miR-145, miR-133a and miR-133b: Tumor-suppressive miRNAs target FSCN1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Tumor-derived exosomes influence the cell cycle and cell migration of human esophageal cancer cell lines

Our laboratory previously reported the usefulness as biomarkers of exosomes in the plasma of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients. However, the influence of tumor‐derived exosomes on the tumor itself and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We here report changes in the phenotype and gene expression when cancer cells exist in an environment with tumor‐derived exosomes. The exosomes were isolated from the culture medium of human ESCC cells (TE2, T.Tn) by ultracentrifugation; cell proliferation assay, wound‐healing assay, and fluorescence imaging of the cell cycle were performed to clarify the phenotypic changes in the high concentration of tumor‐derived exosomes. Gene expression changes were also assessed by mRNA microarray, and the data were analyzed by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The data revealed that the proliferation of both TE2 and T.Tn was inhibited, and cell migration ability was upregulated in the exosome exposure group (P < .05). Fluorescence imaging using a fluorescent ubiquitination‐based cell cycle indicator expressing ESCC cells revealed that the ratio of G1‐phase cells was significantly increased in the exosome exposure group (P < .05). Findings of the GSEA clarified that high‐density exposure of cancer‐derived exosomes to their parent cancer cells downregulated the expression of genes related to cell proliferation and cell cycle, and upregulated the expression of genes related to actin filament length and extracellular structure organization. In conclusion, an environment of high‐density tumor‐derived exosomes induces changes in the gene expression and phenotype of tumor cells and may lead to tumor progression or malignant transformation.

MicroRNA expression profiles in the esophagus of children with caustic stenosis: A pathway towards esophageal cancer?

BACKGROUND

Eighty percent of caustic ingestions occur in children and esophageal neoplasms may develop as a late complication of such injury. The identification of biomarkers is a promising strategy to improve early diagnosis of esophageal cancer or caustic lesions that are at an increased risk of progression.

STUDY DESIGN/AIMS

This study aimed at identifying global microRNA (miRNA) expression changes in esophageal mucosa from children with caustic stenosis. The study included 27 biopsy samples from 15 patients. Samples were divided into two groups, according to the time elapsed after injury (N = 15 in Group A, with less than five years of follow-up and N = 12 in Group B, with more than five years of follow-up). miRNA expression profiles were determined in each lesion, compared with normal esophageal tissues from control group. We used the TaqMan Human MicroRNA Arrays (Thermo Fisher) platform. Furthermore, bioinformatic algorithms were used to identify miRNA target genes and biological pathways including miRNAs and their target genes potentially associated with esophageal disease.

RESULTS

Thirteen miRNAs were significantly deregulated (9 over- and 4 underexpressed) in patients from Group A. In patients from Group B, two miRNAs were over- and two were underexpressed. Of note, miR-374 and miR-574 were deregulated in Group B patients and have been linked to esophageal tumorigenesis. We identified signal transduction and transcription factor networks with genes strongly related to development and progression of esophageal cancer.

CONCLUSION

miRNAs identified here contribute to a better understanding of pathways associated with malignant transformation from caustic stenosis to neoplastic lesions. This study may serve as a basis for validation of miRNAs, including miR-374 and miR-574, as potential biomarkers of early cancer detection.

Down-Regulation of miR-2053 Inhibits the Development and Progression of Esophageal Carcinoma by Targeting Fyn-Related Kinase (FRK)

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in the regulation and pathophysiology of various types of cancers including esophageal carcinoma (ESCA). Increasing numbers of miRNAs have been identified to be important regulators in the progression of ESCA by regulating gene expression. However, functional miRNAs and the underlying mechanisms involved in ESCA need sufficient elucidation.

AIMS

In the present study, the function of miR-2053 was investigated in ESCA cells.

METHODS

The expression of miR-2053 was detected in four different ESCA cell lines (Eca109, Ec9706, KYSE30, and TE-1 cells) and normal cell line (HEEC) by qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities after knockdown of miR-2053 were assessed by CCK-8 assay, scratch assay, and transwell assay, respectively. Cell cycle of ESCA cells was detected by flow cytometric analysis. Expression of proteins in ESCA cells was detected by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

The results showed that the expression of miR-2053 was remarkably up-regulated in ESCA tissues and cells lines. Down-regulation of miR-2053 markedly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and markedly induced cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis in ESCA cell lines. Fyn-related kinase (FRK) was a target gene of miR-2053. Moreover, down-regulation of miR-2053 mediated the protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin and Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway in ESCA cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results together suggest the potential of regulating miR-2053 expression against development and progression of esophageal carcinoma by targeting FRK.

Dysregulated microRNAs in laryngeal cancer: a comprehensive meta-analysis using a robust rank aggregation approach

We need a reasonable method of compiling data from different studies regarding the expression of microRNA (miRNA) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). The robust rank aggregation method was used to integrate the rank lists of miRNAs from 11 studies. The enrichment analysis was performed on target genes of meta-signature miRNAs. The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to confirm the results of meta-analysis. Three meta-signature miRNAs (miR-21-5p, miR-196a-5p and miR-145-5p) were obtained. All three miRNAs could be prognostic for LSCC. The enrichment analysis showed that these miRNAs were associated significantly with multiple cancer-related signaling pathways. The robust rank aggregation approach is an effective way to identify important miRNAs from different studies. All identified miRNAs could be candidates for LSCC diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

miR-148a Regulates the Stem Cell-Like Side Populations Distribution by Affecting the Expression of ACVR1 in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Introduction

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant tumor disease with high mortality and morbidity rates, especially for a terminal cancer. At present, the prognosis and treatment of ESCC cannot effectively control or inhibit the spread and proliferation of tumor cells. microRNAs, a class of small spliced RNAs, are essential in the regulation of tumorigenesis and tumor cell migration and proliferation. microRNAs interact with target mRNA to silence gene expression and degrade mRNA, thereby inhibiting the expression of tumor genes or impairing the expression of tumor suppressor genes.

Methods

A total of 20 human ESCC samples were collected from the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University. Eca109 and Kyse510 cells, which are ESCC cell lines, were subjected to FACS analysis to get side population (SP) cells and non-SP cells. Cell cycle and cell proliferation were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were detected using a transwell assay. Quantitative PCR and Western blot were performed to analyze the expression levels of ABCG2, KLF4, OCT4, and ACVR1, which are related to the stemness of stem cells. The target genes of hsa-miR-148a were predicted using TargetScan (version 7.2) and verified by a dual luciferase reporter assay. A chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was carried out to demonstrate direct interaction between miR-148a and ACVR1.

Results

The expression of miR-148a was significantly down-regulated in ESCC cells and significantly decreased in SP esophageal squamous cells when compared to the tumor cells. By analyzing the stem cell stemness of ESCC, overexpression of miR-148a decreased the expression of ABCG2, KLF4, SOX2, OCT4, and Nanog, indicating that miR-148a may regulate stem cell function. Target gene prediction and functional annotation of miR-148a suggested that miR-148a is involved in stem cell stemness of ESCC via ACVR1. Expression of the dual luciferase-labeled gene indicates that overexpression of miR-148a inhibits the expression of ACVR1, thereby affecting stem cell stemness.

Conclusion

miR-148a regulates the stem cell-like side populations distribution by inhibiting the expression of ACVR1 in ESCC. miR-148a may be a promising targeted therapy for ESCC.

Diagnostic performance for declined microRNA-133a in pancreatic cancer

MicroRNA-133a (MiR-133a) is proven to exhibit a decreasing tendency in several cancers, as well as pancreatic cancer. Through the present study, we inspected performance for serum miR-133a in diagnosing pancreatic cancer. Serum samples were collected from 110 pancreatic cancer and 64 healthy persons. Relative messenger RNA level for miR-133a in serum specimens was gauged adopting quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and compared betwixt two groups employing the Student t test. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis evaluated miR-133a performance in diagnosing pancreatic cancer. MiR-133a displayed a declining trend among pancreatic cancer samples, compared to the healthy controls (P < .001). The reduced miR-133a degree held strong relation to tumor dimension (P = .002), vessel invasion (P = .004), tumor lymph node metastasis stage (P = .002), and lymph node metastasis (P < .001). In addition, ROC analysis demonstrated that the area under the curve value was 0.893, accompanied by a sensitivity of 90.6% and a specificity of 87.2%, revealing fine execution for serum miR-133a in diagnosing cancer. The downregulation of miR-133a might possess a tight relation to hostile advancement in pancreatic cancer. Serum miR-133a could function as a potential diagnostic indicator for pancreatic cancer.

