Upregulation of microRNA-140-3p inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma through inactivation of the MAPK signaling pathway by targeting GRN

Metformin regulates the LIN28B‑mediated JNK/STAT3 signaling pathway through miR‑140‑3p in subretinal fibrosis

Subretinal fibrosis (SF) is an important cause of submacular neovascularization that leads to permanent vision loss, but has no effective clinical treatment. The present study examined the influence of metformin on SF, and investigated whether the mechanism involves the microRNA (miR)-140-3p/LIN28B/JNK/STAT3-mediated regulation of oxidative stress, angiogenesis and fibrosis-associated indicators. A mouse model of laser-induced SF was established. In addition, an ARPE-19 fibrotic cell model was established using TGF-β1. A Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to examine cell viability. Flow cytometry was used to measure reactive oxygen species levels, and western blotting was used to detect the levels of proteins associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), signaling and fibrosis. The levels of superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, glutathione-peroxidase and catalase were measured using kits. Scratch assays and Transwell assays were used to assess cell migration and invasion, respectively, and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to determine the levels of miR-140-3p and LIN28B. Dual-luciferase assays were used to verify the targeting relationship between miR-140-3p and LIN28B, and coimmunoprecipitation was used to confirm the interaction between LIN28B and JNK. Masson staining and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to examine collagenous fibers and the histopathology of eye tissue. In ARPE-19 cells induced by TGF-β1, metformin promoted miR-140-3p expression and inhibited LIN28B expression and JNK/STAT3 pathway activation, thereby inhibiting oxidative stress, EMT and fibrosis in ARPE-19 cells. The overexpression of LIN28B or treatment with the JNK/STAT3 agonist anisomycin partially reversed the inhibitory effect of metformin on oxidative stress and fibrosis in ARPE-19 cells. The dual-luciferase reporter assay and coimmunoprecipitation assay showed that miR-140-3p targeted the 3' untranslated region of LIN28B mRNA and inhibited LIN28B expression. LIN28B targeted and bound to JNK and regulated the JNK/STAT3 pathway. Therefore, it may be concluded that metformin can promote miR-140-3p expression, inhibit LIN28B and then inhibit the JNK/STAT3 pathway to alleviate SF.

lncRNA AC005224.4/miR-140-3p/SNAI2 regulating axis facilitates the invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer through epithelial-mesenchymal transition

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer is one of the most widespread malignant diseases of the female reproductive system worldwide. The plurality of ovarian cancer is diagnosed with metastasis in the abdominal cavity. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) exerts a vital role in tumor cell metastasis. However, it remains unclear whether long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) are implicated in EMT and influence ovarian cancer cell invasion and metastasis. This study was designed to investigate the impacts of lncRNA AC005224.4 on ovarian cancer.

METHODS

LncRNA AC005224.4, miR-140-3p, and snail family transcriptional repressor 2 ( SNAI2 ) expression levels in ovarian cancer and normal ovarian tissues were determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell (migration and invasion) assays were conducted to measure SKOV3 and CAOV-3 cell proliferation and metastasis. E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail, and Vimentin contents were detected using Western blot. Nude mouse xenograft assay was utilized to validate AC005224.4 effects in vivo . Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the targeted relationship between miR-140-3p and AC005224.4 or SNAI2 .

RESULTS

AC005224.4 and SNAI2 upregulation and miR-140-3p downregulation were observed in ovarian cancer tissues and cells. Silencing of AC005224.4 observably moderated SKOV3 and CAOV-3 cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT process in vitro and impaired the tumorigenesis in vivo . miR-140-3p was a target of AC005224.4 and its reduced expression level was mediated by AC005224.4. miR-140-3p mimics decreased the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. SNAI2 was identified as a novel target of miR-140-3p and its expression level was promoted by either AC005224.4 overexpression or miR-140-3p knockdown. Overexpression of SNAI2 also facilitated ovarian cancer cell viability and metastasis.

CONCLUSION

AC005224.4 was confirmed as an oncogene via sponging miR-140-3p and promoted SNAI2 expression, contributing to better understanding of ovarian cancer pathogenesis and shedding light on exploiting the novel lncRNA-directed therapy against ovarian cancer.

MiR-140-3p directly targets Tyro3 to regulate OGD/R-induced neuronal injury through the PI3K/Akt pathway

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly expressed in the central nervous system and play important roles in ischaemic stroke pathogenesis. However, the role of miRNAs in cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of miR-140-3p in regulating oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced neuronal injury in vitro to identify a new biomarker for research on ischaemic stroke.

METHODS

The differential expression of miR-140-3p and Tyro3 in OGD/R-exposed N2a cells was verified by qRT-PCR. N2a cells were transfected with miR-140-3p mimic, miR-140-3p inhibitor, Tyro3 or siTyro3, and qRT-PCR, Western blotting, the Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Hoechst 33342/PI staining and flow cytometry analyses were performed to measure miRNA, mRNA and protein expression; cell viability; and apoptosis.

