MicroRNA-1253 suppresses cell proliferation and invasion of non-small-cell lung carcinoma by targeting WNT5A

Phosphorylation of LZTS2 by PLK1 activates the Wnt pathway

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), responsible for nearly half of lung cancer cases, is one of the most prevalent and lethal malignant tumors globally. There is increasing evidence suggesting that the oncoprotein PLK1 plays a role in the onset and advancement of different types of cancer, including LUAD. Nonetheless, the precise mechanism by which PLK1 promotes tumorigenesis remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate the upregulation of PLK1 in LUAD samples, which leads to a poor prognosis for LUAD patients. Intriguingly, PLK1 enables to bind to LZTS2 and promote its phosphorylation without affecting LZTS2 degradation. Furthermore, we identify that Ser451 is a key phosphorylation site in LZTS2 protein. LZTS2 exerts an anti-tumor effect by restricting the translocation of the transcription factor β-Catenin into the nucleus, thereby suppressing the Wnt pathway. PLK1 disrupts the interaction between LZTS2 and β-Catenin, resulting in the nuclear accumulation of β-Catenin and the activation of the Wnt pathway. Additionally, we reveal that LZTS2 inhibits the proliferation and migration of LUAD cells, which is rescued by PLK1. Finally, PLK1 inhibitors exhibit a dose-dependent suppression of LUAD cell proliferation and migration. Collectively, this study uncovers the pro-tumorigenic mechanism of PLK1, positioning it as a promising therapeutic target for Wnt-related LUAD.

MiRNAs and Microbiota in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Implications in Pathogenesis and Potential Role in Predicting Response to ICI Treatment

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in both men and women and today is still characterized by high mortality and lethality. Several biomarkers have been identified for evaluating the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and selecting the most effective therapeutic strategy for these patients. The introduction of innovative targeted therapies and immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of NSCLC both in advanced stages and, more recently, also in early stages, has revolutionized and significantly improved the therapeutic scenario for these patients. Promising evidence has also been shown by analyzing both micro-RNAs (miRNAs) and the lung/gut microbiota. MiRNAs belong to the large family of non-coding RNAs and play a role in the modulation of several key mechanisms in cells such as proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, and apoptosis. On the other hand, the microbiota (a group of several microorganisms found in human orgasms such as the gut and lungs and mainly composed by bacteria) plays a key role in the modulation of inflammation and, in particular, in the immune response. Some data have shown that the microbiota and the related microbiome can modulate miRNAs expression and vice versa by regulating several intracellular signaling pathways that are known to play a role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. This evidence suggests that this axis is key to predicting the prognosis and effectiveness of ICIs in NSCLC treatment and could represent a new target in the treatment of NSCLC. In this review, we highlight the most recent evidence and data regarding the role of both miRNAs and the lung/gut microbiome in the prediction of prognosis and response to ICI treatment, focusing on the link between miRNAs and the microbiome. A new potential interaction based on the underlying modulated intracellular signaling pathways is also shown.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the development and therapeutic resistance of non-small cell lung cancer

Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a critical pathway that influences development and therapeutic response of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In recent years, many Wnt regulators, including proteins, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, have been found to promote or inhibit signaling by acting on Wnt proteins, receptors, signal transducers and transcriptional effectors. The identification of these regulators and their underlying molecular mechanisms provides important implications for how to target this pathway therapeutically. In this review, we summarize recent studies of Wnt regulators in the development and therapeutic response of NSCLC.

Hsa_circ_0000190 Promotes NSCLC Cell Resistance to Cisplatin via the Modulation of the miR-1253/IL-6 Axis

Background

This study explored the mechanistic basis for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cisplatin (DDP) treatment resistance in an effort to define effective approaches to abrogating the emergence of such chemoresistance.

Methods

Analyses of NSCLC expression of hsa_circ_0000190, miR-1253, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were conducted via a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) approach, while the ability of these tumor cells to resist DDP treatment was evaluated with a CCK-8 assay. Interactions between different RNA molecules were assessed using both RNA immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays.

Results

NSCLC cell lines and tissues resistant to DDP were found to express higher levels of hsa_circ_0000190, and knocking down this circRNA in NSCLC cells was associated with greater sensitivity to DDP exposure. Further research identified miR-1253 as a hsa_circ_0000190 target, with the ability of hsa_circ_0000190 knockdown to restore DDP sensitivity being largely attributable to the ability of this circRNA to suppress miR-1253 activity. IL-6 was identified as a major miR-1253 target in this context, with miR-1253 regulating chemoresistance in NSCLC cells in part by preventing IL-6 upregulation.

Conclusion

Together, these data suggest that hsa_circ_0000190 can promote DDP chemoresistance in NSCLC cells through its ability to modulate miR-1253/IL-6 axis activity, highlighting a novel pathway that can be targeted in an effort to guide the more effective diagnosis and management of DDP-resistant tumors.

Regulation and therapeutic potentials of microRNAs to non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 80%-85% of total cases and leading to millions of deaths worldwide. Drug resistance is the primary cause of treatment failure in NSCLC, which urges scientists to develop advanced approaches for NSCLC treatment. Among novel approaches, the miRNA-based method has emerged as a potential approach as it allows researchers to modulate target gene expression. Subsequently, cell behaviors are altered, which leads to the death and the depletion of cancer cells. It has been reported that miRNAs possess the capacity to regulate multiple genes that are involved in various signaling pathways, including the phosphoinositide 3-kinase, receptor tyrosine kinase/rat sarcoma virus/mitogen-activated protein kinase, wingless/integrated, retinoblastoma, p53, transforming growth factor β, and nuclear factor-kappa B pathways. Dysregulation of these signaling pathways in NSCLC results in abnormal cell proliferation, tissue invasion, and drug resistance while inhibiting apoptosis. Thus, understanding the roles of miRNAs in regulating these signaling pathways may enable the development of novel NSCLC treatment therapies. However, a comprehensive review of potential miRNAs in NSCLC treatment has been lacking. Therefore, this review aims to fill the gap by summarizing the up-to-date information on miRNAs regarding their targets, impact on cancer-associated pathways, and prospective outcomes in treating NSCLC. We also discuss current technologies for delivering miRNAs to the target cells, including virus-based, non-viral, and emerging extracellular vesicle-based delivery systems. This knowledge will support future studies to develop an innovative miRNA-based therapy and select a suitable carrier to treat NSCLC effectively.

MicroRNA-506 as a tumor suppressor in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma by regulation of WNT and NOTCH signaling pathways

Objectives

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an aggressive thyroid tumor type that has a poor prognosis due to its high therapeutic resistance. Since ATC accounts for half of thyroid cancer-related deaths, it is required to introduce novel therapeutic targets to increase survival in ATC patients. WNT and NOTCH signaling pathways are the pivotal regulators of cell proliferation and migration that can be regulated by microRNAs. We assessed the role of miR-506 in the regulation of cell migration, apoptosis, and drug resistance via NOTCH and WNT pathways in ATC cells.

Materials and Methods

The levels of miR-506 expressions were assessed in ATC cells and tissues. The levels of NOTCH, WNT, and EMT-related gene expressions were also assessed in miR-506 ectopic expressed cells compared with controls. Cell migration and drug resistance were also evaluated to assess the role of miR-506 in the regulation of ATC aggressiveness.

Results

There were significant miR-506 down-regulations in ATC cells and clinical samples compared with normal cells and margins. MiR-506 suppressed NOTCH and WNT signaling pathways through LEF1, DVL, FZD1, HEY2, HES5, and HEY2 down-regulations, and APC and GSK3b up-regulations. MiR-506 significantly inhibited ATC cell migration and EMT (P=0.028). Moreover, miR-506 significantly increased Cisplatin (P=0.004), Paclitaxel (P<0.0001), and Doxorubicin (P=0.0014) sensitivities in ATC cells.

Conclusion

MiR-506 regulated EMT, cell migration, and chemoresistance through regulation of WNT and NOTCH signaling pathways in ATC cells. Therefore, after confirmation with animal studies, it can be introduced as an efficient novel therapeutic factor for ATC tumors.

