MiR-330-5p regulates tyrosinase and PDIA3 expression and suppresses cell proliferation and invasion in cutaneous malignant melanoma

NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in atherosclerosis: Focusing on the therapeutic potential of non-coding RNAs

NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3) inflammasome pathway has a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Activation of this pathway is implicated in the subendothelial inflammation and atherosclerosis progression. The NLRP3 inflammasome are cytoplasmic sensors with the distinct capacity to identify a wide range of inflammation-related signals, which enhance NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and allow it to trigger inflammation. This pathway is triggered by a variety of intrinsic signals which exist in atherosclerotic plaques, like cholesterol crystals and oxidized LDL. Further pharmacological findings indicated that NLRP3 inflammasome enhanced caspase-1-mediated secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators like interleukin (IL)- 1β/18. Newly published cutting-edge studies suggested that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are major modulators of NLRP3 inflammasome in atherosclerosis. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to discuss the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, biogenesis of ncRNAs as well as the modulatory role of ncRNAs in regulating the various mediators of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway including TLR4, NF-kB, NLRP3, and caspase 1. We also discussed the importance of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway-related ncRNAs as a diagnostic biomarker in atherosclerosis and current therapeutics in the modulation of NLRP3 inflammasome in atherosclerosis. Finally, we speak about the limitations and future prospects of ncRNAs in regulating inflammatory atherosclerosis via the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

miR-330 targeting BCO2 is involved in carotenoid metabolism to regulate skin pigmentation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in regulating skin pigmentation. As a key economic trait, skin color directly affects the market value of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), however, the regulatory mechanism of most miRNAs in fish skin color is still unclear.

RESULTS

In this study, the full-length cDNA sequence of β-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2, a key regulator of carotenoid metabolism) from the rainbow trout was obtained using rapid-amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technology, and qRT-PCR was used to investigate the differential expression of miR-330 and BCO2 in 14 developmental stages and 13 tissues between wild-type rainbow trout (WTrt) and yellow mutant rainbow trout (YMrt). Additionally, the function of miR-330 was verified by overexpression and silencing in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the complete cDNA sequence of BCO2 was 2057 bp with a 1707 bp ORF, encoding a 568 amino acid protein having a molecular weight of 64.07 kD. Sequence alignment revealed that higher conservation of BCO2 protein amongst fishes than amongst other vertebrates, which was further confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. The analysis of spatial and temporal expression patterns suggested that BCO2 and miR-330 were abundantly expressed from fertilized-stage to multi-cell as well as in the dorsal and ventral skin of WTrt and YMrt, and their expression patterns were opposite in most of the same periods and tissues. In vitro, luciferase reporter assay confirmed that BCO2 was a direct target of miR-330, and transfection of miR-330 mimics into rainbow trout liver cells resulted in a decrease in the expression of BCO2; conversely, miR-330 inhibitor had the opposite effect to the miR-330 mimics. In vivo, miR-330 agomir significantly decreased BCO2 expression in dorsal skin, tail fin, and liver. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-330 could suppress cell proliferation and induce apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that miR-330 is involved in the regulation of skin pigmentation in rainbow trout by targeting BCO2 and shows its promise as a potential molecular target to assist the selection of rainbow trout with better skin color patterns.

Non-coding RNAs in skin cancers:Biological roles and molecular mechanisms

Cutaneous malignancies, including basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, and cutaneous melanoma, are common human tumors. The incidence of cutaneous malignancies is increasing worldwide, and the leading cause of death is malignant invasion and metastasis. The molecular biology of oncogenes has drawn researchers’ attention because of the potential for targeted therapies. Noncoding RNAs, including microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs, have been studied extensively in recent years. This review summarizes the aspects of noncoding RNAs related to the metastasis mechanism of skin malignancies. Continuous research may facilitate the identification of new therapeutic targets and help elucidate the mechanism of tumor metastasis, thus providing new opportunities to improve the survival rate of patients with skin malignancies.

