MicroRNA-10b and breast cancer metastasis

Induction of hepatic fibrosis in mice with schistosomiasis by extracellular microRNA-30 derived from Schistosoma japonicum eggs

Background

Schistosomiasis is a zoonotic parasitic disorder induced by the infestation of schistosomes, a genus of trematodes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in egg-derived exosomes are crucial for modulating the host's immune responses and orchestrating the pathophysiological mechanisms. Although the exosomes secreted by S. japonicum contain abundant miRNAs, the specific roles of these miRNAs in the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis are yet to be comprehensively elucidated. The egg exosomes of S. japonicum secrete miRNA-30, a novel miRNA.

Methods

In vitro, the effect of miRNA-30 was evaluated by transfecting HSCs with miRNA mimics. The target gene biosignature for miRNA-30 was predicted using the miRDB software. The effect of miRNA-30 in hepatic fibrosis was evaluated by either elevating its expression in healthy mice or by inhibiting its activity in infected mice by administration of recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype eight vectors expressing miRNA-30 or miRNA sponges.

Results

This novel miRNA can activate hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the prinary effector cells of hepatic fibrosis, in vitro, i.e., it significantly increases the fibrogenic factors Col1(α1), Col3(α1), and α-SMA at both mRNA and protein levels. In addition, miRNA-30 may activate HSCs by targeting the host RORA gene. In addition, in vivo experiments were conducted by administering a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector to modulate the expression levels of miRNA-30. The overexpression of miRNA-30 in healthy mice significantly elevated the expression of Col1(α1), Col3(α1), and α-SMA at both the transcriptomic and proteomic scales. This overexpression was coupled with a pronounced augmentation in the hepatic hydroxyproline content. Conversely, the in vivo silencing of miRNA-30 in infected mice induced a considerable reduction in the size of hepatic granulomas and areas of collagen deposition. Hence, in vivo, modulation of miRNA-30 expression may play a pivotal role in ameliorating the severity of hepatic fibrosis in mice afflicted with S. japonica.

Conclusions

The study results suggest that miRNA-30 may augment schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis through a probable interaction with the host RORA. Our study may improve the current theoretical framework regarding cross-species regulation by miRNAs of hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis.

Emerging role of exosomal microRNA in liver cancer in the era of precision medicine; potential and challenges

Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) have great potential in the fight against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In this study, we explored the various applications of these small molecules while analyzing their complex roles in tumor development, metastasis, and changes in the tumor microenvironment. We also discussed the complex interactions that exist between exosomal miRNAs and other non-coding RNAs such as circular RNAs, and show how these interactions coordinate important biochemical pathways that propel the development of HCC. The possibility of targeting exosomal miRNAs for therapeutic intervention is paramount, even beyond their mechanistic significance. We also highlighted their growing potential as cutting-edge biomarkers that could lead to tailored treatment plans by enabling early identification, precise prognosis, and real-time treatment response monitoring. This thorough analysis revealed an intricate network of exosomal miRNAs lead to HCC progression. Finally, strategies for purification and isolation of exosomes and advanced biosensing techniques for detection of exosomal miRNAs are also discussed. Overall, this comprehensive review sheds light on the complex web of exosomal miRNAs in HCC, offering valuable insights for future advancements in diagnosis, prognosis, and ultimately, improved outcomes for patients battling this deadly disease.

Aged breast matrix bound vesicles promote breast cancer invasiveness

Aging is one of the inherent risk factors for breast cancer. Although the influence of age-related cellular alterations on breast cancer development has been extensively explored, little is known about the alterations in the aging breast tissue microenvironment, specifically the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, for the first time in literature, we have identified tissue resident matrix bound vesicles (MBVs) within the healthy mouse breast ECM, investigated and compared their characteristics in young and aged healthy breast tissues, and studied the effects of these MBVs on normal (KTB21) and cancerous (MDA-MB-231) human mammary epithelial cells with respect to the tissue age that they are extracted from. Using vesicle labeling technology, we were able to visualize cellular uptake of the MBVs directly from the native decellularized tissue sections, showing that these MBVs have regulatory roles in the tissue microenvironment. We mimicked the ECM by embedding the MBVs in collagen gels, and showed that MBVs could be taken up by the cells. The miRNA and cytokine profiling showed that MBVs shifted towards a more tumorigenic and invasive phenotype with age, as evidenced by the more pronounced presence of cancer-associated cytokines, and higher expression levels of oncomiRs miR-10b, miR-30e, and miR-210 in MBVs isolated from aged mice. When treated with MBVs or these upregulated factors, KTB21 and MDA-MB-231 cells showed significantly higher motility and invasion compared to untreated controls. Treatment of cells with a cocktail of miRNAs (miR-10b, miR-30e, and miR-210) or with the agonist of adiponectin (AdipoRon), which both were enriched in the aged MBVs, recapitulated the effect of aged MBVs on cells. This study shows for the first time that the MBVs have a regulatory role in the tissue microenvironment and that the MBV contents change towards cancer-promoting upon aging. Studying the effects of MBVs and their cargos on cellular behavior could lead to a better understanding of the critical roles of MBVs played in breast cancer progression and metastasis.

Exosomes Derived from M2 Microglial Cells Modulated by 1070-nm Light Improve Cognition in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model

Near-infrared photobiomodulation has been identified as a potential strategy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying this therapeutic effect remain poorly characterize. Herein, it is illustrate that 1070-nm light induces the morphological alteration of microglia from an M1 to M2 phenotype that secretes exosomes, which alleviates the β-amyloid burden to improve cognitive function by ameliorating neuroinflammation and promoting neuronal dendritic spine plasticity. The results show that 4 J cm-2 1070-nm light at a 10-Hz frequency prompts microglia with an M1 inflammatory type to switch to an M2 anti-inflammatory type. This induces secretion of M2 microglial-derived exosomes containing miR-7670-3p, which targets activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) during endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Moreover, it is found that miR-7670-3p reduces ATF6 expression to further ameliorate ER stress, thus attenuating the inflammatory response and protecting dendritic spine integrity of neurons in the cortex and hippocampus of 5xFAD mice, ultimately leading to improvements in cognitive function. This study highlights the critical role of exosomes derive from 1070-nm light-modulated microglia in treating AD mice, which may provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of AD with the use of near-infrared photobiomodulation.

eIF2Bδ blocks the integrated stress response and maintains eIF2B activity and cancer metastasis by overexpression in breast cancer stem cells

Breast cancer (BC) metastasis involves cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their regulation by micro-RNAs (miRs), but miR targeting of the translation machinery in CSCs is poorly explored. We therefore screened miR expression levels in a range of BC cell lines, comparing non-CSCs to CSCs, and focused on miRs that target translation and protein synthesis factors. We describe a unique translation regulatory axis enacted by reduced expression of miR-183 in breast CSCs, which we show targets the eIF2Bδ subunit of guanine nucleotide exchange factor eIF2B, a regulator of protein synthesis and the integrated stress response (ISR) pathway. We report that reduced expression of miR-183 greatly increases eIF2Bδ protein levels, preventing strong induction of the ISR and eIF2α phosphorylation, by preferential interaction with P-eIF2α. eIF2Bδ overexpression is essential for BC cell invasion, metastasis, maintenance of metastases, and breast CSC expansion in animal models. Increased expression of eIF2Bδ, a site of action of the drug ISRIB that also prevents ISR signaling, is essential for breast CSC maintenance and metastatic capacity.

