MiR-210-3p Inhibits Proliferation and Migration of C6 Cells by Targeting Iscu

Use of microRNAs as Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Tools for Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most aggressive and common type of cancer within the central nervous system (CNS). Despite the vast knowledge of its physiopathology and histology, its etiology at the molecular level has not been completely understood. Thus, attaining a cure has not been possible yet and it remains one of the deadliest types of cancer. Usually, GB is diagnosed when some symptoms have already been presented by the patient. This diagnosis is commonly based on a physical exam and imaging studies, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), together with or followed by a surgical biopsy. As these diagnostic procedures are very invasive and often result only in the confirmation of GB presence, it is necessary to develop less invasive diagnostic and prognostic tools that lead to earlier treatment to increase GB patients' quality of life. Therefore, blood-based biomarkers (BBBs) represent excellent candidates in this context. microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that have been demonstrated to be very stable in almost all body fluids, including saliva, serum, plasma, urine, cerebrospinal fluid (CFS), semen, and breast milk. In addition, serum-circulating and exosome-contained miRNAs have been successfully used to better classify subtypes of cancer at the molecular level and make better choices regarding the best treatment for specific cases. Moreover, as miRNAs regulate multiple target genes and can also act as tumor suppressors and oncogenes, they are involved in the appearance, progression, and even chemoresistance of most tumors. Thus, in this review, we discuss how dysregulated miRNAs in GB can be used as early diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers as well as molecular markers to subclassify GB cases and provide more personalized treatments, which may have a better response against GB. In addition, we discuss the therapeutic potential of miRNAs, the current challenges to their clinical application, and future directions in the field.

Systems Medicine for Precise Targeting of Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant cancer that is fatal even after standard therapy and the effects of current available therapeutics are not promising due its complex and evolving epigenetic and genetic profile. The mysteries that lead to GBM intratumoral heterogeneity and subtype transitions are not entirely clear. Systems medicine is an approach to view the patient in a whole picture integrating systems biology and synthetic biology along with computational techniques. Since the GBM oncogenesis involves genetic mutations, various therapies including gene therapeutics based on CRISPR-Cas technique, MicroRNAs, and implanted synthetic cells endowed with synthetic circuits against GBM with neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells acting as potential vehicles carrying therapeutics via the intranasal route, avoiding the risks of invasive methods in order to reach the GBM cells in the brain are discussed and proposed in this review. Systems medicine approach is a rather novel strategy, and since the GBM of a patient is complex and unique, thus to devise an individualized treatment strategy to tailor personalized multimodal treatments for the individual patient taking into account the phenotype of the GBM, the unique body health profile of the patient and individual responses according to the systems medicine concept might show potential to achieve optimum effects.

Development of lactate-related gene signature and prediction of overall survival and chemosensitivity in patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor of the digestive system that contains high levels of immune cells. Lactic acid, a major metabolite, plays a crucial role in tumor development, maintenance, and therapeutic response. However, the prognostic potential and therapeutic biomarker potential of lactate-related genes (LRGs) in CRC patients remain to be elucidated.

METHODS

We collected the mRNA expression profile and clinical data of CRC patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the GSE59382 cohort. Univariate Cox regression, Lasso regression and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to construct the prognosis model. Combined with the risk score and important clinicopathological features, the nomogram was established. In addition, the relationship between risk score and immune infiltration, immune checkpoint gene expression, and drug sensitivity was investigated.

RESULTS

We constructed lactate-related gene signatures (LRGS) based on four LRGs, which independently predicted the prognosis of CRC. Patients with different risk scores are found to have distinct immune status, tumor mutation load, immune response, and drug sensitivity. In addition, nomogram results determined by risk scores and clinical factors have higher predictive performance.

CONCLUSION

We found that LRGS is a reliable biomarker for predicting clinical outcomes, evaluating immune infiltration and efficacy, and predicting the sensitivity to drugs in patients with CRC.

MiR-210-3p targets CELF2 to facilitate progression of lung squamous carcinoma through PI3K/AKT pathway

