miR-134-5p Promotes Stage I Lung Adenocarcinoma Metastasis and Chemoresistance by Targeting DAB2

The scaffold protein disabled 2 (DAB2) and its role in tumor development and progression

BACKGROUND

Disabled 2 (DAB2) is a multifunctional protein that has emerged as a critical component in the regulation of tumor growth. Its dysregulation is implicated in various types of cancer, underscoring its importance in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor development and progression. This review aims to unravel the intricate molecular mechanisms by which DAB2 exerts its tumor-suppressive functions within cancer signaling pathways.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature focusing on the structure, expression, physiological functions, and tumor-suppressive roles of DAB2. We provide an overview of the structure, expression, and physiological functions of DAB2. Evidence supporting DAB2's role as a tumor suppressor is explored, highlighting its ability to inhibit cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and modulate key signaling pathways involved in tumor suppression. The interaction between DAB2 and key oncogenes is examined, elucidating the interplay between DAB2 and oncogenic signaling pathways. We discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying DAB2-mediated tumor suppression, including its involvement in DNA damage response and repair, regulation of cell cycle progression and senescence, and modulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The review explores the regulatory networks involving DAB2, covering post-translational modifications, interactions with other tumor suppressors, and integration within complex signaling networks. We also highlight the prognostic significance of DAB2 and its role in pre-clinical studies of tumor suppression.

CONCLUSION

This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which DAB2 exerts its tumor-suppressive functions. It emphasizes the significance of DAB2 in cancer signaling pathways and its potential as a target for future therapeutic interventions.

MiR-134-5p inhibits the malignant phenotypes of osteosarcoma via ITGB1/MMP2/PI3K/Akt pathway

Micro RNAs (miRs) have been implicated in various tumorigenic processes. Osteosarcoma (OS) is a primary bone malignancy seen in adolescents. However, the mechanism of miRs in OS has not been fully demonstrated yet. Here, miR-134-5p was found to inhibit OS progression and was also expressed at significantly lower levels in OS tissues and cells relative to normal controls. miR-134-5p was found to reduce vasculogenic mimicry, proliferation, invasion, and migration of OS cells, with miR-134-5p knockdown having the opposite effects. Mechanistically, miR-134-5p inhibited expression of the ITGB1/MMP2/PI3K/Akt axis, thus reducing the malignant features of OS cells. In summary, miR-134-5p reduced OS tumorigenesis by modulation of the ITGB1/MMP2/PI3K/Akt axis, suggesting the potential for using miR-134-5p as a target for treating OS.

Self-assembled miR-134-5p inhibitor nanoparticles ameliorate experimental bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) via suppressing ferroptosis

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease in premature infants with increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ferroptosis. Herein, we designed a peptide-based nanoparticle to deliver therapeutic molecules to pulmonary, thereby ameliorating BPD. The BPD-induced damages of lung tissues were detected by H&E and immunohistochemistry staining. Inflammatory cytokines, Fe2+, and ROS levels were quantified by the indicated kits, respectively. The targeting relationship was verified by luciferase reporter assay and pull-down assay. Subsequently, self-assembled miR-134-5p inhibitor nanoparticles with pulmonary epithelial cell-targeting were synthesized. The characteristics were detected by transmission electron microscopy, luminescence imaging, and dynamic light scattering. A significant ferroptosis was observed in the BPD mice. The protein level of GPX4 was decreased significantly compared to the control group. Constantly, miR-134-5p showed positive regulation on ferroptosis by targeting GPX4. The designed nanoparticles were mainly accumulated in the lung region. Besides, it ameliorated experimental bronchopulmonary dysplasia via suppressing ferroptosis, in vivo and in vitro. Our findings provided a miR-134-5p/GPX4 axis in regulating ferroptosis of BPD and prompted the potential of applying the peptide-based nanoparticle to BPD treatment.

LncRNA TDRKH-AS1 promotes breast cancer progression via the miR-134-5p/CREB1 axis

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is a prevalent malignancy with complex etiology and varied clinical behavior. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key regulators in cancer progression, including BC. Among these, lncRNA TDRKH-AS1 has been implicated in several cancers, but its role in BC remains unclear.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive investigation to elucidate the role of TDRKH-AS1 in BC. Clinical samples were collected from BC patients, and BC cell lines were cultured. Bioinformatics analysis using the starBase database was carried out to assess TDRKH-AS1 expression levels in BC tissue samples. Functional experiments, including knockdown, colony formation, CCK-8, Transwell, and wound-healing assays, were conducted to determine the role of TDRKH-AS1 in BC cell proliferation and invasion. Luciferase reporter and RIP assays were used to examine the interactions between TDRKH-AS1 and miR-134-5p. In addition, the downstream target gene of miR-134-5p, cAMP response element-binding protein 1 (CREB1), was identified and studied using various methods, including RT-qPCR, immunoprecipitation, and rescue experiments. In vivo experiments using mouse tumor xenograft models were conducted to examine the role of TDRKH-AS1 in BC tumorigenesis.

