The miR-15a/16 gene cluster in human cancer: A systematic review

Immunogenic cell death mediated TLR3/4-activated MSCs in U87 GBM cell line

Background and aims

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary brain cancer with no promising curative therapies. It has been indicated that MSCs can interact with the tumour microenvironment (TME) through the secretion of soluble mediators regulating intercellular signalling within the TME. TLRs are a multigene family of pattern recognition receptors with evolutionarily conserved regions and are widely expressed in immune and other body cells. MSCs by TLRs can recognize conserved molecular components (DAPMPs and PAPMPs) and activate signalling pathways, which regulate immune and inflammatory responses. MSCs may exert immunomodulatory functions through interaction with their expressed toll-like receptors (TLRs) and exert a protective effect against tumour antigens. As an emerging approach, we aimed to monitor the U87 cell line growth, migration and death markers following specific TLR3/4-primed-MSCs-CMs treatment.

Methods and results

We investigated the phenotypic and functional outcomes of primed-CMs and glioma cell line co-culture following short-term, low-dose TLR3/4 priming. The gene expression profile of target genes, including apoptotic markers and related genes, was analyzed by qRT-PCR. MicroRNA-Seq examined the miRNA expression patterns, and flow cytometry evaluated the cell viability and cycle stages. The results showed significant changes in apoptosis and likely necroptosis-related markers following TLR3/4-primed-MSCs-CMs exposure in the glioma cell line. Notably, we observed a considerable induction of selective pro-apoptotic markers and both the early and late stages of apoptosis in treated U87 cell lines. Additionally, the migration rate of glioma cells significantly decreased following MSCs-CM treatment.

Conclusion

Our findings confirmed that the exposure of TLR3/4-activated-MSCs-CMs with glioma tumour cells possibly changes the immunogenicity of the tumour microenvironment and induces immunogenic programmed cell death. Our results can support the idea that TLR3/4-primed-MSCs can lead to innate immune-mediated cell death and modify tumour cell biology in invasive and metastatic cancers.

Targeted delivery of miR-34a-5p by phenylborate-coupled polyethylenimide nanocarriers for anti-KSHV treatment

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) can infect a variety of cells and cause malignant tumors. At present, the use of microRNA (miRNA) for anti-KSHV is a promising treatment strategy, but the instability and non-specific uptake of miRNA still limit its use in the treatment of KSHV. In the present study, we constructed a nano-drug delivery system employing chemical grafting and electrostatic adsorption to solve the problems of easy degradation and low cell uptake of miRNA during direct administration. This nano-drug delivery system is to graft 4-carboxyphenylboric acid (PBA) and lauric acid (LA) onto polyethylenimine (PEI) through amidation reaction, and then prepare cationic copolymer nanocarriers (LA-PEI-PBA). The drug-carrying nanocomplex LA-PEI-PBA/miR-34a-5p was formed after further electrostatic adsorption of miR-34a-5p on the carrier and could protect miR-34a-5p from nuclease and serum degradation. Modification of the drug-carrying nanocomplex LA-PEI-PBA/miR-34a-5p by targeted molecule PBA showed effective uptake, increase in the level of miR-34a-5p, and inhibition of cell proliferation and migration in KSHV-infected cells. In addition, the drug-carrying nanocomplex could also significantly reduce the expression of KSHV lytic and latent genes, achieving the purpose of anti-KSHV treatment. In conclusion, these cationic copolymer nanocarriers with PBA targeting possess potential applications in nucleic acid delivery and anti-KSHV therapy.

An essential role for miR-15/16 in Treg suppression and restriction of proliferation

The miR-15/16 family targets a large network of genes in T cells to restrict their cell cycle, memory formation, and survival. Upon T cell activation, miR-15/16 are downregulated, allowing rapid expansion of differentiated effector T cells to mediate a sustained response. Here, we used conditional deletion of miR-15/16 in regulatory T cells (Tregs) to identify immune functions of the miR-15/16 family in T cells. miR-15/16 are indispensable to maintain peripheral tolerance by securing efficient suppression by a limited number of Tregs. miR-15/16 deficiency alters expression of critical Treg proteins and results in accumulation of functionally impaired FOXP3loCD25loCD127hi Tregs. Excessive proliferation in the absence of miR-15/16 shifts Treg fate and produces an effector Treg phenotype. These Tregs fail to control immune activation, leading to spontaneous multi-organ inflammation and increased allergic inflammation in a mouse model of asthma. Together, our results demonstrate that miR-15/16 expression in Tregs is essential to maintain immune tolerance.

MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers of Post-Traumatic Epileptogenesis: A Systematic Review

Structural or post-traumatic epilepsy often develops after brain tissue damage caused by traumatic brain injury, stroke, infectious diseases of the brain, etc. Most often, between the initiating event and epilepsy, there is a period without seizures-a latent period. At this time, the process of restructuring of neural networks begins, leading to the formation of epileptiform activity, called epileptogenesis. The prediction of the development of the epileptogenic process is currently an urgent and difficult task. MicroRNAs are inexpensive and minimally invasive biomarkers of biological and pathological processes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the predictive ability of microRNAs to detect the risk of epileptogenesis. In this study, we conducted a systematic search on the MDPI, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science platforms. We analyzed publications that studied the aberrant expression of circulating microRNAs in epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and ischemic stroke in order to search for microRNAs-potential biomarkers for predicting epileptogenesis. Thus, 31 manuscripts examining biomarkers of epilepsy, 19 manuscripts examining biomarkers of traumatic brain injury, and 48 manuscripts examining biomarkers of ischemic stroke based on circulating miRNAs were analyzed. Three miRNAs were studied: miR-21, miR-181a, and miR-155. The findings showed that miR-21 and miR-155 are associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis, and miR-181a is associated with protein modifications. These miRNAs are not strictly specific, but they are involved in processes that may be indirectly associated with epileptogenesis. Also, these microRNAs may be of interest when they are studied in a cohort with each other and with other microRNAs. To further study the microRNA-based biomarkers of epileptogenesis, many factors must be taken into account: the time of sampling, the type of biological fluid, and other nuances. Currently, there is a need for more in-depth and prolonged studies of epileptogenesis.

