Overexpression of microRNA-519d-3p suppressed the growth of pancreatic cancer cells by inhibiting ribosomal protein S15A-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Extracellular Vesicular miRNA in Pancreatic Cancer: From Lab to Therapy

Pancreatic cancer is a prevalent lethal gastrointestinal cancer that generally does not show any symptoms until it reaches advanced stages, resulting in a high mortality rate. People at high risk, such as those with a family history or chronic pancreatitis, do not have a universally accepted screening protocol. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy demonstrate limited effectiveness in the management of pancreatic cancer, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies. Recent studies indicated that the complex interaction among pancreatic cancer cells within the dynamic microenvironment, comprising the extracellular matrix, cancer-associated cells, and diverse immune cells, intricately regulates the biological characteristics of the disease. Additionally, mounting evidence suggests that EVs play a crucial role as mediators in intercellular communication by the transportation of different biomolecules, such as miRNA, proteins, DNA, mRNA, and lipids, between heterogeneous cell subpopulations. This communication mediated by EVs significantly impacts multiple aspects of pancreatic cancer pathogenesis, including proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. In this review, we delve into the pivotal role of EV-associated miRNAs in the progression, metastasis, and development of drug resistance in pancreatic cancer as well as their therapeutic potential as biomarkers and drug-delivery mechanisms for the management of pancreatic cancer.

The roles of lncRNAs and miRNAs in pancreatic cancer: a focus on cancer development and progression and their roles as potential biomarkers

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the most penetrative malignancies affecting humans, with mounting incidence prevalence worldwide. This cancer is usually not diagnosed in the early stages. There is also no effective therapy against PDAC, and most patients have chemo-resistance. The combination of these factors causes PDAC to have a poor prognosis, and often patients do not live longer than six months. Because of the failure of conventional therapies, the identification of key biomarkers is crucial in the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. 65% of the human genome encodes ncRNAs. There are different types of ncRNAs that are classified based on their sequence lengths and functions. They play a vital role in replication, transcription, translation, and epigenetic regulation. They also participate in some cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and apoptosis. The roles of ncRNAs as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in the growth of tumors in a variety of tissues, including the pancreas, have been demonstrated in several studies. This study discusses the key roles of some lncRNAs and miRNAs in the growth and advancement of pancreatic carcinoma. Because they are involved not only in the premature identification, chemo-resistance and prognostication, also their roles as potential biomarkers for better management of PDAC patients.

Long Noncoding RNA Regulator of Reprogramming Regulates Cell Growth, Metastasis, and Cisplatin Resistance in Gastric Cancer via miR-519d-3p/HMGA2 Axis

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is a common tumor found worldwide, and cisplatin is the first-line agent for the treatment of GC. However, the resistance to cisplatin is an obstacle. Here, we explored the biological mechanism of long noncoding RNA regulator of reprogramming (ROR) in the cisplatin resistance of GC. Materials and Methods: ROR, miR-519d-3p, and high mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) expression in GC tissues and cells were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Cell viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. The relative protein expression was detected by Western blot. The interactions between miR-519d-3p and ROR, HMGA2 were predicted using miRcode and starBase v2.0 online database, and then verified by dual luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. In addition, the xenograft tumor mouse model was constructed to verify the biological role of ROR in vivo. Results: The levels of ROR, HMGA2 were significantly upregulated, and miR-519d-3p was apparently downregulated in GC tissues and cells. The miRcode and starBase v2.0 online websites and dual luciferase reporter assay validated that miR-519d-3p directly interacted with ROR and HMGA2. Furthermore, ROR knockdown downregulated HMGA2 to restrain cell proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cisplatin resistance in GC cells by targeting miR-519d-3p. In addition, the depletion of ROR repressed the xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Conclusion: In conclusion, we first found the ROR/miR-519d-3p/HMGA2 regulatory network to regulate cell proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT, and cisplatin resistance in GC, and this may shed light on the GC tumorigenesis.

