p value < 0.05 was used to compare normal versus tumor miRNA expression profiles. The predicted gene targets were obtained using TargetScan, miRanda, and miRDB and then subjected to gene ontology analysis using Enrichr. Only GO terms with an adjusted p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. All data from wet-lab experiments (cell viability assays and flow cytometry) were expressed as means ± SEM, and their differences were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software (Student's t test, p < 0.05).

RESULTS

By compiling all publicly available miRNA profiling data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Pan-Cancer Project, we reveal a small set of tumour-suppressing miRNAs (which we designate as 'normomiRs') that are highly expressed in 14 types of normal tissues but poorly expressed in corresponding tumour tissues. Interestingly, muscle-enriched miRNAs (e.g. miR-133a/b and miR-206) and miRNAs from DLK1-DIO3 locus (e.g. miR-381 and miR-411) constitute a large fraction of the normomiRs. Moreover, we define that the CCCGU motif is absent in the oncomiRs' seed sequences but present in a fraction of tumour-suppressive miRNAs. Finally, the gain of function of candidate normomiRs across several cancer cell types indicates that miR-206 and miR-381 exert the most potent inhibition on multiple cancer types in vitro.

CONCLUSION

Our results reveal a pan-cancer set of tumour-suppressing miRNAs and highlight the potential of miRNA-replacement therapies for targeting multiple types of tumour.

Anti-cancer peptide-based therapeutic strategies in solid tumors

Background

Nowadays, conventional medical treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy cannot cure all types of cancer. A promising approach to treat solid tumors is the use of tumor-targeting peptides to deliver drugs or active agents selectively.

Result

Introducing beneficial therapeutic approaches, such as therapeutic peptides and their varied methods of action against tumor cells, can aid researchers in the discovery of novel peptides for cancer treatment. The biomedical applications of therapeutic peptides are highly interesting. These peptides, owing to their high selectivity, specificity, small dimensions, high biocompatibility, and easy modification, provide good opportunities for targeted drug delivery. In recent years, peptides have shown considerable promise as therapeutics or targeting ligands in cancer research and nanotechnology.

Conclusion

 This study reviews a variety of therapeutic peptides and targeting ligands in cancer therapy. Initially, three types of tumor-homing and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are described, and then their applications in breast, glioma, colorectal, and melanoma cancer research are discussed.

Circ_0020123 plays an oncogenic role in non-small cell lung cancer depending on the regulation of miR-512-3p/CORO1C

Background

Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the leading causes responsible for cancer‐associated death globally. The aim of this study was to illustrate the function of circular RNA_0020123 (circ_0020123) in NSCLC progression and its associated mechanism.

Methods

RNA and protein expression was determined by reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and western blot assay. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, apoptosis and autophagy were analyzed to assess the role of circ_0020123/microRNA‐512‐3p (miR‐512‐3p)/coronin 1C (CORO1C) axis in NSCLC cells. Tumorigenesis in nude mice was analyzed to determine the in vivo role of circ_0020123. The intermolecular target relation was confirmed by dual‐luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays.

Results

Circ_0020123 expression was aberrantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Circ_0020123 interference markedly restrained cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and autophagy and induced cell apoptosis of NSCLC cells. Circ_0020123 knockdown suppressed xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0020123 acted as a molecular sponge for miR‐512‐3p. Circ_0020123 silencing‐induced effects in NSCLC cells were largely reversed by the knockdown of miR‐512‐3p. miR‐512‐3p interacted with the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of CORO1C. CORO1C overexpression largely reversed miR‐512‐3p accumulation‐induced influences in NSCLC cells. Circ_0020123 positively regulated CORO1C expression by sponging miR‐512‐3p in NSCLC cells.

Conclusion

Circ_0020123 aggravated NSCLC progression by binding to miR‐512‐3p to induce CORO1C expression, which provided new potential targets for the treatment of NSCLC.

miR-206 Targets MALAT1 to Suppress Cell Progression of Ectopic Endometrial Stromal Cells in Endometriosis

BACKGROUND

miR-206 was reported to be a tumor suppressor in bladder cancer. In this study, we explore the expression and function of miR-206 in endometriosis (EM).