RESULTS

OGD/R-exposed N2a cells exhibited increased miR-140-3p expression, decreased viability, reduced Bcl-2 protein expression and increased Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression and apoptosis; the miR-140-3p mimic markedly amplified these changes, exacerbating OGD/R-induced injury to N2a cells, while the miR-140-3p inhibitor reversed these changes and alleviated OGD/R-induced injury. OGD/R-exposed N2a cells expressed less Tyro3, and Tyro3 overexpression increased cell viability and Bcl-2 protein expression, reduced Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression, and alleviated OGD/R-induced injury. However, silencing Tyro3 reversed these changes and exacerbated OGD/R-induced injury. MiR-140-3p directly bound the Tyro3 mRNA 3'UTR. Rescue experiments indicated that the miR-140-3p mimic-induced changes in cell viability and protein expression were alleviated by Tyro3 overexpression and that the miR-140-3p inhibitor-induced changes in cell viability and protein expression were alleviated by silencing Tyro3. Tyro3 overexpression increased cell viability and PI3K and p-Akt protein expression, but these effects were weakened by the addition of LY294002.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-140-3p directly targets Tyro3 to regulate cell viability and apoptosis of OGD/R-exposed N2a cells through the PI3K/Akt pathway, suggesting that miR-140-3p is a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for ischaemic stroke.

Hepatitis B virus X protein mediated epigenetic alterations in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide health problem. Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx), a pleiotropic regulatory protein encoded by HBV, is necessary for the transcription of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) minichromosomes, and affects the epigenetic regulation of host cells. The epigenetic reprogramming of HBx on host cell genome is strongly involved in HBV-related HCC carcinogenesis. Here, we review the latest findings of the epigenetic regulation induced by HBx protein in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including DNA methylation, histone modification and non-coding RNA expression. The influence of HBx on the epigenetic regulation of cccDNA is also summarized. In addition, preliminary studies of targeted drugs for epigenetic changes induced by HBx are also discussed. The exploration of epigenetic markers as potential targets will help to develop new prevention and/or treatment methods for HBx-related HCC.

The Role of Cancer Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes in Cancer Progression

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a small portion of tumor cells with self-renewal ability in tumor tissues and are a key factor in tumor resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. CSCs produce a large number of exosomes through various mechanisms, such as paracrine and autocrine signaling. Studies have shown that CSC-derived exosomes (CSC-Exos) carry a variety of gene mutations and specific epigenetic modifications indicative of unique cell phenotypes and metabolic pathways, enabling exchange of information in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to promote tumor invasion and metastasis. In addition, CSC-Exos carry a variety of metabolites, especially proteins and miRNAs, which can activate signaling pathways to further promote tumor development. CSC-Exos have dual effects on cancer development. Due to advances in liquid biopsy technology for early cancer detection, CSCs-Exos may become an important tool for early cancer diagnosis and therapeutic drug delivery. In this article, we will review how CSC-Exos exert the above effects based on the above two aspects and explore their mechanism of action.

Regulatory effects of lncRNAs and miRNAs on the crosstalk between autophagy and EMT in cancer: a new era for cancer treatment

PURPOSE

Autophagy and EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) are the two principal biological processes and ideal therapeutic targets during cancer development. Autophagy, a highly conserved process for degrading dysfunctional cellular components, plays a dual role in tumors depending on the tumor stage and tissue types. The EMT process is the transition differentiation from an epithelial cell to a mesenchymal-like cell and acquiring metastatic potential. There is evidence that the crosstalk between autophagy and EMT is complex in cancer. In recent years, more studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in autophagy, EMT, and their crosstalk. Therefore, accurate understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs and miRNAs in autophagy, EMT and their interactions is crucial for the clinical management of cancers.

METHODS

An extensive literature search was conducted on the Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The keywords used for the search included: autophagy, EMT, crosstalk, lncRNAs, miRNAs, cancers, diagnostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. This search provided relevant articles published in peer-reviewed journals until 2021. Data from these various studies were extracted and used in this review.

RESULTS

The results showed that lncRNAs/miRNAs as tumor inhibitors or tumor inducers could regulate autophagy, EMT, and their interaction by regulating several molecular signaling pathways. The lncRNAs/miRNAs involved in autophagy and EMT processes could have potential uses in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.

CONCLUSION

Such information could help find and develop lncRNAs/miRNAs based new tools for diagnosing, prognosis, and creating anti-cancer therapies.

MicroRNA-140-3p represses the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma cells via targeting TYMS (thymidylate synthetase)

MicroRNA (miR)-140-3p has been proved to repress lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and our study aims to further evaluate the mechanism. Bioinformatic analyses were performed. The viability, proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of transfected LUAD cells were all determined via Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, Scratch, Transwell, and tube formation assays. The targeting relationship between miR-140-3p and thymidylate synthetase (TYMS) was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Relative expressions of miR-140-3p, TYMS, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition- (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin), angiogenesis- (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)), and apoptosis-related factors (cleaved caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax)) were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or Western blot. TYMS was high-expressed yet miR-140-3p was low-expressed in LUAD cells. Upregulation of miR-140-3p inhibited TYMS expression, viability, colony formation, migration, invasion, and tube length within LUAD cells, while downregulation of miR-140-3p did oppositely. Silenced TYMS, the downstream target gene of miR-140-3p, reversed the effects of miR-140-3p downregulation on TYMS expression, cell viability, colony formation, migration, invasion, and tube length as well as the metastasis-, apoptosis- and angiogenesis-related proteins in LUAD cells. Upregulation of miR-140-3p inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of LUAD cells via targeting TYMS.