Circ-ABCC4 contributes to prostate cancer progression and radioresistance by mediating miR-1253/SOX4 cascade

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) exert pivotal functions in many malignancies. However, the roles of circ-ABCC4 in prostate cancer (PCa) radioresistance and progression remain largely unclear. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and radioresistance were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, flow cytometry, transwell invasion, and colony formation assays. Tumor xenograft experiment was conducted to assess circ-ABCC4 role in xenograft growth in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was implemented to test the target relation of microRNA-1253 (miR-1253) and circ-ABCC4 or SRY-box transcription factor 4 (SOX4). Circ-ABCC4 enrichment was prominently raised in PCa tissue specimens and cells. Circ-ABCC4 depletion blocked PCa cell viability, proliferation, invasion, and radioresistance and triggered apoptosis. Circ-ABCC4 silencing aggravated irradiation-induced inhibitory effect on xenografts growth. miR-1253 was a downstream molecule of circ-ABCC4, and circ-ABCC4 depletion-mediated anti-cancer impacts in PCa cells were partly counteracted by decreasing miR-1253 abundance. miR-1253 targeted SOX4 mRNA, and miR-1253 blocked PCa cell malignant phenotypes partly by targeting SOX4. Circ-ABCC4 could enhance SOX4 abundance by absorbing miR-1253. Circ-ABCC4 exerted a pro-tumor activity by facilitating PCa cell viability, proliferation, invasion, and radioresistance and suppressing apoptosis.

Circ-EIF3I facilitates proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer via regulating the activity of Wnt/β-catenin pathway through the miR-1253/NOVA2 axis

Many studies have shown that circular RNA (circRNA) is an important regulator mediating the malignant progression of cancer. However, the role and mechanism of circ-EIF3I in lung cancer (LC) development are still unclear. A total 36 paired LC tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues were enrolled. The expression of circ-EIF3I, microRNA (miR)-1253, and neuro-oncological ventral antigen 2 (NOVA2) was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. The proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of LC cells were determined by MTT assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the interaction between miR-1253 and circ-EIF3I or NOVA2. The protein levels of NOVA2 and Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related markers were detected by western blot analysis. Xenograft tumor was constructed to explore the function of circ-EIF3I on LC tumor growth. Circ-EIF3I was upregulated in LC tumor tissues and cells. Silenced circ-EIF3I could suppress the proliferation, migration, invasion, and enhance the apoptosis of LC cells in vitro, as well as reduce LC tumor growth in vivo. Circ-EIF3I could sponge miR-1253, and miR-1253 inhibitor overturned the regulation of circ-EIF3I knockdown on LC cell progression. NOVA2 was confirmed to be a target of miR-1253, which could reverse the inhibitory effects of miR-1253 on LC cell progression. Further experiments showed that circ-EIF3I regulated NOVA2 expression by sponging miR-1253. In addition, circ-EIF3I silencing could inhibit the activity of Wnt/β-catenin pathway via regulating the miR-1253/NOVA2 axis. Circ-EIF3I might function as an oncogene in LC, which promoted LC progression by the miR-1253/NOVA2/Wnt/β-catenin network.

Shared network pattern of lung squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma illuminates therapeutic targets for non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a malignant tumor with high mortality. Lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) are the common subtypes of NSCLC. However, how LUSC and LUAD are compatible remains to be elucidated.

Methods

We used a network approach to find highly interconnected genes shared with LUSC and LUAD, and we then built modules to assess the degree of preservation between them. To quantify this result, Z-scores were used to summarize the interrelationships between LUSC and LUAD. Furthermore, we correlated network hub genes with patient survival time to identify risk factors.

Results

Our findings provided a look at the regulatory pattern for LUSC and LUAD. For LUSC, several genes, such as AKR1C1, AKR1C2, and AKR1C3, play key roles in regulating network modules of cell growth pathways. In addition, CCL19, CCR7, CCL21, and LY9 are enriched in LUAD network modules of T lymphocyte-related pathways. LUSC and LUAD have similar expressed gene expression patterns. Their networks share 46 hub genes with connectivity greater than 0.9. These genes are correlated with patient survival time. Among them, the expression level of COL5A2 in LUSC and LUAD is higher than that in normal tissues, which is closely related to the poor prognosis of LUSC and LUAD patients.

Conclusion

LUSC and LUAD share a network pattern. COL5A2 may be a risk factor in poor prognosis in LUSC and LUAD. The common landscape of LUSC and LUAD will help better define the regulation of NSCLC candidate genes and achieve the goals of precision medicine.

Circ_0000527 regulates proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal cancer SW620 cells by targeting miR-1253

BACKGROUND

The expression of circular RNAs (circRNAs) may be up-regulated/down-regulated in colorectal cancer, and they act as sponge molecules of microRNAs (miRNAs), negatively regulate the expression of miRNAs, and participate in the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer. It is known that circ_0000527 is highly expressed in tumor tissues such as osteosarcoma, and circ_0000527 has a complementary sequence with miR-1253, which is down-regulated in colorectal cancer tissues and cells. However, it is unknown whether circ_0000527 can regulate the expression of miR-1253 and thus affect the biological behavior of colorectal cancer cells.

AIM

To investigate the effect of circ_0000527 targeting miR-1253 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal cancer SW620 cells.

METHODS

Tumor and tumor-adjacent tissue samples were collected from 41 colorectal cancer patients treated at our hospital from March 2020 to August 2020, and the expression of circ_0000527 and miR-1253 was detected by qRT-PCR. Human colorectal cancer SW620 cells were divided into si-NC group, si-circ_0000527 group, miR-NC group, miR-1253 group, si-circ_0000527 + anti-miR-NC group, and si-circ_0000527 + anti-miR-1253 group. CCK-8 assay, plate clone formation assay, scratch assay, and Transwell assay were used to detect cell proliferation, clone formation, migration, and invasion, respectively. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the targeting relationship between circ_0000527 and miR-1253.

RESULTS

In colorectal cancer tissues, the expression of circ_0000527 was increased (P < 0.05), and the expression of miR-1253 was decreased (P < 0.05). After transfection of SW620 cells with si-circ_0000527 or miR-1253 mimic, cell viability and wound healing rate were decreased (P < 0.05), and the number of cell clones and invasive cells was decreased (P < 0.05). Circ_0000527 could target and bind miR-1253. Co-transfection of si-circ_0000527 and anti-miR-1253 could reverse the effect of si-circ_0000527 on the biological behavior of SW620 cells.

CONCLUSION

Interference with the expression of circ_0000527 attenuates the ability of colorectal cancer cells to proliferate, form closes, migrate, and invade by up-regulating the expression of miR-1253.

The malignant property of circHIPK2 for angiogenesis and chemoresistance in non-small cell lung cancer

Chemotherapy resistance limits the efficacy of cisplatin (DDP) when treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) confers a regulatory role in drug resistance. Innovatively, the regulatory role of circular RNA HIPK2 (circHIPK2) in DDP resistance was probed in the work. In this research, tumor tissues and matched normal tissues were obtained from 52 NSCLC patients, and the expressions of circHIPK2, miR-1249-3p and VEGFA in the tissues were detected by qPCR or Western Blot. Correlation analysis of circHIPK2 expression with survival prognosis and clinicopathological features was conducted. Parental NSCLC cell lines (A549, H460) and DDP-resistant cell lines (A549/DDP, H460/DDP) were selected, and the expression of circHIPK2, miR-1249-3p and VEGFA in the cells were detected. Cell IC50 value, proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and angiogenesis were detected. Tumor xenografts were established to detect the role of circHIPK2 in vivo. The binding relationship between circHIPK2, miR-1249-3p and VEGFA was verified by dual luciferase reporter experiment, RNA pull down and RIP experiment. Our data showed that circHIPK2 and VEGFA were abnormally overexpressed and miR-1249-3p was underexpressed in DDP-resistant NSCLC tissues and cell lines. CircHIPK2 knockdown or miR-1249-3p upregulation inhibited DDP resistance, malignant behavior, and angiogenesis in NSCLC. CircHIPK2 by competitive absorption of miR-1249-3p mediated VEGFA. CircHIPK2 promoted the sensitivity of drug-resistant cells to DDP in NSCLC by regulating VEGFA. CircHIPK2 enhanced the growth of DDP-resistant NSCLC cells in vivo. In conclusion, circHIPK2 has the malignant property for angiogenesis and chemoresistance in NSCLC via the network of miR-1249-3p/VEGFA.

