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Seyhan AA. Trials and Tribulations of MicroRNA Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1469. [PMID: 38338746 PMCID: PMC10855871 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The discovery of the link between microRNAs (miRNAs) and a myriad of human diseases, particularly various cancer types, has generated significant interest in exploring their potential as a novel class of drugs. This has led to substantial investments in interdisciplinary research fields such as biology, chemistry, and medical science for the development of miRNA-based therapies. Furthermore, the recent global success of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic has further revitalized interest in RNA-based immunotherapies, including miRNA-based approaches to cancer treatment. Consequently, RNA therapeutics have emerged as highly adaptable and modular options for cancer therapy. Moreover, advancements in RNA chemistry and delivery methods have been pivotal in shaping the landscape of RNA-based immunotherapy, including miRNA-based approaches. Consequently, the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry has witnessed a resurgence of interest in incorporating RNA-based immunotherapies and miRNA therapeutics into their development programs. Despite substantial progress in preclinical research, the field of miRNA-based therapeutics remains in its early stages, with only a few progressing to clinical development, none reaching phase III clinical trials or being approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and several facing termination due to toxicity issues. These setbacks highlight existing challenges that must be addressed for the broad clinical application of miRNA-based therapeutics. Key challenges include establishing miRNA sensitivity, specificity, and selectivity towards their intended targets, mitigating immunogenic reactions and off-target effects, developing enhanced methods for targeted delivery, and determining optimal dosing for therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side effects. Additionally, the limited understanding of the precise functions of miRNAs limits their clinical utilization. Moreover, for miRNAs to be viable for cancer treatment, they must be technically and economically feasible for the widespread adoption of RNA therapies. As a result, a thorough risk evaluation of miRNA therapeutics is crucial to minimize off-target effects, prevent overdosing, and address various other issues. Nevertheless, the therapeutic potential of miRNAs for various diseases is evident, and future investigations are essential to determine their applicability in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila A. Seyhan
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology and Experimental Cancer Therapeutics, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA;
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Lifespan Health System and Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Legorreta Cancer Center, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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Tomassi S, Ieranò C, Del Bene A, D’Aniello A, Napolitano M, Rea G, Auletta F, Portella L, Capiluongo A, Mazzarella V, Russo R, Chambery A, Scala S, Di Maro S, Messere A. Tailoring the Structure of Cell Penetrating DNA and RNA Binding Nucleopeptides. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158504. [PMID: 35955638 PMCID: PMC9369335 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic nucleic acid interactors represent an exciting research field due to their biotechnological and potential therapeutic applications. The translation of these molecules into drugs is a long and difficult process that justifies the continuous research of new chemotypes endowed with favorable binding, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. In this scenario, we describe the synthesis of two sets of homo-thymine nucleopeptides, in which nucleobases are inserted in a peptide structure, to investigate the role of the underivatized amino acid residue and the distance of the nucleobase from the peptide backbone on the nucleic acid recognition process. It is worth noting that the CD spectroscopy investigation showed that two of the reported nucleopeptides, consisting of alternation of thymine functionalized L-Orn and L-Dab and L-Arg as underivatized amino acids, were able to efficiently bind DNA and RNA targets and cross both cell and nuclear membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Tomassi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico” II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Caterina Ieranò
- Molecular Immunology and Immunoregulation, Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, IRCCS-Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (M.N.); (G.R.); (F.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Alessandra Del Bene
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (A.D.B.); (A.D.); (V.M.); (R.R.); (A.C.)
| | - Antonia D’Aniello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (A.D.B.); (A.D.); (V.M.); (R.R.); (A.C.)
| | - Maria Napolitano
- Molecular Immunology and Immunoregulation, Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, IRCCS-Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (M.N.); (G.R.); (F.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Giuseppina Rea
- Molecular Immunology and Immunoregulation, Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, IRCCS-Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (M.N.); (G.R.); (F.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Federica Auletta
- Molecular Immunology and Immunoregulation, Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, IRCCS-Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (M.N.); (G.R.); (F.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Luigi Portella
- Molecular Immunology and Immunoregulation, Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, IRCCS-Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (M.N.); (G.R.); (F.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Anna Capiluongo
- Molecular Immunology and Immunoregulation, Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, IRCCS-Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (M.N.); (G.R.); (F.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Vincenzo Mazzarella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (A.D.B.); (A.D.); (V.M.); (R.R.); (A.C.)
| | - Rosita Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (A.D.B.); (A.D.); (V.M.); (R.R.); (A.C.)
| | - Angela Chambery
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (A.D.B.); (A.D.); (V.M.); (R.R.); (A.C.)
| | - Stefania Scala
- Molecular Immunology and Immunoregulation, Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, IRCCS-Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.I.); (M.N.); (G.R.); (F.A.); (L.P.); (A.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Salvatore Di Maro
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (A.D.B.); (A.D.); (V.M.); (R.R.); (A.C.)