Risk characteristics with seven epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes are used to predict the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes (ERGs) have been shown to play an important role in cancer invasion, tumor resistance, and tumor metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. This study sought to examine the prognostic value of ERGs and other pre-hepatoma genes.

Methods

Relevant data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed and synthesized. Specifically, 1,014 ERGs were downloaded and subject to a gene set enrichment analysis; 318 different EAG expressions were found, and the possible molecular mechanism of EAG was predicted by GO analysis and KEGG analysis. To determine the prediction of ERGS, a Cox regression model was used to establish a risk hypothesis. Based on risk patterns, patients were divided into high- or low-risk groups. Kaplan-Meier and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves confirmed the predictive value of the model.

Results

Seven prognostically relevant ERGs (i.e., ECT2, EZH2, MYCN, ROR2, SPP1, SQSTM1, and STC2) were identified. Using Cox's regression analysis method, appropriate cases were selected to establish a new risk prediction model. Under the risk model, the overall survival rate of the low-risk group samples was higher than that of the high-risk group samples (P<0.00001).

Conclusions

In short, we developed a risk model for liver cancer based on ERGs terminology. This model improve the postpartum treatment of patients with liver cancer.

MicroRNA-550a-3-5p controls the brain metastasis of lung cancer by directly targeting YAP1

Background

This study aimed to explore the potential regulatory mechanisms of brain metastasis and to identify novel underlying targets of lung cancer with brain metastasis.

Methods

Exosomes were isolated from the plasma of lung cancer patients with or without brain metastasis and low or high metastatic lung cancer cells, and small RNA from plasma-derived exosomes were sequenced. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) were identified. Human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) were transfected with miR-550a-3-5p mimics or inhibitors and exosomes. Cell viability, migration, and apoptosis/cycle were determined using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), Transwell, and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blotting was used to measure the expression of the associated proteins. Finally, a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to confirm the miR-550a-3-5p target.

Results

Transmission electron microscopy, NanoSight, and western blotting showed that exosomes were successfully isolated and cell-derived exosomes could be taken up by HBMECs. Sequencing identified 22 DE-miRNAs which were enriched in the MAPK, chemokine, PPAR, and Wnt signaling pathways. MiR-550a-3-5p was significantly enriched in brain metastatic exosomes. Cellular experiments showed that miR-550a-3-5p and exosome enrichment significantly inhibited cell viability and migration, promoted apoptosis, and regulated the cell cycle of HBMECs compared with the controls (P  <  0.05). Compared with the controls, high levels of both miR-550a-3-5p and exosomes markedly upregulated cleaved-PARP expression, but downregulated the expression of pRB, CDK6, YAP1, CTGF, and CYR61 (P  <  0.05). Finally, YAP1 was confirmed to bind directly to miR-550a-3-5p.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that miR-550a-3-5p and YAP1 may be novel potential targets for controlling brain metastasis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02197-z.

LINC00852 promotes the proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells by competitively binding with miR-140-3p to regulate AGTR1 expression

Background

Dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been identified in ovarian cancer. However, the expression and biological functions of LINC00852 in ovarian cancer are not understood.

Methods

The expressions of LINC00852, miR-140-3p and AGTR1 mRNA in ovarian cancer tissues and cells were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. Gain- and loss-of-function assays were performed to explore the biological functions of LINC00852 and miR-140-3p in the progression of ovarian cancer in vitro. The bindings between LINC00852 and miR-140-3p were confirmed by luciferase reporter gene assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and RNA pull-down assay.

Results

We found that LINC00852 expression was significantly up-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues and cells, whereas miR-140-3p expression was significantly down-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues. Functionally, LINC00852 knockdown inhibited the viability, proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells, and promoted the apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. Further investigation showed that LINC00852 interacted with miR-140-3p, and miR-140-3p overexpression suppressed the viability, proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. In addition, miR-140-3p interacted with AGTR1 and negatively regulated its level in ovarian cancer cells. Mechanistically, we found that LINC00852 acted as a ceRNA of miR-140-3p to promote AGTR1 expression and activate MEK/ERK/STAT3 pathway. Finally, LINC00852 knockdown inhibited the growth and invasion ovarian cancer in vivo.

Conclusion

LINC00852/miR-140-3p/AGTR1 is an important pathway to promote the proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer.

miR-744-5p suppresses tumor proliferation and metastasis by targeting transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

BACKGROUND

microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of various tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Specifically, miR-744-5p has been shown to be associated with tumor development, but the underlying mechanism by which miR-744-5p affects HCC remains unclear. Thus, this study sought to explore the molecular mechanism governing the function of miR-744-5p in HCC.

