Feedback loop in miR-449b-3p/ADAM17/NF-κB promotes metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

MiRNA signatures in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a prevalent cancerous tumor that affects the head and neck region. Recent studies have provided compelling evidence indicating the significant involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development and progression of NPC. This review aims to present a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge regarding miRNA signatures in NPC, encompassing their expression patterns, molecular mechanisms, and potential therapeutic implications. Initially, the article outlines the aberrant expression of miRNAs in NPC and elucidates their roles in tumor initiation, invasion, and metastasis. Subsequently, the underlying molecular mechanisms of miRNA-mediated regulation of NPC-associated signaling pathways are discussed. Additionally, the review highlights the potential clinical applications of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as their therapeutic potential in NPC treatment. In conclusion, this review underscores the critical involvement of miRNAs in NPC pathogenesis and underscores their promise as novel therapeutic targets for combating this devastating disease.

Effect of liver metastasis on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients: a systemic review and meta-analysis

Liver metastasis is a frequent phenomenon in advanced tumor disease. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a new class of therapeutics that can improve the prognosis of cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between liver metastasis and survival outcomes of patients receiving ICIs treatment. We searched four main databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were the survival outcomes of our concern. Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate the relationship between liver metastasis and OS/ PFS. Finally, 163 articles were included in the study. The pooled results showed that patients with liver metastasis receiving ICIs treatment had worse OS (HR=1.82, 95%CI:1.59-2.08) and PFS (HR=1.68, 95%CI:1.49-1.89) than patients without liver metastasis. The effect of liver metastasis on ICIs efficacy differed in different tumor types, and patients with urinary system tumors (renal cell carcinoma OS: HR=2.47, 95%CI:1.76-3.45; urothelial carcinoma OS: HR=2.37, 95%CI:2.03-2.76) had the worst prognosis, followed by patients with melanoma (OS: HR=2.04, 95%CI:1.68-2.49) or non-small cell lung cancer (OS: HR=1.81, 95%CI:1.72-1.91). ICIs efficacy in digestive system tumors (colorectal cancer OS: HR=1.35, 95%CI:1.07-1.71; gastric cancer/ esophagogastric cancer OS: HR=1.17, 95%CI:0.90-1.52) was less affected, and peritoneal metastasis and the number of metastases have a greater clinical significance than liver metastasis based on univariate data. For cancer patients receiving ICIs treatment, the occurrence of liver metastasis is associated with poor prognosis. Different cancer types and metastatic sites may hold a different prognostic effect on the efficacy of ICIs treatment in cancer patients.

Disruption of the ADAM17/NF-κB feedback loop in astrocytes ameliorates HIV-1 Tat-induced inflammatory response and neuronal death

A disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs) are involved in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. However, the roles and mechanisms of ADAMs in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) remain unclear. Transactivator of transcription (Tat) induces inflammatory response in astrocytes, thereby leading to neuronal apoptosis in the central nervous system. In this study, we determined that ADAM17 expression was upregulated during soluble Tat stimulus in HEB astroglial cells. Inhibition of ADAM17 suppressed Tat-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines production and rescued the astrocytes-derived conditioned media (ACM)-mediated SH-SY5Y neural cells apoptosis. Moreover, ADAM17 mediated Tat-triggered inflammatory response in a NF-κB-dependent manner. Conversely, Tat induced ADAM17 expression via NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, pharmacological inhibition of NF-κB signaling inhibited Tat-induced inflammatory response, which could be rescued by overexpression of ADAM17. Taken together, our study clarifies the potential role of the ADAM17/NF-κB feedback loop in Tat-induced inflammatory response in astrocytes and the ACM-mediated neuronal death, which could be a novel therapeutic target for relief of HAND.