METHODS

40 EM patients undergoing total hysterectomy were selected as the experimental group. RT-qPCR assay was adopted to detect the expression of MALAT1 and miR-206 in EM. Cell proliferation was detected by EdU incorporation and colony formation assay. Cell migration and invasion viability of ESCs were examined by transwell assay and wound healing assay. Flow cytometry was carried out to assess cell apoptosis of ESCs. The protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were examined by western blot assay. The relationship between miR-206 and MALAT1 was verified by the dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay.

RESULTS

In this work, miR-206 was found to be downregulated in EM. Functional experiments displayed that miR-206 mimic repressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCs and promoted cell apoptosis of ESCs. Furthermore, miR-206 mimic reduced the expression of Bcl-2 but enhanced the expression of Bax. MALAT1 was found to be upregulated in EM. Furthermore, MALAT1 was indicated to be a target of miR-206. Additionally, MALAT1 was found to alleviate the influence of miR-206 on cell progression of ESCs. Furthermore, miR-206 inhibited tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that miR-206 inhibited cell progression by regulating MALAT1 in EM. Hence, miR-206 was suggested to be a possible target for EM treatment.

Circ_0025039 acts an oncogenic role in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer through miR-636-dependent regulation of CORO1C

Non-small cell lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Circular RNA plays vital roles in NSCLC progression. This study is designed to reveal the role of circ_0025039 in NSCLC cell malignancy. The RNA expression of circ_0025039, microRNA-636 (miR-636), and coronin 1C was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression was checked by Western blot analysis or immunohistochemistry assay. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tube formation ability, sphere formation capacity, and apoptosis were investigated by cell counting kit-8, 5-Ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine, transwell assay, tube formation assay, sphere formation assay, and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Mouse model assay was conducted to reveal the effect of circ_0025039 silencing on tumor formation in vivo. The interaction between miR-636 and circ_0025039 or CORO1C was identified through dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. The expression of circ_0025039 and CORO1C was significantly increased, while miR-636 was decreased in NSCLC tissues and cells compared with controls. Circ_0025039 depletion repressed NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tube-forming capacity, and sphere formation ability, but induced cell apoptosis. The neoplasm formation was repressed after circ_0025039 silencing. Additionally, circ_0025039 acted as a sponge for miR-636, which was found to target CORO1C. Importantly, the contribution of circ_0025039 to NSCLC progression was mediated by miR-636/CORO1C axis. Circ_0025039 silencing repressed NSCLC malignant progression by reducing CORO1C expression through miR-636, showing the possibility of circ_0025039 as a therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Perinatal Exposure to Nicotine Alters Sperm RNA Profiles in Rats

Perinatal exposure to smoking has been associated with childhood asthma, one of the most common pediatric conditions affecting millions of children globally. Of great interest, this disease phenotype appears heritable as it can persist across multiple generations even in the absence of persistent exposure to smoking in subsequent generations. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying childhood asthma induced by perinatal exposure to smoking or nicotine remain elusive, an epigenetic mechanism has been proposed, which is supported by the data from our earlier analyses on germline DNA methylation (5mC) and histone marks (H3 and H4 acetylation). To further investigate the potential epigenetic inheritance of childhood asthma induced by perinatal nicotine exposure, we profiled both large and small RNAs in the sperm of F1 male rats. Our data revealed that perinatal exposure to nicotine leads to alterations in the profiles of sperm-borne RNAs, including mRNAs and small RNAs, and that rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, can attenuate the effect of nicotine and reverse the sperm-borne RNA profiles of F1 male rats to close to placebo control levels.

