IFN-γ-mediated IRF1/miR-29b feedback loop suppresses colorectal cancer cell growth and metastasis by repressing IGF1

Unveiling the pathological functions of SOCS in colorectal cancer: Current concepts and future perspectives

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant global health challenge, marked by increasing incidence and mortality rates in recent years. The pathogenesis of CRC is complex, involving chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, heightened immunoinflammatory responses, and resistance to apoptosis. The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family, comprised of key negative regulators within cytokine signaling pathways, plays a crucial role in cell proliferation, growth, and metabolic regulation. Deficiencies in various SOCS proteins can trigger the activation of the Janus kinase (JAK) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathways, following the binding of cytokines and growth factors to their receptors. Mounting evidence indicates that SOCS proteins are integral to the development and progression of CRC, positioning them as promising targets for novel anticancer therapies. This review delves into the structure, function, and molecular mechanisms of SOCS family members, examining their roles in cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and immune modulation. Additionally, it explores their potential impact on the regulation of CRC immunotherapy, offering new insights and perspectives that may inform the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for CRC.

The γδ T cells dual function and crosstalk with intestinal flora in treating colorectal cancer is a promising area of study

The occurrence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is highly prevalent and severely affects human health, with the third-greatest occurrence and the second-greatest rate of death globally. Current CRC treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, do not significantly improve CRC patients' survival rate and quality of life, so it is essential to develop new treatment strategies. Adoptive cell therapy and other immunotherapy came into being. Currently, there has been an especially significant emphasis on γδ T cells as being the primary recipient of adoptive cell therapy. The present investigation found that γδ T cells possess the capability to trigger cytotoxicity in CRC cells, secrete cytokines, recruit immune cells for the purpose of destroying cancer cells, and inhibit the progress of CRC indirectly. Nevertheless, It is possible for γδ T cells to initiate a storm of inflammatory factors and inhibit the immune response to promote the advancement of CRC. This review demonstrates a close association between the γδ T cell initiation pathway and their close association with the intestinal flora. It has been observed that the intestinal flora performs a vital function in facilitating the stimulation and functioning of γδ T cells. The tumor-fighting effect is mainly regulated by desulphurizing Vibrio and lactic acid bacteria. In contrast, the regulation of tumor-promoting impact is closely related to Clostridia and ETBF. This review systematically combs γδ T cell dual function and their relationship to intestinal flora, which offers a conceptual framework for the γδ T cell application for CRC therapies.

Exosomal IRF1-loaded rat adipose-derived stem cell sheet contributes to wound healing in the diabetic foot ulcers

BACKGROUND

Cell-based therapy has been recognized as a novel technique for the management of diabetic foot ulcers, and cell-sheet engineering leads to improved efficacy in cell transplantation. This study aims to explore the possible molecular mechanism of the rat adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) sheet loaded with exosomal interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) in foot wound healing.

METHODS

Rats were rendered diabetic with streptozotocin, followed by measurement of miR-16-5p expression in wound tissues. Relationship between IRF1, microRNA (miR)-16-5p, and trans-acting transcription factor 5 (SP5) was analyzed using luciferase activity, RNA pull-down, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. IRF1 was overexpressed in rat ASCs (rASCs) or loaded onto the rASC sheet, and then exosomes were extracted from rASCs. Accordingly, we assessed the effects of IRF1-exosome or IRF1-rASC sheet on the proliferation and migration of the fibroblasts along with endothelial cell angiogenesis.

RESULTS

miR-16-5p was poorly expressed in the wound tissues of diabetic rats. Overexpression of miR-16-5p promoted fibroblast proliferation and migration as well as endothelial cell angiogenesis, thus expediting wound healing. IRF1 was an upstream transcription factor that could bind to the miR-16-5p promoter and increase its expression. In addition, SP5 was a downstream target gene of miR-16-5p. IRF1-exosome from rASCs or the IRF1-rASC sheet facilitated the foot wound healing in diabetic rats through miR-16-5p-dependent inhibition of SP5.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates that exosomal IRF1-loaded rASC sheet regulates miR-16-5p/SP5 axis to facilitate wound healing in diabetic rats, which aids in development of stem cell-based therapeutic strategies for diabetic foot wounds.

Pharmacological Mechanism of Pingxiao Formula against Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer worldwide and develops due to a broad range of causative factors. Pingxiao (PX) formula and Xihuang (XH) formula are two commonly used drugs to treat CRC, especially as an alternative therapy for those patients who could not suffer surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy, namely, elder or advanced CRC patients. However, the pertinent pharmacological mechanisms are still elusive. The investigation was designed to explain the pharmacological mechanisms of the PX formula. A murine model of CRC was established by injecting CT26.WT cells into the caecum of 4-week-old male Balb/c mice, following PX or XH treatment for 30 days. Network pharmacology analysis combined with weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) predicted the pharmacological mechanisms and therapeutic value. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing determined the alterations in the gut microbiota communities. Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry examined the influence of PX on the tumor microenvironment (TME). Injection of CT26.WT-induced CRC in Balb/c mice was markedly attenuated by PX treatment. Compared with XH administration, PX exhibited a stronger antitumor effect, such as smaller tumor volume, lower interleukin 17 (IL-17), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) serum levels, and higher interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) concentration. Network pharmacology analysis demonstrated that both PX and XH targets were enriched in cancers and inflammatory responses. RNA sequencing confirmed that PX treatment induced cancer cell apoptosis and inhibited inflammatory reactions within the tumor. Moreover, the PX formula considerably restored homeostasis of the gut microbiota, which was not observed in the XH group. PX targets, those associated with the survival probability of CRC patients, correlated with macrophage (Mφ) infiltration, which presented an independent risk factor for the CRC outcome. PX treatment promoted the transition of alternatively activated Mφs (M2 Mφs) to classically activated Mφs (M1 Mφs). Moreover, the peritoneal Mφs from the PX group inhibited the migration of CW26.WT cells, as evidenced by the wound healing experiment and transwell assay, which was consistent with the decreased expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Furthermore, the coculturing system confirmed that PX-treated Mφs suppressed colorectal tumor-derived organoid proliferation. PX formula exhibits a potential antitumor effect against CRC by suppressing the colonization of pathological microorganisms, reshaping Mφ effector functions and hence inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.

HDAC8 Promotes Liver Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer via Inhibition of IRF1 and Upregulation of SUCNR1

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are well-characterized for their involvement in tumor progression. Herein, the current study set out to unravel the association of HDAC8 with colorectal cancer (CRC). Bioinformatics analyses were carried out to retrieve the expression patterns of HDAC8 in CRC and the underlying mechanism. Following expression determination, the specific roles of HDAC8, IRF1, and SUCNR1 in CRC cell functions were analyzed following different interventions. Additionally, tumor formation and liver metastasis in nude mice were operated to verify the fore experiment. Bioinformatics analyses predicted the involvement of the HDAC8/IRF1/SUCNR1 axis in CRC. In vitro cell experiments showed that HDAC8 induced the CRC cell growth by reducing IRF1 expression. Meanwhile, IRF1 limited SUCNR1 expression by binding to its promoter. SUCNR1 triggered the growth and metastasis of CRC by inhibiting cell autophagy. HDAC8 blocked IRF1-mediated SUCNR1 inhibition and thereby inhibited autophagy, accelerating CRC cell growth. Lastly, HDAC8 facilitated the development of CRC and liver metastasis by regulating the IRF1/SUCNR1 axis in vivo. Taken together, our findings highlighted the critical role for the HDAC8/IRF1/SUCNR1 axis in the regulation of autophagy and the resultant liver metastasis in CRC.

IFN-γ affects pancreatic cancer properties by MACC1-AS1/MACC1 axis via AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Metastasis-related in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) is highly expressed in a variety of solid tumours, but its role in pancreatic cancer (PC) remains unknown. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) affecting MACC1 expression was explored as the potential mechanism following its intervention.