- Correspondence: (S.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Anna Messere
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (A.D.B.); (A.D.); (V.M.); (R.R.); (A.C.)
- Correspondence: (S.D.M.); (A.M.)
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Asakiya C, Zhu L, Yuhan J, Zhu L, Huang K, Xu W. Current progress of miRNA-derivative nucleotide drugs: Modifications, delivery systems, applications. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2022; 19:435-450. [PMID: 35387533 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2022.2063835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION miRNA-derivative clinical nucleotide drugs (mdCNDs) effectively treat several diseases, with numerous undergoing clinical trials. In early-stage trials in disease therapeutics such as malignant pleural mesothelioma and hepatic virus C infection, mdCND's therapeutic potency is undeniably good for effectiveness and safety. AREAS COVERED 15 mdCNDs undergoing clinical trials are introduced in this review. MiRNA modifications methods have been summarized including phosphorothioate, cholesterol, locked nucleic acid, 2'-O-methyl, N,N-diethyl-4-(4-nitronaphthalen1-ylazo)-phenylamine modifications and many more. Moreover, delivery systems, including self-assembled, inorganic ions nanoparticles, exosomes, and lipid-based nanosystems for mdCNDs targeted delivery, are presented. Among that, EnGeneIC, N-Acetylgalactosamine, liposomal nanoparticles, and cholesterol-conjugated for mdCNDs delivery are currently undergoing clinical trials. The pH, light, temperature, redox-responsive, enzyme, and specific-substance modes to trigger the release of miRNAs to target sites on-demand and the prospects of mdCNDs are discussed in this review. EXPERT OPINION mdNCDs are one type of promising clinical drugs, however, it is still in the infancy. During the development process, it is imperative to advance in modifying miRNAs, especially at the 5'-end, to enhance targetability and stability against nucleases, develop a stimuli-responsive mode to control the release of mdCNDs to tissue cell-type-specific sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Asakiya
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.,College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Liye Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.,College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jieyu Yuhan
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.,College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Longjiao Zhu
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Kunlun Huang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Wentao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
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Li J, Guo S, Sun Z, Fu Y. Noncoding RNAs in Drug Resistance of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:808591. [PMID: 35174150 PMCID: PMC8841737 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.808591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor in the gastrointestinal tracts and a model for the targeted therapy of solid tumors because of the oncogenic driver mutations in KIT and PDGDRA genes, which could be effectively inhibited by the very first targeted agent, imatinib mesylate. Most of the GIST patients could benefit a lot from the targeted treatment of this receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. However, more than 50% of the patients developed resistance within 2 years after imatinib administration, limiting the long-term effect of imatinib. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), the non-protein coding transcripts of human, were demonstrated to play pivotal roles in the resistance of various chemotherapy drugs. In this review, we summarized the mechanisms of how ncRNAs functioning on the drug resistance in GIST. During the drug resistance of GIST, there were five regulating mechanisms where the functions of ncRNAs concentrated: oxidative phosphorylation, autophagy, apoptosis, drug target changes, and some signaling pathways. Also, these effects of ncRNAs in drug resistance were divided into two aspects. How ncRNAs regulate drug resistance in GIST was further summarized according to ncRNA types, different drugs and categories of resistance. Moreover, clinical applications of these ncRNAs in GIST chemotherapies concentrated on the prognostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiehan Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shuning Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhenqiang Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Fu, ; Zhenqiang Sun,
| | - Yang Fu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- The Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Cancer Chemoprevention, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Fu, ; Zhenqiang Sun,
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Tung CW, Huang PY, Chan SC, Cheng PH, Yang SH. The regulatory roles of microRNAs toward pathogenesis and treatments in Huntington's disease. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:59. [PMID: 34412645 PMCID: PMC8375176 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00755-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is one of neurodegenerative diseases, and is defined as a monogenetic disease due to the mutation of Huntingtin gene. This disease affects several cellular functions in neurons, and further influences motor and cognitive ability, leading to the suffering of devastating symptoms in HD patients. MicroRNA (miRNA) is a non-coding RNA, and is responsible for gene regulation at post-transcriptional levels in cells. Since one miRNA targets to several downstream genes, it may regulate different pathways simultaneously. As a result, it raises a potential therapy for different diseases using miRNAs, especially for inherited diseases. In this review, we will not only introduce the update information of HD and miRNA, but also discuss the development of potential miRNA-based therapy in HD. With the understanding toward the progression of miRNA studies in HD, we anticipate it may provide an insight to treat this devastating disease, even applying to other genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Wei Tung
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Pin-Yu Huang
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Siew Chin Chan
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Hsun Cheng
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Hsun Yang
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan. .,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan.
