Overexpression of miR-499-5p inhibits non-small cell lung cancer proliferation and metastasis by targeting VAV3

Propranolol inhibits EMT and metastasis in breast cancer through miR-499-5p-mediated Sox6

PURPOSE

This study will focus on 4T1 cells, a murine mammary adenocarcinoma cell line, as the primary research subject. We aim to investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of propranolol on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in breast cancer cells, aiming to elucidate this phenomenon at the miRNA level.

METHODS

In this study, the EMT inhibitory effect of propranolol was observed through in vitro and animal experiments. For the screening of potential target miRNAs and downstream target genes, second-generation sequencing (SGS) and bioinformatics analysis were conducted. Following the screening process, the identified target miRNAs and their respective target genes were confirmed using various experimental methods. To confirm the target miRNAs and target genes, Western Blot (WB), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and immunofluorescence experiments were performed.

RESULTS

In this study, we found that propranolol significantly reduced lung metastasis in 4T1 murine breast cancer cells (p < 0.05). In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that propranolol inhibited the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as evidenced by Western Blot analysis (p < 0.05). Through next-generation sequencing (SGS), subsequent bioinformatics analysis, and PCR validation, we identified a marked downregulation of miR-499-5p (p < 0.05), suggesting its potential involvement in mediating the suppressive effects of propranolol on EMT. Overexpression of miR-499-5p promoted EMT, migration, and invasion of 4T1 cells, and these effects were not reversed or attenuated by propranolol (Validated via Western Blot, wound healing assay, transwell migration, and invasion assays, p < 0.05). Sox6 was identified as a functional target of miR-499-5p, with its downregulation correlating with the observed EMT changes (p < 0.05). Silencing Sox6 or overexpressing miR-499-5p inhibited Sox6 expression, further promoting the processes of EMT, invasion, and migration in 4T1 cells. Notably, these effects were not alleviated by propranolol (validated via Western Blot, wound healing assay, transwell migration, and invasion assays, p < 0.05). The direct interaction between miR-499-5p and Sox6 mRNA was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that propranolol may have potential as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment by targeting EMT and its regulatory mechanisms.

Restoring microRNA-499-5p Protects Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury Mice Via Targeting Sox6

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRs) are known to participate in sepsis; hence, we aim to discuss the protective effect of miR-499-5p targeting sex-determining region Y-related high-mobility-group box 6 (Sox6) on sepsis-induced lung injury in mice.

METHODS

The sepsis-induced lung injury model was established by cecal ligation and puncture. The wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio, miR-499-5p, Sox6, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 expression in lung tissues of mice were tested. Lung injury score, collagen fibers and the degree of pulmonary fibrosis in lung tissues were determined. Further, the cell apoptosis in lung tissues was measured. The inflammatory factors contents and oxidative stress indices in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were detected via loss- and gain-of-function assays. The targeting relation between miR-499-5p and Sox6 was verified.

RESULTS

W/D ratio and Sox6 were increased while miR-499-5p was decreased in lung tissues of sepsis-induced lung injury mice. Restored miR-499-5p or depleted Sox6 alleviated lung tissues pathology, reduced lung injury score, collagen fibers, the degree of pulmonary fibrosis, TUNEL positive cells, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 protein expression and inflammatory factors contents in BALF and lung tissues as well as oxidative stress response in lung tissues of sepsis-induced lung injury mice. miR-499-5p targeted Sox6.

CONCLUSION

High expression of miR-499-5p can attenuate cell apoptosis in lung tissues and inhibit inflammation of sepsis-induced lung injury mice via depleting Sox6, and it is a potential candidate marker and therapeutic target for sepsis-induced lung injury.

Vav3 Mediates Pseudomonas aeruginosa Adhesion to the Cystic Fibrosis Airway Epithelium

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) represents the leading cause of airway infection in cystic fibrosis (CF). Early airways colonization can be explained by enhanced adhesion of Pa to the respiratory epithelium. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on fully differentiated primary cultures of airway epithelial cells from CF and non-CF donors predict that VAV3, β1 INTEGRIN, and FIBRONECTIN genes are significantly enriched in CF. Indeed, Vav3 is apically overexpressed in CF, associates with active β1 integrin luminally exposed, and increases fibronectin deposition. These luminal microdomains, rich in fibronectin and β1 integrin and regulated by Vav3, mediate the increased Pa adhesion to the CF epithelium. Interestingly, Vav3 inhibition normalizes the CF-dependent fibronectin and β1-integrin ectopic expression, improves the CF epithelial integrity, and prevents the enhanced Pa trapping to the CF epithelium. Through its capacity to promote a luminal complex with active β1 integrin and fibronectin that favors bacteria trapping, Vav3 may represent a new target in CF.