RESULTS

TDRKH-AS1 was found to be significantly upregulated in BC tissues and cell lines. High TDRKH-AS1 expression correlated with advanced BC stages and worse patient outcomes. Knockdown of TDRKH-AS1 led to decreased BC cell proliferation and invasion. Mechanistically, TDRKH-AS1 acted as a sponge for miR-134-5p, thereby reducing the inhibitory effects of miR-134-5p on CREB1 expression. Overexpression of CREB1 partially rescued the effects of TDRKH-AS1 knockdown in BC cells. In vivo studies further confirmed the tumor-promoting role of TDRKH-AS1 in BC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study unveiled a novel regulatory axis involving TDRKH-AS1, miR-134-5p, and CREB1 in BC progression. TDRKH-AS1 functioned as an oncogenic lncRNA by promoting BC cell proliferation and invasion through modulation of the miR-134-5p/CREB1 axis. These findings highlighted TDRKH-AS1 as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for BC treatment.

Disabled-2: a protein up-regulated by high molecular weight hyaluronan has both tumor promoting and tumor suppressor roles in ovarian cancer

Although the pro-tumorigenic functions of hyaluronan (HA) are well documented there is limited information on the effects and targets of different molecular weight HA. Here, we investigated the effects of 27 kDa, 183 kDa and 1000 kDa HA on ES-2 ovarian cancer cells overexpressing the stem cell associated protein, Notch3. 1000 kDA HA promoted spheroid formation in ES-2 cells mixed with ES-2 overexpressing Notch3 (1:3). We report disabled-2 (DAB2) as a novel protein regulated by 1000 kDa HA and further investigated its role in ovarian cancer. DAB2 was downregulated in ovarian cancer compared to normal tissues but increased in metastatic ovarian tumors compared to primary tumors. High DAB2 expression was associated with poor patient outcome and positively correlated with HA synthesis enzyme HAS2, HA receptor CD44 and EMT and macrophage markers. Stromal DAB2 immunostaining was significantly increased in matched ovarian cancer tissues at relapse compared to diagnosis and associated with reduced survival. The proportion of DAB2 positive macrophages was significantly increased in metastatic ovarian cancer tissues compared to primary cancers. However, DAB2 overexpression significantly reduced invasion by both A2780 and OVCAR3 cells in vivo. Our research identifies a novel relationship between HA signalling, Notch3 and DAB2. We highlight a complex relationship of both pro-tumorigenic and tumor suppressive functions of DAB2 in ovarian cancer. Our findings highlight that DAB2 has a direct tumor suppressive role on ovarian cancer cells. The pro-tumorigenic role of DAB2 may be mediated by tumour associated macrophages and requires further investigation.

Disabled-2 (DAB2): A Key Regulator of Anti- and Pro-Tumorigenic Pathways

Disabled-2 (DAB2), a key adaptor protein in clathrin mediated endocytosis, is implicated in the regulation of key signalling pathways involved in homeostasis, cell positioning and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). It was initially identified as a tumour suppressor implicated in the initiation of ovarian cancer, but was subsequently linked to many other cancer types. DAB2 contains key functional domains which allow it to negatively regulate key signalling pathways including the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), wingless/integrated (Wnt) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) pathways. Loss of DAB2 is primarily associated with activation of these pathways and tumour progression, however this review also explores studies which demonstrate the complex nature of DAB2 function with pro-tumorigenic effects. A recent strong interest in microRNAs (miRNA) in cancer has identified DAB2 as a common target. This has reignited an interest in DAB2 research in cancer. Transcriptomics of tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) has also identified a pro-metastatic role of DAB2 in the tumour microenvironment. This review will cover the broad depth literature on the tumour suppressor role of DAB2, highlighting its complex relationships with different pathways. Furthermore, it will explore recent findings which suggest DAB2 has a more complex role in cancer than initially thought.

