Hsa_circTCF25 Facilitates Oncogenesis in Gastric Cancer Cells by Modulating miR-149 Expression

BACKGROUND/AIM

Circular RNA (circRNA) is related to gastric carcinogenesis and progression. This study explored the effects of circTCF25 on gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cancer stem cell markers, as well as the potential network of circTCF25-miR and miR-149.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

circTCF25 expression was detected in tissue specimens and cells by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Cell Counting Kit-8 and transwell assays were used to measure the effects of circTCF25 knockdown on proliferation, migration and invasion. The potential network of circTCF25 was analyzed using bioinformatic analysis.

RESULTS

circTCF25 was overexpressed in human gastric cancer tissues, and a series of cancer cell lines, and was associated with shorter overall survival. Interfering with circTCF25 reduced gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and expression of cancer stem cell markers. CircTCF25 reduced expression of miR-149, apparently by acting as a miR-149 sponge. A new circTCF25-miR-149 competitive endogenous RNA network in gastric cancer was constructed, and most core genes were associated with the malignant growth and metastatic behavior of gastric cancer.

CONCLUSION

circTCF25 may have prognostic value and an oncogenic role in gastric cancer. A circTCF25-miR-149 RNA regulatory network was established which may provide novel biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets for treating gastric cancer.

Role of The circ-HIPK3, circ-PVT1, miR-25, and miR-149 in Response of Breast Cancer Cells to Ionizing Radiation

OBJECTIVE

Determining cellular radiosensitivity of breast cancer (BC) patients through molecular markers before radiation therapy (RT) allows accurate prediction of individual's response to radiation. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the potential role of epigenetic biomarkers in breast cancer cellular radiosensitivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this experimental study, we treated two BC cell lines, MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7, with doses of 2, 4, and 8Gy of irradiation for 24 and 48 hours. Expression levels of circ-HIPK3, circ-PVT1, miR-25, and miR- 149 were quantified using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Significance of the observations was statistically verified using one-way ANOVA with a significance level of P<0.05. Annexin V-FITC/PI binding assay was utilized to measure cellular apoptosis.

RESULTS

The rate of cell apoptosis was significantly higher in MCF-7 cells compared to MDA-MB-231 cells at doses of 4Gy and 8Gy (P=0.013 and P=0.004, respectively). RNA expression analysis showed that circ-HIPK3 was increased in the MDA-MB-231 cell line compared to the MCF-7 cell line after exposure to 8Gy for 48 hours. Expression of circ-PVT1 was found to be higher in MDA-MB-231 cells compared to MCF-7 cells after exposure to 8Gy for 24 hours, likewise after exposure to 4Gy and 8Gy for 48 hours. After exposing 8Gy, expression of miR-25 was increased in MDA-MB-231 cells compared to MCF-7 cells at 24 and 48 hours. After exposing 8Gy dose, expression of miR-149 was increased in MCF-7 cells compared to MDA-MB-231 cells at 24 and 48 hours.

CONCLUSION

circ-HIPK3, circ-PVT1, and miR-25 played crucial roles in the mechanisms of radioresistance in breast cancer. Additionally, miR-149 was involved in regulating cellular radiosensitivity. Therefore, these factors provided predictive information about a tumor's radiosensitivity or its response to treatment, which could be valuable in personalizing radiation dosage.

CircUCP2 promotes the tumor progression of non-small cell lung cancer through the miR-149/UCP2 pathway

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly lethal cancer, and better treatments are urgently needed. Many studies have implicated circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the progression of multiple malignant tumors. Nonetheless, the functions of circRNAs in NSCLC remain unclear. To study new targets for the treatment of NSCLC, circRNA expression profiling was performed on NSCLC tissues and para-carcinoma nonmalignant tissues. RNA was isolated and used for circRNA sequencing. Biological studies were performed in vitro and in vivo to determine the functions of circRNAs in NSCLC, including their functions in cell proliferation and migration. How circRNAs function in NSCLC was explored to clarify the underlying regulatory mechanisms. We found that circUCP2 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues compared with neighboring nonmalignant tissues. circUCP2 promoted the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC cells. circUCP2 promoted NSCLC progression by sponging miR-149 and upregulating UCP2. The circUCP2/miR-149/UCP2 axis accelerates the progression of NSCLC, and circUCP2 may therefore be a novel diagnostic biomarker for the progression of NSCLC.

The association between genetic variation rs2292832 and the processing efficiency of pre-mir-149 affects the risk of breast cancer

BACKGROUND

microRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in regulating cancer development, including breast cancer. Variation in miRNA genes can associate with the risk of cancer by alterations in the miRNA's processing and maturation. Therefore, human blood samples and breast cancer cell line (MCF7) were analyzed to study any possible association between the genetic variant (rs2292832) in the miR-149 precursor and breast cancer susceptibility.

METHODS

To study the role of rs2292832 polymorphism in breast cancer, the miR-149 gene variant was genotyped using PCR-RFLP. For evaluating the effect of SNP on function and expression levels of mature miR-149, we inserted pre-miR-149 and flanking region with CC or TT genotype into a pEGFPN1 expression vector, and qPCR was accomplished. Cell survival, proliferation, and migration properties investigated by MTT and wound healing assay. Statistical analysis was carried out for data analysis.

RESULTS

T allele in variant rs2292832 is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Such association was also obtained in co-dominant (OR = 2.5) and dominant (OR = 2.016) models. The variant allele led to reduced production of mature miR-149 and resulted in increased cell proliferation and migration of MCF7 cells.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that miR-149 suppresses tumor cell proliferation, and the pre-mir-149 polymorphism affects the processing of miR-149, causing an alteration in the abundance of the miRNA mature form, which can regulate tumor progression and metastasis.

Resveratrol mediates the miR-149/HMGB1 axis and regulates the ferroptosis pathway to protect myocardium in endotoxemia mice

Endotoxemia is a common complication often used to model the acute inflammatory response associated with endotoxemia. Resveratrol has been shown to exert a wide range of therapeutic effects due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study explored the effect of resveratrol on endotoxemia. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia mouse model and endotoxemia myocardial injury cell model were established and treated with resveratrol. Cardiomyocyte activity, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content in cell supernatant, glutathione (GSH) consumption, lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and iron accumulation were detected. Cardiac function indexes [left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), ejection fraction (EF)%, and fractional shortening (FS)%] were measured using echocardiography. The creatine kinase muscle/brain isoenzyme (CK-MB) and CK levels in the serum were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The downstream target of miR-149 was predicted, and the binding relationship between miR-149 and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) was verified using a dual-luciferase assay. miR-149 and HMGB1 expressions were detected using RT-qPCR and Western blot. After resveratrol treatment, cardiomyocyte viability and GSH were increased, and LDH secretion, lipid ROS production, lipid peroxidation, and iron accumulation were decreased, and cardiac function and cardiomyocyte injury were improved. Resveratrol improved LPS-induced endotoxemia cardiomyocyte injury by upregulating miR-149 and inhibiting ferroptosis. Resveratrol inhibited HMGB1 expression by upregulating miR-149. HMGB1 upregulation reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-149 on LPS-induced ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes. Resveratrol upregulated miR-149 and downregulated HMGB1 to inhibit ferroptosis and improve myocardial injury in mice with LPS-induced endotoxemia. Collectively, resveratrol upregulated miR-149, downregulated HMGB1, and inhibited the ferroptosis pathway, thus improving cardiomyocyte injury in LPS-induced endotoxemia.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Sepsis is an unusual systemic reaction. Resveratrol is involved in sepsis treatment. This study explored the mechanism of resveratrol in sepsis by regulating the miR-149/HMGB1 axis.