EIF4A3-induced circFIP1L1 represses miR-1253 and promotes radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Radiation is currently used to be a mainstay of salvage therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), however, development of radioresistance largely limits the radiation efficacy. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to affect NPC progression, but its role in radioresistance remain unclear.

METHODS

The circular structure of circFIP1L1(circ_0069740) was verified by RNA-sequencing, RT-PCR based on gDNA or cDNA, RNase R treatment, and actinomycin D treatment. Cellular localization of circFIP1L1 and miR-1253 was detected by nucleoplasmic separation and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization. Expression of non-coding RNAs and mRNAs was detected by qRT-PCR, protein expression was detected by Western blot. Functionally, EdU, CCK-8, and colony formation experiments were employed to assess cell proliferation, flow cytometry was adopted to estimate cell cycle and apoptosis. Xenograft tumor growth was performed to detect the role of circFIP1L1 in vivo. Mechanistically, we examined the interplay between miR-1253 and circFIP1L1 or EIF4A3 through dual-luciferase reporter assay. The potential regulatory impacts of EIF4A3 on circFIP1L1 or PTEN was examined by RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down assays.

RESULTS

CircFIP1L1 overexpression and miR-1253 knockdown repressed NPC cell proliferation, facilitated NPC cell apoptosis, and enhanced NPC radiosensitivity. Mechanistically, circFIP1L1 was revealed to repress miR-1253 by binding to it, and EIF4A3 is a target gene of miR-1253. CircFIP1L1 regulated NPC proliferation, apoptosis, and radiosensitivity through miR-1253/EIF4A3. Moreover, we found that EIF4A3 bound to FIP1L1 mRNA transcript and induced circFIP1L1 formation, and thus stabilizing PTEN mRNA.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggested that EIF4A3-induced circFIP1L1 repressed NPC cell proliferation, facilitated NPC cell apoptosis, and enhanced NPC radiosensitivity by miR-1253.

Exosomal circ_0007385 enhances non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation and stemness via regulating miR-1253/FAM83A axis

Exosomes are critical mediators of intercellular communication in the tumor microenvironment. Exosomal circular RNAs (circRNAs) can act as biomarkers and play crucial roles in many cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to explore the functions and regulatory mechanism of exosomal circ_0007385 in NSCLC. The expression levels of circ_0007385, microRNA-1253 (miR-1253), family with sequence similarity 83, member A (FAM83A) mRNA were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (Edu), and colony formation assays were utilized to determine cell proliferation ability. Sphere formation efficiency was determined by sphere formation assay. All protein levels were detected by western blot assay. Exosomes were detected using transmission electron microscopy analysis. Size distribution of exosomes was analyzed by nanoparticle tracking analysis. The interaction between miR-1253 and circ_0007385 or FAM83A was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays. Mice xenograft model was established to verify the function of circ_0007385 in vivo. Circ_0007385 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Knockdown of circ_0007385 inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation and stemness, while exosomal circ_0007385 facilitated NSCLC cell proliferation and stemness. In addition, miR-1253 was a direct target of circ_0007385, and miR-1253 reversed the inhibitory effects of circ_0007385 on cell proliferation and stemness in NSCLC cells. Moreover, FAM83A was a direct target of miR-1253, and miR-1253 suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation and stemness by targeting FAM83A. Furthermore, circ_0007385 knockdown inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Exosomal circ_0007385 promoted NSCLC cell proliferation and stemness by regulating miR-1253/FAM83A axis.

Testis developmental related gene 1 promotes non-small-cell lung cancer through the microRNA-214-5p/Krüppel-like factor 5 axis

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a frequent malignancy and has a high global incidence. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. LncRNA testis developmental related gene 1 (TDRG1) plays a pivotal role in many cancers. This study researched the biological regulatory mechanisms of TDRG1 in NSCLC. Gene expression was assessed by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Changes in the NSCLC cell phenotypes were examined using 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays. The binding capacity between TDRG1, microRNA-214-5p (miR‑214-5p), and Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) was tested using luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. In this study, we found that TDRG1 was upregulated in NSCLC samples. Functionally, TDRG1 depletion inhibited NSCLC cell growth, migration, and invasion and accelerated apoptosis. In addition, TDRG1 interacted with miR-214-5p, and miR-214-5p directly targeted KLF5. The suppressive effect of TDRG1 knockdown on NSCLC cellular processes was abolished by KLF5 overexpression. Overall, TDRG1 exerts carcinogenic effects in NSCLC by regulating the miR-214-5p/KLF5 axis.

Circular RNA circ_0062019 exerts oncogenic properties in prostate cancer via mediating miR-1253/NRBP1 axis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) participate in the progression of various cancers. However, the function of circ_0062019 in prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. In this study, CCK-8, colony formation, transwell, tube formation and flow cytometry assays were applied to assess cell proliferation, motility, angiogenesis, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. The binding association between miR-1253 and circ_0062019 or NRBP1 was verified through dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay. Xenograft assay was conducted to evaluate tumour formation in vivo. As a result, circ_0062019 and NRBP1 were increased, but miR-1253 was decreased in PCa. Depletion of circ_0062019 curbed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and EMT and induced apoptosis in PCa cells. Circ_0062019 facilitated the malignancy of PCa cells via sequestering miR-1253. Simultaneously, miR-1253 hindered PCa cell progression via regulating NRBP1. Ccirc_0062019 silencing suppressed tumour growth in vivo. Taken together, circ_0062019 expedited PCa progression through mediating miR-1253/NRBP1 pathway.

Circ_0072995 Promotes Proliferation and Invasion via Regulating miR-1253/EIF4A3 Signaling in HCC

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major threat for human health. This work aimed to determine the potential function of circ_0072995 in HCC progression and its molecular mechanism.

Methods

qRT-PCR was conducted to analyze circ_0072995 expression. CCK8 and colony formation assays were utilized to detect cell proliferation. Transwell assay was performed to determine migration and invasion. Interactions among circ_0072995, miR-1253 and EIF4A3 (Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4A3) were predicted through bioinformatics methods and confirmed via luciferase reporter assay and RNA pulldown assay.

Results

circ_0072995 expression was upregulated in HCC tissues. Circ_0072995 high level was associated with poor prognosis. Circ_0072995 knockdown impaired proliferation, migration, invasion and survival. MiR-1253 was sponged by circ_0072995 and targeted EIF4A3 directly. Circ_0072995 inhibited miR-1253 to upregulate EIF4A3 level.

Conclusion

Circ_0072995 exerted tumorigenic roles to enhance HCC progression through activating EIF4A3 by sponging miR-1253.

A panel of miRNAs as prognostic markers for African-American patients with triple negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

To investigate the global expression profile of miRNAs, their impact on cellular signaling pathways, and their association with poor prognostic parameters in African-American (AA) patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

METHODS

Twenty-five samples of AA TNBC patients were profiled for global miRNA expression and stratified considering three clinical-pathological parameters: tumor size, lymph node (LN), and recurrence (REC) status. Differential miRNA expression analysis was performed for each parameter, and their discriminatory power was determined by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. KMplotter was assessed to determine the association of the miRNAs with survival, and functional enrichment analysis to determine the main affected pathways and miRNA/mRNA target interactions.

RESULTS

A panel of eight, 23 and 27 miRNAs were associated with tumor size, LN, and REC status, respectively. Combined ROC analysis of two (miR-2117, and miR-378c), seven (let-7f-5p, miR-1255b-5p, miR-1268b, miR-200c-3p, miR-520d, miR-527, and miR-518a-5p), and three (miR-1200, miR-1249-3p, and miR-1271-3p) miRNAs showed a robust discriminatory power based on tumor size (AUC = 0.917), LN (AUC = 0.945) and REC (AUC = 0.981) status, respectively. Enrichment pathway analysis revealed their involvement in proteoglycans and glycan and cancer-associated pathways. Eight miRNAs with deregulated expressions in patients with large tumor size, positive LN metastasis, and recurrence were significantly associated with lower survival rates. Finally, the construction of miRNA/mRNA networks based in experimentally validated mRNA targets, revealed nodes of critical cancer genes, such as AKT1, BCL2, CDKN1A, EZR and PTEN.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, our data indicate that miRNA deregulated expression is a relevant biological factor that can be associated with the poor prognosis in TNBC of AA patients, by conferring to their TNBC cells aggressive phenotypes that are reflected in the clinical characteristics evaluated in this study.