Fumarate hydratase inhibits non-small cell lung cancer metastasis via inactivation of AMPK and upregulation of DAB2

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide. As it is often first diagnosed only when cancer metastasis has already occurred, the development of effective biomarkers for the risk prediction of cancer metastasis, followed by stringent monitoring and the early treatment of high-risk patients, is essential for improving patient survival. Cancer cells exhibit alterations in metabolic pathways that enable them to maintain rapid growth and proliferation, which are quite different from the metabolic pathways of normal cells. Fumarate hydratase (FH, fumarase) is a well-known tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme that catalyzes the reversible hydration/dehydration of fumarate to malate. The current study sought to investigate the relationship between FH expression levels and the outcome of patients with lung cancer. FH was knocked down in lung cancer cells using shRNA or overexpressed using a vector, and the effect on migration ability was assessed. Furthermore, the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and disabled homolog 2 in the underlying mechanism was investigated using an AMPK inhibitor approach. The results showed that in lung cancer tissues, low FH expression was associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor histology and recurrence. In addition, patients with low FH expression exhibited a poor overall survival in comparison with patients having high FH expression. When FH was overexpressed in lung cancer cells, cell migration was reduced with no effect on cell proliferation. Furthermore, the level of phosphorylated (p-)AMPK, an energy sensor molecule, was upregulated when FH was knocked down in lung cancer cells, and the inhibition of p-AMPK led to an increase in the expression of disabled homolog 2, a tumor suppressor protein. These findings suggest that FH may serve as an effective biomarker for predicting the prognosis of lung cancer and as a therapeutic mediator.

Identification and Validation of a Prognostic Signature Based on Methylation Profiles and Methylation-Driven Gene DAB2 as a Prognostic Biomarker in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Recurrence is the major death cause of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), and a better understanding of recurrence risk at early stage may lead to make the optimal medical decision to improve patients’ prognosis. The 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) risk stratification system primary based on clinic-pathologic features is the most commonly used to describe the initial risk of persistent/recurrent disease. Besides, multiple prognostics models based on multigenes expression profiles have been developed to predict the recurrence risk of DTC patients. Recent evidences indicated that aberrant DNA methylation is involved in the initiation and progression of DTC and can be useful biomarkers for clinical diagnosis and prognosis prediction of DTC. Therefore, there is a need for integrating gene methylation feature to assess the recurrence risk of DTC. Gene methylation profile from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used to construct a recurrence risk model of DTC by successively performed univariate Cox regression, LASSO regression, and multivariate Cox regression. Two Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) methylation cohorts of DTC were utilized to validate the predictive value of the methylation profiles model as external cohort by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and survival analysis. Besides, CCK-8, colony-formation assay, transwell, and scratch-wound assay were used to investigate the biological significance of critical gene in the model. In our study, we constructed and validated a prognostic signature based on methylation profiles of SPTA1, APCS, and DAB2 and constructed a nomogram based on the methylation-related model, age, and AJCC_T stage that could provide evidence for the long-term treatment and management of DTC patients. Besides, in vitro experiments showed that DAB2 inhibited proliferation, colony-formation, and migration of BCPAP cells and the gene set enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis showed that DAB2 may promote antitumor immunity in DTC. In conclusion, promoter hypermethylation and loss expression of DAB2 in DTC may be a biomarker of unfavorable prognosis and poor response to immune therapy.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSC)-Derived miR-134 Inhibits Cervical Cancer Metastasis

The miRNA had been brand-new hot spot for study on pathogenesis of malignant tumor and seeking prevention strategy. The occurrence and development of tumor could be regulated by Gli1/Snail signaling pathway through Hedgehog channel. Our study intends to discuss the role of miRNA derived from BMSC in HPV. The miR-134 derived from BMSC was analyzed through nano-particles and observed under fluorescence microscope along with analysis of miR-134 expression by RTPCR. The HPV rat model was established to analyze miR-134’s role in HPV metastasis in vivo. The level of miR-134 in the staging of N2–N3 was lower than that in N0–N1 staging and lower in patients with metastatic cervical cancer tissue than patients without distant metastasis. Gli1 level could be targeted by miR-134. miR-134 inhibits HPV proliferation and migration by regulating the Gli1/Snail channel through Hedgehog pathway. The inhibitory effect of miR-134 on HH signal pathway could be reversed by Gli1 overexpression. The rats’ EMT and HPV growth was significantly restrained by miR-134 through silencing of Gli1. In conclusion, the growth of HPV is restrained by miR-134 derived from BMSC by regulating Gli1/Snail pathway through Hedgehog channel.

miR-134-5p inhibits osteoclastogenesis through a novel miR-134-5p/Itgb1/MAPK pathway