DNA methyltransferase 3 beta regulates promoter methylation of microRNA-149 to augment esophageal squamous cell carcinoma development through the ring finger protein 2/Wnt/β-catenin axis

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive form of human squamous cell carcinomas with extremely aggressive pathological features. This study explores the functions of microRNA-149 (miR-149) and its interacted molecules in ESCC. The ESCC-related miRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) datasets were applied to identify aberrantly expressed genes in ESCC. Forty-two patients with ESCC were included and their tissue samples were collected. miR-149 was poorly expressed whereas DNA methyltransferase 3 beta (DNMT3B) and ring finger protein 2 (RNF2) were abundantly expressed in ESCC tumor samples. Overexpression of miR-149 suppressed growth and invasiveness of ESCC cells in vitro and in vivo. DNMT3B bound to the promoter region of miR-149 to trigger its promoter methylation and downregulation. RNF2 mRNA was a target of miR-149. RNF2 overexpression blocked the inhibitory effect of miR-149 on ESCC cell growth. RNF2 activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to promote ESCC development. In conclusion, this study found that DNMT3B downregulates miR-149 level through methylation modification of the miR-149 promoter, while miR-149 suppresses RNF2 expression and inactivates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to suppress growth of ESCC cells.

Hsa_circ_0017728 as an oncogene in gastric cancer by sponging miR-149 and modulating the IL-6/STAT3 pathway

INTRODUCTION

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to mediate gene expression participating in the progression of multiple cancers, including gastric carcinoma (GC). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which circRNAs-modulated cell proliferation and apoptosis in GC had not been completely clarified. In our study, hsa_circ_0017728 as a potential oncogene competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) was investigated in the progression and development of gastric carcinogenesis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

High-throughput sequencing was used to determine differentially expressed circRNAs in GC tissues and corresponding non-cancerous tissues. The CCK-8 assay and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/polyimide (Annexin V-FITC/PI) staining were performed to detect the cell viability and apoptosis in GC cells. In addition, gene expression and protein levels in GC tissues and cell lines were measured using RT-qPCR and western blotting, respectively.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that the hsa_circ_0017728 expression level was up-regulated in GC tissues and cell lines and closely associated with poor overall survival and pathological differentiation, higher TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. Knockdown of hsa_circ_0017728 had the ability to cause inhibition of cell proliferation and migration and elevate the cell apoptosis rate in GC cells. We also discovered that hsa_circ_0017728 might serve as a ceRNA to sponge miR-149 and indirectly regulated the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway in GC cell proliferation and apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The regulatory network of hsa_circ_0017728/miR-149/IL-6/STAT3 cascade signaling might provide a better understanding of gastric carcinogenesis and progression.

Three-dimensional nanorod array for label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis of microRNA pneumoconiosis biomarkers

Novel approaches are required to overcome the challenges associated with conventional microRNA (miRNA) detection methods and realize the early diagnosis of diseases. This work describes a novel label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method for the detection of the miRNA biomarkers for pneumoconiosis on a three-dimensional Au-coated ZnO nanorod array (Au-ZnO NRA). The Au-ZnO NRA substrate, which was fabricated via a modified seeding method combined with ion sputtering, provided a high enhancement factor and good spatial uniformity of the signal. With the Au-ZnO NRA, the SERS spectra of miRNAs were obtained in 30 s without labeling at room temperature. Density functional theory calculations were performed to understand the structural fingerprints of the miRNAs. Principal component analysis was carried out to identify the pneumoconiosis biomarkers based on their fingerprint SERS signals. Dual-logarithm linear relationships between the SERS intensity and the miRNA concentration were proposed for quantitative analysis. The label-free SERS method has limits of detection on the femtomolar level, which is much lower than the concentrations of the miRNA biomarkers for pneumoconiosis in lung fibroblasts.

Circ_ROBO2/miR-149 Axis Promotes the Proliferation and Migration of Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells by Activating NF-κB Signaling

Atherosclerosis is the leading global cause of mortality. The occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is regulated by a diversity of pathways, including circRNAs. However, the potential mechanisms of circRNAs in CAD remain unclear. Here, qRT-PCR was used to examine the expressions of miR-149 and circ_ROBO2. Their influences on cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were measured by CCK-8, trans-well, and flow cytometry assays, respectively. The protein levels of p-IκBα and NF-κB p65 were examined using western blot. The molecular interactions were validated using dual luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. The expression patterns of circ_ROBO2 and miR-149 in CAD patients and PDGF-BB-treated human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Knockdown of circ_ROBO2 could markedly inhibit the capabilities of proliferation and migration, enhance the apoptotic rate, and suppress NF-κB signaling in PDGF-BB-treated HASMCs. Mechanistically, circ_ROBO2 acted as a sponge of miR-149 to activate TRAF6/NF-κB signaling. Rescue studies demonstrated that neither silencing miR-149 nor activation of NF-κB signaling obviously abolished the biological roles of circ_ROBO2 knockdown in PDGF-BB treated-HASMCs. This discovery elucidated a functional mechanism of circ_ROBO2 in CAD, suggesting that circRNAs serve a vital role in the progression of CAD.

LncRNA SLCO4A1-AS1 Accelerates Growth and Metastasis of Gastric Cancer via Regulation of the miR-149/XIAP Axis

OBJECTIVE

Recently, long noncoding RNA SLCO4A1 antisense RNA 1 (SLCO4A1-AS1) has been shown to act as an oncogene in several cancer types; however, its role in gastric cancer (GC) and its underlying molecular mechanisms are yet to be elucidated.

METHODS

Using the ENCORI database, we identified SLCO4A1-AS1, miR-149-5p (miR-149), and the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) whose expressions were obviously changed in GC samples, and analyzed the correlation between their expressions in GC samples. Moreover, we explored the expression of SLCO4A1-AS1, miR-149, and XIAP in clinical samples and GC cell lines using RT-qPCR and western blotting assay; the correlation between them was analyzed using RNA immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter. CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays were conducted to determine the effects of SLCO4A1-AS1, miR-149, and XIAP expression on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, respectively. A nude mouse xenograft model was used to explore their function in xenograft growth.

RESULTS

SLCO4A1-AS1 was significantly upregulated in the GC samples and cell lines, and a high level of SLCO4A1-AS1 was associated with an advanced tumor stage and shortened patient survival. Mechanistically, SLCO4A1-AS1 post-transcriptionally regulated XIAP by functioning as competing endogenous RNA in GC to sponge miR-149. Further functional assays revealed that the overexpression of miR-149 and knockdown of XIAP considerably inhibited GC cell viability and its migratory and invasive characteristics in vitro. SLCO4A1-AS1 knockdown also determined the function of GC cells but was diminished by the miR-149 inhibitor in vitro. Finally, we demonstrated that the deletion of SLCO4A1-AS1 suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, these findings suggest that SLCO4A1-AS1 functions as a crucial oncogenic lncRNA in GC and it can facilitate GC tumor growth and metastasis by interacting with miR-149 and enhancing XIAP expression. Therefore, SLCO4A1-AS1 is a potential novel therapeutic target in GC treatment.

LncRNA GACAT3 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression through regulation of miR-149/FOXM1

Background

The long noncoding RNA gastric cancer associated transcript 3 (GACAT3) has been demonstrated to be implicated in the carcinogenesis and progression of many malignancies. However, GACAT3’s levels and role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has not been elucidated.

Methods

GACAT3 amounts were investigated in ESCC tissues and cell lines by qPCR. Its biological functions were examined by CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, transwell assay, and xenograft model establishment. The relationship between GACAT3 and miR-149 was assessed by dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results

GACAT3 amounts were elevated in ESCC tissue and cell specimens. Functional studies showed that GACAT3 silencing reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion of cultured ESCC cells, and decreased tumor growth in mice. Furthermore, GACAT could directly interact with miR-149. In addition, colony formation and invasion assays verified that GACAT3 promotes ESCC tumor progression through miR-149. Moreover, GACAT3 acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to modulate FOXM1 expression.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that GACAT3 functions as an oncogene by acting as a ceRNA for miR-149 to modulate FOXM1 expression in ESCC, suggesting that GACAT3 might constitute a therapeutic target in ESCC.

