The emerging role of miR-200 family in metastasis: focus on EMT, CSCs, angiogenesis, and anoikis

Serum exosomal miR-200c is a potential diagnostic biomarker for breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies in women. Exosomes are widely found in body fluids and carry microRNAs (miRNAs) that reflect the biological properties of the parental cells. Our study aimed to investigate the differential expression of miR-200c in BC serum exosomes and its diagnostic value.

METHODOLOGY

miRNA profiles in culture supernatant exosomes of normal mammary epithelial cells MCF-10A and BC cells (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 Taxol) were examined by miRNA deep sequencing to screen for significantly differentially expressed miRNAs; Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and Western blot were used to identify exosomes; qPCR was used to detect the expression level of miR-200c in cellular exosomes and serum exosomes; The efficacy of individual and combined tests of each indicator to diagnose BC was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

We identified typical exosome features by TEM, NTA and Western blot, indicating successful exosome extraction. Then our miRNA sequencing results and qRT-PCR experiments showed that miR-200c was significantly down-regulated in BC cell exosomes. In addition, we divided the clinical serum samples into two cohorts according to region, and in independent cohort I, the serum exosomal miR-200c levels of BC patients were significantly lower than those of healthy controls. In cohort II, serum exosomal miR-200c expression was significantly lower in the BC group than in the control and benign breast disease (BBD) groups, whereas miR-200c expression in the BBD group was not statistically different from that in the control group. ROC analyses in both independent cohorts confirmed that serum exosomal miR-200c could differentiate between patients with and without BC disease and could be used as an early diagnostic marker for BC disease.

CONCLUSION

Serum exosome miR-200c can be used as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of BC, and combined with conventional serum diagnostic markers AFP, CA125 and CA153 can help to improve diagnostic efficiency.

Research progress on human papillomavirus-negative cervical cancer: A review

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. The vast majority of cervical cancers are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, but a small proportion of cervical cancers occur independently of HPV infection, with different subtypes having varying rates of occurrence. Despite the presence of false negatives in current testing, improving the accuracy of detection is crucial for studying the pathogenesis of HPV-negative cervical cancer and improving the prognosis of these patients. Existing research suggests that HPV-negative cervical cancer has a different pathogenesis from HPV-positive cervical cancer, although the exact mechanism is not yet clear. It is currently believed to be associated with the immune microenvironment, certain tumor gene mutations, and some long noncoding RNAs. This article provides an overview of the latest research progress on HPV-negative cervical cancer, including possible reasons, pathogenesis, pathological features, and clinical characteristics, aiming to provide new insights for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis improvement.

EMT Features in Claudin-Low versus Claudin-Non-Suppressed Breast Cancers and the Role of Epigenetic Modifications

BACKGROUND

Breast cancers are heterogeneous and are classified according to the expression of ER, PR and HER2 receptors to distinct groups with prognostic and therapeutic implications. Within the triple-negative group, with no expression of these three receptors, molecular heterogeneity exists but is currently not exploited in the clinic. The claudin-low phenotype is present in a subset of triple-negative breast cancers and constitutes together with basal-like cancers the most extensive groups within triple-negative breast cancers. Suppression of epithelial cell adhesion molecules in claudin-low cancers is also a hallmark of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT).

METHODS

The groups of claudin-low and claudin-non-suppressed breast cancers from the extensive publicly available genomic cohorts of the METABRIC study were examined to delineate and compare their molecular landscape. Genetic and epigenetic alterations of key factors involved in EMT and potentially associated with the pathogenesis of the claudin-low phenotype were analyzed in the two groups.

RESULTS

Claudin-low cancers displayed up-regulation of several core transcription factors of EMT at the mRNA level, compared with claudin-non-suppressed breast cancers. Global promoter DNA methylation was increased in both groups of triple-negative cancers and in claudin-low ER-positive cancers compared with the rest of ER-positive cancers. Histone modifier enzymes, including methyltransferases, demethylases, acetyltransferases and deacetylases displayed amplifications more frequently in claudin-non-suppressed triple-negative cancers than in claudin-low counterparts and the expression of some of these enzymes differed significantly between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Claudin-low and claudin-non-suppressed triple-negative breast cancers differ in their landscape of EMT core regulators and epigenetic regulators. These differences may be explored as targets for therapeutic interventions specific to the two groups of triple-negative breast cancers.

miRNAs, Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Major Neoplastic and Inflammatory Skin Diseases: A Page Being Written: A Systematic Review