Role of microRNAs in inflammatory upper airway diseases

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a conserved family of small endogenous noncoding RNA molecules that modulate post-transcriptional gene expression in physiological and pathological processes. miRNAs can silence target mRNAs through degradation or inhibition of translation, showing their pivotal role in the pathogenesis of many human diseases. miRNAs play a role in regulating immune functions and inflammation and are implicated in controlling the development and activation of T and B cells. Inflammatory chronic upper airway diseases, such as rhinitis and rhinosinusitis, are spread all over the world and characterized by an exaggerated inflammation involving a complex interaction between immune and resident cells. Until now and despite allergy, little is known about their etiology and the processes implicated in the immune response and tuning inflammation of these diseases. This review highlights the knowledge of the current literature about miRNAs in inflammatory chronic upper airways diseases and how this may be exploited in the development of new clinical and therapeutic strategies.

Long noncoding RNA TMPO-AS1/miR-126-5p/BRCC3 axis accelerates gastric cancer progression and angiogenesis via activating PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Gastric cancer (GC) is an aggressive tumor featured by uncontrolled cell proliferation and metastasis. In recent years, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as crucial regulators and biological markers in multiple cancers. LncRNA TMPO-AS1 has been revealed to be an oncogene in some cancers. Nevertheless, there is little known about the biological role of TMPO-AS1 in GC.

METHODS

Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to examine the expression level of TMPO-AS1 in GC tissues and cells. Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, wound healing assays, and western blot analysis were performed to determine the role of TMPO-AS1 in GC cells. RNA pull-down, luciferase reporter, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were used to test the interaction among TMPO-AS1, miR-126-5p, and BRCC3.

RESULTS

TMPO-AS1 was highly expressed in GC tissues and cells. Upregulated TMPO-AS1 was closely associated with adverse prognosis of GC patients. Functional assays showed that TMPO-AS1 promoted GC cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. Furthermore, it was found that TMPO-AS1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-126-5p to upregulate BRCC3 expression. Rescue assays revealed that TMPO-AS1 facilitated cellular progression of GC by sponging miR-126-5p and upregulating BRCC3. In addition, we found that the effects of the TMPO-AS1/miR-126-5p/BRCC3 axis on GC cell progression were related to the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that the TMPO-AS1/miR-126-5p/BRCC3 axis was involved in GC progression via the regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, which might provide a potential therapeutic strategy for GC.

MicroRNAs as Therapeutic Targets for Anticancer Drugs in Lung Cancer Therapy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by translational repression or deregulation of messenger RNAs. Accumulating evidence suggests that miRNAs play various roles in the development and progression of lung cancers. Although their precise roles in targeted cancer therapy are currently unclear, miRNAs have been shown to affect the sensitivity of tumors to anticancer drugs. A large number of recent studies have demonstrated that some anticancer drugs exerted antitumor activities by affecting the expression of miRNAs and their targeted genes. These studies have elucidated the specific biological mechanism of drugs in tumor suppression, which provides a new idea or basis for their clinical application. In this review, we summarized the therapeutic mechanisms of drugs in lung cancer therapy through their effects on miRNAs and their targeted genes, which highlights the roles of miRNAs as targets in lung cancer therapy.

MicroRNA-1253 Suppresses Cell Proliferation Migration and Invasion of Osteosarcoma by Targeting MMP9

Purpose:

MicroRNAs play an important role in osteosarcoma (OS) development and progress. Although miR-1253 was considered as a tumor-inhibitor in some cancers, it’s function in the OS is not clear.

Methods:

In our study, we examined the expression of miR-1253 in OS cells and osteoblast cells using quantitative real-time PCR. The proliferation of OS cells was measured by BrdU assay, and we performed transwell to detect migration and invasion of OS cells. Meanwhile, EMT proteins were tested by western blot. We used Bioinformatics to predict the target genes of miR-1253 and found out Matrix metalloproteinases9 (MMP9) was one of that. The direct combination between miR-1253 and MMP9 was verified by double luciferase reporting experiment. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of MMP9.

Results:

We found that the expression level of miR-1253 in OS cells was significantly lower than that in osteoblast cells. Overexpression of miR-1253 could significantly inhibit OS cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT. And then, MMP9 was predicted as a downstream target of miR-1253 by Bioinformatics analysis. Further experiments showed that miR-1253 could reduce the protein level of MMP9 by directly binding to the 3’-UTR of MMP9. Afterward, we performed a rescue experiment, in which both MMP9 and miR-1253 were overexpressed. Compared with the groups overexpressed miR-1253 alone, cell proliferation, migration and invasion in co-overexpression groups were improved.

Conclusions:

In summary, these results suggested that miR-1253 down-regulated in OS cells, and could suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion of OS cells. Its molecular regulatory mechanism was that inhibits the expression of the downstream target gene MMP9 by directly binding, thus affect OS cell functions. Therefore, miR-1253 has the potential to become a biomarker and therapeutic target for OS therapy.

Cisplatin and phenanthriplatin modulate long-noncoding RNA expression in A549 and IMR90 cells revealing regulation of microRNAs, Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β signaling

The monofunctional platinum(II) complex, phenanthriplatin, acts by blocking transcription, but its regulatory effects on long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have not been elucidated relative to traditional platinum-based chemotherapeutics, e.g., cisplatin. Here, we treated A549 non-small cell lung cancer and IMR90 lung fibroblast cells for 24 h with either cisplatin, phenanthriplatin or a solvent control, and then performed microarray analysis to identify regulated lncRNAs. RNA22 v2 microRNA software was subsequently used to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) that might be suppressed by the most regulated lncRNAs. We found that miR-25-5p, -30a-3p, -138-5p, -149-3p, -185-5p, -378j, -608, -650, -708-5p, -1253, -1254, -4458, and -4516, were predicted to target the cisplatin upregulated lncRNAs, IMMP2L-1, CBR3-1 and ATAD2B-5, and the phenanthriplatin downregulated lncRNAs, AGO2-1, COX7A1-2 and SLC26A3-1. Then, we used qRT-PCR to measure the expression of miR-25-5p, -378j, -4516 (A549) and miR-149-3p, -608, and -4458 (IMR90) to identify distinct signaling effects associated with cisplatin and phenanthriplatin. The signaling pathways associated with these miRNAs suggests that phenanthriplatin may modulate Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β signaling through the MAPK/ERK and PTEN/AKT pathways differently than cisplatin. Further, as some of these miRNAs may be subject to dissimilar lncRNA targeting in A549 and IMR90 cells, the monofunctional complex may not cause toxicity in normal lung compared to cancer cells by acting through distinct lncRNA and miRNA networks.

MiR-24-3p as a prognostic indicator for multiple cancers: from a meta-analysis view

A growing number of researches suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) as oncogene or tumor suppressor genes play a fundamental role in various kinds of cancers. Among them, miR-24-3p, as a star molecule, is widely studied. However, the prognostic value of miR-24-3p is unclear and controversial. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of miR-24-3p in a variety of cancers by integrated existing articles from four databases. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library (last update in March 2020) were searched for approach literature. Hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) were used to evaluate the association between miR-24-3p expression levels and prognostic value or clinicopathological characteristics, respectively. A total of 15 studies from 14 literature were finally qualified and concluded in the present meta-analysis. A significantly worse overall survival was observed in higher expression of miR-24-3p cancer group for OS (overall survival) of log-rank tests and Cox multivariate regression by fixed effects model. Also, we found a significant correlation between elevated miR-24-3p levels to RFS (recurrence-free survival) and DFS (disease-free survival). In addition, the pooled odds ratios (ORs) showed that evaluated miR-24-3p was also associated with the larger tumor size (≥5 cm) and advanced TNM stage (III and IV). Built on the above findings, elevated expression levels of miR-24-3p may serve as a promising biomarker used to predict the worse prognosis of cancer patients.

miR-1253, a novel tumor suppressor gene in colon cancer, is associated with poor patients prognosis

MiR-1253 has been reported to play vital roles in a variety of cancers. However, its function in the progression and prognosis of colon cancer remains unclear. Here, the clinical significance and biological function of miR-1253 in the development of colon cancer was investigated. The expression of miR-1253 was identified in colon cancer tissues and cell lines by qRT-PCR. The prognostic value of miR-1253 was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. The roles of miR-1253 in regulating cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer were evaluated in vitro by CCK8 and Transwell assay. It was found that miR-1253 was significantly downregulated in colon cancer tissues and cell lines (P < 0.001). The downregulation of miR-1253 was associated with the TNM stage (P = 0.007) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.037) of patients. MiR-1253 (HR factor = 2.564, 95% CI = 1.077-6.107, P = 0.033) and TNM stage (HR factor = 2.899, 95% CI = 1.024-8.205, P = 0.045) were identified as independent factors that can predict the prognosis of patients. Functionally, miR-1253 acts as a tumor suppressor that inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer through targeting EZH2. MiR-1253 was identified as a prognostic biomarker and a tumor suppressor of colon cancer.