MiR-186 Suppressed Growth, Migration, and Invasion of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells via Targeting Dicer1

Objective

Globally, the fatal form of lung cancer is non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and its most common subtype is lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In cancer development and progression, miRNAs play key roles primarily in interacting with cancer-related genes. The main focus of this research was to examine the biological roles of miR-186 in LUAD.

Methods

We examined tissues of LUAD and lung cancer cell lines. The expressions of miR-186, Dicer1, Ki-67, and PCNA were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC), real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR), and western blot assays. The CCK-8 and transwell assays were used to determine cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. To determine the association between miR-186 and Dicer1, a luciferase assay was used.

Results

MiR-186 expression was found to be lower in LUAD tissues, and this was correlated to TNM stage and lymph node metastasis in LUAD patients. miR-186 upregulation significantly reduced the proliferation rate and the level of Ki67 and PCNA of LUAD cell lines HCC827 and A549. Transwell assay exhibited that miR-186 upregulation considerably reduced HCC827 and A549 cells' migration and invasion abilities. Furthermore, we also confirmed that Dicer1 was a direct target of miR-186. Importantly, Dicer1 overexpression abolished the suppression of miR-186 mimics on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC827 and A549 cells.

Conclusion

These results indicated that the miR-186/Dicer1 pathway is critical for regulating LUAD cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

CircETFA upregulates CCL5 by sponging miR-612 and recruiting EIF4A3 to promote hepatocellular carcinoma

As a kind of malignant tumors, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been studied continuously, but the mechanisms are not well understood. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are widespread in eukaryotes and play an important role in the growth of organisms and in the occurrence of diseases. The role of circRNAs in HCC remains to be further explored. In this study, CircRNA microarray analysis was used to assess the plasma from HCC patients and healthy controls and to identify circRNAs involved in HCC tumorigenesis. CircETFA was overexpressed in HCC tissues, plasma, and cells. Clinicopathological data revealed that abnormally high circETFA expression was associated with a poor prognosis. In function, circETFA promotes the malignant phenotype of HCC cells in vivo and in vitro, inhibits cycle arrest, and decreases the proportion of apoptotic cells. In mechanism, it can upregulate C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) in HCC cells, thereby regulating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway and other key downstream effectors (e.g., FoxO6). Furthermore, circETFA prolonged the half-life of CCL5 mRNA by recruiting the eukaryotic initiation factor 4A3 (EIF4A3) and acted as a sponge of hsa-miR-612 to suppress the silencing effect of hsa-miR-612 on CCL5. In conclusion, CircETFA can increase the expression of CCL5 to promote the progression of HCC by sponging hsa-mir-612 and recruiting EIF4A3, and is promising as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target.

Propranolol Suppresses Proliferation and Migration of HUVECs through Regulation of the miR-206/VEGFA Axis

Propranolol has been used in the first-line therapy of infantile hemangioma (IH) for a number of years; however, the mechanisms through which propranolol regulates IH are not yet fully understood. In the present study, microRNA (miRNA/miR) sequencing analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with propranolol. Cell viability and apoptosis were detected using CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Cell migration was assessed using wound healing, Transwell, and tube formation assays. Methylation-specific PCR was then used to investigate the promoter methylation status. The levels of oxidative stress indicators, including superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and malondialdehyde were also detected. Finally, cell cycle analysis was performed using flow cytometry and western blotting. It was observed that propranolol induced the upregulation of miR-206 in HUVECs, which was caused by demethylation of the miR-206 promoter. Moreover, propranolol significantly inhibited the proliferation of HUVECs by inducing apoptosis, while these phenomena were reversed by miR-206 antagomir. VEGFA was found to be a target gene of miR-206. In addition, propranolol notably inhibited the migration and induced G1 arrest of the HUVECs, whereas these results were eliminated by miR-206 antagomir. Collectively, the findings of the present study demonstrated that propranolol may inhibit the proliferation and migration in HUVECs via modulating the miR-206/VEGFA axis. These findings suggest a novel mechanism through which propranolol suppresses the progression of IH.