Long intergenic non-coding RNA 00337 confers progression of esophageal cancer by mediating microrna-145-dependent fscn1

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been highlighted as prominent genetic modulators involved in multiple important biological processes of cancer cells, especially in esophageal cancer (EC). We tried to elucidate the potential role of LINC00337 in the progression of EC. Based on TCGA database analysis and Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction determination, high expression of LINC00337 and FSCN1 was detected, while miR-145 exhibited a low expression in EC. LINC00337 was identified to bind to miR-145 to impair the miR-145-dependent FSCN1 inhibition. The underlying regulatory mechanisms were evaluated by transfection with LINC00337 overexpression plasmid, siRNA against LINC00337, miR-145 mimic, or anta-miR-145. Downregulation of LINC00337 results in increased Bax level, decreased FSCN1, Bcl-2, VEGF, and p53 levels, in addition to diminished cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor growth, with accelerated cell apoptosis by upregulating miR-145. Taken together, the findings obtained provided evidence suggesting that LINC00337 acts as a tumor promoter in EC, providing insight and advancements for EC treatment.

RNA sequencing-based microRNA expression signature in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: oncogenic targets by antitumor miR-143-5p and miR-143-3p regulation

Aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) disrupt intracellular RNA networks and contribute to malignant transformation of cancer cells. Utilizing the latest RNA sequencing technology, we newly created the miRNA expression signature of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A total of 47 miRNAs were downregulated in ESCC tissues, and these miRNAs were candidates for antitumor miRNAs in ESCC cells. Analysis of the signature revealed that several passenger strands of miRNAs were significantly downregulated in ESCC, e.g., miR-28-3p, miR-30a-3p, miR-30c-3p, miR-133a-3p, miR-139-3p, miR-143-5p, and miR-145-3p. Recent studies indicate that some passenger strands of miRNAs closely involved in cancer pathogenesis. In this study, we focused on both strands of pre-miR-143, and investigated their antitumor roles and target oncogenes in ESCC. Ectopic expression of miR-143-5p and miR-143-3p significantly attenuated malignant phenotypes (e.g., proliferation, migration, and invasive abilities) in ESCC cell lines. We revealed that six genes (HN1, HMGA2, NETO2, STMN1, TCF3, and MET) were putative targets of miR-143-5p regulation, and one gene (KRT80) was a putative target of miR-143-3p regulation in ESCC cells. Our ESCC miRNA signature and analysis strategy provided important insights into the molecular pathogenesis of ESCC.

A Loop-Based and AGO-Incorporated Virtual Screening Model Targeting AGO-Mediated miRNA-mRNA Interactions for Drug Discovery to Rescue Bone Phenotype in Genetically Modified Mice

Several virtual screening models are proposed to screen small molecules only targeting primary miRNAs without selectivity. Few attempts have been made to develop virtual screening strategies for discovering small molecules targeting mature miRNAs. Mature miRNAs and their specific target mRNA can form unique functional loops during argonaute (AGO)-mediated miRNA-mRNA interactions, which may serve as potential targets for small-molecule drug discovery. Thus, a loop-based and AGO-incorporated virtual screening model is constructed for targeting the loops. The previously published studies have found that miR-214 can target ATF4 to inhibit osteoblastic bone formation, whereas miR-214 can target TRAF3 to promote osteoclast activity. By using the virtual model, the top ten candidate small molecules targeting miR-214-ATF4 mRNA interactions and top ten candidate small molecules targeting miR-214-TRAF3 mRNA interactions are selected, respectively. Based on both in vitro and in vivo data, one small molecule can target miR-214-ATF4 mRNA to promote ATF4 protein expression and enhance osteogenic potential, whereas one small molecule can target miR-214-TRAF3 mRNA to promote TRAF3 protein expression and inhibit osteoclast activity. These data indicate that the loop-based and AGO-incorporated virtual screening model can help to obtain small molecules specifically targeting miRNA-mRNA interactions to rescue bone phenotype in genetically modified mice.

Patient-Derived Orthotopic Xenograft (PDOX) Mouse Models of Primary and Recurrent Meningioma

BACKGROUND

Meningiomas constitute one-third of all primary brain tumors. Although typically benign, about 20% of these tumors recur despite surgery and radiation, and may ultimately prove fatal. There are currently no effective chemotherapies for meningioma. We, therefore, set out to develop patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse models of human meningioma using tumor.

METHOD

Of nine patients, four had World Health Organization (WHO) grade I tumors, five had WHO grade II tumors, and in this second group two patients also had recurrent (WHO grade III) meningioma. We also classified the tumors according to our recently developed molecular classification system (Types A, B, and C, with C being the most aggressive). We transplanted all 11 surgical samples into the skull base of immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Only the primary and recurrent tumor cells from one patient-both molecular Type C, despite being WHO grades II and III, respectively-led to the formation of meningioma in the resulting mouse models. We characterized the xenografts by histopathology and RNA-seq and compared them with the original tumors. We performed an in vitro drug screen using 60 anti-cancer drugs followed by in vivo validation.

RESULTS

The PDOX models established from the primary and recurrent tumors from patient K29 (K29P-PDOX and K29R-PDOX, respectively) replicated the histopathology and key gene expression profiles of the original samples. Although these xenografts could not be subtransplanted, the cryopreserved primary tumor cells were able to reliably generate PDOX tumors. Drug screening in K29P and K29R tumor cell lines revealed eight compounds that were active on both tumors, including three histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. We tested the HDAC inhibitor Panobinostat in K29R-PDOX mice, and it significantly prolonged mouse survival (p < 0.05) by inducing histone H3 acetylation and apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Meningiomas are not very amenable to PDOX modeling, for reasons that remain unclear. Yet at least some of the most malignant tumors can be modeled, and cryopreserved primary tumor cells can create large panels of tumors that can be used for preclinical drug testing.

LINC02381 Promoted Cell Viability and Migration via Targeting miR-133b in Cervical Cancer Cells

Background

It has been proved that lncRNAs could function as CeRNA for miRNAs in tumor growth and metastasis for cervical cancer. This paper aims to identify the role of LINC02381 in cervical cancer cells.

Materials and Methods

RT-qPCR was utilized to measure the expression levels of LINC02381 in cervical cancer tissues and cells. MTT, colony formation assay, transwell assay, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting were performed to investigate the roles of LINC02381 in cervical cancer cells. RegRNA 2.0 was used to predict the miRNA-binding sites of LINC02381. Luciferase reporter assay and RT-qPCR were employed to confirm the sponging effect between miR-133b and LINC02381.

Results

This study showed that LINC02381 was up-regulated in cervical cancer cells and acted as an oncogene in the development of cervical cancer. LINC02381 promoted cell viability and metastasis via sponging miR-133b. Moreover, miR-133b could target its downstream mediator of RhoA and inhibit its expression.

Conclusion

Overall, our results indicated that LINC02381 functions as an oncogene in cervical cancer and could serve as a novel target for cervical cancer therapies in the future.

Downregulation of lncRNA-HEIH curbs esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression by modulating miR-4458/PBX3

Background

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play a specific part in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), except for lncRNA HEIH. Here, we aimed to discover the molecular mechanisms of HEIH in ESCC.

Methods

We detected the expression level of HEIH and miR‐4458 in ESCC tissues and cells using qRT‐PCR assay. A dual luciferase reporter assay was used to check the relationship between HEIH, miR‐4458 or PBX3. Counting Clock Kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay and transwell assay were used to detect ESCC cell proliferation and invasion capability. Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein expression level of PBX3.