Aged Breast Matrix Bound Vesicles Promote Breast Cancer Invasiveness

Aging is one of the inherent risk factors for breast cancer. Although the influence of age-related cellular alterations on breast cancer development has been extensively explored, little is known about the alterations in the aging breast tissue microenvironment, specifically the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, for the first time in literature, we have identified tissue resident matrix bound vesicles (MBVs) within the healthy mouse breast ECM, investigated and compared their characteristics in young and aged healthy breast tissues, and studied the effects of these MBVs on normal (KTB21) and cancerous (MDA-MB-231) human mammary epithelial cells with respect to the tissue age that they are extracted from. Using vesicle labeling technology, we were able to visualize cellular uptake of the MBVs directly from the native decellularized tissue sections, showing that these MBVs have regulatory roles in the tissue microenvironment. We mimicked the ECM by embedding the MBVs in collagen gels, and showed that MBVs could be taken up by the cells. The miRNA and cytokine profiling showed that MBVs shifted towards a more tumorigenic and invasive phenotype with age, as evidenced by the more pronounced presence of cancer-associated cytokines, and higher expression levels of oncomiRs miR-10b, miR-30e, and miR-210 in MBVs isolated from aged mice. When treated with MBVs or these upregulated factors, KTB21 and MDA-MB-231 cells showed significantly higher motility and invasion compared to untreated controls. Treatment of cells with a cocktail of miRNAs (miR-10b, miR-30e, and miR-210) or with the agonist of adiponectin (AdipoRon), which both were enriched in the aged MBVs, recapitulated the effect of aged MBVs on cells. This study shows for the first time that the MBVs have a regulatory role in the tissue microenvironment and that the MBV contents change towards cancer-promoting upon aging. Studying the effects of MBVs and their cargos on cellular behavior could lead to a better understanding of the critical roles of MBVs played in breast cancer progression and metastasis.

Targeting Post-Translational Modifications to Improve Combinatorial Therapies in Breast Cancer: The Role of Fucosylation

Various tumors rely on post-translational modifications (PTMs) to promote invasiveness and angiogenesis and to reprogram cellular energetics to abate anti-cancer immunity. Among PTMs, fucosylation is a particular type of glycosylation that has been linked to different aspects of immune and hormonal physiological functions as well as hijacked by many types of tumors. Multiple tumors, including breast cancer, have been linked to dismal prognoses and increased metastatic potential due to fucosylation of the glycan core, namely core-fucosylation. Pre-clinical studies have examined the molecular mechanisms regulating core-fucosylation in breast cancer models, its negative prognostic value across multiple disease stages, and the activity of in vivo pharmacological inhibition, instructing combinatorial therapies and translation into clinical practice. Throughout this review, we describe the role of fucosylation in solid tumors, with a particular focus on breast cancer, as well as physiologic conditions on the immune system and hormones, providing a view into its potential as a biomarker for predicating or predicting cancer outcomes, as well as a potential clinical actionability as a biomarker.

miRNA Biogenesis and Regulation of Diseases: An Updated Overview

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules, with their role in gene silencing and translational repression by binding to the target mRNAs. Since it was discovered in 1993, miRNA is found in all eukaryotic cells conserved across the species. miRNA-size molecules are also known to be found in prokaryotes. Regulation of miRNAs is extensively studied for their role in biological processes as well as in development and progression of various human diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. miRNA-based therapy has a promising application, and with a good delivery system, miRNA therapeutics can potentially be a success. miRNAs and EVs have potential therapeutic and prognostic application in a range of disease models. This chapter summarizes miRNA biogenesis and explores their potential roles in a variety of diseases. miRNAs hold huge potential for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and as predictors of drug response.

Exosome RNA Sequencing as a Tool in the Search for Cancer Biomarkers

Numerous noninvasive methods are currently being used to determine biomarkers for diseases such as cancer. However, these methods are not always precise and reliable. Thus, there is an unmet need for better diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers that will be used to diagnose cancer in early, more treatable stages of the disease. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles of endocytic origin released by the majority of cells. Exosomes contain and transport nucleic acids, proteins, growth factors, and cytokines from their parent cells to surrounding or even distant cells via circulation in biofluids. Exosomes have attracted the interest of researchers, as recent data indicate that exosome content may be indicative of disease stages and may contribute to disease progression via exosome-mediated extracellular communication. Therefore, the contents of these vesicles are being investigated as possible biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis. The functions of exosomes and their contents in disease development are becoming clearer as isolation and analytical methods, such as RNA sequencing, advance. In this review, we discuss current advances and challenges in exosomal content analyses with emphasis on information that can be generated using RNA sequencing. We also discuss how the RNA sequencing of exosomes may be used to discover novel biomarkers for the detection of different stages for various cancers using specific microRNAs that were found to be differentially expressed between healthy controls and cancer-diagnosed subjects.

Overview of non-coding RNAs in breast cancers

Breast cancer in women is the second most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Although earlier diagnosis and detection of breast cancer has resulted in lower mortality rates, further advances in prevention, detection, and treatment are needed to improve outcomes and survival for women with breast cancer as well as to offer a personalized therapeutic approach. It is now well-established that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) represent 98% of the transcriptome but in-depth knowledge about their involvement in the regulation of gene expression is lacking. A growing body of research indicates that ncRNAs are essential for tumorigenesis by regulating the expression of tumour-related genes. In this review, we focus on their implication in breast cancer genesis but also report the latest knowledge of their theragnostic and therapeutic role. We highlight the need for accurate quantification of circulating ncRNAs which is determinant to develop reliable biomarkers. Further studies are mandatory to finally enter the era of personalized medicine for women with breast cancer.

The potential role of exosomal miRNAs and membrane proteins in acute HIV-infected people

Exosomes play an important role during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acute infection. Yet, information regarding its cargo and its association with HIV rapid progressors (RPs) and typical progressors (TPs) remain largely unknown. In this study, exosomal miRNAs sequencing and mass cytometry were used to identify differential exosomal miRNAs and membrane proteins that participate in the pathogenesis of TPs and RPs. We discovered that miR-144-5p, miR-1180-3p, miR-451a, miR-362-5p, and miR-625-5p are associated with the TPs and miR-362-5p with the RPs. Decreased autophagy, amino acid metabolism, immune response, and IL-6 are closely related to RPs. In addition, SP1 was selected as the most significant transcription factor (TF) associated with disease progression. CD49D, CD5, CCR5, CD40, CD14, and CD86 were selected as the differential exosomal membrane proteins between TPs and RPs. This study provides valuable information for clarifying the mechanism in people with acute HIV infection.

The Role, Significance, and Association of MicroRNA-10a/b in Physiology of Cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate the translation of mRNA and protein, mainly at the posttranscriptional level. Global expression profiling of miRNAs has demonstrated a broad spectrum of aberrations that correlated with several diseases, and miRNA- 10a and miRNA-10b were the first examined miRNAs to be involved in abnormal activities upon dysregulation, including many types of cancers and progressive diseases. It is expected that the same miRNAs behave inconsistently within different types of cancer. This review aims to provide a set of information about our updated understanding of miRNA-10a and miRNA-10b and their clinical significance, molecular targets, current research gaps, and possible future applications of such potent regulators.