METHODS

The expression of miR-744-5p in HCC tissues/cells was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Colony-formation, cell-counting kit 8 (CCK-8), Transwell, and wound-healing assays were used to assess the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells. Additionally, the interaction between miR-744-5p and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) was detected using a dual-luciferase reporter and a Western-blot analysis.

RESULTS

miR-744-5p expression was shown to be significantly reduced in HCC tissues and cells. The overexpression of miR-744-5p not only significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, but also significantly reduced epithelial-mesenchymal transition-induced invasion. A luciferase reporter assay validated the ability of miR-744-5p to directly target TGF-β1. Further, the overexpression of TGF-β1 appeared to abolish the inhibitive effect of miR-744-5p mimics on HCC development.

CONCLUSIONS

As per our findings, it was revealed that miR-744-5p suppresses HCC proliferation and invasion by regulating the TGF-β1 signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT).

Circular RNA circ_0008274 upregulates granulin to promote the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via sponging microRNA -140-3p

Circular RNA (circRNA) features prominently in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), of which the biological function and potential mechanism of circ_0008274 in HCC are obscure. The present study aims to explore circ_ 0008274's biological functions and underlying mechanisms in HCC. The expressions of circ_0008274, miR-140-3p and Granulin (GRN) mRNA in HCC tissues and cells were investigated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Besides, GRN protein expression was measured by Western blot. Furthermore, chi-square test was used to probe the interrelation between circ_0008274 expression and clinicopathological parameters. In addition, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and EdU assays were applied to detect cell proliferation. Moreover, transwell assay was used to detect cell migration and invasion. What's more, bioinformatics prediction, dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA Immunoprecipitation experiments were used to corroborate the targeting interrelations among circ_0008274, miR-140-3p and GRN. Herein we reported that circ_0008274 was highly expressed in HCC, and its high expression enhanced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells, while depleting circ_0008274 inhibited the malignant biological behaviors of HCC cells. Mechanistically, circ_0008274 upregulates GRN expressions via adsorbing miR-140-3p to expedite the progression of HCC.

MiR-140-3p Impedes Gastric Cancer Progression and Metastasis by Regulating BCL2/BECN1-Mediated Autophagy

Introduction

MiRNAs have been proven to modulate the progression of gastric cancer (GC). In this field, we evaluated the role and mechanism of miR-140-3p in GC.

Methods

Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to detect the levels of miR-140-3p and BCL2. The interaction of miR-140-3p and BCL2 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter and miRNA pull-down assays. CCK-8, EdU, wound healing, and Transwell invasion assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Autophagy was analyzed using Western blot analysis of the LC3-II/I ratio and immunofluorescence staining. A xenograft model was established to reveal the role of miR-140-3p in tumorigenesis.

Results

In GC cell lines and tissues, miR-140-3p was highly expressed, and BCL2 was expressed at low levels. MiR-140-3p directly inhibited BCL2 expression and indirectly promoted BECN1 expression, and BCL2 inhibited BECN1 expression. MiR-140-3p overexpression or silencing restrained or facilitated migration, invasion and EMT in GC cells. Moreover, we noticed that overexpression or downregulation of miR-140-3p promoted or suppressed BECN1-dependent autophagy in GC cells. BCL2 introduction or BECN1 silencing in GC cells partially blocked the effects of miR-140-3p. In conclusion, miR-140-3p directly downregulated the expression of BCL2, BCL2 downregulation further activated BECN1-dependent autophagy, and autophagy activation further inhibited EMT.

Conclusion

miR-140-3p may act as a tumor suppressor by targeting BCL2 and regulating downstream BECN1-induced autophagy and metastasis in GC progression.

MicroRNA signature in liver cancer

Liver cancer is the 7^th utmost frequent neoplasm and the 4^th principal source of cancer deaths. This malignancy is linked with several environmental and lifestyle-related factors emphasizing the role of epigenetics in its pathogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been regarded as potent epigenetic mechanisms partaking in the pathogenesis of liver cancer. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been related with poor outcome of patients with liver cancer. In the current manuscript, we provide a concise review of the results of recent studies about the role of miRNAs in the progression of liver cancer and their diagnostic and prognostic utility.

The Emerging Roles of Exosomes in the Chemoresistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common gastrointestinal malignancy with a leading incidence of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite the progress of treatment options, there remains low efficacy for patients with intermediate-advanced HCC, due to tumor metastasis, recurrence and chemoresistance. Increasing evidence suggests that exosomes in the tumor microenvironment (TME), along with other extracellular vesicles (EVs) and cytokines, contribute to the drug chemosensitivity of cancer cells. Exosomes, the intercellular communicators in various biological activities, have shown to play important roles in HCC progression. This review summarizes the underlying associations between exosomes and chemoresistance of HCC cells. The exosomes derived from distinct cell types mediate the drug resistance by regulating drug efflux, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cancer stem cell (CSC) properties, autophagic phenotypes, as well as the immune response. In summary, TME-related exosomes can be a potential target to reverse chemoresistance and a candidate biomarker of drug efficacy in HCC patients.