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are a type of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and typically interact with specific target mRNAs through complementary base pairing, affecting their translation and/or stability. MiRNAs regulate nearly all cellular functions, including the cell fate of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). It is now accepted that various pathologies arise at the stem level, and, in this scenario, the role played by miRNAs in the fate of MSCs becomes of primary concern. Here we have considered the existing literature in the field of miRNAs, MSCs and skin diseases, classified as inflammatory (such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis-AD) and neoplastic (melanoma and non-melanoma-skin-cancer including squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma) diseases. In this scoping review article, the evidence recovered indicates that this topic has attracted attention, but it is still a matter of opinion. A protocol for this review was registered in PROSPERO with the registration number "CRD42023420245". According to the different skin disorders and to the specific cellular mechanisms considered (cancer stem cells, extracellular vesicles, inflammation), miRNAs may play a pro- or anti-inflammatory, as well as a tumor suppressive, or supporting, role, indicating a complex regulation of their function. It is evident that the mode of action of miRNAs is more than a switch on-off, and all the observed effects of their dysregulated expression must be checked in a detailed analysis of the targeted proteins. The involvement of miRNAs has been studied mainly for squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, and much less in psoriasis and AD; different mechanisms have been considered, such as miRNAs included in extracellular vesicles derived both from MSCs or tumor cells, miRNAs involved in cancer stem cells formation, up to miRNAs as candidates to be new therapeutic tools.

Epigenetic programing of cancer stemness by transcription factors-non-coding RNAs interactions

Cancer 'stemness' is fundamental to cancer existence. It defines the ability of cancer cells to indefinitely perpetuate as well as differentiate. Cancer stem cell populations within a growing tumor also help evade the inhibitory effects of chemo- as well as radiation-therapies, in addition to playing an important role in cancer metastases. NF-κB and STAT-3 are representative transcription factors (TFs) that have long been associated with cancer stemness, thus presenting as attractive targets for cancer therapy. The growing interest in non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the recent years has provided further insight into the mechanisms by which TFs influence cancer stem cell characteristics. There is evidence for a direct regulation of TFs by ncRNAs, such as, microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as well as circular RNAs (circRNAs), and vice versa. Additionally, the TF-ncRNAs regulations are often indirect, involving ncRNA-target genes or the sponging of other ncRNA species by individual ncRNAs. The information is rapidly evolving and this review provides a comprehensive review of TF-ncRNAs interactions with implications on cancer stemness and in response to therapies. Such knowledge will help uncover the many levels of tight regulations that control cancer stemness, providing novel opportunities and targets for therapy in the process.

Decoding the coupled decision-making of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metabolic reprogramming in cancer

Cancer metastasis relies on an orchestration of traits driven by different interacting functional modules, including metabolism and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). During metastasis, cancer cells can acquire a hybrid metabolic phenotype (W/O) by increasing oxidative phosphorylation without compromising glycolysis and they can acquire a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotype by engaging EMT. Both the W/O and E/M states are associated with high metastatic potentials, and many regulatory links coupling metabolism and EMT have been identified. Here, we investigate the coupled decision-making networks of metabolism and EMT. Their crosstalk can exhibit synergistic or antagonistic effects on the acquisition and stability of different coupled metabolism-EMT states. Strikingly, the aggressive E/M-W/O state can be enabled and stabilized by the crosstalk irrespective of these hybrid states' availability in individual metabolism or EMT modules. Our work emphasizes the mutual activation between metabolism and EMT, providing an important step toward understanding the multifaceted nature of cancer metastasis.

Interaction of miR-200a-3p with YAP regulates cell proliferation and metastasis differentially in HPV-positive and HPV-negative cervical cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Although evidence has revealed that miR-200a-3p is involved in the malignant progression of various tumors, the regulatory mechanism of miR-200a-3p in the development of cervical cancer (CC) cells with different HPV statuses remains unknown. The present study was to investigate the differential effects of either miR-200a-3p or YAP on tumorous cells' fate in vitro in HPV-negative and HPV-positive cervical cancer cell models, and to explore if the changes in proliferation, migration, and invasion of the CC cells with different HPV statuses could be attributed to the differential interactions between miR-200a-3p and YAP.

