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Wang X, Liu WW, Long LL, Tan SY, Chai YQ, Yuan R. Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Biosensor with Powerful Triple Cascade Signal Amplification for Detection of MicroRNA. Anal Chem 2024; 96:15066-15073. [PMID: 39225442 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
In this work, by ingeniously integrating catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA), double-end Mg2+-dependent DNAzyme, and hybridization chain reaction (HCR) as a triple cascade signal amplifier, an efficient concatenated CHA-DNAzyme-HCR (CDH) system was constructed to develop an ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor with a low-background signal for the detection of microRNA-221 (miRNA-221). In the presence of the target miRNA-221, the CHA cycle was initiated by reacting with hairpins H1 and H2 to form DNAzyme structure H1-H2, which catalyzed the cleavage of the substrate hairpin H0 to release two output DNAs (output 1 and output 2). Subsequently, the double-loop hairpin H fixed on the electrode plate was opened by the output DNAs, to trigger the HCR with the assistance of hairpins Ha and Hb. Finally, methylene blue was intercalated into the long dsDNA polymer of the HCR product, resulting in a significant electrochemical signal. Surprisingly, the double-loop structure of the hairpin H could prominently reduce the background signal for enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). As a proof of concept, an ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor was developed using the CDH system with a detection limit as low as 9.25 aM, achieving favorable application for the detection of miRNA-221 in various cancer cell lysates. Benefiting from its enzyme-free, label-free, low-background, and highly sensitive characteristics, the CDH system showed widespread application potential for analyzing trace amounts of biomarkers in various clinical research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China
| | - Wei-Wei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China
| | - Lin-Lin Long
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China
| | - Song-Yuan Tan
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China
| | - Ya-Qin Chai
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China
| | - Ruo Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China
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Tan SY, Hou TL, Zhang XL, Wang X, Chai YQ, Yuan R. Ingenious dual-circle DNA walker-mediated electrochemical biosensor for rapid and ultrasensitive detection of microRNA. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 267:116719. [PMID: 39243446 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
In this work, an ingenious dual-circle DNA walker (DCDW) with pretty fast walking speed and high amplification efficiency was developed for rapid and ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of microRNA-221 (miRNA-221) related to liver cancer, combined with the toehold-mediated strand-displacement reactions (TSDRs). Impressively, compared with the traditional DNA walker, the DCDW with unique double-stranded interlocked DNA nanostructure not only possesses higher stability, flexibility, and anti-entanglement ability, but also enables more functional domain in a smaller area, thereby enhancing the local concentration, which can greatly improve the working efficiency. As a validation, the electrochemical biosensor realized rapid and ultrasensitive detection of miRNA-221 with a reaction time of 15 min and detection limit down to 1.9 aM, and had been applied in MHCC97L and HeLa cancer cell lysates, thus providing an innovative insight to design intelligent functional interlocked DNA walkers for ultimate application in the construction of biosensing platform and miRNA detection in biological sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song-Yuan Tan
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education Chongqing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
| | - Tong-Lin Hou
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education Chongqing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Long Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education Chongqing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education Chongqing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya-Qin Chai
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education Chongqing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ruo Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education Chongqing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China.
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Żychowska J, Ćmil M, Skórka P, Olejnik-Wojciechowska J, Plewa P, Bakinowska E, Kiełbowski K, Pawlik A. The Role of Epigenetic Mechanisms in the Pathogenesis of Hepatitis C Infection. Biomolecules 2024; 14:986. [PMID: 39199374 PMCID: PMC11352264 DOI: 10.3390/biom14080986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a hepatotropic virus that can be transmitted through unsafe medical procedures, such as injections, transfusions, and dental treatment. The infection may be self-limiting or manifest as a chronic form that induces liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, or progression into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Epigenetic mechanisms are major regulators of gene expression. These mechanisms involve DNA methylation, histone modifications, and the activity of non-coding RNAs, which can enhance or suppress gene expression. Abnormal activity or the dysregulated expression of epigenetic molecules plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various pathological disorders, including inflammatory diseases and malignancies. In this review, we summarise the current evidence on epigenetic mechanisms involved in HCV infection and progression to HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Żychowska
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (J.Ż.); (M.Ć.); (P.S.); (E.B.); (K.K.)
