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Piergentili R, Marinelli E, Cucinella G, Lopez A, Napoletano G, Gullo G, Zaami S. miR-125 in Breast Cancer Etiopathogenesis: An Emerging Role as a Biomarker in Differential Diagnosis, Regenerative Medicine, and the Challenges of Personalized Medicine. Noncoding RNA 2024; 10:16. [PMID: 38525735 PMCID: PMC10961778 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna10020016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast Cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancer types worldwide, and it is characterized by a complex etiopathogenesis, resulting in an equally complex classification of subtypes. MicroRNA (miRNA or miR) are small non-coding RNA molecules that have an essential role in gene expression and are significantly linked to tumor development and angiogenesis in different types of cancer. Recently, complex interactions among coding and non-coding RNA have been elucidated, further shedding light on the complexity of the roles these molecules fulfill in cancer formation. In this context, knowledge about the role of miR in BC has significantly improved, highlighting the deregulation of these molecules as additional factors influencing BC occurrence, development and classification. A considerable number of papers has been published over the past few years regarding the role of miR-125 in human pathology in general and in several types of cancer formation in particular. Interestingly, miR-125 family members have been recently linked to BC formation as well, and complex interactions (competing endogenous RNA networks, or ceRNET) between this molecule and target mRNA have been described. In this review, we summarize the state-of-the-art about research on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Piergentili
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Italian National Research Council (CNR-IBPM), 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Enrico Marinelli
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy;
| | - Gaspare Cucinella
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, University of Palermo, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (G.C.); (A.L.); (G.G.)
| | - Alessandra Lopez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, University of Palermo, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (G.C.); (A.L.); (G.G.)
| | - Gabriele Napoletano
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Section of Forensic Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Gullo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, University of Palermo, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (G.C.); (A.L.); (G.G.)
| | - Simona Zaami
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Section of Forensic Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy;
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Matulić M, Gršković P, Petrović A, Begić V, Harabajsa S, Korać P. miRNA in Molecular Diagnostics. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9090459. [PMID: 36135005 PMCID: PMC9495386 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9090459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression on post-transcriptional level. Their biogenesis consists of a complex series of sequential processes, and they regulate expression of many genes involved in all cellular processes. Their function is essential for maintaining the homeostasis of a single cell; therefore, their aberrant expression contributes to development and progression of many diseases, especially malignant tumors and viral infections. Moreover, they can be associated with certain states of a specific disease, obtained in the least invasive manner for patients and analyzed with basic molecular methods used in clinical laboratories. Because of this, they have a promising potential to become very useful biomarkers and potential tools in personalized medicine approaches. In this review, miRNAs biogenesis, significance in cancer and infectious diseases, and current available test and methods for their detection are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Matulić
- Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Paula Gršković
- Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Andreja Petrović
- Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Institute of Clinical Pathology and Cytology, Merkur University Hospital, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Valerija Begić
- Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Primary School “Sesvetski Kraljevec”, 10361 Sesvetski Kraljevec, Croatia
| | - Suzana Harabajsa
- Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Pathology and Cytology, Division of Pulmonary Cytology Jordanovac, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Petra Korać
- Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +385-1-4606-278
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Wang R, Wang C, Meng XJ, Wei L. miR-125-5p inhibits thyroid cancer growth and metastasis by suppressing the ERK/PI3K/AKT signal pathway. Mol Cell Toxicol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13273-021-00175-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Proto-oncogene Zbtb7a represses miR-125a-5p transcription in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:4875-4878. [PMID: 32410140 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05512-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Zbtb7a is a transcription factor whose dysfunction is correlated to the development of several types of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It generally acts as a repressor of transcription downregulating the expression of several target genes including oncosuppressors ARF and Rb. In this study, Zbtb7a was found to suppress the expression of miR-125a, an oncosuppressive miRNA that is often downregulated in HCC. This effect is mediated by the binding of the transcription factor to a regulatory sequence in the promoter of the transcription unit of miR-125a located 14 bp upstream of the transcription start site. Consistent with this observation, the analysis of 370 HCC samples showed an upregulation of Zbtb7a compared to 50 normal liver tissues and a reverse correlation with miR-125a expression. These data suggest that miR-125a may support the oncogenic potential of Zbtb7a.
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Constantinou C, Spella M, Chondrou V, Patrinos GP, Papachatzopoulou A, Sgourou A. The multi-faceted functioning portrait of LRF/ZBTB7A. Hum Genomics 2019; 13:66. [PMID: 31823818 PMCID: PMC6905007 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-019-0252-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) consisting of zinc fingers combined with BTB (for broad-complex, tram-track, and bric-a-brac) domain (ZBTB) are a highly conserved protein family that comprises a multifunctional and heterogeneous group of TFs, mainly modulating cell developmental events and cell fate. LRF/ZBTB7A, in particular, is reported to be implicated in a wide variety of physiological and cancer-related cell events. These physiological processes include regulation of erythrocyte maturation, B/T cell differentiation, adipogenesis, and thymic insulin expression affecting consequently insulin self-tolerance. In cancer, LRF/ZBTB7A has been reported to act either as oncogenic or as oncosuppressive factor by affecting specific cell processes (proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, metastasis, etc) in opposed ways, depending on cancer type and molecular interactions. The molecular mechanisms via which LRF/ZBTB7A is known to exert either physiological or cancer-related cellular effects include chromatin organization and remodeling, regulation of the Notch signaling axis, cellular response to DNA damage stimulus, epigenetic-dependent regulation of transcription, regulation of the expression and activity of NF-κB and p53, and regulation of aerobic glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (Warburg effect). It is a pleiotropic TF, and thus, alterations to its expression status become detrimental for cell survival. This review summarizes its implication in different cellular activities and the commonly invoked molecular mechanisms triggered by LRF/ZBTB7A’s orchestrated action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Constantinou
- Biology laboratory, School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece.,Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Magda Spella
- Biology laboratory, School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece.,Laboratory for Molecular Respiratory Carcinogenesis, Department of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Chondrou
- Biology laboratory, School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece
| | - George P Patrinos
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.,Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE.,Zayed Center of Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE
| | | | - Argyro Sgourou
- Biology laboratory, School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece.