Circ_0044516 Enriches the Level of SARM1 as a miR-330-5p Sponge to Regulate Cell Malignant Behaviors and Tumorigenesis of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common and deadly cancers in men. The dysregulated circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the development of various cancers, including PCa. The purpose of this study was to construct a circRNA-microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA network to explain the function of circ_0044516 in PCa. The expression analysis of circ_0044516, miR-330-5p, and sterile alpha and TIR motif-containing 1 (SARM1) was performed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the protein level of SARM1 was detected by western blot. The interaction between miR-330-5p and circ_0044516 or SARM1 obtained by bioinformatics prediction was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay or RNA immunoprecipitation assay. For functional studies, cell proliferation was assessed by cell viability and colony formation ability using cell counting kit-8 assay and colony formation assay. Cell migration and invasion were studied using transwell assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were investigated using flow cytometry assay. The tumorigenicity of circ_0044516 was tested by animal study. Circ_0044516 and SARM1 were highly expressed, while miR-330-5p was rarely expressed in PCa tissues and cells. Circ_0044516 acted as a miR-330-5p sponge to block miR-330-5p expression, and circ_0044516 knockdown suppressed PCa cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cycle progression by enriching miR-330-5p. SARM1 was a target of miR-330-5p, and miR-330-5p restoration also inhibited PCa cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cycle progression by degrading SARM1. Moreover, circ_0044516 deficiency blocked tumor growth in vivo by regulating the miR-330-5p/SARM1 axis. Circ_0044516 as a miR-330-5p sponge increases SARM1 expression, thus promoting the malignant development of PCa.

A Novel Circular RNA CircRFX3 Serves as a Sponge for MicroRNA-587 in Promoting Glioblastoma Progression via Regulating PDIA3

An increasing number of studies have indicated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) participate in the progression of numerous tumors. However, the functions of circRNAs in glioblastoma (GBM) remain largely unknown. In this study, we focused on a novel circRNA (hsa_circRFX3_003) that was spliced from RFX3, which we named circRFX3. We confirmed that the expression of circRFX3 was substantially increased in GBM cell lines and clinical GBM tissues. The results of a series of overexpression and knockdown assays indicated that circRFX3 could boost the proliferation, invasion, and migration of GBM cells. By performing dual-luciferase reporter gene and RNA pull-down assays, we verified that circRFX3 could sponge microRNA-587 (miR-587) to exercise its function as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in the development of GBM. In addition, PDIA3 was proven to be a downstream target of miR-587 and to regulate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In conclusion, circRFX3 could act as a cancer-promoting circRNA to boost the development of GBM and regulate the miR-587/PDIA3/β-catenin axis. This study might provide a novel target for the treatment of GBM with molecular therapy.

MicroRNA Isoforms Contribution to Melanoma Pathogenesis

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is the most lethal tumor among skin cancers, and its incidence is constantly increasing. A deeper understanding of the molecular processes guiding melanoma pathogenesis could improve diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. MicroRNAs play a key role in melanoma biology. Recently, next generation sequencing (NGS) experiments, designed to assess small-RNA expression, revealed the existence of microRNA variants with different length and sequence. These microRNA isoforms are known as isomiRs and provide an additional layer to the complex non-coding RNA world. Here, we collected data from NGS experiments to provide a comprehensive characterization of miRNA and isomiR dysregulation in benign nevi (BN) and early-stage melanomas. We observed that melanoma and BN express different and specific isomiRs and have a different isomiR abundance distribution. Moreover, isomiRs from the same microRNA can have opposite expression trends between groups. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset of skin cancers, we analyzed isomiR expression in primary melanoma and melanoma metastasis and tested their association with NF1, BRAF and NRAS mutations. IsomiRs differentially expressed were identified and catalogued with reference to the canonical form. The reported non-random dysregulation of specific isomiRs contributes to the understanding of the complex melanoma pathogenesis and serves as the basis for further functional studies.

Current Implications of microRNAs in Genome Stability and Stress Responses of Ovarian Cancer

Genomic alterations and aberrant DNA damage signaling are hallmarks of ovarian cancer (OC), the leading cause of mortality among gynecological cancers worldwide. Owing to the lack of specific symptoms and late-stage diagnosis, survival chances of patients are significantly reduced. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and replication stress response inhibitors present attractive therapeutic strategies for OC. Recent research has focused on ovarian cancer-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) that play significant regulatory roles in various cellular processes. While miRNAs have been shown to participate in regulation of tumorigenesis and drug responses through modulating the DNA damage response (DDR), little is known about their potential influence on sensitivity to chemotherapy. The main objective of this review is to summarize recent findings on the utility of miRNAs as cancer biomarkers, in particular, ovarian cancer, and their regulation of DDR or modified replication stress response proteins. We further discuss the suppressive and promotional effects of various miRNAs on ovarian cancer and their participation in cell cycle disturbance, response to DNA damage, and therapeutic functions in multiple cancer types, with particular focus on ovarian cancer. Improved understanding of the mechanisms by which miRNAs regulate drug resistance should facilitate the development of effective combination therapies for ovarian cancer.