METHODS

The colony formation assays, EDU assays and Transwell assays were performed for CC cell proliferation, migration and invasion capacities analysis. The prediction of downstream targets of miR-200a-3p was performed by bioinformatical databases. The dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to validate the binding sites of miR-200a-3p and YAP. The qRT-PCR assays were performed to quantify the mRNA expression of miR-200a-3p and YAP, and the protein levels of YAP were examined by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that miR-200a-3p overexpression suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of the HPV-negative C33A cells but promoted the growth and metastasis of HPV-positive CC cells, while YAP promoted the cell growth and metastasis not only in HPV-negative but also in the HPV-positive CC cells. The suppressive role of miR-200a-3p in C33A cells appeared to be mediated partially by direct interaction with YAP, and YAP might participate in miR-200a-3p-mediated cellular changes in CC cells differing from not only the presence or absence of HPV but even also the subtypes of HPV of CC cells. Meanwhile, we preliminarily revealed that the expression level of miR-200a-3p was significantly decreased in HPV-negative, but not in HPV16-positive cervical neoplasm mucus samples.

CONCLUSION

miR-200a-3p-mediated functional changes of YAP exhibited regulatory effects on cells' fate differentially in HPV-negative and HPV-positive cervical cancer cells.

LncRNA n339260 functions in hepatocellular carcinoma progression via regulation of miRNA30e-5p/TP53INP1 expression

BACKGROUND

Currently, the molecular mechanism of the interaction between lncRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) and the target of miRNAs in tumor vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation have not been clarified. Our aim is to study the interaction between lncRNA n339260 and miRNA30e-5p in the formation of VM.

METHODS

Animal xenografts were established, 104 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients' frozen tissues were obtained and HCC cells in vitro were used to observe the role of n339260 in HCC progression.

RESULTS

In vivo experiment showed lncRNA n339260 promoted tumor growth and VM formation. LncRNA n339260 and miRNA30e-5p were found to be associated with VM formation, metastasis and survival time in HCC patients. In vitro experiment showed that LncRNA n339260 could inhibit miRNA30e-5p expression and TP53INP1 was found to be the downstream targets of miRNA30e-5p. Snail, MMP2, MMP9, VE-cadherin, vimentin and N-cadherin overexpression and the downregulation of TP53INP1 and E-cadherin were observed in HCCLM3 and HepG2 cells overexpressing lncRNA n339260 or in cells with decreased expression of miRNA30e-5p.

CONCLUSION

LncRNA n339260 promotes the development of VM, and lncRNA n339260 may enhance Snail expression by decreasing the expression of miRNA30e-5p, thereby reducing TP53INP1 expression. Therefore, a potential lncRNA n339260- miRNA30e-5p- TP53INP1 regulatory axis was associated with HCC progression.

miR-200b, ZEB2 and PTPN13 Are Downregulated in Colorectal Carcinoma with Serosal Invasion

Serosal invasion is an independent negative prognostic factor in certain cancers, including CRC. However, the mechanisms behind serosal invasion are poorly understood. We therefore assumed that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) might be involved. Our study included 34 patients with CRC, 3 stage pT2, 14 stage pT3 and 17 showing serosal invasion (stage pT4a according to TNM staging system). RNA isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples was analysed for expression of the miR-200 family and their target genes CDKN1B, ONECUT2, PTPN13, RND3, SOX2, TGFB2 and ZEB2 using real-time PCR. We found upregulation of miR-200b and ONECUT2 in CRC pT3 and pT4a compared to normal mucosa, and downregulation of CDKN1B in CRC pT3. Moreover, we observed, downregulation of miR-200b, PTPN13 and ZEB2 in CRC with serosal invasion (pT4a) compared to pT3. Our results suggest the involvement of partial EMT in serosal invasion of CRC. In addition, PTPN13 seems to be one of the important regulators involved in serosal invasion, and ONECUT2 in tumour growth.

MicroRNA 182, 183, 200a, and 200b exhibit strong correlations but no involvement in PTEN protein regulation in uterine endometrial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we focused on five microRNAs (miRNAs) that have been reported to regulate phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) gene expression, namely miR-182, miR-183, miR-200a, miR-200b, and miR-205, and examined their relationships with PTEN protein expression in endometrial cancer tissues.

METHODS

By utilizing paraffin-embedded blocks of normal endometrium (NE) and endometrial carcinoma (EC) tissue (40 cases each), we measured the expression of miRNAs by real-time PCR. Conversely, we examined PTEN protein expression by immunohistochemistry and computer-assisted image analysis.

