MicroRNAs: history, biogenesis, and their evolving role in animal development and disease

MicroRNA-146a downregulates the production of hyaluronic acid and collagen I in Graves' ophthalmopathy orbital fibroblasts

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of microRNA (miR)-146a on the secretion of hyaluronic acid (HA) and collagen I in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) orbital fibroblasts, and identify potential novel targets for the clinical treatment of GO. Orbital fibroblasts were extracted from orbital connective tissue, and primary cells were identified via immunohistochemistry. The levels of HA and collagen I in orbital fibroblasts of non-GO controls and patients with GO were examined via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). miR-146a was overexpressed or inhibited in primary orbital fibroblasts via lentiviral infection, and the levels of HA and collagen I following miR-146a overexpression or inhibition were detected via ELISA and RT-qPCR. The results indicated that the mRNA expression of HA and collagen I was higher in orbital fibroblasts from patients with GO compared with the non-GO cohort. Overexpression of miR-146a reduced, and inhibition of miR-146a increased the production of HA and collagen I in GO orbital fibroblasts. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that miR-146a downregulated the secretion of HA and collagen I in GO orbital fibroblasts in vitro, which may affect glycosaminoglycan aggregation and collagen deposition in GO.

Overexpression of miR-144-3p alleviates polycystic ovaries syndrome through targeting expression of HSP-70

Increasing microRNAs are shown to be participate in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) pathogenesis. Nevertheless, the biological effects of miR-144-3p and its detailed mechanisms in PCOS are to be investigated. The purpose of our work was to study the function of miR-144-3p in PCOS. Currently, Expression of miR-144-3p was greatly reduced in PCOS patients and PCOS rat models. In addition, HSP-70 expression was greatly elevated PCOS. Cell proliferation assays and flow cytometry assay were carried out following the overexpression of miR-144-3p in ovarian granulosa cells from PCOS rat models. We observed that miR-144-3p overexpression induced the proliferation and repressed cell apoptosis while loss of miR-144-3p demonstrated an opposite process. Then, PCOS rat models were classified to four groups: LV-NC group, LV-miR-144-3p group, Anti-control group, and Anti-miR-144-3p group. In response to loss of miR-144-3p, we found E2, T, and LH serum levels were elevated and FSH serum level was inhibited. Upregulation of miR-144-3p exhibited an opposite process. Moreover, HSP-70 was a direct target of miR-144-3p. Furthermore, increased expression of HSP-70 rescued the effects of miR-144-3p on ovarian granulosa cell growth and apoptosis. In addition, knockdown of HSP-70 alleviated endocrine disorders and abnormal ovarian weight in vivo. To sum up, miR-144-3p might function as a novel target for PCOS treatment via targeting HSP-70.

Parallel analysis of miRNAs and mRNAs suggests distinct regulatory networks in Crassostrea gigas infected by Ostreid herpesvirus 1

Background

Since 2008, the aquaculture production of Crassostrea gigas was heavily affected by mass mortalities associated to Ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1) microvariants worldwide. Transcriptomic studies revealed the major antiviral pathways of the oyster immune response while other findings suggested that also small non-coding RNAs (sncRNA) such as microRNAs might act as key regulators of the oyster response against OsHV-1. To explore the explicit connection between small non-coding and protein-coding transcripts, we performed paired whole transcriptome analysis of sncRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) in six oysters selected for different intensities of OsHV-1 infection.

Results

The mRNA profiles of the naturally infected oysters were mostly governed by the transcriptional activity of OsHV-1, with several differentially expressed genes mapping to the interferon, toll, apoptosis, and pro-PO pathways. In contrast, miRNA profiles suggested more complex regulatory mechanisms, with 15 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNA) pointing to a possible modulation of the host response during OsHV-1 infection. We predicted 68 interactions between DE-miRNAs and oyster 3′-UTRs, but only few of them involved antiviral genes. The sncRNA reads assigned to OsHV-1 rather resembled mRNA degradation products, suggesting the absence of genuine viral miRNAs.

Conclusions

We provided data describing the miRNAome during OsHV-1 infection in C. gigas. This information can be used to understand the role of miRNAs in healthy and diseased oysters, to identify new targets for functional studies and, eventually to disentangle cause and effect relationships during viral infections in marine mollusks.

Diazoxide Protects against Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Moderating ERS via Regulation of the miR-10a/IRE1 Pathway

Nowadays, reperfusion is still the most effective treatment for ischemic heart disease. However, cardiac reperfusion therapy would lead to reperfusion injury, which may have resulted from endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) during reperfusion. Diazoxide (DZ) is a highly selective mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel opener. Its protective effect on I/R injury has been confirmed in many organs such as the heart and brain. However, the mechanism of its protective effect has not been fully elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are widely involved in pathologies of heart disease. In this study, we found that miR-10a expression was highly upregulated in the myocardial I/R groups, and DZ treatment significantly reduced the expression of miR-10a. More importantly, we found that DZ treatment can moderate ERS via regulation of the miR-10a/IRE1 pathway in the I/R and H/R models, thereby protecting myocardial H/R injury.

MicroRNA-200b is a potential biomarker of the expression of PD-L1 in patients with lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a high mortality rate and poor prognosis. However, outcomes have gradually improved after the introduction of novel immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Although programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor tissues is a known biomarker for guiding ICI treatment of NSCLC, challenges such as difficulty of liquid biopsy and heterogeneous results during treatment persist. This study evaluated the potential of miR200b as a surrogate biomarker for PD-L1 expression.

METHODS

We used the human lung cancer cell lines H226, H460, H520, A549, and H1975. miR200b expression in blood and bronchoscopy specimens of NSCLC patients was evaluated using reverse-transcription-quantitative PCR. Using flow cytometry, PD-L1 expression in vitro, as well as in tumor tissues, was evaluated after transfection with a mimic miR200b or siRNA.

RESULTS

miR200b expression negatively correlated with PD-L1 expression in all cell lines. The induction or knockdown of miR200b also altered PD-L1 expression in vitro. The patient group with a PD-L1 tumor proportion score ≥ 50% had significantly lower miR200b expression in the bronchoscopy specimens (P = 0.025) and serum-derived exosomes (P = 0.022) than that with PD-L1 tumor proportion score < 50%.

CONCLUSIONS

miR200b can regulate PD-L1 expression in lung cancer cells, and miR200b expression in clinical specimens negatively correlated with PD-L1 expression. Thus, miR200b may be a useful surrogate biomarker for PD-L1 expression in lung cancer patients.

KEY POINTS

SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: High PD-L1 expression was linked to low miR200b expression, whereas low PD-L1 expression was linked to high miR200b expression in human lung cancer patients. Thus, miR200b overexpression or silencing can control PD-L1 expression in cancer cells. What this study adds We demonstrated the potential of miR200b as a surrogate biomarker for PD-L1 expression in lung cancer patients.

Genetically Encoded Reporter Genes for MicroRNA Imaging in Living Cells and Animals

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by base paring with the complementary sequences of the target mRNAs, and then exert their function through degrading mRNA or inhibiting protein translation. They play a significant role as a regulatory factor in biological processes of organism development, cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Some of the traditional methods for studying miRNAs, such as northern blot, real-time PCR, or microarray, have been extensively used to investigate the biological properties and expression patterns of miRNAs. However, these methods often require considerable time, cell samples, and the design of effective primers or specific probes. Therefore, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the role of miRNAs in biological processes and accelerate the clinical application of miRNAs in the field of disease treatment, non-invasive, sensitive, and efficient imaging methods are needed to visualize the dynamic expression of miRNAs in living cells and animals. In this study, we reviewed the recent progress in the genetically encoded reporter genes for miRNA imaging.