MicroRNA Signature in Melanoma: Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets

Melanoma is the utmost fatal kind of skin neoplasms. Molecular changes occurring during the pathogenic processes of initiation and progression of melanoma are diverse and include activating mutations in BRAF and NRAS genes, hyper-activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, inactivation of p53 and alterations in CDK4/CDKN2A axis. Moreover, several miRNAs have been identified to be implicated in the biology of melanoma through modulation of expression of genes being involved in these pathways. In the current review, we provide a summary of the bulk of information about the role of miRNAs in the pathobiology of melanoma, their possible application as biomarkers and their emerging role as therapeutic targets for this kind of skin cancer.

Knockdown of circ_0003204 alleviates oxidative low-density lipoprotein-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells injury: Circulating RNAs could explain atherosclerosis disease progression

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a serious cardiovascular disease. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important role in the progression of many diseases, including AS. However, the role of circ_0003204 in AS is not clear. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to construct an AS cell model in vitro. Cell viability was assessed using cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) assay. Flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity were used to measure cell apoptosis. The contents of inflammatory cytokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Oxidative stress marker expression and cell injury marker activity were detected by their corresponding Assay Kits. Besides, the expression levels of circ_0003204, miR-330-5p, and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The interaction between miR-330-5p and circ_0003204 or TLR4 was examined by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. Western blot (WB) analysis was used to determine the levels of TLR4 protein and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway-related protein. Our data suggested that ox-LDL could suppress viability and promote apoptosis, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in HUVECs. circ_0003204 was highly expressed in ox-LDL-induced HUVECs, and its silencing could inhibit ox-LDL-induced HUVECs injury. miR-330-5p could be sponged by circ_0003204, and its inhibitor could reverse the inhibition effect of silenced circ_0003204 on ox-LDL-induced HUVECs injury. Further, TLR4 could be targeted by miR-330-5p, and its overexpression could invert the suppression effect of miR-330-5p on ox-LDL-induced HUVECs injury. The activity of the NF-κB signaling pathway was regulated by the circ_0003204/miR-330-5p/TLR4 axis. Our results indicated that circ_0003204 silencing could alleviate ox-LDL-induced HUVECs injury, suggesting that circ_0003204 might be a novel target for AS treatment.

Downregulating lncRNA PRNCR1 ameliorates LPS-induced pulmonary vascular endothelial cell injury by modulating miR-330-5p/TLR4 axis

Pulmonary vascular endothelial cell (PVEC) injury following acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome seriously affects disease development. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) exerts significant effects in vascular endothelial cell injury. However, PRNCR1, a novel lncRNA, remains scarcely understood in terms of its functions in PVEC injury. Both in vivo and in vitro models of PVEC injury were constructed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. The relative expressions of PRNCR1, miR-330-5p, and TLR4 were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Besides, gain and loss assays of PRNCR1/miR-330-5p were conducted to verify their effects on LPS-induced PVEC injury. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay used to measure cell viability and flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis. Besides, the protein levels of caspase 3, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and inflammatory cytokines (including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β [IL-1β], and IL-6) were evaluated via Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, a dual-luciferase activity experiment and RNA immunoprecipitation were applied to confirm the targeting relationship between PRNCR1 and miR-330-5p, miR-330-5p, and TLR4. PRNCR1 and TLR4 levels were significantly upregulated in LPS-treated PVEC, both in vivo and in vitro, while miR-330-5p were downregulated. Inhibiting PRNCR1 or overexpressing miR-330-5p markedly attenuated LPS-induced PVEC injury, expressions of TLR4, NF-κB, and inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, PRNCR1 functioned as a competitive endogenous RNA by sponging miR-330-5p and then promoting TLR4 expression. PRNCR1 was upregulated in LPS-induced PVEC and aggravated its injury via modulating the miR-330-5p/TLR4 axis.

miR-330 Regulates Colorectal Cancer Oncogenesis by Targeting BACH1

Purpose: Based on WHO report, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second cause of death among patients with cancer worldwide. Dysregulation of miRNAs expressions has been demonstrated in different human cancers, especially CRC. Studies have shown that miR-330 could act as both TS-miR and/or oncomiR in different types of cancers. BACH1 is also identified as a transcription factor, which is involved in ontogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the CRC suppression via silencing of BACH1 by small silencer molecule called miR-330.

Methods: Firstly, we analyzed the BACH1, miR-330-3p and miR-330-5p expressions according to the colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) and rectal adenocarcinoma (READ) project established from a patient of the colon and rectal cancer patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The targeting of BACH1 via miR-330 in human CRC cells was evaluated by Vejnar bioinformatics methods, and confirmed by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. Proliferation was performed by MTT assay. The MMP9, CXCR4, and VEGFR proteins were measured by western blotting.

Results: The analysis of BACH1, miR-330-3p, and miR-330-5p expressions according to the COAD and READ projects showed that BACH1 was overexpressed, but miR-330-3p and miR330-5p were reduced in CRC tumors compared to normal controls. The miR-330 induction prevented proliferation of CRC cell by targeting BACH1 mRNA, which represses MMP9, C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) proteins expressions.