New therapy strategies in the management of breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC), the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths after lung cancer, is the most common cancer type among women worldwide. BC comprises multiple subtypes based on molecular properties. Depending on the type of BC, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are the current systemic treatment options along with conventional chemotherapy. Several new molecular targets, miRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), have been discovered over the past few decades and are powerful potential therapeutic targets. Here, we review advanced therapeutics as new players in BC management.

Rno_circ_0001004 Acts as a miR-709 Molecular Sponge to Regulate the Growth Hormone Synthesis and Cell Proliferation

(1) Background: As a novel type of non-coding RNA with a stable closed-loop structure, circular RNA (circRNA) can interact with microRNA (miRNA) and influence the expression of miRNA target genes. However, circRNA involved in pituitary growth hormone (GH) regulation is poorly understood. Our previous study revealed protein kinase C alpha (PRKCA) as the target gene of miR-709. Currently, the expression and function of rno_circRNA_0001004 in the rat pituitary gland is not clarified; (2) Methods: In this study, both bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase report assays showed a target relationship between rno_circRNA_0001004 and miR-709. Furthermore, the rno_circRNA_0001004 overexpression vector and si-circ_0001004 were constructed and transfected into GH₃ cells; (3) Results: We found that rno_circRNA_0001004 expression was positively correlated with the PRKCA gene and GH expression levels, while it was negatively correlated with miR-709. In addition, overexpression of rno-circ_0001004 also promoted proliferation and relieved the inhibition of miR-709 in GH₃ cells; (4) Conclusions: Our findings show that rno_circ_0001004 acts as a novel sponge for miR-709 to regulate GH synthesis and cell proliferation, and are the first case of discovery of the regulatory role of circRNA_0001004 in pituitary GH.

MicroRNAs Role in Breast Cancer: Theranostic Application in Saudi Arabia

Breast cancer is an aggressive silent disease, representing 11.7% of the diagnosed cancer worldwide, and it is also a leading cause of death in Saudi Arabia. Consequently, microRNAs have emerged recently as potential biomarkers to diagnose and monitor such cases at the molecular level, which tends to be problematic during diagnosis. MicroRNAs are highly conserved non- coding oligonucleotide RNA. Over the last two decades, studies have determined the functional significance of these small RNAs and their impact on cellular development and the interaction between microRNAs and messenger RNAs, which affect numerous molecular pathways and physiological functions. Moreover, many disorders, including breast cancer, are associated with the dysregulation of microRNA. Sparingly, many microRNAs can suppress cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and vice versa. Remarkably, microRNAs can be harvested from patients’ biofluids to predict disease progression that considered a non-invasive method. Nevertheless, MicroRNAs are currently utilized as anti- cancer therapies combined with other drug therapies or even as a single agents’ treatment. Therefore, this review will focus on microRNAs’ role in breast cancer as an indicator of disease progression. In addition, this review summarizes the current knowledge of drug sensitivity and methods in detecting microRNA and their application to improve patient care and identifies the current gaps in this field.

Potential value of circulatory microRNA10b gene expression and its target E-cadherin as a prognostic and metastatic prediction marker for breast cancer

Background

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Most BC studies on candidate microRNAs were tissue specimen based. Recently, there has been a focus on the study of cell‐free circulating miRNAs as promising biomarkers in (BC) diagnosis and prognosis. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the circulating levels of miR‐10b and its target soluble E‐ cadherin as potentially easily accessible biomarkers for breast cancer.

Methods

Sixty‐one breast cancer patients and forty‐eight age‐ and sex‐matched healthy volunteers serving as a control group were enrolled in the present study. Serum samples were used to assess miRNA10b expression by TaqMan miRNA assay technique. In addition, soluble E‐cadherin expression level in serum was determined using ELISA technique.

Result

Circulating miR‐10b expression level and serum sE‐cadherin was significantly upregulated in patients with BC compared to controls. Moreover, serum miR‐10b displayed progressive up‐regulation in advanced stages with higher level in metastatic compared to non‐metastatic BC. Additionally, the combined use of both serum miR‐10b and sE‐cadherin revealed the highest sensitivity and specificity for detection of BC metastasis (92.9% and 97.9% respectively) with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.98, 95% CI (0.958–1.00).

Conclusion

Our data suggest that circulating miR‐10b could be utilized as a potential non‐invasive serum biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer with better performance to predict BC metastasis achieved on measuring it simultaneously with serum sE‐cadherin. Further studies with a large cohort of patients are warranted to validate the serum biomarker for breast cancer management.

Long non-coding RNA H19 regulates proliferation and doxorubicin resistance in MCF-7 cells by targeting PARP1

Chemoresistance is a major obstacle to effective breast cancer chemotherapy. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The long noncoding RNA H19 (H19) is involved in various stages of tumorigenesis, however, its role in doxorubicin resistance remains unknown. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of H19 in the development of doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyzed H19 expression in chemotherapy-resistant and sensitive breast cancer tissues. Both knockdown and overexpression of H19 were used to assess the sensitivity to doxorubicin in breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to explore the doxorubicin resistance mechanism of H19. We observed that the H19 expression was significantly upregulated in chemotherapy-resistant breast cancer tissues and doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer cell lines. Knockdown of H19 enhanced the sensitivity to doxorubicin both in vitro and in vivo. While H19 overexpression developed doxorubicin-resistant in breast cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, it was revealed that H19 negatively regulated PARP1 expression in breast cancer cells following doxorubicin treatment. Knockdown of H19 sensitized breast cancer cells to doxorubicin by promoting PARP1 upregulation. H19 overexpression could recapitulate doxorubicin resistance by PARP1 downregulation. Our findings revealed that H19 plays a leading role in breast cancer chemoresistance development, mediated mainly through a H19-PARP1 pathway.

Exosomal microRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients is extremely poor due to the occult onset and high metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, biomarkers with high specificity and sensitivity are of great importance in early screening, diagnosis prognosis, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Exosomes are tiny vesicles secreted by various types of cells, which can serve as mediators of intercellular communication to regulate the tumor microenvironment, and play a key role in the occurrence, development, prognosis, monitor and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. As microRNA deliverer, exosomes are involved in multiple life activities by regulating target genes of recipient cells such as proliferation, invasion, metastasis and apoptosis of cancer cells. In this review, we summarized the composition, active mechanism and function of exosomal microRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma, and elaborated on their potential application value of early diagnosis and treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma.