The effect of oleuropein on apoptotic pathway regulators in breast cancer cells

In spite of advancements in breast cancer therapy, this disease is still one of the significant causes of women fatalities globally. Dysregulation of miRNA plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of cancer. Therefore, the administration of herbal compounds with anticancer effects through controlling microRNA expression can be considered as a promising therapy for cancer. Oleuropein is the most prevalent phenolic compound in olive. Given its domestic consumption, low cost, and nontoxicity for human beings, oleuropein can be used in combination with the standard chemotherapy drugs. To this end, we examined the effect of oleuropein on two breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231). Our findings revealed that oleuropein significantly decreased cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, while it increased the apoptosis in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. In the presence of oleuropein, the expression levels of miR-125b, miR-16, miR-34a, p53, p21, and TNFRS10B increased, while that of bcl-2, mcl1, miR-221, miR-29a and miR-21 decreased. The findings pointed out that oeluropein may induce apoptosis via not only increasing the expression of pro-apoptotic genes and tumor suppressor miRNAs, but also decreasing the expression of anti-apoptotic genes and oncomiR. Consequently, oleuropein can be regarded as a suitable herbal medication for cancer therapy.

Changes in MicroRNA Expression during Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) Infection

Current knowledge on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) infection and the pathogenesis of rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is still limited. RHDV replicates in the liver, causing hepatic necrosis and liver failure. MiRNAs are a class of short RNA molecules, and their expression profiles vary over the course of diseases, both in the tissue environment and in the bloodstream. This paper evaluates the expression of miRNAs in the liver tissue (ocu-miR-122-5p, ocu-miR-155-5p, and ocu-miR-16b-5p) and serum (ocu-miR-122-5p) of rabbits experimentally infected with RHDV. The expression levels of ocu-miR-122-5p, ocu-miR-155-5p, and ocu-miR-16b-5p in liver tissue were determined using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and the expression level of circulating ocu-miR-122-5p was established using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). The expression levels of ocu-miR-155-5p and ocu-miR-16b-5p were significantly higher in the infected rabbits compared to the healthy rabbits (a fold-change of 5.8 and 2.5, respectively). The expression of ocu-miR-122-5p was not significantly different in the liver tissue from the infected rabbits compared to the healthy rabbits (p = 0.990), while the absolute expression level of the circulating ocu-miR-122-5p was significantly higher in the infected rabbits than in the healthy rabbits (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a functional analysis showed that ocu-miR-155-5p, ocu-miR-16b-5p, and ocu-miR-122-5p can regulate the expression of genes involved in processes correlated with acute liver failure (ALF) in rabbits. Search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes/proteins (STRING) analysis showed that the potential target genes of the three selected miRNAs may interact with each other in different pathways. The results indicate the roles of these miRNAs in RHDV infection and over the course of RHD and may reflect hepatic inflammation and impairment/dysfunction in RHD.

Impact of Anticoagulation and Sample Processing on the Quantification of Human Blood-Derived microRNA Signatures

Blood-derived microRNA signatures have emerged as powerful biomarkers for predicting and diagnosing cardiovascular disease, cancer, and metabolic disorders. Platelets and platelet-derived microvesicles are a major source of microRNAs. We have previously shown that the inappropriate anticoagulation and storage of blood samples causes substantial platelet activation that is associated with the release of platelet-stored molecules into the plasma. However, it is currently unclear if circulating microRNA levels are affected by artificial platelet activation due to suboptimal plasma preparation. To address this issue, we used a standardized RT-qPCR test for 12 microRNAs (thrombomiR^®, TAmiRNA GmbH, Vienna, Austria) that have been associated with cardiovascular and thrombotic diseases and were detected in platelets and/other hematopoietic cells. Blood was prevented from coagulating with citrate–theophylline–adenosine–dipyridamole (CTAD), sodium citrate, or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and stored for different time periods either at room temperature or at 4 °C prior to plasma preparation and the subsequent quantification of microRNAs. We found that five microRNAs (miR-191-5p, miR-320a, miR-21-5p, miR-23a-3p, and miR-451a) were significantly increased in the EDTA plasma. Moreover, we observed a time-dependent increase in plasma microRNAs that was most pronounced in the EDTA blood stored at room temperature for 24 h. Furthermore, significant correlations between microRNA levels and plasma concentrations of platelet-stored molecules pointed towards in vitro platelet activation. Therefore, we strongly recommend to (i) use CTAD as an anticoagulant, (ii) process blood samples as quickly as possible, and (iii) store blood samples at 4 °C whenever immediate plasma preparation is not feasible to generate reliable data on blood-derived microRNA signatures.

Molecular profiling demonstrates modulation of immune cell function and matrix remodeling during luteal rescue†

The corpus luteum (CL) is essential for maintenance of pregnancy in all mammals and luteal rescue, which occurs around day 16-19 in the cow, is necessary to maintain luteal progesterone production. Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling were performed to compare the day 17 bovine CL of the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Among mRNA and proteins measured, 140 differentially abundant mRNA and 24 differentially abundant proteins were identified. Pathway analysis was performed using four programs. Modulated pathways included T cell receptor signaling, vascular stability, cytokine signaling, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Two mRNA that were less in pregnancy were regulated by prostaglandin F2A in culture, while two mRNA that were greater in pregnancy were regulated by interferon tau. To identify mRNA that could be critical regulators of luteal fate, the mRNA that were differentially abundant during early pregnancy were compared to mRNA that were differentially abundant during luteal regression. Eight mRNA were common to both datasets, including mRNA related to regulation of steroidogenesis and gene transcription. A subset of differentially abundant mRNA and proteins, including those associated with extracellular matrix functions, were predicted targets of differentially abundant microRNA (miRNA). Integration of miRNA and protein data, using miRPath, revealed pathways such as extracellular matrix-receptor interactions, abundance of glutathione, and cellular metabolism and energy balance. Overall, this study has provided a comprehensive profile of molecular changes in the corpus luteum during maternal recognition of pregnancy and has indicated that some of these functions may be miRNA-regulated.

Non-Coding RNAs and Nucleosome Remodeling Complexes: An Intricate Regulatory Relationship

Eukaryotic genomes are pervasively transcribed, producing both coding and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). ncRNAs are diverse and a critical family of biological molecules, yet much remains unknown regarding their functions and mechanisms of regulation. ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling complexes, in modifying chromatin structure, play an important role in transcriptional regulation. Recent findings show that ncRNAs regulate nucleosome remodeler activities at many levels and that ncRNAs are regulatory targets of nucleosome remodelers. Further, a series of recent screens indicate this network of regulatory interactions is more expansive than previously appreciated. Here, we discuss currently described regulatory interactions between ncRNAs and nucleosome remodelers and contextualize their biological functions.

Fecal microRNAs as Innovative Biomarkers of Intestinal Diseases and Effective Players in Host-Microbiome Interactions

Over the past decade, short non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs), including circulating and fecal miRNAs have emerged as important modulators of various cellular processes by regulating the expression of target genes. Recent studies revealed the role of miRNAs as powerful biomarkers in disease diagnosis and for the development of innovative therapeutic applications in several human conditions, including intestinal diseases. In this review, we explored the literature and summarized the role of identified dysregulated fecal miRNAs in intestinal diseases, with particular focus on colorectal cancer (CRC) and celiac disease (CD). The aim of this review is to highlight one fascinating aspect of fecal miRNA function related to gut microbiota shaping and bacterial metabolism influencing. The role of miRNAs as "messenger" molecules for inter kingdom communications will be analyzed to highlight their role in the complex host-bacteria interactions. Moreover, whether fecal miRNAs could open up new perspectives to develop novel suitable biomarkers for disease detection and innovative therapeutic approaches to restore microbiota balance will be discussed.