Conclusion: Our results suggested that BACH1 is a potential target for miR-330 in CRC cells. The miR-330 induction inhibits CRC cells proliferation by suppressing BACH1 expression in posttranscriptional level. It was suggested that targeting of BACH1 via miRNA such as miR-330 could be a valid strategy in the field of CRC targeted therapy via modulating the oncogenic signaling pathway.

CircHIPK3 Promotes Gemcitabine (GEM) Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Sponging miR-330-5p and Targets RASSF1

Background

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most common malignant diseases in the world. Gemcitabine chemotherapy remains the most important clinical treatment. However, research found that pancreatic cancer cells have chemoresistance to gemcitabine and the effect is not satisfactory. Therefore, it is urgent to find an effective early diagnosis and treatment strategy. Circular RNA is one of the most popular prognostic biomarkers in GEM-resistant PC.

Materials and Methods

The present study was designed to evaluate the role of circHIPK3 in PC. The expression of circHIPK3 in PC tissues and cells and its effect on proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT, and apoptosis were investigated in vitro; its effect on tumor xenografts was assessed in vivo. Used bioinformation analysis to predict which miRNAs could potentially interact with circHIPK3, mRNA, and miR-330-5p.

Results

RT-PCR showed that the level of circHIPK3 was increased in PC tumor tissues; moreover, circHIPK3 was also increased in GEM-resistant PC tumors tissues and GEM-resistant PC cells. Sh-circHIPK3 could knockdown circHIPK3 in PANC-1-GEM and SW-1990-GEM and could significantly inhibit cell proliferation, invasion, migration, EMT and enhance cell apoptosis, compare with control group, the tumor xenografts of circHIPK3 knockdown group were significantly smaller. CircHIPK3 served as a sponge for miR-330-5p, and miR-330-5p directly bound to the 3′ UTR of RASSF1 were revealed by dual luciferase assay and RIP in PC cells. CircHIPK3 knockdown of RASSF1 expression could neutralize the cytological function of PC cells by miR-330-5p inhibitor mediated GEM-resistance.

Conclusion

CircHIPK3 promotes gemcitabine (GEM) resistance in pancreatic cancer cells by targeting RASSF1 via miR-330-5p and regulates proliferation, invasive, migration, EMT, and apoptosis. Our research revealed that circHIPK3 may be a novel biomarker in GEM-resistant PC and could be used as a prognostic target.

LINC00311 promotes cancer stem-like properties by targeting miR-330-5p/TLR4 pathway in human papillary thyroid cancer

Growing evidence has suggested that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an essential role in the progression of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). LncRNA LINC00311 was found to be able to regulate many cellular process in several diseases. However, the function and regulatory mechanism of LINC00311 remains unclear in PTC. In the present study, the results showed that the expression of LINC00311 was upregulated in PTC tissues and cells. Furthermore, knockdown of LINC00311 dramatically suppressed spheroid formation, proliferation, migration, and invasion in PTC cells in vitro. Mechanistic investigations revealed that LINC00311 was negatively correlated with the expression of miR‐330‐5p, meanwhile, TLR4 was a direct target of miR‐330‐5p. In addition, rescue assays further determined that LINC00311 contributed to the progression of PTC through regulating TLR4 expression. Taken together, these findings indicated that LINC00311 could promote cancer stem‐like properties by targeting miR‐330‐5p/TLR4 pathway in PTC.

Silencing Long Non-coding RNA LINC01224 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via MicroRNA-330-5p-Induced Inhibition of CHEK1

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for approximately 85%–90% of primary liver cancers. Based on in silico analysis, differentially expressed long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) LINC01224 in HCC, the downstream microRNA (miRNA) miR-330-5p, and its target gene checkpoint kinase 1 (CHEK1) were selected as research subjects. Herein, this study was designed to evaluate their interaction effects on the malignant phenotypes of HCC cells. LINC01224 and CHEK1 were upregulated and miR-330-5p was downregulated in HCC cells. miR-330-5p shared negative correlations with LINC01224 and CHEK1, and LINC01224 shared a positive correlation with CHEK1. Notably, LINC01224 could specifically bind to miR-330-5p, and CHEK1 was identified as a target gene of miR-330-5p. When LINC01224 was silenced or miR-330-5p was elevated, the sphere and colony formation abilities and proliferative, migrative, and invasive potentials of HCC cells were diminished, while cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were enhanced. Moreover, LINC01224 induced HCC progression in vitro and accelerated tumor formation in nude mice by increasing CHEK1 expression. The key findings of the present study demonstrated that silencing LINC01224 could downregulate the expression of CHEK1 by competitively binding to miR-330-5p, thus inhibiting HCC progression. This result highlights the LINC01224/miR-330-5p/CHEK1 axis as a novel molecular mechanism involved in the pathology of HCC.