MicroRNAs Regulating Tumor and Immune Cell Interactions in the Prediction of Relapse in Early Stage Breast Cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of immune response and hold an important role in tumor immune escape. We investigated the differential expression of the immunomodulatory miR-10b, miR-19a, miR-20a, miR-126, and miR-155 in the plasma of healthy women and patients with early stage breast cancer and interrogated their role in the prediction of patients’ relapse. Blood samples were obtained from healthy women (n = 20) and patients with early stage breast cancer (n = 140) before adjuvant chemotherapy. Plasma miRNA expression levels were assessed by RT-qPCR. Relapse predicting models were developed using binary logistic regression and receiver operating curves (ROC) were constructed to determine miRNA sensitivity and specificity. Only miR-155 expression was lower in patients compared with healthy women (p = 0.023), whereas miR-155 and miR-10b were lower in patients who relapsed compared with healthy women (p = 0.039 and p = 0.002, respectively). MiR-155 expression combined with axillary lymph node infiltration and tumor grade demonstrated increased capability in distinguishing relapsed from non-relapsed patients [(area under the curve, (AUC = 0.861; p < 0.001)]. Combined miR-19a and miR-20a expression had the highest performance in discriminating patients with early relapse (AUC = 0.816; p < 0.001). Finally, miR-10b in combination with lymph node status and grade had the highest accuracy to discriminate patients with late relapse (AUC = 0.971; p < 0.001). The robustness of the relapse predicting models was further confirmed in a 10-fold cross validation. Deregulation of circulating miRNAs involved in tumor-immune interactions may predict relapse in early stage breast cancer. Their successful clinical integration could potentially address the significance challenge of treatment escalation or de-escalation according to the risk of recurrence.

The emerging role of exosomal miRNAs as a diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), has been the world's driving fatal bacterial contagious disease globally. It continues a public health emergency, and around one-third of the global community has been affected by latent TB infection (LTBI). This is mostly due to the difficulty in diagnosing and treating patients with TB and LTBI. Exosomes are nanovesicles (40-100 nm) released from different cell types, containing proteins, lipids, mRNA, and miRNA, and they allow the transfer of one's cargo to other cells. The functional and diagnostic potential of exosomal miRNAs has been demonstrated in bacterial infections, including TB. Besides, it has been recognized that cells infected by intracellular pathogens such as Mtb can be secreting an exosome, which is implicated in the infection's fate. Exosomes, therefore, open a unique viewpoint on the investigative process of TB pathogenicity. This study explores the possible function of exosomal miRNAs as a diagnostic biomarker. Moreover, we include the latest data on the pathogenic and therapeutic role of exosomal miRNAs in TB.

MiRNAs in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Potential Mechanisms and Clinical Applications

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication which is normally diagnosed in the second trimester of gestation. With an increasing incidence, GDM poses a significant threat to maternal and offspring health. Therefore, we need a deeper understanding of GDM pathophysiology and novel investigation on the diagnosis and treatment for GDM. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of endogenic small noncoding RNAs with a length of approximately 19-24 nucleotides, have been reported to exert their function in gene expression by binding to proteins or being enclosed in membranous vesicles, such as exosomes. Studies have investigated the roles of miRNAs in the pathophysiological mechanism of GDM and their potential as noninvasive biological candidates for the management of GDM, including diagnosis and treatment. This review is aimed at summarizing the pathophysiological significance of miRNAs in GDM development and their potential function in GDM clinical diagnosis and therapeutic approach. In this review, we summarized an integrated expressional profile and the pathophysiological significance of placental exosomes and associated miRNAs, as well as other plasma miRNAs such as exo-AT. Furthermore, we also discussed the practical application of exosomes in GDM postpartum outcomes and the potential function of several miRNAs as therapeutic target in the GDM pathological pathway, thus providing a novel clinical insight of these biological signatures into GDM therapeutic approach.

A cancer stem cell-like phenotype is associated with miR-10b expression in aggressive squamous cell carcinomas

Background

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC) are the primary cause of premature deaths in patients suffering from the rare skin-fragility disorder recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), which is in marked contrast to the rarely metastasizing nature of these carcinomas in the general population. This remarkable difference is attributed to the frequent development of chronic wounds caused by impaired skin integrity. However, the specific molecular and cellular changes to malignancy, and whether there are common players in different types of aggressive cSCCs, remain relatively undefined.

Methods

MiRNA expression profiling was performed across various cell types isolated from skin and cSCCs. Microarray results were confirmed by qPCR and by an optimized in situ hybridization protocol. Functional impact of overexpression or knock-out of a dysregulated miRNA was assessed in migration and 3D-spheroid assays. Sample-matched transcriptome data was generated to support the identification of disease relevant miRNA targets.

Results

Several miRNAs were identified as dysregulated in cSCCs compared to control skin. These included the metastasis-linked miR-10b, which was significantly upregulated in primary cell cultures and in archival biopsies. At the functional level, overexpression of miR-10b conferred the stem cell-characteristic of 3D-spheroid formation capacity to keratinocytes. Analysis of miR-10b downstream effects identified a novel putative target of miR-10b, the actin- and tubulin cytoskeleton-associated protein DIAPH2.

Conclusion

The discovery that miR-10b mediates an aspect of cancer stemness – that of enhanced tumor cell adhesion, known to facilitate metastatic colonization – provides an important avenue for future development of novel therapies targeting this metastasis-linked miRNA.

Exosomes Could Offer New Options to Combat the Long-Term Complications Inflicted by Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Gestational diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a complex clinical condition that promotes pelvic floor myopathy, thus predisposing sufferers to urinary incontinence (UI). GDM usually regresses after birth. Nonetheless, a GDM history is associated with higher risk of subsequently developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and UI. Some aspects of the pathophysiology of GDM remain unclear and the associated pathologies (outcomes) are poorly addressed, simultaneously raising public health costs and diminishing women's quality of life. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles produced and actively secreted by cells as part of their intercellular communication system. Exosomes are heterogenous in their cargo and depending on the cell sources and environment, they can mediate both pathogenetic and therapeutic functions. With the advancement in knowledge of exosomes, new perspectives have emerged to support the mechanistic understanding, prediction/diagnosis and ultimately, treatment of the post-GMD outcomes. Here, we will review recent advances in knowledge of the role of exosomes in GDM and related areas and discuss the possibilities for translating exosomes as therapeutic agents in the GDM clinical setting.

Role of miR-10b-5p in the prognosis of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. Aberrant expression levels of miR-10b-5p in breast cancer has been reported while the molecular mechanism of miR-10b-5p in tumorigenesis remains elusive. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the role of miR-10b-5p in breast cancer and the network of its target genes using bioinformatics analysis. In this study, the expression profiles and prognostic value of miR-10b-5p in breast cancer were analyzed from public databases. Association between miR-10b-5p and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed by non-parametric test. Moreover, the optimal target genes of miR-10b-5p were obtained and their expression patterns were examined using starBase and HPA database. Additionally, the role of these target genes in cancer development were explored via Cancer Hallmarks Analytics Tool (CHAT). The protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed to further investigate the interactive relationships among these genes. Furthermore, GO, KEGG pathway and Reactome pathway analyses were carried out to decipher functions of these target genes. Results demonstrated that miR-10b-5p was down-regulated in breast cancer and low expression of miR-10b-5p was significantly correlated to worse outcome. Five genes, BIRC5, E2F2, KIF2C, FOXM1, and MCM5, were considered as potential key target genes of miR-10b-5p. As expected, higher expression levels of these genes were observed in breast cancer tissues than in normal tissues. Moreover, analysis from CHAT revealed that these genes were mainly involved in sustaining proliferative signaling in cancer development. In addition, PPI networks analysis revealed strong interactions between target genes. GO, KEGG, and Reactome pathway analysis suggested that these target genes of miR-10b-5p in breast cancer were significantly involved in cell cycle. Predicted target genes were further validated by qRT-PCR analysis in human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 transfected with miR-10b mimic or antisense inhibitors. Taken together, our data suggest that miR-10b-5p functions to impede breast carcinoma progression via regulation of its key target genes and hopefully serves as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for breast cancer.