An essential role for miR-15/16 in Treg suppression and restriction of proliferation

The miR-15/16 family is a highly expressed group of tumor suppressor miRNAs that target a large network of genes in T cells to restrict their cell cycle, memory formation and survival. Upon T cell activation, miR-15/16 are downregulated, allowing rapid expansion of differentiated effector T cells to mediate a sustained immune response. Here, using conditional deletion of miR-15/16 in immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) that express FOXP3, we identify new functions of the miR-15/16 family in T cell immunity. miR-15/16 are indispensable to maintain peripheral tolerance by securing efficient suppression by a limited number of Tregs. miR-15/16-deficiency alters Treg expression of critical functional proteins including FOXP3, IL2Rα/CD25, CTLA4, PD-1 and IL7Rα/CD127, and results in accumulation of functionally impaired FOXP3loCD25loCD127hi Tregs. Excessive proliferation in the absence of miR-15/16 inhibition of cell cycle programs shifts Treg diversity and produces an effector Treg phenotype characterized by low expression of TCF1, CD25 and CD62L, and high expression of CD44. These Tregs fail to control immune activation of CD4+ effector T cells, leading to spontaneous multi-organ inflammation and increased allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma. Together, our results demonstrate that miR-15/16 expression in Tregs is essential to maintain immune tolerance.

5-FU-miR-15a Inhibits Activation of Pancreatic Stellate Cells by Reducing YAP1 and BCL-2 Levels In Vitro

Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by chronic inflammation and fibrosis, processes heightened by activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). Recent publications have demonstrated that miR-15a, which targets YAP1 and BCL-2, is significantly downregulated in patients with chronic pancreatitis compared to healthy controls. We have utilized a miRNA modification strategy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of miR-15a by replacing uracil with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). We demonstrated increased levels of YAP1 and BCL-2 (both targets of miR-15a) in pancreatic tissues obtained from Ptf1aCreERTM and Ptf1aCreERTM;LSL-KrasG12D mice after chronic pancreatitis induction as compared to controls. In vitro studies showed that delivery of 5-FU-miR-15a significantly decreased viability, proliferation, and migration of PSCs over six days compared to 5-FU, TGFβ1, control miR, and miR-15a. In addition, treatment of PSCs with 5-FU-miR-15a in the context of TGFβ1 treatment exerted a more substantial effect than TGFβ1 alone or when combined with other miRs. Conditioned medium obtained from PSC cells treated with 5-FU-miR-15a significantly inhibits the invasion of pancreatic cancer cells compared to controls. Importantly, we demonstrated that treatment with 5-FU-miR-15a reduced the levels of YAP1 and BCL-2 observed in PSCs. Our results strongly suggest that ectopic delivery of miR mimetics is a promising therapeutic approach for pancreatic fibrosis and that 5-FU-miR-15a shows specific promise.

MicroRNA-Mediated Mitochondrial Dysfunction Is Involved in the Anti-triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Activity of Phytosesquiterpene Lactones

Aims: Emerging evidence suggests that modulating redox homeostasis through targeting mitochondrial functions may be a useful strategy for suppressing triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) activities. However, whether there are specific microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in regulating oxidative stress-associated mitochondrial functions that can act as therapeutic targets to suppress TNBC activities remains unclear. Here, we aimed to identify the role of redox-associated miRNAs in TNBC and investigated their potential as therapeutic targets. Results: We identified oxidative stress-responsive differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) regulated by phytosesquiterpene lactone deoxyelephantopin (DET) and its novel derivative DETD-35, which are known to inhibit TNBC growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo, using comparative miRNA microarray analysis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging approaches. Mitochondrial dysfunction was identified as a major biological function regulated by a few specific DEMs. In particular, miR-4284 was identified to play a role in DET- and DETD-35-mediated ROS production, mitochondrial basal proton leak, and antiproliferation activity in TNBC cells. Moreover, DET- and DETD-35-induced mitochondrial DNA damage was observed in TNBC cells and xenograft tumors. miR-4284 was also identified to play a role in oxidative DNA damage in TNBC tumors. Innovation: We identified a novel role for miR-4284 in regulating mitochondrial basal proton leak in TNBC cells, and highlighted its significance in TNBC tumor oxidative DNA damage, and its direct correlation with TNBC patient survival. Conclusion: We used DET and DETD-35 as proof of concept to demonstrate that activities of anticancer agents can involve regulation of multiple miRNAs playing different roles in cancer progression. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 38, 198-214.

Circular RNA circFARSA promotes the tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung cancer by elevating B7H3 via sponging miR-15a-5p

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is currently one of the malignant tumors with the highest incidence and mortality rate in China. Circular RNA hsa_circ_0000896 (circFARSA) has been reported as being an oncogene and a potential biomarker for NSCL. However, the functional role and action mechanism of circFARSA in NSCLC progression have not been fully elucidated. The present study demonstrated that circFRASA was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, and its expression was positively correlated with poor prognosis of patients with NSCLC. Further experiments revealed that circFARSA knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro experiments, but overexpression of circFARSA exhibited opposite results. Mechanistically, circFARSA facilitated the malignant phenotype of NSCLC cells by enhancing B7H3 expression through sponging miR-15a-5p. In vivo experiments, knockdown of circFARSA restricted tumor growth and metastasis. In conclusion, circFARSA served as a sponge of miR-15a-5p to promote tumorigenesis and development of NSCLC by upregulation of B7H3 expression, which provided evidence of circFARSA maybe act as a novel therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Lipedema: Insights into Morphology, Pathophysiology, and Challenges

Lipedema is an adipofascial disorder that almost exclusively affects women. Lipedema leads to chronic pain, swelling, and other discomforts due to the bilateral and asymmetrical expansion of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Although various distinctive morphological characteristics, such as the hyperproliferation of fat cells, fibrosis, and inflammation, have been characterized in the progression of lipedema, the mechanisms underlying these changes have not yet been fully investigated. In addition, it is challenging to reduce the excessive fat in lipedema patients using conventional weight-loss techniques, such as lifestyle (diet and exercise) changes, bariatric surgery, and pharmacological interventions. Therefore, lipedema patients also go through additional psychosocial distress in the absence of permanent treatment. Research to understand the pathology of lipedema is still in its infancy, but promising markers derived from exosome, cytokine, lipidomic, and metabolomic profiling studies suggest a condition distinct from obesity and lymphedema. Although genetics seems to be a substantial cause of lipedema, due to the small number of patients involved in such studies, the extrapolation of data at a broader scale is challenging. With the current lack of etiology-guided treatments for lipedema, the discovery of new promising biomarkers could provide potential solutions to combat this complex disease. This review aims to address the morphological phenotype of lipedema fat, as well as its unclear pathophysiology, with a primary emphasis on excessive interstitial fluid, extracellular matrix remodeling, and lymphatic and vasculature dysfunction. The potential mechanisms, genetic implications, and proposed biomarkers for lipedema are further discussed in detail. Finally, we mention the challenges related to lipedema and emphasize the prospects of technological interventions to benefit the lipedema community in the future.