Long non-coding RNA RPPH1 promotes the proliferation, invasion and migration of human acute myeloid leukemia cells through down-regulating miR-330-5p expression

Multiple studies have revealed that the long non-coding RNA RPPH1 (Ribonuclease P RNA Component H1) is involved in disease progression of solid tumors and neurodegenerative diseases. We aimed to explore the functions of RPPH1 in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The expression of RPPH1 was examined in blood samples of AML patients and human AML cell lines including THP-1 and HL-60. The microRNAs (miRNAs) targets of RPPH1 were predicted with online tools and validated with the dual luciferase reporter assay. The malignant behaviors of AML cells with lentivirus medicated knockdown of RPPH1 and/or administration of miR-330-5p inhibitor were assessed. Cell proliferation was determined by the CCK-8 and EdU incorporation methods, and cell invasion and migration were assayed with transwell experiments. The effects of RPPH1 knockdown on in vivo tumor growth were evaluated in nude mice with xenografted THP-1 cells. RPPH1 was expressed in the AML tissues and cell lines and its high expression predicted worse overall survival in AML patients. miR-330-5p was validated to be a direct target of RPPH1. Knockdown of RPPH1 suppressed the proliferation, invasion and migration ability of human AML cells, which was partially reversed by additional administration with miR-330-5p inhibitor. RPPH1 knockdown significantly inhibited the growth of xenografted THP-1 tumor in nude mice. Our work highlights the contributions of RPPH1 in promoting AML progression through targeting miR-330-5p, and suggests that the RPPH1/miR-330-5p axis is a potential target for AML treatments.

Silencing microRNA-330-5p increases MMP1 expression and promotes an invasive phenotype in oesophageal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Many patients diagnosed with oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) present with advanced disease and approximately half present with metastatic disease. Patients with localised disease, who are managed with curative intent, frequently undergo neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Unfortunately, ~ 70% of patients have little or no response to chemoradiotherapy. We previously identified miR-330-5p as being the most significantly downregulated microRNA in the pre-treatment OAC tumours of non-responders to treatment, but that loss of miR-330-5p had a limited impact on sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiation in vitro. Here, we further examined the impact of miR-330-5p loss on OAC biology.

METHODS

miR-330-5p was suppressed in OE33 OAC cells following stable transfection of a vector-driven anti-sense RNA. Whole transcriptome digital RNA-Seq was employed to identify miR-330-5p regulated genes, and qPCR was used for validation. Protein expression was assessed by protein array, Western blotting and zymography. Invasive potential was measured using a transwell assay system. Tumour xenograft growth profile studies were performed in immunocompromised CD1 mice.

RESULTS

In OE33 cells, suppression of miR-330-5p significantly altered expression of 42 genes, and several secreted proteases. MMP1 gene expression and protein secretion was significantly enhanced with miR-330-5p suppression. This corresponded to enhanced collagen invasion in vitro. In vivo, OE33-derived tumour xenografts with miR-330-5p suppression grew faster than controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Loss of miR-330-5p expression in OAC tumours may influence tumour cell invasive capacity, tumour growth and therapeutic sensitivity via alterations to the tumour microenvironment.

MicroRNA‑330‑5p inhibits osteosarcoma cell growth and invasion by targeting the proto‑oncogene survivin

Increasing evidence has suggested the crucial role of the dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) in osteosarcoma (OS) progression. MicroRNA (miR)-330-5p has been reported to exert tumor suppressive effects in various types of human cancer. However, the role of miR-330-5p in the development of OS and the underlying mechanism remain to be clarified. In the present study, miR-330-5p expression was found to be significantly decreased in OS tissues and cell lines. In addition, low miR-330-5p expression was highly correlated with the overall survival and clinical stage of OS. Overexpression of miR-330-5p inhibited the viability, migration and invasion, and promoted the apoptosis of OS cells, as well as induced cell cycle arrest at the G₂/M phase. Subsequently, the proto-oncogene survivin was identified as a functional target of miR-330-5p, and this was validated using a luciferase reporter assay. It was also demonstrated that survivin expression was markedly increased in OS tissues, and that it was negatively correlated with the expression of miR-330-5p. Furthermore, overexpression of survivin significantly abrogated the tumor-suppressive effect induced by miR-330-5p on OS cells. In conclusion, these results revealed that the miR-330-5p/survivin axis has a significant tumor-suppressive effect on OS, and may serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for the treatment of OS.