LncRNA GACAT1 induces tongue squamous cell carcinoma migration and proliferation via miR-149

Recent studies have observed that lncRNAs (long non‐coding RNAs) are involved in the progression of various tumours including tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). Recently, a new lnRNA, GACAT1, has been firstly identified in gastric cancer. However, its potential role in TSCC remains unknown. In this reference, we observed that GACAT1 was overexpressed in TSCC samples and cell lines. Of 25 TSCC specimens, GACAT1 expression was overexpressed in 18 patients (18/25, 72%) compared to non‐tumour specimens. Ectopic expression of GACAT1 induced cell growth and migration and promoted epithelial to mesenchymal transition in TSCC. In addition, ectopic expression of GACAT1 decreased miR‐149 expression in SCC1 cell. We observed that miR‐149 expression was down‐regulated in TSCC cell lines. Moreover, we observed that GACAT1 expression was negatively correlated with miR‐149 expression. GACAT1 overexpression induced TSCC cell growth and migration via regulating miR‐149 expression. These data provided that GACAT1 played an oncogenic role in the progression of TSCC partly through modulating miR‐149 expression.

Downregulating circRNA_0044516 Inhibits Cell Proliferation in Gastric Cancer Through miR-149/Wnt1/β-catenin Pathway

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). The Wnt1/β-catenin pathway can promote the proliferation of GC cells. This study aimed to explore whether circRNA_0044516 can regulate the proliferation of GC cells by modulating the Wnt1/β-catenin pathway.

METHODS

The expression of circRNA_0044516, miR-149, Wnt1, and β-catenin in GC tissues or cells was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. Cell viability and apoptosis were measured by CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays, respectively. The interaction between circRNA_0044516 and miR-149 was determined by luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays.

RESULTS

Upregulated circRNA_0044516 was found in GC tissues and cell lines. Downregulating circRNA_0044516 inhibited the viability and promoted apoptosis of GC cells. CircRNA_0044516 targeted miR-149, and its downregulation elevated miR-149 level in GC cells. Mechanistically, silencing circRNA_0044516 reduced the protein level of Wnt1 and β-catenin through miR-149, and finally suppressed viability and contributed to apoptosis of GC cells. Moreover, circRNA_0044516 knockdown inhibited the tumor growth of HGC-27 cells in nude mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated an important role of circRNA_0044516 in GC and elucidated that downregulation of circRNA_0044516 inhibits the proliferation of GC cells through miR-149/Wnt1/β-catenin.

Hesperidin alleviates insulin resistance by improving HG-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction by restoring miR-149

BACKGROUND

Hesperidin, a natural flavanone, has been proven to have multiple protective effects in diabetic rats, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of hesperidin are not well elucidated.

METHODS

LO2 cells were stimulated with high glucose (HG, 33 mM) for 24 h to establish a model of oxidative stress. Then, cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. The antioxidant activities, including the reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) production, were measured with the corresponding kits. The levels of gene expression, protein expression and methylation were detected using qRT-PCR, western blotting and methylation-specific PCR (MSP) assays, respectively.

RESULTS

Compared to the NG treatment, hesperidin treatment increased the viability and improved the oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance of HG-treated LO2 cells, and these effects were correlated with heightened SOD and GPx activities, increased MMP level and ATP generation, reduced MDA, ROS and glucose levels, and activated GSK3β/AKT and inactivated IRS1 signals. Mechanistically, hesperidin treatment enhanced the miR-149 expression level by reducing its promoter methylation by inhibiting DNMT1. Importantly, knockdown of miR-149 obviously abolished the biological roles of hesperidin.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrated that hesperidin treatment ameliorated HG-induced insulin resistance by reducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction partly by suppressing DNMT1-mediated miR-149 silencing.

Decreased miR-149 expression in sperm is correlated with the quality of early embryonic development in conventional in vitro fertilization

miRNAs play a critical role in the regulation of highly orchestrated gene expression profiles during spermatogenesis and early human embryonic development. However, there is much less information available on the effects of sperm-borne miRNAs on human embryonic development than on spermatogenesis. This study was designed to assess the relationship between two sperm-borne miRNAs (miR-34c and miR-149) and preimplantation embryo development in conventional in vitro fertilization treatment. A positive correlation was seen between a decreased level of miR-149 and a higher percentage of good-quality embryos on day 3 in conventional in vitro fertilization treatment (P < 0.0001), but no correlation was seen between miR-34c and a higher percentage of good-quality embryos (P = 0.1084). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis and logistic regression analysis showed that sperm-borne miR-149 with decreased expression was significantly associated with a high rate of good-quality embryos (area under the curve 0.781) (odds ratio: 0.078, 95 % confidence interval: 0.024-0.259, P < 0.0001). Our results demonstrate that the expression profile of miR-149 with significantly decreased expression could be used as a first indication of early embryonic development and may provide novel insight into the biological background of idiopathic infertile males.

LncRNA SLC16A1-AS1 is Upregulated in Glioblastoma and Promotes Cancer Cell Proliferation by Regulating miR-149 Methylation

Introduction

LncRNA SLC16A1-AS1 has been characterized as a critical player in lung cancer, while its role in glioblastoma (GBM) is unknown. By analyzing the TCGA dataset, we observed the upregulation of SLC16A1-AS1 expression in GBM. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of SLC16A1-AS1 in this cancer.

Methods

GBM tissues and paired non-tumor tissues were collected from 62 GBM patients through biopsy. RT-qPCR was performed to determine the expression of SLC16A1-AS1 and miR-149. Linear regression was used to analyze their correlations. The relationship between SLC16A1-AS1 and miR-149 was assessed by gain and loss of function experiments. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) were performed to analyze the methylation status of miR-149. Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 assay and colony formation experiments in GBM cells.

Results

We found that SLC16A1-AS1 expression was upregulated in GBM tissues, and the upregulated expression of SLC16A1-AS1 predicted poor survival of GBM patients. MiR-149 was downregulated in GBM tissues and inversely correlated with the expression of SLC16A1-AS1. In GBM cells, overexpression of SLC16A1-AS1 downregulated the expression of miR-149 and increased the methylation of miR-149 gene. In cell proliferation and colony formation assay, overexpression of SLC16A1-AS1 reduced the inhibitory effects of miR-149 on GBM cell proliferation.

Conclusion

SLC16A1-AS1 may promote GBM cell proliferation by regulating miR-149 methylation. SLC16A1-AS1 can be considered as a potential diagnostic marker in GBM.

Circular RNA 100146 Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression by the MicroRNA 149/HMGA2 Axis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has developed into the third leading cause of cancer-associated death worldwide. Studies have confirmed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) absorb microRNAs (miRNAs) to regulate the function of downstream genes. This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of circRNA 100146 in CRC. The expression of circRNA 100146, miRNA 149 (miR-149), and high mobility group AT-Hook 2 (HMGA2) was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). A series of biofunctional effects (cell viability, apoptosis, migration/invasion) were evaluated by the use of methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), flow cytometry, and transwell assays. Protein levels were measured by Western blot assay. A xenograft model was established for in vivo experiments. The interactions among circRNA 100146, miR-149, and HMGA2 were evaluated by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assays, or RNA pulldown assay. circRNA 100146 was upregulated in CRC tissues and cells. circRNA 100146 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and suppressed migration and invasion in vitro and impeded tumor growth in vivo Also, miR-149 was negatively regulated by circRNA 100146 and was targeted to HMGA2 and mediated its expression. Moreover, miR-149 interference abrogated the activities of silenced circRNA 100146 in proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, HMGA2 overexpression abated the effects described above caused by circRNA 100146 silencing, while the mutations on miR-149 binding sites in the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of HMGA2 led to its loss of this ability. circRNA 100146 knockdown repressed proliferation, enhanced apoptosis, and hindered migration and invasion in SW620 and SW480 cells through targeting the miR-149/HMGA2 axis.

miR-149 contributes to resistance of 5-FU in gastric cancer via targeting TREM2 and regulating β-catenin pathway

Drug resistance remains the unresolved obstacle for gastric cancer (GC) treatment. Recently more and more studies have shown that microRNAs are involved in cancer resistance and could apply to drug resistance therapy in tumors. The relationship between miR-149 and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance in GC remains unclear. Here we detected miR-149 expression in 5-FU resistance tumor tissues and cell lines, and found that miR-149 expression is upregulated in AGS/5-FU cells compared with AGS cells. Further experiments indicated that overexpression of miR-149 can alleviate 5-FU-induced apoptosis and proliferation inhibition by targeting TREM2. It was also confirmed that TREM2 regulated 5-FU resistance through β-catenin pathway. Generally speaking, our results indicated that miR-149 contributes to resistance of 5-FU in gastric cancer via targeting TREM2 and regulating β-catenin pathway.