Plasma miR-21, miR-155, miR-10b, and Let-7a as the potential biomarkers for the monitoring of breast cancer patients

There is a pressing need for further studies to categorize and validate circulating microRNAs (miRs) in breast cancer patients that can be one of the novel strategies for cancer screening and monitoring. The present study is aimed to investigate the expression of the circulating candidate microRNAs after the operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy in the non-metastatic breast cancer patients. Tumor tissue and plasma samples were collected from the 30 patients with recently diagnosed Luminal A breast cancer. Control plasma samples were collected from the 10 healthy subjects. A panel of four miRs including miR-21, miR-55, miR-10b, and Let-7a were selected and their expression levels were measured before and after the operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy by using Real-Time PCR technique. The plasma expression of the miR-21, miR-155, and miR-10b was significantly increased and the Let-7a plasma expression decreased in the breast cancer patients compromised to the control ones. There was a similar expression pattern of the miRs between the tissue and plasma samples. The plasma levels of the miR-21, miR-155, and miR-10b were significantly down-regulated and the Let-7a plasma level was up-regulated after the operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy compromised to the pre-treatment. There was a significant difference in the miR-155 plasma level after the operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy compromised with each other. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the plasma levels of the miRs after the radiotherapy compromised to the control cases. The operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy led to a more reduction in the oncomiRs and an increase in the tumor suppressor-miRs. It seems that monitoring miRs during treatment might be considered as a respectable diagnostic tool for monitoring of breast cancer patients.

MicroRNA-10b expression in breast cancer and its clinical association

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA molecules that play a significant role in many types of cancers including breast cancer. In the current study, we evaluated the expression levels of microR-10b (miR-10b) in 115 breast cancer patients from Sichuan Cancer Center. Real time reverse transcription-PCR was used to assess miR-10b expression. Clinical data including disease stage, survival status, age, ER/PR/HER2 status, molecular subtypes, tumor size, lymph node status and Ki-67 expression levels were correlated with miR-10b expression levels. Our data showed that the miR-10b expression is correlated with disease stage, living status and tumor sizes. We also found that miR-10b expression levels are higher in the lymph node positive group and the Ki-67 higher scoring group (score > 20). No statistically significant differences were observed based on age or molecular sub-type grouping. In conclusion, miR-10b may be a biomarker for breast cancer and is a potential treatment target.

microRNA-10b expression and its correlation with molecular subtypes of early invasive ductal carcinoma

The present study aimed to determine whether the expression of microRNA (miR)-10b was correlated with the molecular subtypes of early invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. In situ hybridization was used to detect the expression of miR-10b in 193 patients diagnosed with early invasive ductal carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-α, progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (Her-2). The positive expression rate of miR-10b in patients with early invasive ductal carcinoma with ER-α (+) or PR (+) was decreased compared with ER-α (-) or PR (-) patients (P<0.05). Furthermore, the positive expression rate of miR-10b in patients with Her-2 (-) was significantly increased compared with patients that were Her-2 (+) (P=0.031). The positive expression rate of miR-10b in the luminal B subtype was significantly decreased compared with that in the luminal A, Her-2 and basal-like subtypes (P=0.037). In patients that were identified as miR-10b (+), the median disease-free survival time was significantly increased in patients that were ER-α (+)/PR (+)/Her-2 (-) compared with patients that were ER-α (-)/PR (-)/Her-2 (+) (P<0.05). In addition, the median disease-free survival time was significantly decreased in Her-2 overexpression and basal-like subtypes when compared with luminal A and B subtypes (P<0.05). The molecular subtype was an independent prognostic factor for early invasive ductal carcinoma (odds ratios for luminal B, Basal-like, and Her-2 overexpression were 2.900, 5.232 and 4.214, respectively; all P<0.05). Positive expression of miR-10b may also be a prognostic risk factor (odds ratio >1), though this was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The present findings indicated that miR-10b-positive expression was correlated with the expression of ER-α, Her-2 and the molecular subtypes of early invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

MiRNA Biogenesis and Regulation of Diseases: An Overview

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules, with their role in gene silencing and translational repression by binding to target mRNAs. Since it was discovered in 1993, miRNA are found in all eukaryotic cells conserved across the species. In recent years, regulation of miRNAs are extensively studied for their role in biological processes as well as in development and progression of various human diseases including retinal disorder, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease and cancer. This chapter summarises miRNA biogenesis and explores their potential roles in a variety of diseases. miRNAs holds huge potential for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and as predictors of drug response.

Differential microRNA expression in breast cancer with different onset age

Purpose

The lower breast cancer incidence in Asian populations compared with Western populations has been speculated to be caused by environmental and genetic variation. Early-onset breast cancer occupies a considerable proportion of breast cancers in Asian populations, but the reason for this is unclear. We aimed to examine miRNA expression profiles in different age-onset groups and pathological subtypes in Asian breast cancer.

Methods

At the first stage, 10 samples (tumor: n = 6, normal tissue: n = 4) were analyzed with an Agilent microRNA 470 probe microarray. Candidate miRNAs with expression levels that were significantly altered in breast cancer samples or selected from a literature review were further validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) of 145 breast cancer samples at the second stage of the process. Correlations between clinicopathological parameters of breast cancer patients from different age groups and candidate miRNA expression were elucidated.

Results

In the present study, the tumor subtypes were significantly different in each age group, and an onset age below 40 had poor disease-free and overall survival rates. For all breast cancer patients, miR-335 and miR-145 were down-regulated, and miR-21, miR-200a, miR-200c, and miR-141 were up-regulated. In very young patients (age < 35 y/o), the expression of 3 and 8 specific miRNAs were up- and down-regulated, respectively. In young patients (36–40 y/o), 3 and 3 specific miRNAs were up- and down-regulated, respectively. miR-532-5p was up-regulated in triple-negative breast cancer.

Conclusions

Differential miRNA expressions between normal and tumor tissues were observed in different age groups and tumor subtypes. Evolutionarily conserved miRNA clusters, which initiate malignancy transformation, were up-regulated in the breast cancers of very young patients. None of the significantly altered miRNAs were observed in postmenopausal patients.

Evaluation of MiR-21 and MiR-10b Expression of Human Breast Cancer in West Sumatera

BACKGROUND

Abnormal expression of several microRNAs (miRNAs) has been demonstrated in many types of cancer tumor tissue. The miR-10b and miR-21 are an oncogenic miRNAs which play role in proliferation and invasion of Breast Cancer (BC) tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the miR-21 and miR-10b expression in BC in West Sumatran women, Indonesia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 40 samples, consisting of 30 samples of breast cancer tissues (BC) and 10 samples of fibroadenoma tissues (FATs) as control and non-cancerous were analyzed. The miR-21 and miR-10b expression of each sample were investigated by using realtime PCR, followed by universal Reverse Transcription (RT) then real-time PCR amplification with specific primers. Hsa-miR-16-5p LNA PCR primer was used as an endogenous control.

RESULTS

The results showed that the expression level of miR-21 was more than 4 times higher in BC than in FATs. The expression level of miR-10b was lower in BC than FATs, by a factor of 3.34 fold. Both these differences were statistically different (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this study it was concluded that for this sample of West Sumatran Women miR-21 expression in BC was higher than in FATs, whereas miR-10b was lower in BC than in FATs.