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Stefanou IK, Gazouli M, Zografos GC, Toutouzas KG. Role of non-coding RNAs in pathogenesis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. World J Meta-Anal 2020; 8:233-244. [DOI: 10.13105/wjma.v8.i3.233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are considered the model solid malignancies of targeted therapy after the discovery of imatinib effectiveness against their tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Non-coding RNAs are molecules with no protein coding capacity that play crucial role to several biological steps of normal cell proliferation and differentiation. When the expression of these molecules found to be altered it seems that they affect the process of carcinogenesis in multiple ways, such as proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, metastasis, and drug resistance. This review aims to provide an overview of the latest research papers and summarize the current evidence about the role of non-coding RNAs in pathogenesis of GISTs, including their potential clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis K Stefanou
- Department of Surgery, Hippocration Hospital Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Maria Gazouli
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Laboratory of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Georgios C Zografos
- 1st Propaedeutic Department of Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Konstantinos G Toutouzas
- 1st Propaedeutic Department of Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
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Segal M, Biscans A, Gilles ME, Anastasiadou E, De Luca R, Lim J, Khvorova A, Slack FJ. Hydrophobically Modified let-7b miRNA Enhances Biodistribution to NSCLC and Downregulates HMGA2 In Vivo. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 19:267-277. [PMID: 31855835 PMCID: PMC6926262 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have increasingly been shown to be involved in human cancer, and interest has grown about the potential use of miRNAs for cancer therapy. miRNA levels are known to be altered in cancer cells, including in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a subtype of lung cancer that is the most prevalent form of cancer worldwide and that lacks effective therapies. The let-7 miRNA is involved in the regulation of oncogene expression in cells and directly represses cancer growth in the lung. let-7 is therefore a potential molecular target for tumor therapy. However, applications of RNA interference for cancer research have been limited by a lack of simple and efficient methods to deliver oligonucleotides (ONs) to cancer cells. In this study, we have used in vitro and in vivo approaches to show that HCC827 cells internalize hydrophobically modified let-7b miRNAs (hmiRNAs) added directly to the culture medium without the need for lipid formulation. We identified functional let-7b hmiRNAs targeting the HMGA2 mRNA, one of the let-7 target genes upregulated in NSCLC, and show that direct uptake in HCC827 cells induced potent and specific gene silencing in vitro and in vivo. Thus, hmiRNAs constitute a novel class of ONs that enable functional studies of genes involved in cancer biology and are potentially therapeutic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirav Segal
- HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Annabelle Biscans
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Maud-Emmanuelle Gilles
- HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eleni Anastasiadou
- HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roberto De Luca
- HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jihoon Lim
- HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Frank J Slack
- HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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9
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Han J, Wang JZ, Yang X, Yu H, Zhou R, Lu HC, Yuan WB, Lu JC, Zhou ZJ, Lu Q, Wei JF, Yang H. METTL3 promote tumor proliferation of bladder cancer by accelerating pri-miR221/222 maturation in m6A-dependent manner. Mol Cancer 2019; 18:110. [PMID: 31228940 PMCID: PMC6588935 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-019-1036-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 456] [Impact Index Per Article: 91.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background METTL3 is known to be involved in all stages in the life cycle of RNA. It affects the tumor formation by the regulation the m6A modification in the mRNAs of critical oncogenes or tumor suppressors. In bladder cancer, METTL3 could promote the bladder cancer progression via AFF4/NF-κB/MYC signaling network by an m6A dependent manner. Recently, METTL3 was also found to affect the m6A modification in non-coding RNAs including miRNAs, lincRNAs and circRNAs. However, whether this mechanism is related to the proliferation of tumors induced by METTL3 is not reported yet. Methods Quantitative real-time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of METTL3 in bladder cancer. The survival analysis was adopted to explore the association between METTL3 expression and the prognosis of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer cells were stably transfected with lentivirus and cell proliferation and cell cycle, as well as tumorigenesis in nude mice were performed to assess the effect of METTL3 in bladder cancer. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), co-immunoprecipitations and RNA m6A dot blot assays were conducted to confirm that METTL3 interacted with the microprocessor protein DGCR8 and modulated the pri-miR221/222 process in an m6A-dependent manner. Luciferase reporter assay was employed to identify the direct binding sites of miR221/222 with PTEN. Colony formation assay and CCK8 assays were conducted to confirm the function of miR-221/222 in METTL3-induced cell growth in bladder cancer. Results We confirmed the oncogenic role of METTL3 in bladder cancer by accelerating the maturation of pri-miR221/222, resulting in the reduction of PTEN, which ultimately leads to the proliferation of bladder cancer. Moreover, we found that METTL3 was significantly increased in bladder cancer and correlated with poor prognosis of bladder cancer patients. Conclusions Our findings suggested that METTL3 may have an oncogenic role in bladder cancer through interacting with the microprocessor protein DGCR8 and positively modulating the pri-miR221/222 process in an m6A-dependent manner. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study that METTL3 affected the tumor formation by the regulation the m6A modification in non-coding RNAs, which might provide fresh insights into bladder cancer therapy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12943-019-1036-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Han