Prognostic Impact of PCK1 Protein Kinase Activity-Dependent Nuclear SREBP1 Activation in Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma

Metabolic enzymes can perform non-metabolic functions and play critical roles in the regulation of a variety of important cellular activities. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1), a gluconeogenesis enzyme, was recently identified as an AKT-regulated protein kinase that phosphorylates INSIG1/2 to promote nuclear SREBP1-dependent lipogenesis. However, the relationship of this regulation with the progression of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation induces AKT-dependent PCK1 pS90, PCK1-mediated INSIG1 pS207/INSIG2 pS151, and nuclear SREBP1 accumulation in NSCLC cells. In addition, the expression levels of AKT pS473, PCK1 pS90, INSIG1 pS207/INSIG2 pS151, and nuclear SREBP1 are higher in 451 analyzed human NSCLC specimens than in their adjacent normal tissues and positively correlated with each other in the tumor specimens. Furthermore, the expression levels of PCK1 pS90, INSIG1 pS207/INSIG2 pS151, and nuclear SREBP1 are associated with TNM stage and progression in NSCLC. Importantly, levels of PCK1 pS90 or INSIG1 pS207/INSIG2 pS151 are positively correlated with poor prognosis in NSCLC patients, and the combined expression value of the PCK1 and INSIG1/2 phosphorylation has a better prognostic value than that of each individual protein phosphorylation value and is an independent prognostic marker for NSCLC. These findings reveal the role of PCK1-mediated nuclear SREBP1 activation in NSCLC progression and highlight the potential to target the protein kinase activity of PCK1 for the diagnosis and treatment of human NSCLC.

CircVAPA exerts oncogenic property in non-small cell lung cancer by the miR-876-5p/WNT5A axis

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most fatal malignant tumors. Emerging studies have clarified the crucial roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the tumorigenesis of cancers. CircVAPA was demonstrated to function in some human cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the role of circVAPA in NSCLC.

METHODS

A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the expression of genes. Actinomycin D and RNase R were employed to examine the stability of circVAPA. Cell-counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, Transwell and sphere formation assays, and well as western blot analysis, were conducted to examine the changes of NSCLC cells in response to circVAPA knockdown. A luciferase reporter assay was conducted for the molecular mechanism.

RESULTS

Our findings demonstrated high expression of circVAPA in tissues and cell lines of NSCLC. Knockdown of circVAPA had a suppressive effect on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness, and also inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, circVAPA acted as a competing endogenous RNA to up-regulate WNT5A by sponging miR-876-5p. Moreover, circVAPA activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling by up-regulation of WNT5A. Rescue assays showed that silencing of miR-876-5p or overexpression of WNT5A reversed the circVAPA knockdown-mediated inhibition on cellular processes in NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS

CircVAPA promotes aggressive phenotypes of NSCLC cells by the miR-876-5p/WNT5A axis activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Impact Analysis of miR-1253 on Lung Cancer Progression Through Targeted Regulation of ANXA3

OBJECTIVE

This study set out to investigate the effect of miR-1253 on lung cancer progression through targeted regulation of ANXA3.

METHODS

RT-PCR was employed to detect the miR-1253 expression levels in lung cancer cells and its targeted gene ANXA3 mRNA determined by biological information prediction. MTT, invasion and apoptosis rate tests were employed to detect the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis rate of lung cancer cells over-expressing miR-1253 or those with low expression of ANXA3 and the expression of related proteins.

RESULTS

RT-qPCR results manifested that the miR-1253 level was down-regulated in lung cancer tissues and cells, and the ANXA3 expression increased. The miR-1253 and ANXA3 expression levels were negatively correlated. miR-1253 was correlated with tumor differentiation degree, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of lung cancer patients. Cell tests confirmed that miR-1253 played a tumor-inhibiting function, including inhibiting proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells and promoting apoptosis. Bioinformatics prediction and subsequent experiments proved that ANXA3 was the direct target of miR-1253. Moreover, after the ANXA3 expression in lung cancer cells was knocked down, proliferation and invasion of those cells were inhibited dramatically, the apoptosis rate increased markedly, and the expression levels of pro-apoptosis-related proteins Bax and caspase-3 were up-regulated, and the anti-apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated.

CONCLUSION

miR-1253 can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells and promote their apoptosis by targeting ANXA3. It can be used as a new potential target for lung cancer treatment.

Expression of MiR-608 in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer and Molecular Mechanism of Apoptosis and Migration of A549 Cells

OBJECTIVE

This Work is aimed at exploring the effect of microRNA (MiR)-608 on the function of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells and related mechanisms.

METHODS

Blood samples of 106 NSCLC patients (experimental group) as well as 124 normal people (control group) were selected for relevant investigation. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as well as DNA sequencing was used to determine the genotyping of the MiR-608 rs4919510 polymorphism. MiR-608 expression in cells was detected by real-time PCR technology. Western blotting was used to detect changes in protein levels. NSCLC tissues as well as adjacent tissues were explored in 33 patients undergoing surgery.

RESULTS

MiR-608 rs4919510 does not influence the incidence of NSCLC patients. In addition, MiR-608 expression was downregulated in the tumor tissue of NSCLC patients, while the transcription factor activating enhancer-binding protein 4 (TFAP4) expression was upregulated. MiR-608 promotes DOX- (Doxorubicin-) induced apoptosis by negatively regulating TFAP4 expression in NSCLC tissue. TFAP4 can significantly inhibit the migration of A549 cells.

CONCLUSION

The findings in this investigation can contribute to the effective treatment of NSCLC patients. Also, the investigation can provide some theoretical support for the application of new targets for NSCLC treatment.

The involvement of noncanonical Wnt signaling in cancers

Wnt signaling is one of the key cascades regulating normal tissue development and has been tightly associated with cancer. The Wnt signaling can be subdivided into two categories: canonical & noncanonical. Noncanonical Wnt signaling pathways mainly include Wnt/PCP (planar cell polarity) signaling and Wnt-cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate) /Ca2+ signaling. It has been well studied by previous researches that noncanonical Wnt signaling regulates multiple cell functions including proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, polarity, motility, and migration. The aberrant activation or inhibition of noncanonical Wnt signaling is crucial in cancer progression, exerting both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive effects. Recent studies show the involvement of noncanonical Wnt in regulating cancer cell invasion, metastasis, metabolism, and inflammation. Here, we review current insights into novel components of non-canonical signalings and describe their involvement in various cancer types. We also summarize recent biological and clinical discoveries that outline non-canonical Wnt signaling in tumorigenesis. Finally, we provide an overview of current strategies to target non-canonical Wnt signaling in cancer and challenges that are associated with such approaches.

