Role of microRNA-141-3p in the progression and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cell

MicroRNAs modulate SARS-CoV-2 infection of primary human hepatocytes by regulating the entry factors ACE2 and TMPRSS2

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) preferentially infects the respiratory tract; however, several studies have implicated a multi-organ involvement. Hepatic dysfunctions caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection have been increasingly recognized and described to correlate with disease severity. To elucidate molecular factors that could contribute towards hepatic infection, we concentrated on microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs that modulate various cellular processes and which are reported to be differentially regulated during liver injury. We aimed to study the infection of primary human hepatocytes (PHH) with SARS-CoV-2 and to evaluate the potential of miRNAs for modulating viral infection.

METHODS

We analysed liver autopsies from a coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)-positive cohort for the presence of viral RNA using Nanopore sequencing. PHH were used for the infection with SARS-CoV-2. The candidate miRNAs targeting angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) were identified using in silico approaches. To discover the potential regulatory mechanism, transfection experiments, qRT-PCRs, western blots and luciferase reporter assays were performed.

RESULTS

We could detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in COVID-19-positive liver autopsies. We show that PHH express ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and can be readily infected with SARS-CoV-2, resulting in robust replication. Transfection of selected miRNA mimics reduced SARS-CoV-2 receptor expression and SARS-CoV-2 burden in PHH. In silico and biochemical analyses supported a potential direct binding of miR-141-3p to the SARS-CoV-2 genome.

CONCLUSION

We confirm that PHH are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and demonstrate selected miRNAs targeting SARS-CoV-2 entry factors and/or the viral genome reduce viral loads. These data provide novel insights into hepatic susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and associated dysfunctions in COVID-19.

Elucidating the prognostic and therapeutic significance of TOP2A in various malignancies

Topoisomerase IIα (TOP2A) is a crucial enzyme that plays a vital role in DNA replication and transcription mechanisms. Dysregulated expression of TOP2A has been associated with various malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma, prostate cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer. In this review, we summarized the prognostic relevances of TOP2A in various types of cancer. The increased expression of TOP2A has been linked to resistance to therapy and reduced survival rates. Therefore, evaluating TOP2A levels could assist in identifying patients who may derive advantages from molecular targeted therapy. The amplification of TOP2A has been linked to a positive response to chemotherapy regimens that contain anthracycline. Nevertheless, the overexpression of TOP2A also indicates a heightened likelihood of disease recurrence and unfavorable prognosis. The prognostic significance of TOP2A has been extensively studied in various types of cancer. The increased expression of TOP2A is associated with poor clinical outcomes, indicating its potential as a valuable biomarker for assessing risk and stratifying treatment in these malignancies. However, further investigation is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which TOP2A influences cancer progression and to explore its potential as a therapeutic target.

Non-coding RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis: Remarkable indicators and potential oncogenic mechanism

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), as key regulators involving in intercellular biological processes, are more prominent in many malignancies, especially for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we conduct a comprehensive review to summarize diverse ncRNAs roles in HCC metastatic mechanism. We focus on four signaling pathways that predominate in HCC metastatic process, including Wnt/β-catenin, HIF-1α, IL-6, and TGF-β pathways. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) employed different mechanisms to participate in the regulation of the key genes in these pathways, typical as interaction with DNA to control transcription, with RNA to control translation, and with protein to control stability. Therefore, ncRNAs may become potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC metastasis.

microRNA-141-3p Suppressed the Progression of the Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma by Targeting Transforming Growth Factor Beta 2 Gene Expression