Effects of miRNA-140 on the Growth and Clinical Prognosis of SMMC-7721 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line

Background

A growing number of studies have suggested that microRNAs exert an essential role in the development and occurrence of multiple tumours and act as crucial regulators in various biological processes. However, the expression and function of miRNA-140 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are not yet adequately identified and manifested.

Methods

The expression of miRNA-140 was determined in HCC tissues and adjacent nontumour tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were performed to explore the correlation between miRNA-140 expression level and the survival rate of patients with HCC. Additionally, overexpression experiments were conducted to investigate the biological role of miRNA-140 in HCC cells. Bioinformatics was used to predict the related target genes and pathways of miRNA-140.

Results

QRT-PCR results signified that the expression level of miRNA-140 in HCC was lower than that of adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.0001). Compared with the control group, the SMMC-7721 HCC cells in the miRNA-140 mimic group had a decrease in proliferation, migration, and invasion (P < 0.05), whereas those in the miRNA-140 inhibitor group had an increase in proliferation, migration, and invasion (P < 0.05). Cell cycle arrest occurred in the G0/1 phase. Prognosis analysis showed that the expression level of miRNA-140 was not related to the prognosis of HCC. Furthermore, the Kaplan-Meier test revealed that patients with lower miRNA-140 expression levels in liver cancer tissue had significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS, P = 0.004) and overall survival (OS) times (P = 0.010) after hepatectomy. Cox regression analysis further indicated that miRNA-140 was an independent risk factor that may affect the DFS (P = 0.004) and OS times (P = 0.014) of patients after hepatectomy. Our results suggested that miRNA-140 might be a crucial regulator involved in the HCC progression and is thus considered a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.

Identification of a Novel Metastasis-Related miRNAs-Based Signature for Predicting the Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common internal malignancies worldwide and is associated with a poor prognosis. Abnormal expression of miRNAs is believed to play a role in the recurrent metastasis of HCC. However, limited studies on the role of miRNAs in HCC metastasis have been carried out. Therefore, this study is aimed at exploring the potential value of metastasis-related miRNAs (MRMs) in HCC. We retrieved MRMs were from the Human Cancer Metastasis Database. Differential miRNAs were identified for tumor samples of HCC patients and normal samples based on the TCGA database. Further, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to screen MRMs known to be independent prognostic factors in HCC. These MRMs were then used to build a prognostic signature. All patients were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the median of the signature scores. Moreover, GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed to predict the function of these MRMs. Finally, a nomogram was constructed to predict the OS of patients at 1, 2, and 3 years. In our study, a total of seven prognostic MRMs (miR-140-3p, miR-9-5p, miR-942-5p, miR-324-3p, miR-29c-5p, miR-551a, and miR-149-5p) were identified and used for constructing the prognostic signature based on the training cohort. Patients in the low-risk HCC group showed better overall survival (OS) than those in the high-risk group. The results were validated using the validation cohort. In summary, the findings of this study provide evidence that MRMs-based prognostic signature is an independent biomarker in the prognosis of HCC patients.

A study on the effects of tumor-derived exosomes on hepatoma cells and hepatocytes by atomic force microscopy

Tumor-derived exosomes (exos) are closely related to the occurrence, development and treatment of tumors. However, it is not clear how the exosomes affect the physical properties, which lead to the deterioration of the target cells. In this paper, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study the effects of exosomes in HCC-LM3 cells and other cells (SMMC-7721 and HL-7702). The results showed that the HCC-LM3-exos (the exosomes secreted by HCC-LM3 cells, 50 μg mL^-1) significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of HCC-LM3 cells. HCC-LM3-exos also promoted the proliferation and migration of SMMC-7721 and HL-7702 cells at 1000 and 1500 μg mL^-1, respectively. With an increase in time and concentration, the proliferation effect was more significant. On comparing the mechanical properties of the three types of cells (HCC-LM3, SMMC-7721 and HL-7702 cells), the degradation degree and migration ability of the cells were from high to low in the above order. In turn, the surface roughness of the cells decreased, and adhesion and elastic modulus increased. With an increase in treatment time, surface roughness increased, while adhesion and elastic modulus decreased. These suggested that the HCC-LM3-exos could change the mechanical properties of cells, leading to their deterioration, and enhance their migration and invasion ability. In this paper, the effects of exosomes were analyzed from the perspective of the physical parameters of cells, which provide a new idea to study cancer metastasis and prognosis.