Non-coding RNA biomarkers in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies, which is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. The late disease diagnosis, the limited availability of effective therapeutic interventions and lack of robust diagnostic biomarkers, are some of the primary reasons for the dismal 5-year survival rates (∼8%) in patients with PDAC. The pancreatic cancer develops through accumulation of a series of genomic and epigenomic alterations which lead to the transformation of normal pancreatic epithelium into an invasive carcinoma - a process that can take up to 15-20 years to develop, from the occurrence of first initiating mutational event. These facts highlight a unique window of opportunity for the earlier detection of PDAC, which could allow timely disease interception and improvement in the overall survival outcomes in patients suffering from this fatal malignancy. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been recognized to play a central role in PDAC pathogenesis and are emerging as attractive candidates for biomarker development in various cancers, including PDAC. More specifically, the ncRNAs play a pivotal role in PDAC biology as they affect tumor growth, migration, and invasion by regulating cellular processes including cell cycle, apoptosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In this review, we focus on three types of well-established ncRNAs - microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) - and discuss their potential as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers in PDAC.

Impaired cell migration and structural defects in myeloid cells overexpressing miR-30b and miR-142-3p

Macrophages (MΦ) and dendritic cells (DC) play a fundamental role in shaping immune responses by sensing a plethora of Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs), phagocytosis and antigen presentation to T lymphocytes. These important biological processes require efficient cell movement and an intact cellular morphology for dynamic interaction. The role of microRNAs (miRs) in this regard, however, is not well understood. In the present study, we show that miR-30b and miR-142-3p regulate migration and morphology of MΦ and DC. Transient overexpression of miR-30b and miR-142-3p attenuates migration and these cells display unique morphological deformities observed under electron microscopy. In addition, miR-142-3p overexpression in MΦ impaired phagocytosis of FITC-conjugated latex beads using live microscopy imaging. Interestingly, live cell imaging and F-actin staining revealed marked changes in the cell polarity and actin polymerization status, respectively. To identify miR-142-3p regulated pathways, we profiled global transcriptome changes in miR-142-3p or control mimic transfected DC. Expression of several genes were differentially altered by miR-142-3p and were associated with pathways related to cell movement, cell adhesion, and cytoskeletal rearrangement. Bioinformatics analysis identified a significant subset of downregulated genes with one or more predicted miR-142-3p binding sites in their 3'UTR strongly suggesting direct post-transcriptional impact of these miRNAs on multiple transcripts. Using dual luciferase assays, novel miR-142-3p binding sites were validated for three genes (Vinculin, Dab2 and Skap2) directly associated with cytoskeletal rearrangement and cell movement. In summary, our results show that miR-30b and miR-142-3p are regulators of myeloid cell cytoskeletal homeostasis and morphology.

MiR-1299 Impedes the Progression of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Through EGFR/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Background

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most malignant tumors. In which, numerous miRNAs had been reported to participate in the pathogenesis. However, the expression and function of miR-1299 in NSCLC are not clear.

Methods

To explore the roles of miR-1299 in NSCLC, we detected the levels of miR-1299 in clinical samples of NSCLC and investigated the role of miR-1299 in the regulation of the NSCLC cells proliferation, metastasis, and EMT. Luciferase reporter assay was employed to verify the target of miR-1299. Additionally, the proliferation, metastasis, and EMT of A549 and H1299 cells were analyzed after the overexpression and knockdown of miR-1299.

Results

We found that the miR-1299 expression negatively corresponded with the clinical stage and overall survival in NSCLC patients. Overexpression of miR-1299 inhibited the migration, invasion, and EMT of A549 and H1975 cells. Meanwhile, we proved that miR-1299 is the sponge of EGFR. Besides, our results suggested that miR-1299 inhibits the progression of NSCLC cells through the PI3K/Akt signal pathway.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that miR-1299 inhibits the progression of NSCLC through the EGFR/PI3K/Akt signal pathway. Therapeutic intervention targeting the miR-1299 may provide a potential strategy for the treatment of NSCLC.

Loss of miR-145-5p Causes Ceruloplasmin Interference with PHD-Iron Axis and HIF-2α Stabilization in Lung Adenocarcinoma-Mediated Angiogenesis

For decades, lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) play critical roles in mediating lung cancer development and metastasis. The present study aims to clarify how HIF’s over-activation affects lung cancer angiogenesis not only in a normoxic condition, but also a hypoxic niche. Our study shows that human lung cancer exhibits elevated levels of ceruloplasmin (CP), which has a negative impact on the prognosis of patients. CP affects the cellular Fe²⁺ level, which inactivates prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) 1 and 2, resulting in HIF-2α enhancement. Increased HIF-2α leads to vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) secretion and angiogenesis. The expression of CP is under the epigenetic control of miR-145-5p. Restoration of miR-145-5p by miRNA mimics transfection decreases CP expression, increases Fe²⁺ and PHD1/2 levels and HIF hydroxylation while reduced HIF-2α levels resulting in the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. In contrast, inhibition of miR-145-5p by miRNA inhibitors increases the expression of CP and VEGF-A in lung cancer cells. Significantly, miR-145-5p expression is lost in the tumor samples of lung cancer patients, and low miR-145-5p expression is strongly correlated with a shorter overall survival time. In conclusion, the current study reveals the clinical importance and prognostic value of miR-145-5p and CP. It identifies a unique mechanism of HIF-2α over-activation, which is mediated by iron imbalance of the iron-PHD coupling that modulates tumor angiogenesis.

MicroRNA-1253 Regulation of WASF2 (WAVE2) and its Relevance to Racial Health Disparities

The prevalence of hypertension among African Americans (AAs) in the US is among the highest of any demographic and affects over two-thirds of AA women. Previous data from our laboratory suggest substantial differential gene expression (DGE) of mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) exists within peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from AA and white women with or without hypertension. We hypothesized that DGE by race may contribute to racial differences in hypertension. In a reanalysis of our previous dataset, we found that the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein Verprolin-homologous protein 2 (WASF2 (also known as WAVE2)) is differentially expressed in AA women with hypertension, along with several other members of the actin cytoskeleton signaling pathway that plays a role in cell shape and branching of actin filaments. We performed an in silico miRNA target prediction analysis that suggested miRNA miR-1253 regulates WASF2. Transfection of miR-1253 mimics into human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) significantly repressed WASF2 mRNA and protein levels (p < 0.05), and a luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-1253 regulates the WASF2 3' UTR (p < 0.01). miR-1253 overexpression in HUVECs significantly increased HUVEC lamellipodia formation (p < 0.01), suggesting the miR-1253-WASF2 interaction may play a role in cell shape and actin cytoskeleton function. Together, we have identified novel roles for miR-1253 and WASF2 in a hypertension-related disparities context. This may ultimately lead to the discovery of additional actin-related genes which are important in the vascular-related complications of hypertension and influence the disproportionate susceptibility to hypertension among AAs in general and AA women in particular.

Germline Polymorphisms and Length of Survival of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: An Exome-Wide Association Study in Multiple Cohorts

Germline polymorphisms are linked with differential survival outcomes in cancers but are not well studied in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Here, a two-phase association study is conducted to discover germline polymorphisms that are associated with the prognosis of NPC. The discovery phase includes two consecutive hospital cohorts of patients with NPC from Southern China. Exome-wide genotypes at 246 173 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are determined, followed by survival analysis for each SNP under Cox proportional hazard regression model. Candidate SNP is replicated in another two independent cohorts from Southern China and Singapore. Meta-analysis of all samples (n = 5553) confirms that the presence of rs1131636-T, located in the 3'-UTR of RPA1, confers an inferior overall survival (HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.20-1.47, P = 6.31 × 10-8). Bioinformatics and biological assays show that rs1131636 has regulatory effects on upstream RPA1. Functional studies further demonstrate that RPA1 promotes the growth, invasion, migration, and radioresistance of NPC cells. Additionally, miR-1253 is identified as a suppressor for RPA1 expression, likely through regulation of its binding affinity to rs1131636 locus. Collectively, these findings provide a promising biomarker aiding in stratifying patients with poor survival, as well as a potential drug target for NPC.

CircRNA hsa_circ_0087862 Acts as an Oncogene in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Targeting miR-1253/RAB3D Axis

Purpose

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to regulate several human tumors. The present study was to explore the mechanism of hsa_circ_0087862 in regulating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Totally 102 NSCLC cases were enrolled. NCI-H1359 and A549 cells were transfected. Cells viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion were determined by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, scratch test and transwell experiment, respectively. Luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were performed. Xenograft tumor experiments were performed using nude mice. hsa_circ_0087862, miR-1253 and RAB3D expression in tissues/cells were detected by qRT-PCR. RAB3D and Ki67 protein expressions in cells/tissues were researched by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis of xenograft tumor tissue cells was detected using Tunel assay.

