MiR-320a is associated with cisplatin resistance in lung adenocarcinoma and its clinical value in non-small cell lung cancer: A comprehensive analysis based on microarray data

Tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles facilitate omental metastasis of ovarian cancer by triggering activation of mesenchymal stem cells

BACKGROUND

Omental metastasis is the major cause of ovarian cancer recurrence and shortens patient survival, which can be largely attributed to the dynamic evolution of the fertile metastatic microenvironment driven by cancer cells. Previously, we found that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) undergoing a phenotype shift toward cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) participated in the orchestrated omental premetastatic niche for ovarian cancer. Here, we aim to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Small extracellular vesicles were isolated from ovarian cancer cell lines (ES-2 and its highly metastatic subline, ES-2-HM) and patient ascites using ultracentrifugation. Functional experiments, including Transwell and EdU assays, and molecular detection, including Western blot, immunofluorescence, and RT-qPCR, were performed to investigate the activation of ADSCs in vitro. High-throughput transcriptional sequencing and functional assays were employed to identify the crucial functional molecules inducing CAF-like activation of ADSCs and the downstream effector of miR-320a. The impact of extracellular vesicles and miR-320a-activated ADSCs on tumor growth and metastasis was assessed in subcutaneous and orthotopic ovarian cancer xenograft mouse models. The expression of miR-320a in human samples was evaluated using in situ hybridization staining.

RESULTS

Primary human ADSCs cocultured with small extracellular vesicles, especially those derived from ES-2-HM, exhibited boosted migration, invasion, and proliferation capacities and elevated α-SMA and FAP levels. Tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles increased α-SMA-positive stromal cells, fostered omental metastasis, and shortened the survival of mice harboring orthotopic ovarian cancer xenografts. miR-320a was abundant in highly metastatic cell-derived extracellular vesicles, evoked dramatic CAF-like transition of ADSCs, targeted the 3'-untranslated region of integrin subunit alpha 7 and attenuated its expression. miR-320a overexpression in ovarian cancer was associated with omental metastasis and shorter survival. miR-320a-activated ADSCs facilitated tumor cell growth and omental metastasis. Depletion of integrin alpha 7 triggered CAF-like activation of ADSCs in vitro. Video Abstract CONCLUSIONS: miR-320a in small extracellular vesicles secreted by tumor cells targets integrin subunit alpha 7 in ADSCs and drives CAF-like activation, which in turn facilitates omental metastasis of ovarian cancer.

Emerging role of miR-320a in lung cancer: a comprehensive review

A specialized biomarker(s) for lung cancer is imperative owing to its high mortality. Continuing our earlier work demonstrating the role of miR-320a as a tumor suppressor, here we discuss the most recent updates on miR-320a in lung cancer pathogenesis. We found that miR-320a modulates levels of diverse cancer-associated molecules and signaling pathways, and is also involved in modulating the immune microenvironment of lung cancer during its pathogenesis. We also discuss how miR-320a encapsulated in exosomes inhibits invasive phenotypes of lung cancer. Therefore, based on the multimodal role of miR-320a in lung cancer development and progression, we believe that miR-320a may be utilized as a potential diagnostic/prognostic marker and therapeutic target for lung cancer patients.

Systems biology models to identify the influence of SARS-CoV-2 infections to the progression of human autoimmune diseases