ADAM17 Confers Temozolomide Resistance in Human Glioblastoma Cells and miR-145 Regulates Its Expression

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant brain tumor, commonly treated with temozolomide (TMZ). Upregulation of A disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs) is correlated to malignancy; however, whether ADAMs modulate TMZ sensitivity in GBM cells remains unclear. To explore the role of ADAMs in TMZ resistance, we analyzed changes in ADAM expression following TMZ treatment using RNA sequencing and noted that ADAM17 was markedly upregulated. Hence, we established TMZ-resistant cell lines to elucidate the role of ADAM17. Furthermore, we evaluated the impact of ADAM17 knockdown on TMZ sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we predicted microRNAs upstream of ADAM17 and transfected miRNA mimics into cells to verify their effects on TMZ sensitivity. Additionally, the clinical significance of ADAM17 and miRNAs in GBM was analyzed. ADAM17 was upregulated in GBM cells under serum starvation and TMZ treatment and was overexpressed in TMZ-resistant cells. In in vitro and in vivo models, ADAM17 knockdown conferred greater TMZ sensitivity. miR-145 overexpression suppressed ADAM17 and sensitized cells to TMZ. ADAM17 upregulation and miR-145 downregulation in clinical specimens are associated with disease progression and poor prognosis. Thus, miR-145 enhances TMZ sensitivity by inhibiting ADAM17. These findings offer insights into the development of therapeutic approaches to overcome TMZ resistance.

Immunomodulatory role of metalloproteinase ADAM17 in tumor development

ADAM17 is a member of the a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family of transmembrane proteases involved in the shedding of some cell membrane proteins and regulating various signaling pathways. More than 90 substrates are regulated by ADAM17, some of which are closely relevant to tumor formation and development. Besides, ADAM17 is also responsible for immune regulation and its substrate-mediated signal transduction. Recently, ADAM17 has been considered as a major target for the treatment of tumors and yet its immunomodulatory roles and mechanisms remain unclear. In this paper, we summarized the recent understanding of structure and several regulatory roles of ADAM17. Importantly, we highlighted the immunomodulatory roles of ADAM17 in tumor development, as well as small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies targeting ADAM17.

Circular RNA_0033596 aggravates endothelial cell injury induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein via microRNA-217-5p /chloride intracellular channel 4 axis

In recent years, the modulatory functions of some circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS) have been reported. Nonetheless, the role of circular RNA_0033596 (circ_0033596) in AS and its mechanism remains unclarified. In this study, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) was applied to treat human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to establish a cell model of endothelial cell injury. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were employed to detect the expression of circ_0033596, microRNA-217-5p (miR-217-5p), and chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4) in HUVECs. The binding sites between circ_0033596 and miR-217-5p, as well as between miR-217-5p and CLIC4 mRNA 3ʹUTR were determined through a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. It was found that circ_0033596 expression was increased in ox-LDL-induced HUVECs. After ox-LDL stimulation, HUVEC viability and cell cycle progression were inhibited, and the apoptosis was promoted, while circ_0033596 overexpression aggravated these effects. MiR-217-5p was identified as a downstream target of circ_0033596, and circ_0033596 negatively regulated miR-217-5p expression. CLIC4 was identified as miR-217-5p’s downstream target gene and could be positively modulated by circ_0033596. All in all circ_0033596 aggravates ox-LDL-induced HUVEC apoptosis by regulating the miR-217-5p/CLIC4 axis, by which circ_0033596 participates in the pathogenesis of AS.

ADAM17 and NF-κB p65 form a positive feedback loop that facilitates human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell viability

A Disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) was proposed to cooperate with NF-κB p65, promoting tumorigenesis and progression of several human cancers. However, the role of ADAM17 remains unknown in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this study, gene expression analyses and cell viability assays suggested that knockdown of ADAM17 suppressed ESCC cell viability. Gene expression analyses and ChIP-qPCR revealed that NF-κB p65 positively regulated ADAM17 expression by binding to the ADAM17 promoter. Rescue experiments showed that overexpression of ADAM17 in NF-κB p65-depleted ESCC cells restored cell viability. In addition, western blot analyses and ChIP-qPCR indicated that ADAM17 was responsible for the persistent activation of NF-κB p65 and contributed to ADAM17 expression in ESCC cells. In conclusion, we propose that ADAM17-activated NF-κB p65 signaling positively regulates ADAM17 expression, and facilitates ESCC cell viability.

