microRNA-141-3p fosters the growth, invasion, and tumorigenesis of cervical cancer cells by targeting FOXA2

Upregulation of hsa-miR-141-3p promotes uterine cervical carcinoma progression via targeting dual-specificity protein phosphatase 1

We aimed to explore the aberrant expression status of hsa-miR-141-3p and dual-specificity protein phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) and their relative mechanisms in uterine cervical carcinoma (UCC).Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was conducted to detect the expression of hsa-miR-141-3p. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed to examine the expression of DUSP1 in UCC. Gene chips and RNA-seq datasets were also obtained to assess the expression level. Integrated standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated to evaluate the expression status of hsa-miR-141-3p in UCC tissues comprehensively. DUSP1-overexpression and hsa-miR-141-3p-inhibition HeLa cells were established, and CCK-8, transwell, wound healing, cell cycle, and apoptosis assays were implemented. The targets of hsa-miR-141-3p were obtained with online tools, and the combination of hsa-miR-141-3p and DUSP1 was validated via dual-luciferase reporter assay. Single-cell RNA-seq data were analyzed to explore hsa-miR-141-3p and DUSP1 in different cells. An integrated SMD of 1.41 (95% CI[0.45, 2.38], p = 0.0041) with 558 samples revealed the overexpression of hsa-miR-141-3p in UCC tissues. And the pooled SMD of -1.06 (95% CI[-1.45, -0.66], p < 0.0001) with 1,268 samples indicated the downregulation of DUSP1. Inhibition of hsa-miR-141-3p could upregulate DUSP1 expression and suppress invasiveness and metastasis of HeLa cells. Overexpression of DUSP1 could hamper proliferation, invasion, and migration and boost apoptosis and distribution of G1 phase. The dual-luciferase reporter assay validated the combination of hsa-miR-141-3p and DUSP1. Moreover, the targets of hsa-miR-141-3p were mainly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway and activated in fibroblasts and endothelial cells. The current study illustrated the upregulation of hsa-miR-141-3p and the downregulation of DUSP1 in UCC tissues. Hsa-miR-141-3p could promote UCC progression by targeting DUSP1.

FOXA1 and FOXA2: the regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic implications in cancer

FOXA1 (Forkhead Box A1) and FOXA2 (Forkhead Box A2) serve as pioneering transcription factors that build gene expression capacity and play a central role in biological processes, including organogenesis and differentiation, glycolipid metabolism, proliferation, migration and invasion, and drug resistance. Notably, FOXA1 and FOXA2 may exert antagonistic, synergistic, or complementary effects in the aforementioned biological processes. This article focuses on the molecular mechanisms and clinical relevance of FOXA1 and FOXA2 in steroid hormone-induced malignancies and highlights potential strategies for targeting FOXA1 and FOXA2 for cancer therapy. Furthermore, the article describes the prospect of targeting upstream regulators of FOXA1/FOXA2 to regulate its expression for cancer therapy because of the drug untargetability of FOXA1/FOXA2.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of miRNAs for the detection of cervical cancer

Aim: This study aimed to critically appraise the evidence of the diagnostic effectiveness of miRNAs for the detection of cervical cancer. Methods & materials: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed, searching PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science. An umbrella meta-analysis of meta-analyses of individual biomarkers was performed. A Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) assessment of evidence was also performed. Results: A total of 52 miRNAs were included. Umbrella meta-analysis revealed significant heterogeneity in terms of sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), positive predictive value and/or negative predictive value. Umbrella effects were 0.76 (95% CI: 0.73-0.78), 0.78 (95% CI: 0.75-0.81), 0.77 (95% CI: 0.75-0.80), 0.75 (95% CI: 0.71-0.79) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.74-0.79), respectively. Conclusion: Moderate quality evidence suggested miR199a-5p, miR21-5p and miR-141a had excellent diagnostic performance.

Relationship Between Expression of microRNA and Chemotherapy Resistance in Cervical Carcinoma

Cervical cancer (CC), although being a potentially avoidable disease, is the second most often diagnose gynecological cancer, with at minimum 530,000 new instant reported each year, and optimism for CC remains poor. Nearly half of individuals with locally advanced cervical cancer have a poor pathological response to standard therapy. As a result, research into the molecular pathogenesis of cervical cancer and associated therapeutic targets is a must. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are possible biomarkers in cervical cancer; elevations or reductions in many distinct miRNAs discovered in individuals with this illness indicate that miRNA could contain a function to play in the illness's pathogenesis. Nevertheless, little is known about their significance in detecting individuals who do not respond to traditional therapy. As a consequence, the intention of this study is to look at the relationship among the synthesis of miRNAs (miR 217 and miR-140-3p), which can be utilized as molecular biomarkers to predict pathological responses in cervical cancer patients after radiation and chemotherapy. Various analytical techniques were used to analyze the data, including quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), growth and apoptosis analysis, western blot analysis, luciferase reporter gene analysis, immunohistochemistry, and statistical analysis. The results show that such miRNAs participate a crucial responsibility in CC cell proliferation inhibition. They might be a new therapeutic target for microRNA-mediated cell proliferation inhibition in cervical cancer.

Single-cell RNA-sequencing in asthma research

Asthma is a complex and heterogeneous disease with multicellular involvement, and knowledge gaps remain in our understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma. Efforts are still being made to investigate the immune pathogenesis of asthma in order to identify possible targets for prevention. Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology is a useful tool for exploring heterogeneous diseases, identifying rare cell types and distinct cell subsets, enabling elucidation of key processes of cell differentiation, and understanding regulatory gene networks that predict immune function. In this article, we provide an overview of the importance of scRNA-seq for asthma research, followed by an in-depth discussion of the results in recent years, in order to provide new ideas for the pathogenesis, drug development and treatment of asthma.

