The miR-29c-KIAA1199 axis regulates gastric cancer migration by binding with WBP11 and PTP4A3

Analysis of serum peptidome profiles of non-metastatic and metastatic feline mammary carcinoma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

BACKGROUND

Feline mammary carcinoma (FMC) is a common aggressive and highly metastatic cancer affecting female cats. Early detection is essential for preventing local and distant metastasis, thereby improving overall survival rates. While acquiring molecular data before surgery offers significant potential benefits, the current protein biomarkers for monitoring disease progression in non-metastatic FMC (NmFMC) and metastatic FMC (mFMC) are limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the serum peptidome profiles of NmFMC and mFMC using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A cross-sectional study was conducted to compare serum peptidome profiles in 13 NmFMC, 23 mFMC and 18 healthy cats. The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis was performed on non-trypsinized samples.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 8284 expressed proteins observed, several proteins were found to be associated with human breast cancer. In NmFMC, distinctive protein expressions encompassed double-stranded RNA-binding protein Staufen homolog 2 (STAU2), associated with cell proliferation, along with bromodomain adjacent to zinc finger domain 2A (BAZ2A) and gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit epsilon (GABRE), identified as potential treatment targets. Paradoxically, positive prognostic markers emerged, such as complement C1q like 3 (C1QL3) and erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1 (EPB41 or 4.1R). Within the mFMC group, overexpressed proteins associated with poor prognosis were exhibited, including B-cell lymphoma 6 transcription repressor (BCL6), thioredoxin reductase 3 (TXNRD3) and ceruloplasmin (CP). Meanwhile, the presence of POU class 5 homeobox (POU5F1 or OCT4) and laminin subunit alpha 1 (LAMA1), reported as metastatic biomarkers, was noted.

CONCLUSION

The presence of both pro- and anti-proliferative proteins was observed, potentially indicating a distinctive characteristic of NmFMC. Conversely, proteins associated with poor prognosis and metastasis were noted in the mFMC group.

The splicing factor WBP11 mediates MCM7 intron retention to promote the malignant progression of ovarian cancer

Accumulating studies suggest that splicing factors play important roles in many diseases including human cancers. Our study revealed that WBP11, a core splicing factor, is highly expressed in ovarian cancer (OC) tissues and associated with a poor prognosis. WBP11 inhibition significantly impaired the proliferation and mobility of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, FOXM1 transcriptionally activated WBP11 expression by directly binding to its promoter in OC cells. Importantly, RNA-seq and alternative splicing event analysis revealed that WBP11 silencing decreased the expression of MCM7 by regulating intron 4 retention. MCM7 inhibition attenuated the increase in malignant behaviors of WBP11-overexpressing OC cells. Overall, WBP11 was identified as an oncogenic splicing factor that contributes to malignant progression by repressing intron 4 retention of MCM7 in OC cells. Thus, WBP11 is an oncogenic splicing factor with potential therapeutic and prognostic implications in OC.

A Prognostic Methylation-Driven Two-Gene Signature in Medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most common pediatric brain tumors and it is estimated that one-third of patients will not achieve long-term survival. Conventional prognostic parameters have limited and unreliable correlations with MB outcome, presenting a major challenge for patients' clinical improvement. Acknowledging this issue, our aim was to build a gene signature and evaluate its potential as a new prognostic model for patients with the disease. In this study, we used six datasets totaling 1679 samples including RNA gene expression and DNA methylation data from primary MB as well as control samples from healthy cerebellum. We identified methylation-driven genes (MDGs) in MB, genes whose expression is correlated with their methylation. We employed LASSO regression, incorporating the MDGs as a parameter to develop the prognostic model. Through this approach, we derived a two-gene signature (GS-2) of candidate prognostic biomarkers for MB (CEMIP and NCBP3). Using a risk score model, we confirmed the GS-2 impact on overall survival (OS) with Kaplan-Meier analysis. We evaluated its robustness and accuracy with receiver operating characteristic curves predicting OS at 1, 3, and 5 years in multiple independent datasets. The GS-2 showed highly significant results as an independent prognostic biomarker compared to traditional MB markers. The methylation-regulated GS-2 risk score model can effectively classify patients with MB into high and low-risk, reinforcing the importance of this epigenetic modification in the disease. Such genes stand out as promising prognostic biomarkers with potential application for MB treatment.

The role of CEMIP in cancers and its transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation

CEMIP is a protein known for inducing cell migration and binding to hyaluronic acid. Functioning as a hyaluronidase, CEMIP primarily facilitates the breakdown of the extracellular matrix component, hyaluronic acid, thereby regulating various signaling pathways. Recent evidence has highlighted the significant role of CEMIP in different cancers, associating it with diverse pathological states. While identified as a biomarker for several diseases, CEMIP's mechanism in cancer seems distinct. Accumulating data suggests that CEMIP expression is triggered by chemical modifications to itself and other influencing factors. Transcriptionally, chemical alterations to the CEMIP promoter and involvement of transcription factors such as AP-1, HIF, and NF-κB regulate CEMIP levels. Similarly, specific miRNAs have been found to post-transcriptionally regulate CEMIP. This review provides a comprehensive summary of CEMIP's role in various cancers and explores how both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms control its expression.

ALKBH5 regulates paclitaxel resistance in NSCLC via inhibiting CEMIP-mediated EMT

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent mRNA modification, and it is verified to be closely correlated with cancer occurrence and progression. The m6A demethylase ALKBH5 (alkB homolog 5) is dysregulated in various cancers. However, the role and underlying mechanism of ALKBH5 in the pathogenesis and especially the chemo-resistance of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poorly elucidated. The current study shows that ALKBH5 expression is reduced in paclitaxel (PTX) resistant NSCLC cells and down-regulation of ALKBH5 usually implies poor prognosis of NSCLC patients. Over-expression of ALKBH5 in PTX-resistant cells can suppress cell proliferation and enhance chemo-sensitivity, while knockdown of ALKBH5 exerts the opposite effect, which further supports the tumor suppressive role of ALKBH5. Over-expression of ALKBH5 can also reverse the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in PTX-resistant cancer cells. Mechanistically, data from RNA-seq, real-time PCR and western blotting indicate that CEMIP (cell migration inducing hyaluronidase 1), also known as KIAA1199, may be the downstream target of ALKBH5. Furthermore, ALKBH5 negatively regulates the CEMIP level by reducing the stability of CEMIP mRNA. Collectively, the current data demonstrate that the ALKBH5/CEMIP axis modulates the EMT process in NSCLC, which in turn regulates the chemo-sensitivity of cancer cells to PTX.

Identification and verification of diagnostic biomarkers in recurrent pregnancy loss via machine learning algorithm and WGCNA

Background

Recurrent pregnancy loss defined as the occurrence of two or more pregnancy losses before 20-24 weeks of gestation, is a prevalent and significant pathological condition that impacts human reproductive health. However, the underlying mechanism of RPL remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the biomarkers and molecular mechanisms associated with RPL and explore novel treatment strategies for clinical applications.

Methods

The GEO database was utilized to retrieve the RPL gene expression profile GSE165004. This profile underwent differential expression analysis, WGCNA, functional enrichment, and subsequent analysis of RPL gene expression using LASSO regression, SVM-RFE, and RandomForest algorithms for hub gene screening. ANN model were constructed to assess the performance of hub genes in the dataset. The expression of hub genes in both the RPL and control group samples was validated using RT-qPCR. The immune cell infiltration level of RPL was assessed using CIBERSORT. Additionally, pan-cancer analysis was conducted using Sangerbox, and small-molecule drug screening was performed using CMap.