MicroRNAs in the etiology of colorectal cancer: pathways and clinical implications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small single-stranded RNAs that repress mRNA translation and trigger mRNA degradation. Of the ∼1900 miRNA-encoding genes present in the human genome, ∼250 miRNAs are reported to have changes in abundance or altered functions in colorectal cancer. Thousands of studies have documented aberrant miRNA levels in colorectal cancer, with some miRNAs reported to actively regulate tumorigenesis. A recurrent phenomenon with miRNAs is their frequent participation in feedback loops, which probably serve to reinforce or magnify biological outcomes to manifest a particular cellular phenotype. Here, we review the roles of oncogenic miRNAs (oncomiRs), tumor suppressive miRNAs (anti-oncomiRs) and miRNA regulators in colorectal cancer. Given their stability in patient-derived samples and ease of detection with standard and novel techniques, we also discuss the potential use of miRNAs as biomarkers in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and as prognostic indicators of this disease. MiRNAs also represent attractive candidates for targeted therapies because their function can be manipulated through the use of synthetic antagonists and miRNA mimics.

Summary: This Review provides an overview of some important microRNAs and their roles in colorectal cancer.

MicroRNA expression profiles differ between primary myofiber of lean and obese pig breeds

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding small miRNAs ~22 nucleotides in length and play a vital role in muscle development by binding to messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Large White (LW, a lean type pig) and Meishan pigs (MS, a Chinese indigenous obese breed) have significant postnatal phenotype differences in growth rate, muscle mass and meat quality, and these differences are programmed during prenatal muscle development. Little research shed light directly on the miRNA transcriptome difference in prenatal muscles between these two distinct pig breeds. Myofiber phenotypes of LW and MS were measured at developmental stages of 35, 55 and 90 days post-conception (dpc), which revealed that the myogenesis process is more intense in MS than in LW at 35 dpc. To investigate the role of miRNAs involved in regulating muscle development at earlier stages of myogenesis and decipher the miRNAs transcriptome difference between LW and MS, here, the miRNAomes of longissimus dorsi muscle collected at 35 dpc from female LW and MS were analyzed by deep sequencing. Overall, 1147 unique miRNAs comprising 434 known miRNAs, 239 conserved miRNAs and 474 candidate miRNAs were identified. Expression analysis of the 10 most abundant miRNAs in every library indicated that functional miRNAome may be a small amount and tend to be greater expressed. These sets of miRNA may play house keeping roles that were involved in myogenesis. A total of 87 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed between LW and MS (reads > 1000, P < 0.05). Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed miRNAs (DE miRNAs) were associated mainly with muscle contraction, WNT, mTOR, and MAPK signaling pathways. Some myogenesis related miRNAs (miR-133, miR-1, miR-206 and miR-148a) are highly abundant in MS, while other miRNAs (let-7 family, miR-214, miR-181) highly expressed in LW. In addition, the expression patterns of miRNAs (miR-1, -133, -206) at three prenatal stages (35, 55 and 90 dpc) were determined using qRT-PCR. Notably, ssc-miR-133 was significantly more highly expressed in LW pigs skeletal muscle at all prenatal stages compared with its expression in LW pigs skeletal muscle. Taken together, the main functional miRNAs during muscle development are different between lean and obese pig breeds. The present study adds new information to existing data on porcine miRNAs and will be helpful to investigate the dominant (main functional) muscle-related miRNAs sets in different pig breeds.

miRpower: a web-tool to validate survival-associated miRNAs utilizing expression data from 2178 breast cancer patients

PURPOSE

The proper validation of prognostic biomarkers is an important clinical issue in breast cancer research. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as a new class of promising breast cancer biomarkers. In the present work, we developed an integrated online bioinformatic tool to validate the prognostic relevance of miRNAs in breast cancer.

METHODS

A database was set up by searching the GEO, EGA, TCGA, and PubMed repositories to identify datasets with published miRNA expression and clinical data. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to validate the prognostic value of a set of 41 previously published survival-associated miRNAs.

RESULTS

All together 2178 samples from four independent datasets were integrated into the system including the expression of 1052 distinct human miRNAs. In addition, the web-tool allows for the selection of patients, which can be filtered by receptors status, lymph node involvement, histological grade, and treatments. The complete analysis tool can be accessed online at: www.kmplot.com/mirpower . We used this tool to analyze a large number of deregulated miRNAs associated with breast cancer features and outcome, and confirmed the prognostic value of 26 miRNAs. A significant correlation in three out of four datasets was validated only for miR-29c and miR-101.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, we established an integrated platform capable to mine all available miRNA data to perform a survival analysis for the identification and validation of prognostic miRNA markers in breast cancer.

Integration of Multiple Genomic and Phenotype Data to Infer Novel miRNA-Disease Associations

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the development and progression of human diseases. The identification of disease-associated miRNAs will be helpful for understanding the molecular mechanisms of diseases at the post-transcriptional level. Based on different types of genomic data sources, computational methods for miRNA-disease association prediction have been proposed. However, individual source of genomic data tends to be incomplete and noisy; therefore, the integration of various types of genomic data for inferring reliable miRNA-disease associations is urgently needed. In this study, we present a computational framework, CHNmiRD, for identifying miRNA-disease associations by integrating multiple genomic and phenotype data, including protein-protein interaction data, gene ontology data, experimentally verified miRNA-target relationships, disease phenotype information and known miRNA-disease connections. The performance of CHNmiRD was evaluated by experimentally verified miRNA-disease associations, which achieved an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.834 for 5-fold cross-validation. In particular, CHNmiRD displayed excellent performance for diseases without any known related miRNAs. The results of case studies for three human diseases (glioblastoma, myocardial infarction and type 1 diabetes) showed that all of the top 10 ranked miRNAs having no known associations with these three diseases in existing miRNA-disease databases were directly or indirectly confirmed by our latest literature mining. All these results demonstrated the reliability and efficiency of CHNmiRD, and it is anticipated that CHNmiRD will serve as a powerful bioinformatics method for mining novel disease-related miRNAs and providing a new perspective into molecular mechanisms underlying human diseases at the post-transcriptional level. CHNmiRD is freely available at http://www.bio-bigdata.com/CHNmiRD.

MicroRNA-10b suppresses goat granulosa cell proliferation by targeting brain-derived neurotropic factor

Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and its high-affinity receptor, tyrosine kinase receptor B, have been assumed to be involved in female reproduction and have recently shown to play an essential role in follicle activation and oocyte maturation. In this study, we analyzed the expression of miR-10b and BDNF in the ovary and discovered that the expression of miR-10b was higher in monotocous goat ovaries than in polytocous goat ovaries, whereas the expression pattern of BDNF in ovary was opposite. Moreover, human chorionic gonadotropin induced rapid and transient expression of BDNF messenger RNA and protein. In contrast, human chorionic gonadotropin upregulated miR-10b expression in a time-dependent manner. The BDNF gene was identified as a direct target of miR-10b using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Transfection of granulosa cells with miR-10b decreased BDNF messenger RNA and protein levels. MiR-10b overexpression inhibited cell proliferation, whereas BDNF promoted cell proliferation. However, a combined treatment with miR-10b and BDNF promoted cell proliferation, indicating that the reintroduction of BDNF reversed the suppressive effect of miR-10b. These results demonstrate that miR-10b downregulates BDNF expression in granulosa cells by directly targeting the 3' untranslated regions and plays an important role in inhibiting granulosa cell proliferation by targeting BDNF.