MicroRNAs as regulators of ERK/MAPK pathway: A comprehensive review

The ERK/MAPK cascade is one the four distinctive MAPK cascades which transmit extracellular signals to intracellular targets. This cascade has an important role in the regulation of several fundamental processes such as proliferation, differentiation and cell response to diverse extrinsic stresses. Moreover, several studies have shown participation of this cascade in the pathogenesis of cancer. Recent investigations have unraveled interaction between microRNAs (miRNAs) and ERK/MAPK cascade. These transcripts reside in both upstream and downstream of this cascade, regulating or being regulated by ERK/MAPK proteins. In the current review, we summarize the role of miRNAs in the regulation of ERK/MAPK and their contribution in the pathogenesis of human disorders with particular focus on cancers.

miR-140-3p enhances cisplatin sensitivity and attenuates stem cell-like properties through repressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling in lung adenocarcinoma cells

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most predominant subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that is experiencing the fastest growth rate in incidence. Chemoresistance and the presence of cancer stem cells are considered to be the main obstacles preventing the successful treatment of patients with NSCLC, the molecular mechanism of which remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of microRNA (miR)-140-3p on cisplatin sensitivity and stem cell-like properties of LUAD cells. Analysis of publicly available data demonstrated that miR-140-3p expression was downregulated in LUAD, and positively associated with the overall survival rate of patients. In addition, transfection with the miR-140-3p mimic reduced LUAD cell viability and induced apoptosis following treatment with cisplatin whilst decreasing stem cell-like properties. miR-140-3p overexpression was also found to attenuate cisplatin resistance and reduce stem cell-like properties in LUAD cells by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling, all of which were reversed by the overexpression of β-catenin. Taken together, results of the present study suggest miR-140-3p to be an effective therapeutic strategy for patients with LUAD.

Circular RNA circNTRK2 facilitates the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through up-regulating NRIP1 expression via miR-140-3p

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal malignancies with high mortality. Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) have become a research hotspot in recent years for their vital roles in cancer development and progression. This study aims to clarify the roles of circNTRK2 and its underlying molecular mechanisms in ESCC.

Methods

The levels of circNTRK2, miR-140-3p, and nuclear receptor-interacting protein 1 (NRIP1) mRNA were examined by qRT-PCR. The cell proliferation ability was detected via CCK-8, EdU and colony formation assays. The invasion capacity was tested by using transwell assay. The apoptotic rate was evaluated through flow cytometry. The protein levels of cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase-3, E-cadherin, vimentin, and NRIP1 were measured by western blot assay. The validation of circular structure was performed by Sanger sequencing, divergent primer PCR, and RNase R treatments. The ceRNA regulatory mechanism of circNTRK2 was observed via dual-luciferase reporter, RIP and RNA pull-down assays. The mice xenograft models were constructed to confirm the oncogenicity of circNTRK2 in ESCC in vivo.

Results

CircNTRK2 was highly expressed in ESCC tissues and cells. High expression of circNTRK2 was correlated with advanced TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and short survival. Knockdown of circNTRK2 inhibited ESCC cell proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and accelerated apoptosis in vitro. Mechanistic assays disclosed that circNTRK2 could act as a sponge for miR-140-3p to abate its suppression on target NRIP1 expression. Moreover, miR-140-3p-induced inhibitory effects on ESCC cell malignant phenotypes were attenuated by the overexpression of circNTRK2. In addition, depletion of NRIP1 impeded cell proliferation, invasion and EMT, while enhanced apoptosis. Furthermore, silencing of circNTRK2 suppressed cell proliferation and invasion through regulating NRIP1 expression. Also, knockdown of circNTRK2 slowed ESCC tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusion

CircNTRK2 promoted ESCC progression by regulating miR-140-3p/NRIP1 pathway. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of circRNAs as miRNA sponges and highlight a promising therapy target in ESCC.

miR-140-3p Inhibits Cutaneous Melanoma Progression by Disrupting AKT/p70S6K and JNK Pathways through ABHD2

Because cutaneous melanoma (CM) is one of the most lethal human tumors, major treatment advances are vital. miR-140-3p has been suggested to act as a suppressor in a range of malignant tumors, implying its possible use as a biomarker for effective antineoplastic treatment. However, the potential role of miR-140-3p in CM and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. In the present study, we identified lower levels of miR-140-3p in both CM tissues and cell lines; this downregulation was strongly associated with worse CM survival. Additionally, overexpression of miR-140-3p significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in CM cells with different cell line origins. Importantly, by means of both bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay, we revealed abhydrolase domain containing 2 (ABHD2) to be a target of miR-140-3p in CM cells. Upregulation of ABHD2 reversed the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-140-3p in CM cells. Furthermore, miR-140-3p-targeted ABHD2 played a role in both activation of JNK signaling and inhibition of the AKT/p70S6K pathway in CM cells. Finally, in vivo results strongly suggested the suppressive effects of miR-140-3p on CM growth and metastasis. Collectively, our findings highlight a novel antineoplastic function for miR-140-3p in CM through ABHD2.

By targeting TRAF6, miR-140-3p inhibits TGF-β1-induced human osteosarcoma epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the effects of miR-140-3p on EMT, cellular migration, and invasion in TGF-β1 treated human OS cells. Human fresh OS tissue and normal bone tissue specimens were gathered from 42 patients (29 male and 13 female, 11 to 24 years of age with a mean age of 17.5 ± 2.3 years) diagnosed with OS by pathology. By targeting TRAF6, miR-140-3p inhibits TGF-β1-induced human osteosarcoma epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion.