Results

A total of 352 DEGs were identified, including 198 up-regulated genes and 154 down-regulated genes. Enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs were primarily associated with Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, the Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway, and various metabolism-related pathways. The turquoise module, which showed the highest relevance to clinical symptoms based on WGCNA results, contained 104 DEGs. Three hub genes, WBP11, ACTR2, and NCSTN, were identified using machine learning algorithms. ROC curves demonstrated a strong diagnostic value when the three hub genes were combined. RT-qPCR confirmed the low expression of WBP11 and ACTR2 in RPL, whereas NCSTN exhibited high expression. The immune cell infiltration analysis results indicated an imbalance of macrophages in RPL. Meanwhile, these three hub genes exhibited aberrant expression in multiple malignancies and were associated with a poor prognosis. Furthermore, we identified several small-molecule drugs.

Conclusion

This study identifies and validates hub genes in RPL, which may lead to significant advancements in understanding the molecular mechanisms and treatment strategies for this condition.

Research on the biological mechanism and potential application of CEMIP

Cell migration-inducing protein (CEMIP), also known as KIAA1199 and hyaluronan-binding protein involved in hyaluronan depolymerization, is a new member of the hyaluronidase family that degrades hyaluronic acid (HA) and remodels the extracellular matrix. In recent years, some studies have reported that CEMIP can promote the proliferation, invasion, and adhesion of various tumor cells and can play an important role in bacterial infection and arthritis. This review focuses on the pathological mechanism of CEMIP in a variety of diseases and expounds the function of CEMIP from the aspects of inhibiting cell apoptosis, promoting HA degradation, inducing inflammatory responses and related phosphorylation, adjusting cellular microenvironment, and regulating tissue fibrosis. The diagnosis and treatment strategies targeting CEMIP are also summarized. The various functions of CEMIP show its great potential application value.

CEMIP (HYBID, KIAA1199): structure, function and expression in health and disease

CEMIP (cell migration-inducing protein), also known as KIAA1199 or HYBID, is a protein involved in the depolymerisation of hyaluronic acid (HA), a major glycosaminoglycan component of the extracellular matrix. CEMIP was originally described in patients affected by nonsyndromic hearing loss and has subsequently been shown to play a key role in tumour initiation and progression, as well as arthritis, atherosclerosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Despite the vast literature associating CEMIP with these diseases, its biology remains elusive. The present review article summarises all the major scientific evidence regarding its structure, function, role and expression, and attempts to cast light on a protein that modulates EMT, fibrosis and tissue inflammation, an unmet key aspect in several inflammatory disease conditions.

A comprehensive insight into the correlation between ncRNAs and the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway in gastric cancer pathogenesis

During the past decades, gastric cancer (GC) has emerged as one of the most frequent malignancies with a growing rate of prevalence around the world. Despite considerable advances in therapeutic methods, the prognosis and management of patients with gastric cancer (GC) continue to be poor. As one of the candidate molecular targets in the treatment of many types of cancer, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway includes a family of proteins that have important functions in adult tissue homeostasis and embryonic development. The aberrant regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is strongly correlated with the initiation and development of numerous cancers, including GC. Therefore, Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been identified as one of the main targets for extending therapeutic approaches for GC patients. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs and long ncRNAs, are important components of epigenetic mechanisms in gene regulation. They play vital roles in various molecular and cellular processes and regulate many signaling pathways, such as Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Insights into these regulatory molecules involved in GC development may lead to the identification of potential targets for overcoming the limitations of current therapeutic approaches. Consequently, this review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of ncRNAs interactions involved in Wnt/β-catenin pathway function in GC with diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives. Video Abstract.

KIAA1199 deficiency enhances skeletal stem cell differentiation to osteoblasts and promotes bone regeneration

Upon transplantation, skeletal stem cells (also known as bone marrow stromal or mesenchymal stem cells) can regulate bone regeneration by producing secreted factors. Here, we identify KIAA1199 as a bone marrow stromal cell-secreted factor in vitro and in vivo. KIAA1199 plasma levels of patients positively correlate with osteoporotic fracture risk and expression levels of KIAA1199 in patient bone marrow stromal cells negatively correlates with their osteogenic differentiation potential. KIAA1199-deficient bone marrow stromal cells exhibit enhanced osteoblast differentiation in vitro and ectopic bone formation in vivo. Consistently, KIAA1199 knockout mice display increased bone mass and biomechanical strength, as well as an increased bone formation rate. They also exhibit accelerated healing of surgically generated bone defects and are protected from ovariectomy-induced bone loss. Mechanistically, KIAA1199 regulates osteogenesis by inhibiting the production of osteopontin by osteoblasts, via integrin-mediated AKT and ERK-MAPK intracellular signaling. Thus, KIAA1199 is a regulator of osteoblast differentiation and bone regeneration and could be targeted for the treatment or management of low bone mass conditions.

KIAA1199 Correlates With Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Infiltration in Lung Adenocarcinoma as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker

Background: KIAA1199 has been considered a key regulator of carcinogenesis. However, the relationship between KIAA1199 and immune infiltrates, as well as its prognostic value in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. Methods: The expression of KIAA1199 and its influence on tumor prognosis were analyzed using a series of databases, comprising TIMER, GEPIA, UALCAN, LCE, Prognoscan and Kaplan-Meier Plotter. Further, immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blot (WB) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to verify our findings. The cBioPortal was used to investigate the genomic alterations of KIAA1199. Prediction of candidate microRNA (miRNAs) and transcription factor (TF) targeting KIAA1199, as well as GO and KEGG analyses, were performed based on LinkedOmics. TIMER and TISIDB databases were used to explore the relationship between KIAA1199 and tumor immune infiltration. Results: High expression of KIAA1199 was identified in LUAD and Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) patients. High expression of KIAA1199 indicated a worse prognosis in LUAD patients. The results of IHC and WB analyses showed that the expression level of KIAA1199 in tumor tissues was higher than that in adjacent tissues. GO and KEGG analyses indicated KIAA1199 was mainly involved in extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction and extracellular matrix structure constituent. KIAA1199 was positively correlated with infiltrating levels of CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophil cells, dendritic cells, and showed positive relationship with immune marker subsets expression of a variety of immunosuppressive cells. Conclusion: High expression of KIAA1199 predicts a poor prognosis of LUAD patients. KIAA1199 might exert its carcinogenic role in the tumor microenvironment via participating in the extracellular matrix formation and regulating the infiltration of immune cells in LUAD. The results indicate that KIAA1199 might be a novel biomarker for evaluating prognosis and immune cell infiltration in LUAD.

CEMIP, a Promising Biomarker That Promotes the Progression and Metastasis of Colorectal and Other Types of Cancer

Simple Summary

CEMIP (cell migration-inducing and hyaluronan-binding protein) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including colorectal and other forms of cancer. The molecular functions of CEMIP are currently under investigation and include the degradation of the extracellular matrix component hyaluronic acid (HA), as well as the regulation of a number of signaling pathways. In this review, we survey our current understanding of how CEMIP contributes to tumor growth and metastasis, focusing particularly on colorectal cancer, for which it serves as a promising biomarker.

Abstract

Originally discovered as a hypothetical protein with unknown function, CEMIP (cell migration-inducing and hyaluronan-binding protein) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including deafness, arthritis, atherosclerosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and cancer. Although a comprehensive definition of its molecular functions is still in progress, major functions ascribed to CEMIP include the depolymerization of the extracellular matrix component hyaluronic acid (HA) and the regulation of a number of signaling pathways. CEMIP is a promising biomarker for colorectal cancer. Its expression is associated with poor prognosis for patients suffering from colorectal and other types of cancer and functionally contributes to tumor progression and metastasis. Here, we review our current understanding of how CEMIP is able to foster the process of tumor growth and metastasis, focusing particularly on colorectal cancer. Studies in cancer cells suggest that CEMIP exerts its pro-tumorigenic and pro-metastatic activities through stimulating migration and invasion, suppressing cell death and promoting survival, degrading HA, regulating pro-metastatic signaling pathways, inducing the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) program, and contributing to the metabolic reprogramming and pre-metastatic conditioning of future metastatic microenvironments. There is also increasing evidence indicating that CEMIP may be expressed in cells within the tumor microenvironment that promote tumorigenesis and metastasis formation, although this remains in an early stage of investigation. CEMIP expression and activity can be therapeutically targeted at a number of levels, and preliminary findings in animal models show encouraging results in terms of reduced tumor growth and metastasis, as well as combating therapy resistance. Taken together, CEMIP represents an exciting new player in the progression of colorectal and other types of cancer that holds promise as a therapeutic target and biomarker.