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Russo A, Potenza N. Antiproliferative Activity of microRNA-125a and its Molecular Targets. Microrna 2018; 8:173-179. [PMID: 30394225 DOI: 10.2174/2211536608666181105114739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNA-125a is present in all animals with bilateral symmetry and displays a conserved nucleotide sequence with a section of 11 bases including the seed region that is identical in all considered species. It primarily downregulates the expression of LIN28, thereby promoting cell differentiation and larval phase transitions in nematodes, mammals and insects. OBJECTIVE In this review, we focus on the cellular control of miR-125a expression and its antiproliferative activity. RESULTS In mammalians, microRNA-125a is present in most adult organs and tissues in which it targets proteins involved in the mitogenic response, such as membrane receptors, intracellular signal transducers, or transcription factors, with the overall effect of inhibiting cell proliferation. Tissue levels of miR-125a generally raise during differentiation but it is often downregulated in cancers, e.g. colon, cervical, gastric, ovarian, lung, and breast cancers, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, retinoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION The antiproliferative activity of miR-125a, demonstrated in many cell types, together with the notion that this miRNA is downregulated in several kinds of cancers, give a substantial support to the concept that miR-125a plays an oncosuppressive role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
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Sagnelli E, Potenza N, Onorato L, Sagnelli C, Coppola N, Russo A. Micro-RNAs in hepatitis B virus-related chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Hepatol 2018; 10:558-570. [PMID: 30310534 PMCID: PMC6177563 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v10.i9.558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by affecting both the stability and translation of complementary mRNAs. Several studies have shown that miRNAs are important regulators in the conflicting efforts between the virus (to manipulate the host for its successful propagation) and the host (to inhibit the virus), culminating in either the elimination of the virus or its persistence. An increasing number of studies report a role of miRNAs in hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and pathogenesis. In fact, HBV is able to modulate different host miRNAs, particularly through the transcriptional transactivator HBx protein and, conversely, different cellular miRNAs can regulate HBV gene expression and replication by a direct binding to HBV transcripts or indirectly targeting host factors. The present review will discuss the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of HBV-related diseases and their role as a biomarker in the management of patients with HBV-related disease and as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelista Sagnelli
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples 80135, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- DISTABIF, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples 80100, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Onorato
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples 80135, Italy
| | - Caterina Sagnelli
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples 80135, Italy
| | - Nicola Coppola
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples 80135, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- DISTABIF, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples 80100, Italy
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Epithelialization of mouse ovarian tumor cells originating in the fallopian tube stroma. Oncotarget 2018; 7:66077-66086. [PMID: 27602775 PMCID: PMC5323216 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian carcinoma accounts for 90% of all ovarian cancer and is the most deadly gynecologic malignancy. Recent studies have suggested that fallopian tube fimbriae can be the origin of cells for high-grade serous subtype of epithelial ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). A mouse HGSOC model with conditional Dicer-Pten double knockout (Dicer-Pten DKO) developed primary tumors, intriguingly, from the fallopian tube stroma. We examined the growth and epithelial phenotypes of the Dicer-Pten DKO mouse tumor cells contributable by each gene knockout. Unlike human ovarian epithelial cancer cells that expressed full-length E-cadherin, the Dicer-Pten DKO stromal tumor cells expressed cleaved E-cadherin fragments and metalloproteinase 2, a mixture of epithelial and mesenchymal markers. Although the Dicer-Pten DKO tumor cells lost the expression of mature microRNAs as expected, they showed high levels of tRNA fragment expression and enhanced AKT activation due to the loss of PTEN function. Introduction of a Dicer1-expressing construct into the DKO mouse tumor cells significantly reduced DNA synthesis and the cell growth rate, with concurrent diminished adhesion and ZO1 epithelial staining. Hence, it is likely that the loss of Dicer promoted mesenchymal-epithelial transition in fallopian tube stromal cells, and in conjunction with Pten loss, further promoted cell proliferation and epithelial-like tumorigenesis.
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9
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Potenza N, Panella M, Castiello F, Mosca N, Amendola E, Russo A. Molecular mechanisms governing microRNA-125a expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10712. [PMID: 28878257 PMCID: PMC5587745 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11418-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA-125a-5p (miR-125a) is a vertebrate homolog of lin-4, the first discovered microRNA, and plays a fundamental role in embryo development by downregulating Lin-28 protein. MiR-125a is also expressed in differentiated cells where it generally acts as an antiproliferative factor by targeting membrane receptors or intracellular transductors of mitogenic signals. MiR-125a expression is downregulated in several tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) where it targets sirtuin-7, matrix metalloproteinase-11, VEGF-A, Zbtb7a, and c-Raf. In this study, we have isolated the transcription promoter of human miR-125a and characterized its activity in HCC cells. It is a TATA-less Pol II promoter provided with an initiator element and a downstream promoter element, located 3939 bp upstream the genomic sequence of the miRNA. The activity of the promoter is increased by the transcription factor NF-kB, a master regulator of inflammatory response, and miR-125a itself was found to strengthen this activation through inhibition of TNFAIP3, a negative regulator of NF-kB. This finding contributes to explain the increased levels of miR-125a observed in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Marta Panella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Filomena Castiello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicola Mosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Elena Amendola
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
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