Results

HEIH was confirmed to be upregulated in both ESCC tissues and cell lines. Inversely, there was a downregulation of miR‐4458 in ESCC tissues and cell lines. Functionally, we noticed that depletion of HEIH restrained ESCC cell viability, and invasion capability. Moreover, PBX silencing was found to restrain ESCC cell progression, while miR‐4458 or HEIH vector both could alleviate its suppressive effect.

Conclusions

The present study clarified that HEIH regulated ESCC progression by suppressing miR‐4458 and upregulating PBX3. Our findings suggested that HEIH could be a possible therapeutic target for ESCC treatment.

Construction of Biocompatible Dual-Drug Loaded Complicated Nanoparticles for in vivo Improvement of Synergistic Chemotherapy in Esophageal Cancer

Combination chemotherapy is a routine treatment for esophageal cancer, but some shortcomings, such as drug toxicity and side effects, greatly limit the clinical application of combination therapy. To overcome these shortcomings, we have developed a mesoporous silica nanoparticle system that was used to load doxorubicin and β-elemene. β-elemene was encapsulated in the pore of mesoporous silica nanoparticle and doxorubicin was electrostatically adsorbed on the surface of mesoporous silica nanoparticle by hyaluronic acid to construct dual drugs synergistic nanoparticles (bMED NPs, ~77.15 nm). In vitro studies demonstrated that bMED NPs had a good treatment effect in esophageal cancer cell lines. In vivo fluorescence imaging results demonstrated that bMED NPs could accumulate in tumor sites and achieve in vivo long-term circulation and continuous drug release. In addition, bMED NPs exhibited significant antitumor effects in the esophageal cancer mouse model, which may provide a great platform for esophageal cancer chemotherapy.

MiR-27b-3p exerts tumor suppressor effects in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting Nrf2

MiR-27b-3p has been reported to function as tumor suppressor in several tumors, including breast cancer and lung cancer. Recently, miR-27b-3p has been identified to be significantly down-regulated in esophageal cancer. However, the clinical significance and biological role of miR-27b-3p in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) still remain unclear. In this study, the expression levels of miR-27b-3p were significantly reduced in ESCC clinical tissues and ESCC cell lines (EC97069 and TE-1). Moreover, down-regulated expression of miR-27b-3p was associated with poor cell differentiation, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. Specially, overexpression of miR-27b-3p significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro using CCK-8 and transwell assays. Targetscan bioinformatics predictions and luciferase reporter assay confirmed that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2, Nrf2) was a direct target gene of miR-27b-3p. Nrf2 expression was significantly increased in ESCC tissues compared with adjacent tissues. Up-regulated expression of Nrf2 was correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. Functionally, knockdown of Nrf2 exhibited similar effects to overexpression of miR-27b-3p. Higher expression of ZO-1, E-cadherin and lower expression of N-cadherin, Vimentin and Claudin-1 were observed after miR-27b-3p overexpression of Nrf2 knockdown. Rescue experiments proved that miR-27b-3p suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) via suppression of Nrf2. Taken together, the newly identified miR-27b-3p/Nrf2 axis might represent a new candidate therapeutic target for ESCC treatment.

Integrated analysis of genome-wide miRNAs and targeted gene expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and relation to prognosis

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide and in China. We know miRNAs influence gene expression in tumorigenesis, but it is unclear how miRNAs affect gene expression or influence survival at the genome-wide level in ESCC.

Methods

We performed miRNA and mRNA expression arrays in 113 ESCC cases with tumor/normal matched tissues to identify dysregulated miRNAs, to correlate miRNA and mRNA expressions, and to relate miRNA and mRNA expression changes to survival and clinical characteristics.

Results

Thirty-nine miRNAs were identified whose tumor/normal tissue expression ratios showed dysregulation (28 down- and 11 up-regulated by at least two-fold with P < 1.92E-04), including several not previously reported in ESCC (miR-885-5p, miR-140-3p, miR-708, miR-639, miR-596). Expressions of 16 miRNAs were highly correlated with expressions of 195 genes (P < 8.42E-09; absolute rho values 0.51–0.64). Increased expressions of miRNA in tumor tissue for both miR-30e* and miR-124 were associated with increased survival (P < 0.05). Similarly, nine probes in eight of 818 dysregulated genes had RNA expression levels that were nominally associated with survival, including NF1, ASXL1, HSPA4, TGOLN2, BAIAP2, EZH2, CHAF1A, SUPT7L.

Conclusions

Our characterization and integrated analysis of genome-wide miRNA and gene expression in ESCC provides insights into the expression of miRNAs and their relation to regulation of RNA targets in ESCC tumorigenesis, and suggest opportunities for the future development of miRs and mRNAs as biomarkers for early detection, diagnosis, and prognosis in ESCC.

MicroRNA-145-5p regulates the proliferation of epithelial ovarian cancer cells via targeting SMAD4

BACKGROUND

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies affecting females worldwide; however, its etiology mechanism remains unclear. In various malignancies, miR-145-5p is a widely accepted and versatile miRNA. Therefore, our research focused on exploring the activity and etiology of miR-145-5p in the modulation of metastasis, migration, and proliferation of EOC cells. The direct reactions between the 3'UTRs of SMAD4 mRNA and miR-145-5p were verified using dual luciferase reporter test. SKOV-3 cells were subsequently transfected using miR-145-5p mimics. Cell migration, death, and proliferation were evaluated using MTT, flow cytometry, and Transwell test. In addition, SMAD4 transcription and translation were evaluated using qRT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS

We found that miR-145-5p expression was repressed prevalently in EOC tissues, apart from SMAD4 upregulation. Excessive miR-145-5p expression remarkably reinforced EOC cell death and repressed EOC cell proliferation. Furthermore, upregulated miR-145-5p expression noticeably repressed migration via MMP-2 and MMP-9 downregulation. Moreover, SMAD4 was downregulated via miR-145-5p transfection. The dual luciferase test revealed that miR-145-5p directly targeted SMAD4.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research suggests that miR-145-5p serves as a malignancy repressor and exerts an essential impact on inhibiting malignancy generation and reinforcing EOC death via targeting SMAD4. MiR-145-5p application could serve as a promising strategy to treat EOC.

Definition of miRNA Signatures of Nodal Metastasis in LCa: miR-449a Targets Notch Genes and Suppresses Cell Migration and Invasion

Laryngeal cancer (LCa), a neoplasm of the head and neck region, is a leading cause of death worldwide. Surgical intervention remains the mainstay of LCa treatment, but a crucial point is represented by the possible nodal involvement. Therefore, it is urgently needed to develop biomarkers and therapeutic tools able to drive treatment approaches for LCa. In this study, we investigated deregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) in tissues from LCa patients with either lymph node metastases (N+) or not (N−). miRNA expression profiling was performed by a comprehensive PCR array and subsequent validation by RT-qPCR. Results showed a significant decrease of miR-449a expression in N+ compared to N− patients, and miR-133b down-modulation in LCa tissues compared to paired normal ones. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed the potential diagnostic power of miR-133b for LCa detection. According to the validation results, we selected miR-449a for further in vitro studies. Ectopic miR-449a expression in the LCa cell line Hep-2 inhibited invasion and motility in vitro, slowed cell proliferation, and induced the downregulation of Notch1 and Notch2 as direct targets of miR-449a. Collectively, this study provides new promising biomarkers for LCa diagnosis and a new opportunity to use miR-449a for the treatment of nodal metastases in LCa patients.