Research progress on the circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours worldwide. Genetic and epigenetic alterations are key factors in gastric carcinogenesis and drug resistance to chemotherapy. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulation models have defined circRNA/lncRNA as miRNA sponges that indirectly regulate miRNA downstream target genes. The ceRNA regulatory network is related to the malignant biological behaviour of gastric cancer. The circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis may be a marker for the early diagnosis and prognosis of gastric cancer and a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer. Exosomal ncRNAs play an important role in gastric cancer and are expected to be ideal biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of gastric cancer. This review summarizes the specific ceRNA regulatory network (circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA) discovered in gastric cancer in recent years, which may provide new ideas or strategies for early clinical diagnosis, further development, and application.

Concurrent Overexpression of Two Hyaluronidases, KIAA1199 and TMEM2, Strongly Predicts Shorter Survival After Resection in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by accelerated hyaluronan metabolism. Our previous studies have shown increased expression of 2 newly identified hyaluronidases, KIAA1199 and transmembrane protein 2 (TMEM2), in PDAC. However, the relationship between these 2 hyaluronidases is unknown. In the present study, we investigated the correlation between KIAA1199 and TMEM2 expression in PDAC.

METHODS

Using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed KIAA1199 and TMEM2 mRNA expression in 11 PDAC cell lines and frozen tissues from 12 patients with PDAC. We used immunohistochemistry to investigate expression patterns of KIAA1199 and TMEM2 in archival tissues obtained from 92 patients with PDAC who underwent surgical resection. We compared survival between 4 groups according to expression patterns of KIAA1199 and TMEM2.

RESULTS

We found a significantly positive correlation between KIAA1199 and TMEM2 mRNA in PDAC cell lines and tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis found that median overall survival was 30.2 months in patients with low expression of KIAA1199 and TMEM2 and 12.5 months in those with high expression of both. Patients with high expression of KIAA1199 and TMEM2 had significantly shorter survival than other patient groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Concurrent overexpression of these 2 hyaluronidases could be a strong prognostic marker in PDAC.

Calreticulin enhances gastric cancer metastasis by dimethylating H3K9 in the E-cadherin promoter region mediating by G9a

The latest study shows that gastric cancer (GC) ranked the fifth most common cancer (5.6%) with over 1 million estimated new cases annually and the fourth most common cause of cancer death (7.7%) globally in 2020. Metastasis is the leading cause of GC treatment failure. Therefore, clarifying the regulatory mechanisms for GC metastatic process is necessary. In the current study, we discovered that calreticulin (CALR) was highly expressed in GC tissues and related to lymph node metastasis and patient’s terrible prognosis. The introduction of CALR dramatically promoted GC cell migration in vitro and in vivo, while the repression of CALR got the opposite effects. Cell migration is a functional consequence of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and is related to adhesion of cells. Additionally, we observed that CALR inhibition or overexpression regulated the expression of EMT markers (E-cadherin, ZO-1, Snail, N-cadherin, and ZEB1) and cellular adhesive moleculars (Fibronectin, integrin β1and MMP2). Mechanistically, our data indicated that CALR could mediate DNA methylation of E-cadherin promoter by interacting with G9a, a major euchromatin methyltransferase responsible for methylation of histone H3 on lysine 9(H3K9me2) and recruiting G9a to the E-cadherin promoter. Knockdown of G9a in CALR overexpressing models restored E-cadherin expression and blocked the stimulatory effects of CALR on GC cell migration. Taken together, these findings not only reveal critical roles of CALR medicated GC metastasis but also provide novel treatment strategies for GC.

CEMIP promotes extracellular matrix-detached prostate cancer cells survival by inhibiting ferroptosis

Cells detached from the extracellular matrix (ECM) can trigger different modes of cell death, and the survival of ECM‐detached cells is one of the prerequisites for the metastatic cascade. Ferroptosis, a form of iron‐dependent programmed cell death, has recently been found to be involved in matrix‐detached cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms by which ECM‐detached cells escape ferroptosis are not fully understood. Here, we observed that cell migration‐inducing protein (CEMIP) upregulation facilitates ferroptosis resistance during ECM detachment by promoting cystine uptake in prostate cancer (PCa) cells. Meanwhile, silencing CEMIP causes it to lose its ability to promote cystine uptake and inhibit ferroptosis. Mechanistically, the interaction of CEMIP with inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor type 3 (ITPR3) modulates calcium ion (Ca²⁺) leakage from the endoplasmic reticulum, activating calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), which further facilitates nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (NRF2) phosphorylation and nuclear localization, leading to elevated transcription of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), a glutamate/cystine antiporter, in PCa cells. Our findings delineate a novel role of CEMIP in ferroptosis resistance during ECM detachment and provide new insights into therapeutic strategies for metastatic PCa.

lncRNA/miR-29c-Mediated High Expression of LOX Can Influence the Immune Status and Chemosensitivity and Can Forecast the Poor Prognosis of Gastric Cancer

Gastric carcinoma is the fourth most prevalent cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide because of dismal prognosis and few therapeutic options. Accumulated studies have indicated that targeting lysyl oxidase (LOX) family members may serve as an anticancer strategy. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms of LOX in stomach carcinoma are still unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that LOX is significantly different in 13 types of cancers and may act as a potential therapeutic target, especially in stomach carcinoma. Moreover, overexpression of LOX in gastric carcinoma was validated by multiple databases and contributed to the poor overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and post-progression survival (PPS) of stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) patients. Next, based on the ceRNA hypothesis, the HIF1A-AS2/RP11-366L20.2-miR-29c axis was characterized as the upstream regulatory mechanism of LOX gene overexpression in gastric cancer by combining correlation analysis, expression analysis, and survival analysis. Finally, we illustrated that LOX gene overexpression leads to dismal prognosis of gastric cancer, perhaps through promoting M2 macrophage polarization and tumor immune escape and enhancing drug resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Our research demonstrate that LOX may be potentially applied as a novel prognostic marker and targeting inhibition of LOX holds promise as a treatment strategy for gastric cancer.

Phyto-targeting the CEMIP Expression as a Strategy to Prevent Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis

INTRODUCTION

Metastasis of primary pancreatic cancer (PC) to adjacent or distant organs is responsible for the poor survival rate of affected individuals. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy are currently being prescribed to treat PC in addition to surgical resection. Surgical resection is the preferred treatment for PC that leads to 20% of 5-year survival, but only less than 20% of patients are eligible for surgical resection because of the poor prognosis. To improve the prognosis and clinical outcome, early diagnostic markers need to be identified, and targeting them would be of immense benefit to increase the efficiency of the treatment. Cell migration-inducing hyaluronan-binding protein (CEMIP) is identified as an important risk factor for the metastasis of various cancers, including PC. Emerging studies have pointed out the crucial role of CEMIP in the regulation of various signaling mechanisms, leading to enhanced migration and metastasis of PC.

METHODS

The published findings on PC metastasis, phytoconstituents, and CEMIP were retrieved from Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library. Computational tools, such as gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) and Kaplan-Meier (KM) plotter, were used to study the relationship between CEMIP expression and survival of PC individuals.