Placental expression of microRNAs in infants born small for gestational age

INTRODUCTION

The molecular mechanisms behind poor foetal growth are not fully known. The aim of this study was to explore global microRNA expression in placentas of infants born small for gestational age (SGA) compared to infants with a normal birth weight (NBW).

METHODS

Placental biopsies from term infants were identified in a biobank and divided into four groups: infants born SGA with (n = 13) or without (n = 9) exposure to low maternal gestational weight gain (GWG) and infants born with NBWs with (n = 20) or without (n = 26) exposure to low GWG. All women and infants were healthy, and no woman smoked during pregnancy. Only vaginal deliveries were included. Next-generation sequencing was performed with single read sequencing of >9 million reads per sample. Differential microRNA expression was analysed using ANOVA for unequal variances (Welch) with multiple testing corrections through the Benjamini-Hochberg method. A fold change >2 and a corrected p value < 0.05 were considered significant. Adjustments for possible confounding factors were made using a linear regression model.

RESULTS

A total of 1870 known, mature human microRNAs were detected in the sample. MiR-3679-5p and miR-193b-3p were significantly upregulated, and miR-379-3p, miR-335-3p, miR-4532, miR-519e-3p, miR-3065-5p, and miR-105-5p were significantly downregulated after adjustment for potential confounding factors in SGA infants with normal GWG compared to infants with NBWs and normal GWG.

DISCUSSION

Infants born unexplained SGA show differential microRNA expression in their placenta. Important pathways for the differentially expressed microRNAs include inflammation and the insulin-IGF system.

Skp2 Expression Is Inhibited by Arsenic Trioxide through the Upregulation of miRNA-330-5p in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been found to exert its anti-cancer activity in various human malignancies. In our previous report, we have shown that ATO inhibited cell growth and invasion via downregulation of Skp2 in pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. It has been extensively demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis. ATO might induce PC cell apoptosis and regulate Skp2 downregulation through the regulation of miRNAs. One study has demonstrated that miR-330-5p exerts a tumor-suppressive function in PC cell lines. Here, we investigated the role of miRNA-330-5p in ATO-mediated anti-tumor activity and explored whether ATO could regulate miR-330-5p in PC cells. We found that ATO treatment upregulated the expression of miR-330-5p. Moreover, miR-330-5p inhibitor rescued the ATO-mediated tumor-suppressive function. The combination of miR-330-5p mimic with ATO reduced cell growth, motility, and invasion, and enhanced apoptosis to a greater degree in PC cells. This study suggests that the combination of miR-330-5p mimic with ATO may be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PC.

Exosomal miRNA derived from keratinocytes regulates pigmentation in melanocytes

BACKGROUND

Pigmentation is controlled by complex mechanisms. Evidence suggests that miRNAs can regulate pigmentation. However, the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Objective In this study, we revealed a novel mechanism that regulates pigmentation involving exosomes, miRNAs and the crosstalk between keratinocytes and melanocytes.

METHODS

The expression and localization of exosome specific marker TSG101 in keratinocytes and melanocytes; Changes of melanin content in melanocytes after co-culture of exosome and melanocytes; Expression changes of target gene TYR and its related genes and inhibitory effect of miR-330-5p on pigmentation were studied by using various molecular biological techniques.

RESULTS

In this experiment, we used miR-330-5p in keratinocytes to verify the effect of keratinocyte derived exosome on melanocyte pigmentation. First, we found that keratinocytes secrete exosomes carrying miR-330-5p; moreover, greater miR-330-5p expression was found in exosomes derived from keratinocytes that overexpressed miR-330-5p. Second, we found that exosomes derived from keratinocytes with overexpression of miR-330-5p caused a significant increase in miR-330-5p in melanocytes. Finally, exosomes derived from keratinocytes that overexpressed miR-330-5p induced a significant decrease in the production of melanin and expression of TYR in melanocytes. Meanwhile, we overexpressed miR-330-5p in melanocytes, which also proved the inhibitory effect of miR-330-5p on pigmentation.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that keratinocytes crosstalk with melanocytes in the epidermal melanin unit via exosomal miRNAs. These studies reveal an important role of exosomes in melanocyte pigmentation, which opens a new pathway of melanogenesis.