| | - Maciej Ćmil
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (J.Ż.); (M.Ć.); (P.S.); (E.B.); (K.K.)
| | - Patryk Skórka
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (J.Ż.); (M.Ć.); (P.S.); (E.B.); (K.K.)
| | | | - Paulina Plewa
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Estera Bakinowska
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (J.Ż.); (M.Ć.); (P.S.); (E.B.); (K.K.)
| | - Kajetan Kiełbowski
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (J.Ż.); (M.Ć.); (P.S.); (E.B.); (K.K.)
| | - Andrzej Pawlik
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (J.Ż.); (M.Ć.); (P.S.); (E.B.); (K.K.)
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Tavabie OD, Salehi S, Aluvihare VR. The challenges and potential of microRNA-based therapy for patients with liver failure syndromes and hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2024; 28:179-191. [PMID: 38487923 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2024.2331598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Morbidity and mortality from liver disease continues to rise worldwide. There are currently limited curative treatments for patients with liver failure syndromes, encompassing acute liver failure and decompensated cirrhosis states, outside of transplantation. Whilst there have been improvements in therapeutic options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there remain challenges necessitating novel therapeutic agents. microRNA have long been seen as potential therapeutic targets but there has been limited clinical translation. AREAS COVERED We will discuss the limitations of conventional non-transplant management of patients with liver failure syndromes and HCC. We will provide an overview of microRNA and the challenges in developing and delivering microRNA-based therapeutic agents. We will finally provide an overview of microRNA-based therapeutic agents which have progressed to clinical trials. EXPERT OPINION microRNA have great potential to be developed into therapeutic agents due to their association with critical biological processes which govern health and disease. Utilizing microRNA sponges to target multiple microRNA associated with specific biological processes may improve their therapeutic efficacy. However, there needs to be significant improvements in delivery systems to ensure the safe delivery of microRNA to target sites and minimize systemic distribution. This currently significantly impacts the clinical translation of microRNA-based therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siamak Salehi
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK
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Vianello C, Monti E, Leoni I, Galvani G, Giovannini C, Piscaglia F, Stefanelli C, Gramantieri L, Fornari F. Noncoding RNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Potential Applications in Combined Therapeutic Strategies and Promising Candidates of Treatment Response. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:766. [PMID: 38398157 PMCID: PMC10886468 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing, and 40% of patients are diagnosed at advanced stages. Over the past 5 years, the number of clinically available treatments has dramatically increased for HCC, making patient management particularly complex. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved the overall survival of patients, showing a durable treatment benefit over time and a different response pattern with respect to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Although there is improved survival in responder cases, a sizeable group of patients are primary progressors or are ineligible for immunotherapy. Indeed, patients with nonviral etiologies, such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and alterations in specific driver genes might be less responsive to immunotherapy. Therefore, improving the comprehension of mechanisms of drug resistance and identifying biomarkers that are informative of the best treatment approach are required actions to improve patient survival. Abundant evidence indicates that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are pivotal players in cancer. Molecular mechanisms through which ncRNAs exert their effects in cancer progression and drug resistance have been widely investigated. Nevertheless, there are no studies summarizing the synergistic effect between ncRNA-based strategies and TKIs or ICIs in the preclinical setting. This review aims to provide up-to-date information regarding the possible use of ncRNAs as therapeutic targets in association with molecular-targeted agents and immunotherapies and as predictive tools for the selection of optimized treatment options in advanced HCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Vianello
- Centre for Applied Biomedical Research—CRBA, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.V.); (E.M.); (I.L.); (G.G.)
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy;
| | - Elisa Monti
- Centre for Applied Biomedical Research—CRBA, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.V.); (E.M.); (I.L.); (G.G.)
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy;
| | - Ilaria Leoni
- Centre for Applied Biomedical Research—CRBA, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.V.); (E.M.); (I.L.); (G.G.)
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Galvani
- Centre for Applied Biomedical Research—CRBA, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.V.); (E.M.); (I.L.); (G.G.)