Liquid biopsy markers for stroke diagnosis

INTRODUCTION

There is a short time window (4.5 h) for the effective treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), which uses recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Unfortunately, this short therapeutic timeframe is a contributing factor to the relatively small number of patients (~7%) that receive rt-PA. While neuroimaging is the major diagnostic for AIS, more timely decisions could be made using a molecular diagnostic.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we survey neuroimaging techniques used to diagnose stroke and their limitations. We also highlight the potential of various molecular/cellular biomarkers, especially peripheral blood-based (i.e. liquid biopsy) biomarkers, for diagnosing stroke to allow for precision decisions on managing stroke in a timely manner. Both protein and nucleic acid molecular biomarkers are reviewed. In particular, mRNA markers are discussed for AIS and hemorrhagic stroke diagnosis sourced from both cells and extracellular vesicles.

EXPERT OPINION

While there are a plethora of molecular markers for stroke diagnosis that have been reported, they have yet to be FDA-cleared. Possible reasons include the inability for these markers to appear in sufficient quantities for highly sensitive clinical decisions within the rt-PA therapeutic time.

The Role of microRNAs in Organismal and Skin Aging

The aging process starts directly after birth and lasts for the entire lifespan; it manifests itself with a decline in an organism’s ability to adapt and is linked to the development of age-related diseases that eventually lead to premature death. This review aims to explore how microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in skin functioning and aging. Recent evidence has suggested that miRNAs regulate all aspects of cutaneous biogenesis, functionality, and aging. It has been noted that some miRNAs were down-regulated in long-lived individuals, such as let-7, miR-17, and miR-34 (known as longevity-related miRNAs). They are conserved in humans and presumably promote lifespan prolongation; conversely, they are up-regulated in age-related diseases, like cancers. The analysis of the age-associated cutaneous miRNAs revealed the increased expression of miR-130, miR-138, and miR-181a/b in keratinocytes during replicative senescence. These miRNAs affected cell proliferation pathways via targeting the p63 and Sirtuin 1 mRNAs. Notably, miR-181a was also implicated in skin immunosenescence, represented by the Langerhans cells. Dermal fibroblasts also expressed increased the levels of the biomarkers of aging that affect telomere maintenance and all phases of the cellular life cycle, such as let-7, miR-23a-3p, 34a-5p, miR-125a, miR-181a-5p, and miR-221/222-3p. Among them, the miR-34 family, stimulated by ultraviolet B irradiation, deteriorates collagen in the extracellular matrix due to the activation of the matrix metalloproteinases and thereby potentiates wrinkle formation. In addition to the pro-aging effects of miRNAs, the plausible antiaging activity of miR-146a that antagonized the UVA-induced inhibition of proliferation and suppressed aging-related genes (e.g., p21WAF-1, p16, and p53) through targeting Smad4 has also been noticed. Nevertheless, the role of miRNAs in skin aging is still not fully elucidated and needs to be further discovered and explained.

Long Noncoding RNA HNF1A-AS1 Regulates Osteosarcoma Advancement Through Modulating the miR-32-5p/HMGB1 Axis

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a primary malignant tumor in children and adolescents. Long noncoding RNA HNF1A antisense RNA 1 (HNF1A-AS1) is connected with OS development. However, there are few reports on the role and mechanism of HNF1A-AS1 in OS. Materials and Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to assess the expression of HNF1A-AS1, miR-32-5p, and high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1). Western blot analysis was performed to detect the protein level of HMGB1. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), colony formation, transwell, or flow cytometer assays were applied to determine the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of OS cells. The interaction between HNF1A-AS1 and miR-32-5p or HMGB1 was predicted by the starBase database and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to analyze levels of HMGB1 in the OS cell supernatant. Results: HNF1A-AS1 and HMGB1 were upregulated, while miR-32-5p was downregulated, in OS tissues and cells. Functionally, HNF1A-AS1 depletion induced apoptosis and impeded proliferation, migration, and invasion of OS cells. Interestingly, HNF1A-AS1 bound to miR-32-5p to regulate the expression of HMGB1. Furthermore, miR-32-5p knockdown overturned the effects of HNF1A-AS1 knockdown on apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion of OS cells. In addition, the effects of HNF1A-AS1 silencing on the malignant behaviors of OS cells were reserved by HMGB1 overexpression. In addition, HNF1A-AS1 regulated the HMGB1 level in the OS cell supernatant through the miR-32-5p/HMGB1 axis. Conclusion: Downregulation of HNF1A-AS1 blocked OS progression through the miR-32-5p/HMGB1 axis, which provides a possible target and prognostic biomarker for treatment of OS.

Circ_0000218 plays a carcinogenic role in laryngeal cancer through regulating microRNA-139-3p/Smad3 axis

BACKGROUND

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) accounts for about 85%-90% of all cases of laryngeal cancer. So far, the role and molecular mechanism of circular RNA 0,000,218 (circ_0000218)/microRNA (miR)-139-3p in laryngeal cancer are not clear. The present study aimed to investigate the role and regulatory mechanism of circ_0000218/miR-139-3p in laryngeal cancerin vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of circ_0000218/miR-139-3p in LSCC cells. Dual luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were used to confirm binding sites between miR-139-3p and smad family member 3 (Smad3), and circ_0000218 and miR-139-3p. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and cell apoptosis analysis were used to detect cell viability and apoptosis. Xenograft experiment was performed to show in vivo effect of circ_0000218/miR-139-3p on the growth of LSCC.

RESULTS

Circ_0000218 was highly expressed in LSCC cells. miR-139-3p, lower expressed in LSCC cells, was negatively regulated by circ_0000218 in LSCC cells. Besides, the findings suggested that circ_0000218 silencing inhibited the LSCC cell viability and promoted apoptosis by negatively regulating miR-139-3p expression. Furthermore, the data indicated that miR-139-3p inhibited the viability of LSCC cells and promoted apoptosis, and these effects were reversed by Smad3 over-expression. In addition, the in vivo effects of circ_0000218/miR-139-3p on LSCC were consistent with the in vitro study.

CONCLUSIONS

circ_0000218 inhibition inhibited the growth of LSCC by targeting miR-139-3p/Smad3 axis. Our present study provided a new target for laryngeal cancer treatment.

The potential of circulating exosomal RNA biomarkers in cancer

INTRODUCTION

There are great potentials of using exosomal RNAs (exoRNA) as biomarkers in cancers. The isolation of exoRNA requires the use of ultracentrifugation to isolate cell-free RNA followed by detection using real-time PCR, microarray, next-generation sequencing, or Nanostring nCounter system. The use of exoRNA enrichment panels has largely increased the detection sensitivity and specificity when compared to traditional diagnostic tests. Moreover, using exoRNA as biomarkers can assist the early detection of chemo and radioresistance cancer, and in turn opens up the possibility of personalized treatment to patients. Finally, exoRNA can be detected at an early stage of cancer recurrence to improve the survival rate.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, the authors summarized the detection methods of exoRNA as well as its potential as a biomarker in cancer diagnosis and chemo and radioresistance.

EXPERT OPINION

The application of exoRNAs in clinical diagnosis is still in its infancy. Further researches on extracellular vesicles isolation, detection protocols, exoRNA classes and subclasses, and the regulatory biological pathways have to be performed before exoRNA can be applied translationally.

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.

LncRNA HOTAIRM1 Inhibits the Proliferation and Invasion of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells via the miR-498/WWOX Axis

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) is a major form of lung cancer, which is a main cause of global cancer-related death in male and female patients. LncRNAs are implicated in tumor development. However, the functions and mechanisms of the LncRNA HOTAIRM1 in ADC are not known.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Here, the downregulated HOTAIRM1 in ADC was selected by TCGA analysis. Subsequently, qRT-PCR, CCK-8, EdU, cell apoptosis, cell cycle and cell invasion assays were utilized for evaluating the roles of HOTAIRM1 in ADC. Finally, we explored the mechanism of HOTAIRM1 in ADC.