LncRNA PVT1 exacerbates the inflammation and cell-barrier injury during asthma by regulating miR-149

BACKGROUND

Asthma is a prevailing respiratory disease among children, characterized by allergic airway inflammation, airway remodeling, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Although it is well-known that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are linked to a variety of human diseases and well-documented, very few studies explore its role in asthma. In this study, we investigate the effects of lncRNA PVT1 on the promotion of airway inflammation and its associated mechanisms.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Human small airway epithelial cells (HSAECs) with PVT1 overexpressed or knocked down were constructed, and platelet activating factor (PAF) was used to treat HSAECs to mimic the pathological process of asthma in vitro. The expressions of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expressions of PKC, MyD88, and NF-ĸB were measured by Western blot. Monolayer permeability of HSAECs was also compared within different groups. Luciferase reporter gene assay was employed to detect the targeting relationship between PVT1 and miR-149.

RESULTS

The knockdown of PVT1 attenuated the levels of inflammatory factors induced by PAF and destruction of cell-barrier function. The overexpression of PVT1 facilitated the pathological development. Additionally, miR-149 was identified as a target microRNA of PVT1, and the overexpression of miR-149 could reverse the effects of PVT1 on PAF-induced HSAECs.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that PVT1 may represent a novel potential target for treatment of asthma.

Resistin enhances IL-1β and TNF-α expression in human osteoarthritis synovial fibroblasts by inhibiting miR-149 expression via the MEK and ERK pathways

Resistin is a cysteine-rich adipokine that promotes the release of inflammatory cytokines, particularly interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which are critical pro-inflammatory mediators in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis. We describe evidence of significantly higher levels of resistin, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression in OA knee synovial tissue compared with that from non-OA knees. Resistin-induced enhancement of IL-1β and TNF-α expression in human OA synovial fibroblasts (OASFs) were attenuated by MEK and ERK inhibitors, as well as their respective siRNAs. Our data reveal that resistin enhances the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in OASFs by inhibiting miR-149 expression via MEK and ERK signaling. Our findings elucidate the inter-relationships between resistin and pro-inflammatory mediators during OA pathogenesis and could help to facilitate the development of synovium-targeted therapy in OA.

Effects of miR-218-1-3p and miR-149 on proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells

The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of miR-218-1-3p and miR-149 on the biological function of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells A549. Paired NSCLC and adjacent tissues were obtained from 50 NSCLC patients admitted to Shandong Provincial Chest Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University (Jinan, China) from April 2015 to May 2018. The expression levels of miR-218-1-3p and miR-149 were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells were assigned into the blank group (without transfection), negative control (NC) group (transfected with miRNA NC), and the transfected groups miR-218-1-3p mimic and miR-149 mimic groups. Proliferation and cell growth were determined by CCK-8 assay and cell invasion ability in vitro was assessed by Transwell assay. Flow cytometry was carried out for the detection of cell apoptosis. RT-qPCR results showed that the expression levels of miR-218-1-3p and miR-149 in NSCLC tissues were significantly lower than those in adjacent tissues (P<0.001). At 48 and 72 h, the cell growth of the A549 cells in the miR-218-1-3p mimic and miR-149 mimic groups was significantly lower than that in the NC and blank groups (P<0.05). The number of invasive cells in the miR-218-1-3p mimic and miR-149 mimic groups was significantly lower than that in the NC and blank groups (P<0.05). The apoptotic rate of A549 cells in the miR-218-1-3p mimic and miR-149 mimic groups was significantly higher than that in the NC and blank groups (P<0.05). In conclusion, upregulation of miR-218-1-3p and miR-149 can inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of A549 cells in NSCLC, thereby promoting the apoptosis of A549 cells. Thus, miR-218-1-3p and miR-149 can be used as new molecular targets for the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC.

Combined serum miR-29c and miR-149 expression analysis as diagnostic genetic markers for colorectal cancer

Circulating miRNAs gathered much interest in cancer research as noninvasive biomarkers. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of miR-29c and miR-149 among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and to explore their diagnostic and prognostic potentials in relation to the clinical and pathological features. The expression levels of miR-29c and miR-149 were evaluated in the sera of 80 CRC patients, 80 colorectal adenoma (CRA) patients, and 80 healthy controls using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Carcinoembryonic antigen serum levels were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. miR-29c and miR-149 were significantly downregulated among CRC patients compared with CRA and controls (miR-29c, 0.54 ± 0.19 vs. 0.86 ± 0.12, 0.99 ± 0.07, P < 0.001, respectively; miR-149, 0.46 ± 0.19 vs. 0.74 ± 0.012, 1.0 ± 0.22, P < 0.001, respectively). miR-29c and miR-149 significantly associated with advanced stages of CRC, tumor size, and lymphatic metastasis. By using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, combined miR-29c and miR-149 revealed the highest diagnostic potential for CRA (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.967) from healthy controls as well as the diagnosis of CRC (AUC = 0.98) from CRA. Moreover, combined miRNAs revealed high diagnostic potential for the earlier stages of CRC compared with advanced stages (AUC = 0.96). In conclusion, combined serum miR-29c and miR-149 expression analysis established novel noninvasive biomarker for early CRC diagnosis.

Functional Significance of Mirna-149 in Lung Cancer: Can it be Utilized as a Potential Biomarker or a Therapeutic Target?

Accumulating evidence has documented the significance of miR-149 as a promising tumor-suppressive non-coding RNA that play critical roles in regulating genes involved in cancer growth and metastasis. Notably, the ability of miR-149 to be utilized as a potential biomarker in the diagnosis/prognosis or a therapeutic target has also been explored using various cellular and preclinical models, as well as in clinical settings of lung cancer. While the applicability of miR-149 in assessing tumor progression has been suggested, its potential in predicting treatment outcomes is needed to be verified in diverse settings of lung cancer patients. The current review presents an overview of the functional significance of miR-149 with ongoing challenges in non-small cell lung cancer.

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Sensitizes ERCC1-High Non-small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells to Cisplatin via Regulating miR-149

Resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy becomes a major obstacle in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. Overexpression of the excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1) gene is reported to negatively influence the effectiveness of cisplatin-based therapy for NSCLC cells. In this study, we confirm that high ERCC1 expression correlates with cisplatin resistance in NSCLC cells. Importantly, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) re-sensitize ERCC1-high NSCLC cells to cisplatin both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the HDACi induces the expression of miR-149 by acetylation and activation of E2F1, which directly targets ERCC1 and inhibits ERCC1 expression. Inhibition of miR-149 reverses the promotion effect of HDACis on cisplatin-induced DNA damage and cell apoptosis in ERCC1-high NSCLC cells. In conclusion, this study reveals a novel mechanism by which HDACis re-sensitizes ERCC1-high NSCLC cells to cisplatin via regulation of the E2F1/miR-149/ERCC1 axis, and we propose that combination of HDACis and cisplatin might hold promise to be a more effective therapeutic paradigm for ERCC1-high NSCLCs.

miR-149 regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of human colonic carcinoma cells by targeting FZD5

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effects of miR-149 on the cell proliferation and apoptosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and its potential molecular mechanism.