Identification of neoplasm-specific signatures of miRNA interactions by employing a systems biology approach

MicroRNAs represent major regulatory components of the disease epigenome and they constitute powerful biomarkers for the accurate diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases, including cancers. The advent of high-throughput technologies facilitated the generation of a vast amount of miRNA-cancer association data. Computational approaches have been utilized widely to effectively analyze and interpret these data towards the identification of miRNA signatures for diverse types of cancers. Herein, a novel computational workflow was applied to discover core sets of miRNA interactions for the major groups of neoplastic diseases by employing network-based methods. To this end, miRNA-cancer association data from four comprehensive publicly available resources were utilized for constructing miRNA-centered networks for each major group of neoplasms. The corresponding miRNA-miRNA interactions were inferred based on shared functionally related target genes. The topological attributes of the generated networks were investigated in order to detect clusters of highly interconnected miRNAs that form core modules in each network. Those modules that exhibited the highest degree of mutual exclusivity were selected from each graph. In this way, neoplasm-specific miRNA modules were identified that could represent potential signatures for the corresponding diseases.

Micro-Players of Great Significance-Host microRNA Signature in Viral Infections in Humans and Animals

Over time, more and more is becoming known about micro-players of great significance. This is particularly the case for microRNAs (miRNAs; miR), which have been found to participate in the regulation of many physiological and pathological processes in both humans and animals. One such process is viral infection in humans and animals, in which the host miRNAs—alone or in conjunction with the virus—interact on two levels: viruses may regulate the host’s miRNAs to evade its immune system, while the host miRNAs can play anti- or pro-viral roles. The purpose of this comprehensive review is to present the key miRNAs involved in viral infections in humans and animals. We summarize the data in the available literature, indicating that the signature miRNAs in human viral infections mainly include 12 miRNAs (i.e., miR-155, miR-223, miR-146a, miR-122, miR-125b, miR-132, miR-34a, miR -21, miR-16, miR-181 family, let-7 family, and miR-10a), while 10 miRNAs are commonly found in animals (i.e., miR-155, miR-223, miR-146a, miR-145, miR-21, miR-15a/miR-16 cluster, miR-181 family, let-7 family, and miR-122) in this context. Knowledge of which miRNAs are involved in different viral infections and the biological functions that they play can help in understanding the pathogenesis of viral diseases, facilitating the future development of therapeutic agents for both humans and animals.

Knockdown of Chk1 inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis in mouse granulosa cells and its regulation mechanism by miR-15a and miR-16

Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) is a protein kinase which preserves the genome integrity, and works as an evolutionally conserved DNA damage response and cell cycle checkpoint. However, the functional roles and regulatory mechanism of Chk1 in mouse granulosa cells (GCs) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, by RNA interfering, Chk1 gene was knocked down in GCs. Knockdown of Chk1 inhibited proliferation and increased apoptosis of GCs (p < 0.05), respectively; in addition, cell cycle of GCs was arrested at S and G2/M phases. Further qRT-PCR results showed that cell cycle factors (Cyclin B1 and Cyclin D 1) and a marker gene of proliferation (PCNA) were downregulated (p < 0.001), while apoptotic factors (p53b, p21, caspase-3, and Bax) were upregulated (p < 0.01), which suggested that knockdown of Chk1 may inhibit proliferation, regulate cell cycle, and promote apoptosis at the transcriptional level in GCs. In vitro studies showed a negative correlation between Chk1 mRNA and miR-16 expression during follicular development. To elucidate the relationship between Chk1 and miR-15a/16, luciferase reporter plasmids were constructed and luciferase assays revealed that both miR-15a and miR-16 could bind to the 3' UTR of Chk1 mRNA, and significantly downregulate the protein level of Chk1 (p < 0.01), while miR-16, not miR-15a, could significantly decrease the mRNA level of Chk1 (p < 0.05). This result indicated that miR-16 directly induced Chk1 mRNA destabilization, while miR-15a regulated Chk1 expression through translational repression. Taken together, this study uncovered the roles of Chk1 in mouse granulosa cells and its regulation by miR-15a and miR-16 through different mechanisms.

Exosomal MiRNAs in Osteosarcoma: Biogenesis and Biological Functions

MiRNAs are a group of non-coding RNA molecules that function in mRNA translational inhibition via base-pairing with complementary sequences in target mRNA. In oncology, miRNAs have raised great attention due to their aberrant expression and pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of multiple malignancies including osteosarcoma. MiRNAs can be transported by exosome, the nano-extracellular vesicle with a diameter of 30–150 nm. Recently, a growing number of studies have demonstrated that exosomal miRNAs play a critical role in tumor initiation and progression, by exerting multiple biological functions including metastasis, angiogenesis, drug resistance and immunosuppression. In this review, we aim to depict the biogenesis of exosomal miRNAs and summarize the potential diagnostic and therapeutic functions of exosomal miRNAs in osteosarcoma.

miRNA Expression Profiling in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue of Monozygotic Twins Discordant for HIV Infection: Validation of Differentially Expressed miRNA and Bioinformatic Analysis

Combined AntiRetroviral Treatments (cARTs) used for HIV infection may result in varied metabolic complications, which in some cases, may be related to patient genetic factors, particularly microRNAs. The use of monozygotic twins, differing only for HIV infection, presents a unique and powerful model for the controlled analysis of potential alterations of miRNAs regulation consequent to cART treatment. Profiling of 2578 mature miRNA in the subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissue and plasma of monozygotic twins was investigated by the GeneChip® miRNA 4.1 array. Real-time PCR and ddPCR experiments were performed in order to validate differentially expressed miRNAs. Target genes of deregulated miRNAs were predicted by the miRDB database (prediction score > 70) and enrichment analysis was carried out with g:Profiler. Processes in SC adipose tissue most greatly affected by miRNA up-regulation included (i) macromolecular metabolic processes, (ii) regulation of neurogenesis, and (iii) protein phosphorylation. Furthermore, KEGG analysis revealed miRNA up-regulation involvement in (i) insulin signaling pathways, (ii) neurotrophin signaling pathways, and (iii) pancreatic cancer. By contrast, miRNA up-regulation in plasma was involved in (i) melanoma, (ii) p53 signaling pathways, and (iii) focal adhesion. Our findings suggest a mechanism that may increase the predisposition of HIV+ patients to insulin resistance and cancer.