Osteoporosis affects approximately 200 million people and severely affects quality of life, but the exact pathological mechanisms behind this disease remain unclear. Various miRNAs have been shown to play a predominant role in the regulation of osteoclast formation. In this study, we explored the role of miR-134-5p in osteoclastogenesis both in vivo and in vitro. We constructed an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model and performed microarray analysis using bone tissue from OVX mice and their control counterparts. Quantitative RT-PCR data from bone tissue and bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) confirmed the decreased expression of miR-134-5p in OVX mice observed in microarray analysis. In addition, a decrease in miR-134-5p was also observed during induced osteoclastogenesis of BMMs collected from C57BL/6N mice. Through transfection with miR-134-5p agomirs and antagomirs, we found that miR-134-5p knockdown significantly accelerated osteoclast formation and cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. Furthermore, a luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-134-5p directly targets the integrin surface receptor gene Itgb1. Cotransfection with Itgb1 siRNA reversed the effect of the miR-134-5p antagomir in promoting osteoclastogenesis. Moreover, the abundance levels of MAPK pathway proteins phosphorylated-p38 (p-p38) and phosphorylated-ERK (p-ERK) were significantly increased after transfection with the miR-134-5p antagomir but decreased after transfection with the miR-134-5p agomir or Itgb1 siRNA, which indicated a potential relationship between the miR-134-5p/Itgb1 axis and the MAPK pathway. Collectively, these results revealed that miR-134-5p inhibits osteoclast differentiation of BMMs both in vivo and in vitro and that the miR-134-5p/Itgb1/MAPK pathway might be a potential target for osteoporosis therapy.

Long non-coding RNA LINC01270 is an onco-promotor in lung adenocarcinoma by upregulating LARP1 via sponging miR-326

Accumulating evidence have proved the key role of long non-coding RNA in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) progression. Bioinformatics analysis is used to seek the differentially expressed lncRNA LINC01270 from TCGA database. The overexpression of LINC01270 was then verified in LUAD tumor tissues and cell lines by qRT-PCR. LINC01270 knockdown resulted in impaired cell proliferative and invasive ability via CCK-8 assay, EdU assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay, while aberrant upregulation of LINC01270 led to enhanced cell growth and invasion. Moreover, LINC01270 was found inhibiting miR-326 and thereby overexpressing the abundance of LARP1 to promote LUAD development via PI3K/AKT pathway. It was also proved that LINC01270 knockdown could suppress LUAD tumor growth in vivo. All of these findings demonstrate thatLINC01270 is a tumor promotor in LUAD via enhancing LARP1 expressed by sponging miR-326 to facilitate the development of LUAD. LINC01270 play a significant role in LUAD, which could serve as biomarkers for early diagnosis and a novel targeted remedy.

Sporothrix schenckii regulates macrophage inflammatory responses via the c-JUN-induced Dab2 transcription

Macrophages, which serve as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity, play an important role in sporotrichosis. Sporothrix schenckii infections can produce immune responses such as macrophage polarization and inflammatory factor secretion. In the early stages of inflammation, the expression of DAB2 in macrophages is increased, which controls the secretion of inflammatory factors and affects the polarization of macrophages. However, the expressions and mechanisms of DAB2 in sporotrichosis are not clear. In this study, we examined the expression of DAB2 and its regulation of inflammatory factors under conditions of Sporothrix schenckii infection. Our results indicated that the Sporothrix schenckii infection increased the expression of DAB2 and revealed a mixed M1/M2-like type of gene expression in BMDMs with the inhibited Il6, Il1β and Arg1, and induced Tnfα, Il10 and Mgl1. The deficiency of Dab2 gene suspended the changes of cytokines. In addition, JNK activity in BMDMs was inhibited by Sporothrix schenckii infection, leading to an increase in c-JUN. We also identified c-JUN as a transcription factor for Dab2 through chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. In an in vivo mouse model, sporotrichosis induced skin lesions were accompanied with an upregulation of c-JUN and inhibition of JNK activity, which were in accord with findings from in vitro experiments. Taken together, these findings indicate that in the early stages of Sporothrix schenckii infection there is a promotion of DAB2 expression through the JNK/c-JUN pathway, effects which can then control the expression of inflammatory factors.

MiR-30a-3p Suppresses the Growth and Development of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells Through Modulating GOLM1/JAK-STAT Signaling

A considerable amount of people succumbs to lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) due to its high incidence and mortality. This study attempted to reveal the impacts of GOLM1 on LUAD. This work analyzed GOLM1 expression in LUAD and normal tissue and studied its prognostic value utilizing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. RNA and protein levels were, respectively, determined utilizing qRT-PCR and western blot. Cell-aggressive behaviors were assessed employing Cell Counting Kit-8, scratch healing, and Transwell assays. The targetting relationship between GOLM1 and miR-30a-3p was assayed by dual-luciferase method. GOLM1 up-regulation in LUAD was found in TCGA and it was also a negative factor for survival in patients. GOLM1 overexpression promoted cell progression in LUAD. Down-regulated miR-30a-3p in LUAD was an upstream regulatory miRNA of GOLM1 in terms of molecular mechanism. Further, rescue assays illustrated that miR-30a-3p overexpression attenuated the GOLM1 facilitating impacts on LUAD progression. Finally, we proved that miR-30a-3p/GOLM1 regulated progression of LUAD cells via JAK-STAT pathway. Collectively, the inhibitory impacts of miR-30a-3p on LUAD growth may be mediated by GOLM1/JAK-STAT, which may contribute to the diagnosis of LUAD therapy and the development of therapeutic tools.