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a malignant tumor of kidney epithelial cells, one of the most common tumors in the world. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)1 is a crucial factor that induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells. microRNA-141-3p (miR-141-3p) is a microRNA that is considered a tumor suppressor. However, the role and mechanism of miR-141-3p in TGFβ1-induced ccRCC cells are not fully understood. This study investigated the roles of miR-141-3p and its target gene in regulating EMT in ccRCC development. 786-0 and Caki-1cells were treated with TGFβ1 to induce EMT. The levels of miR-141-3p and TGFβ2 were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The progression of EMT was evaluated by E-cadherin detection by immunofluorescence, and E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin detection by Western blotting. Furthermore, migration and invasion capacities were assessed using a Transwell system. The direct binding of miR-141-3p with the target gene TGFβ2 was confirmed by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Results indicated that TGFβ1 treatment decreased the protein abundance of E-cadherin while increasing the protein expression of N-cadherin and vimentin, indicating TGFβ1-induced EMT was constructed successfully. Moreover, TGFβ1 treatment repressed the expression of miR-141-3p. miR-141-3p mimics reversed the effect of TGFβ1 on the migration, invasion, and expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin. The miR-141-3p directly binds with the 3' untranslated region of TGFβ2 mRNA and suppresses its expression. Furthermore, TGFβ2 overexpression abrogated the above changes regulated by miR-141-3p mimics. Taken together, miR-141-3p inhibited TGFβ1-induced EMT by suppressing the migration and invasion of ccRCC cells via directly targeting TGFβ2 gene expression.

Hijacking and rewiring of host CircRNA/miRNA/mRNA competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks by oncoviruses during development of viral cancers

A significant portion of human cancers are caused by oncoviruses (12%-25%). Oncoviruses employ various strategies to promote their replication and induce tumourigenesis in host cells, one of which involves modifying the gene expression patterns of the host cells, leading to the rewiring of genes and resulting in significant changes in cellular processes and signalling pathways. In recent studies, a specific mode of gene regulation known as circular RNA (circRNA)-mediated competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks has emerged as a key player in this context. CircRNAs, a class of non-coding RNA molecules, can interact with other RNA molecules, such as mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs), through a process known as ceRNA crosstalk. This interaction occurs when circRNAs, acting as sponges, sequester miRNAs, thereby preventing them from binding to their target mRNAs and modulating their expression. By rewiring the host cell genome, oncoviruses have the ability to manipulate the expression and activity of circRNAs, thereby influencing the ceRNA networks that can profoundly impact cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune responses. This review focuses on a comprehensive evaluation of the latest findings on the involvement of virus-induced reprogramming of host circRNA-mediated ceRNA networks in the development and pathophysiology of human viral cancers, including cervical cancer, gastric cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Understanding these mechanisms can improve our knowledge of how oncoviruses contribute to human tumourigenesis and identify potential targets for developing optimised therapies and diagnostic tools for viral cancers.

Interactions between circRNAs and miR-141 in Cancer: From Pathogenesis to Diagnosis and Therapy

The function of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the pathogenesis and development of cancer is indisputable. Molecular mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis involve the aberrant expression of ncRNAs, including circular RNAs (circRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs). CircRNAs are a class of single-stranded, covalently closed RNAs responsible for maintaining cellular homeostasis through their diverse functions. As a part of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNAs) network, they play a central role in the regulation of accessibility of miRNAs to their mRNA targets. The interplay between these molecular players is based on the primary role of circRNAs that act as miRNAs sponges, and the circRNA/miRNA imbalance plays a central role in different pathologies including cancer. Herein, we present the latest state of knowledge about interactions between circRNAs and miR-141, a well-known member of the miR-200 family, in malignant transformation, with emphasis on the biological role of circRNA/miR-141/mRNA networks as a future target for novel anti-cancer therapies.

Exosomes Derived from microRNA-27a-3p Overexpressing Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibit the Progression of Liver Cancer through Suppression of Golgi Membrane Protein 1