The Microrna-143/145 Cluster in Tumors: A Matter of Where and When

The establishment and spreading of cancer involve the acquirement of many biological functions including resistance to apoptosis, enhanced proliferation and the ability to invade the surrounding tissue, extravasate from the primary site, survive in circulating blood, and finally extravasate and colonize distant organs giving origin to metastatic lesions, the major cause of cancer deaths. Dramatic changes in the expression of protein coding genes due to altered transcription factors activity or to epigenetic modifications orchestrate these events, intertwining with a microRNA regulatory network that is often disrupted in cancer cells. microRNAs-143 and -145 represent puzzling players of this game, with apparently contradictory functions. They were at first classified as tumor suppressive due to their frequently reduced levels in tumors, correlating with cell survival, proliferation, and migration. More recently, pro-oncogenic roles of these microRNAs have been described, challenging their simplistic definition as merely tumor-suppressive. Here we review their known activities in tumors, whether oncogenic or onco-suppressive, and highlight how their expression and functions are strongly dependent on their complex regulation downstream and upstream of cytokines and growth factors, on the cell type of expression and on the specific tumor stage.

microRNA-mRNA network model in patients with achalasia

BACKGROUND

Achalasia is a rare idiopathic disease with a complex etio-pathogenesis still unknown. This study aimed to identify microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA regulatory networks underlying achalasia.

METHODS

The investigation was performed in tissue specimens from 11 patients and five controls using the microarray technology followed by an integrated bioinformatics analysis.

KEY RESULTS

One hundred and six miRNAs were significantly up-regulated and 64 were down-regulated in achalasia patients. The expression of the most 10 differential expressed miRNAs (miR-122-5p, miR-133a-3p, miR-504-5p, miR-187-3p, miR-133b, miR-200c-3p, miR-375, miR-200b-5p, miR-200b-3p, and miR203a) was confirmed by droplet digital PCR in an independent cohort. The interactions between the significant miRNAs and their targets uncovered 14 miRNA-mRNA interacting pairs with experimentally predicted genes (ie, FN1, ROCK2, DPYSL2), and 35 pairs with not experimentally target genes (ie, SULF1, MRVI1, PRKG1); all genes were involved in immune cell trafficking, skeletal and muscular system development, nervous system development macro-processes.

CONCLUSION & INFERENCES

The mRNA-miRNA regulatory networks described in this study provide new insights in the genetic background of the disease, suggesting further investigations in novel pathogenic mechanisms.

Identification of BRMS1L as Metastasis Suppressing Gene in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Introduction

Breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 like (BRMS1-like)was first reported to be a component of the Sin3-HDAC complex, but the role in the progression of cancers was largely unknown. Our previous study reported that BRMS1L promoted the metastasis of breast cancer through facilitating the recruitment of HDAC complex to the promoter FZD10, and hence suppressing the transcription of FZD10.

Methods

In this study, we detected the expression level of BRMS1L in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The effect of BRMS1L in TE-1D (knockdown) and ECA-109 (overexpression) cell lines was explored by transwell assays, wound healing assays, and cell adhesion assays. Quantitative real‑time PCR, Western blot analysis, and luciferase assays were used to detect the interaction of the CBP/P300-BRMS1L-ITGA7 axis.

Results

In the present study, we found that knockdown of BRMS1L promoted the migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Conversely, overexpression of BRMS1L inhibited the migration and invasion of ESCC. Mechanistically, BRMS1L exerted their metastasis-suppressing role via transcriptionally repress ITGA7 expression. Moreover, we revealed that CBP/p 300 regulated the expression of BRMS1L and might be responsible for the down-regulation of BRMS1L in ESCC.

Conclusion

Collectively, we identified the role of CBP/p300-BRMS1L-ITGA7 axis in the metastasis of ESCC.

Identifying Potential miRNAs-Disease Associations With Probability Matrix Factorization

In recent years, miRNAs have been verified to play an irreplaceable role in biological processes associated with human disease. Discovering potential disease-related miRNAs helps explain the underlying pathogenesis of the disease at the molecular level. Given the high cost and labor intensity of biological experiments, computational predictions will be an indispensable alternative. Therefore, we design a new model called probability matrix factorization (PMFMDA). Specifically, we first integrate miRNA and disease similarity. Next, the known association matrix and integrated similarity matrix are utilized to construct a probability matrix factorization algorithm to identify potentially relevant miRNAs for disease. We find that PMFMDA achieves reliable performance in the frameworks of global leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV) and 5-fold cross validation (AUCs are 0.9237 and 0.9187, respectively) in the HMDD (V2.0) dataset, significantly outperforming a few state-of-the-art methods including CMFMDA, IMCMDA, NCPMDA, RLSMDA, and RWRMDA. In addition, case studies show that PMFMDA has good predictive performance for new associations, and the evidence can be identified by literature mining.

Down-regulation of long noncoding RNA PVT1 inhibits esophageal carcinoma cell migration and invasion and promotes cell apoptosis via microRNA-145-mediated inhibition of FSCN1

Accumulating evidence has established that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) is a tumor regulator in many cancers. Here, we aimed to investigate the possible function of lncRNA PVT1 in esophageal carcinoma (EC) via targeting of microRNA-145 (miR-145). Initially, microarray-based gene expression profiling of EC was employed to identify differentially expressed genes. Moreover, the expression of lncRNA PVT1 was examined and the cell line presenting with the highest level of lncRNA PVT1 expression was selected for subsequent experiments. We then proceeded to examine interaction among lncRNA PVT1, FSCN1, and miR-145. The effect of lncRNA PVT1 on viability, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis of transfected cells was examined with gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments. We observed that lncRNA PVT1 was robustly induced in EC. lncRNA PVT1 could bind to miR-145 and regulate its expression, and FSCN1 is a target gene of miR-145. Overexpression of miR-145 or silencing of lncRNA PVT1 was revealed to suppress cell viability, migration, and invasion abilities, while also stimulating cell apoptosis. Furthermore, our in vivo results showed that overexpression of miR-145 or silencing of lncRNA PVT1 resulted in decreased tumor growth in nude mice. In conclusion, our research reveals that down-regulation of lncRNA PVT1 could potentially promote expression of miR-145 to repress cell migration and invasion, and promote cell apoptosis through the inhibition of FSCN1. This highlights the potential of lncRNA PVT1 as a therapeutic target for EC treatment.

Hypoxia-induced microRNA-10b-3p promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma growth and metastasis by targeting TSGA10

Evidence has shown that hypoxia promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) growth and metastasis, but the molecular mechanisms underlying that response remain poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators that participate in various cancer-related processes. Here, we demonstrated that hypoxia along with hypoxia-inducible factor 1α significantly increased expression of miR-10b-3p. Inhibition of miR-10b-3p weakened the effects of hypoxia on ESCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while miR-10b-3p overexpression had the opposite effects. Mechanistically, miR-10b-3p acted as cancer-promoting gene by targeting testis specific 10. Using a xenograft model, we observed that administration of miR-10b-3p agomir to tumors enhanced their growth and metastasis in vivo. These findings verified the potent regulatory role played by hypoxia-induced miR-10b-3p expression in ESCC progression. These results suggest that miR-10b-3p may be a useful therapeutic target for treating ESCC.

MTA2 as a Potential Biomarker and Its Involvement in Metastatic Progression of Human Renal Cancer by miR-133b Targeting MMP-9

Metastasis-associated protein 2 (MTA2) was previously known as a requirement to maintain malignant potentials in several human cancers. However, the role of MTA2 in the progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not yet been delineated. In this study, MTA2 expression was significantly increased in RCC tissues and cell lines. Increased MTA2 expression was significantly associated with tumour grade (p = 0.002) and was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival with a high RCC tumour grade. MTA2 knockdown inhibited the migration, invasion, and in vivo metastasis of RCC cells without effects on cell proliferation. Regarding molecular mechanisms, MTA2 knockdown reduced the activity, protein level, and mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in RCC cells. Further analyses demonstrated that patients with lower miR-133b expression had poorer survival rates than those with higher expression from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Moreover, miR-133b modulated the 3′untranslated region (UTR) of MMP-9 promoter activities and subsequently the migratory and invasive abilities of these dysregulated expressions of MTA2 in RCC cells. The inhibition of MTA2 could contribute to human RCC metastasis by regulating the expression of miR-133b targeting MMP-9 expression.

Methylation-mediated silencing of miR-133a-3p promotes breast cancer cell migration and stemness via miR-133a-3p/MAML1/DNMT3A positive feedback loop

Background

miR-133a-3p has been recently discovered to be down-regulated in various human malignancies, including breast cancer, and reduced miR-133a-3p levels have been significantly associated with breast cancer cell growth and invasion. However, the regulatory mechanisms leading to abnormal expression of miR-133a-3p in breast cancer remain obscure.