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy;
| | - Catia Giovannini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (C.G.); (F.P.)
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Fabio Piscaglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (C.G.); (F.P.)
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Claudio Stefanelli
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy;
| | - Laura Gramantieri
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Francesca Fornari
- Centre for Applied Biomedical Research—CRBA, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.V.); (E.M.); (I.L.); (G.G.)
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy;
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Liu J, Chen J, Zhang Y, Liu L, Guo Y, Yuan R, Chai Y. Selenium and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots with highly efficient electrochemiluminescence for ultrasensitive detection of microRNA. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 240:115607. [PMID: 37660459 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
In this work, selenium and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots (SeN-CDs) possessing highly efficient electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and excellent biocompatibility were synthesized as a new emitter with S2O82- as a coreactant for constructing a biosensor to detect microRNA-221 (miRNA-221) sensitively. Notably, the SeN-CDs exhibited superior ECL performance compared with the N-doped CDs, in which selenium with excellent redox activity served as a coreaction accelerator for facilitating the electroreduction of S2O82- to significantly improve ECL efficiency. Furthermore, target-induced T7 exonuclease (T7 Exo)-assisted double cycle amplification strategy could convert traces of target miRNA-221 into large amounts of output DNA to capture three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures (DTN-Au NPs-DOX-Fc) loaded with large amounts of ECL signal quencher. The constructed biosensor could realize ultrasensitive detection of miRNA-221 and has a low detection limit reaching 2.3 aM, with a successful application to detect miRNA-221 in lysate of Hela and MHCC97-L cancer cell. This work explored a novel method to strengthen the ECL performance of CDs to construct an ECL biosensing platform with sensitive detecting of biomarkers and disease diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, 9 th People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing, 400700, PR China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China
| | - Linlei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China
| | - YuZhuo Guo
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China
| | - Ruo Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China.
| | - Yaqin Chai
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China.
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Hou TL, Zhang XL, Zhou J, Chai YQ, Yuan R. Near-Infrared-Driven Nanorocket for Rapid and Ultrasensitive Detection of MicroRNA. Anal Chem 2023; 95:13156-13162. [PMID: 37606955 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Herein, by introducing gold nanostars (AuNSs) as fuel core, a near-infrared-driven nanorocket (NIDNR) with pretty fast walking was exploited for ultrasensitive miRNA detection. Compared with traditional nanomaterials-comprised nanomachines (NMs), the NIDNR possesses much better kinetic and thermodynamic performance owing to the extra photothermal driving force from localized surface plasmon (LSP). Impressively, the whole reaction time of NIDNR down to 15 min was realized, which is almost more than 8 times beyond those of conventional DNA-based NMs. This way, the inherent obstacle of traditional NMs, including long reaction time and low efficiency, could be easily addressed. As a proof of concept, the NIDNR was successfully applied to develop an electrochemical biosensing platform for rapid and sensitive detection of miRNA with an LOD down to 2.95 aM and achieved the real-time assay of real biological samples from human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (MHCC97L) and HeLa, thus providing an innovative insight to design more versatile DNA nanomachines for ultimate application in biosensing platform construction and clinical sample detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong-Lin Hou
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Long Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China
| | - Ya-Qin Chai
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China
| | - Ruo Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China
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Callegari E, Guerriero P, Bassi C, D’Abundo L, Frassoldati A, Simoni E, Astolfi L, Silini EM, Sabbioni S, Negrini M. miR-199a-3p increases the anti-tumor activity of palbociclib in liver cancer models. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 29:538-549. [PMID: 36035756 PMCID: PMC9395755 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Palbociclib is in early-stage clinical testing in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we investigated whether the anti-tumor activity of palbociclib, which prevents the CDK4/6-mediated phosphorylation of RB1 but simultaneously activates AKT signaling, could be improved by its combination with a PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitor in liver cancer models. The selective pan-AKT inhibitor, MK-2206, or the microRNA-199a-3p were tested in combination with palbociclib in HCC cell lines and in the TG221 HCC transgenic mouse model. The combination palbociclib/MK-2206 was highly effective, but too toxic to be tolerated by mice. Conversely, the combination miR-199a-3p mimics/palbociclib not only induced a complete or partial regression of tumor lesions, but was also well tolerated. After 3 weeks of treatment, the combination produced a significant reduction in number and size of tumor nodules in comparison with palbociclib or miR-199a-3p mimics used as single agents. Moreover, we also reported the efficacy of this combination against sorafenib-resistant cells in vitro and in vivo. At the molecular level, the combination caused the simultaneous decrease of the phosphorylation of both RB1 and of AKT. Our findings provide pre-clinical evidence for the efficacy of the combination miR-199a-3p/palbociclib as anti-HCC treatment or as a new approach to overcome sorafenib resistance.