METHODS

miR-149 expression patterns were detected in human CRC cell lines by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (Q-PCR). Online prediction software and luciferase reporter assay were performed to screen the functional targets of miR-149. CRC cells were transfected with miR-149 mimics or siRNAs of FZD5 and then divided into NC group (negative control), miR-149 mimics group (cells transfected with miR-149 mimics) and miR-149 mimics + SiFZD5 group (cells transfected by miR-149 mimics and SiFZD5). Moreover, the effects of miR-149 on the proliferation and apoptosis of CRC cells were also analyzed by MTT and flow cytometry assay. In addition, the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathways related factors were shown by western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Q-PCR results demonstrated that the expression of miR-149 was significantly lower in SW480 than that in the FHC cell line. Frizzled class receptor 5 (FZD5) was identified as a functional target of miR-149 through a series of experiments including Q-PCR, western blot analysis, and luciferase assay. Cellular functional experiments demonstrated that the cell viability and proliferation were greatly inhibited after miR-149 overexpression in SW480 cells. Furthermore, the proportion of apoptotic cells increased significantly after introducing miR-149 into SW480 cells. Furthermore, Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway was activated because of the lower expression of β-catenin and cyclinD1 in miR-149 mimics group. However, reducing FZD5 expression restored the expression of β-catenin and cyclin D.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggested that miR-149 may function as a tumor suppressor in CRC cells lines by targeting FZD5. miR-149/FZD5 may become a new therapeutic target for CRC.

Circular RNA circEIF3I promotes papillary thyroid carcinoma progression through competitively binding to miR-149 and upregulating KIF2A expression

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to regulate the development and progression of various cancers. However, the expression and function of circRNAs in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remain largely unknown. This study is aimed to investigate the potential roles of circEIF3I in PTC and elucidate the functional mechanism. We found that the expression of circEIF3I was significantly upregulated in PTC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. CircEIF3I expression was positively associated with tumor size, TNM stage and metastasis. CircEIF3I knockdown remarkably suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of PTC cells. Mechanistically, circEIF3I promoted KIF2A expression through competitively interacting with miR-149. In conclusion, circEIF3I upregulation in PTC tissues facilitates KIF2A expression by inhibiting miR-149, leading to malignant progression of PTC. This study suggested circEIF3I/miR-149/KIF2A axis might be a potential therapeutic target.

miR-149 and miR-499 gene polymorphism and the incident of ischemic stroke in the Asian population: From a case-control study to meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

MiRNAs are the most abundant class of regulatory non-coding RNA, which may exert a significant role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke(IS). Previous studies have focused on the relationship between miRNA polymorphism and IS risk, but the results remain inconsistent. Therefore, we first conducted a case-control study to explore the association, and subsequently performed a meta-analysis to further to clarify the association of miRNA polymorphism with risk of ischemic stroke.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We first conducted a case-control study including 567 IS patients and 552 controls. Then we performed a meta-analysis combining the current study and previous studies with a total of 3015 cases and 2874 controls on miR-149 rs2292832 and 4119 cases and 4085 controls on miR-499 rs3746444 to further confirm our findings by searching PubMed, Web of Science and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases database up to Nov 2019.

RESULTS

In our case-control study, no association between miR-499 rs3746444, miR-149 rs2292832 and IS were found. When combined with previous studies, however, a significant relationship between miR-149 rs2292832 and ischemic stroke incident was found under recessive model and allelic model. In other words, CC genotype and C allele of miR-149 rs2292832 were increased risk of ischemic stroke.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis results suggest that miR-149 rs2292832 might contribute to stroke susceptibility in the Asian populations.

Melatonin suppresses ischemia-induced fibrosis by regulating miR-149

Ischemic injury is a major risk factor for fibrosis. However, the precise mechanisms by which fibrosis is regulated and induced under ischemic oxidative stress conditions are unknown. To address this, we investigated the effect of melatonin on ischemia-induced fibrosis. In a hindlimb ischemia mouse model, ischemia induced fibrosis by increasing inflammation and the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Melatonin prevented ischemia-induced fibrosis in the injured tissues. In particular, melatonin suppressed the fibrosis-mediated inflammatory reaction in myoblasts through the microRNA-149 (miR-149)/indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1) signaling pathway. The melatonin-induced increase in miR-149 inhibited the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and ECM components, such as collagen I and fibronectin. In addition, melatonin increased antioxidative activity and mitochondrial function in myoblasts via the miR-149/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) signaling axis, and the anti-fibrotic effects of melatonin were blocked by inhibition of miR-149. These findings indicate that melatonin is a key target molecule in fibrosis related to ischemic diseases and that miR-149 might be a novel target for the treatment of ischemia-induced fibrosis.

CircRBM33 regulates IL-6 to promote gastric cancer progression through targeting miR-149

There is increasing evidence of the vital role played by circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). A circRNA, hsa_circ_0001772, was generated from the RBM33 gene and named circRBM33. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of circRBM33 in GC. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to quantify the expression of circRBM33 in 79 pairs of GC tissues and paracancerous tissues and 4 GC cell lines (MGC-803, BGC-823, SGC-7901, and AGS). Bioinformatics databases were used to predict downstream targets of circRNA and micro RNA (miRNA). Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to verify whether miR-149 was a direct binding target for circRBM33. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 5-Ethynyl-2´-deoxyuridine (EDU) assay, transwell assay, and flow-cytometric analyses were performed to determine the role of circRBM33 in the biological functioning of GC cells. Western blot technique was used to quantify the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6). CircRBM33 was distinctly upregulated in GC specimens and cell lines and a close correlation between circRBM33 expression and clinical characteristics of GC was observed. After silencing circRBM33, the apoptosis of GC cells increased, while proliferation, migration, and invasion decreased. Rescue experiments indicated that circRBM33 manipulates biological function in GC cells through the circRBM33/miR-149/IL-6 axis. CircRBM33 can be used as a tumor biomarker and a possible therapeutic target in the future.

Long non-coding RNA MALAT1 sponges miR-149 to promote inflammatory responses of LPS-induced acute lung injury by targeting MyD88

Acute lung injury (ALI) caused by sepsis occurs early and the condition is severe, and is also an important reason for accelerating the death of patients. Increasing evidence has identified long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis associated in lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) as a regulator of ALI. However, the potential mechanism underlying MALAT1 on ALI still needs further identification. To explore the mechanisms of gene regulation expression mediated by MALAT1 through miR-149/MyD88 in lung injury inflammation, we constructed a lung injury inflammatory model using the lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced method and quantificated the cytokines and signaling cascade molecules as well as miR-149. The MALAT1, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 levels were significantly increased, and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway was activated, but the miR-149 level was decreased in the LPS-induced ALI model. miR-149 directly targeted both lncRNA MALAT1 and the MyD88 gene. Knockdown of MALAT1 down-regulated the levels of MyD88, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and inhibited the NF-κB pathway. However, MALAT1 knockdown up-regulated the expression of miR-149. Overexpression of miR-149 down-regulated MyD88, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels, and inhibited the NF-κB pathway. MALAT1 acts as a pro-inflammatory factor in ALI via the miR-149/MyD88/NF-κB axis and is therefore a potential novel therapeutic target for ALI treatment.

miR-149 inhibits cell proliferation and enhances chemosensitivity by targeting CDC42 and BCL2 in neuroblastoma

Background

Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of most common childhood tumors with high mortality among children worldwide. microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play essential roles in the pathogenesis and therapeutics of NB. However, the role of miR-149 and its mechanism remain poorly understood.

Main methods

The expression levels of miR-149, cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) were measured in NB tissues or cells by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blot. Cell proliferation was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Chemosensitivity of NB cells to doxorubicin (Dox) was analyzed by MTT assay. The interaction between miR-149 and CDC42 or BCL2 was explored by luciferase activity and RNA immunoprecipitation analyses.