RESULTS

HOTAIRM1 expression was considerably decreased in ADC tissues. The knockdown of HOTAIRM1 promoted the cell cycle, growth, and invasion of ADC. Moreover, HOTAIRM1 competitively bound miR-498 to regulate the expression of WWOX.

CONCLUSION

HOTAIRM1 suppressed the proliferation and invasion of ADC cells via the modulation of miR-498/WWOX axis. This finding suggested that it might be clinically valuable as a biomarker for ADC. Furthermore, the findings suggest LncRNA HOTAIRM1 as a candidate therapeutic target in ADC.

MicroRNA-665-3p attenuates oxygen-glucose deprivation-evoked microglial cell apoptosis and inflammatory response by inhibiting NF-κB signaling via targeting TRIM8

Microglial inflammation induced by ischemic stroke aggravates brain damage. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators in ischemic stroke-induced inflammation in microglial cells. miR-665-3p has been reported as a critical inflammation-associated miRNA. However, whether miR-665-3p participates in regulating microglial inflammation during ischemic stroke is underdetermined. This study investigated the potential role of miR-665-3p in stroke-induced inflammation in microglial cells using a cellular model of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-stimulated microglial cells in vitro. We found that miR-665-3p expression was decreased in microglial cells exposed to OGD treatment. Functional experiments demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-665-3p attenuated OGD-induced apoptosis and inflammation in microglial cells. Notably, tripartite motif 8 (TRIM8) was identified as a target gene of miR-665-3p. TRIM8 expression was induced by OGD treatment in microglial cells and the knockdown of TRIM8 protected microglial cells from OGD -induced cytotoxicity and inflammation. Moreover, TRIM8 knockdown or miR-665-3p overexpression blocked OGD-induced activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling in microglial cells. In addition, TRIM8 overexpression partially reversed the miR-665-3p overexpression-mediated inhibitory effect on OGD-induced inflammation in microglial cells. Taken together, these results indicate that miR-665-3p up-regulation protects microglial cells from OGD-induced apoptosis and inflammatory response by targeting TRIM8 to inhibit NF-κB signaling.

Transforming growth factor-β1 in intrauterine adhesion

Intrauterine adhesion (IUA), led by trauma to the basal layer, can prevent the endometrium from growing, resulting in complications in females, such as infertility and amenorrhea. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) plays a crucial role in inducing and promoting the differentiation and proliferation of mesenchymal cells, in the secretion of extracellular matrix-associated components, and is a major cytokine in initiating and terminating tissue repair downstream of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Some evidence supports that TGF-β1 is closely associated with the occurrence and development of IUA, and is regarded as an early risk factor of disease recurrence. Furthermore, the role of TGF-β1 has been demonstrated to be potentially regulated by a variety of cytokines, hormones, enzymes, and microRNAs. This review provides an overview of the expression, function, and regulation of TGF-β1 in IUA, with a brief discussion and perspectives on its future clinical implications on the diagnosis and treatment of IUA.

Plastics derived endocrine-disrupting compounds and their effects on early development

Despite the fact that the estrogenic effects of bisphenols were first described 80 years ago, recent data about its potential negative impact on birth outcome parameters raises a strong rationale to investigate further. The adverse health effects of plastics recommend to measure the impacts of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as bisphenols (BPA, BPS, BPF), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in human health. Exposure to these compounds in utero may program the diseases of the testis, prostate, kidney and abnormalities in the immune system, and cause tumors, uterine hemorrhage during pregnancy and polycystic ovary. These compounds also control the processes of epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult-onset diseases by modulating DNA methylation and epimutations in reproductive cells. The early developmental stage is the most susceptible window for developmental and genomic programming. The critical stages of the events for a normal human birth lie between the many transitions occurring between spermatogenesis, egg fertilization and the fully formed fetus. As the cells begin to grow and differentiate, there are critical balances of hormones, and protein synthesis. Data are emerging on how these plastic-derived compounds affect embryogenesis, placentation and feto-placental development since pregnant women and unborn fetuses are often exposed to these factors during preconception and throughout gestation. Impaired early development that ultimately influences fetal outcomes is at the center of many developmental disorders and contributes an independent risk factor for adult chronic diseases. This review will summarize the current status on the impact of exposure to plastic derived EDCs on the growth, gene expression, epigenetic and angiogenic activities of the early fetal development process and their possible effects on birth outcomes.

MiR-10b induces cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells by inhibiting KLF4 expression

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) chemotherapy is prone to acquired chemotherapy resistance. MiR-10b has been found to be involved in regulating cisplatin (DDP) resistance of esophageal and nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, but its relationship with DDP chemotherapy sensitivity in GC is unclear.

AIM

To investigate whether miR-10b is related to DDP chemoresistance in GC cells and the underlying molecular mechanism.

METHODS

SGC-7901/DDP and MGC-803/DDP cell lines were established by repeated stimulation of SGC-7901 and MGC-803 cells with increasing concentrations of DDP. The expression levels of miR-10b and KLF4 in SGC-7901/DDP and MGC-803/DDP cells were detected. After SGC-7901 and MGC-803 cells were infected with a lentiviral vector overexpressing miR-10b, cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay, apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and KLF4 mRNA and protein expression was detected by RT- qPCR and Western blot, respectively. In addition, these cells were further used to construct a xenograft tumor model, and after DDP chemotherapy, tumor morphology was observed macroscopically and tumor weight was measured. After co-transfection of SGC-7901 and MGC-803 cells with miR-10b and KLF4, the sensitivity of cells to DDP was detected by MTT assay.

RESULTS

Compared with SGC-7901 and MGC-803 cells, miR-10b expression levels in SGC-7901/DDP and MGC-803/DDP cells were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and KLF4 mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). In vitro experiments showed that overexpression of miR-10b promoted DDP resistance in GC cells and inhibited KLF4 expression (P < 0.01). In vivo, after DDP treatment, tumor weight in the miR-10b group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01). Overexpression of KLF4 could partially reverse DDP resistance of GC cells induced by overexpression of miR-10b.

CONCLUSION

MiR-10b promotes DDP resistance in GC cells by inhibiting the expression of KLF4, however, the DDP resistance induced by miR-10b overexpression can be reversed by up-regulation of KLF4.

A microRNA-Messenger RNA Regulatory Network and Its Prognostic Value in Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth commonest cancer in women worldwide. Increasing evidence proves that microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA) network is involved in CC. In this study, miRNA and mRNA expression profiles were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differently expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) and mRNAs (DE-mRNAs) were obtained by "Empirical Analysis of Digital Gene Expression Data in R (EdgeR)" package. Then, functional analyses were conducted. With Cytoscape software, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established to identify hub genes that were used for building an miRNA-hub gene network. Next, a prognostic signature based on hub genes was constructed by Cox regression analysis, and its prognostic value was assessed by a nomogram. Finally, the relationship between immune cell infiltration and the three genes in the prognostic model was investigated by using the CIBERSORT algorithm. We screened out 5096 DE-mRNAs and 114 DE-miRNAs between healthy cervical and CC tissues. Then, 102 target DE-mRNAs of upregulated DE-miRNAs and 150 target DE-mRNAs of downregulated DE-miRNAs were obtained. PPI network demonstrated 20 hub nodes with higher connectivity. DE-mRNAs were mostly enriched in pathways in cancer, cell cycle, and proteoglycans in cancer. The miRNA-hub gene network showed that most hub genes could be potentially modulated by miR-200c-3p, miR-23b-3p, and miR-106b-5p. Quantitative real-time PCR proved that 10 miRNAs were downregulated and 6 mRNAs were upregulated markedly in CC tissues. Furthermore, a prognostic signature was established based on enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), Fms-related tyrosine kinase 1 (FLT1), and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). The area under the curve value of the 5-year receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.609. The three genes were also found to be related to the infiltration of six types of immune cells, including dendritic cells, macrophages M0 and M1, mast cells, and monocytes. In conclusion, the development of CC is regulated by the miRNA-mRNA network we proposed in this study.