METHODS

Expressions of MACC1 treated with IFN-γ gradient were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot (WB). Proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of PC cells treated with IFN-γ were analysed by CCK8, EDU, colony formation, Transwell (with or without matrix gel) and wound-healing assays. Expression of antisense long non-coding RNA of MACC1, MACC1-AS1, and proteins of AKT/mTOR pathway, (pho-)AKT, and (pho-)mTOR was also assessed by qRT-PCR and WB. SiRNA kit and lentiviral fluid were conducted for transient expression of MACC1 and stable expression of MACC1-AS1, respectively. Rescue assays of cells overexpressing MACC1-AS1 and of cells silencing MACC1 were performed and cellular properties and proteins were assessed by the above-mentioned assays as well.

RESULTS

IFN-γ inhibited MACC1 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner; 100 ng/mL IFN-γ generally caused downregulation of most significant (p ≤ 0.05). In vitro experiments revealed that IFN-γ decreased cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities and downregulated the expression of pho-AKT and pho-mTOR (p ≤ 0.05). Conversely, overexpression of MACC1-AS1 upregulated pho-AKT and pho-mTOR proteins, and reversed cellular properties (p ≤ 0.05). Rescue assays alleviated the above changes of pho-AKT/ mTOR and cellular properties.

CONCLUSION

IFN-γ affected PC properties by MACC1-AS1/MACC1 axis via AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which provides novel insight for candidate targets for treating PC.

Protective effect of Pai-Nong-San against AOM/DSS-induced CAC in mice through inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway

Pai-Nong-San (PNS), a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for years to treat abscessation-induced diseases including colitis and colorectal cancer. This study was aimed to investigate the preventive effects and possible protective mechanism of PNS on a colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) mouse model induced by azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). The macroscopic and histopathologic examinations of colon injury and DAI score were observed. The inflammatory indicators of intestinal immunity were determined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The high throughput 16S rRNA sequence of gut microbiota in the feces of mice was performed. Western blot was used to investigate the protein expression of the Wnt signaling pathway in colon tissues. PNS improved colon injury, as manifested by the alleviation of hematochezia, decreased DAI score, increased colon length, and reversal of pathological changes. PNS treatment protected against AOM/DSS-induced colon inflammation by regulating the expression of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, inhibiting the production of HIF-α, IL-6, and TNF-α, and promoting the expression of IL-4 and IFN-γ in colon tissues. Meanwhile, PNS improved the components of gut microbiota, as measured by the adjusted levels of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Lactobacillus. PNS down-regulated the protein expression of p-GSK-3β, β-catenin, and c-Myc, while up-regulating the GSK-3β and p-β-catenin in colon tissues of CAC mice. In conclusion, our results suggested that PNS exhibits protective effect on AOM/DSS-induced colon injury and alleviates the development of CAC through suppressing inflammation, improving gut microbiota, and inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway.

Blocking hsa_circ_0074027 suppressed non-small cell lung cancer chemoresistance via the miR-379-5p/IGF1 axis

Cancer cell chemoresistance is the primary reason behind cancer treatment failure. Previous reports suggest that circular RNA (circRNA) hsa_circ_0074027 (HC0074027) is a crucial modulator of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) disease progression. Herein, we delineated the underlying mechanism of HC0074027-regulated chemoresistance in NSCLC. We employed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or Elisa in the detection of HC0074027, micoRNA-379-5p (miR-379-5p), and insuline-like growth factor I (IGF1) expressions. Cell survival was evaluated via the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Direct associations among HC0074027, miR-379-5p, and IGF1 were examined via dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Lastly, HC0074027 was incorporated into nude mice to examine its biological activity in vivo. Based on our analysis, HC0074027 levels strongly correlated with NSCLC chemoresistance to docetaxel (DTX), cisplatin (DDP), and paclitaxel (PTX). Alternately, HC0074027 silencing enhanced chemosensitivity in vitro. In vivo, HC0074027 downregulation suppressed tumor expansion and increased cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapy. We also revealed that HC0074027 physically interacts with miR-379-5p to exert its biological function in vitro. Moreover, IGF1 is a functionally crucial target of miR-379-5p in modulating NSCLC chemoresistance in vitro. Finally, we demonstrated that HC0074027 can indirectly modulate IGF1 levels via sequestering miR-379-5p. We demonstrated that HC0074027 promotes NSCLC chemoresistance via sequestering miR-379-5p activity, and modulating IGF1 expression. Our work highlights the significance of HC0074027 in NSCLC chemoresistance and suggests HC0074027 to be an excellent candidate for targeted NSCLC therapy.

Association of MACC1 expression with lymphatic metastasis in colorectal cancer: A nested case-control study

MACC1 gene is a newly discovered gene and plays an important role in the metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). The objective of this study was to investigate whether MACC1 is an independent factor associated with lymphatic metastasis in CRC patients. We analyzed the association between MACC1 expression and lymphatic metastasis in a nested case-control study including 99 cases and 198 matched controls in CRC patients, assessed from August 2001 to March 2015. Cases were defined as lymphatic metastasis and non-lymphatic metastasis according to AJCC TNM stages; for each case, two age-matched control without lymphatic and distant metastasis was randomly selected from the study participants. Demographic, variables about metastasis and MACC1 expression were collected. In multivariate analysis, the OR (95% CI) of MACC1 expression was 1.5 (1.1 to 2.0) in patients with lymphatic metastasis versus non-lymphatic metastasis after adjusting all variables. After adjustment for all variables and age stratification, MACC1 expression was found to be an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis in the middle-aged group (OR 2.1, 95%CI 1.1–4.0). A nonlinear relationship between MACC1 expression and 64–75 age group was observed. The probability of metastasis slightly increased with the MACC1 level lower than turning point 1.4. At the same time, the probability of lymphatic metastasis was obviously increased even after adjusting all variables when MACC1 level higher than 1.4 (OR 11.2, 95% CI 1.5–81.5; p = 0.017) in the middle age group. The expression of MACC1 was not associated with lymphatic metastasis in populations younger than 64 or older than 75. The results demonstrates that increased MACC1 level in 64–75 age group might be associated with lymphatic metastasis in CRC patients.

IFI35 is involved in the regulation of the radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells

Background

Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF1) affects the proliferation of colorectal cancer (CRC). Recombinant interferon inducible protein 35 (IFI35) participates in immune regulation and cell proliferation. The aim of the study was to examine whether IRF1 affects the radiation sensitivity of CRC by regulating IFI35.

Methods

CCL244 and SW480 cells were divided into five groups: blank control, IFI35 upregulation, IFI35 upregulation control, IFI35 downregulation, and IFI35 downregulation control. All groups were treated with X-rays (6 Gy). IFI35 activation by IRF1 was detected by luciferase reporter assay. The GEPIA database was used to examine IRF1 and IFI35 in CRC. The cells were characterized using CCK-8, EdU, cell cycle, clone formation, flow cytometry, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial membrane potential. Nude mouse animal models were used to detect the effect of IFI35 on CRC.

Results

IRF1 can bind to the IFI35 promoter and promote the expression of IFI35. The expression consistency of IRF1 and IFI35 in CRC, according to GEPIA (R = 0.68, p < 0.0001). After irradiation, the upregulation of IFI35 inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation and promoted apoptosis and ROS, while IFI35 downregulation promoted proliferation and colony formation and reduced apoptosis, ROS, and mitochondrial membrane potential were also reduced. The in vivo experiments supported the in vitro ones, with smaller tumors and fewer liver metastases with IFI35 upregulation.

Conclusions

IRF1 can promote IFI35 expression in CRC cells. IFI35 is involved in the regulation of radiosensitivity of CRC cells and might be a target for CRC radiosensitization.

Nestin and CD34 expression in colorectal cancer predicts improved overall survival

BACKGROUND

Nestin, a class VI intermediate filament protein of the cytoskeleton, and CD34, a transmembrane phosphoglycoprotein, are markers of progenitor cells. This study aimed to evaluate their expression and clinical significance in colorectal cancer.