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been circulating since 2019, and its global dominance is rising. Evidences suggest the respiratory illness SARS-CoV-2 has a sensitive affect on causing organ damage and other complications to the patients with autoimmune diseases (AD), posing a significant risk factor. The genetic interrelationships and molecular appearances between SARS-CoV-2 and AD are yet unknown. We carried out the transcriptomic analytical framework to delve into the SARS-CoV-2 impacts on AD progression. We analyzed both gene expression microarray and RNA-Seq datasets from SARS-CoV-2 and AD affected tissues. With neighborhood-based benchmarks and multilevel network topology, we obtained dysfunctional signaling and ontological pathways, gene disease (diseasesome) association network and protein-protein interaction network (PPIN), uncovered essential shared infection recurrence connectivities with biological insights underlying between SARS-CoV-2 and AD. We found a total of 77, 21, 9, 54 common DEGs for SARS-CoV-2 and inflammatory bowel disorder (IBD), SARS-CoV-2 and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), SARS-CoV-2 and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and SARS-CoV-2 and type 1 diabetes (T1D). The enclosure of these common DEGs with bimolecular networks revealed 10 hub proteins (FYN, VEGFA, CTNNB1, KDR, STAT1, B2M, CD3G, ITGAV, TGFB3). Drugs such as amlodipine besylate, vorinostat, methylprednisolone, and disulfiram have been identified as a common ground between SARS-CoV-2 and AD from drug repurposing investigation which will stimulate the optimal selection of medications in the battle against this ongoing pandemic triggered by COVID-19.

Engineered Exosomes-Mediated Transfer of hsa-miR-320a Overcomes Chemoresistance in Cervical Cancer Cells via Targeting MCL1

In cervical cancer (CC), cisplatin resistance greatly restricts the application in clinical. Here, we report that engineered exosomes-mediated transfer of hsa-miR-320a overcomes chemoresistance in cervical cancer cells via targeting Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 (MCL1). In DDP resistant CC tissues, as well as cell lines, it was found that miR-320a expression is lower, engineered miR-320a exosomes were used to attenuate DDP resistance in Hela/DDP and Caski/DDP cells. Mechanistically, we find that MCL1, which is a target of miR-320a, overcomes DDP resistance in Hela/DDP cells and in mice. In conclusion, we report that the engineered miR-320a exosomes is proved to be effective and safe.

Epigenetic Regulation Towards Acquired Drug Resistance in Cancer

Therapy resistance remains the most challenging obstacle in cancer treatment. Substantial efforts and evidences have accumulated over decades suggesting not only genetic but non-genomic mechanisms underlying this adaptation of tumor cells. Alterations in epigenome can have a fundamental effect on cellular functions and response to stresses like anticancer therapy. This chapter discusses the principal mechanisms by which epigenetic modifications in the genome and transcriptome aid tumor cells toward acquisition of resistance to chemotherapy.

Circular RNA Mitochondrial Translation Optimization 1 homologue (CircMTO1) induced by Zinc Finger Protein 460 (ZNF460) promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma progression through the microRNA miR-320a / Alpha Thalassemia/Mental Retardation, X-linked (ATRX) axis

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common cancer types of head and neck cancer, accounting for 95% of all cases. However, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of OSCC remain unclear. Circular RNA (CircRNA) has been extensively studied in the past decades and is a promising direction for the development of OSCC therapeutic targets. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of circMTO1 in OSCC progression. First, we validated the characterization and expression of circMTO1 in OSCC. It was found that circMTO1 was upregulated in OSCC tumor tissues and cells. Subsequently, we conducted biological experiments. It was found that circMTO1 knockdown inhibited OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, we conducted a series of experiments to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. A novel circMTO1/miR-320a/ATRX axis was identified. Our results suggest that circMTO1 modulates ATRX expression to accelerate OSCC progression by sponging miR-320a. Moreover, we found that circMTO1 expression in OSCC was transcriptionally regulated by Zinc Finger Protein 460 (ZNF460). Our study showed a novel ZNF460/circMTO1/miR-320a/ATRX signaling in OSCC development.

miRNA-223-3p modulates ibrutinib resistance through regulation of the CHUK/Nf-κb signaling pathway in mantle cell lymphoma

Since the use of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib in relapsed/refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), the problem of drug resistance has become increasingly prominent. Though it has been proven that the nonclassic nuclear factor κB pathway (nonclassic NF-κB pathway) correlates with ibrutinib resistance in MCL, the upstream regulator is unknown. In the present study, conserved helix-loop-helix ubiquitous kinase (CHUK) overexpression accelerated proliferation and suppressed apoptosis of MCL cells after ibrutinib treatment in vitro. The results of luciferase reporter assay, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and Western blot revealed that CHUK was targeted and negatively regulated by miRNA-223-3p. miRNA-223-3p knockdown promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of MCL cells after ibrutinib treatment in vitro and vivo, whereas CHUK knockdown reversed downregulated miRNA-223-3p-promoted cell proliferation after ibrutinib treatment in vitro. In conclusion, miRNA-223-3p modulates ibrutinib resistance through regulation of the CHUK/NF-κB signaling pathway in MCL, which is crucial in providing a marker to predict disease response.