RESULTS

Gene expression analysis using the GEPIA database identified a stupendous increase in the CEMIP transcript in PC compared to adjacent normal tissues. KM plotter analysis revealed the impact of CEMIP on the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) among PC patients. Subsequently, several risk factors associated with PC development were screened, and their ability to regulate CEMIP gene expression was analyzed using computational tools.

CONCLUSION

The current review is focused on gathering information regarding the regulatory role of phytocomponents in PC migration and exploring their possible impact on the CEMIP expression.

The role of CEMIP in tumors: An update based on cellular and molecular insights

CEMIP was initially identified as an inner-ear specific protein in which three-point mutations cause folding changes in protein structure associated with non-syndromic hearing loss. CEMIP was also involved in other cellular activities, such as hyaluronan depolymerization independent of CD44 and other hyaluronidases. Growing evidence has demonstrated that CEMIP is involved in the progression of various tumors. However, whether the oncogenic effects of CEMIP relies on its enzymatic activity remain elusive. CEMIP is significantly related to metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with various tumors, suggesting that CEMIP is a potential, highly specific diagnostic tumor marker. Most preclinical experiments have shown that the overexpression of CEMIP in tumors mainly affects the adhesion, metastasis, and invasion of tumor cells and EMT. Other studies have also demonstrated that CEMIP can promote a variety of tumor processes by affecting tumor proliferation, dedifferentiation, and the tumor microenvironment. In terms of molecular mechanisms, existing research has shown that CEMIP mainly affects the WNT and EGFR signaling pathways. In addition, a variety of miRNAs have been shown to inhibit CEMIP in tumors. This paper elaborates on the clinical characteristics and regulatory dysfunction of CEMIP in different cancers. CEMIP provides a new potential target for therapy of multiple tumors, which is worthy of further study.

MiR-29c inhibits the metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma and promotes its cell cycle arrest by targeting SERPINH1

Background

A large number of studies have shown that the imbalance of micro RNA (miRNA) and its target genes can promote the development of tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological role and molecular mechanism of serpin peptidase inhibitor clade H member 1 (SERPINH1) and its upstream regulator miR-29c in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods

The expression levels of SERPINH1 and miR-29c were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. The proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and cell cycle were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, would healing assay, transwell assay, flow cytometry, and dual luciferase reporter assay.

Results

High expression of SERPINH1 was detected in patients with OSCC and it can be used as a prognostic biomarker for OSCC. Cell function experiments showed that silencing the expression of SERPINH1 inhibited the proliferation and migration of OSCC cells and caused cell cycle arrest at S phase. Bioinformatics analysis showed that there was a binding site between miR-29c and SERPINH1, indicating that miR-29c may regulate the expression of SERPINH1. In addition, miR-29c overexpression inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of OSCC cells, and the subsequent rescue experiment showed that SERPINH1 overexpression can reverse the inhibitory effect of miR-29c in OSCC cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest.

Conclusions

The miRNA, miR-29c can regulate the proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle of OSCC cells by targeting SERPINH1.

Decreased expression of ATF3, orchestrated by β-catenin/TCF3, miR-17-5p and HOXA11-AS, promoted gastric cancer progression via increased β-catenin and CEMIP

ATF3 has been reported to be dysregulated in various cancers and involved in various steps of tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying the abnormal expression of ATF3 and its biological function in gastric cancer (GC) have not been well investigated. Here, we report ATF3 as one of the key regulators of GC development and progression. Patients with low ATF3 expression had shorter survival and a poorer prognosis. In vitro and in vivo assays investigating ATF3 alterations revealed a complex integrated phenotype that affects cell growth and migration. Strikingly, high-throughput sequencing and microarray analysis of cells with ATF3 silencing or of ATF3-low GC tissues indicated alterations in the Wnt signaling pathway, focal adhesions and adherens junctions. Mechanistically, the expression of β-catenin and cell migration inducing hyaluronidase 1 (CEMIP) was significantly upregulated in GC cells with downregulated ATF3, which was synergistically repressed by the β-catenin/TCF3 signaling axis and noncoding RNA miR-17-5p and HOXA11-AS. In addition, we found that WDR5 expression was promoted by TCF3 and is involved in miR-17-5p and HOXA11-AS activation in GC cells. Taken together, our findings revealed the mechanism of ATF3 downregulation and its biological role in regulating the expression of Wnt signaling-related genes during GC progression, suggesting new informative biomarkers of malignancy and therapeutic directions for GC patients.

New treatments for gastric cancer could involve controlling the activity of a regulatory gene and associated signaling pathway. Over-activation of the Wnt signaling pathway, which regulates many cellular functions, occurs in around half of gastric cancers. Further, the activating transcription factor 3 gene (ATF3) is thought to influence tumorigenesis, although its role in gastric cancer is unclear. Guohua Xie and co-workers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, explored the function of ATF3 in human gastric cancer tissues. Patients with low ATF3 expression had poorer prognosis and shorter life expectancy. The team discovered that reduced expression of ATF3 triggered the increased expression of two of its target genes, which then altered Wnt signaling. Reduced ATF3 expression also boosted the invasiveness of gastric cancer cells. Initial results suggest that overexpression of ATF3 could suppress gastric cancer progression.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of MicroRNAs in Metastasis and Recurrence of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

MicroRNAs have been proven to make remarkable differences in the clinical behaviors of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study aims to systematically analyze whether differential expression levels of microRNAs are related to recurrence or metastasis in patients with HNSCC. A comprehensive search of the PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL was conducted up to July 24^th, 2021. Data were collected and combined from studies reporting recurrence-free survival (RFS) of HNSCC patients with high microRNA expression compared to those with low expression. Besides, studies providing necessary data for evaluating the diagnostic value of microRNAs for detecting recurrence and metastasis based on their expression levels were also included and combined. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) value for the outcomes of RFS in 1,093 HNSCC samples from 10 studies was 2.51 (95%CI: 2.13–2.96). A sensitivity of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.72–0.85) and specificity of 0.77 (95%CI: 0.68–0.83) were observed in three studies, of which 93 patients with recurrence and 82 nonrecurrence controls were included, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.81–0.88). Additionally, high diagnostic accuracy of microRNAs in detecting lymph node metastasis (LNM) was also reported. In conclusion, two panels of microRNAs showed the potential to predict recurrence or diagnose recurrence in HNSCC patients, respectively, which could facilitate prognosis prediction and diagnosis of clinical behaviors in HNSCC patients.

miR-4677-3p participates proliferation and metastases of gastric cancer cell via CEMIP-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Gastric cancer is one of the top three leading causes of cancer-related death in the world. Evidence indicated that miR-4677-3p was dysregulated and involved in modulating invasion and migration in multiple types of cancer cells. The aim of this research is to explore the function and mechanism of miR-4677-3p in the development of gastric cancer. In this study, we discovered that miR-4677-3p was down-regulated in gastric cancer tissues and cells. Over-expression of miR-4677-3p suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Furthermore, miR-4677-3p directly bond to CEMIP 3'UTR region and inhibited CEMIP expression. CEMIP promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells via accelerating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. siCEMIP or PI3K/AKT signaling inhibitor (Akti-1/2 and LY294002) partly reversed the effects of miR-4677-3p on the cellular growth and metastasis of gastric cancer. In general, miR-4677-3p regulated the development of gastric cancer through CEMIP-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway axis. This study verified the function and molecular mechanism of miR-4677-3p in gastric cancer cells, and may provide a potential diagnosis/prognosis target for patients with gastric cancer.