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a significant health burden to date. Its early diagnosis and treatment are complicated by the lack of early diagnosis markers and multidrug resistance. microRNA regulation of HCC oncogenes are among the new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies being explored, although the mode of delivery of a therapeutic dose of the miRNA remains a challenge. In this study, we explored the use of exosomes from umbilical mesenchymal stem cells transfected with miR-27a-3p to interact with the oncogene GOLM1 in HCC and inhibit HCC progression both in vitro and in vivo. We first determined and compared the expression levels of miR-27a-3p in blood, various cell lines and tissues of HCC and their corresponding normal controls. We then employed bioinformatics analysis to determine the gene target for miR-27a-3p in HCC and later transfected upregulated miR-27a-3p in mesenchymal stem cells, and treated HCC cells with exosomes extracted from the transfected stem cells. We then created mouse models of HCC using balbc/nude mice and equally treated them with exosomes from miR-27a-3p transfected stem cells. The results showed that miR-27a-3p is downregulated in blood, cell lines, and tissues of HCC patients compared to normal controls. Exosomes from the miR-27a-3p transfected mesenchymal stem cells prevented HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Upregulation of miR-27a-3p prevented HCC through interacting with and downregulating GOLM1 as its target oncogene. In conclusion, miR-27a-3p is a potential therapeutic target for HCC acting through GOLM1.

Possible roles of Golgi protein-73 in liver diseases

Golgi protein 73 (also known as GP73 or GOLPH2) is a transmembrane glycoprotein present in the Golgi apparatus. In diseased states, GP73 is expressed by hepatocytes rather than by bile duct epithelial cells. Many studies have reported that serum GP73 (sGP73) is a marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For HCC diagnosis, the sensitivities of sGP73 were higher than that of other markers but the specificities were lower. Considering that the concentration of GP73 is consistent with the stage of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, some studies have implied that GP73 may be a marker for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Increased sGP73 levels may result from hepatic inflammatory activity. During liver inflammation, GP73 facilitates liver tissue regeneration. By summarizing the studies on GP73 in liver diseases, we wish to focus on the mechanism of GP73 in diseases.

MicroRNA‑141 inhibits the differentiation of bone marrow‑derived mesenchymal stem cells in steroid‑induced osteonecrosis via E2F3

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) affects the life of patients. MicroRNA-141 (miR-141) has been found associated with proliferation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) has been identified as the target of miR-141 to regulate cell proliferation. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether miR-141 and E2F3 were involved in the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs during ONFH. BMSCs from 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were transduced with miR-141 mimic or inhibitor lentiviruses. Alkaline phosphatase staining was performed to confirm osteogenic differentiation. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, luciferase reporter assays and western blot analysis were also used to examine the interaction between E2F3 and miR-141 in BMSCs from the control and ONFH rats. The lentiviral transductions were carried out successfully. The mRNA expression levels of miR-141 in ONFH were upregulated, while those of E2F3 were downregulated compared with the control rat. The luciferase reporter assays indicated that miR-141 could target E2F3. miR-141 knockdown upregulated the mRNA expression levels of E2F3. In addition, osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs was inhibited following miR-141 overexpression, but increased following miR-141 knockdown, as evidenced by the results of the alkaline phosphatase staining and western blot analysis. In conclusion, miR-141 inhibits the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in ONFH by targeting E2F3. These two molecules may represent novel candidates to examine in order to investigate the mechanism underlying ONFH.

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

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

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Role of MicroRNAs

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. HCC is diagnosed in its advanced stage when limited treatment options are available. Substantial morphologic, genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity has been reported in HCC, which poses a challenge for the development of a targeted therapy. In this review, we discuss the role and involvement of several microRNAs (miRs) in the heterogeneity and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma with a special emphasis on their possible role as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in the risk prediction, early detection, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

miRNAs inspirations in hepatocellular carcinoma: Detrimental and favorable aspects of key performers

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. HCC initiation, progression, and therapy failure are all influenced by various variables, including microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs are short non-coding RNA sequences that modulate target mRNA expression by deteriorating or repressing translation. miRNAs play an imperative role in HCC pathogenesis by triggering the induction of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their proliferation, while also delaying apoptosis, sustaining the cell cycle, and inspiring angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Additionally, miRNAs modulate crucial HCC-related molecular pathways such as the p53 pathway, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, VEGFR2, and PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway. Consequently, the goal of this review was to give an up-to-date overview of oncogenic and tumor suppressor (TS) miRNAs, as well as their potential significance in HCC pathogenesis and treatment responses, highlighting their underpinning molecular pathways in HCC initiation and progression. Similarly, the biological importance and clinical application of miRNAs in HCC are summarized.

