Altered miRNA-4321 expression in maternal and foetal placenta of intrauterine growth restricted bovine foetuses

Identification of the Novel Methylated Genes' Signature to Predict Prognosis in INRG High-Risk Neuroblastomas

BACKGROUND

Neuroblastomas are the most frequent extracranial pediatric solid tumors. The prognosis of children with high-risk neuroblastomas has remained poor in the past decade. A powerful signature is required to identify factors associated with prognosis and improved treatment selection. Here, we identified a strong methylation signature that favored the earlier diagnosis of neuroblastoma in patients.

METHODS

Gene methylation (GM) data of neuroblastoma patients from the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) were analyzed using a multivariate Cox regression analysis (MCRA) and univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis (UCPHRA).

RESULTS

The methylated genes' signature consisting of eight genes (NBEA, DDX28, TMED8, LOC151174, EFNB2, GHRHR, MIMT1, and SLC29A3) was selected. The signature divided patients into low- and high-risk categories, with statistically significant survival rates (median survival time: 25.08 vs. >128.80 months, log-rank test, P < 0.001) in the training group, and the validation of the signature's risk stratification ability was carried out in the test group (log-rank test, P < 0.01, median survival time: 30.48 vs. >120.36 months). The methylated genes' signature was found to be an independent predictive factor for neuroblastoma by MCRA. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that these methylated genes were related to butanoate metabolism, beta-alanine metabolism, and glutamate metabolism, all playing different significant roles in the process of energy metabolism in neuroblastomas.

CONCLUSIONS

The set of eight methylated genes could be used as a new predictive and prognostic signature for patients with INRG high-risk neuroblastomas, thus assisting in treatment, drug development, and predicting survival.

MicroRNA-Mediated Gene Regulatory Mechanisms in Mammalian Female Reproductive Health

Mammalian reproductive health affects the entire reproductive cycle starting with the ovarian function through implantation and fetal growth. Various environmental and physiological factors contribute to disturbed reproductive health status leading to infertility problems in mammalian species. In the last couple of decades a significant number of studies have been conducted to investigate the transcriptome of reproductive tissues and organs in relation to the various reproductive health issues including endometritis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preeclampsia, and various age-associated reproductive disorders. Among others, the post-transcriptional regulation of genes by small noncoding miRNAs contributes to the observed transcriptome dysregulation associated with reproductive pathophysiological conditions. MicroRNAs as a class of non-coding RNAs are also known to be involved in various pathophysiological conditions either in cellular cytoplasm or they can be released to the extracellular fluid via membrane-bounded extracellular vesicles and proteins. The present review summarizes the cellular and extracellular miRNAs and their association with the etiology of major reproductive pathologies including PCOS, endometritis, IUGR and age-associated disorders in various mammalian species.

MicroRNA-382-5p is involved in pulmonary inflammation induced by fine particulate matter exposure

Exposure to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been related to the increasing incidence and mortality of pulmonary diseases, where microRNAs (miRNAs) play significant roles in these biological and pathological processes. In the present study, we found that miR-382-5p played an anti-inflammatory role in pulmonary inflammation induced by fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) or diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) in vitro and in vivo. The expression level of miR-382-5p was downregulated, while its target gene, namely CXCL12, was elevated in HBE cells after exposure to PM_2.5 or DEPs. Mechanistically, PM_2.5 or DEPs exposure increased CXCL12/MMP9 expression via miR-382-5p inhibition, subsequently triggered pulmonary inflammation. Furthermore, antagonizing the function of CXCL12 significantly reduced the expression of MMP9 and local inflammation induced by PM_2.5 or DEPs. PM_2.5 or DEPs caused apoptosis and G1 phase arrest could be partially restored by overexpression of miR-382-5p and antagonism of CXCL12. In a murine model, enhanced miR-382-5p expression effectively reduced expression levels of CXCL12, MMP9 and inflammatory cytokines, hereby protected lung tissues against PM_2.5 or DEPs-induced lesions. Collectively, the miR-382-5p/CXCL12/MMP9 pathway may provide a mechanism, which mediates inflammatory response to PM_2.5 or DEPs exposure.