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miR-10b-5p Suppresses the Proliferation and Invasion of Primary Hepatic Carcinoma Cells by Downregulating EphA2. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2021:1382061. [PMID: 35005012 PMCID: PMC8731268 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1382061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Objective To analyze the function of miR-10b-5p in suppressing the invasion and proliferation of primary hepatic carcinoma cells by downregulating erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor A2 (EphA2). Material and Methods. Eighty-six hepatic carcinoma (HCC) tissue specimens and 86 corresponding adjacent tissue specimens were collected, and the mRNA expression of miR-10b-5p and Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2) in the specimens was determined using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Western blot was employed to quantify EphA2, B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia/lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and Caspase-3 in the cells, and CCK8, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry were applied to evaluate the proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of cells, respectively. Moreover, the dual luciferase reporter assay was utilized for correlation analysis between miR-10b-5p and EphA2. Results miR-10b-5p was lowly expressed in HCC, while EphA2 was highly expressed. Cell experiments revealed that miR-10b-5p overexpression or EphA2 knockdown could reduce cell proliferation, accelerate apoptosis, strongly upregulate Bax and Caspase-3, and downregulate Bcl-2. In contrast, miR-10b-5p knockdown or EphA2 overexpression gave rise to reverse biological phenotypes. Furthermore, dual luciferase reporter assay verified that miR-10b-5p was a target of EphA2, and the rescue experiment implied that transfection of pCMV-EphA2 or Si-EphA2 could reverse EphA2 expression and cell biological functions caused by miR-10b-5p overexpression or knockdown. Conclusions miR-10b-5p reduced HCC cell proliferation but accelerate apoptosis by regulating EphA2, suggesting it has the potential to be a clinical target for HCC.
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Giovannini C, Fornari F, Piscaglia F, Gramantieri L. Notch Signaling Regulation in HCC: From Hepatitis Virus to Non-Coding RNAs. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030521. [PMID: 33804511 PMCID: PMC8000248 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Notch family includes evolutionary conserved genes that encode for single-pass transmembrane receptors involved in stem cell maintenance, development and cell fate determination of many cell lineages. Upon activation by different ligands, and depending on the cell type, Notch signaling plays pleomorphic roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) affecting neoplastic growth, invasion capability and stem like properties. A specific knowledge of the deregulated expression of each Notch receptor and ligand, coupled with resultant phenotypic changes, is still lacking in HCC. Therefore, while interfering with Notch signaling might represent a promising therapeutic approach, the complexity of Notch/ligands interactions and the variable consequences of their modulations raises concerns when performed in undefined molecular background. The gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSIs), representing the most utilized approach for Notch inhibition in clinical trials, are characterized by important adverse effects due to the non-specific nature of GSIs themselves and to the lack of molecular criteria guiding patient selection. In this review, we briefly summarize the mechanisms involved in Notch pathway activation in HCC supporting the development of alternatives to the γ-secretase pan-inhibitor for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catia Giovannini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
- Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), S.Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-051-2144903; Fax: +39-051-2143902
| | - Francesca Fornari
- Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), S.Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy
| | - Fabio Piscaglia
- Division of Internal Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (F.P.); (L.G.)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Gramantieri
- Division of Internal Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (F.P.); (L.G.)