Results

Our data indicated that low expression of miR-149 was displayed in NB tissues and cells and associated with poor survival rate. Overexpression of miR-149 inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation but promoted cell apoptosis and chemosensitivity to Dox in NB cells. Moreover, CDC42 and BCL2 were targeted by miR-149. Additionally, CDC42 and BCL2 mRNA levels were elevated in NB tissues and cells and restoration of CDC42 or BCL2 reversed the regulatory effect of miR-149 on NB progression.

Conclusion

Our data suggested that miR-149 suppressed cell proliferation and improved Dox chemosensitivity by regulating CDC42 and BCL2 in NB, providing a novel avenue for treatment of NB.

Circular RNA HIPK3 induces cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer through sponging miR-149

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of endogenous noncoding RNAs that are demonstrated to be potent regulators in the development of various types of human cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the present study, the level of circRNA-HIPK3 were measured by Taq-man based quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis in both NSCLC patient specimens and cells, which showed that circRNA-HIPK3 was upregulated in both NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), migration and flow-cytometry assays indicated that circRNA-HIPK3 participated in the regulation of the proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of NSCLC cells. MiR-193a expression was increased by circHIPK3 silencing. We then showed that miR-149 interacts with FOXM1 by binding to the 3'-untranslated region (UTR). Further, ectopic overexpression of miR-149 by transfecting miR-149 mimics significantly inhibited growth, migration and invasion of HSCLCs, which was found to be mediated through FOXM1. Moreover, miR-149 overexpression decreases the viability and proliferation of HSCLCs. Therefore, our data suggest that circHIPK3 regulates the function of NSCLCs through miR-149-mediated FOXM1 expression regulation, potentially providing a novel insight into the pathogenesis of NSCLC.

The decreased lncRNA ZEB2-AS1 in pre-eclampsia controls the trophoblastic cell line HTR-8/SVneo's invasive and migratory abilities via the miR-149/PGF axis

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy disease that causes maternal death and threatens the health of newborns. Accumulating evidence has revealed the essential roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the progression of PE. The present investigation determined lncRNA ZEB2 antisense RNA 1 (ZEB2-AS1) expression in PE and looked into the potential role of ZEB2-AS1 in modulating trophoblastic cell functions. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction evaluated gene expression. Western blot analyzed the placental growth factor (PGF) protein level. Cell counting kit-8 and Transwell invasion assays assessed the proliferative and invasive abilities of placental trophoblast cells, respectively. Wound healing assay determined cell migratory potentials. Dual-luciferase reporter assay assessed the targeting relationship among ZEB2-AS1, miR-149, and PGF. Downregulation of lncRNA ZEB2-AS1 was detected in placentas from patients with PE when compared with those from normal pregnancies. Moreover, ZEB2-AS1 upregulation markedly promoted proliferative, migratory, and invasive potentials in HTR-8/SVneo cells, while knockdown of ZEB2-AS1 had the opposite effects. The effects on HTR-8/SVneo cells mediated by ZEB2-AS1 was correlated with the miR-149/PGF axis. These findings indicate that ZEB2-AS1 contributes to PE progression by affecting cell proliferative and invasive capacities via the miR-149/PGF axis in HTR-8/SVneo cells. In sum, we identified that ZEB2-AS1 was a novel aberrantly expressed lncRNA in the placentas of PE patients and lncRNA ZEB2-AS1 modulated trophoblastic cell line HTR-8/SVneo's proliferative and invasive potentials via targeting the miR-149/PGF axis.

circANKS1B regulates FOXM1 expression and promotes cell migration and invasion by functioning as a sponge of the miR-149 in colorectal cancer

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in the development of human cancers. CircANKS1B has been reported to be increased in breast cancer. Methods: Real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) assay was used to measure expressions of circANKS1B, ANKS1B, and FOXM1. Western blot assay was employed to examine the protein level of FOXM1 and Slug. The abilities of cell migration and invasion were measured by wound-healing and transwell assays. The interaction between circANKS1B and miR-149 was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis and luciferase assays. Results: The expression of circANKS1B was up-regulated in colorectal cancer tissues and cells. Additionally, circANKS1B increased the expression of FOXM1. Furthermore, the enhancement of CRC cell migration and invasion by circANKS1B was dependent on FOXM1. However, previous studies have shown that miR-149 can directly target FOXM1 and act as tumor suppressor in CRC. Consequently, our results showed that miR-149 could directly bind to circANKS1B and FOXM1. The inhibition of circANKS1B could reduce FOXM1 and Slug protein levels, thus suppressing CRC cell migration and invasion. Conclusion: Taken together, circANKS1B promotes colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion by acting as a molecular sponge of miR-149 to modulate FOXM1 and Slug protein levels.

miR-149 as a Potential Molecular Target for Cancer

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are frequently dysregulated in cancers and serve as attractive targets for prognostication and therapeutic applications. Besides cancer, the biological functions of miR-149 have been studied in various diseases. This review aims to summarize the reports available in the literature, regarding miR-149 as a molecular target for cancer therapeutics.

METHODS

An extensive literature search was conducted using the Pubmed database to sieve out articles related to the roles of miR-149 in carcinogenesis and cancer progression, and potential miRNA-based therapies. A total of 89 publications were selected for inclusion in this review.

RESULTS

Depending on the cancer type, miR-149 can behave either as a tumor suppressor or as an 'onco-miR' that promotes tumorigenesis and cancer spread, suggesting that this miRNA has diverse functions. Potential miRNA-based therapies include the use of miRNA mimics, miRNA inhibitors, demethylating agents and circular RNAs.

CONCLUSION

Although targeting miRNA is an attractive anti-cancer strategy, not all cancers can be treated by the same miRNA-based strategy. A comprehensive understanding of miRNA regulatory mechanism is also necessary to improve the design of miRNA-based therapeutics and there is a need for safe and efficient delivery methods when using this approach for anti-cancer treatment.

miR-149-5p inhibits cell growth by regulating TWEAK/Fn14/PI3K/AKT pathway and predicts favorable survival in human osteosarcoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as small non-coding RNAs act as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes in human cancers, of which miR-149-5p (miR-149) is involved in tumor growth and metastasis, but its role and molecular mechanisms underlying osteosarcoma growth are poorly understood. The correlation of miR-149 expression with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with sarcoma was analyzed by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA-sequencing data. Osteosarcoma cell growth affected by miR-149 was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assays. As a result, we found that the expression level of miR-149 was markedly downregulated in human sarcoma samples and were negatively associated with tumor size, acting as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival of the sarcoma patients. Restoration of miR-149 expression suppressed osteosarcoma cell growth, while its knockdown reversed these effects. Furthermore, we identified TNFRSF12A (TNF receptor superfamily member 12A), also called fibroblast growth factor–inducible 14 (Fn14) as a direct target of miR-149, and TNFRSF12A and its ligand TNFSF12 (TNF superfamily member 12), also called tumor necrosis factor–related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), were both negatively correlated with miR-149 expression in sarcoma samples. Knockdown of TNFRSF12A suppressed cell growth, but its overexpression weakened the antiproliferative effects of miR-149 via the PI3K/AKT (AKT serine/threonine kinase) signaling pathway. Altogether, our findings show that miR-149 functions as a tumor suppressor in osteosarcoma via inhibition of the TWEAK–Fn14 axis and represents a potential therapeutic target in patients with osteosarcoma.

Long non-coding RNA DANCR promotes malignant phenotypes of bladder cancer cells by modulating the miR-149/MSI2 axis as a ceRNA

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidences have indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are potential biomarkers that play key roles in tumor development and progression. Differentiation antagonizing non-protein noding RNA (DANCR) is a novel lncRNA that acts as a potential biomarker and is involved in the development of cancers. However, the clinical significance and molecular mechanism of DANCR in bladder cancer is still unknown.

METHODS

The relative expression level of DANCR was determined by Real-Time qPCR in a total of 106 patients with urothelial bladder cancer and in different bladder cancer cell lines. Loss-of-function experiments were performed to investigate the biological roles of DANCR on bladder cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tumorigenicity. Comprehensive transcriptional analysis, RNA-FISH, dual-luciferase reporter assay and western blot were performed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of DANCR.