Novel SARS-CoV-2 encoded small RNAs in the passage to humans

Motivation

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has recently emerged as the responsible for the pandemic outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This virus is closely related to coronaviruses infecting bats and Malayan pangolins, species suspected to be an intermediate host in the passage to humans. Several genomic mutations affecting viral proteins have been identified, contributing to the understanding of the recent animal-to-human transmission. However, the capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to encode functional putative microRNAs (miRNAs) remains largely unexplored.

Results

We have used deep learning to discover 12 candidate stem-loop structures hidden in the viral protein-coding genome. Among the precursors, the expression of eight mature miRNAs-like sequences was confirmed in small RNA-seq data from SARS-CoV-2 infected human cells. Predicted miRNAs are likely to target a subset of human genes of which 109 are transcriptionally deregulated upon infection. Remarkably, 28 of those genes potentially targeted by SARS-CoV-2 miRNAs are down-regulated in infected human cells. Interestingly, most of them have been related to respiratory diseases and viral infection, including several afflictions previously associated with SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. The comparison of SARS-CoV-2 pre-miRNA sequences with those from bat and pangolin coronaviruses suggests that single nucleotide mutations could have helped its progenitors jumping inter-species boundaries, allowing the gain of novel mature miRNAs targeting human mRNAs. Our results suggest that the recent acquisition of novel miRNAs-like sequences in the SARS-CoV-2 genome may have contributed to modulate the transcriptional reprogramming of the new host upon infection.

MicroRNA-499 serves as a sensitizer for lung cancer cells to radiotherapy by inhibition of CK2α-mediated phosphorylation of p65

The present study aimed to define the tumor-suppressive role of microRNA-499 (miR-499) in lung cancer cells and its underlying mechanism. First, qRT-PCR analysis revealed poor expression of miR-499 in clinical samples and cell lines of lung cancer. Next, we performed loss- and gain-of-function experiments for the expression of miR-499 in lung cancer cells exposed to irradiation (IR) to determine the effect of miR-499 expression on cell viability and apoptosis as well as tumor growth. Results showed that overexpression of miR-499 inhibited cell viability, enhanced the radiosensitivity of lung cancer cells, and promoted cell apoptosis under IR. Furthermore, CK2α was verified to be a target of miR-499, and miR-499 was identified to repress p65 phosphorylation by downregulating CK2α expression, which ultimately diminished the survival rate of lung cancer cells under IR. Collectively, the key findings of the study illustrate the tumor-inhibiting function of miR-499 and confirmed that miR-499-mediated CK2α inhibition and altered p65 phosphorylation enhances the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to IR.

microRNA-499a promotes the progression and chemoresistance of cervical cancer cells by targeting SOX6

Emerging evidence has indicated that microRNAs are involved in multiple processes of cancer development. Previous studies have demonstrated that microRNA-499a (miR-499a) plays both oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles in several types of malignancies, and genetic variants in miR-499a are associated with the risk of cervical cancer. However, the biological roles of miR-499a in cervical cancer have not been investigated. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess miR-499a expression in cervical cancer cells. Mimics or inhibitor of miR-499a was transfected into cervical cancer cells to upregulate or downregulate miR-499a expression. The effects of miR-499a expression change on cervical cancer cells proliferation, colony formation, tumorigenesis, chemosensitivity, transwell migration and invasion were assessed. The potential targets of miR-499a were predicted using online database tools and validated using real-time PCR, Western blot and luciferase reporter experiments. miR-499a was significantly upregulated in cervical cancer cells. Moreover, overexpression of miR-499a significantly enhanced the proliferation, cell cycle progression, colony formation, apoptosis resistance, migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells, while inhibiting miR-499a showed the opposite effects. Further exploration demonstrated that Sex-determining region Y box 6 was the direct target of miR-499a. miR-499a-induced SOX6 downregulation mediated the oncogenic effects of miR-499a in cervical cancer. Inhibiting miR-499a could enhance the anticancer effects of cisplatin in the xenograft mouse model of cervical cancer. Our findings for the first time suggest that miRNA-499a may play an important role in the development of cervical cancer and could serve as a potential therapeutic target.