METHODS

A clinically annotated tissue microarray, including 599 patients with colorectal cancer, was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, nestin and CD34 correlations with HIF-1a and a panel of cytokines and chemokines were assessed using quantitative reverse transcription PCR and The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset.

RESULTS

Expression of nestin and CD34 was observed only in the tumor stroma. Patients displaying high expression of nestin and CD34 demonstrated higher rates of T1 and T2 tumors (p = .020), lower vascular invasion (p < .001) and improved 5-year overall survival (65%; 95% CI = 55-73 vs 45%; 95% CI = 37-53) after adjusting for clinicopathological characteristics (HR: 0.67; 95% CI = 0.46-0.96). A moderate to strong correlation (r = 0.37-0.78, p < .03) of nestin and CD34 was demonstrated for the following markers; HIF-1α, CD4, CD8, FOXP3, IRF1, GATA3, CCL2, CCL3, CXCL12 and CCL21.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined expression of nestin and CD34 expression is associated with better overall survival possibly by modulating a favorable immune response.

IRF1 regulates the progression of colorectal cancer via interferon‑induced proteins

Radiation is one of the main methods for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) before or after surgery. However, radiotherapy tolerance of patients with CRC is often a major concern. Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) is a member of the IRF family and is involved in the development of multiple diseases, including tumors. The present study investigated the role of IRF1 in the development and radiation sensitivity of CRC. Immunohistochemistry was performed to examine the expression levels of IRF1 in tissue samples from patients with CRC, as well as in nude mice. MTT, 5‑ethynyl‑20‑deoxyuridine, colony formation, cell cycle alteration and apoptosis assays were performed in CRC cell lines. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression levels of a series of proteins. RNA sequencing was applied to identify genes whose expression was upregulated by IRF1 overexpression. Xenograft nude mouse models and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to validate the present findings in vivo. It was revealed that the expression levels of IRF1 were significantly lower in CRC tissues than in adjacent tissues. IRF1 upregulation inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation, caused G1 cell arrest, promoted cell apoptosis, and enhanced the sensitivity of CRC cells to X‑ray irradiation. The role of IRF1 in promoting the radiosensitivity of CRC was further demonstrated in nude mice with CRC xenografts. In addition, RNA sequencing revealed that overexpression of IRF1 in CRC cells significantly increased the expression levels of interferon‑induced protein family members interferon α inducible protein 6, interferon induced transmembrane protein 1 and interferon induced protein 35 (fold change >2.0). In summary, the present study demonstrated that the upregulation of IRF1 inhibited the progression and promoted the radiosensitivity of CRC, likely by regulating interferon‑induced proteins.

MicroRNAs: immune modulators in cancer immunotherapy

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a class of endogenous small non-coding RNA of 18–25 nucleotides and plays regulatory roles in both physiological and pathological processes. Emerging evidence support that miRNAs function as immune modulators in tumors. MiRNAs as tumor suppressors or oncogenes are also found to be able to modulate anti-tumor immunity or link the crosstalk between tumor cells and immune cells surrounding. Based on the specific regulating function, miRNAs can be used as predictive, prognostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets in immunotherapy. Here, we review new findings about the role of miRNAs in modulating immune responses, as well as discuss mechanisms underlying their dysregulation, and their clinical potentials as indicators of tumor prognosis or to sensitize cancer immunotherapy.

miRNAs as novel immunoregulators in cancer

The immune system is a well-known vital regulator of tumor growth, and one of the main hallmarks of cancer is evading the immune system. Immune system deregulation can lead to immune surveillance evasion, sustained cancer growth, proliferation, and metastasis. Tumor-mediated disruption of the immune system is accomplished by different mechanisms that involve extensive crosstalk with the immediate microenvironment, which includes endothelial cells, immune cells, and stromal cells, to create a favorable tumor niche that facilitates the development of cancer. The essential role of non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs) in the mechanism of cancer cell immune evasion has been highlighted in recent studies. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate a wide range of post-transcriptional gene expression in a cell. Recent studies have focused on the function that miRNAs play in controlling the expression of target proteins linked to immune modulation. Studies show that miRNAs modulate the immune response in cancers by regulating the expression of different immune-modulatory molecules associated with immune effector cells, such as macrophages, dendritic cells, B-cells, and natural killer cells, as well as those present in tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. This review explores the relationship between miRNAs, their altered patterns of expression in tumors, immune modulation, and the functional control of a wide range of immune cells, thereby offering detailed insights on the crosstalk of tumor-immune cells and their use as prognostic markers or therapeutic agents.

Role of p53-miRNAs circuitry in immune surveillance and cancer development: A potential avenue for therapeutic intervention

The genome's guardian, p53, is a master regulatory transcription factor that occupies sequence-specific response elements in many genes and modulates their expression. The target genes transcribe both coding RNA and non-coding RNA involved in regulating several biological processes such as cell division, differentiation, and cell death. Besides, p53 also regulates tumor immunology via regulating the molecules related to the immune response either directly or via regulating other molecules, including microRNAs (miRNAs). At the post-transcriptional level, the regulations of genes by miRNAs have been an emerging mechanism. Interestingly, p53 and various miRNAs cross-talk at different regulation levels. The cross-talk between p53 and miRNAs creates loops, turns, and networks that can influence cell metabolism, cell fate, cellular homeostasis, and tumor formation. Further, p53-miRNAs circuit has also been insinuated in the regulation of immune surveillance machinery. There are several examples of p53-miRNAs circuitry where p53 regulates immunomodulatory miRNA expression, such as miR-34a and miR-17-92. Similarly, a reverse process occurs in which miRNAs such as miR-125b and miR-let-7 regulate the expression of p53. Thus, the p53-miRNAs circuitry connects the immunomodulatory pathways and may shift the pro-inflammatory balance towards the pro-tumorigenic condition. In this review, we discuss the influence of p53-miRNAs circuitry in modulating the immune response in cancer development. We assume that thorough studies on the p53-miRNAs circuitry in various cancers may prove useful in developing effective new cancer therapeutics for successfully combating this disease.

miR-140-3p inhibits colorectal cancer progression and its liver metastasis by targeting BCL9 and BCL2

Recent studies have identified microRNAs (miRNAs) as a compelling novel class of biomarker in colorectal cancer (CRC) development and metastasis. Here, we demonstrated that the level of plasma exosomal miR‐140‐3p in CRC patients was lower than that in healthy controls. The decreased miR‐140‐3p level was also observed in CRC patients with liver metastasis. The expression of miR‐140‐3p in CRC tissues were significantly lower than that in matched normal tissues. Functionally, miR‐140‐3p overexpression suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion, and β‐catenin nuclear translocation, as well as promoted apoptosis in LoVo cells, while inhibition of miR‐140‐3p reversed these cellular processes in HCT 116 cells. Notably, BCL9 and BCL2 were recognized as direct targets of miR‐140‐3p. BCL9 knockdown abrogated miR‐140‐3p inhibitor‐induced effects on HCT 116 cells with decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion. BCL2 knockdown increased apoptosis of miR‐140‐3p inhibitor‐transfected HCT 116 cells. In vivo experiments revealed that miR‐140‐3p overexpression inhibited tumor growth in LoVo xenograft model and diminished metastatic nodules in nude mice liver. Taken together, this work supports that miR‐140‐3p exerts as a tumor suppressor in CRC progression via targeting BCL9 and BCL2, and suggests miR‐140‐3p‐BCL9/BCL2 axis may be applied in miRNA‐based therapy and prognostication of CRC.

Overexpression of microRNA-29b inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis of colorectal cancer through the ETV4/ERK/EGFR axis

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have reported the involvement of microRNA-29 (miR-29) family members in human cancers through their ability to regulate cellular functions. The present study investigated biological function of miR-29b in colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

CRC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were collected and the expression of ETV4 and miR-29b in the tissues were identified. The relationship between ETV4 and miR-29b or ETV4 expression and the EGFR promoter was identified using dual-luciferase reporter gene and CHIP assays. The proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis of CRC HCT116 cells were assayed using MTT assay, Scratch test, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Also, expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, angiogenic factors, and vasculogenic mimicry formation were evaluated using RT-qPCR and Western blot.