The role of miR-200 family in the regulation of hallmarks of cancer

MiRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally contributing to the development of different diseases including cancer. The miR-200 family consists of five members, miR-200a, miR-200b, miR-200c, miR-141, and miR-429. Their expression is dysregulated in cancer tissue and their level is altered in the body fluids of cancer patients. Moreover, the levels of miR-200 family members correlate with clinical parameters such as cancer patients' survival which makes them potentially useful as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. MiRNAs can act as either oncomiRs or tumor suppressor miRNAs depending on the target genes and their role in the regulation of key oncogenic signaling pathways. In most types of cancer, the miR-200 family acts as tumor suppressor miRNA and regulates all features of cancer. In this review, we summarized the expression pattern of the miR-200 family in different types of cancer and their potential utility as biomarkers. Moreover, we comprehensively described the role of miR-200 family members in the regulation of all hallmarks of cancer proposed by Hanahan and Weinberg with the focus on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasiveness, and metastasis of tumor cells.

Functional mechanism and clinical implications of miR-141 in human cancers

Cancer is caused by the abnormal proliferation of local tissue cells under the control of many oncogenic factors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of evolutionarily conserved, approximately 22-nucleotide noncoding small RNAs that influence transcriptional regulationby binding to the 3'-untranslated region of target messenger RNA. As a member of the miRNA family, miR-141 acts as a suppressor or an oncomiR in various cancers and regulates cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis through a variety of signaling pathways, such as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) and constitutive activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Target gene validation and pathway analysis have provided mechanistic insight into the role of this miRNA in different tissues. This review also outlines novel findings that suggest miR-141 may be useful as a noninvasive biomarker and as a therapeutic target in several cancers.

MiR-141-3p regulates myogenic differentiation in C2C12 myoblasts via CFL2-YAP-mediated mechanotransduction

Skeletal myogenesis is essential to keep muscle mass and integrity, and impaired myogenesis is closely related to the etiology of muscle wasting. Recently, miR-141-3p has been shown to be induced under various conditions associated with muscle wasting, such as aging, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the functional significance and mechanism of miR-141-3p in myogenic differentiation have not been explored to date. In this study, we investigated the roles of miR-141-3p on CFL2 expression, proliferation, and myogenic differentiation in C2C12 myoblasts. MiR-141-3p appeared to target the 3’UTR of CFL2 directly and suppressed the expression of CFL2, an essential factor for actin filament (F-actin) dynamics. Transfection of miR-141-3p mimic in myoblasts increased F-actin formation and augmented nuclear Yes-associated protein (YAP), a key component of mechanotransduction. Furthermore, miR-141-3p mimic increased myoblast proliferation and promoted cell cycle progression throughout the S and G2/M phases. Consequently, miR-141-3p mimic led to significant suppressions of myogenic factors expression, such as MyoD, MyoG, and MyHC, and hindered the myogenic differentiation of myoblasts. Thus, this study reveals the crucial role of miR-141-3p in myogenic differentiation via CFL2-YAP-mediated mechanotransduction and provides implications of miRNA-mediated myogenic regulation in skeletal muscle homeostasis.

Spatially resolved single-molecule profiling of microRNAs in migrating cells driven by microconfinement

Cancer cells utilize a range of migration modes to navigate through a confined tissue microenvironment in vivo, while regulatory roles of key microRNAs (miRNAs) remain unclear. Precisely engineered microconfinement and the high spatial-resolution imaging strategy offer a promising avenue for deciphering the molecular mechanisms that drive cell migration. Here, enzyme-free signal-amplification nanoprobes as an effective tool are developed for three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution profiling of key miRNA molecules in single migrating cells, where distinct migration modes are precisely driven by microconfinement-engineered microchips. The constructed nanoprobes exhibit intuitive and ultrasensitive miRNA characterization in vitro by virtue of a single-molecule imaging microscope, and the differential expression and intracellular locations in different cell lines are successfully monitored. Furthermore, 3D spatial distribution of miR-141 at high resolution in flexible phenotypes of migrating cells is reconstructed in the engineered biomimetic microenvironment. The results indicate that miR-141 may be involved in the metastatic transition from a slow to a fast migration state. This work offers a new opportunity for investigating regulatory mechanisms of intracellular key biomolecules during cell migration in biomimetic microenvironments, which may advance in-depth understanding of cancer metastasis in vivo.

Spatially resolved profiling of miRNAs was realized in migrating cells using enzyme-free signal-amplification nanoprobes, in which distinct migration modes of single living cells are driven by precisely engineered microchips.

miR-141-3p suppresses development of clear cell renal cell carcinoma by regulating NEK6

Currently, there have been few studies on the function and molecular mechanism of miR-141-3p in the development of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). This study aimed to explore the relationship between miR-141-3p and NIMA (never in mitosis, gene A)-related kinase-6 (NEK6) and investigate the role of the interaction in CCRCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis.Starbase database was used to predict the target gene of miR-141-3p in CCRCC and dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the targeting relationship between miR-141-3p and the target gene. Real-time quantitative PCR was conducted to detect the expression of miR-141-3p and NEK6 mRNA in cells. Western blot was carried out to detect the protein level of NEK6 in cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, transwell assay and wound healing assay were conducted to detect CCRCC cell proliferation, invasion and migration abilities. Flow cytometry was performed to detect CCRCC cell apoptosis. miR-141-3p was markedly lowly expressed, and NEK6 was a target of miR-141-3p and was remarkably highly expressed in CCRCC cells. Over-expressing miR-141-3p could inhibit CCRCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and promote apoptosis. The inhibitory effect of miR-141-3p over-expression on cell proliferation, migration and invasion was significantly weakened by over-expressing NEK6. miR-141-3p could regulate CCRCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis by targeting NEK6. This study lays the basis for the exploration of the molecular mechanism underlying CCRCC pathogenesis and research on targeted therapies for CCRCC.