Analysis of miR-375-3p, miR-197-3p, and miR-15a-5p Expression and Their Clinical Relevance as Biomarkers in Lung Cancer

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important regulatory role and serve as biomarkers in various human cancers. However, their role in the prognosis and predicting response to therapy in Indian lung cancer patients is not fully explored. Methods: We collected surgically resected tumors and paired adjacent normal lung tissues from 29 early-stage and tissue biopsies from 103 locally advanced and metastatic lung cancer patients in this prospective study. We quantified the expression levels of miR-375-3p, miR-197-3p, and miR-15a-5p using TaqMan Advanced miRNA Assays. We correlated miRNAs expression with response to therapy and survival outcomes. Results: The median age of lung cancer patients was 60 years. We found significant overexpression of miR-375-3p and miR-197-3p in the tumors compared to paired normal lung tissues. Higher expression of miR-375-3p was observed more frequently in responders compared to nonresponders. The expression of miR-375-3p and miR-197-3p was able to differentiate patients of lung adenocarcinoma from lung squamous cell carcinoma. We did not find any correlation between miRNAs expression and survival outcomes. Conclusion: Overexpression of miR-375-3p and miR-197-3p might contribute to lung carcinogenesis. The expression of miR-375-3p may assist in predicting therapeutic response. More prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the potential of miR-375-3p as a predictive biomarker of response to therapy.

Deciphering the roles of miR-16-5p in Malignant Solid Tumorsmalignant solid tumors

MiR-16-5p, a member of the miR-16 family, has been reported to be abnormal expression in tumor tissues and blood of tumor patients, and also downregulated in most cancer cell lines. Aberrant expression of miR-16-5p promotes tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and can also affect the treatment sensitivity, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Generally, miR-16-5p plays an anti-tumor role and these diverse functions of miR-16-5p in tumors collectively indicate that miR-16-5p may become an attractive target for novel anticancer therapies and a powerful diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for early tumor detection and population risk screening. Herein we review the role and utilization of miR-16-5p in malignant tumor in detail.

Glutamine-Derived Aspartate Biosynthesis in Cancer Cells: Role of Mitochondrial Transporters and New Therapeutic Perspectives

Simple Summary

In recent years, aspartate has been increasingly acknowledged as a critical player in the metabolism of cancer cells which use this metabolite for nucleotide and protein synthesis and for redox homeostasis. Most intracellular aspartate derives from the mitochondrial catabolism of glutamine. To date at least four mitochondrial transporters have been involved in this metabolic pathway. Their involvement appears to be cancer type-specific and dependent on glutamine availability. Targeting these mitochondrial transporters may represent a new attractive strategy to fight cancer. The aim of this review is to dissect the role of each of these transporters in relation to the type of cancer and the availability of nutrients in the tumoral microenvironment.

Abstract

Aspartate has a central role in cancer cell metabolism. Aspartate cytosolic availability is crucial for protein and nucleotide biosynthesis as well as for redox homeostasis. Since tumor cells display poor aspartate uptake from the external environment, most of the cellular pool of aspartate derives from mitochondrial catabolism of glutamine. At least four transporters are involved in this metabolic pathway: the glutamine (SLC1A5_var), the aspartate/glutamate (AGC), the aspartate/phosphate (uncoupling protein 2, UCP2), and the glutamate (GC) carriers, the last three belonging to the mitochondrial carrier family (MCF). The loss of one of these transporters causes a paucity of cytosolic aspartate and an arrest of cell proliferation in many different cancer types. The aim of this review is to clarify why different cancers have varying dependencies on metabolite transporters to support cytosolic glutamine-derived aspartate availability. Dissecting the precise metabolic routes that glutamine undergoes in specific tumor types is of upmost importance as it promises to unveil the best metabolic target for therapeutic intervention.

What Do We Have to Know about PD-L1 Expression in Prostate Cancer? A Systematic Literature Review. Part 5: Epigenetic Regulation of PD-L1

Epigenetic alterations (including DNA methylation or miRNAs) influence oncogene/oncosuppressor gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Prostate cancer (PC) displays a complex genetic and epigenetic regulation of cell-growth pathways and tumor progression. We performed a systematic literature review (following PRISMA guidelines) focused on the epigenetic regulation of PD-L1 expression in PC. In PC cell lines, CpG island methylation of the CD274 promoter negatively regulated PD-L1 expression. Histone modifiers also influence the PD-L1 transcription rate: the deletion or silencing of the histone modifiers MLL3/MML1 can positively regulate PD-L1 expression. Epigenetic drugs (EDs) may be promising in reprogramming tumor cells, reversing epigenetic modifications, and cancer immune evasion. EDs promoting a chromatin-inactive transcriptional state (such as bromodomain or p300/CBP inhibitors) downregulated PD-L1, while EDs favoring a chromatin-active state (i.e., histone deacetylase inhibitors) increased PD-L1 expression. miRNAs can regulate PD-L1 at a post-transcriptional level. miR-195/miR-16 were negatively associated with PD-L1 expression and positively correlated to longer biochemical recurrence-free survival; they also enhanced the radiotherapy efficacy in PC cell lines. miR-197 and miR-200a-c positively correlated to PD-L1 mRNA levels and inversely correlated to the methylation of PD-L1 promoter in a large series. miR-570, miR-34a and miR-513 may also be involved in epigenetic regulation.

Tumor suppressing role of serum-derived exosomal microRNA-15a in osteosarcoma cells through the GATA binding protein 2/murine double minute 2 axis and the p53 signaling pathway

Exosomes are emerging tools for transporting lipids, proteins, microRNAs (miRNAs), or other biomarkers for clinical purposes. They have produced widespread concern in managing human diseases, including osteosarcoma (OS). This study focuses on the function of serum-derived exosomal miR-15a in the growth of OS cells and the mechanism of action. Differentially expressed genes between OS and normal samples were screened using two datasets GSE70367 and GSE65071. miR-15a was poorly expressed, whereas GATA-binding protein 2 (GATA2) and murine double minute 2 (MDM2) were abundantly expressed in OS samples. miR-15a and its target mRNAs, including GATA2, were enriched in the p53 signaling pathway. miR-15a directly targets GATA2 mRNA to inhibit its expression, whereas GATA2 activates the transcription of MDM2, a negative regulator of p53. Overexpression of GATA2 and MDM2 promoted proliferation and cell cycle progression of MG-63 cells, whereas miR-15a blocked this axis and suppressed cell growth. miR-15a was identified as a major cargo of serum-derived exosomes, and exosomes conveying miR-15a were internalized by OS cells. This study demonstrated that miR-15a suppresses the GATA2/MDM2 axis to inhibit the proliferation and invasiveness of OS cells in vitro through the p53 signaling pathway.