RESULTS

ETV4 was upregulated, while miR-29b expression was decreased in CRC tissues. ETV4 was identified as a target gene of miR-29b, which in turn inactivated the ERK signaling pathway by targeting ETV4 and inhibiting EGFR transcription. Transfection with miR-29b mimic, siRNA-ETV4, or ERK signaling pathway inhibitor U0126 increased expression of E-cadherin and TSP-1, and CRC cell apoptosis, yet reduced expression of ERK1/2, MMP-2, MMP-9, Vimentin, and VEGF, as well as inhibiting EMT, angiogenesis, and CRC cell migration and invasion. The EMT, angiogenesis and cancer progression induced by miR-29b inhibitor were reversed by siRNA-mediated ETV4 silencing.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-29b suppresses angiogenesis and EMT in CRC via the ETV4/ERK/EGFR axis.

The bioactivity of colostrum and milk exosomes of high, average, and low immune responder cows on human intestinal epithelial cells

Bovine milk contains bioactive components that are nutritionally and immunologically important to calves and humans. Dairy cows classified as high (H) immune responders using the patented high immune response technology have higher concentrations of immunoglobulin and specific antibodies in sera and milk compared with average (A) and low (L) responders. MicroRNA post-transcriptionally regulate expression of milk bioactive components and are enriched in extracellular vesicles known as exosomes, which protect them from degradation. The bioactivity of colostrum and milk exosomes at the human intestinal epithelial barrier remains to be explored, particularly in the context of the high immune response technology. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional role of bovine milk exosomes compared with colostrum exosomes from H, A, and L responders at the intestinal interface using human colorectal adenocarcinoma epithelial (Caco-2) cells. Exosomes were isolated by successive ultracentrifugation and confirmed by western blot analysis for the presence of common exosomal proteins (CD9, CD63, and heat shock protein 70). Fluorescent labeling of exosomes using PKH67 dye confirmed their uptake by Caco-2 cells, demonstrating their potential bioavailability. The MTT assays showed that colostrum and milk exosomes maintain Caco-2 metabolic activity and are not cytotoxic to these cells. Specifically, metabolic activity after co-incubation with colostrum and milk exosomes from H responder cows was significantly greater than after co-incubation with exosomes from L responders. Caspase 3 activity, an indicator of apoptosis, was significantly lower after co-incubation of Caco-2 cells with milk exosomes compared with colostrum exosomes, suggesting that unlike colostrum exosomes, particularly those from L responders, milk exosomes do not activate the caspase 3 pathway in Caco-2 cells. This study helps us better understand the functional importance of colostrum and milk exosomes from dairy cows and emphasizes differences in functionality among exosomes from H, A, and L immune responders.

miRNA-based biomarkers, therapies, and resistance in Cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) of about 22 nucleotides in size, play important roles in gene regulation, and their dysregulation is implicated in human diseases including cancer. A variety of miRNAs could take roles in the cancer progression, participate in the process of tumor immune, and function with miRNA sponges. During the last two decades, the connection between miRNAs and various cancers has been widely researched. Based on evidence about miRNA, numerous potential cancer biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis have been put forward, providing a new perspective on cancer screening. Besides, there are several miRNA-based therapies among different cancers being conducted, advanced treatments such as the combination of synergistic strategies and the use of complementary miRNAs provide significant clinical benefits to cancer patients potentially. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that many miRNAs are engaged in the resistance of cancer therapies with their complex underlying regulatory mechanisms, whose comprehensive cognition can help clinicians and improve patient prognosis. With the belief that studies about miRNAs in human cancer would have great clinical implications, we attempt to summarize the current situation and potential development prospects in this review.

Sedentary and Trained Older Men Have Distinct Circulating Exosomal microRNA Profiles at Baseline and in Response to Acute Exercise

Exercise has multi-systemic benefits and attenuates the physiological impairments associated with aging. Emerging evidence suggests that circulating exosomes mediate some of the beneficial effects of exercise via the transfer of microRNAs between tissues. However, the impact of regular exercise and acute exercise on circulating exosomal microRNAs (exomiRs) in older populations remains unknown. In the present study, we analyzed circulating exomiR expression in endurance-trained elderly men (n = 5) and age-matched sedentary males (n = 5) at baseline (Pre), immediately after a forty minute bout of aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer (Post), and three hours after this acute exercise (3hPost). Following the isolation and enrichment of exosomes from plasma, exosome-enriched preparations were characterized and exomiR levels were determined by sequencing. The effect of regular exercise on circulating exomiRs was assessed by comparing the baseline expression levels in the trained and sedentary groups. The effect of acute exercise was determined by comparing baseline and post-training expression levels in each group. Regular exercise resulted in significantly increased baseline expression of three exomiRs (miR-486-5p, miR-215-5p, miR-941) and decreased expression of one exomiR (miR-151b). Acute exercise altered circulating exomiR expression in both groups. However, exomiRs regulated by acute exercise in the trained group (7 miRNAs at Post and 8 at 3hPost) were distinct from those in the sedentary group (9 at Post and 4 at 3hPost). Pathway analysis prediction and reported target validation experiments revealed that the majority of exercise-regulated exomiRs are targeting genes that are related to IGF-1 signaling, a pathway involved in exercise-induced muscle and cardiac hypertrophy. The immediately post-acute exercise exomiR signature in the trained group correlates with activation of IGF-1 signaling, whereas in the sedentary group it is associated with inhibition of IGF-1 signaling. While further validation is needed, including measurements of IGF-1/IGF-1 signaling in blood or skeletal muscle, our results suggest that training status may counteract age-related anabolic resistance by modulating circulating exomiR profiles both at baseline and in response to acute exercise.

Elevated Levels of circRUNX1 in Colorectal Cancer Promote Cell Growth and Metastasis via miR-145-5p/IGF1 Signalling

Background

Emerging evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are vital regulators in a range of cancers. “miRNA sponge” is the most reported role played by circRNAs in many tumors. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 1 pathway plays a key role in the development and progression of many cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the study is to establish the potential clinical value and driving molecular mechanisms of circRNAs in CRC.

Materials and Methods

Real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to measure the circRUNX1 expression in 52 tissue samples from CRC patients. We verified the tumor promotor role of circRUNX1 in cell-based in vitro and in vivo assays. Human growth factor array was used to identify circRUNX1-regulated signaling pathways. We then used a double luciferase reporter assay and RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization to identify the downstream miR-145-5p of circRUNX1. Furthermore, we performed Western blotting and biological function assays to demonstrate if the circRUNX1/miR-145-5p/IGF1 axis is responsible for the proliferation of CRC cells and promotes CRC development.

Results

By performing qRT-PCR from CRC tissues and paired adjacent normal mucosa tissues, we identified that circRUNX1 expression was significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and positively related with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and advanced tumor-node-metastasis tumor stage in patients. Functionally, circRUNX1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and migration and promoted apoptosis, whereas its overexpression exerted opposite effects. In vivo, circRUNX1 promoted tumor growth and metastasis. Mechanically, circRUNX1 shared miRNA response elements with IGF1. circRUNX1 competitively bound to miR-145-5p and prevented miR-145-5p from decreasing the expression of IGF1, which facilitated tumor growth.

Conclusion

Our studies verified that circRUNX1 functions as a tumor promotor in CRC cells by targeting the miR-145-5p/IGF1 signaling pathway and may have potential use as a prognostic indicator and therapeutic target in CRC patients.