lncRNA cytoskeleton regulator reduces non‑small cell lung cancer radiosensitivity by downregulating miRNA‑206 and activating prothymosin α

The present study aimed to explore the role of the long noncoding RNA cytoskeleton regulator (CYTOR) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) radiosensitivity by manipulating the microRNA (miR)-206/prothymosin α (PTMA) axis. First, 58 pairs of NSCLC and paracancerous tissues, normal human lung epithelial cells and NSCLC cells were collected to analyze CYTOR expression and the relation- ship between CYTOR and NSCLC prognosis. Subsequently, CYTOR expression in radioresistant cells was assessed. Radioresistant cells with low CYTOR expression and parental cells with high CYTOR expression were established. Functional assays were then performed to assess changes in cell radiosensitivity after irradiation treatment. Subsequently, the downstream mechanism of CYTOR was explored. The binding interactions between CYTOR and miR-206 and between miR-206 and PTMA were predicted and certified. Xenograft transplantation was applied to confirm the role of CYTOR in the radiosensitivity of NSCLC. CYTOR was overexpressed in NSCLC and was associated with poor prognosis. CYTOR was further upregulated in NSCLC cells with radioresistance. CYTOR knockdown enhanced the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells, while overexpression of CYTOR led to the opposite result. Mechanistically, CYTOR specifically bound to miR-206 and silencing CYTOR promoted miR-206 to enhance the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells. PTMA is a target of miR-206 and silencing CYTOR inhibited PTMA expression via miR-206, thus promoting radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells. CYTOR knockdown also enhanced NSCLC cell radiosensitivity in vivo. CYTOR was highly expressed in NSCLC, while silencing CYTOR potentiated NSCLC cell radiosensitivity by upregulating miR-206 and suppressing PTMA. The present study preliminarily revealed the role of CYTOR in radiotherapy sensitivity of NSCLC and provided a novel potential target for the clinical treatment of NSCLC.

Autophagy-related circRNA evaluation reveals hsa_circ_0001747 as a potential favorable prognostic factor for biochemical recurrence in patients with prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common high-incidence malignancy in men, some of whom develop biochemical recurrence (BCR) in the advanced stage. However, there are currently no accurate prognostic indicators of BCR in PCa. The aim of our study was to identify an autophagy-related circular RNA prognostic factor of BCR for patients with PCa. In this study, immunochemistry revealed that the classic autophagy marker MAP1LC3B was positively correlated with Gleason score. Least absolute shrinkage and selector operator regression were conducted to develop a novel prognostic model with tenfold cross-validation and an L1 penalty. Five autophagy-related circRNA signatures were included in the prognostic model. Patients with PCa were ultimately divided into high- and low-risk groups, based on the median risk score. Patients with PCa, who had a high risk score, were more likely to develop BCR in a shorter period of time. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses demonstrated that the risk score was an independent variable for predicting BCR in PCa. In addition, a prognostic nomogram integrated with the risk score and numerous clinicopathological parameters was developed to accurately predict 3- and 5-year BCR of patients with PCa. Finally, the hsa_circ_0001747 signature was selected for further experimental verification in vitro and in vivo, which showed that downregulated hsa_circ_0001747 might facilitate PCa via augmenting autophagy. Our findings indicate that the autophagy-related circRNA signature hsa_circ_0001747 may serve as a promising indicator for BCR prediction in patients with PCa.

CORO1C is Associated With Poor Prognosis and Promotes Metastasis Through PI3K/AKT Pathway in Colorectal Cancer

Trophoblast cell surface protein 2 (Trop2) is one of the cancer-related proteins that plays a vital role in biological aggressiveness and poor prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). The study of the Trop2 related network is helpful for us to understand the mechanism of tumorigenesis. However, the effects of the related proteins interacting with Trop2 in CRC remain unclear. Here, we found that coronin-like actin-binding protein 1C (CORO1C) could interact with Trop2 and the expression of CORO1C in CRC tissues was higher than that in paracarcinoma tissues. The expression of CORO1C was associated with histological type, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, AJCC stage, venous invasion, and perineural invasion. The correlation between CORO1C expression and clinical characteristics was analyzed demonstrating that high CORO1C expression in CRC patients were associated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, CORO1C knockdown could decrease the cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. The underlying mechanisms were predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by Western blotting. We found that PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was significantly inhibited by CORO1C knockdown and the tuomr-promoting role of CORO1C was leastwise partly mediated by PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Thus, CORO1C may be a valuable prognostic biomarker and drug target in CRC patients.

