miR-202-3p overexpression attenuates endometriosis-like lesions by modulating YAP-dependent transcription of S100A6 in murine models

ATG8 inhibited endometriosis formation by regulating Treg cells differentiation via integrin α4β1 and Talin-1 interaction

RESEARCH QUESTION

What is the relationship between ATG8 and integrin α4β1, Talin-1, and Treg cell differentiation, and the effects on endometriosis (EMS)?

DESIGN

First, the correlation between the ATG8, Talin-1, integrin α4β1, and differentiation of Treg cells and EMS was examined in clinical samples. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and endometrial stromal cells were extracted and identified, oe-ATG8 and oe-integrin α4β1 were transfected to overexpress ATG8 and integrin α4β1, and Tregs cell differentiation and endometrial stromal cells (ESC) function were detected. In addition, the molecular mechanism by which ATG8 inhibited EMS disease progression at the molecular and animal levels was investigated.

RESULTS

ATG8 expression was negatively correlated with positive proportion of Tregs cells (P = 0.0463). The expression of Talin-1 and integrin-α4β1 (both P < 0.0001) in PBMC decreased significantly after oe-ATG8 transfection, whereas the Treg cells' positive rate significantly increased (P = 0.0003). The ESC proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion (all P < 0.0001) declined after co-culture with Treg cells that underwent oe-ATG8 transfection. The expression of Talin-1 (P = 0.0025) and integrin-α4β1 (P = 0.0002) in PBMC increased significantly after oe-integrin α4β1 and oe-ATG8 transfection. In addition, this transfection reversed the corresponding regulation of oe-ATG8 transfection. Finally, animal experiments in vivo confirmed that ATG8 inhibited EMS disease progression.

CONCLUSION

The ATG8 regulated Treg cell differentiation and inhibited EMS formation by influencing the interaction between integrin α4β1 and Talin-1.

The Role of S100A6 in Human Diseases: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential

S100A6, also known as calcyclin, is a low-molecular-weight Ca2+-binding protein from the S100 family that contains two EF-hands. S100A6 is expressed in a variety of mammalian cells and tissues. It is also expressed in lung, colorectal, pancreatic, and liver cancers, as well as other cancers such as melanoma. S100A6 has many molecular functions related to cell proliferation, the cell cycle, cell differentiation, and the cytoskeleton. It is not only involved in tumor invasion, proliferation, and migration, but also the pathogenesis of other non-neoplastic diseases. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets of S100A6 in tumors, nervous system diseases, leukemia, endometriosis, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and other related diseases.

Knockdown of miR-150-5p reduces hypoxia-induced autophagy and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of endometriotic cells via regulating the PDCD4/NF-κB signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Hypoxia is an important microenvironmental factor that induces Endometriosis (EMs), but its mechanism remains unclear. Our study aims to investigate the mechanisms of miR-150-5p on hypoxia-induced EMs.

METHODS

Ovarian endometriosis cyst wall stromal cell lines CRL-7566 cells were treated with hypoxia. Cell migration ability was measured by Transwell assay. qRT-PCR was performed to detect miR-150-5p and PDCD4 expression. The autophagy-related proteins (LC3-I, LC3-II, Beclin-1, and p62), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related proteins (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin) and NF-κB signaling pathway related proteins p65 expression were measured by western blot. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay verified the binding relationship between miR-150-5p and PDCD4.

RESULTS

After hypoxia treatment, the miR-150-5p expression was up-regulated in CRL-7566 cells, while the expression of PDCD4 was down-regulated. In CRL-7566 cells, autophagy, migration and EMT were increased after hypoxia treatment. The autophagy inhibitor 3-MA inhibited hypoxia-induced the autophagy, migration and EMT of CRL-7566 cells. Hypoxia-induced autophagy and EMT of CRL-7566 cells were inhibited after knocking down miR-150-5p. Then miR-150-5p negatively regulated PDCD4 expression. PDCD4 knockdown reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-150-5p silencing on hypoxia-induced autophagy and EMT of CRL-7566 cells. Inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway weakened the effect of PDCD4 knockdown on hypoxia-induced autophagy and EMT of CRL-7566 cells.