MicroRNA-141-3p inhibits the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma via targeting PBX1 through the JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which is the most common epithelial malignant neoplasm in the head and neck, is characterized by local infiltration and metastasis of lymph nodes. The five-year survival rate of OSCC remains low despite the advances in clinical methods. miR-141-3p has been shown to activate or inhibit tumorigenesis. However, the effects of miR-141-3p on invasion and migration of OSCC remain unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of miR-141-3p on invasion, proliferation, and migration in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Reverse transcription quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect microRNA(miR)-141-3p and pre-B-cell leukaemia homeobox-1 (PBX1) expression in OSCC tissues and cell lines. The luciferase reporter assay was used to detect targets of miR-141-3p in OSCC. MTT, Transwell and wound healing assays were used to determine the cell proliferation and invasive and migratory abilities, respectively. Expression of constitutive phosphorylated (p)-Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was detected using western blotting in tissues and cells. miR-141-3p expression was decreased in OSCC tissues and cells, while PBX1 protein expression was increased compared with non-cancerous controls. The result from the dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that PBX1 was the direct target of miR-141-3p in OSCC tissues. Furthermore, miR-141-3p overexpression and PBX1 knockdown could reduce cell invasion, proliferation and migration, and inhibit the JAK2/STAT3 pathway; however, miR-141-3p downregulation had the opposite effects. In addition, silencing of PBX1 using small interfering RNA could weaken the effects of miR-141-3p inhibitor on JAK2/STAT3 pathway and cell progression in CAL27 cells. In summary, the findings from this study indicated that miR-141-3p upregulation could inhibit OSCC cell invasion, proliferation and migration, by targeting PBX1 via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Clinicopathological significance and underlying molecular mechanism of downregulation of basonuclin 1 expression in ovarian carcinoma

In this study, we aim to identify the clinical significance of basonuclin 1 (BNC1) expression in ovarian carcinoma (OV) and to explore its latent mechanisms. Via integrating in-house tissue microarrays, gene chips, and RNA-sequencing data, we explored the expression and clinical value of BNC1 in OV. Immunohistochemical staining was utilized to confirm the protein expression status of BNC1. A combined SMD of -2.339 (95% CI: -3.649 to -1.028, P < 0.001) identified that BNC1 was downregulated based on 1346 samples, and the sROC (AUC = 0.93) showed a favorable discriminatory ability of BNC1 in OV patients. We used univariate and multivariate Cox regulation to evaluate the prognostic role of BNC1 for OV patients, and a combined hazard ratio of 0.717 (95% CI: 0.445-0.989, P < 0.001) revealed that BNC1 was a protective factor for OV. Furthermore, the fraction of infiltrating naive B cells, memory B cells, and other immune cells showed statistical differences between the high- and low-BNC1 expression groups through cell-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) algorithm. Enrichment analysis showed that BNC1 may have a relationship with immune-related items in OV. By predicting the potential regulatory transcription factors (TFs) of BNC1, friend leukemia virus integration 1 (FLI1) may be a potential upstream TF of BNC1. Corporately, a decreasing trend of BNC1 may serve as a tumor suppressor and prognostic biomarker in OV patients. Moreover, BNC1 may take part in immune-related pathways and influence the fraction of tumor-infiltrating immune cells.

The Mechanism of miR-141 Regulating the Proliferation and Metastasis of Liver Cancer Cells by Targeting STAT4

Background

In recent years, it has been reported that miRNA can be used as one of the markers of tumor diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis (including liver cancer), and it plays an important role in tumorigenesis. However, there are still very few studies on the mechanism and role of miR-141 in liver cancer.