Mapping the Molecular Basis and Markers of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Progression and Metastasis Using Global Transcriptome and microRNA Profiling

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer (TC). In a subgroup of patients with PTC, the disease progresses to an invasive stage or in some cases to distant organ metastasis. At present, there is an unmet clinical and diagnostic need for early identification of patients with PTC who are at risk of disease progression or metastasis. In this study, we report several molecular leads and potential biomarker candidates of PTC metastasis for further translational research. The study design was based on comparisons of PTC in three different groups using cross-sectional sampling: Group 1, PTC localized to the thyroid (n = 20); Group 2, PTC with extrathyroidal progression (n = 22); and Group 3, PTC with distant organ metastasis (n = 20). Global transcriptome and microRNAs (miRNA) analyses were conducted using an initial screening set comprising nine formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded PTC samples obtained from three independent patients per study group. The findings were subsequently validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) using the abovementioned independent patient sample set (n = 62). Comparative analyses of differentially expressed miRNAs showed that miR-193-3p, miR-182-5p, and miR-3607-3p were novel miRNAs associated with PTC metastasis. These potential miRNA biomarkers were associated with TC metastasis and miRNA-target gene associations, which may provide important clinicopathological information on metastasis. Our findings provide new molecular leads for further translational biomarker research, which could facilitate the identification of patients at risk of PTC disease progression or metastasis.

Overexpression of PSAT1 promotes metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma by suppressing the IRF1-IFNγ axis

An increasing number of enzymes involved in serine biosynthesis have been identified and correlated with malignant evolution in various types of cancer. Here we showed that the overexpression of phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1) is widely found in lung cancer tissues compared with nontumor tissues and predicts a poorer prognosis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. PSAT1 expression was examined in a tissue microarray by immunohistochemistry. The data show that the knockdown of PSAT1 dramatically inhibits the in vitro and in vivo metastatic potential of highly metastatic lung cancer cells; conversely, the enforced expression of exogenous PSAT1 predominantly enhances the metastatic potential of lung cancer cells. Importantly, manipulating PSAT1 expression regulates the in vivo tumor metastatic abilities in lung cancer cells. Adjusting the glucose and glutamine concentrations did not alter the PSAT1-driven cell invasion properties, indicating that this process might not rely on the activation of its enzymatic function. RNA microarray analysis of transcriptional profiling from PSAT1 alternation in CL1-5 and CL1-0 cells demonstrated that interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) acts as a crucial regulator of PSAT1-induced gene expression upon metastatic progression. Decreasing the IRF1-IFIH1 axis compromised the PSAT1-prompted transcriptional reprogramming in cancer cells. Our results identify PSAT1 as a key regulator by a novel PSAT1/IRF1 axis in lung cancer progression, which may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of lung cancer patients.

MicroRNA-29b-3p suppresses oral squamous cell carcinoma cell migration and invasion via IL32/AKT signalling pathway

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is aggressive accompanied with poor prognosis. We previously isolated the most invasive cells resembling the invasive tumour front by microfluidic technology and explored their differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in our previous work. Here, we verified the miR‐29b‐3p as a guarder that suppressed migration and invasion of OSCC cells and was down‐regulated in the most invasive cells. Besides that, the invasion suppression role of miR‐29b‐3p was achieved through the IL32/AKT pathway. Thus, miR‐29b‐3p and IL32 might serve as therapeutic targets for blocking the progression and improving the outcome of OSCC.

Anti-apoptotic effect by the suppression of IRF1 as a downstream of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in colorectal cancer cells

Impaired Wnt signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development of colorectal cancer through activation of the β-catenin/TCF7L2 complex. Although genes upregulated by Wnt/β-catenin signaling have been intensively studied, the roles of downregulated genes are poorly understood. Previously, we reported that interferon-induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeats 2 (IFIT2) was downregulated by the Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and that the suppressed expression of IFIT2 conferred antiapoptotic property to colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. However, the mechanisms underlying how Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulates IFIT2 remain to be elucidated. In this study, we have uncovered that the expression of IFIT2 is induced by IRF1, which is negatively regulated by the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In addition, we found that downregulation of IRF1 is mediated by its degradation through the ubiquitination-proteasome pathway, and that decreased activity of a deubiquitinase complex containing USP1 and UAF1 is involved in the degradation of IRF1 by Wnt/β-catenin signaling. These data should provide better understanding of the Wnt signaling pathway and human carcinogenesis.

MTMR2 promotes invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer via inactivating IFNγ/STAT1 signaling

Background

The aberrant expression of myotubularin-related protein 2 (MTMR2) has been found in some cancers, but little is known about the roles and clinical relevance. The present study aimed to investigate the roles and clinical relevance of MTMR2 as well as the underlying mechanisms in gastric cancer (GC).

Methods

MTMR2 expression was examined in 295 GC samples by using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The correlation between MTMR2 expression and clinicopathological features and outcomes of the patients was analyzed. The roles of MTMR2 in regulating the invasive and metastatic capabilities of GC cells were observed using gain-and loss-of-function assays both in vitro and in vivo. The pathways involved in MTMR2-regulating invasion and metastasis were selected and identified by using mRNA expression profiling. Functions and underlying mechanisms of MTMR2-mediated invasion and metastasis were further investigated in a series of in vitro studies.

Results

MTMR2 was highly expressed in human GC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues and its expression levels were significantly correlated with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage. Patients with MTMR2^high had significantly shorter lifespan than those with MTMR2^low. Cox regression analysis showed that MTMR2 was an independent prognostic indicator for GC patients. Knockdown of MTMR2 significantly reduced migratory and invasive capabilities in vitro and metastases in vivo in GC cells, while overexpressing MTMR2 achieved the opposite results. MTMR2 knockdown and overexpression markedly inhibited and promoted the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), respectively. MTMR2 mediated EMT through the IFNγ/STAT1/IRF1 pathway to promote GC invasion and metastasis. Phosphorylation of STAT1 and IRF1 was increased by MTMR2 knockdown and decreased by MTMR2 overexpression accompanying with ZEB1 down-regulation and up-regulation, respectively. Silencing IRF1 upregulated ZEB1, which induced EMT and consequently enhanced invasion and metastasis in GC cells.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that MTMR2 is an important promoter in GC invasion and metastasis by inactivating IFNγ/STAT1 signaling and may act as a new prognostic indicator and a potential therapeutic target for GC.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1186-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Diagnostic and therapeutic applications of miRNA-based strategies to cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has shown impressive clinical results in the last decade, improving both solid and hematologic cancer patients' overall survival. Nevertheless, most of the molecular aspects underlying the response to this approach are still under investigation. miRNAs in particular have been described as regulators of a plethora of different immunologic processes and thus have the potential to be key in the future developments of immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize and discuss the emerging role of miRNAs in the diagnosis and therapeutics of the four principal cancer immunotherapy approaches: immune checkpoint blockade, adoptive cell therapy, cancer vaccines, and cytokine therapy. In particular, this review is focused on potential roles for miRNAs to be adjuvants in soluble factor- and cell-based therapies, with the aim of helping to increase specificity and decrease toxicity, and on the potential for rationally identified miRNA-based diagnostic approaches to aid in precision clinical immunooncology.

miR-29b-3p regulated osteoblast differentiation via regulating IGF-1 secretion of mechanically stimulated osteocytes

Background

Mechanical loading is an essential factor for bone formation. A previous study indicated that mechanical tensile strain of 2500 microstrain (με) at 0.5 Hz for 8 h promoted osteogenesis and corresponding mechanoresponsive microRNAs (miRs) were identified in osteoblasts. However, in osteocytes, it has not been identified which miRs respond to the mechanical strain, and it is not fully understood how the mechanoresponsive miRs regulate osteoblast differentiation.

Methods

Mouse MLO-Y4 osteocytes were applied to the same mechanical tensile strain in vitro. Using molecular and biochemical methods, IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1), PGE2 (prostaglandin E2), OPG (osteoprotegerin) and NOS (nitric oxide synthase) activities of the cells were assayed. MiR microarray and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays were applied to select and validate differentially expressed miRs, and the target genes of these miRs were then predicted. MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were stimulated by the mechanical tensile strain, and the miR-29b-3p expression was detected with miR microarray and RT-qPCR. Additionally, the effect of miR-29b-3p on IFG-1 secretion of osteocytes and the influence of conditioned medium of osteocytes transfected with miR-29b-3p on osteoblast differentiation were investigated.