RESULTS

In this study, we found that DANCR was significantly up-regulated in bladder cancer. Moreover, increased DANCR expression was positively correlated with higher histological grade and advanced TNM stage. Further experiments demonstrated that knockdown of DANCR inhibited malignant phenotypes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of bladder cancer cells. Mechanistically, we found that DANCR was distributed mostly in the cytoplasm and DANCR functioned as a miRNA sponge to positively regulate the expression of musashi RNA binding protein 2 (MSI2) through sponging miR-149 and subsequently promoted malignant phenotypes of bladder cancer cells, thus playing an oncogenic role in bladder cancer pathogenesis.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to demonstrate that DANCR plays a critical regulatory role in bladder cancer cell and DANCR may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target of bladder cancer.

Long non-coding RNA PVT1, a molecular sponge for miR-149, contributes aberrant metabolic dysfunction and inflammation in IL-1β-simulated osteoarthritic chondrocytes

Osteoarthritis (OA), a common form of degenerative joint disease, is typified by inflammatory response and the loss of cartilage matrix. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as a new player in gene regulation and exert critical roles in diverse physiologic and pathogenic processes including OA. The lncRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) has been implicated in cancer, diabetes and septic acute kidney injury. Recent research confirmed the elevation of PVT1 in patients with OA. However, its role in the development of OA remains poorly elucidated. In the present study, high expression of PVT1 was observed in cartilage of OA patients and IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. Moreover, cessation of PVT1 expression dramatically reversed the inhibition of IL-1β on collagen II and aggrecan expression, but suppressed IL-1β-induced elevation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), including MMP-3, MMP-9 and MMP-13. Simultaneously, PVT1 inhibition also antagonized the production of inflammatory cytokines upon IL-1β stimulation, including prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), NO, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. Further molecular mechanism analysis identified PVT1 as an endogenous sponge RNA that could directly bind to miR-149 and repress its expression and activity. More importantly, miR-149 inhibition reversed the protective roles of PVT1 cessation in attenuating IL-1β-evoked matrix aberrant catabolism and inflammation. Together, this research confirms that lowering PVT1 expression may ameliorate the progression of OA by alleviating cartilage imbalance toward catabolism and inflammatory response, thus supporting a promising therapeutic strategy against OA.

Dinitrosopiperazine-decreased PKP3 through upregulating miR-149 participates in nasopharyngeal carcinoma metastasis

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has a high metastatic clinicopathological feature. As a carcinogen factor, N,N'-dinitrosopiperazine (DNP) is involved in NPC metastasis, but its precise mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Herein, we showed that DNP promotes NPC metastasis through upregulating miR-149. DNP was found to decrease Plakophilin3 (PKP3) expression, further DNP-decreased PKP3 was verified to be through upregulating miR-149. We also found that DNP induced proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion of NPC cell, which was inhibited by miR-149-inhibitor. DNP may promote NPC metastasis through miR-149-decreased PKP3 expression. Therefore, DNP-increased miR-149 expression may be an important factor of NPC high metastasis, and miR-149 may serve as a molecular target for anti-metastasis therapy of NPC.

LncRNA GACAT1 Promotes Gastric Cancer Cell Growth, Invasion And Migration By Regulating MiR-149-mediated Of ZBTB2 And SP1

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were involved in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). In our study, we have determined that GACAT1 expression was upregulated in GC. Overexpression of GACAT1 promoted GC cell proliferation, invasion and migration. We also determined that miR-149 directly interacts with the target site on GACAT1. Furthermore, we investigated that miR-149 downregulated ZBTB2 and SP1 expressions which were induced by GACAT1, miR-149 inhibited GC cell growth and invasion mediated by GACAT1. In conclusion, we found that miR-149 downregulated ZBTB2 and SP1 expressions, and inhibited GC cell progression mediated by GACAT1. Therefore, we indicated that GACAT1 and miR-149 may be potential therapeutic targets for GC.

Regulation and functions of MicroRNA-149 in human cancers

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play critical roles in the regulatory mechanisms involving cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and tumorigenesis. Recent research efforts have been conducted to apply these discoveries into clinical functions, including the early diagnosis and therapeutic outcome of patients with cancer. Previous studies have shown that microRNA-149 (miR-149) is dysregulated in various human cancers and exerts its effects on tumorigenesis and tumour progression. In this review, we summarized the potential roles of miR-149 dysregulation and its target genes during tumorigenesis and clinical treatment of human cancers.

MiR-149 sensitizes esophageal cancer cell lines to cisplatin by targeting DNA polymerase β

Human DNA polymerase β (polβ) is a small, monomeric protein essential for short‐patch base excision repair (BER). polβ plays an important role in the regulation of chemotherapy sensitivity in tumour cells. In this study, we determined that the expression levels of polβ mRNA and miR‐149 in tumour tissues were significantly higher than in adjacent non‐tumour tissues. We also found that the expression level of miR‐149 in EC tumour tissues was inverse to that of polβ expression. Bioinformatics analysis and dual‐luciferase reporter assay predicted that miR‐149 negatively regulates polβ expression by directly binding to its 3′UTR. CCK‐8 assay indicated that miR‐149 could enhance the anti‐proliferative effects of cisplatin in EC1 and EC9706 cell lines. Flow cytometry, caspase 3/7 activity, and immunofluorescence microscopy results indicated that miR‐149 could enhance the apoptotic effects of cisplatin in EC1 and EC9706 cell lines. We also showed that the expression of polβ lacking the 3′UTR sequence could override the proliferative and apoptotic functions of miR‐149, suggesting that miR‐149 negatively regulates polβ expression by binding to its 3′UTR. Surface plasmon resonance results also showed that miR‐149 could bind with wild‐type polβ. In addition, we identified a new variant of polβ (C1134G). In conclusion, this study confirms that miR‐149 may enhance the sensitivity of EC cell lines to cisplatin by targeting polβ, and that miR‐149 may be unable to regulate the C1134G variant of polβ. Based on these findings, potential drugs could be developed with a focus on enhanced sensitivity of EC patients to chemotherapy.

Association of miR-149 polymorphism with onset age and severity in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) is caused by 1.5-fold increased dosage of the PMP22; however, onset age and severity vary considerably among patients. The exact reason behind these phenotypic heterogeneities has rarely been discovered yet. Because miRNAs are the key regulators of gene expression, we speculated that variants of miRNAs might be the genetic modifiers for CMT1A. This study noticed a common single nucleotide polymorphism (n.86T > C, rs2292832) in the miR-149 which was predicted to target several CMT causing genes including PMP22. The rs2292832 was located near the 3' end of the precursor microRNA of the miR-149. We performed an association study between the rs2292832 polymorphism and clinical phenotypes of CMT1A in subjects consisting of 176 unrelated Korean CMT1A patients and 176 controls. From this study, we observed that rs2292832 was closely associated to the onset age and severity of CMT1A. Particularly, the TC and CC genotypes were significantly associated with late onset and mild symptom. Therefore, we suggest that the rs2292832 variant in the miR-149 is a potential candidate as a genetic modifier which affects the phenotypic heterogeneity of CMT1A. This study may provide the first evidence that polymorphism in the miR gene is associated with the CMT1A phenotype.

THE ASSOCIATION OF PLASMA LEVELS OF miR-34a AND miR-149 WITH OBESITY AND INSULIN RESISTANCE IN OBESE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

CONTEXT

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs involved in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression that influence various cellular functions including glucose and lipid metabolism and adipocyte differentiation.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of miR-34a and miR-149 and their relationship with metabolic parameters in obese children and adolescents.

DESIGN

Seventy children and adolescents were enrolled in the study. Plasma levels of microRNAs were evaluated by real-time PCR using SYBR green and analyzed by ΔCt method. Plasma concentrations of visfatin and insulin were measured by ELISA method. Glucose and lipid profile were determined colorimetrically. HOMA-IR was calculated and used as an index of insulin resistance (IR).