Methods

qRT-PCR was used to test the expressions of miR-141 and STAT4 in collected liver cancer tissues and adjacent tissues, cultured liver cancer cell lines MHCC97H, Hep3B, and Huh7, and normal human liver cells HL7702. After processing the results of the qRT-PCR experiment, liver cancer cell MHCC97H which has the lowest expression level was decided to be taken as the research object. miR-NC, miR-141 mimics, si-NC, si-STAT4, miR-141 mimics and pcDNA-NC, and miR-141 mimics and pcDNA-STAT4 were transfected into MHCC97H cells, respectively. The MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of each group of cells, and the Transwell test was used to detect the effect of miR-141 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The interaction between miR-141 and STAT4 was verified by the dual-luciferase reporter experiment, and the expression level of Cyclin D1 and MMP2 was detected by the western blot.

Results

Compared with normal cell HL7702, the expression level of miR-141 in liver cancer cell lines was relatively low (P < 0.05) and the expression level of STAT4 in liver cancer cell lines was relatively high (P < 0.05) after testing the expression level of STAT4; transfecting miR-141 mimics or Si-SLBP can inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; dual-luciferase reporter experiments confirmed that miR-141 can specifically bind to the 3′UTR of STAT4; cotransfection of miR-141 mimics and pcDNA-STAT4 can antagonize the effects of miR-141 mimics on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Conclusion

miR-141 can target the STAT4 gene expression to inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of liver cancer cells.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of MicroRNAs in Metastasis and Recurrence of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

MicroRNAs have been proven to make remarkable differences in the clinical behaviors of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study aims to systematically analyze whether differential expression levels of microRNAs are related to recurrence or metastasis in patients with HNSCC. A comprehensive search of the PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL was conducted up to July 24^th, 2021. Data were collected and combined from studies reporting recurrence-free survival (RFS) of HNSCC patients with high microRNA expression compared to those with low expression. Besides, studies providing necessary data for evaluating the diagnostic value of microRNAs for detecting recurrence and metastasis based on their expression levels were also included and combined. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) value for the outcomes of RFS in 1,093 HNSCC samples from 10 studies was 2.51 (95%CI: 2.13–2.96). A sensitivity of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.72–0.85) and specificity of 0.77 (95%CI: 0.68–0.83) were observed in three studies, of which 93 patients with recurrence and 82 nonrecurrence controls were included, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.81–0.88). Additionally, high diagnostic accuracy of microRNAs in detecting lymph node metastasis (LNM) was also reported. In conclusion, two panels of microRNAs showed the potential to predict recurrence or diagnose recurrence in HNSCC patients, respectively, which could facilitate prognosis prediction and diagnosis of clinical behaviors in HNSCC patients.

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

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

MicroRNA signature in liver cancer

Liver cancer is the 7^th utmost frequent neoplasm and the 4^th principal source of cancer deaths. This malignancy is linked with several environmental and lifestyle-related factors emphasizing the role of epigenetics in its pathogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been regarded as potent epigenetic mechanisms partaking in the pathogenesis of liver cancer. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been related with poor outcome of patients with liver cancer. In the current manuscript, we provide a concise review of the results of recent studies about the role of miRNAs in the progression of liver cancer and their diagnostic and prognostic utility.

Mechanisms and Functions of MiR-200 Family in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common clinically malignant tumors of the digestive system. It ranks the sixth most common malignant tumor in the world and ranks fourth among cancer-related death worldwide. At present, early diagnosis and prognosis monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma mainly use alpha-fetoprotein combined with ultrasonography, which leads to clinical frequently missed diagnosis or even misdiagnosis. Therefore, seeking specific diagnostic and monitoring molecules of hepatocellular carcinoma are still hot topics in contemporary medical practice. MicroRNA is an endogenous non-coding small RNA that regulates the expression of the target molecule and participates in various biological processes in vivo. The miR-200 family, the most common celebrity family of microRNAs, is commonly lower expression in a variety of cancers and is closely associated with tumorigenesis and outcome, especially hepatocellular carcinoma. This review mainly discusses the expression changes, specific molecular mechanisms, biological functions and clinical values of miR-200 family in hepatocellular carcinoma. Moreover, we highlighted utilization of miR-200 family as molecular biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognostic monitoring and appropriate therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