RESULTS

In this study, we found microRNA (miR)-140-3p to be down-regulated and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) to be up-regulated in patient OS samples. Lower levels of miR-140-3p and higher levels of TRAF6 were found in the advanced Enneking stage of OS. Furthermore, both mRNA and protein levels of TRAF6 were negatively associated with miR-140-3p mRNA expression in human OS tissue. TRAF6 was verified as a direct target of miR-140-3p in TGF-β1-treated human U2OS cells. Further, a miR-140-3p mimic dramatically inhibited while a miR-140-3p inhibitor enhanced TGF-β1-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion of U2OS cells. Small interfering RNA was found to silence TRAF6 and to partly reverse the effects of the miR-140-3p inhibitor on TGF-β1-treated U2OS cells in vitro.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate miR-140-3p to function as a tumor inhibitor of human OS cells by decreasing TRAF6 expression. miR-140-3p and TRAF6 may be valuable and novel biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of OS.

Novel long noncoding RNA LINC01385 promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma proliferation via the miR-140-3p/Twist1 signaling pathway

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been verified as a key modulator in tumor progression. However, the functions of lncRNAs in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remain unclear. In the present study, we explored lncRNAs expression patterns in NPC tissues by GEO dataset and selected the high expression lncRNA (LINC01385) to further study. Our data showed that LINC01385 expression was significantly increased NPC and correlated with advanced clinical features and poor prognosis. Function assays showed that knockdown of LINC01385 expression reduced the proliferation and invasion abilities of NPC cells in vitro. In mechanism, LINC01385 acted as a molecular sponge of miR-140-3p in NPC cells, Twist1 mRNA was validated as a direct target of miR-140-3p in NPC cells. The effects of the LINC01385 knockdown on malignant characteristics of NPC cells were greatly attenuated by miR-140-3p inhibition or Twist1 overexpression. Thus, we illustrated that LINC01385 aggravated the progression of NPC by sponging miR-140-3p and upregulating Twist1 expression, which implied LINC01385 might serve as a new potential therapeutic target for NPC treatment.

miR-4458 inhibits the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by suppressing the TGF-β signaling pathway via targeting TGFBR1

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal cancers in the world. MicroRNAs play a pivotal role in the progression of various cancers. To date, very little attention has been paid to miR-4458. Therefore, the aim of our study was to explore the function and underlying molecular mechanism of miR-4458 in HCC. We found that the expression of miR-4458 was reduced in HCC tissues and cell lines. Forced overexpression of miR-4458 inhibited the migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells, while downregulation of miR-4458 promoted the aggressive phenotype. Furthermore, transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1), the modulator of the TGF-β signaling pathway, was verified to be a novel target gene of miR-4458 by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Upregulated miR-4458 dramatically abolished TGFBR1 and p-Smad2/3 expression, thus blocking the TGF-β signaling pathway. Moreover, restoration of TGFBR1 partially rescued the miR-4458-mediated suppressive effect on the migration, invasion, and EMT and reactivated the TGF-β signaling pathway in HCC cells. In summary, our findings first demonstrated a mechanism of miR-4458 in HCC cell migration, invasion, and EMT by regulating the TGF-β signaling pathway via directly targeting TGFBR1.

Antiepithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Herbal Active Substance in Tumor Cells via Different Signaling

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process through which epithelial cells differentiate into mesenchymal cells. EMT plays an important role in embryonic development and wound healing; however, EMT also contributes to some pathological processes, such as tumor metastasis and fibrosis. EMT mechanisms, including gene mutation and transcription factor regulation, are complicated and not yet well understood. In this review, we introduce some herbal active substances that exert antitumor activity through inhibiting EMT that is induced by hypoxia, high blood glucose level, lipopolysaccharide, or other factors.

Liver fluke granulin promotes extracellular vesicle-mediated crosstalk and cellular microenvironment conducive to cholangiocarcinoma

Crosstalk between malignant and neighboring cells contributes to tumor growth. In East Asia, infection with the liver fluke is a major risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini secretes a growth factor termed liver fluke granulin, a homologue of the human progranulin, which contributes significantly to biliary tract fibrosis and morbidity. Here, extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated transfer of mRNAs from human cholangiocytes to naïve recipient cells was investigated following exposure to liver fluke granulin. To minimize the influence of endogenous progranulin, its cognate gene was inactivated using CRISPR/Cas9-based gene knock-out. Several progranulin-depleted cell lines, termed ΔhuPGRN-H69, were established. These lines exhibited >80% reductions in levels of specific transcript and progranulin, both in gene-edited cells and within EVs released by these cells. Profiles of extracellular vesicle RNAs (evRNA) from ΔhuPGRN-H69 for CCA-associated characteristics revealed a paucity of transcripts for estrogen- and Wnt-signaling pathways, peptidase inhibitors and tyrosine phosphatase related to cellular processes including oncogenic transformation. Several CCA-specific evRNAs including MAPK/AKT pathway members were induced by exposure to liver fluke granulin. By comparison, estrogen, Wnt/PI3K and TGF signaling and other CCA pathway mRNAs were upregulated in wild type H69 cells exposed to liver fluke granulin. Of these, CCA-associated evRNAs modified the CCA microenvironment in naïve cells co-cultured with EVs from ΔhuPGRN-H69 cells exposed to liver fluke granulin, and induced translation of MAPK phosphorylation related-protein in naïve recipient cells in comparison with control recipient cells. Exosome-mediated crosstalk in response to liver fluke granulin promoted a CCA-specific program through MAPK pathway which, in turn, established a CCA-conducive disposition.