P53 suppresses the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via miR-15a by decreasing OGT expression and EZH2 stabilization

Existing literature has highlighted the tumour suppressive capacity of microRNA-15a (miR-15a); however, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains relatively unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-15a in HCC and the associated underlying mechanism. Initially, RT-qPCR was performed to detect the expression of miR-15a in HCC tissues and cells. Bioinformatics analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and molecular approaches were all conducted to ascertain the interaction between miR-15a and O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) transferase (OGT). PUGNAc treatment and cycloheximide (CHX) assay were performed to evaluate O-GlcNAc and the stabilization of the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). Finally, gain- and loss-of-function studies were employed to elucidate the role of P53 and the miR-15a/OGT/EZH2 axis in the progression of HCC, followed by in vivo experiments based on tumour-bearing nude mice. Our results demonstrated that the miR-15a expression was decreased in the HCC tissues and cells. P53 upregulated miR-15a expression, which inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells, while inducing apoptosis and triggering a G0/G1 cell cycle phase arrest. OGT stabilized EZH2 via catalysing O-GlcNAc, which reversed the effect of P53 and miR-15a. The results of our in vivo study provided evidence demonstrating that P53 could suppress the development of HCC via the miR-15a/OGT/EZH2 axis. P53 was found to inhibit the OGT expression by promoting the expression of miR-15a, which destabilized EZH2 and suppressed the development of HCC. The key findings of our study highlight a promising novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HCC.

A modified protocol for successful miRNA profiling in human precision-cut lung slices (PCLS)

Objective

Human precision cut lung slices (PCLS) are widely used as an ex vivo model system for drug discovery and development of new therapies. PCLS reflect the functional heterogeneity of lung tissue and possess relevant lung cell types. We thus determined the use of PCLS in studying non-coding RNAs notably miRNAs, which are important gene regulatory molecules. Since miRNAs play key role as mediators of respiratory diseases, they can serve as valuable prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers, and in therapeutic interventions, of lung diseases. A technical limitation though is the vast amount of agarose in PCLS which impedes (mi)RNA extraction by standard procedures. Here we modified our recently published protocol for RNA isolation from PCLS to enable miRNA readouts.

Results

The modified method relies on the separation of lysis and precipitation steps, and a clean-up procedure with specific magnetic beads. We obtained successfully quality miRNA amenable for downstream applications such as RTqPCR and whole transcriptome miRNA analysis. Comparison of miRNA profiles in PCLS with published data from human lung, identified all important miRNAs regulated in IPF, COPD, asthma or lung cancer. Therefore, this shows suitability of the method for analyzing miRNA targets and biomarkers in the valuable human PCLS model.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-021-05674-w.

miR-361-5p as a promising qRT-PCR internal control for tumor and normal breast tissues

BACKGROUND

One of the most widely used evaluation methods in miRNA experiments is qRT-PCR. However, selecting suitable internal controls (IC) is crucial for qRT-PCR experiments. Currently, there is no consensus on the ICs for miRNA qRT-PCR experiments in breast cancer. To this end, we tried to identify the most stable (the least expression alteration) and promising miRNAs in normal and tumor breast tissues by employing TCGA miRNA-Seq data and then experimentally validated them on fresh clinical samples.

METHODS

A multi-component scoring system was used which takes into account multiple expression stability criteria as well as correlation with clinical characteristics. Furthermore, we extended the scoring system for more than two biological sub-groups. TCGA BRCA samples were analyzed based on two grouping criteria: Tumor & Normal samples and Tumor subtypes. The top 10 most stable miRNAs were further investigated by differential expression and survival analysis. Then, we examined the expression level of the top scored miRNA (hsa-miR-361-5p) along with two commonly used ICs hsa-miR-16-5p and U48 on 34 pairs of Primary breast tumor and their adjacent normal tissues using qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

According to our multi-component scoring system, hsa-miR-361-5p had the highest stability score in both grouping criteria and hsa-miR-16-5p showed significantly lower scores. Based on our qRT-PCR assay, while U48 was the most abundant IC, hsa-miR-361-5p had lower standard deviation and also was the only IC capable of detecting a significant up-regulation of hsa-miR-21-5p in breast tumor tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

miRNA-Seq data is a great source to discover stable ICs. Our results demonstrated that hsa-miR-361-5p is a highly stable miRNA in tumor and non-tumor breast tissue and we recommend it as a suitable reference gene for miRNA expression studies in breast cancer. Additionally, although hsa-miR-16-5p is a commonly used IC, it's not a suitable one for breast cancer studies.

GeromiRs Are Downregulated in the Tumor Microenvironment during Colon Cancer Colonization of the Liver in a Murine Metastasis Model

Cancer is a phenomenon broadly related to ageing in various ways such as cell cycle deregulation, metabolic defects or telomerases dysfunction as principal processes. Although the tumor cell is the main actor in cancer progression, it is not the only element of the disease. Cells and the matrix surrounding the tumor, called the tumor microenvironment (TME), play key roles in cancer progression. Phenotypic changes of the TME are indispensable for disease progression and a few of these transformations are produced by epigenetic changes including miRNA dysregulation. In this study, we found that a specific group of miRNAs in the liver TME produced by colon cancer called geromiRs, which are miRNAs related to the ageing process, are significantly downregulated. The three principal cell types involved in the liver TME, namely, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic stellate (Ito) cells and Kupffer cells, were isolated from a murine hepatic metastasis model, and the miRNA and gene expression profiles were studied. From the 115 geromiRs and their associated hallmarks of aging, which we compiled from the literature, 75 were represented in the used microarrays, 26 out of them were downregulated in the TME cells during colon cancer colonization of the liver, and none of them were upregulated. The histone modification hallmark of the downregulated geromiRs is significantly enriched with the geromiRs miR-15a, miR-16, miR-26a, miR-29a, miR-29b and miR-29c. We built a network of all of the geromiRs downregulated in the TME cells and their gene targets from the MirTarBase database, and we analyzed the expression of these geromiR gene targets in the TME. We found that Cercam and Spsb4, identified as prognostic markers in a few cancer types, are associated with downregulated geromiRs and are upregulated in the TME cells.

MicroRNAs MiR-15a and MiR-26a cooperatively regulate O-GlcNAc-transferase to control proliferation in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a group of non-coding post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, are dysregulated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and play an important role in carcinogenesis. Our prior work identified a subset of miRNAs in pT1 ccRCC tumors associated with progression to metastatic disease.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of two of these dysregulated miRNA, miR-15a-5p and -26a-5p, in an effort to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning aggressive forms of stage I ccRCC.