Actin-Binding Proteins as Potential Biomarkers for Chronic Inflammation-Induced Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

Actin-binding proteins (ABPs), by interacting with actin, regulate the polymerization, depolymerization, bundling, and cross-linking of actin filaments, directly or indirectly, thereby mediating the maintenance of cell morphology, cell movement, and many other biological functions. Consequently, these functions of ABPs help regulate cancer cell invasion and metastasis when cancer occurs. In recent years, a variety of ABPs have been found to be abnormally expressed in various cancers, indicating that the detection and interventions of unusual ABP expression to alter this are available for the treatment of cancer. The early stages of most cancer development involve long-term chronic inflammation or repeated stimulation. This is the case for breast cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, and colorectal cancer. This article discusses the relationship between chronic inflammation and the above-mentioned cancers, emphatically introduces relevant research on the abnormal expression of ABPs in chronic inflammatory diseases, and reviews research on the expression of different ABPs in the above-mentioned cancers. Furthermore, there is a close relationship between ABP-induced inflammation and cancer. In simple terms, abnormal expression of ABPs contributes to the chronic inflammation developing into cancer. Finally, we provide our viewpoint regarding these unusual ABPs serving as potential biomarkers for chronic inflammation-induced cancer diagnosis and therapy, and interventions to reverse the abnormal expression of ABPs represent a potential approach to preventing or treating the corresponding cancers.

Therapeutic potential of AMPK signaling targeting in lung cancer: Advances, challenges and future prospects

Lung cancer (LC) is a leading cause of death worldwide with high mortality and morbidity. A wide variety of risk factors are considered for LC development such as smoking, air pollution and family history. It appears that genetic and epigenetic factors are also potential players in LC development and progression. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a signaling pathway with vital function in inducing energy balance and homeostasis. An increase in AMP:ATP and ADP:ATP ratio leads to activation of AMPK signaling by upstream mediators such as LKB1 and CamKK. Dysregulation of AMPK signaling is a common finding in different cancers, particularly LC. AMPK activation can significantly enhance LC metastasis via EMT induction. Upstream mediators such as PLAG1, IMPAD1, and TUFM can regulate AMPK-mediated metastasis. AMPK activation can promote proliferation and survival of LC cells via glycolysis induction. In suppressing LC progression, anti-tumor compounds including metformin, ginsenosides, casticin and duloxetine dually induce/inhibit AMPK signaling. This is due to double-edged sword role of AMPK signaling in LC cells. Furthermore, AMPK signaling can regulate response of LC cells to chemotherapy and radiotherapy that are discussed in the current review.

Involvement of microRNA in Solid Cancer: Role and Regulatory Mechanisms

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as the post-transcriptional factor that finetunes the gene expression by targeting to the specific candidate. Mis-regulated expression of miRNAs consequently disturbs gene expression profile, which serves as the pivotal mechanism involved in initiation or progression of human malignancy. Cancer-relevant miRNA is potentially considered the therapeutic target or biomarker toward the precise treatment of cancer. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanism underlying the altered expression of miRNA in cancer is largely uncovered. Detailed knowledge regarding the influence of miRNAs on solid cancer is critical for exploring its potential of clinical application. Herein, we elucidate the regulatory mechanism regarding how miRNA expression is manipulated and its impact on the pathogenesis of distinct solid cancer.