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Xue J, Xiao T, Wei S, Sun J, Zou Z, Shi M, Sun Q, Dai X, Wu L, Li J, Xia H, Tang H, Zhang A, Liu Q. miR-21-regulated M2 polarization of macrophage is involved in arsenicosis-induced hepatic fibrosis through the activation of hepatic stellate cells. J Cell Physiol 2021; 236:6025-6041. [PMID: 33481270 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Arsenicosis induced by chronic exposure to arsenic is recognized as one of the main damaging effects on public health. Exposure to arsenic can cause hepatic fibrosis, but the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs are complex and elusive. It is not known if miRNAs are involved in arsenic-induced liver fibrosis. We found that in the livers of mice exposed to arsenite, there were elevated levels of microRNA-21 (miR-21), phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), and arginase 1 (Arg1); low levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN); and more extensive liver fibrosis. For cultured cells, arsenite-induced miR-21, p-mTOR, and Arg1; decreased PTEN; and promoted M2 polarization of macrophages derived from THP-1 monocytes (THP-M), which caused secretion of fibrogenic cytokines, including transforming growth factor-β1. Coculture of arsenite-treated, THP-M with LX-2 cells induced α-SMA and collagen I in the LX-2 cells and resulted in the activation of these cells. Downregulation of miR-21 in THP-M inhibited arsenite-induced M2 polarization and activation of LX-2 cells, but cotransfection with PTEN siRNA or a miR-21 inhibitor reversed this inhibition. Moreover, knockout of miR-21 in mice attenuated liver fibrosis and M2 polarization compared with WT mice exposed to arsenite. Additionally, LN, PCIII, and HA levels were higher in patients with higher hair arsenic levels, and levels of miR-21 were higher than controls and positively correlated with PCIII, LN, and HA levels. Thus, arsenite induces the M2 polarization of macrophages via miR-21 regulation of PTEN, which is involved in the activation of hepatic stellate cells and hepatic fibrosis. The results establish a previously unknown mechanism for arsenicosis-induced fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junchao Xue
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tian Xiao
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shaofeng Wei
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhonglan Zou
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Ming Shi
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Qian Sun
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiangyu Dai
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lu Wu
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Junjie Li
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haibo Xia
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huanwen Tang
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Aihua Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Qizhan Liu
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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12
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Linck-Paulus L, Hellerbrand C, Bosserhoff AK, Dietrich P. Dissimilar Appearances Are Deceptive-Common microRNAs and Therapeutic Strategies in Liver Cancer and Melanoma. Cells 2020; 9:E114. [PMID: 31906510 PMCID: PMC7017070 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
: In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on miRNAs as therapeutic targets in two cancer types that were frequently described to be driven by miRNAs-melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). By focusing on common microRNAs and associated pathways in these-at first sight-dissimilar cancer types, we aim at revealing similar molecular mechanisms that are evolved in microRNA-biology to drive cancer progression. Thereby, we also want to outlay potential novel therapeutic strategies. After providing a brief introduction to general miRNA biology and basic information about HCC and melanoma, this review depicts prominent examples of potent oncomiRs and tumor-suppressor miRNAs, which have been proven to drive diverse cancer types including melanoma and HCC. To develop and apply miRNA-based therapeutics for cancer treatment in the future, it is essential to understand how miRNA dysregulation evolves during malignant transformation. Therefore, we highlight important aspects such as genetic alterations, miRNA editing and transcriptional regulation based on concrete examples. Furthermore, we expand our illustration by focusing on miRNA-associated proteins as well as other regulators of miRNAs which could also provide therapeutic targets. Finally, design and delivery strategies of miRNA-associated therapeutic agents as well as potential drawbacks are discussed to address the question of how miRNAs might contribute to cancer therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Linck-Paulus
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.L.-P.); (C.H.)
| | - Claus Hellerbrand
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.L.-P.); (C.H.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Erlangen-EMN, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anja K. Bosserhoff
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.L.-P.); (C.H.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Erlangen-EMN, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter Dietrich
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.L.-P.); (C.H.)