Long non‑coding RNA NNT‑AS1 knockdown represses the progression of gastric cancer via modulating the miR‑142‑5p/SOX4/Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway

Patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC) have a poor prognosis with a median overall survival of 10–12 months. Long non-coding RNA nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase-antisense RNA1 (NNT-AS1) and sex-determining region Y-related high mobility group box 4 (SOX4) have been reported to be associated with the progression of various types of cancer; however, the regulatory mechanism between NNT-AS1 and SOX4 in GC is not completely understood. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of NNT-AS1, microRNA (miR)-142-5p and SOX4. Western blotting was performed to assess the protein expression levels of SOX4, β-catenin, c-Myc, Bcl-2 and E-cadherin. The proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of GC cells were determined using MTT, flow cytometry and Transwell assays. The relationship between miR-142-5p and NNT-AS1 or SOX4 was investigated using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. NNT-AS1 and SOX4 were upregulated, whereas miR-142-5p was downregulated in GC tissues and cells compared with normal tissues and cells. Both NNT-AS1 and SOX4 knockdown inhibited GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and enhanced GC cell apoptosis. Moreover, the results indicated that NNT-AS1 modulated SOX4 expression by sponging miR-142-5p. In addition, SOX4 overexpression reversed NNT-AS1 knockdown-mediated effects on GC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. NNT-AS1 knockdown blocked the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via the miR-142-5p/SOX4 axis. Collectively, the present study indicated that NNT-AS1 knockdown decreased GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced GC cell apoptosis by regulating the miR-142-5p/SOX4/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway axis.

MicroRNA-374b-5p Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Targeting FOXP1 and Predicts Prognosis of Cancer Patients

Background

Lung cancer remains the most frequent malignancy worldwide with increasing morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the expression of microRNA-374b-5p (miR-374b-5p) in tissues and cell lines of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to evaluate the prognostic value of miR-374b-5p as well as its biological function in tumor progression.

Materials and Methods

Expression of miR-374b-5p in NSCLC patients and cells was estimated using quantitative real-time PCR. The prognostic value of miR-374b-5p was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function cell experiments were performed to examine the effects of miR-374b-5p on NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. A luciferase activity assay was used to confirm the target gene of miR-374b-5p.

Results

miR-374b-5p expression levels were decreased in tumorous tissues and cell lines compared with the normal tissues or cells (P < 0.05). The expression of miR-374b-5p was associated with the patients’ tumor size, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (all P < 0.05). Patients with low miR-374b-5p expression have a shorter survival time (log-rank P = 0.001), and the downregulated expression of miR-374b-5p was determined to be an independent prognostic indicator of NSCLC. In NSCLC cells, the overexpression of miR-374b-5p could inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion and could directly target FOXP1.

Conclusion

This study found that the decreased miR-374b-5p predicts poor prognosis of NSCLC, and the upregulation of miR-374b-5p can inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. The data obtained from this study provide a novel candidate prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.

MALAT1/miR-15b-5p/MAPK1 mediates endothelial progenitor cells autophagy and affects coronary atherosclerotic heart disease via mTOR signaling pathway

Objective: Present study focused on the influence of lncRNA MALAT1 on coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAD) by regulating miR-15b-5p/MAPK1 and mTOR signaling pathway.

Method: Differentially expressed genes and activated pathway were investigated through bioinformatics analysis. QRT-PCR was conducted to verify expression of MALAT1, miR-15b-5p and MAPK1 in CAD blood samples and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). In addition, the interactions among MALAT1, miR-15b-5p and MAPK1 were revealed by Luciferase reporter assay. Cell autophagy of EPCs was examined by Cyto-ID Autophagy Detection Kit and transmission electron microscope. MTT assay and flow cytometry were carried out to assess cell viability and apoptosis in different interference conditions. Western blot was performed to testify the expression of pERK1/2 (MAPK1), phosphorylated mTOR, ATG1 and LC3-II. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were detected by qRT-PCR. Finally, the effect of lncRNA MALAT1 on cell autophagy and atherogenesis was tested in vivo.

Results: MALAT1 was overexpressed in CAD blood samples and EPCs. Knockdown of MALAT1 and MAPK1 promoted cell viability, autophagy and further suppressed the development of CAD. AntagoMALAT1 protects mice against atherosclerosis.

Conclusion: LncRNA MALAT1 inhibited EPCs autophagy and increased cell viability while repressed apoptosis of CAD via activating mTOR signaling pathway.

Long Noncoding RNA SOX2-OT Exacerbates Hypoxia-Induced Cardiomyocytes Injury by Regulating miR-27a-3p/TGFβR1 Axis

Background

Myocardial infarction (MI) was a severe cardiovascular disease resulted from acute, persistent hypoxia, or ischemia condition. Additionally, MI generally led to heart failure, even sudden death. A multitude of research studies proposed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) frequently participated in the regulation of heart diseases. The specific function and molecular mechanism of SOX2-OT in MI remained unclear. Aim of the Study. The current research was aimed to explore the role of SOX2-OT in MI.

Methods

Bioinformatics analysis (DIANA tools and Targetscan) and a wide range of experiments (CCK-8, flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, luciferase reporter, RIP, caspase-3 activity, trans-well, and western blot assays) were adopted to investigate the function and mechanism of SOX2-OT.

Results

We discovered that hypoxia treatment decreased cell viability but increased cell apoptosis. Besides, lncRNA SOX2-OT expression was upregulated in hypoxic HCMs. Hereafter, we confirmed that SOX2-OT could negatively regulate miR-27a-3p levels by directly binding with miR-27a-3p, and miR-27a-3p also could negatively regulate SOX2-OT levels. Furthermore, knockdown of SOX2-OT promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, but limited cell apoptosis. However, these effects were reversed by anti-miR-27a-5p. Besides, we verified that miR-27a-3p binding with the 3′UTR of TGFBR1 and SOX2-OT regulated TGFβR1 level by collaborating with miR-27a-3p in HCMs. Eventually, rescue assays validated that the influence of SOX2-OT silence or miR-27a-3p overexpression on cellular processes in cardiomyocytes injury was counteracted by TGFBR1 overexpression.

Conclusions

Long noncoding RNA SOX2-OT exacerbated hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes injury by regulating miR-27a-3p/TGFβR1 axis, which may provide a novel insight for heart failure treatment.

Prediction of miRNA targets by learning from interaction sequences

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in a diverse variety of biological processes through regulating the expression of target genes in the post-transcriptional level. So, it is of great importance to discover the targets of miRNAs in biological research. But, due to the short length of miRNAs and limited sequence complementarity to their gene targets in animals, it is challenging to develop algorithms to predict the targets of miRNA accurately. Here we developed a new miRNA target prediction algorithm using a multilayer convolutional neural network. Our model learned automatically the interaction patterns of the experiment-validated miRNA:target-site chimeras from the raw sequence, avoiding hand-craft selection of features by domain experts. The performance on test dataset is inspiring, indicating great generalization ability of our model. Moreover, considering the stability of miRNA:target-site duplexes, our method also showed good performance to predict the target transcripts of miRNAs.