Aptamer-based CRISPR/Cas12a assay for the ultrasensitive detection of extracellular vesicle proteins

Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (TEVs) have emerged as promising sources of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the lack of high-sensitivity analytic methods for ultratrace membrane proteins on TEVs hamper their clinical application of TEVs. Herein, by combining aptamers that specifically bind to protein targets on TEVs, PCR-based exponential amplification and CRISPR/Cas12a real-time DNA detection, we developed a novel technique, termed the aptamer-CRISPR/Cas12a assay, to detect CD109⁺ and EGFR⁺ TEVs from cell lines and complex biofluids. The platform enables highly sensitive detection of CD109⁺ and EGFR⁺ TEVs at as low as 100 particles/mL with a linear range spanning 6 orders of magnitude (10²-10⁸ particles/mL), which was found to be sufficient to effectively detect TEV proteins directly in low-volume (50 μl) samples. Furthermore, clinical serum sample analysis verified that the combination of serum CD109⁺ and EGFR⁺ TEV levels yielded high diagnostic accuracy, with an AUC of 0.934 (95% CI: 0.868-1.000), a sensitivity of 84.1% and a specificity of 85.0%, in discriminating NPC from healthy controls. Moreover, the dramatic decrease in both biomarkers in responders after radiotherapy indicated their potential roles in radiotherapy surveillance. Given that the aptamer-CRISPR/Cas12a assay rapidly and conveniently detects ultralow concentrations of CD109⁺ and EGFR⁺ TEVs directly in serum, it could be useful in NPC diagnosis and prognosis.

High-matrix-stiffness induces promotion of hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation and suppression of apoptosis via miR-3682-3p-PHLDA1-FAS pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with malignant behaviors related to death causes distant metastasis and is the fourth primary cancer in the whole world, which has taken millions lives in Asian countries such as China. The novel miR-3682-3p involving high-expression-related poor prognosis in HCC tissues and cell lines indicate oncogenesis functions in vitro and in vivo. According to TCGA database, our group find several none-coding RNAs showing abnormal expression including miR-3682-3p, thus we originally confirmed the inhibition of proliferation and acceleration of apoptosis are enhanced in miR-3682-3p knock-down cell lines. Then, in nude mice transplantation assays, we found the suppressor behaviors, smaller nodules and lower speed of tumor expansion in model of injection of cell cultured and transfected shRNA-miR-3682-3p. A combination of databases (Starbase, Targetscan and MiRgator) illustrates miR-3682-3p targets PHLDA1, which shows negative correlation demonstrated by dual-luciferase reporter system. To make functional verification of PHLDA1, we upregulate the gene and rescue tests are established to confirm that miR-3682-3p suppresses PHLDA1 to promotion of cell growth. Rescue experiments finish making confirmation of relation of miR-3682-3p and PHLDA1 subsequently. Cirrhotic tissues illustrate strong correlation to higher miR-3682-3p and clinical features make the hint that high-extracellular-matrix-stiffness environment promotes such miRNA. Functional tests on different stiffness provide the proof of underlying mechanism. In conclusion, the overexpression of miR-3682-3p mediates PHLDA1 inhibition could impede apoptosis and elevate proliferation of HCC through high-extracellular-matrix-stiffness environment potentially.

Feedback loop in miR-449b-3p/ADAM17/NF-κB promotes metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

An emerging body of evidence has promoted the understanding of the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumorigenesis and progression, but the mediating function of miRNAs in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) development remains poorly elucidated. In this study, miR‐449b‐3p was downregulated in NPC specimens (P < .001) and cells (P < .05). Cytological and animal experiments provided evidence that miR‐449b‐3p inhibited NPC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) was revealed as a direct target of miR‐449b‐3p. Rescue experiments suggested that the downregulation of ADAM17 in the miR‐449b‐3p knockdown cells partially reversed the inhibition of cell invasion and migration. Luciferase reporter assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, and Western blot analysis showed that ADAM17 could suppress the promoter activity and expression of miR‐449b‐3p by inducing NF‐κB transcriptional activity. In conclusion, our study provided new insights into the underlying mechanism of the invasion and metastasis of NPC. The novel miR‐449b‐3p/ADAM17/NF‐κB feedback loop could be a target for the clinical treatment of NPC.