Fine-tuning miR-21 expression and inhibition of EMT in breast cancer cells using aromatic-neomycin derivatives

MicroRNAs (miRs) are a class of endogenously expressed non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression within cells and participate in maintaining cellular homeostasis. By targeting 3' UTRs of target genes, individual miRs can control a wide array of gene expressions. Previous research has shed light upon the fact that aberrantly expressed miRs within cells can pertain to diseased conditions, such as cancer. Malignancies caused due to miRs are because of the high expression of onco-miRs or feeble expression of tumor-suppressing miRs. Studies have also shown miRs to engage in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which allows cancer cells to become more invasive and metastasize. miR-21 is an onco-miR highly expressed in breast cancer cells and targets protein PTEN, which abrogates EMT. Therefore, we discuss an approach where in-house-developed peptidic amino sugar molecules have been used to target pre-miR-21 to inhibit miR-21 biogenesis, and hence antagonize its tumor-causing effect and inhibit EMT. Our study shows that small-molecule-based fine-tuning of miR expression can cause genotypic as well as phenotypic changes and also reinstates the potential and importance of nucleic acid therapeutics.

The miR-23a/27a/24-2 cluster promotes postoperative progression of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer

Even with optimal surgery, many early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients die of recurrence. Unfortunately, there are no precise predictors for postoperative recurrence in early-stage NSCLC, and the recurrence mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we found that simultaneous overexpression of all miRNAs in the miR-23a/27a/24-2 cluster was closely associated with postoperative recurrence, β-catenin upregulation and promoter methylation of p16 and CDH13 in early-stage NSCLC patients. In addition, in vitro and in vivo experiments show that overexpression or inhibition of all miRNAs in the miR-23a/27a/24-2 cluster significantly stimulated or inhibited NSCLC cell stemness, tumorigenicity and metastasis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the miR-23a/27a/24-2 cluster miRNAs activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling by targeting their suppressors and stimulated promoter methylation-induced silencing of p16 and CDH13 by affecting DNA methylation-related genes expression. Our findings suggest that simultaneous high expression of all miRNAs in the miR-23a/27a/24-2 cluster represents a new biomarker for predicting postoperative recurrence in early-stage NSCLC. The miR-23a/27a/24-2 cluster miRNAs stimulate early-stage NSCLC progression through simultaneously stimulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and promoter methylation-induced tumor suppressor genes silencing. In addition, simultaneous inhibition of all miRNAs in the miR-23a/27a/24-2 cluster may be a useful strategy for treatment of early-stage NSCLC recurrence.

CircPTK2 inhibits the tumorigenesis and metastasis of gastric cancer by sponging miR-134-5p and activating CELF2/PTEN signaling

BACKGROUND

CircRNAs are a new subset of noncoding RNAs formed by covalent closed loops and play crucial roles in the regulation of cancer gene expression. However, the roles and underlying mechanisms of circRNAs in gastric cancer (GC) remain indistinct. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of hsa_circ_0006421 (circPTK2) in GC.

METHODS

The differential expression of circRNAs between GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were identified by a circRNA expression profiling. Associations of circPTK2 or miR-134-5p expression with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of GC patients were analyzed by chi-square of Fisher's exact tests and Kaplan-Meier analysis. CCK8, colony formation, EdU assays and animal models were performed to assess the effects of circPTK2 on proliferation and invasion of GC cells. CircPTK2-specific probes were used to purify the RNA pulled down from the circPTK2, and enrichment of circPTK2 and miR-134-5p was detected by qRT-PCR. The effects of circPTK2 on miR-134-5p expression and CELF2/PTEN signaling were examined by qRT-PCR and Western blotting analysis.

RESULTS

Low expression of circPTK2 and high expression of miR-134-5p were related to the poor survival, and high expression of miR-134-5p was related to the tumor recurrence in GC patients. Overexpressing circPTK2 suppressed the proliferation, colony formation, DNA synthesis and cell invasion as well as xenograft tumor growth and lung metastasis in vitro and in vivo, whereas silencing circPTK2 had the opposite effects. Moreover, circPTK2 was negatively correlated and co-localized with miR-134-5p in the cytoplasm of GC tissue cells. circPTK2 bound to and sponged miR-134-5p in GC cells, and miR-134-5p facilitated cell growth and invasion but attenuated circPTK2 induced tumor suppressive effects and CELF2/PTEN signaling activation in GC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

circPTK2 functions as a tumor suppressor in GC by sponging miR-134-5p and activating the CELF2/PTEN axis.