MicroRNA-200a and microRNA-141 have a synergetic effect on the suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in liver cancer by targeting STAT4

MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are non-coding small RNAs that target specific messenger RNAs to inhibit protein translation. miR-200a and miR-141 function as tumor suppressors by targeting STAT4. These two miRNAs belong to the same family, and their expression is often decreased in various cancer types, but are located on different chromosomes of the human genome. The present study showed that the expression levels of miR-141 and miR-200a in serum and cells of liver cancer are significantly downregulated. The expression levels of miR-141 and miR-200a are closely associated with clinicopathological features of liver cancer, especially metastasis and invasion. It is first reported that STAT4 is the new common target gene of miR-141 and miR-200a. In the present study, miR-141 and miR-200a were confirmed to inhibit the expression of E-cadherin and vimentin synergistically during epithelial-mesenchymal transition to regulate the proliferation, migration and invasion of liver cancer cells by targeting STAT4. Simultaneous overexpression of miR-200a and miR-141 resulted in stronger effects compared with each miRNA alone. In addition, overexpression of STAT4 significantly reversed the tumor suppressive roles of miR-200a and miR-141 in liver cancer cells. These findings enrich the tumor suppressor mechanisms of the miR-200 family, and may also provide new experimental and theoretical basis for the use of miRNAs for early diagnosis, prognosis and thorough treatment of liver cancer.

Linc00475 promotes the progression of glioma by regulating the miR-141-3p/YAP1 axis

Glioma is the most prevalent and lethal primary brain tumour. Abundant long non‐coding RNAs ( lncRNAs) are aberrant and play crucial roles in the oncogenesis of glioma. The exact functions of linc00475 in glioma remain blurred. Here, we analysed the expression levels of linc00475 by qRT‐PCR and discovered that linc00475 was up‐regulated in glioma and predicted a poor prognosis in patients with glioma. Besides, inhibiting linc00475 restrained the progression of glioma in vitro and in vivo. Further experiments confirmed that linc00475 regulated the progression of glioma by acting as a sponge for miR‐141‐3p. Moreover, we detected the binding sites of linc00475 and miR‐141‐3p, the YAP1‐ 3′UTR and miR‐141‐3p by luciferase reporters. The rescue assays confirmed that inhibiting linc00475 restrained the progression of glioma through the miR‐141‐3p/YAP1 pathway. Collectively, our research demonstrates the key roles of linc00475 in glioma, which could be a promising therapeutic target.

Golgi protein 73, hepatocellular carcinoma and other types of cancers

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with a low survival rate. The identification of mechanisms underlying the development of HCC helps uncover cellular and molecular targets for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of HCC. Golgi protein 73 (GP73) level is upregulated in HCC patients and potentially can be a therapeutic target. Despite many studies devoted to GP73 as a marker for HCC early diagnosis, there is little discussion about the function of GP73 in HCC tumorigenesis. Given the poor response to currently available HCC therapies, a better understanding of the role of GP73 in HCC may provide a new therapeutic target for HCC. The current paper summarizes the role of GP73 as a diagnostic marker as well as its roles in liver carcinogenesis. Its roles in other types of cancer are also discussed.

Immune-related microRNA signature for predicting prognosis and the immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIMS

As vital regulators of post-transcription gene expression, microRNAs are involved in the initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including antitumor immune responses. We aimed to identify an immune-related microRNA signature and explore the influence of this signature on the prognosis and immunity of HCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Differentially expressed immune-related microRNAs were identified between high- and low-immunity groups in the TCGA-HCC dataset. Then, Cox regression models were used to construct an immune-related microRNA signature. We assessed the prognostic value and clinical relevance of this signature. Furthermore, we analyzed the effect of the immune-related microRNA signature on immune cells and immune checkpoints.