Decreased miR-124 contributes to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotype formation of lung adenocarcinoma cells via targeting enhancer of zeste homolog 2

INTRODUCTION

MiR-124, a tumor suppressor, is involved in regulating various cellular processes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible function of miR-124 in LA (lung adenocarcinoma) cells.

AIMS

MiR-124 expression levels in the 54 pairs of LA tissues (and corresponding non-tumor tissues) obtained at the Sixth People's Hospital of Yancheng City and in LA cells were assessed by qRT-PCR. Colony formation assay, wound healing assay, transwell assays, attachment/detachment, western blotting and immunofluorescence assays were performed to assess the function of miR-124 on proliferation, migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) phenotypes in LA cells in vitro. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is identified as a target of miR-124 by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays. Rescue assays were applied to verify the relationship between miR-124 and EZH2.

RESULTS

MiR-124 was down-regulated in LA tissues (compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues), and was down-regulated in 3 out of 4 lung cancer cell lines compared to immortalized, non-tumorigenic bronchial epithelial cells. Forced expression of miR-124 significantly suppressed tumor cell proliferation, migration and inhibited the EMT process. On the contrary, deletion of miR-124 could obviously promote cell proliferation, migration and facilitate the formation of EMT phenotype. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays confirmed that EZH2 was a target gene of miR-124 and was negatively correlated with the level of miR-124 in cancer tissues.

CONCLUSION

Our current study suggested that miR-124 was a tumor suppressor in LA, and miR-124 was associated with LA cell EMT phenotype formation via targeting EZH2.

The role of microRNAs in ectopic pregnancy: A concise review

Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is reported in about 1%–2% of pregnant females and is associated with mortality and morbidity. Several genetic and environmental factors might modulate occurrence of EP. Prediction of EP and patients' follow-up is an important task in management of pregnancy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as non-coding RNAs with sizes between 21 and 24 nucleotides have been shown to regulate several aspects of implantation and early fetal life. They have potential role in early detection of EP especially considering their presence in body fluids such as serum. Assessment of their expression in serum might provide a noninvasive method for diagnosis and patients' follow-up. However, data regarding their role in EP is not sufficient due to small sample sizes of the studies. Future studies are required to find miRNAs that regulate expression of EP-associated genes such as VEGFA, EGFR, ESR1 and immune response-related genes to provide new diagnostic biomarkers for EP.

Non-Coding RNAs in Lung Tumor Initiation and Progression

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer affecting society today. Non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), through the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic changes they impose, have been found to be dysregulated to affect lung cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis. This review will briefly summarize hallmarks involved in lung cancer initiation and progression. For initiation, these hallmarks include tumor initiating cells, immortalization, activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressors. Hallmarks involved in lung cancer progression include metastasis and drug tolerance and resistance. The targeting of these hallmarks with non-coding RNAs can affect vital metabolic and cell signaling pathways, which as a result can potentially have a role in cancerous and pathological processes. By further understanding non-coding RNAs, researchers can work towards diagnoses and treatments to improve early detection and clinical response.

Thirty years of translational research in Mobility Medicine: Collection of abstracts of the 2020 Padua Muscle Days

More than half a century of skeletal muscle research is continuing at Padua University (Italy) under the auspices of the Interdepartmental Research Centre of Myology (CIR-Myo), the European Journal of Translational Myology (EJTM) and recently also with the support of the A&CM-C Foundation for Translational Myology, Padova, Italy. The Volume 30(1), 2020 of the EJTM opens with the collection of abstracts for the conference "2020 Padua Muscle Days: Mobility Medicine 30 years of Translational Research". This is an international conference that will be held between March 18-21, 2020 in Euganei Hills and Padova in Italy. The abstracts are excellent examples of translational research and of the multidimensional approaches that are needed to classify and manage (in both the acute and chronic phases) diseases of Mobility that span from neurologic, metabolic and traumatic syndromes to the biological process of aging. One of the typical aim of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is indeed to reduce pain and increase mobility enough to enable impaired persons to walk freely, garden, and drive again. The excellent contents of this Collection of Abstracts reflect the high scientific caliber of researchers and clinicians who are eager to present their results at the PaduaMuscleDays. A series of EJTM Communications will also add to this preliminary evidence.

Correlation between ETFDH mutations and dysregulation of serum myomiRs in MADD patients

Multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) is a rare fatty acids oxidation disorder which is often associated with deficiency of electron transfer flavoprotein dehydrogenase (ETFDH). In this study we reported clinical features and evaluation of expression profile of circulating muscle-specific miRNAs (myomiRs) in two MADD patients carrying different ETFDH gene mutations. Patient 1 was a compound heterozygote for two missense mutations. She showed a late onset MADD clinical phenotype and a significant increase of serum myomiRs. Patient 2, carrying a missense and a frameshift mutation, displayed early onset symptoms and a slight increase of some serum myomiRs.

MiR-200b/c family inhibits renal fibrosis through modulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via targeting fascin-1/CD44 axis

BACKGROUND

Renal fibrosis is the characteristic of all kinds of chronic kidney diseases (CKDs). Fascin-1 plays an important role in tumor development, but the roles of fascin-1 in renal fibrosis have not been studied. Here, we explored the role of fascin-1 in renal fibrosis and the potential mechanisms.

METHODS

Kidney unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model was used as an in vivo model, and proximal tubule epithelial cell lines treated with TGF-β1 were used as in vitro model of renal fibrosis. Cell transfection was performed to manipulate the expression of miR-200b/c, fascin-1 and CD44. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence assays were used to measure levels of miR-200b/c, fascin-1, CD44, and fibrosis and EMT-related markers. H&E and Masson stainings were used to examine the degree of injury and fibrosis in kidneys. Dual luciferase assay was used to examine the interaction between miR-200b/c family and fascin-1.

RESULTS

Fascin-1 and CD44 levels were both significantly up-regulated while miR-200b/c family was reduced in models of renal fibrosis. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-200b/c family and inhibition of fascin-1 or CD44 ameliorated renal fibrosis through suppressing EMT process. Mechanistically, miR-200b/c family directly and negatively regulated the expression of fascin-1. Overexpression of fascin-1 could reverse the effects of miR-200b/c family on renal fibrosis, and fascin-1 regulated renal fibrosis by activating CD44.

CONCLUSION

Our study is the first to show that fascin-1 plays a critical role in renal fibrosis. MiR-200b/c family could inhibit renal fibrosis through modulating EMT process by directly targeting fascin-1/CD44 axis.

Downregulation of circulating miR-320a and target gene prediction in patients with diabetic retinopathy

Objective

To evaluate the expression of a set of miRNAs to identify differentially expressed miRNAs that might be considered reliable biomarkers on Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) blood samples.

Results

Expression levels of MiR-320a, MiR-342-3p, MiR-155, MiR-99a, MiR-29a and MiR-27b were analyzed in 60 healthy controls, 48 Diabetes Melitus (DM) without DR patients and 62 DR patients by qRT-PCR. MiR-320a was shown to be downregulated in the plasma of DR patients compared with DM patients without DR and healthy subjects. Target genes were predicted using miRWalk3.0, miR targeting data and target gene interaction data were imported to Cytoscape to visualize and merge networks and top ranked predicted genes were run through Ontology Genes to perform enrichment analysis on gene sets and classification system to identify biological processes and reactome pathways associated with DR. Highly scored target genes of miR-320a were categorized for various biological processes, including negative regulation of cell aging, negative regulation of cellular protein metabolic process and regulation of cellular response to stress that are critical to the development of DR. Our findings suggest that MiR-320a may have a role in the pathogenesis of DR and may represent novel biomarkers for this disease.

miR-34a regulates adipogenesis in porcine intramuscular adipocytes by targeting ACSL4

BACKGROUND

Intramuscular fat (IMF) content is an important factor in porcine meat quality. Previously, we showed that miR-34a was less abundant in liver tissue from pigs with higher backfat thickness, compared to pigs with lower backfat thickness. The purpose of this present study was to explore the role of miR-34a in adipogenesis.