Microarray expression profiles and bioinformatics analysis of mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in the secondary temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma

Temozolomide is a first line anti-tumor drug used for the treatment of patients with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). However, the drug resistance to temozolomide limits its clinical application. Therefore, novel strategies to overcome chemoresistance are desperately needed for improved treatment of human GBM. Here, we simultaneously detected, for the first time, the expression profiles of mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in three pairs of secondary temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma (STRG) and matched primary glioblastoma tissues by microarrays. Using these data, we discovered a total of 92 mRNA, 299 lncRNAs and 53 circRNAs were altered in human glioma tissue after chemotherapy with temozolomide. The functions of differentially expressed lncRNAs, circRNAs were annotated by analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The results showed that the highest enriched GO terms of the upregulated lncRNAs were embryonic forelimb morphogenesis (BP), extracellular space (CC), and serine-type endopeptidase activity (MF). Meanwhile, GO:0035360(BP), PRC1 complex (CC), and ubiquitin-protein transferase activity (MF) were the highest enriched GO terms targeted by downregulated lncRNAs. The NF-kappa B signaling pathway were significantly enriched in the STRG. However, circRNAs highest enriched GO term was viral process, chromosome, and protein transporter activity, respectively. KEGG pathway analysis showed that circRNAs in the network were enriched in ErbB signaling pathway. Furthermore, we also predicted the potential role of these differentially expressed ncRNAs and constructed a network of lncRNAs-mRNAs and circRNAs-miRNAs to show their interactions. After a series of bioinformatics analyses, we found that low expression of NONHSAT163779 and high expression of circ_0043949 are closely related to the chemoresistance of STRG. Our findings revealed the alteration of expression patterns of mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in the secondary temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma for the first time. NONHSAT163779 and hsa_circ_0043949 might be potential therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for the treatment of glioblastoma.

Tumorigenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutic potential of exosomes in liver cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, also called primary liver cancer) is one of the most fatal cancers in the world. Due to the insidiousness of the onset of HCC and the lack of effective treatment methods, the prognosis of HCC is extremely poor, and the 5-year average survival rate is less than 10%. Exosomes are nano-sized microvesicle and contain various components such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. Exosomes are important carriers for signal transmission or transportation of material from cell to cell or between cells and tissues. In recent years, exosomes have been considered as potential therapeutic targets of HCC. A large number of reports indicate that exosomes play a key role in the establishment of an HCC microenvironment, as well as the development, progression, invasion, metastasis, and even the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of HCC. However, the exact molecular mechanisms and roles of exosomes in these processes remain unclear. We believe that elucidation of the regulatory mechanism of HCC-related exosomes and its signaling pathway and analysis of its clinical applications in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC can provide useful clues for future treatment regimens for HCC. This article discusses and summarizes the research progress of HCC-related exosomes and their potential clinical applications.

Tumorigenesis, diagnosis, and therapeutic potential of exosomes in liver cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, also called primary liver cancer) is one of the most fatal cancers in the world. Due to the insidiousness of the onset of HCC and the lack of effective treatment methods, the prognosis of HCC is extremely poor, and the 5-year average survival rate is less than 10%. Exosomes are nano-sized microvesicle and contain various components such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. Exosomes are important carriers for signal transmission or transportation of material from cell to cell or between cells and tissues. In recent years, exosomes have been considered as potential therapeutic targets of HCC. A large number of reports indicate that exosomes play a key role in the establishment of an HCC microenvironment, as well as the development, progression, invasion, metastasis, and even the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of HCC. However, the exact molecular mechanisms and roles of exosomes in these processes remain unclear. We believe that elucidation of the regulatory mechanism of HCC-related exosomes and its signaling pathway and analysis of its clinical applications in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC can provide useful clues for future treatment regimens for HCC. This article discusses and summarizes the research progress of HCC-related exosomes and their potential clinical applications.

MicroRNAs in Animal Models of HCC

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Molecular heterogeneity and absence of biomarkers for patient allocation to the best therapeutic option contribute to poor prognosis of advanced stages. Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression is associated with HCC development and progression and influences drug resistance. Therefore, miRNAs have been assayed as putative biomarkers and therapeutic targets. miRNA-based therapeutic approaches demonstrated safety profiles and antitumor efficacy in HCC animal models; nevertheless, caution should be used when transferring preclinical findings to the clinics, due to possible molecular inconsistency between animal models and the heterogeneous pattern of the human disease. In this context, models with defined genetic and molecular backgrounds might help to identify novel therapeutic options for specific HCC subgroups. In this review, we describe rodent models of HCC, emphasizing their representativeness with the human pathology and their usefulness as preclinical tools for assessing miRNA-based therapeutic strategies.