Noncoding RNAs in breast cancer

The mammalian transcriptome has recently been revealed to encompass a large number of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that play a variety of important regulatory roles in gene expression and other biological processes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), the best studied of the short noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs), have been extensively characterized with regard to their biogenesis, function and importance in tumorigenesis. Another class of sncRNAs called piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) has also gained attention recently in cancer research owing to their critical role in stem cell regulation. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) of >200 nucleotides in length have recently emerged as key regulators of developmental processes, including mammary gland development. lncRNA dysregulation has also been implicated in the development of various cancers, including breast cancer. In this review, we describe and discuss the roles of sncRNAs (including miRNAs and piRNAs) and lncRNAs in the initiation and progression of breast tumorigenesis, with a focus on outlining the molecular mechanisms of oncogenic and tumor-suppressor ncRNAs. Moreover, the current and potential future applications of ncRNAs to clinical breast cancer research are also discussed, with an emphasis on ncRNA-based diagnosis, prognosis and future therapeutics.

Heterogeneity of miR-10b expression in circulating tumor cells

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood of cancer patients are recognized as important potential targets for future anticancer therapies. As mediators of metastatic spread, CTCs are also promising to be used as ‘liquid biopsy’ to aid clinical decision-making. Recent work has revealed potentially important genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity within CTC populations, even within the same patient. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression and have emerged as potentially important diagnostic markers and targets for anti-cancer therapy. Here, we describe a robust in situ hybridization (ISH) protocol, incorporating the CellSearch^® CTC detection system, enabling clinical investigation of important miRNAs, such as miR-10b on a cell by cell basis. We also use this method to demonstrate heterogeneity of such as miR-10b on a cell-by-cell basis. We also use this method to demonstrate heterogeneity of miR-10b in individual CTCs from breast, prostate and colorectal cancer patients.

Small RNA Sequencing Uncovers New miRNAs and moRNAs Differentially Expressed in Normal and Primary Myelofibrosis CD34+ Cells

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are chronic myeloid cancers thought to arise at the level of CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. They include essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). All can progress to acute leukemia, but PMF carries the worst prognosis. Increasing evidences indicate that deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) might plays an important role in hematologic malignancies, including MPN. To attain deeper knowledge of short RNAs (sRNAs) expression pattern in CD34+ cells and of their possible role in mediating post-transcriptional regulation in PMF, we sequenced with Illumina HiSeq2000 technology CD34+ cells from healthy subjects and PMF patients. We detected the expression of 784 known miRNAs, with a prevalence of miRNA up-regulation in PMF samples, and discovered 34 new miRNAs and 99 new miRNA-offset RNAs (moRNAs), in CD34+ cells. Thirty-seven small RNAs were differentially expressed in PMF patients compared with healthy subjects, according to microRNA sequencing data. Five miRNAs (miR-10b-5p, miR-19b-3p, miR-29a-3p, miR-379-5p, and miR-543) were deregulated also in PMF granulocytes. Moreover, 3’-moR-128-2 resulted consistently downregulated in PMF according to RNA-seq and qRT-PCR data both in CD34+ cells and granulocytes. Target predictions of these validated small RNAs de-regulated in PMF and functional enrichment analyses highlighted many interesting pathways involved in tumor development and progression, such as signaling by FGFR and DAP12 and Oncogene Induced Senescence. As a whole, data obtained in this study deepened the knowledge of miRNAs and moRNAs altered expression in PMF CD34+ cells and allowed to identify and validate a specific small RNA profile that distinguishes PMF granulocytes from those of normal subjects. We thus provided new information regarding the possible role of miRNAs and, specifically, of new moRNAs in this disease.

miR-381 suppresses C/EBPα-dependent Cx43 expression in breast cancer cells

miR-381 suppressed CX43 expression by directly targeting the 3′-UTR of C/EBPα, a novel transcription factor of Cx43 in human breast cancer cells. The miR-381–Cx43 axis might be a useful diagnostic and therapeutic target of metastatic breast cancer.

Cx43 (connexin43) is an enhancer of the metastasis of breast cancer cells. Our previous study identified miR-381 as an indirect suppressor of Cx43 gene expression, with the precise mechanism being not understood. In the present study, using a reporter gene assay, we found that miR-381 suppressed Cx43 gene expression via the promoter region −500/−250. With site-directed gene mutation, we demonstrated that miR-381 could directly bind with the sequences CACUUGUAU in the 3′-UTR so as to inhibit C/EBPα (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α) expression. C/EBPα was further identified as a novel transcription factor by binding to a canonic element (AATTGTC) locating at −459/−453 in the promoter region of the Cx43 gene. Functionally, we demonstrated that miR-381 suppressed C/EBPα- and Cx43-dependent migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Finally, we revealed that decreased levels of miR-381 as well as increased expression of C/EBPα and Cx43 in the metastatic breast cancer cells and tissues. Therefore we are the first to identify that miR-381 suppresses C/EBPα-dependent Cx43 expression in breast cancer cells. The miR-381–C/EBPα–Cx43 axis might be a useful diagnostic and therapeutic target of metastatic breast cancer.

Critical analysis of the potential for microRNA biomarkers in breast cancer management

Breast cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease. Signaling by estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and/or human EGF-like receptor 2 (HER2) is a main driver in the development and progression of a large majority of breast tumors. Molecular characterization of primary tumors has identified major subtypes that correlate with ER/PR/HER2 status, and also subgroup divisions that indicate other molecular and cellular features of the tumors. While some of these research findings have been incorporated into clinical practice, several challenges remain to improve breast cancer management and patient survival, for which the integration of novel biomarkers into current practice should be beneficial. microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short non-coding regulatory RNAs with an etiological contribution to breast carcinogenesis. miRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic applications are rapidly emerging as novel potential approaches to manage and treat breast cancer. Rapid technological development enables specific and sensitive detection of individual miRNAs or the entire miRNome in tissues, blood, and other biological specimens from breast cancer patients. This review focuses on recent miRNA research and its potential to address unmet clinical needs and challenges. The four sections presented discuss miRNA findings in the context of the following clinical challenges: biomarkers for early detection; prognostic and predictive biomarkers for treatment decisions using targeted therapies against ER and HER2; diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for subgrouping of triple-negative breast cancer, for which there are currently no targeted therapies; and biomarkers for monitoring and characterization of metastatic breast cancer. The review concludes with a critical analysis of the current state of miRNA breast cancer research and the need for further studies using large patient cohorts under well-controlled conditions before considering the clinical implementation of miRNA biomarkers.

Exosome and exosomal microRNA: trafficking, sorting, and function

Exosomes are 40-100 nm nano-sized vesicles that are released from many cell types into the extracellular space. Such vesicles are widely distributed in various body fluids. Recently, mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified in exosomes, which can be taken up by neighboring or distant cells and subsequently modulate recipient cells. This suggests an active sorting mechanism of exosomal miRNAs, since the miRNA profiles of exosomes may differ from those of the parent cells. Exosomal miRNAs play an important role in disease progression, and can stimulate angiogenesis and facilitate metastasis in cancers. In this review, we will introduce the origin and the trafficking of exosomes between cells, display current research on the sorting mechanism of exosomal miRNAs, and briefly describe how exosomes and their miRNAs function in recipient cells. Finally, we will discuss the potential applications of these miRNA-containing vesicles in clinical settings.