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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13
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MicroRNAs in Animal Models of HCC. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11121906. [PMID: 31805631 PMCID: PMC6966618 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11121906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Molecular heterogeneity and absence of biomarkers for patient allocation to the best therapeutic option contribute to poor prognosis of advanced stages. Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression is associated with HCC development and progression and influences drug resistance. Therefore, miRNAs have been assayed as putative biomarkers and therapeutic targets. miRNA-based therapeutic approaches demonstrated safety profiles and antitumor efficacy in HCC animal models; nevertheless, caution should be used when transferring preclinical findings to the clinics, due to possible molecular inconsistency between animal models and the heterogeneous pattern of the human disease. In this context, models with defined genetic and molecular backgrounds might help to identify novel therapeutic options for specific HCC subgroups. In this review, we describe rodent models of HCC, emphasizing their representativeness with the human pathology and their usefulness as preclinical tools for assessing miRNA-based therapeutic strategies.
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14
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Animal Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Prevention. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111792. [PMID: 31739536 PMCID: PMC6895981 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a deadly disease and therapeutic efficacy in advanced HCC is limited. Since progression of chronic liver disease to HCC involves a long latency period of a few decades, a significant window of therapeutic opportunities exists for prevention of HCC and improve patient prognosis. Nonetheless, there has been no clinical advancement in instituting HCC chemopreventive strategies. Some of the major challenges are heterogenous genetic aberrations of HCC, significant modulation of tumor microenvironment and incomplete understanding of HCC tumorigenesis. To this end, animal models of HCC are valuable tools to evaluate biology of tumor initiation and progression with specific insight into molecular and genetic mechanisms involved. In this review, we describe various animal models of HCC that facilitate effective ways to study therapeutic prevention strategies that have translational potential to be evaluated in a clinical context.
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15
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Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Progression of Liver Cancer: Evidence from Experimental Models. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111652. [PMID: 31731549 PMCID: PMC6896146 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is a devastating cancer that ranges from relatively rare (around 2% of all cancers in the United States) to commonplace (up to 50% of cancers in underdeveloped countries). Depending upon the stage of pathogenesis, prognosis, or functional liver tissue present, transplantation or partial hepatectomy may be the only available treatment option. However, due to the rise in metabolic syndrome and the increasing demand for livers, patients often wait months or years for available organs. Due to this shortage, doctors must have other treatment options available. One promising area of cancer research lies in understanding the role of regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as oncogenic drivers and potential targets for prospective therapies. While the role of these ncRNAs was not initially clear, many of them have since been recognized to function as important players in the regulation of gene expression, epigenetic modification, and signal transduction in both normal and cancer cell cycles. Dysregulation of these different ncRNA subtypes has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of many major cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma. This review summarizes current findings on the roles noncoding RNAs play in the progression of liver cancer and the various animal models used in current research to elucidate those data.
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16
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Chiodoni C, Di Martino MT, Zazzeroni F, Caraglia M, Donadelli M, Meschini S, Leonetti C, Scotlandi K. Cell communication and signaling: how to turn bad language into positive one. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019; 38:128. [PMID: 30867009 PMCID: PMC6417210 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1122-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-to-cell communication has a critical role during tumor development and progression, allowing cancer cell to re-program not only the surrounding tumor microenvironment, but also cells located at distant sites. The crosstalk between neoplastic cells and accessory elements, such as immune and stromal cells, fosters several processes that are necessary for tumor progression and dissemination, such as angiogenesis, immune-escape, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, invasion and multi-drug resistance. There are several means by which cells communicate to each other, either by direct cell interactions through membrane receptors and ligands, or by releasing soluble molecules, such as growth factors, cytokines and chemokines. More recently, additional means of cell communication have been identified, such as microRNAs and extracellular vesicles. These two peculiar ways of cell-to-cell interaction were the focus of the 31st Annual Conference of the Italian Association of Cell Cultures (AICC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Chiodoni
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Di Martino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesca Zazzeroni
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Michele Caraglia
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo Donadelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefania Meschini
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Leonetti
- UOSD SAFU, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Katia Scotlandi
- Experimental Oncology Lab, CRS Development of Biomolecular Therapies, Orthopaedic Rizzoli Institute, Bologna, Italy
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