Results

The mechanical strain increased secretions of IGF-1 and PGE2, elevated OPG expression and NOS activities, and resulted in altered expression of the ten miRs, and possible target genes for these differentially expressed miRs were revealed through bioinformatics. Among the ten miRs, miR-29b-3p were down-regulated, and miR-29b-3p overexpression decreased the IGF-1 secretion of osteocytes. The mechanical strain did not change expression of osteoblasts' miR-29b-3p. In addition, the conditioned medium of mechanically strained osteocytes promoted osteoblast differentiation, and the conditioned medium of osteocytes transfected with miR-29b-3p mimic inhibited osteoblast differentiation.

Conclusions

In osteocytes (but not osteoblasts), miR-29b-3p was responsive to the mechanical tensile strain and regulated osteoblast differentiation via regulating IGF-1 secretion of mechanically strained osteocytes.

IRF1 inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer by suppressing the RAS-RAC1 pathway

Background

Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) plays a role in the immune response, cellular necrosis, DNA damage, and DNA repair, offering an attractive target for anticancer treatment. However, little is known about the role of IRF1 in the regulation of CRC progression.

Methods

Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the expression level of IRF1; Cell Counting Kit-8, migration assay, and xenograft mouse models were used to examine the function of IRF1 in CRC cell lines; a ChIP assay was used to examine the binding between IRF1 and Ras association domain-containing protein 5 (RASSF5).

Results

IRF1 expression was lower in colorectal cancer (CRC) than in normal mucosa and the IRF1 expression level was inversely associated with CRC metastasis. In addition, IRF1 could inhibit CRC cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis in vivo and in vitro; IRF1 also induced cell cycle arrest but had no effect on cell apoptosis. IRF1 enhanced the expression of RASSF5 by increasing its promoter activity. Moreover, this study revealed a novel mechanism for inhibiting the RAS-RAC1 pathway by overexpression of RASSF5.

Conclusion

Altogether, the results indicate that IRF1, which promotes RASSF5 expression, suppresses CRC metastasis and proliferation possibly through downregulation of the RAS-RAC1 pathway.

Mucosa-associated invariant T cells in malignancies: a faithful friend or formidable foe?

Mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a subset of innate-like T lymphocytes known for their ability to respond to MHC-related protein 1 (MR1)-restricted stimuli and select cytokine signals. They are abundant in humans and especially enriched in mucosal layers, common sites of neoplastic transformation. MAIT cells have been found within primary and metastatic tumors. However, whether they promote malignancy or contribute to anticancer immunity is unclear. On the one hand, MAIT cells produce IL-17A in certain locations and under certain circumstances, which could in turn facilitate neoangiogenesis, intratumoral accumulation of immunosuppressive cell populations, and cancer progression. On the other hand, they can express a potent arsenal of cytotoxic effector molecules, NKG2D and IFN-γ, all of which have established roles in cancer immune surveillance. In this review, we highlight MAIT cells' characteristics as they might pertain to cancer initiation, progression, or control. We discuss recent findings, including our own, that link MAIT cells to cancer, with a focus on colorectal carcinoma, as well as some of the outstanding questions in this active area of research. Finally, we provide a hypothetical picture in which MAIT cells constitute attractive targets in cancer immunotherapy.

Relevance of MicroRNAs as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently the third and the second most common cancer in men and in women, respectively. Every year, more than one million new CRC cases and more than half a million deaths are reported worldwide. The majority of new cases occur in developed countries. Current screening methods have significant limitations. Therefore, a lot of scientific effort is put into the development of new diagnostic biomarkers of CRC. Currently used prognostic markers are also limited in assessing the effectiveness of CRC therapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a promising subject of research especially since single miRNA can recognize a variety of different mRNA transcripts. MiRNAs have important roles in epigenetic regulation of basic cellular processes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and migration, and may serve as potential oncogenes or tumor suppressors during cancer development. Indeed, in a large variety of human tumors, including CRC, significant distortions in miRNA expression profiles have been observed. Thus, the use of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cancer, particularly in CRC, appears to be an inevitable consequence of the advancement in oncology and gastroenterology. Here, we review the literature to discuss the potential usefulness of selected miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in CRC.

Hypermethylation of NDN promotes cell proliferation by activating the Wnt signaling pathway in colorectal cancer

The progression of CRC is a multistep process involving several genetic changes or epigenetic modifications. NDN is a member of the MAGE family, encoding a protein that generally suppresses cell proliferation and acting as a transcriptional repressor. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the expression of NDN was significantly down-regulated in CRC tissues compared with normal tissues and the down-regulation of NDN in CRC could reflect the hypermethylation of the NDN promoter. Treatment of the CRC cell line SW480 with the demethylating agent 5-Aza-CdR restored the NDN expression level. The down-regulation of NDN was closely related to poor differentiation, advanced TNM stage and poor prognosis of CRC. The inhibition of NDN promoted CRC cell proliferation by enriching cells in the S phase. Furthermore, we observed that NDN binds to the GN box in the promoter of LRP6 to attenuate LRP6 transcription and inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway in CRC. In conclusion, our study revealed that the hypermethylation of NDN promotes cell proliferation by activating the Wnt signaling pathway through directly increasing the transcription of LRP6 in CRC. These findings might provide a new theoretical basis for the pathogenesis of CRC and facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies against CRC.

CDCA3 promotes cell proliferation by activating the NF-κB/cyclin D1 signaling pathway in colorectal cancer

Cell division cycle associated 3 (CDCA3) is required for mitotic entry, and mediates the degradation of the inhibitory kinase Wee1. New evidence suggests CDCA3 plays a role in tumor promotion. However, little is known about the relevance of CDCA3 in colorectal cancer(CRC), especially in the regulation of NF-κB activity. In this study, we found that colorectal tumors significantly expressed more CDCA3 than non-cancer tissues. In addition, CDCA3 promoted CRC cell proliferation in vitro. Furthermore, downregulation of CDCA3 not only induced cell cycle arrest but also facilitated apoptosis. Mechanistically, CDCA3 activates the NF-κB signaling pathway by interacting with TRAF2 in CRC. Together, these results define a tumor-supportive role for CDCA3, which may also provide a new promising strategy for treating CRC.

Cervical Cancer HeLa Cell Autocrine Apoptosis Induced by Coimmobilized IFN-γ plus TNF-α Biomaterials

Using external methods to induce the death of cancer cells is recognized as one of the main strategies for cancer treatment. Research indicated that TNF-α is frequently used in tumor biotherapy while IFN-γ can directly inhibit tumor cell proliferation. In our study, TNF-α and IFN-γ were coimmobilized on polystyrene material (PSt) or Fe₃O₄-oleic acid nanoparticles (NPs). Then the structural change of these two proteins can be observed. Meanwhile, the expressions of both TNF-α and IFN-α increased significantly, as determined by gene microarray analysis; however, in the presence of TNF-α plus IFN-α inhibitors, TNF-α and IFN-α did not increase in HeLa cells induced by coimmobilized IFN-γ plus TNF-α. Our results indicate that such change can stimilate HeLa cells to secrete more TNF-α and IFN-α, by which the apoptosis of HeLa cells could be further induced. This study is the first report of autocrine-induced apoptosis of HeLa cells. In addition, we performed ELISA, RT-PCR, flow cytometry, and Western blot analyses, as well as a series of analytical tests at the animal level. our data also indicate that the PSt-coimmobilized IFN-γ plus TNF-α has apparent effects for cancer treatment in vivo, which is of great significance for translation into clinical medicine.