KEY FINDINGS

We screened 41 differentially expressed immune-related microRNAs, of which 7 microRNAs were used to construct the immune signature. Survival analysis showed that high-risk patients had a shorter survival. The immune-related microRNA signature was an independent prognostic marker and was associated with the clinical stage. To understand the functional mechanism of the seven-microRNA signature, we predicted target genes of microRNAs. Enrichment analysis indicated that these target genes participated in immune responses. Moreover, we found that the microRNA signature was related to tumor-infiltrating immune cells. In high-risk patients, there was a higher expression of inhibitory immune checkpoints. On the contrary, the expression of stimulatory immune checkpoints was lower in high-risk patients.

SIGNIFICANCE

We successfully identified an immune-related microRNA signature that was strongly correlated with the prognosis and immune microenvironment of HCC. The immune-related microRNAs signature might have important implications for improving the clinical outcomes of HCC patients.

Piplartine attenuates the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via regulating hsa_circ_100338 expression

Researches have pointed that piplartine inhibits the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, however, the underlying mechanisms has not been well defined. Currently, more and more studies have pointed out that circRNAs can regulate tumor cell proliferation, involve in the tumorigenesis mechanism of various tumors. In this study, we explored whether piplartine may participate in the development of HCC through the regulation of ability of HCC cell proliferation by circRNA. Based on the chip analysis, we selected candidate circRNAs that are highly correlated with HCC. CircRNA expression in OSCC cells treated with piplartine was detected by qRT-PCR. We found that only the expression of hsa_circ_100338 (circ-100338) was observably reduced. The expression characteristics of circ-100338 in HCC cell lines were also verified by qRT-PCR. Subsequently, whether or notcirc-100338 can regulate ZEB1 via competitively binding to miR-141-3p was determined by the RIP assay and dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The effect of the circ-100338/miR-141-3p/ZEB1 axis on the proliferation of HCC cell was tested by EdU and CCK-8 assay. Results showed that circ-100338 expression was observably increased in HCC cell lines. Simultaneously, circ-100338 can regulate the expression of ZEB1by competitively binding to miR-141-3p. Moreover high expression of circ-100338 can stimulate the proliferation of HCC cells. Our current study revealed that circ-100338 played as a ceRNA in promoting the progression of HCC by sponging miR-141-3p, while piplartine can participate in the development of HCC by inhibiting the expression of circ-100338.

Tight Junction Proteins and the Biology of Hepatobiliary Disease

Tight junctions (TJ) are intercellular adhesion complexes on epithelial cells and composed of integral membrane proteins as well as cytosolic adaptor proteins. Tight junction proteins have been recognized to play a key role in health and disease. In the liver, TJ proteins have several functions: they contribute as gatekeepers for paracellular diffusion between adherent hepatocytes or cholangiocytes to shape the blood-biliary barrier (BBIB) and maintain tissue homeostasis. At non-junctional localizations, TJ proteins are involved in key regulatory cell functions such as differentiation, proliferation, and migration by recruiting signaling proteins in response to extracellular stimuli. Moreover, TJ proteins are hepatocyte entry factors for the hepatitis C virus (HCV)—a major cause of liver disease and cancer worldwide. Perturbation of TJ protein expression has been reported in chronic HCV infection, cholestatic liver diseases as well as hepatobiliary carcinoma. Here we review the physiological function of TJ proteins in the liver and their implications in hepatobiliary diseases.

MicroRNA-141-5p Acts as a Tumor Suppressor via Targeting RAB32 in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

MicroRNA-141-5p (miR-141-5p), an important member of the miR-200 family, has been reported to be involved in cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, and drug resistance in different kinds of human malignant tumors. However, the role and function of miR-141-5p in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are unclear. In this current study, we found that the level of miR-141-5p was significantly decreased in peripheral blood cells from CML patients compared with normal blood cells and human leukemic cell line (K562 cells) compared with normal CD34⁺ cells, but was remarkably elevated in patients after treatment with nilotinib or imatinib. Suppression of miR-141-5p promoted K562 cell proliferation and migration in vitro. As expected, overexpression of miR-141-5p weakened K562 cell proliferation, migration, and promoted cell apoptosis. A xenograft model in nude mice showed that overexpression of miR-141-5p markedly suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistic studies suggested that RAB32 was the potential target of miR-141-5p, and silencing of RAB32 suppressed the proliferation and migration of K562 cells and promoted cell apoptosis. Taken together, our study demonstrates that miR-141-5p plays an important role in the activation of K562 cells in vitro and may act as a tumor suppressor via targeting RAB32 in the development of CML.