Methods

qRT-PCR was applied to detect the expression of miR-133a-3p in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. Bisulfite sequencing was used to detect the degree of methylation of the miR-133a-3p promoter. The effects of miR-133a-3p on breast cancer in vitro were examined by cell proliferation assay, transwell assay, flow cytometry, and western blotting. Bioinformatic analysis, dual-luciferase assay and RIP assay were employed to identify the interaction between miR-133a-3p and MAML1. A xenograft model was used to show the metastasis of breast cancer cells.

Results

We confirmed that miR-133a-3p was silenced by DNA hypermethylation in breast cancer cell lines and tissues, which predicted poor prognosis in breast cancer patients, and reducing miR-133a-3p expression led to a significant increase in the migration, invasion, proliferation, and stemness of breast cancer cells in vitro. Mastermind-like transcriptional coactivator 1 (MAML1) was confirmed to be a target of miR-133a-3p involved in regulating breast cancer metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, a series of investigations indicated that MAML1 initiated a positive feedback loop, which could up-regulate DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) to promote hypermethylation of the miR-133a-3p promoter.

Conclusion

Taken together, our findings revealed a novel miR-133a-3p/MAML1/DNMT3A positive feedback loop in breast cancer cells, which may become a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1400-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

α-Aminoisobutyric Acid-Containing Amphipathic Helical Peptide-Cyclic RGD Conjugation as a Potential Drug Delivery System for MicroRNA Replacement Therapy in Vitro

Replacement therapy with tumor suppressive microRNA (TS-miRNA) might be the next-generation oligonucleotide therapy; however, a novel drug delivery system (DDS) is required. Recently, we developed the cell-penetrating peptide, model amphipathic peptide with α-aminoisobutyric acid (MAP(Aib)), as a carrier for oligonucleotide delivery to cells. In this study, we examined whether a modified MAP(Aib) analogue, MAP(Aib)-cRGD, could be a DDS for TS-miRNA replacement therapy. MIR145-5p, a representative TS-miRNA especially in colorectal cancer, was selected. The MAP(Aib)-cRGD dose was adjusted for MIR145-5p delivery to cells using peripheral blood mononuclear cells and degradation analysis. AlexaFluor488-labeled MIR145-5p incorporation into cells and negative regulation of MIR145-5p-targeting genes demonstrated MAP(Aib)-cRGD's functionality as a miRNA DDS. Treating MIR145-5p with MAP(Aib)-cRGD also revealed various anticancer effects, such as cell viability, invasion inhibition, and apoptosis induction in WiDr cells. Altogether, these findings suggest that MAP(Aib)-cRGD could be a DDS for TS-miRNA replacement therapy, but in vivo investigations are required.

MicroRNA‑133b targets TGFβ receptor I to inhibit TGF‑β‑induced epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition and metastasis by suppressing the TGF‑β/SMAD pathway in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common types of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality among women worldwide. Accumulating evidence indicates that microRNA (miR)-133b inhibits the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells. Considering that transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling plays a key role in cellular epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer metastasis, it is crucial to explore the roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of miR-133b in regulating TGF-β-induced EMT during progression of BC. In the present study, an inverse correlation was observed between the expression of miR-133b and TGFβ receptor I (TGFβR1) mRNA in BC cells and tissues. Furthermore, miR-133b expression was found to be decreased in the BC tissues of patients with lymph node metastasis and advanced tumor-node-metastasis stage, while the expression of TGFβR1 was upregulated. Overexpression of miR-133b significantly decreased the expression of TGFβR1, an indispensable receptor of TGF-β/SMAD signaling, and suppressed TGF-β-induced EMT and BC cell invasion in vitro, whereas miR-133b knockdown exerted the opposite effects. Mechanistically, TGFβR1 was verified as a direct target of miR-133b as determined by bioinformatics analysis and a dual-luciferase reporter assay. In addition, small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of TGFβR1 mimicked the phenotype of miR-133b overexpression in BC cells. Furthermore, miR-133b overexpression suppressed BC cell invasion in vivo. Collectively, the findings of the present study indicated that miR-133b acts as a tumor suppressor, inhibiting TGF-β-induced EMT and metastasis by directly targeting TGFβR1, and suppressing the TGF-β/SMAD pathway. Therefore, miR-133b may be of value as a diagnostic biomarker of BC.

miR-145 supports cancer cell survival and shows association with DDR genes, methylation pattern, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition

Background

Despite several reports describing the dual role of miR-145 as an oncogene and a tumor suppressor in cancer, not much has been resolved and understood.

Method

In this study, the potential targets of miR-145 were identified bio-informatically using different target prediction tools. The identified target genes were validated in vitro by dual luciferase assay. Wound healing and soft agar colony assay assessed cell proliferation and migration. miR-145 expression level was measured quantitatively by RT-PCR at different stages of breast tumor. Western blot was used to verify the role of miR-145 in EMT transition using key marker proteins.

Result

Wound healing and soft agar colony assays, using miR-145 over-expressing stably transfected MCF7 cells, unraveled its role as a pro-proliferation candidate in cancerous cells. The association between miR-145 over-expression and differential methylation patterns in representative target genes (DR5, BCL2, TP53, RNF8, TIP60, CHK2, and DCR2) supported the inference drawn. These in vitro observations were validated in a representative set of nodal positive tumors of stage 3 and 4 depicting higher miR-145 expression as compared to early stages. Further, the role of miR-145 in epithelial-mesenchymal (EMT) transition found support through the observation of two key markers, Vimentin and ALDL, where a positive correlation with Vimentin protein and a negative correlation with ALDL mRNA expression were observed.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate miR-145 as a pro-cancerous candidate, evident from the phenotypes of aggressive cellular proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, hypermethylation of CpG sites in DDR and apoptotic genes and upregulation of miR-145 in later stages of tumor tissues.

High-throughput sequencing reveals biofluid exosomal miRNAs associated with immunity in pigs

Large numbers of miRNAs are found in biofluid exosomes. We isolated ~50-200 nm diameter exosomes from four types of porcine biofluid (urine, plasma, semen, and bile) using serial centrifugation and ultracentrifugation procedures. A total of 42.15 M raw data were generated from four small RNA libraries. This produced 40.17 M map-able sequences, of which we identified 204 conserved miRNAs, and 190 novel candidate miRNAs. Furthermore, we identified 34 miRNAs specifically expressed in only one library, all with well-characterized immune-related functions. A set of five universally abundant miRNAs (miR-148a-3p, miR-21-5p, let-7f-5p, let-7i-5p, and miR-99a-5p) across all four biofluids was also found. Function enrichment analysis revealed that the target genes of the five ubiquitous miRNAs are primarily involved in immune and RNA metabolic processes. In summary, our findings suggest that porcine biofluid exosomes contain a large number of miRNAs, many of which may be crucial regulators of the immune system.

miRNA-145-5p induces apoptosis after ischemia-reperfusion by targeting dual specificity phosphatase 6

Disorders mainly caused by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), including stroke and myocardial infarction, is linked to debilitating health conditions and death. Recent research indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) mediate the process of ischemic pathology. This study investigated the effects of miR-145-5p in regulating myocardial ischemic injury. The I/R models were established in rat cardiomyocytes H9C2 and rats. Western blot analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze protein expression. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining was conducted to evaluate cell apoptosis. The application of miR-145-5p mimics and inhibitor revealed that miR-145-5p promoted apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, we found that miR-145-5p directly inhibited dual specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) by luciferase reporter assay. The results indicated that DUSP6 was beneficial against I/R injury through inhibiting c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathways. In conclusion, the essential roles of miR-145-5p and DUSP6 in I/R provide a novel therapeutic target to develop future intervention strategies.