The Emerging Role of MicroRNAs and Autophagy Mechanism in Pancreatic Cancer Progression: Future Therapeutic Approaches

Pancreatic cancer constitutes the fourth most frequent cause of death due to malignancy in the US. Despite the new therapeutic modalities, the management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is considered a difficult task for clinicians due to the fact that is usually diagnosed in already advanced stages and it is relatively resistant to the current chemotherapeutic agents. The molecular background analysis of pancreatic malignant tumors, which includes various epigenetic and genetic alterations, opens new horizons for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The interplay between miRNAs, autophagy pathway, and pancreatic carcinogenesis is in the spotlight of the current research. There is strong evidence that miRNAs take part in carcinogenesis either as tumor inhibitors that combat the oncogene expression or as promoters (oncomiRs) by acting as oncogenes by interfering with various cell functions such as proliferation, programmed cell death, and metabolic and signaling pathways. Deregulation of the expression levels of various miRNAs is closely associated with tumor growth, progression, and dissemination, as well as low sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Similarly, autophagy despite constituting a pivotal homeostatic mechanism for cell survival has a binary role in PDAC, either as an inhibitor or promoter of carcinogenesis. The emerging role of miRNAs in autophagy gets a great deal of attention as it opens new opportunities for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the management of this aggressive and chemoresistant malignancy. In this review, we will shed light on the interplay between miRNAs and the autophagy mechanism for pancreatic cancer development and progression.

Identification and validation of aging-related genes in COPD based on bioinformatics analysis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious chronic respiratory disorder. One of the major risk factors for COPD progression is aging. Therefore, we investigated aging-related genes in COPD using bioinformatic analyses. Firstly, the Aging Atlas database containing 500 aging-related genes and the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE38974) were utilized to screen candidates. A total of 24 candidate genes were identified related to both COPD and aging. Using gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses, we found that this list of 24 genes was enriched in genes associated with cytokine activity, cell apoptosis, NF-κB and IL-17 signaling. Four of these genes (CDKN1A, HIF1A, MXD1 and SOD2) were determined to be significantly upregulated in clinical COPD samples and in cigarette smoke extract-exposed Beas-2B cells in vitro, and their expression was negatively correlated with predicted forced expiratory volume and forced vital capacity. In addition, the combination of expression levels of these four genes had a good discriminative ability for COPD patients (AUC = 0.794, 95% CI 0.743-0.845). All four were identified as target genes of hsa-miR-519d-3p, which was significantly down-regulated in COPD patients. The results from this study proposed that regulatory network of hsa-miR-519d-3p/CDKN1A, HIF1A, MXD1, and SOD2 closely associated with the progression of COPD, which provides a theoretical basis to link aging effectors with COPD progression, and may suggest new diagnostic and therapeutic targets of this disease.

PSMC2 promotes the progression of gastric cancer via induction of RPS15A/mTOR pathway

As one of the most common malignant tumors, it is particularly important to further understand the development mechanism of gastric cancer and to find more effective therapeutic target genes. The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that PSMC2 was upregulated in gastric cancer. Cell function experiments indicated that PSMC2 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, clone formation and migration of gastric cancer cells, and induced apoptosis. In vivo experiments further showed that PSMC2 knockdown suppressed tumor growth. RPS15A and mTOR pathway were identified the downstream gene and pathway of PSMC2 by GeneChip and IPA. PSMC2 knockdown inhibited RPS15A expression and mTOR pathway, which was neutralized by RPS15A overexpression. Overexpression of RPS15A promoted the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells, which alleviated the inhibitory effect caused by PSMC2 knockdown to a certain extent. The mTOR pathway inhibitor Torin1 partially restored the promoting role of RPS15A overexpression on the gastric cancer cell proliferation. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that PSMC2 and RPS15A competitively bound to hsa-let-7c-3p. Inhibition of hsa-let-7c-3p promoted the migration of MGC-803 cells and reduced the apoptosis level, while simultaneous inhibition PSMC2 and hsa-let-7c-3p restored the migration and apoptosis levels of gastric cancer cells. In conclusion, PSMC2 and RPS15A were highly expressed in gastric cancer. PSMC2 enhanced RPS15A levels by targeting hsa-let-7c-3p, and then activated mTOR pathway, thereby promoting the progression of gastric cancer.

Hsa_circ_0074298 promotes pancreatic cancer progression and resistance to gemcitabine by sponging miR-519 to target SMOC

Objective: To investigate the expression of hsa_circ_0074298 (circular RNA) and the molecular mechanism that promotes tumor growth and enhances the chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Real-time reverse transcription-PCR was used to detect hsa_circ_0074298 expression in pancreatic cancer. The intracellular localization of hsa_circ_0074298 was determined by RNA in situ hybridization. The CCK8 method, colony formation assay, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the effects of hsa_circ_0074298 on the proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle, apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. Bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase assays were employed to detect the association of hsa_circ_0074298 and miR-519d and the binding of miR-519d to the target gene SMOC2. A subcutaneous xenograft model was established to observe the effect of hsa_circ_0074298 in vivo.