CONCLUSION

MiR-150-5p silencing inhibited hypoxia-induced autophagy and EMT of endometriotic cells by regulating the PDCD4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

S100A6 Protein-Expression and Function in Norm and Pathology

S100A6, also known as calcyclin, is a calcium-binding protein belonging to the S100 protein family. It was first identified and purified more than 30 years ago. Initial structural studies, focused mostly on the mode and affinity of Ca²⁺ binding and resolution of the resultant conformational changes, were soon complemented by research on its expression, localization and identification of binding partners. With time, the use of biophysical methods helped to resolve the structure and versatility of S100A6 complexes with some of its ligands. Meanwhile, it became clear that S100A6 expression was altered in various pathological states and correlated with the stage/progression of many diseases, including cancers, indicative of its important, and possibly causative, role in some of these diseases. This, in turn, prompted researchers to look for the mechanism of S100A6 action and to identify the intermediary signaling pathways and effectors. After all these years, our knowledge on various aspects of S100A6 biology is robust but still incomplete. The list of S100A6 ligands is growing all the time, as is our understanding of the physiological importance of these interactions. The present review summarizes available data concerning S100A6 expression/localization, interaction with intracellular and extracellular targets, involvement in Ca²⁺-dependent cellular processes and association with various pathologies.

MiR-518c-3p alleviates endometriosis by inhibiting ectopic endometrial migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via targeting ZNF608

PURPOSE

The present study was performed to clarify the regulatory mechanism of miR-518c-3p in the progression of endometriosis (EMs).

METHODS

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) potentially acting on EMs were predicted by bioinformatics databases and validated in normal and ectopic endometrium. The miR-518c-3p mimics were transfected into endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), and cell growth, death, and proliferation marker proteins expression were detected. The targeting relationship of miR-518c-3p with zinc finger protein 608 (ZNF608) was validated by luciferase reporter assay. ESCs were incubated with miR-518c-3p mimics alone or co-transfected with pcDNA-ZNF608, and growth, death, as well as proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker protein expression were detected. A rat model of EMs overexpressing miR-518c-3p alone or ZNF608 simultaneously was constructed to detect ectopic endometrial cell apoptosis and cyst volume in rats.

RESULTS

MiR-518c-3p expression was downregulated in ectopic endometrium. MiR-518c-3p mimic inhibited migration, invasion and proliferation of ESCs, and promoted apoptosis. MiR-518c-3p targeted the 3'UTR of ZNF608. ZNF608 expression was upregulated in ESCs and ectopic endometrium, and the regulatory effect of pcDNA-ZNF608 on ESCs was opposite to that of miR-518c-3p mimics. ZNF608 overexpressing rats had greater endometrial cyst weight and volume, and decreased endometrial apoptosis compared with miR-518c-3p overexpressing alone.

CONCLUSION

MiR-518c-3p inhibited growth, metastasis and EMT of ESCs and decreased ectopic endometrial area in rats with EMs by targeting ZNF608.

miR-206 Targets MALAT1 to Suppress Cell Progression of Ectopic Endometrial Stromal Cells in Endometriosis

BACKGROUND

miR-206 was reported to be a tumor suppressor in bladder cancer. In this study, we explore the expression and function of miR-206 in endometriosis (EM).

METHODS

40 EM patients undergoing total hysterectomy were selected as the experimental group. RT-qPCR assay was adopted to detect the expression of MALAT1 and miR-206 in EM. Cell proliferation was detected by EdU incorporation and colony formation assay. Cell migration and invasion viability of ESCs were examined by transwell assay and wound healing assay. Flow cytometry was carried out to assess cell apoptosis of ESCs. The protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were examined by western blot assay. The relationship between miR-206 and MALAT1 was verified by the dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay.

RESULTS

In this work, miR-206 was found to be downregulated in EM. Functional experiments displayed that miR-206 mimic repressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCs and promoted cell apoptosis of ESCs. Furthermore, miR-206 mimic reduced the expression of Bcl-2 but enhanced the expression of Bax. MALAT1 was found to be upregulated in EM. Furthermore, MALAT1 was indicated to be a target of miR-206. Additionally, MALAT1 was found to alleviate the influence of miR-206 on cell progression of ESCs. Furthermore, miR-206 inhibited tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that miR-206 inhibited cell progression by regulating MALAT1 in EM. Hence, miR-206 was suggested to be a possible target for EM treatment.