RESULTS

The expression of all five miRNAs was significantly higher in the EC group than in the NE group (all P ≤ 0.0001). There was no inverse correlation between PTEN positivity in glandular and/or stromal areas and the expression of the five miRNAs in both groups. Conversely, miR-182, miR-183, miR-200a, and miR-200b displayed similar expression patterns in the EC group, whereas miR-205 displayed moderate correlations with the other four miRNAs.

CONCLUSION

Using endometrial cancer tissues, we found for the first time that miR-182, miR-183, miR-200a, and miR-200b were strongly correlated with each other, whereas miR-205 was not strongly correlated with the other four miRNAs. In addition, the five miRNAs examined in this study only had weak effects on PTEN protein expression based on the lack of clear inverse correlations.

Targeting Histone Deacetylases in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Future Therapeutic Option

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal lung disease with limited therapeutic options, and there is a huge unmet need for new therapies. A growing body of evidence suggests that the histone deacetylase (HDAC) family of transcriptional corepressors has emerged as crucial mediators of IPF pathogenesis. HDACs deacetylate histones and result in chromatin condensation and epigenetic repression of gene transcription. HDACs also catalyse the deacetylation of many non-histone proteins, including transcription factors, thus also leading to changes in the transcriptome and cellular signalling. Increased HDAC expression is associated with cell proliferation, cell growth and anti-apoptosis and is, thus, a salient feature of many cancers. In IPF, induction and abnormal upregulation of Class I and Class II HDAC enzymes in myofibroblast foci, as well as aberrant bronchiolar epithelium, is an eminent observation, whereas type-II alveolar epithelial cells (AECII) of IPF lungs indicate a significant depletion of many HDACs. We thus suggest that the significant imbalance of HDAC activity in IPF lungs, with a "cancer-like" increase in fibroblastic and bronchial cells versus a lack in AECII, promotes and perpetuates fibrosis. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which Class I and Class II HDACs mediate fibrogenesis and on the mechanisms by which various HDAC inhibitors reverse the deregulated epigenetic responses in IPF, supporting HDAC inhibition as promising IPF therapy.

Traditional Chinese Medicines as Effective Reversals of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Induced-Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer: Molecular Targets and Mechanisms

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer worldwide. Distant metastasis is the major cause of cancer-related mortality in patients with CRC. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical process triggered during tumor metastasis, which is also the main impetus and the essential access within this duration. Therefore, targeting EMT-related molecular pathways has been considered a novel strategy to explore effective therapeutic agents against metastatic CRC. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) with unique properties multi-target and multi-link that exert their therapeutic efficacies holistically, which could inhibit the invasion and metastasis ability of CRC cells via inhibiting the EMT process by down-regulating transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smads, PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, and Notch signaling pathways. The objective of this review is to summarize and assess the anti-metastatic effect of TCM-originated bioactive compounds and Chinese medicine formulas by mediating EMT-associated signaling pathways in CRC therapy, providing a foundation for further research on the exact mechanisms of action through which TCMs affect EMT transform in CRC.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Signaling and Prostate Cancer Stem Cells: Emerging Biomarkers and Opportunities for Precision Therapeutics

Prostate cancers may reactivate a latent embryonic program called the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during the development of metastatic disease. Through EMT, tumors can develop a mesenchymal phenotype similar to cancer stem cell traits that contributes to metastasis and variation in therapeutic responses. Some of the recurrent somatic mutations of prostate cancer affect EMT driver genes and effector transcription factors that induce the chromatin- and androgen-dependent epigenetic alterations that characterize castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). EMT regulators in prostate cancer comprise transcription factors (SNAI1/2, ZEB1, TWIST1, and ETS), tumor suppressor genes (RB1, PTEN, and TP53), and post-transcriptional regulators (miRNAs) that under the selective pressures of antiandrogen therapy can develop an androgen-independent metastatic phenotype. In prostate cancer mouse models of EMT, Slug expression, as well as WNT/β-Catenin and notch signaling pathways, have been shown to increase stemness potential. Recent single-cell transcriptomic studies also suggest that the stemness phenotype of advanced prostate cancer may be related to EMT. Other evidence correlates EMT and stemness with immune evasion, for example, activation of the polycomb repressor complex I, promoting EMT and stemness and cytokine secretion through RB1, TP53, and PRC1. These findings are helping clinical trials in CRPC that seek to understand how drugs and biomarkers related to the acquisition of EMT can improve drug response.