Results: The hsa_circ_0074298 was mainly localized in the cytoplasm. Hsa_circ_0074298 was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. The expression of hsa_circ_0074298 was significantly correlated with pancreatic cancer tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and pathological grade. hsa_circ_0074298 could sponge miR-519, and miR-519d bound to SMOC2. Downregulation of hsa_circ_0074298 expression significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, colony forming ability and promoted cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and chemo-resistance of pancreatic cancer in vitro and vivo. However, the effects could be reversed by a miR-519d inhibitor or SMOC2 overexpression.

Conclusion: By sponging miR-519 and targeting SMOC2, hsa_circ_0074298 promotes the growth and metastasis of pancreatic cancer and increases the resistance of pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine.

Deregulation of ribosomal proteins in human cancers

The ribosome, the site for protein synthesis, is composed of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and ribosomal proteins (RPs). The latter have been shown to have many ribosomal and extraribosomal functions. RPs are implicated in a variety of pathological processes, especially tumorigenesis and cell transformation. In this review, we will focus on the recent advances that shed light on the effects of RPs deregulation in different types of cancer and their roles in regulating the tumor cell fate.

TMED3/RPS15A Axis promotes the development and progression of osteosarcoma

Background

Osteosarcoma is a primary malignant tumor that mainly affects children and young adults. Transmembrane emp24 trafficking protein 3 (TMED3) may be involved in the regulation of malignant cancer behaviors. However, the role of TMED3 in osteosarcoma remains mysterious. In this study, the potential biological function and underlying mechanism of TMED3 in progression of osteosarcoma was elaborated.

Methods

The expression of TMED3 in osteosarcoma was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. The biological function of TMED3 in osteosarcoma was determined through loss-of-function assays in vitro. The effect of TMED3 downregulation on osteosarcoma was further explored by xenograft tumor model. The molecular mechanism of the regulation of TMED3 on osteosarcoma was determined by gene expression profile analysis.

Results

The expression of TMED3 in osteosarcoma tissues was significantly greater than that in matched adjacent normal tissues. Knockdown of TMED3 inhibited the progression of osteosarcoma by suppressing proliferation, impeding migration and enhancing apoptosis in vitro. We further validated that knockdown of TMED3 inhibited osteosarcoma generation in vivo. Additionally, ribosomal protein S15A (RPS15A) was determined as a potential downstream target for TMED3 involved in the progression of osteosarcoma. Further investigations elucidated that the simultaneous knockdown of RPS15A and TMED3 intensified the inhibitory effects on osteosarcoma cells. Importantly, knockdown of RPS15A alleviated the promotion effects of TMED3 overexpression in osteosarcoma cells.

Conclusions

In summary, these findings emphasized the importance of TMED3/RPS15A axis in promoting tumor progression, which may be a promising candidate for molecular therapy of osteosarcoma.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02340-w.

Oxidative damage-induced hyperactive ribosome biogenesis participates in tumorigenesis of offspring by cross-interacting with the Wnt and TGF-β1 pathways in IVF embryos

In vitro fertilization (IVF) increases the risk of tumorigenesis in offspring. The increased oxidative damage during IVF may be involved in tumor formation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain largely unclear. Using a well-established model of oxidatively damaged IVF mouse embryos, we applied the iTRAQ method to identify proteins differentially expressed between control and oxidatively damaged zygotes and explored the possible tumorigenic mechanisms, especially with regard to the effects of oxidative damage on ribosome biogenesis closely related to tumorigenesis. The iTRAQ results revealed that ribosomal proteins were upregulated by oxidative stress through the Nucleolin/β-Catenin/n-Myc pathway, which stimulated ribosomes to synthesize an abundance of repair proteins to correct the damaged DNA/chromosomes in IVF-derived embryos. However, the increased percentages of γH2AX-positive cells and apoptotic cells in the blastocyst suggested that DNA repair was insufficient, resulting in aberrant ribosome biogenesis. Overexpression of ribosomal proteins, particularly Rpl15, which gradually increased from the 1-cell to 8-cell stages, indicated persistent hyperactivation of ribosome biogenesis, which promoted tumorigenesis in offspring derived from oxidatively damaged IVF embryos by selectively enhancing the translation of β-Catenin and TGF-β1. The antioxidant epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) was added to the in vitro culture medium to protect embryos from oxidative damage, and the expression of ribosome-/tumor-related proteins returned to normal after EGCG treatment. This study suggests that regulation of ribosome biogenesis by EGCG may be a means of preventing tumor formation in human IVF-derived offspring, providing a scientific basis for optimizing in vitro culture conditions and improving human-assisted reproductive technology.