NIT1 suppresses tumour proliferation by activating the TGFβ1-Smad2/3 signalling pathway in colorectal cancer

NIT1 protein has been reported to be a potential tumour suppressor in tumour progression. However, little is known about the specific role of NIT1 in tumour development and progression. In this study, we confirmed the specific effects of NIT1 in the regulation of colorectal carcinoma cell proliferation. Here, we showed that NIT1 was significantly downregulated in colorectal cancer tissues compared with that in adjacent normal tissues. The decreased expression of NIT1 was significantly correlated with poor differentiation and more serosal invasion. Functional experiments showed that NIT1 inhibited CRC cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. NIT1 induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, NIT1 recruited Smad2/3 to the TGFβ receptor and activated the TGFβ–Smad2/3 pathway by interacting with SARA and SMAD2/3 in CRC. Further study has shown that SMAD3 directly binds to the promoter regions of NIT1 and enhances the transcription of NIT1. Together, our findings indicate that NIT1 suppresses CRC proliferation through a positive feedback loop between NIT1 and activation of the TGFβ–Smad signalling pathway. This study might provide a new promising strategy for CRC.

Bi-directional roles of IRF-1 on autophagy diminish its prognostic value as compared with Ki67 in liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

The prognostic values of IRF-1 and Ki-67 for liver transplantation (LT) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were investigated, as well as the mechanisms of IRF-1 in tumor suppression. Adult orthotropic liver transplantation cases (N = 127) were involved in the analysis. A significant decreased recurrence free survival (RFS) was found in the Ki-67 positive groups. Ki-67, tumor microemboli, the Milan and UCSF criteria were found to be independent risk factors for RFS. In LT for HCC beyond the Milan criteria, a significant decrease in RFS was found in the IRF-1 negative groups. In SK-Hep1 cells, an increase in apoptosis and decrease in autophagy were observed after IFN-γ stimulation, which was accompanied with increasing IRF-1 levels. When IRF-1 siRNA or a caspase inhibitor were used, reductions in LC3-II were diminished or disappeared after IFN-γ stimulation, suggesting that IFN-γ inhibited autophagy via IRF-1 expression and caspase activation. However, after IRF-1 siRNA was introduced, a reduction in LC3-II was found. Thus basic expression of IRF-1 was also necessary for autophagy. IRF-1 may be used as a potential target for HCC treatment based on its capacity to affect apoptosis and autophagy. Ki-67 shows great promise for the prediction of HCC recurrence in LT and can be used as an aid in the selection of LT candidates.

COL1A1 promotes metastasis in colorectal cancer by regulating the WNT/PCP pathway

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer‑associated mortality, and is a major health problem. Collagen type I α 1 (COL1A1) is a major component of collagen type I. Recently, it was reported to be overexpressed in a variety of tumor tissues and cells. However, the function of COL1A1 in CRC remains unclear. Herein, the present study demonstrated that COL1A1 was upregulated in CRC tissues and the paired lymph node tissues. Transwell assays showed that COL1A1 promoted CRC cell migration in vitro. Moreover, it was revealed that COL1A1 levels were correlated with those of WNT/planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway genes; inhibition of COL1A1 decreased the expression levels of Ras‑related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1‑GTP, phosphorylated‑c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase, and RhoA‑GTP, all of which are key genes in the WNT/PCP signaling pathway. These results may indicate the mechanisms underlying the oncogenic role of COL1A1 in CRC. In summary, the present data indicated that COL1A1 may serve as an oncoprotein, and that it may be used as a potential therapeutic target in CRC.

Novel miR-122 delivery system based on MS2 virus like particle surface displaying cell-penetrating peptide TAT for hepatocellular carcinoma

Current treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have shown inadequate. MicroRNA-122 (miR-122) mediated RNA interference brings new prospects. A safe, efficient miRNA delivery system is an indispensable assurance. Previously, we developed an MS2 bacteriophage virus-like particle (VLP)-based microRNA delivery system crosslinked with the HIV TAT peptide, which served as an effective inhibitor in the treatments of systemic lupus erythematosus and osteoporosis. However, defects, such as low crosslinking efficiency, high cost, and potential toxicity of the crosslinking agent, needed to be confronted. Therefore, TAT peptide was designed to display on the surface of MS2 VLPs, instead of being chemically crosslinked, using the platform of phage surface display. The results reflected that MS2 VLPs displaying TAT could effectively penetrate the cytomembrane and deliver miR-122. Additionally, its inhibitory effects on HCC were significant in Hep3B, HepG2, and Huh7 cells and Hep3B related animal models. Thus, we have established a novel miR-122 delivery system based on MS2 VLPs surface displaying TAT peptide, which could effectively perform the function of penetrating cytomembrane and the inhibition of HCC.

Loss of TINCR expression promotes proliferation, metastasis through activating EpCAM cleavage in colorectal cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in kinds of human diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC). TINCR, a 3.7 kb long non coding RNA, was associated with cell differentiation in keratinocyte and gastric cancer cells. However, little is known about the role of TINCR in regulation CRC progression. Here, we showed that lncRNA TINCR was associated with CRC proliferation and metastasis. TINCR was statistically downregulated in CRC tissues and metastatic CRC cell lines compared with their counterparts. TINCR was reversely correlated with CRC progression and promoted tumor cells growth, metastasis in vivo and in vitro. While overexpression of TINCR had opposite effect. In addition, we also found that TINCR specifically bound to EpCAM through RNA IP and RNA pull down assays. Loss of TINCR promoted hydrolysis of EpCAM and then released EpICD, subsequently, activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Further studies shown that c-Myc repressed the expression of TINCR through repressing sp1 transcriptive activity, which established a positive feedback loop controlling c-Myc and TINCR expression. These findings elucidate that loss of TINCR expression promotes proliferation and metastasis in CRC and it could be considered as a potential cancer suppressor gene.

MicroRNAs in the etiology of colorectal cancer: pathways and clinical implications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small single-stranded RNAs that repress mRNA translation and trigger mRNA degradation. Of the ∼1900 miRNA-encoding genes present in the human genome, ∼250 miRNAs are reported to have changes in abundance or altered functions in colorectal cancer. Thousands of studies have documented aberrant miRNA levels in colorectal cancer, with some miRNAs reported to actively regulate tumorigenesis. A recurrent phenomenon with miRNAs is their frequent participation in feedback loops, which probably serve to reinforce or magnify biological outcomes to manifest a particular cellular phenotype. Here, we review the roles of oncogenic miRNAs (oncomiRs), tumor suppressive miRNAs (anti-oncomiRs) and miRNA regulators in colorectal cancer. Given their stability in patient-derived samples and ease of detection with standard and novel techniques, we also discuss the potential use of miRNAs as biomarkers in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and as prognostic indicators of this disease. MiRNAs also represent attractive candidates for targeted therapies because their function can be manipulated through the use of synthetic antagonists and miRNA mimics.

Summary: This Review provides an overview of some important microRNAs and their roles in colorectal cancer.

An individualized gene expression signature for prediction of lung adenocarcinoma metastases

Our laboratory previously reported an individual‐level signature consisting of nine gene pairs, named 9‐GPS. This signature was developed by training on microarray expression data and validated using three independent integrated microarray data sets, with samples of stage I non‐small‐cell lung cancer after complete surgical resection. In this study, we first validated the cross‐platform robustness of 9‐GPS by demonstrating that 9‐GPS could significantly stratify the overall survival of 213 stage I lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients detected with RNA‐sequencing platform in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; log‐rank P = 0.0318, C‐index = 0.55). Applying 9‐GPS to all the 423 stage I‐IV LUAD samples in TCGA, the predicted high‐risk samples were significantly enriched with clinically diagnosed metastatic samples (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.0015). We further modified the voting rule of 9‐GPS and found that the modified 9‐GPS had a better performance in predicting metastasis states (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.0001). With the aid of the modified 9‐GPS for reclassifying the metastasis states of patients with LUAD, the reclassified metastatic samples presented clearer transcriptional and genomic characteristics compared to the reclassified nonmetastatic samples. Finally, regulator network analysis identified TP53 and IRF1 with frequent genomic aberrations in the reclassified metastatic samples, indicating their key roles in driving tumor metastasis. In conclusion, 9‐GPS is a robust signature for identifying early‐stage LUAD patients with potential occult metastasis. This occult metastasis prediction was associated with clear transcriptional and genomic characteristics as well as the clinical diagnoses.