Prognostic marker identification based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis and associated in vitro confirmation in gastric cancer

The aim of this study was to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of Gastric cancer (GC) and identify new prognostic markers for GC. RNA sequencing data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and 418 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify six hub modules related to the clinical features of GC. Cytoscape software was used to identify five hub genes in the co-expression network, including CST1, CEMIP, COL8A1, PMEPA1, and MSLN. The TCGA database was used to verify hub gene expression in GC. The overall survival in the high CEMIP expression group was significantly lower than that of patients in the low CEMIP expression group. CEMIP expression was also found to be negatively correlated with B cell and CD4 + T cell infiltration. Further, associated in vitro experiments confirmed that CEMIP downregulation suppressed the proliferation and migration of GC cells and impaired the chemoresistance of GC cells to 5-fluorouracil.

Our study effectively identified and validated prognostic biomarkers for GC, laying a new foundation for the therapeutic target, occurrence, and development of gastric cancer.

A comprehensive analysis of SNPs and CNVs identifies novel markers associated with disease outcomes in colorectal cancer

We aimed to examine the associations of a genome-wide set of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 254 copy number variations (CNVs) and/or insertion/deletions (INDELs) with clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer patients (n = 505). We also aimed to investigate whether their associations changed (e.g., appeared, diminished) over time. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards and piece-wise Cox regression models were used to examine the associations. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets were used for replication purposes and to examine the gene expression differences between tumor and nontumor tissue samples. A common SNP (WBP11-rs7314075) was associated with disease-specific survival with P-value of 3.2 × 10^-8 . Association of this region with disease-specific survival was also detected in the TCGA patient cohort. Two expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) were identified in this locus that were implicated in the regulation of ERP27 expression. Interestingly, expression levels of ERP27 and WBP11 were significantly different between colorectal tumors and nontumor tissues. Three SNPs predicted the risk of recurrent disease only after 5 years postdiagnosis. Overall, our study identified novel variants, one of which also showed an association in the TCGA dataset, but no CNVs/INDELs, that associated with outcomes in colorectal cancer. Three SNPs were candidate predictors of long-term recurrence/metastasis risk.

Overexpression of KIAA1199, a novel strong hyaluronidase, is a poor prognostic factor in patients with osteosarcoma

Background

Hyaluronan (HA) has been shown to play important roles in the growth, invasion, and metastasis of malignant tumors. KIAA1199, which has potent HA-degrading activity, has been reported to be expressed in various malignancies and associated with patient prognosis. However, there are no reports on the expression of KIAA1199 in osteosarcoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of KIAA1199 and HA expression in osteosarcoma tissues on the prognosis and other clinical characteristics of osteosarcoma patients.

Methods

From 2003 to 2013, we included 49 patients with osteosarcoma at our institution, whose FFPE (formalin fixed paraffin embedded) tissue was available at the time of biopsy. The expressions of KIAA1199 and HA in each sample were assessed by immunohistochemistry using the primary antibody for KIAA1199 and HA-binding protein (HABP), respectively. For evaluation of the positivity of KIAA1199 staining, we divided the samples into two groups: High group with more than 75% positive staining and Low group with less than 75% positive staining. In the HABP staining, those with more than and less than 60% were assigned to a High group, and Low group respectively. Various clinical features were correlated with staining positivity. Prognostic factors including positivity of the staining were analyzed. Levels of mRNA expression for enzymes related to HA metabolism were assessed in two osteosarcoma cell lines using real-time RT-PCR.

Results

In KIAA1199 staining, high positivity was significantly correlated with occurrence of distant metastases (P = 0.002). The necrosis rate after preoperative chemotherapy was significantly lower in the High positivity group (59%), compared to that in the Low group (84.8%) (P = 0.003). HABP positivity was not correlated with any demographic variables, although the Low positivity group had a significantly better overall survival than the High group with KIAA1199 and HABP staining (P = 0.026 and P = 0.029, respectively). In multivariable analysis, KIAA1199 (P = 0.036) and HABP staining (P = 0.002), location (P = 0.001), and distant metastasis at initial diagnosis (P < 0.001) were identified as significant prognostic factors. KIAA1199 and hyaluronan synthase mRNA were expressed at different levels in the two osteosarcoma cell lines.

Conclusions

Our results showed that high expression of KIAA1199 and HA are both poor prognostic factors in osteosarcoma. KIAA1199 may be a useful marker for distant metastasis and chemoresistance.

MicroRNAs are involved in the development and progression of gastric cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recognized as an essential component of the RNA family, exerting multiple and intricate biological functions, particularly in the process of tumorigenesis, proliferation, and metastatic progression. MiRNAs are altered in gastric cancer (GC), showing activity as both tumor suppressors and oncogenes, although their true roles have not been fully understood. This review will focus upon the recent advances of miRNA studies related to the regulatory mechanisms of gastric tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle. We hope to provide an in-depth insight into the mechanistic role of miRNAs in GC development and progression. In particular, we summarize the latest studies relevant to miRNAs' impact upon the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, tumor microenvironment, and chemoresistance in GC cells. We expect to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involving miRNAs for better understanding the etiology of GC, and facilitating the development of new treatment regimens for the treatment of GC.

Recent advances of miRNAs in the development and clinical application of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. The mechanism of how GC develops is vague, and therapies are inefficient. The function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumorigenesis has attracted the attention from many scientists. During the development of GC, miRNAs function in the regulation of different phenotypes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis, drug sensitivity and resistance, and stem-cell-like properties. MiRNAs were evaluated for use in diagnostic and prognostic predictions and exhibited considerable accuracy. Although many problems exist for the application of therapy, current studies showed the antitumor effects of miRNAs. This paper reviews recent advances in miRNA mechanisms in the development of GC and the potential use of miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of GC.

Novel Regulatory Factors and Small-Molecule Inhibitors of FGFR4 in Cancer

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is a tyrosine kinase receptor that is a member of the fibroblast growth factor receptor family and is stimulated by highly regulated ligand binding. Excessive expression of the receptor and its ligand, especially FGF19, occurs in many types of cancer. Abnormal FGFR4 production explains these cancer formations, and therefore, this receptor has emerged as a potential target for inhibiting cancer development. This review discusses the diverse mechanisms of oncogenic activation of FGFR4 and highlights some currently available inhibitors targeting FGFR4.

The circACC1/miR-29c-3p/FOXP1 network plays a key role in gastric cancer by regulating cell proliferation

Although substantial progress has been made in early detection and treatment of GC, this disease remains a major burden worldwide. CircRNAs have potential as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers in tumorigenesis. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the role and mechanism of circACC1 in GC cell proliferation. The expression levels of circACC1, miR-29c-3p and FOXP1 were validated in GC tissue samples and adjacent tissue samples. The impact of circACC1 and miR-29c-3p on overall survival was evaluated in GC specimens. A functional study was performed on MKN-45 and BGC823 cells transfected with different vectors. Cell proliferation was assayed by CCK-8 and colony formation assays. The interactions among circACC1, miR-29c-3p and FOXP1 were tested by RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. This study demonstrated that circACC1 is upregulated in GC tissues, and its upregulation predicts poorer OS in GC patients. Upregulation of circACC1 promoted GC cell proliferation, as indicated by CCK-8 and colony formation assays. A mechanistic study revealed that the pro-oncogenic effect of circACC1 was mainly caused by binding to miR-29c-3p, thus regulating expression of its downstream target FOXP1. The circACC1/miR-29c-3p/FOXP1 network plays a key role in gastric cancer by regulating cell proliferation.

The emerging role of KIAA1199 in cancer development and therapy

KIAA1199, also known as CEMIP or HYBID, is an important member of the Human Unidentified Gene-Encoded (HUGE) database. Accumulated evidence has revealed that KIAA1199 is associated with tumor progression and metastasis in numerous malignancies, including colorectal, liver, gastric, pancreatic, breast, lung, prostate, ovarian and papillary thyroid cancers. As an oncogene, it plays crucial role in the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration of various tumor cells. In addition, KIAA1199 is also involved in the regulation of multiple signal pathways such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), Wnt/ β-catenin, MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt. In this review, we summarized up to date advancement on the role of KIAA1199 in human cancer development, progression, and metastasis. We also addressed KIAA1199 as a potential therapeutic target for cancer therapy.