MiR-519d-3p enhances the sensitivity of non-small-cell lung cancer to tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are currently the most effective chemotherapy for NSCLC. However, most cancer patients develop TKI resistance at tumor relapse stage. We firstly measured the expression change of miR-519d-3p in TKI resistance NSCLC cells. We then ectopically expressed miR-519-3p in TKI resistant cells to study its functional impact on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and cell sensitivity to gefitinib. The downstream target of miR-519-3p was identified by bioinformatics and validated in luciferase reporter assay and western blotting analysis. We also studied the reversing effect of the candidate target in NSCLC cells expressing miR-519d-3p. Lastly, we compared the miR-519d-3p level in NSCLC patients with good or poor response to gefitinib. miR-519d-3p level was downregulated in TKI resistant NSCLC cells. The restoration of miR-519d-3p in these NSCLC cells inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and migration; enhanced cell sensitivity to gefitinib. EPAS1 was identified and validated as downstream target of miR-519d-3p. Co-expressing EPAS1 antagonized the inhibitory effect of miR-519d-3p on NSCLC cells. MiR-519d-3p was downregulated in NSCLC patients with poor response to gefitinib. Targeting miR-519d-3p/EPAS1 axis may provide alternative treatment for TKI-resistant NSCLC.

Emerging roles of miRNAs in the development of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a fatal cancer which is expected to exceed breast cancer as the third foremost source of cancer mortality by 2025. This cancer has been associated with several somatic genetic aberrations including mutations in the KRAS, CDKN2A/p16, TP53, and SMAD4. In addition, epigenetic alterations have been shown to affect development of this cancer. miRNAs are among the mostly appreciated epigenetic factors in this regard. Several oncomiRs such as miR-212, miR 506, miR-196b, miR-221-3p, miR-301a-3p, miR-23a and miR-29a have been found to promote proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells and block apoptotic pathways in these cells. On the other hand, miR-451a, miR-506, miR-142, miR-216b, miR-519d-3p, miR-1181, miR-340, miR-143-3p, miR-203a-3p, miR-455, miR-15a, miR-135a and miR-202 are among tumor suppressor miRNAs that modulate proliferation and cell cycle transition in these cells. In the current paper, we will discuss the role of oncomiRs and tumor suppressor miRNAs in the evolution of pancreatic cancer. Moreover, we will summarize the application of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers in pancreatic cancer. These studies have shown the ability of miRNAs to be served as non-invasive markers for pancreatic cancer.

The Hypoxia-Long Noncoding RNA Interaction in Solid Cancers

Hypoxia is one of the representative microenvironment features in cancer and is considered to be associated with the dismal prognosis of patients. Hypoxia-driven cellular pathways are largely regulated by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and notably exert influence on the hallmarks of cancer, such as stemness, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and the resistance towards apoptotic cell death and therapeutic resistance; therefore, hypoxia has been considered as a potential hurdle for cancer therapy. Growing evidence has demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are dysregulated in cancer and take part in gene regulatory networks owing to their various modes of action through interacting with proteins and microRNAs. In this review, we focus attention on the relationship between hypoxia/HIFs and lncRNAs, in company with the possibility of lncRNAs as candidate molecules for controlling cancer.