RESULTS

miR-34a was significantly lower in subjects with insulin resistance compared to obese children with normal insulin sensitivity. There was an inverse relationship between miR-34a levels and both insulin and HOMA-IR. On the other hand, miR-149 was significantly correlated with visfatin. There was no significant difference in miR-34a and miR-149 between obese and normal weight subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-34a is associated with insulin and HOMA-IR and thus seems to be involved in IR. miR-149 is inversely associated with visfatin levels which could be indicative of anti-inflammatory effect of this miRNA.

Association Between MicroRNAs Polymorphisms and Risk of Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-Analysis in Chinese Individuals

Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated that some single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNAs are related to the risk of ischemic stroke (IS), but the conclusions are still controversial and inconclusive. We performed this meta-analysis to further assess the association between miR-146a C>G (rs2910164), miR-149 T>C (rs2292832), miR-196a2 T>C (rs11614913), miR-499 A>G (rs3746444) and risk of IS in Chinese individuals. Methods: Relevant studies were identified in the databases of PubMed, Embase. The strength of correlation between microRNAs polymorphisms and IS risk was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) under five genetic models. Results: 5 studies, containing 2,632 cases and 3,191 controls, were included in this meta-analysis. The overall results of meta-analysis indicated that there were no significant association between miR-146a C>G (rs2910164), miR-149 T>C (rs2292832), miR-196a2 T>C (rs11614913), and the IS risk in the overall analyses. MiR-499 A>G (rs3746444) was associated with an increased IS risk under allele model (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.02-1.66), heterozygous model (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.01-1.79) and dominant model (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.02-1.80) in Chinese. The sensitivity analysis results of these four polymorphisms were similar to the overall results. Conclusion: MiR-499 A>G (rs3746444) G allele and AG, AG + AA genotype might be risk factors of IS in Chinese. No significant association was observed between miR-146a C>G (rs2910164), miR-149 T>C (rs2292832), miR-196a2 T>C (rs11614913), and IS risk. The associations may be different due to geographical factors of China. More explorations in more diverse geographically regions with large sample size are expected to further verify the findings in the future.

Novel long noncoding RNA GACAT3 promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration through miR-149

Aim

To explore the expression and clinical significance of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) gastric cancer-associated transcript 3 (GACAT3) in human colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

Expression of GACAT3 in CRC tissues and cell lines was measured using quantitative real-time PCR. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were used to assess the effect of GACAT3 on CRC cell line proliferation. Transwell invasion and migration assays were performed to detect the effect of GACAT3 on CRC cell line invasion and migration. Bioinformatics prediction, luciferase reporter assay, and pull-down assay were used to determine if miR-149 was a target of GACAT3. In addition, we also conducted colony formation assays and invasion assays to verify that GACAT3 promotes tumor progression through miR-149. Finally, in vivo tumorigenesis studies were used to demonstrate subcutaneous tumor growth.

Results

In the present study, we found that GACAT3 was highly expressed in CRC tissues and cell lines. Si-GACAT3 significantly decreased cell proliferation, motility, and invasiveness both in vitro and in vivo. We confirmed that downregulated GACAT3 significantly increased the expression of miR-149, and miR-149 binds to GACAT3 in a sequence-specific manner using luciferase reporter assays and pull-down assay. Further functional experiments indicated that GACAT3 could directly upregulate SP1 and STAT3 expressions by functioning as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-149, and consequentially, promoting CRC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that GACAT3 promotes tumor progression through competitive binding to miR-149 and suggests a promising new strategy for anti-CRC therapy.

MicroRNA-149 sensitizes colorectal cancer to radiotherapy by downregulating human epididymis protein 4

Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) was significantly up-regulated in colorectal cancer (CRC), while the potential relevance to radiation resistance of this phenomenon is still elusive. Relative expressions of target genes were quantified by real-time PCR. The protein level was determined by Western blot. The regulatory effect of miR-149 on WFDC2 (gene encoding HE4 protein) expression was analyzed by luciferase reporter assay. The response to radiation was evaluated by clonogenic assay in vitro and xenograft growth in vivo. WFDC2 was aberrantly up-regulated and miR-149 was down-regulated in CRC. MiR-149 repressed WFDC2 expression via directly targeting its 3'UTR region. The ectopic expression of miR-149 significantly sensitized CRC to radiation both in vitro and in vivo. Likewise, we further demonstrated that WFDC2-deficiency remarkably improved the radiation resistance in CRC. Simultaneously, WFDC2 rescue completely abolished the radiation sensitivity imposed by miR-149. Our data suggested that miR-149 sensitized CRC to radiation via directly inhibiting WFDC2/HE4, which would hold great promise for future therapeutic exploitations.

miR-149 in Human Cancer: A Systemic Review

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate post-transcriptional gene expression via binding to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of targeted mRNAs. They are reported to play important roles in tumorigenesis and progression of various cancers. Among them, miR-149 was confirmed to be aberrantly regulated in various tumors. In this review, we provide a complex overview of miR-149, particularly summarize the critical roles of it in cancers and expect to lay the foundation for future works on this important microRNA.

Systematic evaluation of cancer risk associated with rs2292832 in miR‑149 and rs895819 in miR‑27a: a comprehensive and updated meta‑analysis

The aim of this study is to provide a precise quantification for the association between miR-149 T > C (rs2292832) and miR-27a A > G (rs895819) and the risk of cancer. We conducted a systematic literature review and evaluated the quality of included studies based on Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated to assess the strengths of the associations. We identified 40 studies for pooled analyses. Overall, the results demonstrated that the rs2292832 polymorphism was subtly decrease the risk of breast cancer (CT + CC vs TT: OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70-0.98, P = 0.03; CC vs CT + TT: OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.68-0.93, P = 0.00), and the rs895819 polymorphism wasassociated with significantly increased cancer risk in the Asian population (AG + GG vs AA: OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03-1.50, P = 0.02) and in colorectal cancer subgroup (GG vs AA: OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.10-1.92, P = 0.00; AG + GG vs AA: OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.15-1.58, P = 0.00; GG vs AG + AA: OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.04-1.77, P = 0.02). In addition, a subtly decreased risk was observed in the Caucasian population and in breast cancer subgroup. In conclusion, the rs2292832 polymorphism was significantly associated with increased breast cancer risk, and the rs895819 polymorphism contributes to the susceptibility of colorectal and breast cancer.

Functional miR-146a, miR-149, miR-196a2 and miR-499 polymorphisms and the susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma: An updated meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of miRNAs play important roles in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To evaluate the association between four common miRNAs (miR-146a rs2910164; miR-149 rs2292832; miR-196a2 rs11614913 and miR-499 rs3746444) and HCC risk, an updated meta-analysis was performed.

METHODS

32 studies including 12,405 HCC cases and 15,056 controls were used for this meta-analysis. There were 22 studies with 7894 cases and 10,221 controls for miR-146a, 9 studies with 2684 HCC cases and 3464 controls for miR-149, 17 studies with 6937 cases and 8217 controls for miR-196a2 and 16 studies with 4158 cases and 5264 controls for miR-499. Odds radios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the HCC risk.

RESULTS

Meta-analysis showed that miR-146a was associated with HCC risk under the heterozygote model (OR=1.10, 95%CI=1.03-1.17, P=0.007), whereas no association was found in Caucasian using all genetic models. For miR-196a2 polymorphism, an increased risk of HCC was observed based on four models (C vs T: OR=1.15, 95%CI=1.05-1.26, P=0.003; CC vs TT: OR=1.35, 95%CI=1.12-1.63, P=0.002; CC+CT vs TT: OR=1.20, 95%CI=1.04-1.37, P=0.01 and CC vs CT+TT: OR=1.23, 95%CI=1.06-1.42, P=0.006). Association of miR-499 with HCC risk was only detected in the subgroup of studies which did not use polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) under the allelic, heterozygote and dominant models. However, negative results were obtained for the association of miR-149 and HCC susceptibility.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that miR-146a and miR-196a2 polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of HCC, especially in Asian.