METHODS

The ccRCC cell line 786-O was transfected with pre-miRs-15a-5p and -26a-5p to rescue expression. Cell proliferation was measured via MT Cell Viability Assay. O-GlcNAc-transferase (OGT), a known protein in ccRCC proliferation, was identified by bioinformatics analysis as a target of both miRNA and validated via luciferase reporter assay to confirm binding of each miR to the 3' untranslated region (UTR). OGT protein expression was evaluated via western blotting.

RESULTS

Luciferase assay confirmed specificity of miR-15a-5p and -26a-5p for the OGT UTR. Western blot analysis for OGT showed reduced expression following co-transfection of both miRNAs compared to negative control or individual transfection. Co-transfection of these miRNAs greatly reduced proliferation when compared to negative control or the individual transfections.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that the dysregulation of miR-15a-5p and -26a-5p contribute cooperatively to the proliferation of ccRCC through their regulation of OGT. These results give insight into the pathogenesis of aggressive early stage ccRCC and suggest potential therapeutic targets for future research.

A highly expressed mRNA signature for predicting survival in patients with stage I/II non-small-cell lung cancer after operation

There is an urgent need to identify novel biomarkers that predict the prognosis of patients with NSCLC. In this study,we aim to find out mRNA signature closely related to the prognosis of NSCLC by new algorithm of bioinformatics. Identification of highly expressed mRNA in stage I/II patients with NSCLC was performed with the “Limma” package of R software. Survival analysis of patients with different mRNA expression levels was subsequently calculated by Cox regression analysis, and a multi-RNA signature was obtained by using the training set. Kaplan–Meier estimator, log-rank test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyse the predictive ability of the multi-RNA signature. RT-PCR used to verify the expression of the multi-RNA signature, and Westernblot used to verify the expression of proteins related to the multi-RNA signature. We identified fifteen survival-related mRNAs in the training set and classified the patients as high risk or low risk. NSCLC patients with low risk scores had longer disease-free survival than patients with high risk scores. The fifteen-mRNA signature was an independent prognostic factor, as shown by the ROC curve. ROC curve also showed that the combined model of the fifteen-mRNA signature and tumour stage had higher precision than stage alone. The expression of fifteen mRNAs and related proteins were higher in stage II NSCLC than in stage I NSCLC. Multi-gene expression profiles provide a moderate prognostic tool for NSCLC patients with stage I/II disease.

Integrated bioinformatic analysis of miR-15a/16-1 cluster network in cervical cancer

The miR-15a/16-1 cluster is abnormally expressed in cervical cancer (CC) tissues and plays a vital role in cervical carcinogenesis. We aimed to evaluate the miR-15a/16-1 expression in healthy and cancerous cervical tissues, identify the associated networks, and to test its prognostic significance. miR-15a/16-1-MC expressions were analyzed in TCGA-CESC datasets by UALCAN, GEPIA2, and Datasetviewer. miR-15a/16-1 validated targets were extracted from mirTarBase and in silico functional analysis of the target genes were performed using WebGestalt. The interaction networks were constructed by the miRNet, STRING, and NetworkAnalyst tools. The prognostic significance and metastatic potential of the target genes were predicted using UALCAN and HCMDB. The FDA approved drugs to target miR-15a/16-1 and target gene network in CC were performed using DGIdb, STITCH and PanDrugs. TCGA-CESC and GEO data analysis suggested significant overexpression of miR-15a/16-1 in CC samples. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that miR-15a and its four target genes (BCL2, CCNE1, NUP50, and RBPJ) influence the overall survival of CC patients. Among the 66 differentially expressed target genes, 12 of them are linked to head, neck, or lung metastasis. Functional enrichment analysis predicted the association of this cluster with p53 signaling, human papillomavirus infection, PI3-AKT signaling pathway, and pathways in cancer. Drug-gene interaction analysis showed 52 potential FDA approved drugs to interact with the miR-15a/16-1 target genes. Nine of the 52 drugs are currently used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of CC patients. The present study shows that miR-15a/16-1 expression can be used as a clinical marker and target for therapy in CC.

Serum and Glucocorticoid-Inducible Kinase 1 (SGK1) in NSCLC Therapy

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains the most prevalent and one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Despite recent success, there is still an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. It is also becoming increasingly evident that combinatorial approaches are more effective than single modality treatments. This review proposes that the serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) may represent an attractive target for therapy of NSCLC. Although ubiquitously expressed, SGK1 deletion in mice causes only mild defects of ion physiology. The frequent overexpression of SGK1 in tumors is likely stress-induced and provides a therapeutic window to spare normal tissues. SGK1 appears to promote oncogenic signaling aimed at preserving the survival and fitness of cancer cells. Most importantly, recent investigations have revealed the ability of SGK1 to skew immune-cell differentiation toward pro-tumorigenic phenotypes. Future studies are needed to fully evaluate the potential of SGK1 as a therapeutic target in combinatorial treatments of NSCLC. However, based on what is currently known, SGK1 inactivation can result in anti-oncogenic effects both on tumor cells and on the immune microenvironment. A first generation of small molecules to inactivate SGK1 has already been already produced.

Path of Silibinin from diet to medicine: A dietary polyphenolic flavonoid having potential anti-cancer therapeutic significance

In the last few decades, targeting cancer by the use of dietary phytochemicals has gained enormous attention. The plausible reason and believe or mind set behind this fact is attributed to either lesser or no side effects of natural compounds as compared to the modern chemotherapeutics, or due to their conventional use as dietary components by mankind for thousands of years. Silibinin is a naturally derived polyphenol (a flavonolignans), possess following biochemical features; molecular formula C₂₅H₂₂O₁₀, Molar mass: 482.44 g/mol, Boiling point 793 °C, with strikingly high antioxidant and anti-tumorigenic properties. The anti-cancer properties of Silibinin are determined by a variety of cellular pathways which include induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis. In addition, Silibinin controls modulation of the expression of aberrant miRNAs, inflammatory response, and synergism with existing anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, modulation of a vast array of cellular responses and homeostatic aspects makes Silibinin an attractive chemotherapeutic agent. However, like other polyphenols, the major hurdle to declare Silibinin a translational chemotherapeutic agent, is its lesser bioavailability. After summarizing the chemistry and metabolic aspects of Silibinin, this extensive review focuses on functional aspects governed by Silibinin in chemoprevention with an ultimate goal of summarizing the evidence supporting the chemopreventive potential of Silibinin and clinical trials that are currently ongoing, at a single platform.