MicroRNA-760 inhibits cell viability and migration through down-regulating BST2 in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most common types of carcinoma with a threat to global health. MicroRNA-760 (miR-760) was significantly down-regulated in the primary tumour of patients with advanced gastric cancer. However, the role of miR-760 in gastric cancer is still unclear. Herein, miR-760 was down-regulated in gastric cancer tissues. Moreover, miR-760 overexpression and knockdown were conducted in gastric cancer cells (MGC-803 and SGC-7901) in vitro. The in vitro functional assays proved that miR-760 overexpression reduced cell viability, cell cycle, migration and invasion, promoted apoptosis and suppressed MMP activity in MGC-803 cells. Conversely, miR-760 knockdown led to the opposite in SGC-7901 cells. Notably, bone marrow stromal antigen 2 (BST2) was verified as a target gene of miR-760. MiR-760 mimics down-regulated BST2 level in gastric cancer tissues and in MGC-803 cells, whereas miR-760 inhibitor up-regulated its level in SGC-7901 cells. MiR-760-regulated cell properties through reduction of BST2. In addition, miR-760 inhibited tumourigenesis in a nude mouse xenograft model in vivo. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that miR-760 exhibited a suppressive role in gastric cancer via inhibiting BST2, indicating that miR-760/BST2 axis may provide promising therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

Potential Role of miRNAs in the Acquisition of Chemoresistance in Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (NB) accounts for about 8–10% of pediatric cancers, and the main causes of death are the presence of metastases and the acquisition of chemoresistance. Metastatic NB is characterized by MYCN amplification that correlates with changes in the expression of miRNAs, which are small non-coding RNA sequences, playing a crucial role in NB development and chemoresistance. In the present study, miRNA expression was analyzed in two human MYCN-amplified NB cell lines, one sensitive (HTLA-230) and one resistant to Etoposide (ER-HTLA), by microarray and RT-qPCR techniques. These analyses showed that miRNA-15a, -16-1, -19b, -218, and -338 were down-regulated in ER-HTLA cells. In order to validate the presence of this down-regulation in vivo, the expression of these miRNAs was analyzed in primary tumors, metastases, and bone marrow of therapy responder and non-responder pediatric patients. Principal component analysis data showed that the expression of miRNA-19b, -218, and -338 influenced metastases, and that the expression levels of all miRNAs analyzed were higher in therapy responders in respect to non-responders. Collectively, these findings suggest that these miRNAs might be involved in the regulation of the drug response, and could be employed for therapeutic purposes.

lncRNA PVT1 promotes the migration of gastric cancer by functioning as ceRNA of miR-30a and regulating Snail

Although the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer (GC) are slowly decreasing, the overall prognosis of GC patients with distal metastasis remains dismal. Long non-coding RNA PVT1 has been verified to function as a tumor promoter in several types of cancer. However, the role of PVT1 in GC metastasis remains obscure. Herein, we found that PVT1 was highly expressed in GC tissues and high PVT1 level was associated with tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis. Overexpression of PVT1 significantly elevated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker (N-cadherin, ZEB1, and ZEB2) levels and promoted GC cell EMT process and tumor metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, Snail was identified as a direct target of miR-30a. PVT1 could bind with miR-30a and increase the expression of Snail by acting as a competing endogenous RNA, whereas re-expression of miR-30a in GC cells rescued the EMT markers, decreased Snail level, and inhibited GC cell migration. Taken together, these findings provide a new light on PVT1 in the pathogenesis and development of GC and an important implication for future therapy of the GC.

miR-29c-3p regulates proliferation and migration in ovarian cancer by targeting KIF4A

Background

Increasing evidence suggested that microRNA and kinesin superfamily proteins play an essential role in ovarian cancer. The association between KIF4A and ovarian cancer (OC) was investigated in this study.

Methods

We performed bioinformatics analysis in the GEO database to screen out the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) associated with ovarian cancer prognosis. Upstream targeting prediction for KIF4A was acquired by using the mirDIP database. The potential regulatory factor miR-29c-3p for KIF4A was obtained from the intersection of the above all miRNAs. The prognosis of KIF4A and target-miRNA in OC was obtained in the subsequent analysis. qRT-PCR and Western blot detected KIF4A expression level in IOSE80 (human normal ovarian epithelial cell line). In the meantime, the gene expression level was detected in A2780, HO-8910PM, COC1, and SKOV3 cell lines (human ovarian carcinoma cell line). MTT and colony formation assays were used to detect cell proliferation of SKOV3 cell line. The following assays detected cell migration through the use of transwell and wound heal assays. Targeted binding relationship between KIF4A and miRNA was detected by using the dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results

Both high expression of KIF4A and lower expression of miR-29c-3p could be used as biomarkers indicating poor prognosis in OC patients. Cellular function tests confirmed that when KIF4A was silenced, it inhibited the proliferation and migration of OC cells. In addition, 3′-UTR of KIF4A had a direct binding site with miR-29c-3p, which indicated that the expression of KIF4A could be regulated by miR-29c-3p. In subsequent assays, the proliferation and migration of OC cells were inhibited by the overexpression of miR-29c-3p. At the same time, rescue experiments also confirmed that the promotion of KIF4A could be reversed by miR-29c-3p.

Conclusion

In a word, our data revealed a new mechanism for the role of KIF4A in the occurrence and development of OC.

MiR-30a suppresses metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma via targeting FAPα

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. MicroRNA-30a (miR-30a) has been demonstrated to be involved in several types of cancer development.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to identify the molecular mechanism of miR-30a in gastric cancer.

METHODS

We investigated the expression of miR-30a in gastric cancer tissues by qRT-PCR. The role of miR-30a on the metastasis and proliferation of gastric cancer was evaluated by cell migration assay, CCK-8 assay and tumor peritoneal dissemination model. The target of miR-30a in gastric cancer was identified.

RESULTS

We discovered that miR-30a was significantly downregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared with adjacent nonmalignant tissues. The expression of miR-30a was inversely correlated with progression of gastric cancer. Gain- and loss-of function revealed that miR-30a acted as a potent tumor suppressor in gastric cancer. Re-expressed miR-30a inhibited gastric cancer cells migration, knock down miR-30a have the opposite effects. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-30a suppressed tumor peritoneal dissemination in vivo. We identified that fibroblast activation protein α (FAPα) was a direct target of miR-30a. The relative expression of FAPα was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues compared with adjacent nonmalignant tissues. Inhibition of FAPα could recapitulate the effects of miR-30a, and overexpression of FAPα could abrogate the effect of miR-30a.

CONCLUSION

MiR-30a inhibited gastric cancer metastasis by targeting FAPα, suggesting that miR-30a may function as a novel tumor suppressor in gastric cancer.