MicroRNA-30a-3p inhibits the progression of lung cancer via the PI3K/AKT by targeting DNA methyltransferase 3a

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, involved in pathological and physiological processes via regulating target genes expression. Abnormally expressed miR-30a-3p has been verified in several tumors, such as liver cancer, esophageal cancer and lung cancer. It was reported that DNA methylation plays a critical role in the tumorigenesis of lung cancer through regulated tumor suppressor genes silencing. Nevertheless, the potential mechanism of miR-30a-3p in restoring abnormal DNA methylation patterns is still unclear in lung cancer. Therefore, because the miR-30a-3p is complementary to the 3ʹ-untranslated regions (3ʹ-UTR) of DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A), we investigated whether miRNA-30a-3p could target DNMT3a to regulate the progression of lung cancer cell.

Methods

qRT-PCR was used to evaluate miR-30a-3p and DNMT3a mRNA expression levels in A549 lung cancer cells and normal cell line BEAS-2B. MiR-30a-3p expression plasmid was transferred into A549 cells. The target of miR-30a-3p was detected by luciferase reporter assay. Western blot was used to measure related protein expression levels. MTT assay was used to measure the proliferation of cells in each group. The cycle and apoptosis of cells were detected by flow cytometry.

Results

We found down-regulation of miR-30a-3p mRNA expression and up-regulation of DNMT3a mRNA expression in A549 cells. Overexpression of miR-30a-3p downregulates DNMT3a or blocked DNMT3a by interference vector, significantly inhibited the proliferation and G1/S transition in A549 cells via regulating p38 MAPK pathway, and induced the apoptosis in A549 cells via regulating Bcl-2/Bax protein levels. Furthermore, we observed the opposite phenomenon in A549 cells transfected with both miR-30a-3p and DNMT3a vector.

Conclusion

Our data show that miR-30a-3p suppressed the progression of lung cancer via regulating p38 MAPK pathway by targeting DNMT3A in A549 cells, indicating that miR-30a-3p might be a novel potential therapeutic strategy in the treatment of lung cancer.

Exploration of bladder cancer-associated methylated miRNAs by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing

BACKGROUND

The current study aimed to explore the association between two epigenomic components, miRNA and DNA methylation, in bladder cancer (BC).

METHODS

Eight paired samples of tumor tissue and matched adjacent normal tissues from BC patients were subjected to methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing and sRNA-Seq for differentially methylated miRNA genes and differential miRNA analysis. The miRNAs regulated by DNA methylation were screened and their functions involved in BC were analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) as well as a miRNA-mRNA interaction network.

RESULTS

The methylation levels of 212 genes were different between tumors and normal tissues with specific enrichment at transcription initiation and termination sites. Among these genes, 154 were hypermethylated and 58 were hypomethylated. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that differentially methylated miRNA genes were mainly enriched in tumor-associated GO terms and signaling pathways. Pairwise statistical analysis of MeDIP-Seq and sRNA-Seq data showed that there are 154 and 165 candidate methylation-regulated genes in tumors and normal tissues, respectively. Notably, an interaction network indicated that the miRNAs regulated by methylation regulated a broad range of mRNAs associated with cancer development and progression. In particular, the most differentially expressed miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR, such that miR-145-5p was downregulated and miR-182-5p was upregulated in patients with bladder cancer.

CONCLUSION

A large number of miRNA genes were modified by methylation in BC. Identification of changes in the expression of these miRNAs provides a great deal of important information for BC diagnosis.

MicroRNA-218 regulates the chemo-sensitivity of cervical cancer cells through targeting survivin

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies among women in the world. Every year about 311,365 women die because of cervical cancer. Chemo-resistance is the main reason of the lethal malignancies, and the mechanism of chemo-resistance in cervical cancer still remains largely elusive. Purpose: Previous studies reported that microRNAs played important biological roles in the chemo-resistance in many types of cancers, in the present study we tried to investigate the biological roles of microRNA-218 in chemo-resistance in cervical cancer cells. Results: Real-time PCR results indicated microRNA-218 was downregulated in cisplatin-resistant HeLa/DDP and SiHa/DDP cells compared with the mock HeLa and SiHa cells. CCK-8 assay results showed upregulation of microRNA-218 enhanced the cisplatin sensitivity of cervical cancer cells; while downregulation of microRNA-218 decreased the cisplatin sensitivity of cervical cancer cells. Dual-luciferase assay indicated survivin was a direct target of microRNA-218. Western blotting and PCR results indicated the expression of survivin in HeLa/DDP and SiHa/DDP cells was significantly increased compared with HeLa and SiHa cells. Further study indicated induction of microRNA-218 decreased the expression of survivin while inhibition of microRNA-218 increased the expression of survivin in cervical cancer cells. Cell apoptosis results indicated induction of microRNA-218 induced the cell apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. Conclusion: Our data revealed microRNA-218 enhanced the cisplatin sensitivity in cervical cancer cells through regulation of cell growth and cell apoptosis, which could potentially benefit to the cervical cancer treatment in the future.

RNA Sequencing of Osteosarcoma Gene Expression Profile Revealed that miR-214-3p Facilitates Osteosarcoma Cell Proliferation via Targeting Ubiquinol-Cytochrome c Reductase Core Protein 1 (UQCRC1)

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a common primary malignant bone tumor for which the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Studies on coding and non-coding RNAs are needed to determine the molecular mechanism.

Material/Methods

To explore the potential roles of miRNAs and mRNA in OS, we determined the miRNA and mRNA expression profile of 3 pairs of OS and paracancerous tissues from patients with OS by sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. The expression levels of critical miRNAs and mRNAs were verified in 10 pairs of OS and paracancerous tissues. An miRNA inhibitor and mimics were used to investigate the interactions between miRNAs and target genes. The cell counting kit-8 assay was performed to evaluate OS cell proliferation after miRNA interference.

Results

A total of 184 miRNAs and 2501 mRNAs were identified (fold-change >2.0 or <2.0, P<0.05), with up-regulation of 82 miRNAs and 1320 mRNAs and down-regulation of 102 miRNAs and 1181 mRNAs in OS tissue. The protein protein interaction network revealed that UQCRC1 (ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase core protein 1) is a critical gene and a potential target gene of miR-214-3p. Both UQCRC1 and miR-214-3p were significantly differentially expressed in OS tissue and cell lines (down and up-regulated, respectively). Down-regulated miR-214-3p expression increased UQCRC1 expression and suppressed OS cell proliferation. In contrast, overexpression of miR-214-3p decreased UQCRC1 expression and promoted OS cell proliferation.

Conclusions

High miR-214-3p expression may promote OS cell proliferation by targeting UQCRC1, providing insight into a potential therapeutic target for preventing and treating OS.

The Roles of miRNAs in Medulloblastoma: A Systematic Review

Medulloblastoma is considered one of the most threatening malignant brain tumors with an extremely high mortality rate in children. In the medulloblastoma, there are several genes and mutations found to work in an unregulated manner that works together to push the cells into a cancerous state. With the discovery of non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs), it has been shown that a different layer of gene regulations may be disrupted which would cause cancer. This fact led scientists to put their focus on the role of miRNAs in cancer. A mature miRNA contains a seed sequence which gives the miRNA to identify and attach to the interest mRNA; this attachment may lead degradation of mRNA or suppress of translation of the mRNA. The expression of miRNAs in medulloblastoma shows that some of these non-coding RNAs are overexpressed (OncomiRs) which help cells to proliferate and keep their stemness features. On the other hand, there are other forms of these miRNAs which normally inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell differentiation (tumor suppressor). These are down-regulated during cancer progression. In this systematic review, we attempted to gather several important studies on miRNAs’ role in medulloblastoma tumors and the importance of these non-coding RNAs in the future study of cancer.