Upregulation of miR-345-5p suppresses cell growth of lung adenocarcinoma by regulating ras homolog family member A (RhoA) and Rho/Rho associated protein kinase (Rho/ROCK) pathway

BACKGROUND

Microribose nucleic acids (miRNAs) are implicated in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma. MicroRNA-345-5p (miR-345-5p) is a recently identified anti-oncogene in some human cancers, but its functional role and possible molecular mechanism in lung adenocarcinoma remain unknown. This study aimed to identify the biological function and underlying mechanism of miR-345-5p in lung adenocarcinoma cells.

METHODS

In this study, lung adenocarcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues were collected in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between April 2016 and February 2017. The expression of miR-345-5p and ras homolog family member A (RhoA) in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines (A549, H1650, PC-9, and H441) was detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Functional assays including colony formation, flow cytometry analysis, wound healing, and transwell assays were performed to assess the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells. In addition, RNA pulldown and luciferase reporter assays were conducted to evaluate the relationship between miR-345-5p and RhoA. Difference between the two groups was analyzed with Student's t test, while that among multiple groups was analyzed with one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS

MiR-345-5p expression displayed lower level in lung adenocarcinoma tissues (0.241 ± 0.095 vs.1.000 ± 0.233, t = 19.247, P < 0.001) and cell lines (F = 56.992, P < 0.001) than control tissues and cells. Functional experiments demonstrated that upregulation of miR-345-5p inhibited the malignant phenotypes of lung adenocarcinoma cells via suppressing cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and facilitating cell apoptosis. Additionally, RhoA was verified to be the downstream target of miR-345-5p. Expression of RhoA was downregulated by overexpression of miR-345-5p in PC-9 (0.321 ± 0.047 vs. 1.000 ± 0.127, t = 8.536, P < 0.001) and H1650 (0.398 ± 0.054 vs. 1.000 ± 0.156, t = 4.429, P = 0.011) cells. Rescue assays revealed that overexpression of RhoA rescued the suppressive effects of miR-345-5p upregulation on proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells. Further, miR-345-5p was found to regulate the Rho/Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway by downregulation of RhoA in lung adenocarcinoma cells.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-345-5p plays a tumor suppressor role in lung adenocarcinoma cells by downregulating RhoA to inactivate the Rho/ROCK pathway.

LINC00346 Sponges miR-30c-2-3p to Promote the Development of Lung Adenocarcinoma by Targeting MYBL2 and Regulating CELL CYCLE Signaling Pathway

Background

LINC00346 has recently been reported to regulate the development of several cancer types, but its biological functions and underlying mechanisms in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism of LINC00346 in the progression of LUAD.

Methods

Bioinformatics was performed to find the target lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA, and the binding relationship between the target genes was verified by dual luciferase reporter gene and RIP assays. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to detect the location of LINC00346 in LUAD tissues. The expressions of LINC00346, miR-30c-2-3p and MYBL2 in each group were detected by qRT-PCR, and western blot was performed to detect expressions of MYBL2 and CELL CYCLE related proteins. Proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis and cell cycle of LUAD cells were detected by CCK-8, colony formation, Transwell and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Mouse xenograft models were established to further determine the effects of LINC00346 on LUAD tumor growth in vivo.

Results

LINC00346 was upregulated in LUAD tissues and cells and was mainly localized in the cytoplasm. Knockdown of LINC00346 inhibited tumor growth in vivo, proliferation, metastasis and cell cycle progression, while induced apoptosis. LINC00346 sponged miR-30c-2-3 by targeting MYBL2 and regulating CELL CYCLE signaling pathway. Inhibiting miR-30c-2-3p or overexpressing MYBL2 could reverse the inhibitory effect of LINC00346 knockdown on LUAD process.

Conclusions

LINC00346 as a ceRNA played a carcinogenic role in the development of LUAD via miR-30c-2-3p/MYBL2 axis regulating the CELL CYCLE signaling pathway. The study generally elucidated the mechanism by which LINC00346 regulated the development of LUAD, providing new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of LUAD guided by lncRNA.

Differential gene expression analysis for osteosarcoma lung metastases

PURPOSE

To explore the exact molecular mechanisms underline osteosarcoma (OS) patients with lung metastases.

METHODS

The differentially expressed gene (DEG) as well as differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) for OS lung metastases were deeply investigated with two independent sources of databases (GEO dataset and clinical participants); The enriched biological processes and signaling pathways were explored; the miRNAs-mRNAs network was constructed; the functions of potential DEGs and DEMs were also verified with external analysis.