Crosstalk between miRNAs and signaling pathways involved in pancreatic cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with 5-year survival rates below 8%. Most patients with PC and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) die after relapse and cancer progression as well as resistance to treatment. Pancreatic tumors contain a high desmoplastic stroma that forms a rigid mass and has a potential role in tumor growth and metastasis. PC initiates from intraepithelial neoplasia lesions leading to invasive cancer through various pathways. These lesions harbor particular changes in signaling pathways involved in the tumorigenesis process. These events affect both the epithelial cells, including the tumor and the surrounding stroma, and eventually lead to the formation of complex signaling networks. Genetic studies of PC have revealed common molecular features such as the presence of mutations in KRAS gene in more than 90% of patients, as well as the inactivation or deletion mutations of some tumor suppressor genes including TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4. In recent years, studies have also identified different roles of microRNAs in PC pathogenesis as well as their importance in PC diagnosis and treatment, and their involvement in various signaling pathways. In this study, we discussed the most common pathways involved in PC and PDAC as well as their role in tumorigenesis and progression. Furthermore, the miRNAs participating in the regulation of these signaling pathways in PC progression are summarized in this study. Therefore, understanding more about pathways involved in PC can help with the development of new and effective therapies in the future.

miR-519d-3p Overexpression Inhibits P38 and PI3K/AKT Pathway via Targeting VEGFA to Attenuate the Malignant Biological Behavior of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a heterogeneous tumor that accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases worldwide. microRNAs (miRNAs) are believed to play an important role in regulating a variety of biological processes, including immunity and cancer. We investigated the effect of miR-519d-3p on the mitigation of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

RT-PCR or immunohistochemical assays were used to assess the expression of miR-519d-3p. Colony formation, flow cytometry, and transwell assay were respectively used to detect proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion of A549 and NCI-H661 cell lines. Luciferase reporter assay was used to verify targeting the relationship between mir-519d-3p and VEGFA. Western blot was used to examine the expression of Ki67, caspase-3, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, VEGF, P38, and PI3K/AKT. Animal models were established by BABL/c mice to research the effect of mir-519d-3p overexpression in vivo.

Results

In vitro, miR-519d-3p overexpression inhibited A549 and NCI-H661 cells proliferation, invasion, and also promoted apoptosis. In addition, miR-519d-3p overexpression downregulated VEGFA expression and decreased the P38 and PI3K/AKT phosphorylation level. In vivo, miR-519d-3p overexpression significantly restrained tumor volume (2087±265 mm³ vs 599±135 mm³, *P< 0.05) and tumor weight (0.45±0.08 g vs 0.13±0.06 g, *P<0.05) compared with the control group. Overexpression of miR-519d-3p downregulated levels of Ki67 and N-cadherin significantly.

Conclusion

The data indicated that miR-519d-3p could be a novel therapy or adjuvant against NSCLC.

Circular noncoding RNA circMBOAT2 is a novel tumor marker and regulates proliferation/migration by sponging miR-519d-3p in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. However, its pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated, accounting for poor overall survival. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a class of noncoding RNAs discovered many years ago. Only recently have they been re-evaluated for their important roles in the regulation of gene expression. Studies have confirmed that circRNAs have important biological functions in a variety of malignant tumors. This study aimed to characterize one circRNA derived from the MBOAT2 gene and termed it circMBOAT2, which has been reported to promote prostate cancer progression. CircMBOAT2 is highly expressed in both CRC tissues and serum samples, and has a correlation with tumor stage. The receiver-operating characteristic curves suggested that circMBOAT2 acted as a novel diagnostic tumor marker in CRC. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the levels of circMBOAT2 in tissues were independent prognostic markers of CRC. Further functional studies revealed that circMBOAT2 served as a microRNA (miRNA) sponge of miR-519d-3p and promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells. Also, circMBOAT2 regulated cell proliferation and migration by competitively binding to miR-519d-3p and targeting troponin-associated protein (TROAP) in CRC cells. These results suggested that circMBOAT2 might be a novel potential biomarker of CRC.

Upregulation of CENPM facilitates tumor metastasis via the mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a severe disease with high morbidity and mortality. However, the primary molecular mechanisms of pancreatic tumor formation and progression remain unclear. The present study using sequencing technology revealed that the centromere protein M (CENPM) gene was overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissues. CENPM is one of the components of a complex that plays a central role in kinetochore protein assembly, mitotic progression and chromosome segregation. However, the biological function of CENPM in pancreatic cancer has yet to be determined. Hence, two effective siRNAs were designed to knock down CENPM. Notably, downregulation of CENPM inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, altered the cell cycle and limited pancreatic cancer cell migration and invasion via the mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway. This research provides new evidence that CENPM overexpression plays a significant role in the progression of pancreatic cancer. Overall, the present findings indicated that CENPM may be a significant biomarker for predicting the development and progression of pancreatic malignancy.

circ_0007385 served as competing endogenous RNA for miR-519d-3p to suppress malignant behaviors and cisplatin resistance of non-small cell lung cancer cells

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been closely implicated in competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network among human cancers including non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the role of most circRNAs in NSCLC remains to be determined. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of hsa_circ_0007385 (circ_0007385) in NSCLC cells.