Role of microRNAs in Lung Carcinogenesis Induced by Asbestos

MicroRNAs are a class of small noncoding endogenous RNAs 19–25 nucleotides long, which play an important role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by targeting mRNA targets with subsequent repression of translation. MicroRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the world. Lung cancer is usually associated with tobacco smoking. However, about 25% of lung cancer cases occur in people who have never smoked. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, asbestos has been classified as one of the cancerogenic factors for lung cancer. The mechanism of malignant transformation under the influence of asbestos is associated with the genotoxic effect of reactive oxygen species, which initiate the processes of DNA damage in the cell. However, epigenetic mechanisms such as changes in the microRNA expression profile may also be implicated in the pathogenesis of asbestos-induced lung cancer. Numerous studies have shown that microRNAs can serve as a biomarker of the effects of various adverse environmental factors on the human body. This review examines the role of microRNAs, the expression profile of which changes upon exposure to asbestos, in key processes of carcinogenesis, such as proliferation, cell survival, metastasis, neo-angiogenesis, and immune response avoidance.

Circ_0003998 Regulates the Progression and Docetaxel Sensitivity of DTX-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by the miR-136-5p/CORO1C Axis

Background:

Drug resistance in cancer cells is a major challenge for anti-cancer therapy. Circular RNA (circRNA) circ_0003998 has been identified as an important regulator in the chemoresistance development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular basis underlying the resistance control of circ_0003998 in NSCLC.

Methods:

The levels of circ_0003998, miR-136-5p and coronin 1C (CORO1C) were gauged by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or western blot. Cell viability, colony formation and apoptosis were evaluated by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Targeted relationships among circ_0003998, miR-136-5p and CORO1C were confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Animal studies were performed to evaluate the function of circ_0003998 in vivo.

Results:

Our data indicated that circ_0003998 expression was associated with NSCLC resistance to docetaxel (DTX). The knockdown of circ_0003998 promoted DTX sensitivity, suppressed cell colony formation, and enhanced cell apoptosis of A549/DTX and H1299/DTX cells in vitro. Moreover, circ_0003998 knockdown hampered tumor growth and enhanced DTX sensitivity in vivo. Mechanistically, circ_0003998 directly targeted miR-136-5p, and miR-136-5p was a molecular mediator of circ_0003998 function in vitro. Furthermore, CORO1C was a functionally important target of miR-136-5p in regulating DTX-resistant NSCLC cell colony formation, apoptosis and DTX sensitivity in vitro. Additionally, circ_0003998 modulated CORO1C expression by working as a miR-136-5p sponge.

Conclusion:

Our present work identified that circ_0003998 regulated DTX-resistant NSCLC cell colony formation, apoptosis and DTX sensitivity at least partially by controlling CORO1C expression by sponging miR-136-5p, illuminating a rationale for developing circ_0003998 as a therapeutic target of chemoresistant NSCLC.

MicroRNA-206 inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells by regulating the c-Met/AKT/GSK-3β pathway

An imbalance in microRNA (miRNA/miR) expression is closely associated with tumorigenesis and progression. miR-206 is downregulated in different types of tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the effects of miR-206 on the progression of CRC, and its underlying molecular mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of miR-206 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells, and determine its potential molecular mechanism. The results of the present study demonstrated that the expression levels of miR-206 and c-Met were affected in HCT116 and SW480 cells by transfected with miR-206 mimic, inhibitor or small interfering RNA-c-Met. A Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to identify the miRNA targets. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion assays were also performed. The results demonstrated that overexpression of miR-206 significantly decreased the viability of HCT116 and SW480 cells. The results of the Transwell assay indicated that the cell migratory and invasive abilities were inhibited following transfection with miR-206 mimic. As a target of miR-206, knockdown of c-Met significantly suppressed cell viability, migration and invasion. In addition, c-Met knockdown or overexpression of miR-206 inhibited activation of the AKT/GSK-3β pathway. Collectively, these results suggest that miR-206 suppresses the proliferation, migration and invasion of CRC cells by targeting the c-Met/AKT/GSK-3β pathway.