Regulation of airway immunity by epithelial miRNAs

The airway epithelium is essential to protect the host from inhaled pathogens and particles. It maintains immune homeostasis and mediates tissue repair after injury. Inflammatory diseases of the airways are associated with failure of epithelial functions, including loss of barrier integrity that results in increased tissue permeability and immune activation; excessive mucus secretion and impaired mucociliary clearance that leads to airflow obstruction and microbial overgrowth; and dysregulation of cellular signals that promotes inflammation and alters tissue structure and airway reactivity. MicroRNAs play crucial roles in mounting appropriate cellular responses to environmental stimuli and preventing disease, using a common machinery and mechanism to regulate gene expression in epithelial cells, immune cells of hematopoietic origin, and other cellular components of the airways. Respiratory diseases are accompanied by dramatic changes in epithelial miRNA expression that drive persistent immune dysregulation. In this review, we discuss responses of the epithelium that promote airway immunopathology, with a focus on miRNAs that contribute to the breakdown of essential epithelial functions. We emphasize the emerging role of miRNAs in regulation of epithelial responses in respiratory health and their value as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Expression, regulation, and function of exosome-derived miRNAs in cancer progression and therapy

Exosomes are a novel class of intercellular signal modulators that contain a wide range of molecules and deliver information between cells and tissues. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a type of regulatory non-coding RNA, are often incorporated into exosomes as signaling molecules. In this review, we discuss the expression of exosomal miRNAs from diverse origins such as tumor cells, solid tumor tissue, and biological fluids in various cancers (lung, breast, colorectal, liver, stomach, and pancreatic). We address the biological functions of exosome-derived miRNAs in processes such as tumor-cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and chemoresistance in the tumor microenvironment. In particular, we discuss three oncogenic miRNAs, miR-21, miR-141, and miR-451, which occur within exosomes, in terms of gene regulation and intercellular communication. We consider therapeutic miRNA-based nanoparticles, which are widely expressed in tumors and show promise in drug therapy. The review assesses the wide-ranging evidence for using exosomal miRNAs as tumor markers in molecular diagnosis. Further, we consider the use of nanoparticle platforms to transport miRNAs, in the targeted treatment of disease and tumors.

Upregulation of microRNA miR-141-3p and its prospective targets in endometrial carcinoma: a comprehensive study

The clinicopathological value of microRNA-141-3p (miR-141-3p) and its prospective target genes in endometrial carcinoma (EC) remains unclear. The present study determined the expression level of miR-141-3p in EC via quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). RT-qPCR showed a markedly higher expression level of miR-141-3p in EC tissues than in non-EC endometrium tissues (P < 0.0001). The microarray and miRNA-seq data revealed upregulation of miR-141-3p. Integrated analysis based on 675 cases of EC and 63 controls gave a standardized mean difference of 1.737, confirmed the upregulation of miR-141-3p. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that a higher expression of miR-141-3p positively corelated with a poorer prognosis. Combining the predicted targets and downregulated genes in EC, we obtained 271 target genes for miR-141-3p in EC. Two potential targets, PPP1R12A and PPP1R12B, were downregulated at both the mRNA and protein levels. This study indicates that the overexpression of miR-141-3p may play an important part in the carcinogenesis of EC. The overexpression of miR-141-3p may be a risk factor for the prognosis of patients with EC.

Study on effects of miR-141-3p in proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of colon cancer cells by inhibiting Bcl2

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between miR-141-3p and B lymphocyte-2 gene (Bcl2) gene and its biological behavior on colon cancer cell line SW480.

METHODS

qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression level of miR-141-3p in colon cancer tissues and adjacent tissues, as well as in colon cancer cell line and normal human colonic epithelial cell line FHC. MTT assay, wound assay, and Transwell demonstrated the effects of miR-141-3p on colon cancer proliferation, migration and invasion. Targetscan7.1 predictive software and dual luciferase reporter assays were used to detect the targeted regulation of miR-141-3p on the apoptosis-related gene Bcl2. MTT assay, wound assay, Transwell and flow cytometry were used to detect the effect of Bcl2 on miR-141-3p on colon cancer proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis.

RESULTS

Compared with adjacent tissues, the expression of miR-141-3p in colon cancer tissues was significantly down-regulated. Colon cancer patients with low expression of miR-141-3p had poorer prognosis. Compared with normal colonic epithelial cells, miR-141-3p expression was significantly down-regulated in colon cancer cell lines, and overexpression of miR-141-3p significantly attenuated the proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer cells. Knockdown of miR-141-3p significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer cells. miR-141-3p targets the negative regulation of Bcl2. Knockdown of Bcl2 significantly attenuated the promotion of miR-141-3p inhibitor on proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer cells and inhibition of apoptosis. Knockdown of Bcl2 significantly enhanced the inhibition effect of miR-141-3p inhibitor on proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, miR-141-3p can inhibit the cancer by regulating Bcl2, and miR-141-3p has the potential to become a potential therapeutic target for colon cancer.

CircKEAP1 Suppresses the Progression of Lung Adenocarcinoma via the miR-141-3p/KEAP1/NRF2 Axis

Background

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer, and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common form. Despite the great advances that has been made in the diagnosis and treatment for LUAD, the pathogenesis of LUAD remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify the function of circKEAP1 derived from the exon of KEAP1 in LUAD.

Methods

The expression profiles of circRNAs in LUAD tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were analyzed by Agilent Arraystar Human CircRNA microarray. The levels and prognostic values of circKEAP1 in tissues and cancer cell lines were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Subsequently, the effects of circKEAP1 on tumor growth were investigated by functional experiments in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the dual luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down, and RNA immunoprecipitation experiments were performed to confirm the interaction between circKEAP1 and miR-141-3p in LUAD.

Results

We found circKEAP1 was significantly downregulated in LUAD tissues and repressed tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circKEAP1 competitively binds to miR-141-3p and relive miR-141-3p repression for its host gene, which activated the KEAP1/NRF2 signal pathway, and finally suppresses the tumor progress. Our findings suggest that circKEAP1 inhibits LUAD progression through circKEAP1/miR-141-3p/KEAP1 axis and it may serve as a novel method for the treatment of LUAD.

Inhibiting roles of FOXA2 in liver cancer cell migration and invasion by transcriptionally suppressing microRNA-103a-3p and activating the GREM2/LATS2/YAP axis

Forkhead box A2 (FOXA2) has emerged as a tumor inhibitor in several human malignancies. This work focused on the effect of FOXA2 on liver cancer (LC) cell invasion and migration and the involving molecules. FOXA2 expression in LC tissues and cell lines was determined. The potential target microRNA (miRNA) of FOXA2 was predicted via bioinformatic analysis and validated through a ChIP assay. The mRNA target of miRNA-103a-3p was predicted via bioinformatic analysis and confirmed via a luciferase assay. Altered expression of FOXA2, miR-103a-3p and GREM2 was introduced in cells to identify their roles in LC cell migration and invasion. Consequently, FOXA2 and GREM2 were poorly expressed while miR-103a-3p was highly expressed in LC samples. Overexpression of FOXA2 or GREM2 suppressed migration and invasion of LC cells, while up-regulation of miR-103a-3p led to inverse trends. FOXA2 transcriptionally suppressed miR-103a-3p to increase GREM2 expression. Silencing of GREM2 blocked the effects of FOXA2. GREM2 increased LATS2 activity and YAP phosphorylation and degradation. To conclude, this study demonstrated that FOXA2 suppressed miR-103a-3p transcription to induce GREM2 upregulation, which increased LATS2 activity and YAP phosphorylation to inhibit migration and invasion of LC cells.