Methods

Expression of hsa_circ_0007385 (circ_0007385), miRNA (miR)‐519d‐5p and high‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) was measured by real‐time quantitative PCR and western blotting. Functional experiments were evaluated by cell counting kit (CCK)‐8, flow cytometry, fluorescein active caspase‐3 staining kit, transwell assays, western blotting, and xenograft experiment. The relationship among circ_0007385,miR‐519d‐5p and HMGB1 was testified by dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Kaplan‐Meiersurvival curve identified overall survival in NSCLC patients.

Results

circ_0007385 expression was higher in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, and was associated with poor overall survival. Silencing circ_0007385 could suppress cell proliferation, migration and invasion in A549 and H1975 cells, as well as cisplatin (DDP) resistance. Moreover, circ_0007385 silence retarded tumor growth of A549 cells in vivo. Molecularly, there was a direct interaction between miR‐519d‐3p and either circ_0007385 or HMGB1; expression of miR‐519d‐3p was downregulated in NSCLC tumors in a circ_0007385‐correlated manner, and circ_0007385 could indirectly regulate HMGB1 via miR‐519d‐3p. Functionally, both inhibiting miR‐519d‐3p and restoring HMGB1 could overturn the suppressive effect of circ_0007385 knockdown on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and DDP resistance.

Conclusions

Collectively, circ_0007385 deletion could function anti‐tumor role in NSCLC by suppressing malignant behaviors and DDP resistance in vitro and in vivo via circ_0007385/miR‐519d‐3p/HMGB1 axis. These outcomes might enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the malignant progression of NSCLC.

Key points

Significant findings of the study

circ_0007385 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells, and was associated with poor overall survival.

Silenced circ_0007385 suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and DDP resistance in vitro, and tumor growth in vivo.

circ_0007385 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells, and was associated with poor overall survival.

What this study adds

miR‐519d‐3p could directly interact with circ_0007385 and HMGB1 in NSCLC cells.

A promising circ_0007385/miR‐519d‐3p/HMGB1 regulatory pathway was determined in NSCLC cells.

The Predicted Key Molecules, Functions, and Pathways That Bridge Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

To elucidate the key molecules, functions, and pathways that bridge mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), we investigated open gene expression data sets. Differential gene expression profiles were analyzed and combined with potential MCI- and AD-related gene expression profiles in public databases. Then, weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed to identify the gene co-expression modules. One module was significantly negatively associated with MCI samples, in which gene ontology function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis showed that these genes were related to cytosolic ribosome, ribosomal structure, oxidative phosphorylation, AD, and metabolic pathway. The other two modules correlated significantly with AD samples, in which functional and pathway enrichment analysis revealed strong relationships of these genes with cytoplasmic ribosome, protein binding, AD, cancer, and apoptosis. In addition, we regarded the core genes in the module network closely related to MCI and AD as bridge genes and submitted them to protein interaction network analysis to screen for major pathogenic genes according to the connectivity information. Among them, small nuclear ribonucleoprotein D2 polypeptide (SNRPD2), ribosomal protein S3a (RPS3A), S100 calcium binding protein A8 (S100A8), small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide G (SNRPG), U6 snRNA-associated Sm-like protein LSm3 (LSM3), ribosomal protein S27a (RPS27A), and ATP synthase F1 subunit gamma (ATP5C1) were not only major pathogenic genes of MCI, but also bridge genes. In addition, SNRPD2, RPS3A, S100A8, SNRPG, LSM3, thioredoxin (TXN), proteasome 20S subunit alpha 4 (PSMA4), annexin A1 (ANXA1), DnaJ heat shock protein family member A1 (DNAJA1), and prefoldin subunit 5 (PFDN5) were not only major pathogenic genes of AD, but also bridge genes. Next, we screened for differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) to predict the miRNAs and transcription factors related the MCI and AD modules, respectively. The significance score of miRNAs in each module was calculated using a hypergeometric test to obtain the miRNApivot-Module interaction pair. Thirty-four bridge regulators were analyzed, among which hsa-miR-519d-3p was recognized as the bridge regulator between MCI and AD. Our study contributed to a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of MCI and AD, and might lead to the development of a new strategy for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Down-regulation of lncRNA BLACAT1 inhibits ovarian cancer progression by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via regulating miR-519d-3p