A novel lncRNA n384546 promotes thyroid papillary cancer progression and metastasis by acting as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-145-5p to regulate AKT3

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important regulators in the development of cancer cells. However, the role and mechanisms of most lncRNAs in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remain unknown. In this study, we investigated lncRNA expression profiles of PTC using RNA-seq in two groups of PTC tissues and adjacent normal tissues, and validated by real-time PCR analysis in another 53 pairs of tissues. We identified a novel lncRNA, n384546, which is highly expressed in PTC tissues and cell lines. n384546 expression was associated with clinicopathological features of PTC patients, such as tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage. Functionally, knockdown of n384546 inhibited PTC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we identified miR-145-5p as a key miRNA target of n384546 using online bioinformatics tools. Anti-miR-145 could partially reverse the effects of n384546 knockdown. Furthermore, we found that n384546 could regulate the expression of AKT3 by sponging miR-145-5p, which was confirmed using an in vitro luciferase assay. In conclusion, we validated n384546 as a novel oncogenic lncRNA in PTC and determined that the n384546/miR-145-5p/AKT3 pathway contributes to PTC progression, which might be used as potential therapeutic targets for PTC patients.

Serum expression of selected miRNAs in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC)

Background

The aim of the present study was to identify specific serum miRNAs (preoperative serum samples compared to healthy controls) as potential diagnostic markers for detection in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Serum samples obtained from 66 patients with LSCC were compared with 100 healthy control subjects. Additionally, miRNA levels were evaluated to identify possible correlations with clinicopathological features.

Methods

The expression of 377 miRNAs (screening set) was evaluated by microarray screening. The most differentially expressed miRNAs were validated by high-throughput real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in the group of LSCC patients and healthy controls. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the highly and significantly identified deregulated miRNA(s) as potential candidate biomarker(s).

Results

According to the array analysis, eleven miRNAs revealed an altered expression profile. The levels of serum expression of miR-31, miR-141, miR-149a, miR-182, LET-7a, miR-4853p, miR-122 and miR-33 were up-regulated, and those of miR-145, miR-223 and miR-133a down-regulated, in the LSCC group compared to healthy controls. ROC curve analyses revealed an AUC (area under the ROC curve) of 1.00 (95%Cl: 0.999–1.00; P <  0.001) for miR-31 and LET-7a, 1.00 (95%Cl: 1.00–1.00; P <  0.001) for miR-33 respectively, indicating that these three miRNAs had an additive effect regarding diagnostic value. No statistically significant differences were found between the serum levels of these eleven miRNAs and the tested clinicopathological features.

Conclusion

Our findings outline a distinct miRNA expression profile in laryngeal cancer (LC) cases which can be used to diagnose LSCC patients with high sensitivity and specificity. Particular miRNA signatures (miR-31, LET-7a and miR-33) may be considered as novel, non-invasive biomarkers for LC diagnosis.

Trial registration

Registration number: RNN/203/13/KE. Date of registration 18.06.2013r.

Genome-wide ChIP-seq data with a transcriptome analysis reveals the groups of genes regulated by histone demethylase LSD1 inhibition in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells

Expression of genes is controlled by histone modification, histone acetylation and methylation, but abnormalities of these modifications have been observed in carcinogenesis and cancer development. The effect of the lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1) inhibitor, a demethylating enzyme of histones, is thought to be caused by controlling the expression of genes. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the efficacies of the LSD1 inhibitor on the gene expression of esophageal cancer cell lines using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-Seq. A comprehensive analysis of gene expression changes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines induced by the LSD1 inhibitor NCL1 was clarified via analysis using microarray. In addition, ChIP-seq analysis was conducted using a SimpleChIP plus Enzymatic Chromatin IP kit. NCL1 strongly suppressed the proliferation of T.Tn and TE2 cells, which are ESCC cell lines, and further induced apoptosis. According to the combinatory analysis of ChIP-seq and microarray, 17 genes were upregulated, and 16 genes were downregulated in both cell lines. The comprehensive gene expression study performed in the present study is considered to be useful for analyzing the mechanism of the antitumor effect of the LSD1 inhibitor in patients with ESCC.

MicroRNA-145 regulates immune cytokines via targeting FSCN1 in Staphylococcus aureus-induced mastitis in dairy cows

Dairy cow mastitis is a detrimental factor in milk quality and food safety. Mastitis generally refers to inflammation caused by infection by pathogenic microorganisms. Our studies in recent years have revealed the role of miRNA regulation in Staphylococcus aureus-induced mastitis. In the present study, we overexpressed and suppressed miR-145 to investigate the function of miR-145 in Mac-T cells. Flow cytometry, ELISA and EdU staining were used to detect changes in the secretion of several Mac-T cytokines and in cell proliferation. We found that overexpression of miR-145 in Mac-T cells significantly reduced the secretion of IL-12 and TNF-α, but increased the secretion of IFN-γ; the proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells was also inhibited. Using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting and luciferase multiplex verification techniques, we found that miR-145 targeted and regulated FSCN1. Knock-down of FSCN1 significantly increased the secretion of IL-12, while the secretion of TNF-α was significantly downregulated in Mac-T cells. Upon S. aureus infection of mammary gland tissue, the body initiated inflammatory responses; Bta-miR-145 expression was downregulated, which reduced the inhibitory effect on the FSCN1 gene; and upregulation of FSCN1 expression promoted mammary epithelial cell proliferation to allow the recovery of damaged tissue. The results of the present study will aid in understanding the immune mechanism opposing S. aureus infection in dairy cows and will provide a laboratory research basis for the prevention and treatment of mastitis.

MicroRNA-145 inhibits growth of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Purpose: In this study, we used a nude mouse model of human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) to investigate inhibition of tumor growth by microRNA-145 (miR-145) and the mechanisms underlying this inhibition. Methods: Tumors were established in nude mice by transplantation of the LSCC AMC-HN-8 cell line. Forty-eight nude mice were randomly divided into groups of eight mice each and treated with high (1.0 optical density [OD]) or low (0.5 OD) doses of miR-145, or relevant control treatments. Tumor growth was observed in each group and used to calculate the inhibition rate. Routine pathological and electron microscopic examinations were used to determine tumor apoptosis and proliferation. Changes in levels of miR-145 and PI3K and Akt protein levels were also analyzed. Results: MiR-145 inhibited LSCC growth in a dose-dependent manner, as tumor growth was significantly inhibited in mice injected intratumorally with high-dose miR-145 compared with both the untreated and low-dose miR-145 groups (p<0.05). Pathological examination showed increased tumor necrotic and apoptotic changes in treated mice, which was confirmed by electron microscopy. PI3K and Akt protein expression were significantly lower in tumors treated with high-dose miR-145 group compared with those in the untreated and low-dose miR-145 groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: MiR-145 was associated with inhibited tumor growth in a nude mouse model of LSCC. The underlying mechanism may be inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which regulates tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis and also plays an important role in tumor angiogenesis and proliferation of tumor stem cells. MiR-145 may act as a tumor suppressor gene and is a promising candidate for cancer treatment.

The circRNA circP4HB promotes NSCLC aggressiveness and metastasis by sponging miR-133a-5p

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) continues to top the list of cancer mortalities worldwide. The role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in tumorigenesis has been increasingly appreciated, although it is relatively unexplored in NSCLC. Herein, we report on the role of circP4HB in NSCLC.

METHODS

First, we evaluated circP4HB levels in patient-derived NSCLC tissue versus paired healthy samples. Next, we conducted experiments in vitro in NSCLC cell-lines and in vivo in a murine xenograft NSCLC model to assess the impact of circP4HB on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and metastasis in vivo. The downstream impact of circP4HB on the microRNA miR-133a-5p, and its target the EMT marker vimentin, were also evaluated.

RESULTS

NSCLC tumor specimens exhibited higher circP4HB levels in comparison to paired healthy lung samples and was associated with metastatic disease and poorer survival. circP4HB promoted EMT and vimentin expression in vitro and xenograft metastasis in vivo through sequestration of miR-133a-5p.

CONCLUSION

circP4HB enhances EMT and metastatic disease through miR-133a-5p sequestration, leading to upregulation of vimentin. Therefore, these findings advocate targeting the circP4HB/miR-133a-5p/vimentin axis as a potential therapeutic option for NSCLC patients.