Non Coding RNA Molecules as Potential Biomarkers in Breast Cancer

The pursuit of minimally invasive biomarkers is a challenging but exciting area of research. Clearly, such markers would need to be sensitive and specific enough to aid in the detection of breast cancer at an early stage, would monitor progression of the disease, and could predict the individual patient's response to treatment. Unfortunately, to date, markers with such characteristics have not made it to the clinic for breast cancer. Past years, many studies indicated that the non-coding part of our genome (the so called 'junk' DNA), may be an ideal source for these biomarkers. In this chapter, the potential use of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs as biomarkers will be discussed.

The prognostic significance of RUNX2 and miR-10a/10b and their inter-relationship in breast cancer

Background

The major cancer related mortality is caused by metastasis and invasion. It is important to identify genes regulating metastasis and invasion in order to curtail metastatic spread of cancer cells.

Methods

This study investigated the association between RUNX2 and miR-10a/miR-10b and the risk of breast cancer relapse. Expression levels of RUNX2 and miR-10a/b in108 pairs of tumor and non-tumor tissue of breast cancer were assayed by quantitative PCR analysis and evaluated for their prognostic implications.

Results

The median expression levels of RUNX2 and miR-10b in tumor tissue normalized using adjacent non-tumor tissue were significantly higher in relapsed patients than in relapse-free patients. Higher expression of these three genes were significantly correlated with the hazard ratio for breast cancer recurrence (RUNX2: 3.02, 95% CI = 1.50 ~ 6.07; miR-10a: 2.31, 95% CI = 1.00 ~ 5.32; miR-10b: 3.96, 95% CI = 1.21 ~ 12.98). The joint effect of higher expression of all three genes was associated with a hazard ratio of 12.37 (95% CI = 1.62 ~ 94.55) for relapse. In a breast cancer cell line, RUNX2 silencing reduced the expression of miR-10a/b and also impaired cell motility, while RUNX2 overexpression elicited opposite effects.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that higher expression of RUNX2 and miR-10a/b was associated with adverse outcome of breast cancer. Expression levels of RUNX2 and miR-10a/b individually or jointly are potential prognostic factors for predicting breast cancer recurrence. Data from in vitro studies support the notion that RUNX2 promoted cell motility by upregulating miR-10a/b.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-014-0257-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Colorimetric detection of microRNA miR-21 based on nanoplasmonic core-satellite assembly

In order to detect microRNAs (miRNAs), we developed a colorimetric sensing method on the basis of the plasmonic coupling effect. Gold nanoplasmonic particles (GNPs) are assembled in a core-satellite configuration in the presence of target miRNA, inducing remarkable changes in the scattering color and spectra at the picomolar level with selectivity.

The miRNA network: micro-regulator of cell signaling in cancer

The dysregulation of cell signaling plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis and progression. miRNAs have been linked to almost all known aspects of physiological and pathological processes. It is well known that the miRNA network is linked at several and unexpected levels with cancer-related signaling pathways. Our understanding of the roles and regulation of the miRNA network has been extended to include classical cell signaling, termed miRNA network complements cell signaling in cancer. As a transcription factor, tumor suppressor p53 plays a central role in tumor prevention. Recent studies have demonstrated that miRNAs may regulate the expression of the p53 pathway or be regulated by the p53 pathway. These findings added a new and challenging layer of complexity to the p53 pathway and prompted us to contemplate the use of the compensatory mechanisms in therapeutics against cancer. In this review, we have therefore summarized the p53 tumor suppressive pathway as a typical paradigm to elucidate the advances of the compensatory mechanisms. We then go on to critically discuss how the compensatory mechanisms can be used to enable better cancer diagnosis and prognosis and to serve as potential therapeutic targets.

The expression and significance of five types of miRNAs in breast cancer

Background

This study aimed to investigate the expression and significance of 5 types of miRNAs in breast cancer to provide a theoretical and practical foundation for using these miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, thereby improving medical services.

Material/Methods

Stem-loop real-time RT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-145, miR-21, miR-10b, miR-125a, and miR-206 in 35 cases of breast cancer and adjacent normal breast tissues, and to analyze the relationship of miRNAs expression with clinicopathological features of breast cancer. The expression levels of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were examined by immunohistochemistry. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used for the detection of HER-2 and TOP 2A.

Results

The expression levels of miR-145, miR-125a, and miR-206 in breast cancer were lower than those in adjacent normal tissues. MiR-145 was negatively correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, ER, HER-2, and TOP 2A (P<0.05), regardless of age, menstruation, and PR. MiR-125a was correlated with negative node status, negative HER-2 status (P<0.05), whereas tumor size, age, menstruation, ER, and PR were independent factors. MiR-206 expression was correlated with negative ER status, negative PR status, and negative HER-2 status (P<0.05), regardless of age, menstruation, lymph node metastasis, and TOP 2A. MiR-21 and miR-10b expression in breast cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues (P<0.05). MiR-21 in post-menstrual patients with lymph node metastasis was highly expressed (P<0.05), and had no correlations with tumor size, ER, PR, and TOP 2A expression. MiR-10b expression was positively correlated with breast cancer tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and TOP 2A status (P<0.05), but had no correlations with age, menstruation, ER, PR, and HER-2.

Conclusions

MiR-145, miR-21, miR-10b, miR-125a, and miR-206 may play important roles in breast cancer development and invasion.

The expression and significance of five types of miRNAs in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the expression and significance of 5 types of miRNAs in breast cancer to provide a theoretical and practical foundation for using these miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, thereby improving medical services.

MATERIAL/METHODS

Stem-loop real-time RT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-145, miR-21, miR-10b, miR-125a, and miR-206 in 35 cases of breast cancer and adjacent normal breast tissues, and to analyze the relationship of miRNAs expression with clinicopathological features of breast cancer. The expression levels of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were examined by immunohistochemistry. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used for the detection of HER-2 and TOP 2A.

RESULTS

The expression levels of miR-145, miR-125a, and miR-206 in breast cancer were lower than those in adjacent normal tissues. MiR-145 was negatively correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, ER, HER-2, and TOP 2A (P<0.05), regardless of age, menstruation, and PR. MiR-125a was correlated with negative node status, negative HER-2 status (P<0.05), whereas tumor size, age, menstruation, ER, and PR were independent factors. MiR-206 expression was correlated with negative ER status, negative PR status, and negative HER-2 status (P<0.05), regardless of age, menstruation, lymph node metastasis, and TOP 2A. MiR-21 and miR-10b expression in breast cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues (P<0.05). MiR-21 in post-menstrual patients with lymph node metastasis was highly expressed (P<0.05), and had no correlations with tumor size, ER, PR, and TOP 2A expression. MiR-10b expression was positively correlated with breast cancer tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and TOP 2A status (P<0.05), but had no correlations with age, menstruation, ER, PR, and HER-2.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-145, miR-21, miR-10b, miR-125a, and miR-206 may play important roles in breast cancer development and invasion.