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality in gynecologic malignancies. LncRNA BLACAT1 serves crucial functions in various cancers, but its role in ovarian cancer has not been investigated. In this article, our team explored the role and the potential regulatory mechanism of BLACAT1 in ovarian cancer. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that BLACAT1 was aberrantly up-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues compared with normal tissues. In vitro, BLACAT1 knockdown induced cell cycle arrest and inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells using flow cytometry, MTT and EdU assays, wound healing assay and transwell assay, respectively. Luciferase assay verified the binding relationship between microRNA-519d-3p and lncRNA BLACAT1, and BLACAT1 negatively regulated the expression of miR-519d-3p. We also found that miR-519d-3p overexpression could inhibit ovarian cancer cells proliferation, migration and invasion. Further, Western blot demonstrated that the expression of RPS15A and nuclear β-catenin expression was markedly reduced by BLACAT1 knockdown, and cytoplasmic β-catenin level was not obviously affected. In vivo, BLACAT1 knockdown inhibited the tumor growth, and immunohistochemistry showed that ki67 expression was decreased by BLACAT1 suppression. Inhibition of BLACAT1 was sufficient to down-regulate the expression of RPS15A and nuclear β-catenin but did not cause an obvious change in cytoplasmic β-catenin expression. Taken together, BLACAT1 knockdown inhibited the progression of ovarian cancer by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via regulating miR-519d-3p. Our work provided a proper understanding of the critical roles of BLACAT1 in ovarian cancer.

Can small nucleolar RNA be a novel molecular target for hepatocellular carcinoma?

BACKGROUND

Globally, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death. Recently, many studies have demonstrated that small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) was closely related to HCC.

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether snoRNA can be used as a molecular target for HCC.

METHODS

The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for the published literatures related to snoRNA and HCC until August 12, 2019. After identification, screening, and verification, this study finally included 26 studies correlating small nucleolar RNA host gene (SNHG) and HCC, and 8 studies correlating snoRNA and HCC. Based on the collation of the relevant literature, the correlation network diagram between snoRNAs and HCC was constructed.

RESULTS

The SNHGs, such as SNHG1, SNHG6, SNHG16, and SNHG20 can play varied roles in HCC through different regulatory mechanisms. These SNHGs can promote and inhibit tumorigenesis. SNORD76 can promote the proliferation of tumor tissues and cells in vitro through different pathways. SnoU2_19 and SNORD76 can function through the same pathway. SNHG3, SNHG20, SNHG6, SNORD76, and snoRA47 can modulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to regulate the development of HCC cell or tissue. SNHG16, SNORD76, and SnoU2_19 can regulate the development of HCC through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

snoRNA can regulate the occurrence of HCC by modulating multiple molecular signaling pathways. Hence, snoRNA can be a potential molecular target for HCC.

MicroRNA-147b suppresses the proliferation and invasion of non-small-cell lung cancer cells through downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling via targeting of RPS15A

Deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) leads to malignant growth and aggressive invasion during cancer occurrence and progression. miR-147b has emerged as one of the cancer-related miRNAs that are dysregulated in multiple cancers. Yet, the relevance of miR-147b in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to report the biological function and signalling pathways mediated by miR-147b in NSCLC. Our results demonstrate that miR-147b expression is significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-147b decreased the proliferative ability, colony-forming capability, and invasive potential of NSCLC cells. Notably, our study identified ribosomal protein S15A (RPS15A), an oncogene in NSCLC, as a target gene of miR-147b. Our results showed that miR-147b negatively modulates RPS15A expression in NSCLC cells. An inverse correlation between miR-147b and RPS15A was evidenced in NSCLC specimens. Moreover, miR-147b overexpression downregulated the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling via targeting of RPS15A. Overexpression of RPS15A partially reversed the miR-147b-mediated antitumour effect in NSCLC cells. Collectively, these findings reveal that miR-147b restricts the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells by inhibiting RPS15A-induced Wnt/β-catenin signalling and suggest that the miR-147b/RPS15A/Wnt/β-catenin axis is an important regulatory mechanism for malignant progression of NSCLC.