Exosomal microRNAs as potential biomarkers for cancer cell migration and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patient-derived cell models

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, and current treatments exhibit limited efficacy against advanced HCC. The majority of cancer-related deaths are caused by metastasis from the primary tumor, which indicates the importance of identifying clinical biomarkers for predicting metastasis and indicating prognosis. Patient-derived cells (PDCs) may be effective models for biomarker identification. In the present study, a wound healing assay was used to obtain 10 fast-migrated and 10 slow-migrated PDC cultures from 36 HCC samples. MicroRNA (miRNA) signatures in PDCs and PDC-derived exosomes were profiled by microRNA-sequencing. Differentially expressed miRNAs between the low- and fast-migrated groups were identified and further validated in 372 HCC profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Six exosomal miRNAs were identified to be differentially expressed between the two groups. In the fast-migrated group, five miRNAs (miR-140-3p, miR-30d-5p, miR-29b-3p, miR-130b-3p and miR-330-5p) were downregulated, and one miRNA (miR-296-3p) was upregulated compared with the slow-migrated group. Pathway analysis demonstrated that the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs were significantly enriched in the 'focal adhesion' pathway, which is consistent with the roles of these miRNAs in tumor metastasis. Three miRNAs, miR-30d, miR-140 and miR-29b, were significantly associated with patient survival. These findings indicated that these exosomal miRNAs may be candidate biomarkers for predicting HCC cell migration and prognosis and may guide the treatment of advanced HCC.

LncRNA myocardial infarction-associated transcript promotes cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis by targeting miR-330-5p in epithelial ovarian cancer cells

INTRODUCTION

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to have great importance in cancer development and progression. However, the mechanism of lncRNAs in epithelial ovarian cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to explore the role of the lncRNA myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) in epithelial ovarian cancer tumorigenesis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to determine MIAT expression in human epithelial ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines, and the effects of MIAT on cell proliferation and cell apoptosis were determined by CCK-8 assay or flow cytometry analysis. Dual-Luciferase Reporter assay and Western blot assay were used to explore the molecular mechanisms of MIAT in epithelial ovarian cancer cells progression.

RESULTS

Our data showed that the expression of lncRNA MIAT was remarkably increased in human epithelial ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines (p < 0.05). High MIAT expression was associated with poor overall survival of epithelial ovarian cancer patients (p < 0.05). Function assays showed that knockdown of MIAT expression significantly inhibited epithelial ovarian cancer cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in vitro (p < 0.05). Moreover, we revealed that MIAT might function as an endogenous miR-330-5p sponge to regulate the target gene of miR-330-5p in epithelial ovarian cancer progression.

CONCLUSIONS

LncRNA MIAT was found to be a tumor oncogenic lncRNA in epithelial ovarian cancer tumorigenesis. LncRNA MIAT promoted cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis by negative regulation of miR-330-5p in epithelial ovarian cancer cells. Our findings suggested that MIAT might act as a candidate prognostic biomarker and new therapeutic target for treating epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

Targeting of TRX2 by miR-330-3p in melanoma inhibits proliferation

OBJECTIVE

This study is intended to identify the key gene from gene expression profile and validate its role and regulatory mechanism in melanoma.

METHODS

Gene expression profile of GSE3189 from GEO database was selected among which 7 are normal skin samples, 18 are benign skin lesion samples, and 45 are melanoma samples. The present study examined the 7 normal skin samples and the 45 melanoma samples. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between melanoma patients and health people were performed using Morpheus online tool. The 100 most differentially expressed genes (50 upregulated genes and 50 downregulated genes) were selected as hub genes. Then, expression levels and survival analysis of hub genes were conducted via GEPIA tool to choose target gene. The expression of target gene in melanoma cell lines was examined by RT-qPCR and western blotting. The biological function of target gene on cell proliferation in melanoma was measured in vitro. The predicted target of target gene was validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay and rescue experiment. The gene expression in clinical samples were determined by RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH). The tumor formation study was conducted in vivo.

RESULTS

Targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) was identified as key gene in melanoma. TPX2 could promote the proliferation of melanoma cells. The dual luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-330-3p targets TPX2. In rescue experiment, it was proved that miR-330-3p inhibits the proliferation of melanoma cells by negatively regulating the expression of TPX2. The results in vitro were also confirmed in vivo. miR-330-3p/TPX2 pathway expressed differently between melanoma patients and health people. These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Inhibiting TPX2 by miR-330-3p suppresses the proliferation of melanoma cell lines. miR-330-3p/TPX2 pathway could be a potential therapeutic target in melanoma.

Long non-coding RNA EWSAT1 promotes human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell growth in vitro by targeting miR-326/-330-5p

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Ewing sarcoma associated transcript 1 (EWSAT1) has been identified as an oncogene, and its dysregulation is closed corrected with tumor progression in Ewing sarcoma. Recently, high-through put analysis reveals that EWSAT1 is also highly expressed in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, whether the aberrant expression of EWSAT1 in NPC is corrected with malignancy or prognosis has not been expounded. Herein, we identified that EWSAT1 was up-regulated in NPC tissues and cell lines, and higher expression of EWSAT1 resulted in a markedly poorer survival time. EWSAT1 over-expression facilitated, while EWSAT1 silencing impaired cell growth in NPC. In addition, mechanistic analysis demonstrated that EWSAT1 up-regulated the expression of miR-326/330-5p clusters targeted gene cyclin D1 through acting as a competitive 'sponge' of miR-326/330-5p clusters. Collectively, our data revealed that EWSAT1 promotes NPC cell growth in vitro through up-regulating cyclin D1 partially via 'spongeing' miR-326/330-5p clusters.