RESULTS

The OS patients with lung metastases displayed 323 DEGs as C-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3), sorting nexin 10 (SNX10), alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), carboxypeptidase E (CPE), Rap guanine nucleotide exchange factor 4 (RAPGEF4), PDZ domain containing 2 (PDZD2), calpain 10 (CAPN10), four and a half LIM domains 2 (FHL2), alkaline phosphatase, biomineralization associated (ALPL), interleukin 6 (IL6), solute carrier family 26 member 1 (SLC26A1) as well as smoothened, frizzled class receptor (SMO) were significant differentially expressed. At the same time, 21 DEMs were potential for the progress of OS lung metastasis with hsa-miR-638, hsa-miR-451, hsa-miR-486-5p, hsa-miR-134 and hsa-miR-648 were significant distinct. It could been shown that hsa-miR-638 manipulated the largest number of target genes. The functions of hsa-miR-638 and target mRNAs for the development of lung metastasis in OS could be confirmed by quantitative Real-time PCR analysis.

CONCLUSION

This integrated study hypothesized several miRNA dependent signaling pathway for OS patients with lung metastases and initiated a potential strategy for better understanding the lung metastases in clinic.

Baicalin exerts anti-tumor effects in oral squamous cell carcinoma by inhibiting the microRNA-106b-5p-Wnt/β-catenin pathway via upregulating disabled homolog 2

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the role and molecular regulatory mechanisms of baicalin in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression.

DESIGN

Gene expression in OSCC cells was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). OSCC cell viability, migration, invasion and stemness were measured by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), wound healing, Transwell, and sphere formation assays. The target genes of miR-106b-5p were predicted using bioinformatic tools. The interaction between microRNA-miR-106b-5p (miR-106b-5p) and disabled homolog 2 (DAB2) was confirmed by a luciferase reporter assay. TOP/FOP-Flash reporter assay and western blot analysis were used to analyze the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

RESULTS

Baicalin inhibited OSCC cell viability, migration, invasion, and stemness. Baicalin downregulated miR-106b-5p expression. In addition, MiR-106b-5p upregulation reversed the effects of baicalin on OSCC cells. As a target gene of miR-106b-5p, DAB2 was negatively regulated by miR-106b-5p and upregulated by baicalin in OSCC cells. MiR-106b-5p activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway in OSCC cells by inhibiting DAB2. Baicalin suppressed Wnt/β-catenin pathway by upregulating DAB2. In rescue assays, miR-106b-5p overexpression-induced promotion of OSCC cellular processes was attenuated by DAB2 upregulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Baicalin exerts anti-tumor effects in OSCC by inhibiting the miR-106b-5p-Wnt/β-catenin pathway via upregulating DAB2.

The High Expression of PTPRH Is Associated with Poor Prognosis of Human Lung Adenocarcinoma

Objective

The aim of the study is to explore the prognosis value of PTPRH in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods

Oncomine, UALCAN, and GEPIA databases were employed to examine the differential expression of PTPRH between LUAD and adjacent tissues. 100 pairs of LUAD and adjacent tissue samples were involved in this study. qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining were performed. Meanwhile, we analyzed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data to investigate the correlation between PTPRH gene expression and clinicopathological characteristics. Kaplan-Meier analysis and univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to estimate the relationship between PTPRH expression and LUAD prognosis. The evaluation performance was verified by drawing a ROC curve. In addition, through GSEA, the changes of PTPRH expression were analyzed by GSEA to screen out primarily affected signaling pathway.

Results

Oncomine, UALCAN, and GEPIA databases showed that the mRNA expression of PTPRH in LUAD tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues. qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining indicated the mRNA and protein levels of PTPRH in LUAD tissues were markedly upregulated. TCGA data showed that the expression of PTPRH was significantly correlated with T stage and disease stage. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the patients with high PTPRH expression had a poor prognosis. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses exhibited that PTPRH expression could act as an independent prognostic factor for LUAD. The ROC curve showed that PTPRH combined with various clinicopathological features could effectively predict the prognosis of LUAD. Finally, GSEA indicated that changes in PTPRH expression level may affect p53, VEGF, Notch, and mTOR cancer-related signaling pathways.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that PTPRH was highly expressed in LUAD and may be closely correlated with the poor prognosis of LUAD patients.

Identification of Prognostic and Chemopredictive microRNAs for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer by Integrating SEER-Medicare Data

This study developed a novel methodology to correlate genome-scale microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in a lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) cohort (n = 57) with Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare LUSC patients (n = 33,897) as a function of composite tumor progression indicators of T, N, and M cancer stage and tumor grade. The selected prognostic and chemopredictive miRNAs were extensively validated with miRNA expression profiles of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient samples collected from US hospitals (n = 156) and public consortia including NCI-60, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; n = 1016), and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE; n = 117). Hsa-miR-142-3p was associated with good prognosis and chemosensitivity in all the studied datasets. Hsa-miRNA-142-3p target genes (NUP205, RAN, CSE1L, SNRPD1, RPS11, SF3B1, COPA, ARCN1, and SNRNP200) had a significant impact on proliferation in 100% of the tested NSCLC cell lines in CRISPR-Cas9 (n = 78) and RNA interference (RNAi) screening (n = 92). Hsa-miR-142-3p-mediated pathways and functional networks in NSCLC short-term survivors were elucidated. Overall, the approach integrating SEER-Medicare data with comprehensive external validation can identify miRNAs with consistent expression patterns in tumor progression, with potential implications for prognosis and prediction of chemoresponse in large NSCLC patient populations.