MicroRNA profiles in five pairs of early gastric cancer tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues

Approximately half of the world's gastric cancer cases and deaths occur in China. In addition, the incidence and mortality rates of gastric cancer in Gansu province in China are much higher than the average nationwide levels. The present study investigated microRNA (miRNA/miR) profiles in early gastric cancer (EGC) without specific symptoms. miRNA expression levels in five pairs of EGC tissues and adjacent non-cancerous mucosa tissues of patients from Gansu province in China were analyzed using a miRNA microarray. A total of 47 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified. Subsequently, mRNA expression profiles of three pairs of cancer tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues from 3 Asian patients with stage I or stage II gastric cancer (stage I/II; American Joint Committee on Cancer classification, Eighth Edition) were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. The target genes of DEMs were filtered from the DEGs using the miRDB database and a miRNA-gene network was constructed. The functions of DEMs were evaluated using the tool for annotations of human miRNAs database, and via Gene Ontology analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of the target genes. Finally, survival analyses of DEMs, which were in the miRNA-gene network, was performed. The results suggested that a number of miRNAs, including hsa-let-7a-5p, hsa-miR-27a-3p, hsa-miR-126-5p and hsa-miR-424-5p, may serve critical roles in EGC. The present study could provide a basis for the identification of EGC screening biomarkers. Furthermore, the present study may provide a basis for the exploration of the cause of the high incidence of gastric cancer in Gansu province from the perspective of miRNAs.

MicroRNA 320, an Anti-Oncogene Target miRNA for Cancer Therapy

MicroRNAs are a set of highly conserved non-coding RNAs that control gene expression at the post-transcriptional/translational levels by binding to the 3′-UTR of diverse target genes. Increasing evidence indicates that miRNAs not only play a vital role in many biological processes, but they are also frequently deregulated in pathological conditions, including cancer. The miR-320 family is one of many tumor suppressor families and is composed of five members, which has been demonstrated to be related to the repression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inhibition, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Moreover, this family has been shown to regulate drug resistance, and act as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of cancer. In this review, we summarized recent research with reference to the tumor suppressor function of miR-320 and the regulation mechanisms of miR-320 expression. The collected evidence shown here supports that miR-320 may act as a novel biomarker for cancer prognosis and therapeutic response to cancer treatment.

Analysis of the Role and Regulation Mechanism of hsa-miR-147b in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas Database

Objective: This study aimed to explore the role and regulatory mechanism of hsa-miR-147b in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Methods: The expression and clinical value of miR-147b in LUSC were analyzed in the TCGA database. The target genes of miR-147b were screened via miRWalk 2.0 and verified in TCGA database. Gene ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were performed to analyzed the differential target genes of miR-147b. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression were used to screen the prognosis-related target genes. Results: The expression of miR-147b in LUSC tissues increased, and was associated with poor prognosis, gender, and stage of LUSC patients. The area under the curve (AUC) of miR-147b was 0.8478 by the receiver-operating characteristic curve. There were 428 differentially expressed genes of miR-147b that played a critical role in drug transport, DNA binding, calcium signaling pathway, and Ras signaling pathway through GO and KEGG. PTGIS, SUSD4, ARC, HTR2C, SHISA9, and PLA2G4D were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in LUSC patients. LUSC patients in the high-risk group had a higher risk of death. The time-dependent AUC was 0.673. Conclusions: MiR-147b might be a potential molecular marker for poor prognosis in patients with LUSC.