Immune Modulatory microRNAs Involved in Tumor Attack and Tumor Immune Escape

Current therapies against cancer utilize the patient's immune system for tumor eradication. However, tumor cells can evade immune surveillance of CD8+ T and/or natural killer (NK) cells by various strategies. These include the aberrant expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigens, co-inhibitory or costimulatory molecules, and components of the interferon (IFN) signal transduction pathway. In addition, alterations of the tumor microenvironment could interfere with efficient antitumor immune responses by downregulating or inhibiting the frequency and/or functional activity of immune effector cells and professional antigen-presenting cells. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as major players in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, thereby controlling many physiological and also pathophysiological processes including neoplastic transformation. Indeed, the cellular miRNA expression pattern is frequently altered in many tumors of distinct origin, demonstrating the tumor suppressive or oncogenic potential of miRNAs. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that miRNAs could also influence antitumor immune responses by affecting the expression of immune modulatory molecules in tumor and immune cells. Apart from their important role in tumor immune escape and altered tumor-host interaction, immune modulatory miRNAs often exert neoplastic properties, thus representing promising targets for future combined immunotherapy approaches. This review focuses on the characterization of miRNAs involved in the regulation of immune surveillance or immune escape of tumors and their potential use as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers or as therapeutic targets.

Long non-coding RNA CCAT1 promotes metastasis and poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer

In this study, we reported that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) CCAT1 was upregulated in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tissues, and was associated with FIGO stage, histological grade, lymph node metastasis and poor survival of EOC patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that CCAT1 was an independent prognostic indicator. While CCAT1 downregulation inhibited EOC cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration and invasion, CCAT1 upregulation promoted EOC cell EMT, migration and invasion. We further identified and confirmed that miR-152 and miR-130b were the targets of CCAT1, and CCAT1 functioned by targeting miR-152 and miR-130b. Subsequently, ADAM17 and WNT1, and STAT3 and ZEB1 were confirmed to be the targets of miR-152 and miR-130b, respectively, and could be regulated by CCAT1 in EOC cells. Knockdown of anyone of these four proteins inhibited EOC cell EMT, migration and invasion. Taken together, our study first revealed a critical role of CCAT1-miR-152/miR-130b-ADAM17/WNT1/STAT3/ZEB1 regulatory network in EOC cell metastasis. These findings provide great insights into EOC initiation and progression, and novel potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis for EOC.

HMGB3 promotes growth and migration in colorectal cancer by regulating WNT/β-catenin pathway

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths and a major health problem. High mobility group box 3 (HMGB3), a member of the high-mobility group box (HMGB) family, was reported to be over-expressed in gastric carcinoma and bladder cancer. However, the function of HMGB3 in CRC remains unclear. Here, we found that HMGB3 was up-regulated in CRC at both mRNA and protein levels. qRT-PCR results showed that high expression of HMGB3 had positive correlation with serosal invasion, lymph metastasis, and tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) stage in CRC patient. Functional experiments showed that HMGB3 can promote CRC cells proliferation and migration in vitro. Moreover, we found HMGB3 can active WNT/β-catenin pathway to increase the expression level of c-Myc and MMP7. These results may be the reason for HMGB3 oncogene role in CRC. In summary, our data indicated that HMGB3 may serve as an oncoprotein and could be used as a potential prognostic marker in CRC.

MicroRNA-29 regulates myocardial microvascular endothelial cells proliferation and migration in association with IGF1 in type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

In our study, we investigated the expression and function of microRNA-29 in myocardial microvascular endothelial cells (MMEVC) in type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats.

METHODS

MiR-29 gene expression was compared, by qRT-PCR between diabetic GK rat MMEVC and non-diabetic Wistar rat MMEVC. MiR-29 was downregulated in GK MMEVC and its effect on angiogenic properties of proliferation and migration was examined. Potential downstream target gene of miR-29, insulin growth factor 1 (IGF1), was assessed by dual-luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR and western blot in GK MMEVC. IGF1 was also downregulated by siRNA in miR-29-downregulated GK MMEVC. Its effect on miR-29-associated angiogenic regulation on MMEVC proliferation and migration was further investigated.

RESULTS

MiR-29 was substantially upregulated in GK MMEVC than in Wistar MMEVC. Transfection of synthetic miR-29 inhibitor successfully downregulate endogenous miR-29 in GK MMEVC, and subsequently promoted angiogenesis by increasing cell proliferation and migration. IGF1 was confirmed to be downstream target gene of miR-29 in GK MMEVC, with its gene and protein expressions both upregulated in miR-29-downregualted GK MMEVC. Conversely, siRNA-mediated IGF1 downregulation reversed the pro-angiogenic effect of miR-29 downregulation in GK MMEVC, as it decreased cell proliferation and migration.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that miR-29 downregulation, through its inverse regulation on downstream target of IGF1 gene, is a pro-angiogenic factor in MMEVC in type 2 diabetic rats.

Meta-analysis of the differentially expressed microRNA profiles in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

MicroRNAs(miRNAs), as non-coding molecules, were proved to be correlated with gene expression in naspharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) development. In this research, a comprehensive meta-analysis of eight independent miRNA expression studies in NPC was preformed by using robust rank aggregation method (RRA), which contained a total of 775 tumor and 227 non-cancerous samples. There were 7 significant dysregulated miRNAs identified including three increased (miR-483–5p, miR-29c-3p and miR-205–5p) and four decreased (miR-29b-3p, let-7d-5p, miR-100– 5p and let-7g-5p) miRNAs. Subsequently, the miRNA target prediction and pathway enrichment analysis were carried out to find out the biological and functional relevant genes involved in the meta-signature miRNA regulation. Finally, several signaling and cancer pathogenesis pathways were suggested to be more frequently associated with the progression of NPC. In this research the meta-signature miRNA identified may be used to develop a series of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for NPC that serve specificity for use in clinics.

MicroRNA-23a downregulates the expression of interferon regulatory factor-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) is a tumor-suppressor gene induced by interferon-γ (IFNγ) and plays an important role in the cell death of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC tumors evade death in part by downregulating IRF-1 expression, yet the molecular mechanisms accounting for IRF-1 suppression in HCC have not yet been characterized. Previous studies have shown that microRNA-23a (miR-23a) can suppress apoptosis by targeting IRF-1. Therefore, we hypothesized that miR-23a promotes HCC growth by downregulating IRF-1. For the in vivo studies, 7 cases of resected HCC and adjacent liver samples were analyzed. For the in vitro studies, IRF-1 mRNA and protein were examined in HepG2 and Huh-7 HCC cells after IFNγ stimulation by real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. To determine the role of miR-23a in regulating IRF-1, HepG2 cells were transfected with an miR-23a mimic or inhibitor, and IRF-1 expression was examined. Binding of miR-23a was assessed by cloning the 528-bp human IRF-1 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) into luciferase reporter plasmid pMIR-IRF-1-3'UTR. The results showed that IRF-1 mRNA expression was downregulated in the human HCC tumor tissues compared to that in the adjacent background liver tissues. IFNγ-induced IRF-1 protein was less in the HepG2 tumor cells compared to that in the primary human hepatocytes. miR-23a expression was inversely correlated with IRF-1, and addition of the miR-23a inhibitor increased basal IRF-1 mRNA and protein. Likewise, the miR-23a mimic downregulated IFNγ-induced IRF-1 protein expression, while the miR-23a inhibitor increased IRF-1. Furthermore, the miR-23a mimic repressed IRF-1-3'UTR reporter activity, while the miR-23a inhibitor increased the reporter activity. These results demonstrated that IRF-1 expression is downregulated in human HCC tumors compared to that noted in the background liver. miR-23a downregulates the expression of IRF-1 in HCC cells, and the IRF-1 3'UTR has an miR‑23a binding site that binds miR-23a and decreases reporter activity. These findings suggest that the targeting of IRF-1 by miR-23a may be the molecular basis for IRF-1 downregulation in HCC and provide new insight into the regulation of HCC by miRNAs.