Lack of Conserved miRNA Deregulation in HPV-Induced Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in the anogenital and head and neck regions are associated with high-risk types of human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV). Deregulation of miRNA expression is an important contributor to carcinogenesis. This study aimed to pinpoint commonly and uniquely deregulated miRNAs in cervical, anal, vulvar, and tonsillar tumors of viral or non-viral etiology, searching for a common set of deregulated miRNAs linked to HPV-induced carcinogenesis. RNA was extracted from tumors and nonmalignant tissues from the same locations. The miRNA expression level was determined by next-generation sequencing. Differential expression of miRNAs was calculated, and the patterns of miRNA deregulation were compared between tumors. The total of deregulated miRNAs varied between tumors of different locations by two orders of magnitude, ranging from 1 to 282. The deregulated miRNA pool was largely tumor-specific. In tumors of the same location, a low proportion of miRNAs were exclusively deregulated and no deregulated miRNA was shared by all four types of HPV-positive tumors. The most significant overlap of deregulated miRNAs was found between tumors which differed in location and HPV status (HPV-positive cervical tumors vs. HPV-negative vulvar tumors). Our results imply that HPV infection does not elicit a conserved miRNA deregulation in SCCs.

The role of HPV-induced epigenetic changes in cervical carcinogenesis (Review)

Cervical cancer is associated with infection by certain types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs), and this affects women worldwide. Despite the improvements in prevention and cure of HPV-induced cervical cancer, it remains the second most common type of cancer in women in the least developed regions of the world. Epigenetic modifications are stable long-term changes that occur in the DNA, and are part of a natural evolutionary process of necessary adaptations to the environment. They do not result in changes in the DNA sequence, but do affect gene expression and genomic stability. Epigenetic changes are important in several biological processes. The effects of the environment on gene expression can contribute to the development of numerous diseases. Epigenetic modifications may serve a critical role in cancer cells, by silencing tumor suppressor genes, activating oncogenes, and exacerbating defects in DNA repair mechanisms. Although cervical cancer is directly related to a persistent high-risk HPV infection, several epigenetic changes have been identified in both the viral DNA and the genome of the infected cells: DNA methylation, histone modification and gene silencing by non-coding RNAs, which initiate and sustain epigenetic changes. In the present review, recent advances in the role of epigenetic changes in cervical cancer are summarized.

The Biological Effects of Forkhead Box Protein A2 (FOXA2) on Cervical Cancer Cells by Regulating Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN)

The pathogenesis of cervical cancer is complex and FOX family is abnormally expressed in several diseases. FOXA2’s role in cervical cancer remains unclear. FOXA2 level in cervical cancer and adjacent normal tissues was detected. Cervical cancer Hela cells were divided into control group, FOXA2 group and FOXA2 siRNA group followed by analysis of FOXA2 level by Real time PCR and western blot, cell survival by MTT assay, cell migration and invasion, and PTEN expression by western blot. The cells were divided into NC group, FOXA2 group and FOXA2+PTEN inhibitor group followed by analysis of cell behaviors by flow cytometry and PTEN expression by western blot. FOXA2 was significantly downregulated in cancer tissues compared with adjacent tissues (P <0.05) and associated with tumor size and FIGO stage (P <0.05), but not with vascular invasion, pathological grade and lymph node metastasis. Overexpression of FOXA2 inhibited Hela cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and increased PTEN expression (P <0.05), which were all significantly reversed after inhibition of FOXA2 (P <0.05). The addition of PTEN inhibitor to Hela cells overexpressing FOXA2 reversed the effect of FOXA2 on Hela cells and down-regulated PTEN expression (P <0.05). FOXA2 is downregulated in cervical cancer, which is related to tumor size and FIGO stage. Overexpression of FOXA2 inhibits cell behaviors by regulating PTEN.

CircRNA_100395 Carried by Exosomes From Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibits the Malignant Transformation of Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Through the miR-141-3p-LATS2 Axis

OBJECTIVE

The specific purpose of this study is to investigate the impact exosomes from adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (AMSC) has on non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and the relative applications.

METHODS

circ_100395, miR-141-3p, and LATS2 were expressed and detected in NSCLC and paracancerous tissues as well as NSCLC cell lines. Pearson correlation analysis, Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay and RNA pull-down assay were used to validate their expression and interaction, respectively. After isolation and culture of AMSCs, exosomes were extracted and identified. EdU, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cell colony formation assay were used to distinguish the biological activity of the cells. Expression Hippo/YAP signalling pathway-related proteins were measured by western blotting. Subsequently, tumour volume and weight were confirmed based on xenograft nude mice models, Ki-67 and LATS2 expression was observed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

circ_100395 was lowly expressed in NSCLC tissues or cells. The negative correlations and interactions were confirmed between circ_100395 and miR-141-3p, miR-141-3p, and LATS2. AMSC-derived exosomes with overexpression of circ_100395 (exo-circ_100395) significantly inhibited the biological activity as well as EMT of H1650 cells and Hippo/YAP signalling pathway activity. In addition, exo-circ_100395 markedly reduced tumour volume and weight as well as Ki-67 and LASP1 expression in vivo. However, overexpressed miR-141-3p or knocked down LATS2 alleviated the above effects.

CONCLUSION

Exo-circ_100395 can increase LATS2 expression by sponging miR-141-3p to regulate Hippo/YAP signalling pathway, thereby inhibiting NSCLC malignant transformation.

