MiR-139-5p inhibits the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by targeting Regulation of Nuclear Pre-mRNA Domain Containing 1B

Use of miRNA Sequencing to Reveal Hub miRNAs and the Effect of miR-582-3p/SMAD2 in the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common tumor with a high fatality rate worldwide, and exploring its pathogenesis and deterioration mechanism is a focus for many researchers. Increasing evidence has shown that miRNAs are involved in the occurrence and progression of a variety of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, this study mainly aimed identify key miRNAs related to hepatocellular carcinoma and explore their potential functions and clinical significance. In this study, we performed miRNA sequencing on three pairs of hepatocellular carcinoma tissue samples and screened 26 differentially expressed miRNAs. Then 2 key miRNAs (miR-139-5p and miR-582-3p) were screened by Kaplan-Meier curve analysis, Cox multivariate analysis and qPCR methods. The expression of miR-582-3p was positively correlated with clinicopathological parameters in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Subsequently, miRwalk and starbase were used to predict the target genes of key miRNAs, and then the key pairs miR-582-3p/SMAD2 identified by WGCNA, PPI, qPCR and Pearson correlation analysis. Finally, a dual luciferase experiment, the rescue-of-function experiment and qPCR confirmed that miR-582-3p directly targets SMAD2 and regulates the proliferation, migration and invasion of HepG2 cells by targeting SMAD2. At the same time, interference with SMAD2 can influence the effect of miR-582-3p on HepG2 cells. In conclusion, our findings confirm that miR-582-3p is an independent factor for the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients, and can regulate the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting SMAD2.

MiR-139-5p/ENAH Affects Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

This study aims to investigate the specific mechanism of miR-139-5p regulating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Bioinformatic approaches was utilized to observe miR-139-5p level in HCC and unearth its target mRNA. Next, miR-139-5p and enabled homolog (ENAH) levels in HCC cell lines and normal liver cell line were evaluated with qRT-PCR. ENAH protein level was assessed by Western blot. The cell viability, migratory and invasive capacities of HepG2 cells was observed by cell functional assays. The binding of these two genes was proved through dual-luciferase method. Xenograft nude mouse model was prepared to identify the role of miR-139-5p in vivo. Poorly expressed miR-139-5p in HCC hindered the phenotypes of cancer cells. ENAH was at high level in HCC and it is a downstream target of miR-139-5p. Additionally, ENAH could reverse the suppressive impacts of miR-139-5p on HCC cell behaviors. Likewise, miR-139-5p was determined to perform tumor-suppressing function in vivo. MiR-139-5p hampered HCC cell processes by mediating ENAH, and miR-139-5p/ENAH is hopefully to be the possible target for HCC patients.

Circular RNA circ_0000592 elevates ANXA4 expression via sponging miR-1179 to facilitate tumor progression in gastric cancer

Increasing evidence indicated that dysregulated circular RNAs were implicated in the progression of multiple malignancies. However, the function of circ_0000592 in gastric cancer (GC) progression and its associated mechanism remain poorly understood. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot assay were performed to detect RNA and protein expression. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were analyzed by 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining assay, Transwell migration assay and Transwell invasion assay, respectively. The glucose/lactate assay kit was used to assess the rates of glucose consumption and lactate production. The interaction between microRNA-1179 (miR-1179) and circ_0000592 or Annexin A4 (ANXA4) was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. Xenograft tumor model was established to investigate the effect of circ_0000592 on tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0000592 expression was elevated in GC tissues and cells. Circ_0000592 knockdown hampered cell proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis of GC cells. MiR-1179 was a direct target of circ_0000592, and circ_0000592 silencing-mediated effects in GC cells were partly reversed by the knockdown of miR-1179. MiR-1179 interacted with the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of ANXA4. Circ_0000592 silencing reduced ANXA4 expression partly by upregulating miR-1179 in GC cells. ANXA4 overexpression partly overturned circ_0000592 knockdown-induced effects in GC cells. Circ_0000592 depletion markedly suppressed xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0000592 contributed to GC progression through regulating miR-1179/ANXA4 axis, which provided novel potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for GC treatment.

HOXA13, Negatively Regulated by miR-139-5p, Decreases the Sensitivity of Gastric Cancer to 5-Fluorouracil Possibly by Targeting ABCC4

Purpose

Chemoresistance remains a major challenge in the therapy of gastric cancer (GC). The homeobox (HOX) gene family has gained attention in carcinogenesis and chemoresistance. Here, this study aimed to explore the mechanism of HOXA13 in GC chemoresistance.

Methods

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to evaluate the expression of HOXA13 in GC tissues. The Kaplan–Meier plotter database was mined for prognosis analysis of GC patients with different HOXA13 expression receiving 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) therapy. The effects of HOXA13 on sensitivity of GC cells to 5-FU were investigated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-Ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation, flow cytometry and experiment in vivo. RNA-Sequencing analysis was performed to explore the underlying mechanism of HOXA13-mediated 5-FU resistance in GC. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and rescue experiments were applied to determine the relationship between HOXA13 and ABCC4. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to assess interaction of miR-139-5p and HOXA13.

Results

HOXA13 was upregulated in GC and its high expression was associated with poor prognosis of GC patients with 5-FU treatment. Overexpression of HOXA13 impaired the inhibitory effects of 5-FU on GC cells proliferation in vitro and vivo, and knockdown of HOXA13 exacerbated 5-FU-induced GC cells apoptosis. Mechanistically, HOXA13, directly targeted by miR-139-5p in GC, might upregulate ABCC4 expression, thereby accentuating 5-FU resistance of GC cells.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that HOXA13 attenuates 5-FU sensitivity of GC possibly by upregulating ABCC4. Thus, targeting HOXA13 would provide a novel prospective into the potential therapeutic strategy for reversing chemoresistance.

MiR-139-5p inhibits invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells by targeting PAK5 gene to block Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is the most common type of cancer of the digestive system. Local or systemic metastasis is the main cause of poor prognosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an important regulatory factor in the development of gastric cancer. However, the effect and mechanism of miR-139-5p on the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells are still unclear.

AIM

To explore the effect of miR-139-5p on the invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells and the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expression of miR-139-5p and PAK5, respectively, in immortalized gastric mucosal cell line GES1 and gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901, AGS, and BGC-823. MiR-139-5p mimic was transfected into gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells, and qRT-PCR was used detect the transfection efficiency. Transwell invasion and scratch assays were used to detect the effect of overexpression of miR-139-5p on the invasion and migration of SGC-7901 cells. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay and Western blot were used to detect the targeted regulation of miR-139-5p on PAK5. Western blot was used to detect the effect of overexpression of miR-139-5p on the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

RESULTS

The expression level of miR-139-5p in gastric cancer cells was significantly lower than that of normal gastric mucosal cells (P < 0.05), and the expression of PAK5 mRNA and protein was significantly higher than that of normal gastric mucosal cells (P < 0.05). Transfection of miR-139-5p mimic up-regulated the expression of miR-139-5p in SGC-7901 cells. Overexpression of miR-139-5p significantly inhibited the invasion and migration of SGC-7901 cells. The results of dual luciferase reporter gene assay and Western blot showed that miR-139-5p can target and negatively regulate the expression of PAK5. After overexpression of miR-139-5p, the expression of Wnt3a, β-catenin, and Cyclin D1 proteins in SGC-7901 cells was significantly down-regulated.

CONCLUSION

MiR-139-5p inhibits the invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells by targeting the PAK5 gene to block the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.