Secreted MicroRNA to Predict Embryo Implantation Outcome: From Research to Clinical Diagnostic Application

Embryo implantation failure is considered a leading cause of infertility and a significant bottleneck for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Confirmed factors that lead to implantation failure involve unhealthy embryos, unreceptive endometrium, and asynchronous development and communication between the two. The quality of embryos is further dependent on sperm parameters, oocyte quality, and early embryo development after fertilization. The extensive involvement of such different factors contributes to the variability of implantation potential across different menstrual cycles. An ideal approach to predict the implantation outcome should not compromise embryo implantation. The use of clinical material, including follicular fluid, cumulus cells, sperm, seminal exosomes, spent blastocyst culture medium, blood, and uterine fluid, that can be collected relatively non-invasively without compromising embryo implantation in a transfer cycle opens new perspectives for the diagnosis of embryo implantation potential. Compositional comparison of these samples between fertile women and women or couples with implantation failure has identified both quantitative and qualitative differences in the expression of microRNAs (miRs) that hold diagnostic potential for implantation failure. Here, we review current findings of secreted miRs that have been identified to potentially be useful in predicting implantation outcome using material that can be collected relatively non-invasively. Developing non-invasive biomarkers of implantation potential would have a major impact on implantation failure and infertility.

lncRNA SNHG11 Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression by Activating the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway and Oncogenic Autophagy

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are under active investigation in the development of cancers, including gastric cancer (GC). Oncogenic autophagy is required for cancer cell survival. The present study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of lncRNA small nucleolar host gene 11 (SNHG11) in GC. We show that SNHG11 is upregulated in GC, and that its upregulation correlated with dismal patient outcomes. Functionally, SNHG11 aggravated oncogenic autophagy to facilitate cell proliferation, stemness, migration, invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in GC. Mechanistically, SNHG11 post-transcriptionally upregulated catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1) and autophagy related 12 (ATG12) through miR-483-3p/miR-1276, while the processing of precursor (pre-)miR-483/pre-miR-1276 was hindered by SNHG11. SNHG11 induced GSK-3β ubiquitination through interacting with Cullin 4A (CUL4A) to further activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Intriguingly, SNHG11 regulated autophagy in a manner dependent on ATG12 rather than the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, whereas SNHG11 contributed to the malignant behaviors of GC cells via both pathways. Finally, SNHG11 upregulation in GC cells was shown to be transcriptionally induced by TCF7L2. In conclusion, we reveal that SNHG11 is an onco-lncRNA in GC and might be a promising prognostic and therapeutic target for GC.

Participation of MicroRNAs in the Treatment of Cancer with Phytochemicals

Cancer is a global health concern and one of the main causes of disease-related death. Even with considerable progress in investigations on cancer therapy, effective anti-cancer agents and regimens have thus far been insufficient. There has been compelling evidence that natural phytochemicals and their derivatives have potent anti-cancer activities. Plant-based anti-cancer agents, such as etoposide, irinotecan, paclitaxel, and vincristine, are currently being applied in medical treatments for patients with cancer. Further, the efficacy of plenty of phytochemicals has been evaluated to discover a promising candidate for cancer therapy. For developing more effective cancer therapy, it is required to apprehend the molecular mechanism deployed by natural compounds. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been realized to play a pivotal role in regulating cellular signaling pathways, affecting the efficacy of therapeutic agents in cancer. This review presents a feature of phytochemicals with anti-cancer activity, focusing mainly on the relationship between phytochemicals and miRNAs, with insights into the role of miRNAs as the mediators and the regulators of anti-cancer effects of phytochemicals.

Non-coding RNAs in gastric cancer

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are functional RNA molecules that play crucial regulatory roles in many fundamental biological processes. The dysregulation of ncRNAs is significantly associated with the progression of human cancers, including gastric cancer. In this review, we have summarized the oncogenic or tumor-suppressive roles and the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs, miRNAs, circRNAs and piRNAs, and have discussed their potential as biomarkers or therapeutic targets in gastric cancer.

Proteomic Profiling of Serum Exosomes From Patients With Metastatic Gastric Cancer

Background: Clinical management of metastatic gastric cancer (mGC) remains a major challenge due to a lack of specific biomarkers and effective therapeutic targets. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that exosomes play an essential role in cancer metastasis and can be an excellent reservoir of novel biomarkers and candidate therapeutic targets for cancer. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to reveal the proteomic profile of mGC-derived exosomes. Methods: Exosomes were isolated from pooled serum samples of 20 mGC patients and 40 healthy controls (HC) by ultracentrifugation. Next, quantitative proteomic analyses were applied to analyze the protein profiles of the exosomes, and bioinformatic analyses were conducted on the proteomic data. Finally, the expression of exosomal protein candidates was selectively validated in individual subjects by western blot analysis. Results: We isolated exosomes from serum samples. The size of the serum derived exosomes ranged from 30 to 150 nm in diameter. The exosomal markers CD9 and CD81 were observed in the serum exosomes. However, the exosomal negative marker calnexin, an endoplasmic reticulum protein, was not detected in exosomes. Overall, 443 exosomal proteins, including 110 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified by quantitative proteomics analyses. The bioinformatics analyses indicated that the upregulated proteins were enriched in the process of protein metabolic, whereas the downregulated proteins were largely involved in cell-cell adhesion organization. Surprisingly, 10 highly vital proteins (UBA52, PSMA1, PSMA5, PSMB6, PSMA7, PSMA4, PSMA3, PSMB1, PSMA6, and FGA) were filtered from DEPs, most of which are proteasome subunits. Moreover, the validation data confirmed that PSMA3 and PSMA6 were explicitly enriched in the serum derived exosomes from patients with mGC. Conclusion: The present study provided a comprehensive description of the serum exosome proteome of mGC patients, which could be an excellent resource for further studies of mGC.

A novel metastatic promoter CEMIP and its downstream molecular targets and signaling pathway of cellular migration and invasion in SCLC cells based on proteome analysis

PURPOSE

Metastasis is an unavoidable event happened among almost all small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. However, the molecular driven factors have not been elucidated. Recently, a novel hydrolase called cell migration inducing hyaluronidase (CEMIP) triggered both migration and invasion in many tumors but not SCLC. Therefore, in this study, we verified that CEMIP promoted migration and invasion in SCLC and applied proteomics analysis to screen out potential target profiles and the signaling pathway related to CEMIP regulation.

METHOD

Immunofluorescence was conducted to exam the expression of CEMIP on SCLC and paired adjacent normal tissues among enrollment. RT-qPCR and Western blot (WB) assays were conducted to valuate cellular protein and mRNA expression of CEMIP and EMT markers. Lentivirus-CEMIP-shRNAs and CEMIP plasmid were used for expression manipulating. Changes of cellular migration and invasion were tested through transwell assays. Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) peptide labeling coupled with LC-MS/MS was used for quantifying proteins affected by reducing expression of CEMIP on H446 cells.

RESULTS

The expression of CEMIP showed 1.64 ± 0.16-fold higher in SCLC tissues than their normal counterpart. Decreasing the expression of CEMIP on SCLC cells H446 regressed both cellular migration and invasion ability, whereas the promoting cellular migration and invasion was investigated through over-expressing CEMIP on H1688. Proteomic and bioinformatics analysis revealed that total 215 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that either their increasing or decreasing relative expression met threshold of 1.2-fold changes with p value ≤ 0.05. The dramatic up-regulated DEPs included an unidentified peptide sequence (encoded by cDNA FLJ52096) SPICE1 and CRYAB, while the expression of S100A6 was largely down-regulated. DEPs mainly enriched on caveolae of cellular component, calcium ion binding of biological process and epithelial cell migration of molecular function. KEGG enrichment indicated that DEPs mainly exerted their function on TGF-β, GABAergic synapse and MAPK signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

It is the first report illustrating that CEMIP might be one of the metastatic triggers in SCLC. And also, it provided possible molecular mechanism cue and potential downstream target on CEMIP-induced cellular migration and invasion on SCLC.