Epithelial miR-141 regulates IL-13-induced airway mucus production

IL-13-induced goblet cell metaplasia contributes to airway remodeling and pathological mucus hypersecretion in asthma. miRNAs are potent modulators of cellular responses, but their role in mucus regulation is largely unexplored. We hypothesized that airway epithelial miRNAs play roles in IL-13-induced mucus regulation. miR-141 is highly expressed in human and mouse airway epithelium, is altered in bronchial brushings from asthmatic subjects at baseline, and is induced shortly after airway allergen exposure. We established a CRISPR/Cas9-based protocol to target miR-141 in primary human bronchial epithelial cells that were differentiated at air-liquid-interface, and goblet cell hyperplasia was induced by IL-13 stimulation. miR-141 disruption resulted in decreased goblet cell frequency, intracellular MUC5AC, and total secreted mucus. These effects correlated with a reduction in a goblet cell gene expression signature and enrichment of a basal cell gene expression signature defined by single cell RNA sequencing. Furthermore, intranasal administration of a sequence-specific mmu-miR-141-3p inhibitor in mice decreased Aspergillus-induced secreted mucus and mucus-producing cells in the lung and reduced airway hyperresponsiveness without affecting cellular inflammation. In conclusion, we have identified a miRNA that regulates pathological airway mucus production and is amenable to therapeutic manipulation through an inhaled route.

miR-141 Promotes Colon Cancer Cell Proliferation by Targeted PHLPP2 Expression Inhibitionn

Objective

Colon cancer (CC) is the third most common cancer with a high rate of incidence and mortality. Therefore, it is highly necessary to explore novel targets of CC.

Methods

The miRNA-seq and RNA-seq data of CC were accessed from the TCGA database. Differential analysis was performed using the "edgeR" package to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DE_miRNAs). The downstream target genes of the target miRNA were then predicted by miRNA target prediction databases to identify the target mRNA. Normal colon cell line CCD-18Co and CC cell lines HCT-116, HT-29, SW620 and SW480 were chosen, and qRT-PCR was conducted to detect miR-141 expression in these cell lines. qRT-PCR and Western blot were carried out to determine PHLPP2 mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to verify the targeting relationship between miR-141 and PHLPP2 3'UTR. CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay were carried out to detect cell proliferation. Meanwhile, tumor xenograft model in nude mice was constructed to assess CC cell tumorigenic ability in vivo.

Results

miR-141 was markedly up-regulated in CC tissue. CC cell proliferation and in vivo tumorigenic ability were suppressed by miR-141 silencing but promoted by miR-141 over-expression. PHLPP2 was significantly down-regulated in cancer tissue. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay indicated that miR-141 could bind to PHLPP2 3'UTR. PHLPP2 expression was noticeably elevated upon miR-141 deficiency but significantly inhibited upon miR-141 over-expression. CCK-8 and colony formation assay suggested that miR-141 facilitated CC cell proliferation by silencing PHLPP2.

Conclusion

miR-141 promotes CC cell proliferation by targeted silencing PHLPP2.

MicroRNA‑15a‑5p‑targeting oncogene YAP1 inhibits cell viability and induces cell apoptosis in cervical cancer cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to have important regulatory roles in the progression of several types of cancer, including cervical cancer (CC). However, the biological roles and regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in CC remain to be fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to examine the functions of miRNAs in CC and the possible mechanisms. Using a microarray, it was identified that miRNA-15a-5p (miR-15a-5p) was one of the most down-regulated miRNAs in CC tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous tissues. The low expression of miR-15a-5p was observed in CC tumor tissues with distant metastasis and in CC cell lines. In addition, the effects of miR-15a-5p upregulation on cell viability, apoptosis, invasion and migration of CC cells were investigated using CCK-8, flow cytometry, Transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. It was demonstrated that upregulation of miR-15a-5p significantly suppressed the viability, migration and invasion, and promoted the apoptosis of SiHa and C-33A cells. Furthermore, yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), a well-known oncogene, was confirmed to be directly targeted by miR-15a-5p and was found to be negatively regulated by miR-15a-5p. Further correlation analysis indicated that miR-15a-5p expression was negatively correlated with YAP1 expression in CC tissues. Notably, overexpression of YAP1 abrogated the tumor suppressive effects of miR-15a-5p in CC cells. Taken together, these present findings indicated that the miR-15a-5p/YAP1 axis may provide a novel strategy for the clinical treatment of CC.

The roles of microRNA in human cervical cancer

Although a potentially preventable disease, cervical cancer (CC) is the second most commonly diagnosed gynaecological cancer with at least 530,000 new cases annually, and the prognosis with CC is still poor. Studies suggest that aberrant expression of microRNA (miRNA) contributes to the progression of CC. As a group of small non-coding RNA with 18-25 nucleotides, miRNA regulate about one-third of all human genes. They function by repressing translation or inducing mRNA cleavage or degradation, including genes involved in diverse and important cellular processes, including cell cycling, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Results showed that misexpression of miRNA is closely related to the onset and progression of CC. This review will provide an overview of the function of miRNA in CC and the mechanisms involved in cervical carcinogenesis.

LINC00641 hinders the progression of cervical cancer by targeting miR-378a-3p/CPEB3

BACKGROUND

LINC00641 was found to act in anti-tumor manner in several types of cancers. Nonetheless, the detailed functions of LINC00641 have not been determined in cervical cancer (CC).

METHODS

The expression of LINC00641, miR-378a-3p and CPEB3 was examined using a quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The relationships between LINC00641 and its downstream mechanism were illustrated by RNA pull-down and luciferase reporter experiments.

RESULTS

LINC00641 was found to be under-expressed in CC cell lines. By overexpressing LINC00641, cell proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities, as well as epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics, were inhibited, whereas the rate of apoptosis was increased. Next, a starBase search (http://starbase.sysu.edu.cn) was applied to select microRNAs that had binding sequences with LINC00641. By up-regulating LINC00641 expression, miR-378a-3p expression displayed the strongest decline. Moreover, miR-378a-3p was found to be up-regulated in CC cell lines. In addition, LINC00641 hindered the progression of CC by decreasing miR-378a-3p expression. CPEB3 was discovered as a downstream target of miR-378a-3p and was under-expressed in CC cells. Furthermore, knockdown of CPEB3 could counter the influence of an overexpression of LINC00641 with respect to CC progression.

CONCLUSIONS

LINC00641 suppressed the progression of CC by targeting miR-378a-3p/CPEB3, suggesting that LINC00641 may have positive therapeutic impact for treatment for CC.