Non-coding RNAs, guardians of the p53 galaxy

The TP53 gene is arguably the most important tumor suppressor gene known, contributing multifaceted roles to the process of tumor development. Its protein product p53, is a crucial sequence-specific transcription factor which regulates the expression of a large network of protein-coding genes, as well as thousands of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), notably microRNAs and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs). Through a variety of direct and indirect mechanisms, ncRNAs in turn modulate p53 levels and activity. Here the numbers of studies are steadily building which link the contributions of dysregulated ncRNAs to tumorigenesis via their participation throughout the p53 regulatory network. In this review, we will examine how the principal forms of ncRNAs, namely microRNAs, lncRNAs and circular RNAs (circRNAs) function as either effectors or regulators amongst the diversity of p53's cellular responses. We first discuss the more recently discovered connections between miRNAs and p53 signaling before focusing on the remarkable diversity of crosstalk evident between lncRNAs and p53, and subsequently, developing reports linking circRNAs to p53. Highlighted throughout the review are the mechanistic impacts of dysregulated ncRNAs on p53 functions as well as the possible prognostic implications of these interactions. We also describe the emerging connections between ncRNAs and the often-perplexing functions of mutant p53. Finally, in the context of p53 therapeutic approaches, we describe some of the challenges in ncRNA research and their potential for translation.

The emerging role of miRNA clusters in breast cancer progression

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that are essential for regulation of gene expression of the target genes. Large number of miRNAs are organized into defined units known as miRNA clusters (MCs). The MCs consist of two or more than two miRNA encoding genes driven by a single promoter, transcribed together in the same orientation, that are not separated from each other by a transcription unit. Aberrant miRNA clusters expression is reported in breast cancer (BC), exhibiting both pro-tumorogenic and anti-tumorigenic role. Altered MCs expression facilitates to breast carcinogenesis by promoting the breast cells to acquire the various hallmarks of the cancer. Since miRNA clusters contain multiple miRNA encoding genes, targeting cluster may be more attractive than targeting individual miRNAs. Besides targeting dysregulated miRNA clusters in BC, studies have focused on the mechanism of action, and its contribution to the progression of the BC. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of dysregulated miRNA clusters and its role in the acquisition of cancer hallmarks in BC. More specifically, we have presented the regulation, differential expression, classification, targets, mechanism of action, and signaling pathways of miRNA clusters in BC. Additionally, we have also discussed the potential utility of the miRNA cluster as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator in BC.

LncRNA KCNQ1OT1 sponges miR-15a to promote immune evasion and malignant progression of prostate cancer via up-regulating PD-L1

Background

We focused on the KCNQ1OT1/miR-15a/PD-L1 axis and explored its significance in regulating immune evasion and malignant behaviors of prostate cancer (PC) cells.

Methods

The expression levels of KCNQ1OT1, miR-15a, PD-L1, and CD8 in cells or tissues were examined by RT-qPCR, western blot or immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays. The direct regulations between KCNQ1OT1, miR-15a and PD-L1 were validated by luciferase reporter assay. PC cells were co-cultured with CD8⁺ T cells to study the immune evasion. Proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion abilities were detected by MTT, flow cytometry, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. The cytotoxicity of CD8⁺ T cells was determined by LDH cytotoxicity Kit. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Ras/ERK signaling markers were evaluated by western blot.

Results

KCNQ1OT1, PD-L1 and CD8 were increased, while miR-15a was decreased in PC tissues. MiR-15a directly bound to the 3′-UTR of PD-L1 and inhibited the expression of PD-L1. Overexpressing miR-15a in PC cells was sufficient to promote cytotoxicity and proliferation, while inhibit apoptosis of CD8⁺ T cells, and also suppressed viability, migration, invasion and EMT while promoted apoptosis of PC cells. The above anti-tumor effects of miR-15a were reversed by overexpressing PD-L1. KCNQ1OT1 sponged miR-15a and released its inhibition on PD-L1. Functionally, KCNQ1OT1 in PC cells was essential for suppressing the cytotoxicity of CD8⁺ T cells and maintaining multiple malignant phenotypes of PC cells. The Ras/ERK signaling was suppressed after overexpressing miR-15a or knocking down KCNQ1OT1.

Conclusions

LncRNA KCNQ1OT1 sponges miR-15a to promote immune evasion and malignant progression of PC via up-regulating PD-L1.

MicroRNA-15a/16/SOX5 axis promotes migration, invasion and inflammatory response in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes

Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) are key effector cells in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and display a unique aggressive tumor-like phenotype with remarkable hyperplasia, increased cell migration and invasion. How FLSs undergo these changes in RA remains unknown. We previously reported a novel function of transcription factor SOX5 in RA-FLSs that promote cell migration and invasion. In this study, we found that miR-15a/16 directly targets the SOX5 3’UTR and suppresses SOX5 expression. Moreover, miR-15a/16 is significantly down-regulated in RA-FLSs, which negatively correlates with SOX5 expression. Transfection with miR-15a/16 mimics in RA-FLSs inhibits cell migration, invasion, IL-1β and TNFα expression. Overexpression SOX5 in RA-FLSs decreases miR-15a/16 expression and rescues miR-15a/16-mediated inhibitory effect. Furthermore, RA patients with the lower baseline serum miR-15a/16 level present poor response of 3 months disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) therapy. Collectively, this study reveals that miR-15a/16/SOX5 axis functions as a key driver of RA-FLSs invasion, migration and inflammatory response in a mutual negative feedback loop and correlates with DMARDs treatment response in RA.

MicroRNAs as potential therapeutic targets for muscle wasting during cancer cachexia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Muscle wasting in cancer cachexia remains an unmet clinical need due to lack of effective therapies associated with the complexity of the disease. Here, we discuss microRNAs, robust regulators of the expression of multiple genes, only recently characterized in cancer cachexia in humans and their therapeutic potential for muscle wasting.

RECENT FINDINGS

Changes in microRNAs in muscle of cancer patients have been demonstrated for the first time and these are associated with dysregulated signalling networks during muscle wasting. These data, together with studies in animal models, indicate that microRNAs are attractive therapeutic candidates for maintaining muscle mass, both during and following cancer treatment ultimately improving patient outcomes.

SUMMARY

Cancer cachexia is a complex metabolic condition associated with muscle wasting. Maintenance of muscle mass in cancer patients can improve their response to therapy and prognosis. microRNAs, which can act as oncogenes or tumour suppressors, are also dysregulated in muscle of cachexia patients. Studies in animal models of muscle wasting have demonstrated that microRNAs regulate muscle mass and strength. With more microRNA-based therapeutics in clinical trials and first RNA drugs approved, microRNAs present an attractive novel therapeutic avenue for maintaining muscle homeostasis in cachexia patients to improve their prognosis.

Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Development of Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy Approaches for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

In the past decade, novel targeted therapy approaches, such as BTK inhibitors and Bcl2 blockers, and innovative treatments that regulate the immune response against cancer cells, such as monoclonal antibodies, CAR-T cell therapy, and immunomodulatory molecules, have been established to provide support for the treatment of patients. However, drug resistance development and relapse are still major challenges in CLL treatment. Several studies revealed that non-coding RNAs have a main role in the development and progression of CLL. Specifically, microRNAs (miRs) and tRNA-derived small-RNAs (tsRNAs) were shown to be outstanding biomarkers that can be used to diagnose and monitor the disease and to possibly anticipate drug resistance and relapse, thus supporting physicians in the selection of treatment regimens tailored to the patient needs. In this review, we will summarize the most recent discoveries in the field of targeted therapy and immunotherapy for CLL and discuss the role of ncRNAs in the development of novel drugs and combination regimens for CLL patients.

STAT5-dependent regulation of CDC25A by miR-16 controls proliferation and differentiation in FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia

We recently identified the CDC25A phosphatase as a key actor in proliferation and differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia expressing the FLT3-ITD mutation. In this paper we demonstrate that CDC25A level is controlled by a complex STAT5/miR-16 transcription and translation pathway working downstream of this receptor. First, we established by CHIP analysis that STAT5 is directly involved in FLT3-ITD-dependent CDC25A gene transcription. In addition, we determined that miR-16 expression is repressed by FLT3-ITD activity, and that STAT5 participates in this repression. In accordance with these results, miR-16 expression was significantly reduced in a panel of AML primary samples carrying the FLT3-ITD mutation when compared with FLT3wt cells. The expression of a miR-16 mimic reduced CDC25A protein and mRNA levels, and RNA interference-mediated down modulation of miR-16 restored CDC25A expression in response to FLT3-ITD inhibition. Finally, decreasing miR-16 expression partially restored the proliferation of cells treated with the FLT3 inhibitor AC220, while the expression of miR-16 mimic stopped this proliferation and induced monocytic differentiation of AML cells. In summary, we identified a FLT3-ITD/STAT5/miR-16/CDC25A axis essential for AML cell proliferation and differentiation.

Therapeutic effects of oligo-single-stranded DNA mimicking of hsa-miR-15a-5p on multiple myeloma

Despite the fact that a few novel agents improve the outcome of patients, MM remains incurable. Hence, developing a novel treatment strategy may prove to be promising for the clinical management of MM. Noncoding small RNAs, a cluster of RNAs that do not encode functional proteins, have been underlined that play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of MM. Our previous study indicated that miR-15a acted as a tumor suppressor, which inhibited the cell proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of MM cells. The level of miR-15a was downregulated in MM cells and correlated with inferior outcome of MM patients. In the present study, we first developed an oligo-single-stranded DNA mimicking the sequence of hsa-miR-15a-5p (OMM-15a) and modified with locked nucleic acid (LNA-15a) to evaluate its anti-MM effects. Our results indicated that the LNA-15a presented an exciting anti-MM effect that showed notable cell growth suppression and apoptosis promotion in MM and other cancer cell lines through downregulating the expression level of target genes BCL-2, VEGF-A, and PHF19. Moreover, LNA-15a treatment significantly improved the anti-MM activity of bortezomib with the synergism effect in OCI-My5 MM cells. In our in vivo study, LNA-15a treatment significantly suppressed the tumor growth, and prolonged the survival of mice compared with the control group. However, our results indicated that the native form of oligo-single-stranded DNA mimic of hsa-miR-15a-5p (OMM-15a) without any modification had no effective inhibition on cell growth, even after increasing the dosage of OMM-15a in the treatment. Altogether, our finding provides the preclinical rationale to support the oligo-single-stranded DNA mimic of hsa-miR-15a with LNA modification, which is a promising tool for the therapy of both MM and other tumors with miR-15a downregulation.

Visualization of mucosal field in HPV positive and negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas: combined genomic and radiology based 3D model

The aim of this study was to visualize the tumor propagation and surrounding mucosal field in radiography-based 3D model for advanced stage HNSCC and combine it with HPV genotyping and miRNA expression characterization of the visualized area. 25 patients with T1-3 clinical stage HNSCC were enrolled in mapping biopsy sampling. Biopsy samples were evaluated for HPV positivity and miR-21-5p, miR-143, miR-155, miR-221-5p expression in Digital Droplet PCR system. Significant miRNA expression differences of HPV positive tumor tissue biopsies were found for miR-21-5p, miR-143 and miR-221-5p compared to the HPV negative tumor biopsy series. Peritumoral mucosa showed patchy pattern alterations of miR-21-5p and miR-155 in HPV positive cases, while gradual change of miR-21-5p and miR-221-5p was seen in HPV negative tumors. In our study we found differences of the miRNA expression patterns among the HPV positive and negative tumorous tissues as well as the surrounding mucosal fields. The CT based 3D models of the cancer field and surrounding mucosal surface can be utilized to improve proper preoperative planning. Complex evaluation of HNSCC tissue organization field can elucidate the clinical and molecular differentiation of HPV positive and negative cases, and enhance effective organ saving therapeutic strategies.

Current role of non-coding RNAs in the clinical setting

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have long been considered as "junk" material of the human genome until functional studies have exposed them as critical regulators of gene expression in both physiological and pathological conditions. Mounting evidences have also shown that ncRNAs may serve as diagnostic markers for several disorders, predictor for drugs response, and targets for new therapeutic approaches. In this mini-review, we discuss the state of the art of non-coding RNAs in drug development and their involvement in conventional treatments response.

microRNA-16-5p promotes 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation through regulating EPT1

Adipogenesis is an organized process of cellular differentiation by which pre-adipocytes differentiate towards mature adipocytes. miR-16-5p has been reported to be involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and angiogenesis. However little is known about miR-16-5p functional role in 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. In this study, we found that miRNA-16-5p was significantly upregulated during 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiation towards mature adipocytes. Over-expression of miRNA-16-5p promoted mature adipocytes specific genes expression and fat droplet accumulation in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile we have identified EPT1 as the target gene of miRNA-16-5p. Taken together, our data provided evidence to support that miRNA-16-5p promotes adipocyte differentiation by suppressing EPT1.