Downregulation of KIAA1199 by miR-486-5p suppresses tumorigenesis in lung cancer

Lung cancer is the primary cause of death among cancer patients in China, among which nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) makes up the great majority. Hence, it is imperative to identify the biomarkers and mechanisms involved in NSCLC oncogenesis. Our present research found that KIAA1199 expression was significantly increased in NSCLC and closely related to cell proliferation, motility, and poor prognosis. We demonstrated that knockdown of KIAA1199 reduced NSCLC cell growth and motility in vitro whereas overexpression of KIAA1199 had the opposite effect. Inhibition of KIAA1199 significantly suppressed tumor growth in mouse NSCLC xenograft models. Mechanistically, as an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐binding protein, KIAA1199 promotes EGFR signaling and regulates EGFR‐dependent Src, Erk, and Akt phosphorylation, as well as downstream kinases in the EGF‐mediated EMT pathway. We demonstrated that KIAA1199 can function as a direct binding target for miR‐486‐5p and that miR‐486‐5p overexpression can attenuate proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells via regulating the EGFR signaling pathways. To conclude, our results defined KIAA1199 as an oncogenic protein that promotes cancer cell proliferation and migration by regulating EGF‐mediated signaling pathways. This study provided new insight into NSCLC oncogenesis, which could lead to the development of innovative therapeutic plans for NSCLC.

The circular RNA 001971/miR-29c-3p axis modulates colorectal cancer growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis through VEGFA

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors globally. Angiogenesis is a key event maintaining tumor cell survival and aggressiveness. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), one of the most significant tumor cell-secreted proangiogenic factors, is frequently upregulated in CRC.

Methods

The MTT assay was used to detect the viability of CRC cells. Transwell assays were performed to detect the invasion capacity of target cells. Relative protein levels were determined by immunoblotting. Pathological characteristics of tissues were detected by H&E staining and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. A RIP assay was conducted to validate the predicted binding between genes.

Results

We observed that circ-001971 expression was dramatically increased in CRC tissue samples and cells. Circ-001971 knockdown suppressed the capacity of CRC cells to proliferate and invade and HUVEC tube formation in vitro, as well as tumor growth in mice bearing SW620 cell-derived tumors in vivo. The expression of circ-001971 and VEGFA was dramatically increased whereas the expression of miR-29c-3p was reduced in tumor tissue samples. Circ-001971 relieved miR-29c-3p-induced inhibition of VEGFA by acting as a ceRNA, thereby aggravating the proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis of CRC. Consistent with the above findings, the expression of VEGFA was increased, whereas the expression of miR-29c-3p was decreased in tumor tissue samples. miR-29c-3p had a negative correlation with both circ-001971 and VEGFA, while circ-001971 was positively correlated with VEGFA.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the circ-001971/miR-29c-3p axis modulated CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis by targeting VEGFA.

Wnt-regulating microRNAs role in gastric cancer malignancy

Gastric cancer (GC) is responsible for high morbidity and mortality worldwide. This cancer claims fifth place among other cancers. There are a number of factors associated with GC development such as alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking. It seems that genetic factors play significant role in GC malignancy and progression. MicroRNAs (miRs) are short non-coding RNA molecules with negative impact on the expression of target genes. A variety of studies have elucidated the potential role of miRs in GC growth. Investigation of molecular pathways has revealed that miRs function as upstream modulators of Wnt signaling pathway. This signaling pathway involves in important biological processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation, and its dysregulation is associated with GC invasion. At the present review, we demonstrate that how miRs regulate Wnt signaling pathway in GC malignancy.

Plasma microRNA levels in male and female children with cystic fibrosis

A gender gap exists in cystic fibrosis (CF). Here we investigate whether plasma microRNA expression profiles differ between the sexes in CF children. MicroRNA expression was quantified in paediatric CF plasma (n = 12; six females; Age range:1-6; Median Age: 3; 9 p.Phe508del homo- or heterozygotes) using TaqMan OpenArray Human miRNA Panels. Principal component analysis indicated differences in male versus female miRNA profiles. The miRNA array analysis revealed two miRNAs which were significantly increased in the female samples (miR-885-5p; fold change (FC):5.07, adjusted p value: 0.026 and miR-193a-5p; FC:2.6, adjusted p value: 0.031), although only miR-885-5p was validated as increased in females using specific qPCR assay (p < 0.0001). Gene ontology analysis of miR-885-5p validated targets identified cell migration, motility and fibrosis as processes potentially affected, with RAC1-mediated signalling featuring significantly. There is a significant increase in miR-885-5p in plasma of females versus males with CF under six years of age.

MicroRNA‑29c‑3p acts as a tumor suppressor gene and inhibits tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting TRIM31

Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been widely reported in many malignant tumors, and dysregulated miRNAs play an important role in the malignant progression of tumors. It has been reported that miR-29c-3p expression is dysregulated in tumors and promotes the development of tumors, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the specific mechanism of miR-29c-3p in HCC is not clear. The present study demonstrated that miR-29c-3p was expressed at low levels in HCC patients and cell lines and that its decreased expression was closely related to poor prognosis of HCC patients. Overexpression of miR-29c-3p could significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration of HCC cells in vitro and suppress the HCC tumor growth in vivo. The luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that miR-29c-3p directly bound to tripartite motif containing 31 (TRIM31) and suppressed TRIM31 expression. Finally, upregulation of TRIM31 could partially abolish the tumor suppressing roles of miR-29c-3p in HCC. Overall, miR-29c-3p, as a tumor suppressor gene, was revealed to inhibit the malignant progression of HCC by reducing the expression of TRIM31 and may be used as a potential therapeutic target for the precise treatment of HCC.

Linc00511 Indicates A Poor Prognosis Of Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective

To uncover the specific function of linc00511 in the progression of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) and the underlying mechanism.

Patients and methods

GEPIA dataset containing 9736 LIHC samples and 857 normal samples were downloaded from TCGA. Expression pattern and prognostic potential of linc00511 in LIHC were analyzed. Subsequently, expression level of linc00511 in LIHC tissues collected in our hospital and cell lines were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Differential expressions of linc00511 in LIHC with different tumor grades and metastatic status were compared. After transfection of si-linc00511, proliferative and migratory changes in Huh7 and Hep3B cells were assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2ʹ-deoxyuridine (EdU) and Transwell assay. Lastly, Pearson correlation analysis and qRT-PCR were conducted to investigate the interaction between linc00511 and miR-29c.

Results

Linc00511 was upregulated in LIHC tissues and cell lines. Its level was positively correlated to TNM staging, lymphatic metastasis and poor prognosis in LIHC patients. Knockdown of linc00511 attenuated proliferative and migratory abilities in Huh7 and Hep3B cells. In addition, miR-29c was downregulated in LIHC and negatively linked to linc00511 level. A negative interaction between linc00511 and miR-29c could be a regulatory feedback influencing the progression of LIHC.

Conclusion

Linc00511 accelerates the proliferation and migration in LIHC, thus aggravating tumor progression. Meanwhile, linc00511 could be utilized as a hallmark predicting poor prognosis in LIHC patients.

KIAA1199, a Target of MicoRNA-486-5p, Promotes Papillary Thyroid Cancer Invasion by Influencing Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)

Background

KIAA1199 has been reported to be associated with malignant progression and poor clinical outcomes in various human malignancies. However, its clinical role and molecular function remain unknown in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

Material/Methods

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used to investigate the expression profiles of KIAA1199 and miR-486-5p in PTC. Immunohistochemistry was used to validate the protein expression of KIAA1199 in PTC. The Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were used to explore the potential pathway underling KIAA1199 in PTC. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to investigate the biological role of KIAA1199 in PTC progression. Luciferase reporter assays and Western blot analysis were performed to determine whether KIAA1199 is a downstream target of miR-486-5p.

Results

We found that KIAA1199 was aberrantly elevated in PTC tissues compared with normal tissues, and upregulation of KIAA1199 was positively correlated with more advanced clinical variables. Additionally, bioinformatic analysis indicated that KIAA1199 was involved in cell migration and invasion. KIAA1199 silencing inhibited the invasive ability of PTC cells by affecting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, miR-486-5p was identified as an upstream microRNA that directly targets the 3′-UTR region of KIAA1199.

Conclusions

The miR-486-5p/KIAA1199/EMT axis might play a critical role in PTC invasion and metastasis and offers a potential therapeutic strategy for PTC.