LncRNA SNHG16 induces proliferation and fibrogenesis via modulating miR-141-3p and CCND1 in diabetic nephropathy

LncRNAs are reported to participate in the progression of various diseases including diabetic nephropathy. Currently, we reported that SNHG16 was obviously upregulated in db/db mice and high glucose-treated mice mesangial cells. Then, functional experiments showed that SNHG16 silencing significantly inhibited proliferation of mice mesangial cells, which induced the apoptosis and triggered cell cycle arrest. Meanwhile, proliferation-related biomarkers PCNA and Cyclin D1 (CCND1) were greatly repressed. Furthermore, western blot analysis was conducted to test fibrogenesis-associated genes Fibronectin and α-SMA. Meanwhile, the increased protein expression levels of Fibronectin and α-SMA under high glucose conditions were reversed by loss of SNHG16. miR-141-3p has been reported to be involved in various diseases. Then, RNA immunoprecipitation assay revealed the relation between SNHG16 and miR-141-3p. Downregulation of SNHG16 was able to induce expression of miR-141-3p, which was obviously reduced in db/db diabetic nephropathy mice. In addition, CCND1 is a crucial cell cycle master in human diseases. CCND1 was speculated as the target of miR-141-3p and miR-141-3p inhibited CCND1 expression significantly. Meanwhile, we observed that loss of CCND1 greatly repressed mice mesangial cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis. Taken these together, we revealed for the first time that SNHG16 induced proliferation and fibrogenesis via modulating miR-141-3p and CCND1 in diabetic nephropathy. SNHG16/miR-141-3p/CCND1 axis can suggest a pathological mechanism of progression of diabetic nephropathy.

FoxA2 inhibits the proliferation of hepatic progenitor cells by reducing PI3K/Akt/HK2-mediated glycolysis

FoxA2 is an essential transcription factor for liver organogenesis and homeostasis. Although reduced expression of FoxA2 has been associated with chronic liver diseases, hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) that are activated in these circumstances express FoxA2. However, the functional effects and underlying mechanism of FoxA2 in HPCs are still unknown. As revealed by immunostaining, HPCs expressed FoxA2 in human cirrhotic livers and in the livers of choline-deficient diet supplemented with ethionine (CDE) rats. Knocking down FoxA2 in HPCs isolated from CDE rats significantly increased cell proliferation and aerobic glycolysis. Moreover, gene transcription, protein expression, and the enzyme activities of hexokinase 2 (HK2) were upregulated, and blocking HK2 activities via 2-deoxyglucose markedly reduced cell proliferation and aerobic glycolysis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that FoxA2 knockdown enhanced the transcription of genes involved in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway and triggered downstream Akt phosphorylation. Blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway by Ly294002 inhibited HK2 activities, aerobic glycolysis, and cell proliferation in FoxA2-knockdown cells. Therefore, FoxA2 plays an important role in the proliferation and inhibition of HPCs by suppressing PI3K/Akt/HK2-regulated aerobic glycolysis.

Lung CSC-derived exosomal miR-210-3p contributes to a pro-metastatic phenotype in lung cancer by targeting FGFRL1

Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate among human cancers, and the majority of deaths can be attributed to metastatic spread. Lung cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a component of the tumour microenvironment that contributes to this process. Exosomes are small membrane vesicles secreted by all types of cells that mediate cell interactions, including cancer metastasis. Here, we show that lung CSC-derived exosomes promote the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells, up-regulate expression levels of N-cadherin, vimentin, MMP-9 and MMP-1, and down-regulate E-cadherin expression. Moreover, we verified that these exosomes contribute to a pro-metastatic phenotype in lung cancer cells via miR-210-3p transfer. The results of bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays further indicated that miR-210-3p may bind to fibroblast growth factor receptor-like 1 (FGFRL1); silencing FGFRL1 enhanced the metastatic ability of lung cancer cells, whereas overexpressing FGFRL1 suppressed metastasis. Taken together, our results provide new insights into a potential molecular mechanism whereby lung CSC-derived exosomal miR-210-3p targets FGFRL1 to promote lung cancer metastasis. FGFRL1 may be a promising therapeutic target in lung cancer.

Upregulation of Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (NCAM1) by hsa-miR-141-3p Suppresses Ameloblastoma Cell Migration

Background

Neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1; CD56) and E-cadherin are both involved in cell-cell adhesion and cell development processes, and their dysregulation is associated with various tumors. We hypothesized that dysregulated NCAM1 could suppress the invasive behavior of ameloblastoma (AB), and its expression was regulated by miR-141-3p.

Material/Methods

Real-time qPCR was performed to examine differences in miR-141-3p expression between AB tissues and normal oral tissues (NOMs). The potential target NCAM1 of miR-141-3p was predicted by bioinformatics analysis, which was validated through dual-luciferase assay. The mRNA and protein levels of NCAM1 were detected by real-time qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Furthermore, the expression and distribution of NCAM1 in AB were investigated through immunohistochemical staining, and immunohistochemical staining of E-cadherin was also performed. After overexpression of NCAM1, the migration of AM-1 cells was examined using wound-healing assay.

Results

Real-time qPCR results confirmed that miR-141-3p was significantly downregulated in AB tissues. According to bioinformatics analysis, NCAM1 was a target of miR-141-3p, which was confirmed by dual luciferase assay. We found that NCAM1 was significantly upregulated in AB tissues at the mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, NCAM1 and E-cadherin were mainly expressed on the cell membrane of AB. Downregulation of E-cadherin was found in AB tissues. As shown in wound-healing assay results, NCAM1 overexpression significantly inhibited the invasiveness of AM-1 cells.

Conclusions

In this study, highly expressed NCAM1 was found in AB, and it suppressed the migration of AB cells and was regulated by miR-141-3p, suggesting its potential value as a therapeutic target for AB.

MicroRNA-1246 Promotes Melanoma Progression Through Targeting FOXA2

Introduction

Recently, the incidence of melanoma has been rising and there is a lack of effective targeted therapies. The regulatory mechanisms of microRNA-1246 (miR-1246) have been found in many cancers, except melanoma. This study focused on the regulatory mechanism of miR-1246 in melanoma development.