Inhibition of NOB1 by microRNA-330-5p overexpression represses cell growth of non-small cell lung cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in the development and progression of various cancers, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Studies have suggested that miR-330-5p is involved in the progression of several cancers. However, the role of miR-330-5p in NSCLC remains unclear. We investigated the effect on and mechanism of miR-330-5p in the progression of NSCLC. We found that miR-330-5p was significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines as detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), colony formation and cell cycle assays showed that overexpression of miR-330-5p markedly inhibited cell growth. Annexin V-FITC/PI and caspase-3 activity assays showed that overexpression of miR-330-5p significantly promoted cell apoptosis of NSCLC cells. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed NIN/RPN12 binding protein 1 (NOB1) as a target gene of miR-330-5p. RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis showed that overexpression of miR-330-5p inhibited the expression of NOB1 as well as cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 in NSCLC cells. Moreover, overexpression of NOB1 markedly reversed the miR‑330-5p-mediated inhibitory effect on NSCLC cell growth. Correlation analysis showed that miR‑330-5p expression was inversely correlated with NOB1 mRNA expression in NSCLC tissues. Taken together, our results indicate that miR-330-5p inhibits NSCLC cell growth through downregulation of NOB1 expression. Our study suggests that miR-330-5p may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of NSCLC.

Integrated microRNA and gene expression profiling reveals the crucial miRNAs in curcumin anti-lung cancer cell invasion

Background

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) has chemopreventive and therapeutic properties against many types of tumors, both in vitro and in vivo. Previous reports have shown that curcumin exhibits anti‐invasive activities, but the mechanisms remain largely unclear.

Methods

In this study, both microRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles were used to characterize the anti‐metastasis mechanisms of curcumin in human non‐small cell lung cancer A549 cell line.

Results

Microarray analysis revealed that 36 miRNAs were differentially expressed between the curcumin‐treated and control groups. miR‐330‐5p exhibited maximum upregulation, while miR‐25‐5p exhibited maximum downregulation in the curcumin treatment group. mRNA expression profiles and functional analysis indicated that 226 differentially expressed mRNAs belonged to different functional categories. Significant pathway analysis showed that mitogen‐activated protein kinase, transforming growth factor‐β, and Wnt signaling pathways were significantly downregulated. At the same time, axon guidance, glioma, and ErbB tyrosine kinase receptor signaling pathways were significantly upregulated. We constructed a miRNA gene network that contributed to the curcumin inhibition of metastasis in lung cancer cells. let‐7a‐3p, miR‐1262, miR‐499a‐5p, miR‐1276, miR‐331‐5p, and miR‐330‐5p were identified as key microRNA regulators in the network. Finally, using miR‐330‐5p as an example, we confirmed the role of miR‐330‐5p in mediating the anti‐migration effect of curcumin, suggesting the importance of miRNAs in the regulation of curcumin biological activity.

Conclusion

Our findings provide new insights into the anti‐metastasis mechanism of curcumin in lung cancer.

miR-330-5p suppresses glioblastoma cell proliferation and invasiveness through targeting ITGA5

The present study intended to investigate the biological effects of miR-330-5p on glioblastoma (GBM) cell proliferation and invasiveness by targeting integrin α5 (ITGA5). The expressions of miR-330-5p and ITGA5 mRNA in GBM cell lines (U87, U251, and U373) and normal brain glial cell line (HEB) were detected using RT-qPCR. Protein expression of ITGA5 was examined using Western blot. The present study used MTT assay, colony formation assay, Transwell assay, wound healing assay, and flow cytometry analysis in order to determine the biological functions of GBM cells (including cell proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle). The present study applied dual-luciferase reporter gene assay to identify the target relationship between miR-330-5p and ITGA5. miR-330-5p was low-expressed in GBM cell lines while ITGA5 was high-expressed compared with HEB. miR-330-5p could directly target ITGA5 as well as suppress its expression in GBM cells. Up-regulation of miR-330-5p and down-regulation of ITGA5 both have an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Meanwhile, they could also promote GBM cell apoptosis. miR-330-5p could suppress proliferation and invasion of GBM cells through targeting ITGA5.