RESULT

Bioinformatics analysis identified Acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4) as a putative target of miR-34a. Using a luciferase reporter assay, we verified that miR-34a binds the ACSL4 mRNA at the 3'UTR. To examine the role of the miR-34a-ACSL4 interaction in IMF deposition in the pig, mRNA and protein expression of the ACSL4 gene was measured in primary intramuscular preadipocytes transfected with miR-34a mimic and inhibitor. Our results showed that ACSL4 is expressed throughout the entire differentiation process in pig preadipocytes, similar to the lipogenesis-associated genes PPARγ and aP2. Transfection with miR-34a mimic reduced lipid droplet formation during adipogenesis, while miR-34a inhibitor increased lipid droplet accumulation. Transfection with miR-34a mimic also reduced the mRNA and protein expression of ACSL4 and lipogenesis genes, including PPARγ, aP2, and SREBP-1C, but increased the expression of steatolysis genes such as ATGL and Sirt1. In contrast, the miR-34a inhibitor had the opposite effect on gene expression. Further, knockdown of ACSL4 decreased lipid droplet accumulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the hypothesis that miR-34a regulates intramuscular fat deposition in porcine adipocytes by targeting ACSL4.

Clinical significance of miRNAs in autoimmunity

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionally conserved, single-stranded RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level by disrupting translation. MiRNAs are key players in variety of biological processes that regulate the differentiation, development and activation of immune cells in both innate and adaptive immunity. The disruption and dysfunction of miRNAs can perturb the immune response, stimulate the release of inflammatory cytokines and initiate the production of autoantibodies, and contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Accumulating studies demonstrate that miRNAs, which can be collected by noninvasive methods, have the potential to be developed as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers, the discovery and validation of which is essential for the improvement of disease diagnosis and clinical monitoring. Recently, with the development of detection tools, such as microarrays and NGS (Next Generation Sequencing), large amounts of miRNAs have been identified and suggest a critical role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Several miRNAs associated diagnostic biomarkers have been developed and applied clinically, though the pharmaceutical industry is still facing challenges in commercialization and drug delivery. The development of miRNAs is less advanced for autoimmune diseases compared with cancer. However, drugs that target miRNAs have been introduced as candidates and adopted in clinical trials. This review comprehensively summarizes the differentially expressed miRNAs in several types of autoimmune diseases and discusses the role and the significance of miRNAs in clinical management. The study of miRNAs in autoimmunity promises to provide novel and broad diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for a clinical market that is still in its infancy.

MicroRNA Involvement in Signaling Pathways During Viral Infection

The study of miRNAs started in 1993, when Lee et al. observed their involvement in the downregulation of a crucial protein known as LIN-14 in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Since then, great progress has been made regarding research on microRNAs, which are now known to be involved in the regulation of various physiological and pathological processes in both animals and humans. One such example is represented by their interaction with various signaling pathways during viral infections. It has been observed that these pathogens can induce the up-/downregulation of various host miRNAs in order to elude the host's immune system. In contrast, some miRNAs studied could have an antiviral effect, enabling the defense mechanisms to fight the infection or, at the very least, they could induce the pathogen to enter a latent state. At the same time, some viruses encode their own miRNAs, which could further modulate the host's signaling pathways, thus favoring the survival and replication of the virus. The goal of this extensive literature review was to present how miRNAs are involved in the regulation of various signaling pathways in some of the most important and well-studied human viral infections. Further on, knowing which miRNAs are involved in various viral infections and what role they play could aid in the development of antiviral therapeutic agents for certain diseases that do not have a definitive cure in the present. The clinical applications of miRNAs are extremely important, as miRNAs targeted inhibition may have substantial therapeutic impact. Inhibition of miRNAs can be achieved through many different methods, but chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides have shown the most prominent effects. Though scientists are far from completely understanding all the molecular mechanisms behind the complex cross-talks between miRNA pathways and viral infections, the general knowledge is increasing on the different roles played by miRNAs during viral infections.

Evaluation of miR-34b/c polymorphisms to the risk of ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVES

Polymorphisms in microRNA genes are related to the risk of ischemic stroke, but the association between miR-34b/c polymorphisms and the risk of ischemic stroke has not been reported.

METHODS

MiR-34b/c rs2187473 and rs4938723 polymorphisms were genotyped by Snapshot assay among 495 controls and 492 ischemic stroke patients. Expression levels of miR-34b and miR-34c were quantified by real-time PCR. Transcriptional activity of miR-34b/c promoter was measured by luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

Rs4938723 was associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke in our study (CC versus TT: OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.47-3.72, P = 0.001; C versus T: OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.12-1.68, P = 0.002; CC versus TT + TC: OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.37-3.29, P = 0.001). The expression levels of miR-34b and miR-34c were significantly downregulated in cases by contrast with controls (P < 0.05). Further analysis demonstrated that the expression levels of miR-34b and miR-34c were also downregulated in the individuals carrying rs4938723 CC genotype by contrast with that carrying TT + TC genotypes (P < 0.05). The result of luciferase reporter assay showed that rs4938723C allele decreased the transcriptional activity of miR-34b/c promoter compared with rs4938723 T allele.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed a positive relation between the miR-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism and the risk of ischemic stroke, which indicated that rs4938723 may be used for ischemic stroke prediction or therapy in the future.

miR‑21/PTEN pathway mediates the cardioprotection of geniposide against oxidized low‑density lipoprotein‑induced endothelial injury via suppressing oxidative stress and inflammatory response

Oxidized low‑density lipoprotein (ox‑LDL)‑induced vascular endothelial damage, oxidative stress and inflammation play a vital role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Geniposide is the primary active ingredient from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis associated with anti‑oxidative properties and cardioprotective action. However, the therapeutic mechanism of geniposide in atherosclerosis remains unclear. Hence, the present study aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of geniposide in oxidative stress and inflammatory response during ox‑LDL injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), focusing particularly on the microRNA (miR)‑21/PTEN pathway. The results demonstrated that geniposide pretreatment significantly increased cell viability, decreased lactate dehydrogenase release, increased miR‑21 level and decreased PTEN expression under ox‑LDL condition. Subsequently, transfection with miR‑21 mimic enhanced the protection of geniposide on ox‑LDL‑induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis (mediated by the upregulation of apoptotic rate and caspase‑3 activity), whereas miR‑21 inhibitor reversed these effects of geniposide. In addition, geniposide resulted in an anti‑oxidant effect as evidenced by the decrease in reactive oxygen species generation, malondialdehyde content and NADPH oxidase 2 expression, and the increase in superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in ox‑LDL‑treated HUVECs, which were exacerbated by miR‑21 mimic and reversed by miR‑21 inhibitor. Furthermore, geniposide mitigated the ox‑LDL‑induced inflammatory response, demonstrated by a downregulation of pro‑inflammatory cytokine (IL‑1β, IL‑6, and TNF‑α) levels and an upregulation of anti‑inflammatory cytokine (IL‑10) level. However, miR‑21 mimic enhanced, whereas miR‑21 inhibitor attenuated, these effects of geniposide. In conclusion, the present results indicated that geniposide protects HUVECs from ox‑LDL injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation, and that these effects are partly due to the enhancement of the miR‑21/PTEN pathway.