This study examined the internal mechanism of miR-210-3p/CELF2 in LUSC. Expression data of mRNAs and miRNAs in LUSC were acquired from TCGA and subjected to differential expression analysis. qRT-PCR was applied to examine miR-210-3p and CELF2 expression. Besides, western blot was utilized to evaluate protein expression of CELF2 and PI3K/AKT pathway-related proteins. Dual-luciferase reporter analysis was conducted to validate targeting relationship between miR-210-3p and CELF2. Additionally, CCK-8, colony formation, transwell and flow cytometry were employed to respectively test proliferation, migration, invasion abilities and cell cycle distribution. Xenograft tumor models were used to evaluate the influence of miR-210-3p and CELF2 on tumor growth. MiR-210-3p was highly expressed, while CELF2 was less expressed in LUSC cells. Besides, miR-210-3p could downregulate CELF2 expression. Cell functional assay verified that miR-210-3p accelerated aggressive behaviors of LUSC cells. Additionally, rescue assay suggested that miR-210-3p downregulated CELF2 level to stimulate LUSC cell phenotypes and cell cycle progression through PI3K/AKT pathway. Moreover, miR-210-3p/CELF2 stimulated the tumor growth in vivo. To sum up, miR-210-3p modulated CELF2 expression, thus affecting cell phenotypes and cell cycle distribution in LUSC through PI3K/AKT pathway.

A Novel Prognostic Signature Based on Glioma Essential Ferroptosis-Related Genes Predicts Clinical Outcomes and Indicates Treatment in Glioma

Background

Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death (PCD) that has been implicated in cancer progression, although the specific mechanism is not known. Here, we used the latest DepMap release CRISPR data to identify the essential ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in glioma and their role in patient outcomes.

Methods

RNA-seq and clinical information on glioma cases were obtained from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). FRGs were obtained from the FerrDb database. CRISPR-screened essential genes (CSEGs) in glioma cell lines were downloaded from the DepMap portal. A series of bioinformatic and machine learning approaches were combined to establish FRG signatures to predict overall survival (OS) in glioma patients. In addition, pathways analysis was used to identify the functional roles of FRGs. Somatic mutation, immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoint gene expression were analyzed within the risk subgroups. Finally, compounds for reversing high-risk gene signatures were predicted using the GDSC and L1000 datasets.

Results

Seven FRGs (ISCU, NFS1, MTOR, EIF2S1, HSPA5, AURKA, RPL8) were included in the model and the model was found to have good prognostic value (p < 0.001) in both training and validation groups. The risk score was found to be an independent prognostic factor and the model had good efficacy. Subgroup analysis using clinical parameters demonstrated the general applicability of the model. The nomogram indicated that the model could effectively predict 12-, 36-, and 60-months OS and progression-free interval (PFI). The results showed the presence of more aggressive phenotypes (lower numbers of IDH mutations, higher numbers of EGFR and PTEN mutations, greater infiltration of immune suppressive cells, and higher expression of immune checkpoint inhibitors) in the high-risk group. The signaling pathways enriched closely related to the cell cycle and DNA damage repair. Drug predictions showed that patients with higher risk scores may benefit from treatment with RTK pathway inhibitors, including compounds that inhibit RTKs directly or indirectly by targeting downstream PI3K or MAPK pathways.

Conclusion

In summary, the proposed cancer essential FRG signature predicts survival and treatment response in glioma.

MicroRNA-210-3p is transcriptionally upregulated by hypoxia induction and thus promoting EMT and chemoresistance in glioma cells

BACKGROUND

Glioma is the most common and lethal form of brain cancer. It is highly malignant and is often characterized by chemoresistance and radioresistance, which are thought to mainly result from hypoxic microenvironments. Various tumour-promoting and tumour-suppressing microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified in gliomas; however, it is still largely unknown how miRNAs are modified by hypoxia and subsequently affect glioma. In this study, we examined the expression of miR-210-3p, a well-characterized miRNA that responds to hypoxia in glioma cell lines.

METHODS

The expressions of miR-9 and miR-210-3p were analysed by using qPCR. Cell viability was measured by performing CCK-8 after eechinomycin treatment or introduction of miR-210 for 24 or 48 h. The correlation of HIF-1α expression with TGF-β were analysed using the REMBRANDT database. The biomarkers of EMT, including E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin, were detected by western blot. Apoptotic cell death was measured by performing Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining followed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

We found that miR-210-3p was induced by a mechanism dependent on the hypoxia-induced transcriptional activity of HIF-1α. Then we established a positive association between the HIF-1α and TGF-β expression levels, and miR-210-3p upregulation induced TGF-β expression, indicating that hypoxia-induced HIF-1α activity upregulated TGF-β via miR-210-3p upregulation. Hypoxia-induced miR-210-3p activity was found to promote EMT by upregulating TGF-β, which subsequently enhanced the invasive ability in U87-MG cells. We further confirmed that miR-210-3p induced chemoresistance to TMZ in U87-MG cells via TGF-β upregulation under hypoxic conditions.

CONCLUSION

These results help to reveal the potential regulatory mechanisms of hypoxia-induced miR-210-3p expression that affect malignant behaviors and chemoresistance via TGF-β upregulation in glioma cells.