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jing-Zi Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Rui Zhou
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hong-Cheng Lu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wen-Bo Yuan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jian-Chen Lu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zi-Jian Zhou
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Qiang Lu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Ji-Fu Wei
- Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Haiwei Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Therapeutic Potential of OMe-PS-miR-29b1 for Treating Liver Fibrosis. Mol Ther 2018; 26:2798-2811. [PMID: 30287074 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Trans-differentiation of quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into active myofibroblasts secretes excess amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. miR-29b1 has the potential to treat liver fibrosis, because it targets several profibrotic genes. We previously demonstrated that miR-29b1 and the hedgehog (Hh) pathway inhibitor GDC-0449 could, together, inhibit the activation of HSCs and ECM production in common bile-duct-ligated (CBDL) mice. Herein, we determined the effect of chemical modifications of miR-29b1 on its stability, immunogenicity, and Argonaute-2 (Ago2) loading in vitro, after modifying its antisense strand with phosphorothioate (PS-miR-29b1), 2'-O-methyl-phosphorothioate (OMe-miR-29b1), locked nucleic acid (LNA-miR-29b1), and N,N'-diethyl-4-(4-nitronaphthalen-1-ylazo)-phenylamine (ZEN-miR-29b1). Chemical modifications significantly improved stability of miR-29b1 in 50% FBS. Among all the modified miRNAs tested, OMe-PS-miR-29b1 showed the highest stability with low immunogenicity, without the loss of efficacy in vitro. Therefore, OMe-PS-miR-29b1 was complexed with poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(2-methyl-2-carboxyl-propylenecarbonate-graft-dodecanol-graft-tetraethylenepentamine (mPEG-b-PCC-g-DC-g-TEPA) cationic micelles, and anti-fibrotic efficacy was evaluated in CBDL mice. There was a significant improvement in liver histology and decrease in the levels of injury markers. Further, mRNA/protein levels of collagen, α-SMA, and TIMP-1 were significantly lower for the OMe-PS-miR-29b1-loaded micelles compared to miR-29b1-loaded micelles. In conclusion, micellar delivery of OMe-PS-miR-29b1 is a promising strategy to treat liver fibrosis.
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Kupcinskas J. Small Molecules in Rare Tumors: Emerging Role of MicroRNAs in GIST. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E397. [PMID: 29385688 PMCID: PMC5855619 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of gastrointestinal tract. GISTs have very different clinical phenotypes and underlying molecular characteristics that are not yet completely understood. microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to participate in carcinogenesis pathways through post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in different tumors. Over the last years emerging evidence has highlighted the role of miRNAs in GISTs. This review provides an overview of original research papers that analyze miRNA deregulation patterns, functional role, diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic implications in GIST as well as provides directions for further research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juozas Kupcinskas
- Institute for Digestive Research, Academy of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu str. 2, LT-50009 Kaunas, Lithuania.
- Department of Gastroenterology, Academy of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu str. 2, LT-50009 Kaunas, Lithuania.
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Tapia-Vieyra JV, Delgado-Coello B, Mas-Oliva J. Atherosclerosis and Cancer; A Resemblance with Far-reaching Implications. Arch Med Res 2017; 48:12-26. [PMID: 28577865 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis and cancer are chronic diseases considered two of the main causes of death all over the world. Taking into account that both diseases are multifactorial, they share not only several important molecular pathways but also many ethiological and mechanistical processes from the very early stages of development up to the advanced forms in both pathologies. Factors involved in their progression comprise genetic alterations, inflammatory processes, uncontrolled cell proliferation and oxidative stress, as the most important ones. The fact that external effectors such as an infective process or a chemical insult have been proposed to initiate the transformation of cells in the artery wall and the process of atherogenesis, emphasizes many similarities with the progression of the neoplastic process in cancer. Deregulation of cell proliferation and therefore cell cycle progression, changes in the synthesis of important transcription factors as well as adhesion molecules, an alteration in the control of angiogenesis and the molecular similarities that follow chronic inflammation, are just a few of the processes that become part of the phenomena that closely correlates atherosclerosis and cancer. The aim of the present study is therefore, to provide new evidence as well as to discuss new approaches that might promote the identification of closer molecular ties between these two pathologies that would permit the recognition of atherosclerosis as a pathological process with a very close resemblance to the way a neoplastic process develops, that might eventually lead to novel ways of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Blanca Delgado-Coello
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Jaime Mas-Oliva
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México.
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