The Impact of MicroRNA-133a on Prognosis and Clinicopathological Parameters for Digestive System Cancers: a Comprehensive Study Based on Meta-Analysis and TCGA Database

We conducted a meta-analysis on the impact of microRNA-133a (miR-133a) on digestive system cancers, and verified the results through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Relevant studies were searched in English and Chinese database and meta-analysis was performed using Stata 12.0. The corresponding information of miR-133a and digestive system cancers were obtained from TCGA database and analysis was performed using SPSS. Increased miR-133a expression was linked with favorable overall survival (OS) in digestive system cancers (HR = 0.539, 95% CI: 0.416-0.698, P < 0.001), digestive tract cancers (HR =0.558, 95% CI: 0.406-0.767, P < 0.001), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) (HR = 0.427, 95% CI: 0.265-0.690, P = 0.001) and gastric cancer (HR = 0.541, 95% CI: 0.385-0.761, P < 0.001). The expression of miR-133a was significantly lower in cancer tissue compared with adjacent tissue for ESCC (P < 0.001), gastric cancer (P < 0.001), colorectal cancer (P < 0.001) and hepatocellular carcinoma (P = 0.002). Meanwhile, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) value for miR-133a was 0.836, 0.888, and 0.99 in ESCC, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. MiR-133a is a tumor suppressor with prognostic and diagnostic values for digestive system cancers. High miR-133a expression was associated with better prognosis and less adverse clinicopathological parameters. More research should be performed to test these findings.

Comprehensive analysis of dysregulated lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs with associated ceRNA network in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Mounting evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in tumor biology. To date, some lncRNAs have been found to be involved in competitive binding of miRNAs, a major group of competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), through participation in a regulatory network of protein-coding gene expression. However, the functional roles of lncRNA-mediated ceRNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have rarely been reported. Here, we construct a hypothetical ceRNA network by analyzing differential expression of lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs obtained from 96 ESCC tissues and 13 normal tissues in the Cancer Genome Atlas. Ultimately, 95 lncRNAs, 9 miRNAs, and 40 mRNAs were identified (fold change >1.5, P < .05) and included in the ceRNA network for ESCC. Moreover, three lncRNAs (IGF2-AS, MUC2 and SOX2-OT) were found to be significantly associated with overall survival (log-rank test, P < .05), and further experiments revealed that lncRNA DLX6-AS1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation and invasion of esophageal cancer cells by enhancing the endogenous function of mTOR. We believe that the identified ceRNA network can facilitate a better understanding of lncRNA-related mechanisms in ESCC.

Function of microRNA-145 and mechanisms underlying its role in malignant tumor diagnosis and treatment

miRNAs are single-stranded small RNAs that do not encode proteins. They can combine complementarily with the 3′-UTRs of target gene mRNA molecules to promote targeted mRNA degradation or inhibit mRNA translation, thereby regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. MiRNAs participate in regulation of cell cycling, growth, apoptosis, differentiation, and stress responses. MiRNA-145 (miR-145) is a tumor suppressor that targets various tumor-specific genes and proteins, thereby influencing related signaling pathways. MiR-145 not only regulates tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis, but is also important for tumor angiogenesis and tumor stem cell proliferation. Here, we review the roles and mechanisms of miR-145 in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors. Published data confirm that miR-145 expression in various tumors is significantly lower than that in normal tissues and that overexpression of miR-145 inhibits the growth of different tumor cells, significantly reduces the ability of tumors to spread, and improves sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. We conclude that miR-145 is a potential marker for use in the early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of patients with cancer, has a role as a tumor suppressor, and is a promising cancer treatment target candidate.

Low levels of tumour suppressor miR-655 in plasma contribute to lymphatic progression and poor outcomes in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Recent studies identified that low levels of tumour suppressor microRNAs (miRNAs) in plasma/serum relate to tumour progression and poor outcomes in cancers. We selected six candidates (miR-126, 133b, 143, 203, 338-3p, 655) of tumour suppressor miRNAs in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by a systematic review of NCBI database. Of these, miR-655 levels were significantly down-regulated in plasma of ESCC patients compared to healthy volunteers by test- and validation-scale analyses. Low levels of plasma miR-655 were significantly associated with lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis and advanced stage. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that the low level of plasma miR-655 was an independent risk factor of lymphatic progression and a poor prognostic factor. Overexpression of miR-655 in ESCC cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Increased plasma miR-655 levels by the subcutaneous injection significantly inhibited lymph node metastasis in mice. Low levels of miR-655 in plasma relate to lymphatic progression and poor outcomes, and the restoration of the plasma miR-655 levels might inhibit tumour and lymphatic progression in ESCC.

The Prognostic Value and Regulatory Mechanisms of microRNA-145 in Various Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 50 Studies

Acting as an important tumor-related miRNA, the clinical significance and underlying mechanisms of miR-145 in various malignant tumors have been investigated by numerous studies. This study aimed to comprehensively estimate the prognostic value and systematically illustrate the regulatory mechanisms of miR-145 based on all eligible literature.Relevant studies were acquired from multiple online databases. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were used as primary endpoints. Detailed subgroup analyses were performed to decrease the heterogeneity among studies and recognize the prognostic value of miR-145. All statistical analyses were performed with RevMan software version 5.3 and STATA software version 14.1. A total of 48 articles containing 50 studies were included in the meta-analysis. For OS, the pooled results showed that low miR-145 expression in tumor tissues was significantly associated with worse OS in patients with various tumors [HR = 1.70; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.46-1.99; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis based on tumor type showed that the downregulation of miR-145 was associated with unfavorable OS in colorectal cancer (HR = 2.17; 95% CI, 1.52-3.08; P < 0.001), ovarian cancer (HR = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.29-3.59; P = 0.003), gastric cancer (HR = 1.78; 95% CI, 1.35-2.36; P < 0.001), glioma (HR = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.30-2.10; P < 0.001), and osteosarcoma (HR = 2.28; 95% CI, 1.50-3.47; P < 0.001). For PFS, the pooled results also showed that the downregulation of miR-145 was significantly associated with poor PFS in patients with multiple tumors (HR = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.16-1.67; P < 0.001), and the subgroup analyses further identified that the low miR-145 expression was associated with worse PFS in patients with lung cancer (HR = 1.97; 95% CI, 1.25-3.09; P = 0.003) and those of Asian descent (HR = 1.50; 95% CI, 1.23-1.82; P < 0.001). For the regulatory mechanisms, we observed that numerous tumor-related transcripts could be targeted by miR-145-5p or miR-145-3p, as well as the expression and function of miR-145-5p could be regulated by multiple molecules.This meta-analysis indicated that downregulated miR-145 in tumor tissues or peripheral blood predicted unfavorable prognostic outcomes for patients suffering from various malignant tumors. In addition, miR-145 was involved in multiple tumor-related pathways and the functioning of significant biological effects. miR-145 is a well-demonstrated tumor suppressor, and its expression level is significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients with multiple malignant tumors.

miR-133b inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting EGFR

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive tumor entity characterized by early metastasis and late diagnosis. MicroRNA-133b (miR-133b) has been considered as a tumor suppressor in many human cancers by regulating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, the specific effects of miR-133b and EGFR on ESCC remain unclear.

METHODS

qRT-PCR and western blotting were applied for measuring expression of mRNA and protein. Flow cytometry was used for detecting cell cycle and apoptosis. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were detected by colony formation and transwell assays. Luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the interaction between miR-133b and EGFR.

RESULTS

Low expression of miR-133b and high expression of EGFR were identified in ESCC cells and tissues. Overexpression of miR-133b or knockdown of EGFR suppressed the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells, and raised the percentage of G1 phase cells. The apoptosis of ESCC cells were promoted by increasing miR-133b and decreasing EGFR expression. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed EGFR as the target of miR-133b in ESCC cells. Overexpression of miR-133b significantly decreased the phosphorylation of PI3K, ERK and AKT by directly down-regulating EGFR. Higher expression of E-cadherin and CK-18 and lower expression of Vimentin and N-cadherin were observed after the transfection of miR-133b mimics or shEGFR.

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of miR-133b could suppress proliferation, migration and invasion of ESCC cells by inhibiting MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways through targeting EGFR, indicating that miR-133b might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of ESCC.