Methods

The expression of miR-1246 was assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell viability and metastasis were detected by Transwell and MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assays. The protein expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) makers was assessed by Western blot analysis. The target gene of miR-1246 was detected using luciferase reporter assay.

Results

MiR-1246 expression was increased in melanoma tissues and cells. In addition, upregulation of miR-1246 promoted cell viability and metastasis in melanoma. Forkhead box protein A2 (FOXA2) was confirmed to be a direct target of miR-1246. And FOXA2 expression was decreased in melanoma and was suppressed by miR-1246. Importantly, upregulation of FOXA2 restored the carcinogenesis of miR-1246 in melanoma.

Conclusion

MiR-1246 promoted cell viability and metastasis in melanoma by inhibiting FOXA2 expression.

Inhibition of Microrna-766-5p Attenuates the Development of Cervical Cancer Through Regulating SCAI

PURPOSE

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are considered to play anti-tumor roles in cancers. This study is designed to illustrate the role and potential mechanism of miR-766-5p in cervical cancer (CC) progression.

METHODS

MiR-766-5p expression in tissues and serum of CC patients was detected by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum miR-766-5p in CC. The 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, flow cytometry, wound healing as well as transwell assay were utilized to detect the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of CC cells, respectively. The interaction between miR-766-5p and SCAI was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Xenografted tumor model was established to measure the growth of tumor xenograft in vivo.

RESULTS

MiR-766-5p was significantly increased in tissues and serum of CC patients. ROC curve suggested that serum miR-766-5p could serve as a biomarker for the diagnosis of CC. Inhibition of miR-766-5p suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted the apoptosis of CC cells. SCAI was proved to be a target of miR-766-5p. Silencing of SCAI eliminated the inhibiting effects of miR-766-5p inhibitor on the proliferation, migration and invasion of CC cells in vitro. Additionally, down-regulation of SCAI also reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-766-5p inhibitor on the growth of tumor xenograft in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Inhibition of miR-766-5p restrains the cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promotes the apoptosis in CC through negatively regulating SCAI.

SND1 facilitates the invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells by Smurf1-mediated degradation of FOXA2

Staphylococcal nuclease domain-containing protein 1 (SND1) is known to be involved in the progression of a variety of human cancers. However, the role of SND1 in cervical cancer remains unclear. Here, we found that the expression of SND1 in cervical cancer tissue was higher than that in normal cervical tissue. Importantly, high SND1 expression was closely associated with tumorigenic phenotype and shorter survival among cervical cancer patients. Functional assays demonstrated that SND1 knockdown inhibited the migration and invasion capabilities of cervical cancer cells in vitro. Additionally, a xenograft assay showed that silencing SND1 in cervical cancer cells suppressed lung metastasis in vivo. Further investigation revealed that knockdown of SND1 inhibited epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cervical cancer cells by enhancing FOXA2 expression. Moreover, the pro-metastasis effect of SND1 in cervical cancer was at least in part dependent on FOXA2 inhibition. Mechanistically, we found that SND1-induced FOXA2 ubiquitination resulted in degradation, mediated by the E3 ligase enzyme Smurf1. In summary, SND1 plays a crucial role in cervical cancer metastasis, and we provide evidence that SND1 may serve as a prognostic and therapeutic target in cervical cancer.

Alpinumisoflavone Inhibits Tumor Growth and Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Cancer via Upregulating miR-141-3p

Alpinumisoflavone (AIF) as a principal active ingredient of traditional Chinese herb Derris eriocarpa exerts a broad spectrum of anticancer activities against solid tumors. However, little is known about the effect of AIF on papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Objectives of this study are to investigate the effect of AIF on cell growth, apoptosis, and metastasis of PTC cells and uncover its underlying mechanisms. Results showed that AIF treatment notably suppressed cell viability, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, as well as induced apoptotic cell death. In addition, microarray analysis results revealed that miR-141-3p level was dramatically elevated upon AIF insulation, suggesting that miR-141-3p may mediate the suppressive role of AIF against PTC. Moreover, miR-141-3p knockdown effectively reversed the effects of AIF on cell growth, migration, invasion, and EMT, while promoted PTC cell apoptosis escape. Furthermore, in vivo findings also confirmed that the antigrowth and antimetastasis activities of AIF were, at least partly, mediated by upregulation of miR-141-3p. Overall, AIF could serve as a potential anticancer compound for PTC treatment. Anat Rec, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy Anat Rec, 303:1842-1850, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.

MicroRNA-877 is downregulated in cervical cancer and directly targets MACC1 to inhibit cell proliferation and invasion

Previously, a number of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be dysregulated in cervical cancer, and dysregulated miRNAs may play crucial roles in the development and progression of cervical cancer. Hence, investigating the detailed roles of miRNAs that are aberrantly expressed in cervical cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms is essential for early diagnosis and effective therapeutic approaches. miRNA-877 (miR-877) was found to be downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma, and function as a tumor-suppressive miRNA. However, how miR-877 exerts an effect in cervical cancer progression and its underlying molecular mechanisms remains to be elucidated. In the current study, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was performed to determine miR-877 expression in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. The effects of miR-877 overexpression on cervical cancer cell proliferation and invasion were evaluated using MTT and Transwell cell invasion assays. In the present study, miR-877 was significantly downregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines, and the decreased expression levels of miR-877 were significantly associated with increased International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetric stage as well as increased lymph node metastasis in patients with cervical cancer. Upregulation of miR-877 using miR-877 mimics resulted in the decreased proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells. Metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) was assessed using bioinformatics analyses to determine whether it could be a potential target gene of miR-877, and the results were confirmed using a luciferase reporter assay. Furthermore, MACC1 was markedly upregulated in cervical cancer tissues, and its level was negatively correlated with the miR-877 level. Overexpression of miR-877 resulted in decreased expression levels of MACC1 in cervical cancer cells at both the mRNA and protein levels. In addition, the functional effects of MACC1 knockdown were similar to those induced by upregulated miR-877 in cervical cancer cells. MACC1 restored miR-877 overexpression-mediated suppression of cervical cancer cell proliferation and invasion. In conclusion, miR-877 may play an antitumor role in cervical cancer by directly targeting MACC1, which suggests that this miRNA may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with such an aggressive gynecological cancer.