Results

hsa_circ_0087862 was significantly up-regulated in NSCLC patients, which was associated with poor prognosis (P < 0.05). hsa_circ_0087862 down-regulation prominently weakened NSCLC cells viability, migration, invasion and enhanced apoptosis (P < 0.01). hsa_circ_0087862 overexpression exhibited the opposite results in NSCLC cells. miR-1253 was sponged by hsa_circ_0087862. miR-1253 expression in NSCLC tissues was negatively correlated with hsa_circ_0087862 (P < 0.001). RAB3D expression in NSCLC was directly inhibited by miR-1253. miR-1253 down-regulation or RAB3D overexpression dramatically reversed NSCLC cells phenotype induced by hsa_circ_0087862 down-regulation. hsa_circ_0087862 down-regulation markedly inhibited tumor growth in vivo (P < 0.01). In xenograft tumor tissues, hsa_circ_0087862 down-regulation obviously decreased expression of RAB3D, Ki67 and increased apoptosis.

Conclusion

hsa_circ_0087862 acted as an oncogene in NSCLC by targeting miR-1253/RAB3D.

MiR-1253 exerts tumor-suppressive effects in medulloblastoma via inhibition of CDK6 and CD276 (B7-H3)

Of the four primary subgroups of medulloblastoma, the most frequent cytogenetic abnormality, i17q, distinguishes Groups 3 and 4 which carry the highest mortality; haploinsufficiency of 17p13.3 is a marker for particularly poor prognosis. At the terminal end of this locus lies miR-1253, a brain-enriched microRNA that regulates bone morphogenic proteins during cerebellar development. We hypothesized miR-1253 confers novel tumor-suppressive properties in medulloblastoma. Using two different cohorts of medulloblastoma samples, we first studied the expression and methylation profiles of miR-1253. We then explored the anti-tumorigenic properties of miR-1253, in parallel with a biochemical analysis of apoptosis and proliferation, and isolated oncogenic targets using high-throughput screening. Deregulation of miR-1253 expression was noted, both in medulloblastoma clinical samples and cell lines, by epigenetic silencing via hypermethylation; specific de-methylation of miR-1253 not only resulted in rapid recovery of expression but also a sharp decline in tumor cell proliferation and target gene expression. Expression restoration also led to a reduction in tumor cell virulence, concomitant with activation of apoptotic pathways, cell cycle arrest and reduction of markers of proliferation. We identified two oncogenic targets of miR-1253, CDK6 and CD276, whose silencing replicated the negative trophic effects of miR-1253. These data reveal novel tumor-suppressive properties for miR-1253, i.e., (i) loss of expression via epigenetic silencing; (ii) negative trophic effects on tumor aggressiveness; and (iii) downregulation of oncogenic targets.

Radon Biomonitoring and microRNA in Lung Cancer

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. microRNA expression in human bronchial epithelium cells is altered by radon, with particular reference to upregulation of miR-16, miR-15, miR-23, miR-19, miR-125, and downregulation of let-7, miR-194, miR-373, miR-124, miR-146, miR-369, and miR-652. These alterations alter cell cycle, oxidative stress, inflammation, oncogene suppression, and malignant transformation. Also DNA methylation is altered as a consequence of miR-29 modification induced by radon. Indeed miR-29 targets DNA methyltransferases causing inhibition of CpG sites methylation. Massive microRNA dysregulation occurs in the lung due to radon expose and is functionally related with the resulting lung damage. However, in humans this massive lung microRNA alterations only barely reflect onto blood microRNAs. Indeed, blood miR-19 was not found altered in radon-exposed subjects. Thus, microRNAs are massively dysregulated in experimental models of radon lung carcinogenesis. In humans these events are initially adaptive being aimed at inhibiting neoplastic transformation. Only in case of long-term exposure to radon, microRNA alterations lead towards cancer development. Accordingly, it is difficult in human to establish a microRNA signature reflecting radon exposure. Additional studies are required to understand the role of microRNAs in pathogenesis of radon-induced lung cancer.

MiR-501-3p functions as a tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer by downregulating RAP1A

MicroRNA-501-3p (miR-501-3p) has been reported to play tumor-suppressive roles in different cancers; however, its expression pattern and biological function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unknown. In this study, we noted downregulation of miR-501-3p in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Functional assays showed that overexpression of miR-501-3p suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation, clonogenicity, migration, and invasion. Moreover, miR-501-3p overexpression attenuated in vivo tumor growth in a nude mouse model. In terms of the mechanism, RAP1A was identified as a novel target of miR-501-3p. Overexpression of RAP1A strongly attenuated the inhibitory effects of miR-501-3p on the capacity of NSCLC cells for proliferation and motility. In the clinical samples of NSCLC, miR-501-3p levels negatively correlated with RAP1A expression, which was upregulated in NSCLC. Collectively, these results indicate that miR-501-3p acts as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC by directly targeting RAP1A mRNA and may serve as a theranostic biomarker for patients with NSCLC.

Prognostic Impact of Metabolism Reprogramming Markers Acetyl-CoA Synthetase 2 Phosphorylation and Ketohexokinase-A Expression in Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma

Background: The identification of prognostic markers for non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is needed for clinical practice. The metabolism-reprogramming marker ketohexokinase (KHK)-A and acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2) phosphorylation at S659 (ACSS2 pS659) play important roles in tumorigenesis and tumor development. However, the clinical significance of KHK-A and ACSS2 pS659 in NSCLC is largely unknown. Methods: The expression levels of KHK-A and ACSS2 pS659 were assessed by immunohistochemistry analyses of surgical specimens from 303 NSCLC patients. The prognostic values of KHK-A and ACSS2 pS659 were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression models. Results: The expression levels of KHK-A and ACSS2 pS659 were significantly higher in NSCLC tissues than those in adjacent non-tumor tissues (P < 0.0001). KHK-A or ACSS2 pS659 alone and the combination of KHK-A and ACSS2 pS659 were inversely correlated with overall survival in NSCLC patients (P < 0.001). The multivariate analysis indicated that KHK-A or ACSS2 pS659 and KHK-A/ACSS2 pS659 were independent prognostic biomarkers for NSCLC (P = 0.008 for KHK-A, P < 0.001 for ACSS2 pS659, and P < 0.001 for KHK-A/ACSS2 pS659). Furthermore, the combination of KHK-A and ACSS2 pS659 can be used as a prognostic indicator for all stages of NSCLC. Conclusions: KHK-A or ACSS2 pS659 alone and the combination of KHK-A and ACSS2 pS659 can be used as prognostic markers for NSCLC. Our findings highlight the important role of metabolic reprogramming in NSCLC progression.

MicroRNA-26a-5p inhibits proliferation, invasion and metastasis by repressing the expression of Wnt5a in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Background

Thyroid cancer (TC) is considered as the fastest growing malignancy in the human endocrine system, particularly papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). MicroRNAs (miRs) serve as a role in promoting or suppressing tumors in various types of malignant tumor including PTC. This study aims to explore whether microRNA-26a-5p (miR-26a-5p) could affect the proliferation, invasion and metastasis ability of PTC cells by regulating Wnt5a.

Materials and methods

The expression of miR-26a-5p was examined by qRT-PCR in PTC tissue samples (58 cases, mean age 53 years old) and PTC cell lines (K1 and BCPAP). Cell proliferation, invasion and migration were tested with CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, transwell invasion assay and wound healing assay, respectively. Luciferase reporting experiment was used to verify that Wnt5a is a molecular target of miR-26a-5p. The relationship between miR-26a-5p and Wnt5a was analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blot and was further proved by Pearson's correlation analysis. Animal (24 nude mice) experiments were used to demonstrate that miR-26a-5p inhibits tumor growth by targeting Wnt5a.