Genetic And Epigenetic Regulation Of E-Cadherin Signaling In Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

E-cadherin is well known as a growth and invasion suppressor and belongs to the large cadherin family. Loss of E-cadherin is widely known as the hallmark of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) with the involvement of transcription factors such as Snail, Slug, Twist and Zeb1/2. Tumor cells undergoing EMT could migrate to distant sites and become metastases. Recently, numerous studies have revealed how the expression of E-cadherin is regulated by different kinds of genetic and epigenetic alteration, which are implicated in several crucial transcription factors and pathways. E-cadherin signaling plays an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation and progression considering the highly mutated frequency of CTNNB1 (27%). Combining the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and previous studies, we have summarized the roles of gene mutations, chromosome instability, DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA in E-cadherin in HCC. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the relationship between these modifications and HCC. Perspectives on E-cadherin-related research in HCC are provided.

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

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

LINC00473/miR-497-5p Regulates Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression Through Targeting PRKAA1

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the esophageal cancers known as an aggressive malignant tumor. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can be involved in the progression and development of cancers. lncRNA LINC00473 (LINC00473) was reported to exert an oncogenic influence on diverse cancers. However, neither the biological function nor the underlying mechanism of LINC00473 has been explored in ESCC. Aim of the Study: The aim of investigation is to explore the role of LINC00473 in ESCC. Methods: The expression of LINC00473, miR-497-5p, and protein kinase AMP-activated alpha 1 catalytic subunit (PRKAA1) was detected by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Cell counting kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays were carried out to measure cell proliferation. Cell migration was tested by transwell assay. Western blot assay was performed to examine the protein expression of PRKAA1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin. The binding capacity between miR-497-5p and LINC00473 (or PRKAA1) was, respectively, studied by luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Pearson correlation analysis was adopted to analyze the correlation between miR-497-5p (or LINC00473) and PRKAA1. Results: LINC00473 presented much higher expression and LINC00473 suppression restrained the proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in ESCC cells. MiR-497-5p presented lower expression, binding with and negatively regulated by LINC00473 in ESCC. PRKAA1 was confirmed as a downstream target gene for miR-497-5p. PRKAA1 could combine with miR-497-5p, and LINC00473 knockdown or miR-497-5p overexpression downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of PRKAA1. At last, the inhibitory effects of LINC00473 knockdown on proliferation, migration, and EMT process were reversed by PRKAA1 overexpression in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: LINC00473 regulates ESCC progression through miR-497-5p/PRKAA1 axis, which provides a new therapeutic strategy for ESCC patients.

Aspirin inhibits colon cancer cell line migration through regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition via Wnt signaling

The mechanism responsible for the initiation of tumor metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is not well understood. During EMT, epithelial cells lose their polarity and adhesion to surrounding cells and migrate, resulting in transition into mesenchymal cells. Canonical Wnt signaling has been implicated in controlling gene transcription and body axis pattern formation during development. However, canonical Wnt signaling has also been indicated to serve a role in carcinogenesis by regulating EMT. In the present study, it was demonstrated that the expression of several positive regulators of EMT and Wnt signaling was repressed by aspirin treatment in SW480 tumor cells, and that this reduction was due to alterations in the localization of zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 and Snail family transcriptional repressor 2. It was also demonstrated that aspirin may be an effective inhibitor of EMT, reducing the viability and migration ability of SW480 tumor cells, including cells induced by TGF-β1.