MiR-188-5p and MiR-141-3p influence prognosis of bladder cancer and promote bladder cancer synergistically

MicroRNA (miRNA) plays a significant role in suppressing the occurrence and development of tumor by inhibiting the translation of target proteins. Although previous researches have verified many miRNAs' functions in bladder cancer (BC), the function of miR-188-5p and miR-141-3p in BC still remains unknown. Our experiment manifested that miR-188-5p and miR-141-3p were highly expressed in BC tissues and cells, which indicated a poor prognosis. In vitro functional assays suggested that down-regulated miR-188-5p and miR-141-3p inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of BC cells, while a combination of half dose down-regulated miR-188-5p and half dose down-regulated miR-141-3p demonstrated a more obvious inhibition effect. All results indicated that miR-188-5p and miR-141-3p promoted BC respectively and synergistically. Therefore, miR-188-5p and miR-141-3p will not only assist the diagnosis of BC, but also serve as more effective joint markers to predict the progression of BC.

Integrated analysis of circular RNA-associated ceRNA network in cervical cancer: Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have displayed dysregulated expression in several types of cancer. Nevertheless, their function and underlying mechanisms in cervical cancer remains largely unknown. This study aimed to describe the regulatory mechanisms in cervical cancer.

METHODS

We downloaded the circRNAs expression profiles from Gene Expression Omnibus database, and RNAs expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. We established a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-miRNA-hubgene network. The interactions between proteins were analyzed using the STRING database and hubgenes were identified using MCODE plugin. Then, we conducted a circRNA-miRNA-hubgenes regulatory module. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using R packages "Clusterprofile".

RESULTS

Six circRNAs, 15 miRNAs, and 158 mRNAs were identified to construct the ceRNA network of cervical cancer. PPI (protein-protein interaction) network and module analysis identified 7 hubgenes. Then, a circRNA-miRNA-hubgene subnetwork was constructed based on the 1 DEcircRNAs, 3 DEmiRNAs, and 3 DEmRNAs. The KEGG pathway analysis indicated DEmRNAs are involved in progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, cell cycle, and oocyte meiosis.

CONCLUSION

These ceRNAs are critical in the pathogenesis of cervical and may serve as future therapeutic biomarkers.

Seminal Plasma Exosomes: Promising Biomarkers for Identification of Male and Pseudo-Males in Cynoglossus semilaevis

In mammals, small RNAs enclosed in exosomes have been identified as appropriate signatures for disease diagnosis. However, there is limited information on exosomes derived from seminal plasma, and few studies have reported analyzed the composition of exosomes and enclosed small RNAs in fish. The half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) is an economically important fish for aquaculture, and it exhibits sexual dimorphism: the female gender show higher growth rates and larger body sizes than males. Standard karyotype analysis and artificial gynogenesis tests have revealed that this species uses heterogametic sex determination (ZW/ZZ), and so-called sex-reversed pseudo-males exist. In this study, we successfully identified exosomes in the seminal plasma of C. semilaevis; to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of exosomes in fish seminal plasma. Analysis of the nucleotide composition showed that miRNAs were dominant in the exosomes, and the miRNAs were sequenced and compared to identify signature miRNAs as sexual biomarkers. Moreover, target genes of the signature miRNAs were predicted by sequence matching and annotation. Finally, four miRNAs (dre-miR-141-3P, dre-miR-10d-5p, ssa-miR-27b-3p, and ssa-miR-23a-3p) with significant differential expression in the males and pseudo-males were selected from the signature candidate miRNAs as markers for sex identification, and their expression profiles were verified using real-time quantitative PCR. Our findings could provide an effective detection method for sex differentiation in fish.

Elevated microRNA-141-3p in placenta of non-diabetic macrosomia regulate trophoblast proliferation

BACKGROUND

Several studies have reported microRNAs (miRNAs) could regulate the placental development, though the role and mechanism of miRNAs in the development of non-diabetic macrosomia (NDFMS) remains unclear.

METHODS

To identify the aberrantly expressed key miRNAs in placenta of NDFMS, we employed a strategy consisting of initial screening with miRNA microarray and further validation with quantitative RT-PCR assay (qRT-PCR). In vitro cellular model and a mouse pregnancy model were used to delineate the functional effects of key miRNA on proliferation, invasion, and migration.

FINDINGS

miR-141-3p was identified as the key miRNA with expression level significantly higher in placentas of NDFMS compared with those from normal controls. Overexpressed miR-141-3p in HTR-8/SVneo cells contributed to increased cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. miR-141-3p inhibition in HTR-8/SVneo cells resulted in decreased cell proliferation and invasion. Significantly increased infant birth weight was observed in late pregnancy of C57BL/6J mice treated with miR-141-3p agomir. However, no significant difference was found in early pregnancy of C57BL/6J mice treated with miR-141-3p agomir.

INTERPRETATION

miR-141-3p could stimulate placental cell proliferation to participate in the occurrence and development of NDFMS.

Expression and prognosis analyses of forkhead box A (FOXA) family in human lung cancer

Despite advances in early diagnosis and treatment, cancer still remains the major reason of mortality worldwide. The forkhead box A (FOXA) family is reported to participate in diverse human diseases. However, little is known about their expression and prognostic values in human lung cancer. Herein, we conducted a detailed cancer vs. normal analysis. The mRNA expression levels of FOXA family in numerous kind of cancers, including lung cancer, were analyzed using the Oncomine and GEPIA database. We observed that the mRNA expression levels of FOXA1, and FOXA3 were all increased while FOXA2 were decreased in most cancers compared with normal tissues, especially in lung cancer. Moreover, the expression levels of FOXA1, and FOXA3 are also highly expressed, while FOXA2 were decreased in almost all cancer cell lines, particularly in lung cancer cell lines, analyzing by Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and EMBL-EBI databases. Furthermore, the LinkedOmics database was used to evaluate the prognostic values, indicating that higher expression of FOXA1, FOXA3 indicated a poor overall survival (OS), while increased FOXA2 revealed a better OS in lung cancer. To conclusion, FOXA family showed significant expression differences between cancer and normal tissues, especially lung cancer, and FOXA1, FOXA3 could be promising prognostic biomarkers for lung cancer.