Results

The expression of miR-26a-5p declined in PTC tissues (P<0.01). The expression of miR-26a-5 was also significantly down-regulated in PTC tissues with advanced TNM stages (P<0.01) and lymph node metastasis (P<0.01) compared with normal thyroid tissues. Compared with normal human thyroid cell line Nthy-ori 3-1, the expression of miR-26a-5p in K1 cells and BCPAP cells were nearly 4.02-fold (P<0.01) and 2.51-fold (P<0.01) reduced. Up regulation of miR-26a-5p inhibited proliferation, colony formation, invasion and migration of PTC cells. MiR-26a-5p negatively regulated Wnt5a expression (r=-0.887, P<0.01), yet Wnt5a overexpression reversed the tumor-suppressive effect of miR-26a-5p in PTC. Animal experiments further verified that miR-26a-5p inhibited PTC growth by targeting Wnt5a.

Conclusion

Overexpression of miR-26a-5p depresses proliferation, invasion, metastasis of PTC via Wnt5a. Therefore, miR-26a-5p may represent a potentially effective target gene for PTC.

MiR-516a-5p inhibits the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer by targeting HIST3H2A

The dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the mechanisms by which miR-516a-5p contributes to NSCLC remain unclear. The association between miR-516a-5p expression and the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with NSCLC was analyzed by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data set. The targets of miR-516a-5p were identified by bioinformatic analysis and luciferase report assay. MTT and soft agar assays were conducted to investigate the function of miR-516a-5p in NSCLC cells. We found that the expression of miR-516a-5p was decreased in NSCLC tissues and associated with the age, pathological stage, and tumor size, acting as an independent prognostic factor of tumor recurrence in patients with NSCLC. Restoration of miR-516a-5p inhibited the cell viability and anchorage-independent growth of NSCLC cells, but its inhibitor had the opposite effects. Histone cluster 3 H2A (HIST3H2A) was further identified as a direct target of miR-516a-5p and displayed a negative correlation with miR-516a-5p expression in NSCLC tissues. Overexpression of HIST3H2A reversed the anti-proliferation effects induced by miR-516a-5p and acted as an independent prognostic factor of poor survival in patients with NSCLC. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that miR-516a-5p may function as a tumor suppressive factor in NSCLC cells by targeting HIST3H2A and might represent a potential indicator of tumor recurrence in patients with NSCLC.

MiR-302a-5p suppresses cell proliferation and invasion in non-small cell lung carcinoma by targeting ITGA6

MicroRNA-302a-5p (miR-302a-5p) has been implicated in several cancers; however, its role in human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) remains unknown. In this study, we showed that miR-302a-5p is downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Cell Counting Kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays showed that overexpression of a miR-302a-5p mimic suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation, which was confirmed by the results of a cell cycle assay. Overexpression of miR-302a-5p also reduced the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. Additionally, miR-302a-5p overexpression significantly inhibited NSCLC growth and metastasis in a mouse xenograft model. With regard to the underlying mechanism, integrin α6 (ITGA6) mRNA was shown to be a novel target of miR-302a-5p, and overexpression of ITGA6 attenuated the inhibitory effects of miR-302a-5p on the proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells. In clinical NSCLC samples, miR-302a-5p expression was negatively correlated with ITGA6 expression, which was high in the samples. Collectively, these results indicate that miR-302a-5p acts as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC by directly targeting ITGA6 mRNA and may be useful as a theranostic biomarker of NSCLC.

Gene Amplification-Driven Long Noncoding RNA SNHG17 Regulates Cell Proliferation and Migration in Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cancer all around the world, with high morbidity and mortality. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) has been reported to have a critical role in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) proliferation and migration. In the present study, we analyzed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, and we found that lncRNA Small Nucleolar RNA Host Gene 17 (SNHG17) was upregulated in NSCLC driven by the amplification of copy number, indicating the special role of SNHG17 in NSCLC. The full exact length of SNHG17 was determined by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). We modulated SNHG17 expression by RNAi and a series of functional assays were performed. Flow cytometry was used to explore the involvement of SNHG17 in NSCLC cell apoptosis. Results showed that the knockdown of SNHG17 inhibited the proliferation and migration and promoted the apoptosis of NSCLC cells. We acquired the global gene expression profile regulated by SNHG17 in A549 through RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) assays. We found 637 genes were upregulated while 581 genes were downregulated. We selected three genes (FOXA1, XAF1, and BIK) that were closely related to proliferation and apoptosis, and we confirmed their altered expression in A549 and PC-9 cells treated with small interfering RNA si-SNHG17. Our findings indicated gene amplification-driven lncRNA SNHG17 promotes cell proliferation and migration in NSCLC, suggesting its potential value as a biomarker in NSCLC.

Upregulated circular RNA circ_0030235 predicts unfavorable prognosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and facilitates cell progression by sponging miR-1253 and miR-1294

Accumulating evidence indicated that dysregulated circular RNAs (circRNAs) could play pivotal roles in cancer biology. A recent study demonstrated that circ_0030235 expression is upregulated in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by high-throughput circRNA microarray. In the current work, we aimed to elucidate the clinical significance, prognostic value, functional roles and mechanism of circ_0030235 in PDAC. Quantitative real time-PCR was used to detect circ_0030235 expression in PDAC tissue specimens and cell lines. The clinical significance of circ_0030235 was evaluated by Fisher's exact test, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox regression analysis. Cell growth, apoptosis, and metastatic properties were then explored after circ_0030235 knockdown/overexpression. Dual luciferase reporter assay was applied to detect the mechanisms of circ_0030235. As a result, the data documented that circ_0030235 was upregulated in PDAC cell lines and cancerous tissues compared with HPDE and matched normal tissue specimens, respectively. Overexpression of circ_0030235 in tumor samples is related to higher tumor stage and positive lymph node invasion. Additionally, analyses documented that high expression of circ_0030235 was associated with poor prognosis for PDAC patients. Knockdown of circ_0030235 by siRNAs inhibited cell growth, migratory and invasive potential, and promoted cell apoptosis. On the contrary, overexpression of circ_0030235 caused the opposite effect. Mechanistically, circ_0030235 directly sponges miR-1253 and miR-1294 in PDAC cells. What's more, the oncogenic properties of circ_0030235 was partly dependent on its suppression on miR-1253 and miR-1294. Overall, the results showed that circ_0030235 might act as an effective therapeutic target and indicate dismal prognosis for PDAC.

MicroRNA-497-5p inhibits proliferation and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer by regulating FGF2

Increasing number of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play an important role in the development and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In particular, microRNA-497-5p (miR-497-5p) has been proposed as a tumor suppressor miRNA in human cancers. However, the role of miR-497-5p and its potential molecular mechanism associated with NSCLC are less studied. Therefore, the role of miR-497-5p in the pathogenesis of NSCLC was investigated. In the present study, the expression of miR-497-5p was significantly downregulated in NSCLC. Moreover, overexpression of miR-497-5p inhibited the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells by suppressing FGF2. In addition, FGF2 was a downstream target of miR-497-5p in NSCLC. FGF2 was upregulated in NSCLC promoting cell proliferation and invasion. Overexpression of FGF2 impaired the inhibitory effect of miR-497-5p in NSCLC. Taken together, these results demonstrate that miR-497-5p is a tumor suppressor miRNA and demonstrate its potential for future use in the treatment of human NSCLC.

miR‑505 inhibits cell growth and EMT by targeting MAP3K3 through the AKT‑NFκB pathway in NSCLC cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs, which generally regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been reported in numerous cancer types, including lung cancer. In the present study, the role of miR-505 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells was investigated. miR-505 served a tumor suppressor role in NSCLC cells. By reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction detection, it was demonstrated that miR-505 was downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, which is negatively associated with large tumor size, Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage and distant metastasis in patients with NSCLC. Functional studies revealed that miR-505 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition progress in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Mechanically, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (MAP3K3) was identified as a direct target of miR-505 by binding to its 3′untranslated region and demonstrated to mediate the tumor suppressor roles of miR-505 in NSCLC cells. The effect of miR-505 on the activation of AKT/nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) pathway, which was downstream targets of MAP3K3, was further analyzed by western blot analysis and immunofluorescence analyses. The data demonstrated the inhibition of the AKT/NFκB pathway upon overexpressing miR-505 and the activation of AKT/NFκB pathway upon silencing miR-505. Collectively, the data revealed the novel role and target of miR-505 in NSCLC cells, which may provide novel insights regarding its role in the carcinogenesis of NSCLC and its potential values for clinical applications.