LINC01278 is Highly Expressed in Osteosarcoma and Participates in the Development of Tumors by Mediating the miR-134-5p/KRAS Axis

Purpose

There is increasing evidence that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), produce a critical regulatory effect on osteosarcoma (OS). LINC01278, as a newly discovered lncRNA, is found to be highly expressed in OS, but its related mechanism remains unclear. This research, therefore, is designed to study the mechanism of LINC01278 in OS and to find potential targets for clinical use.

Methods

qRT-PCR was applied to determine the relative expression of LINC01278 and analyze its diagnostic value in OS. CCK-8, Transwell and flow cytometry were utilized for the determination of cell proliferation, migration/invasion, and apoptosis. RIP and RNA pull-down experiments were used to verify the targeted binding effect of miR-134-5p and LINC01278. The relationship between miR-134-5p and LINC01278 or KRAS was analyzed using dual luciferase reporter gene. The effects of LINC01278 on tumor growth in nude mice was analyzed by in vivo experiment.

Results

qRT-PCR showed that LINC01278 increased in OS tissues and serum, indicating poor prognosis. In addition, LINC01278 was also of high value for OS diagnosis. Functional experiments showed that LINC01278 inhibited KRAS-mediated OS cell proliferation and metastasis through miR-134-5p. Finally, the results of an in vivo animal model indicated that LINC01278 promoted OS growth.

Conclusion

LINC01278 is expressed highly in OS, and patients with high LINC01278 expression have poor prognosis. Moreover, LINC01278 can suppress the proliferation and apoptosis of OS cells through mediating miR-134-5p/KRAS axis, which is expected to become a potential therapeutic target for OS.

miR-196b-5p Promotes Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells via Targeting RSPO2

Objective

To explore the biological role of miR-196b-5p/RSPO2 in the occurrence and development of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and to provide a basis for finding new therapeutic targets for LUAD.

Methods

Differentially expressed genes were analyzed based on LUAD microarray, and the target gene of the target miRNA was predicted. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-196b-5p and RSPO2 mRNA in normal human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B and LUAD cell lines A549, NCI-H1792 and NCI-H226. Western blot was used to evaluate protein expression. Cell proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities were detected by CCK-8 and transwell assays. Dual-luciferase assay was conducted to verify the targeting relationship between miR-196b-5p and RSPO2.

Results

The results of qRT-PCR showed that miR-196b-5p was significantly highly expressed in LUAD cells, and the expression level of its downstream target gene RSPO2 was significantly decreased. The results of CCK-8 and transwell assays exhibited that miR-196b-5p promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of LUAD cells, while RSPO2 inhibited the malignant progression of LUAD cells. Dual-luciferase assay confirmed the targeted binding relationship between miR-196b-5p and RSPO2. Overexpression of RSPO2 partially reversed the promotion of miR-196b-5p on proliferation, migration and invasion of LUAD cells.

Conclusion

miR-196b-5p promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of LUAD cells by targeting and down-regulating RSPO2, which provided ideas for searching new targets for the diagnosis and treatment of LUAD.

The microRNA miR-134-5p induces calcium deposition by inhibiting histone deacetylase 5 in vascular smooth muscle cells

Calcium deposition in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a form of ectopic ossification in blood vessels. It can result in rigidity of the vasculature and an increase in cardiac events. Here, we report that the microRNA miR-134-5p potentiates inorganic phosphate (Pi)-induced calcium deposition in VSMCs by inhibiting histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5). Using miRNA microarray analysis of Pi-treated rat VSMCs, we first selected miR-134-5p for further evaluation. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed that miR-134-5p was increased in Pi-treated A10 cells, a rat VSMC line. Transfection of miR-134-5p mimic potentiated the Pi-induced increase in calcium contents. miR-134-5p increased the amounts of bone runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) protein and bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2) mRNA in the presence of Pi but decreased the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG). Bioinformatic analysis showed that the HDAC5 3'untranslated region (3'UTR) was one of the targets of miR-134-5p. The luciferase construct containing the 3'UTR of HDAC5 was down-regulated by miR-134-5p mimic in a dose-dependent manner in VSMCs. Overexpression of HDAC5 mitigated the calcium deposition induced by miR-134-5p. Our results suggest that a Pi-induced increase of miR-134-5p may cause vascular calcification through repression of HDAC5.