Aberrant expression of miR-214 is associated with obesity-induced insulin resistance as a biomarker and therapeutic

BACKGROUND

Insulin resistance (IR) in obesity is associated with the occurrence of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Dipepidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) plays a pivotal role during the development of IR, and was found to be a target gene of microRNA-214 (miR-214) in our study. This study sought to assess the expression and clinical value of miR-214 in obese patients with IR, and investigate its therapeutic potential in obese rats and adipocytes with IR.

METHODS

Serum expression of miR-214 in obese patients with or without IR was estimated by quantitative real-time-PCR. A receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of miR-214 in the patients. Obesity-induced IR animal and cell models were constructed, and the therapeutic ability of miR-214 was explored.

RESULTS

Serum expression of miR-214 was decreased in obese patients compared with the healthy controls, and the lowest expression was observed in the cases with IR. Downregulation of miR-214 was significantly correlated with the serum DPP4 levels and HOMA-IR of the patients upon IR conditions, and was demonstrated to perform diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing obese patients with IR from those without IR. In obesity-associated IR animal and cell models, the downregulation of miR-214 was also been detected. According to the measurement of glucose and insulin tolerance and glucose uptake abilities, we found that the overexpression of miR-214 could be used to alleviate IR in the IR models, especially when collaboratively used with DPP4 inhibitor vildagliptin.

CONCLUSION

All data revealed that miR-214, as a regulator of DPP4, is decreased in obese patients with IR and may serve as a diagnostic biomarker. The upregulation of miR-214 could improve IR in obese rats and adipocytes, indicating that miR-214 has the therapeutic potential for obesity and IR.

Functional omics analyses reveal only minor effects of microRNAs on human somatic stem cell differentiation

The contribution of microRNA-mediated posttranscriptional regulation on the final proteome in differentiating cells remains elusive. Here, we evaluated the impact of microRNAs (miRNAs) on the proteome of human umbilical cord blood-derived unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC) during retinoic acid (RA) differentiation by a systemic approach using next generation sequencing analysing mRNA and miRNA expression and quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteome analyses. Interestingly, regulation of mRNAs and their dedicated proteins highly correlated during RA-incubation. Additionally, RA-induced USSC demonstrated a clear separation from native USSC thereby shifting from a proliferating to a metabolic phenotype. Bioinformatic integration of up- and downregulated miRNAs and proteins initially implied a strong impact of the miRNome on the XXL-USSC proteome. However, quantitative proteome analysis of the miRNA contribution on the final proteome after ectopic overexpression of downregulated miR-27a-5p and miR-221-5p or inhibition of upregulated miR-34a-5p, respectively, followed by RA-induction revealed only minor proportions of differentially abundant proteins. In addition, only small overlaps of these regulated proteins with inversely abundant proteins in non-transfected RA-treated USSC were observed. Hence, mRNA transcription rather than miRNA-mediated regulation is the driving force for protein regulation upon RA-incubation, strongly suggesting that miRNAs are fine-tuning regulators rather than active primary switches during RA-induction of USSC.

Role of microRNAs in the Regulation of Dendritic Cell Generation and Function

Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells with a key role in immune responses. They act as a link between the innate and adaptive systems and they can induce and maintain immunologic tolerance. DCs are subdivided into conventional and plasmacytoid DCs. These cell subsets originate from the same bone marrow precursors and their differentiation process is determined by several extrinsic and intrinsic factors, such as cytokines, transcription factors, and miRNAs. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role in modulating physiological and pathological processes mediated by DCs. miRNA deregulation affects many inflammatory conditions and diseases. The aim of this review was to underline the importance of miRNAs in inflammatory processes mediated by DCs in physiological and pathological conditions and to highlight their potential application for future therapies.

Cell-free miRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers in breast cancer: Significance in early diagnosis and metastasis prediction

Breast cancer is one of the genetic diseases causing a high mortality among women around the world. Despite the availability of advanced diagnostic tools and treatment strategies, the incidence of breast cancer is increasing every year. This is due to the lack of accurate and reliable biomarkers whose deficiency creates difficulty in early breast cancer recognition, subtypes determination, and metastasis prophecy. Although biomarkers such as ER, PR, Her2, Ki-67, and other genetic platforms e.g. MammaPrint®, Oncotype DX®, Prosigna® or EndoPredict® are available for determination of breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis. However, pertaining to heterogeneous nature, lack of sensitivity, and specificity of these markers, it is still incessant to overcome breast cancer burden. Therefore, a novel biomarker is urgently needed for therapeutic diagnosis and improving prognosis. Lately, it has become more evident that cell-free miRNAs might be useful as good non-invasive biomarkers that are associated with different events in carcinogenesis. For example, some known biomarkers such as miR-21, miR-23a, miR-34a are associated with molecular subtyping and different biomolecular aspects i.e. apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis, and miR-1, miR-10b, miR-16 are associated with drug response. Cell-free miRNAs present in human body fluids have proven to be potential biomarkers with significant prognostic and predictive values. Numerous studies have found a distinct expression profile of circulating miRNAs in breast tumour versus non-tumour and in early and advanced-stage, thus implicating its clinical relevance. This review article will highlight the importance of different cell-free miRNAs as a biomarker for early breast cancer detection, subtype classification, and metastasis forecast.

The Anti-Cancer Mechanisms of Berberine: A Review

Berberine (BBR) has been extensively studied in vivo and vitro experiments. BBR inhibits cell proliferation by regulating cell cycle and cell autophagy, and promoting cell apoptosis. BBR also inhibits cell invasion and metastasis by suppressing EMT and down-regulating the expression of metastasis-related proteins and signaling pathways. In addition, BBR inhibits cell proliferation by interacting with microRNAs and suppressing telomerase activity. BBR exerts its anti-inflammation and antioxidant properties, and also regulates tumor microenvironment. This review emphasized that BBR as a potential anti-inflammation and antioxidant agent, also as an effective immunomodulator, is expected to be widely used in clinic for cancer therapy.

Coding SNPs in hsa-miR-1343-3p and hsa-miR-6783-3p target sites of CYP2C19 modulates clopidogrel response in individuals with cardiovascular diseases

AIMS

To investigate the impact of microRNA target SNPs (mirSNPs) and their interaction with miRNAs on important drug-metabolizing enzymes, transporters and target genes for prediction of clopidogrel drug response in cardiovascular disease individuals.

MAIN METHODS

A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 292 individuals undergoing clopidogrel drug therapy. All the enrolled participants were administered 300 mg loading dose followed by 75 mg dose of maintenance therapy. Platelet aggregations were measured before administration of the loading dose and 2 h post fifth day dose of clopidogrel maintenance therapy. Clopidogrel carboxylic acid metabolite from plasma and urine were analyzed post maintenance therapy using the RP-HPLC method. Genotyping of mirSNP's shortlisted through in silico analysis was performed by tetra ARMS PCR and validated by Sanger DNA sequencing. The levels of selected miRNAs were estimated by the TaqMan-PCR assay. Functional validation of mirSNPs was performed in HepG2 cells after transfecting with the selected gene and miRNA mimics. Protein expressions were analyzed by western blot.

KEY FINDINGS

23% of enrolled individuals showed resistance to clopidogrel therapy. Out of 13 mirSNP's analyzed, CYP2C19 rs4244285 was associated with clopidogrel drug resistance and clopidogrel carboxylic acid metabolite in urine and plasma. hsa-miR-1343-3p and hsa-miR-6783-3p levels were significantly high in individuals with CYP2C19 rs4244285 mutant genotype and these miRNAs down-regulated the protein expression of CYP2C19.

SIGNIFICANCE

We demonstrated the role of coding mirSNP (rs4244285) in the regulation of the CYP2C19 gene through miRNAs and its implications to clopidogrel drug response prediction in the Indian population.