Identification of miR-499a-5p as a Potential Novel Biomarker for Risk Stratification in Endometrial Cancer

INTRODUCTION

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project identified four distinct prognostic groups in endometrial cancer (EC), among which two are correlated with an intermediate prognosis: the MisMatch Repair-deficient (MMRd) and the No Specific Molecular Profile (NSMP) groups. The two groups represent a heterogeneous subset of patients frequently harboring CTNNB1 alterations with distinctive clinicopathologic features. The study aimed to evaluate the miRNA expression in ECs to identify potential biomarkers of prognosis.

METHODS

We analyzed miRNA expression in 72 ECs classified as MMRd or NSMP including 15 ECs with CTNNB1 mutations. In the discovery step, miRNA expression was evaluated in 30 cases through TaqMan miRNA arrays. Subsequently, four miRNAs were validated in the total cohort of ECs. The data were further tested in the TCGA cohort, and correlations with overall survival (OS) and progression-free interval (PFI) were evaluated.

RESULTS

miR-499a-3p and miR-499a-5p resulted to be overexpressed in CTNNB1 mutant EC patients at intermediate risk. Similarly, in the TCGA cohort, miR-499a-3p and miR-499a-5p were differentially expressed between CTNNB1 mutant and wild-type patients (p < 0.0001). NSMP patients with low miR-499a-5p expression showed longer OS (p = 0.03, log-rank test). By combining miR-499a-3p or -5p expression levels with the CTNNB1 status, ECs with CTNNB1 mutation and lower miR-499a-5p expression showed better OS compared with the other subgroups (p = 0.03, log-rank test), among the NSMP patients. Moreover, in a multivariate analysis, combination of wild type CTNNB1 status and high miR-499a-5p expression was indipendently associated with high risk of death [HR (95%CI): 3.53 (1.1-10.5), p = 0.02].

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the combination of CTNNB1 status and miR-499a-5p allows a better stratification of NSMP patients and could promote a personalization of the treatment in intermediate-risk patients.

Exosomal miR-499a-5p Inhibits Endometrial Cancer Growth and Metastasis via Targeting VAV3

Background/Aim

The current therapeutic strategies for endometrial cancer are limited and unsatisfactory. Accumulating evidence suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in tumor growth and metastasis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived exosomes (Exos) are considered as better miRNA delivery vehicles. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effect of exosomal miR-499a-5p (miR-499) in human endometrial cancer metastasis.

Methods

Microarray analysis and RT-PCR were performed to detect the relative expression of miR-499 in endometrial cancer tissues and cell lines. MSC-derived Exos were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Western blot (WB), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). miR-499 was loading into Exos using electroporation. Cell proliferation and angiogenesis capacity were tested by 5-ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay and tube formation assay, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter assay (DLR) was used to confirm the connection of miR-499 and VAV3.

Results

We found that the expression of miR-499 was significantly downregulated in cancer tissues compared with adjacent tissues in endometrial cancer patients. Moreover, exosomal miR-499 not only dramatically suppressed endometrial cancer cells proliferation, endothelial cells tube formation in vitro, but also inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo. In addition, we confirmed that miR-499 directly targets the 3'UTR sequence of VAV3.

Conclusion

The novel identified exosomal miR-499 functions as a tumor suppressor in endometrial cancer though regulating VAV3, and these findings could be a valid molecular target for endometrial cancer therapy.

MicroRNA-499-5p targets SIRT1 to aggravate lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening disease without effective and specific therapeutic strategies except the life-supporting treatments. Inflammation and oxidative stress are essential for the progression of ALI. MicroRNA-499-5p (miR-499-5p) has multiple pathophysiological actions; however, its function and mechanisms in ALI remain elusive. Mice were intravenously injected with miR-499-5p agomir, antagomir or the negative controls for 3 consecutive days and then received a single intratracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5 mg/kg) to generate ALI model. Twenty four hours prior to LPS injection, EX-527 (1 mg/kg) was applied to inhibit SIRT1 activity. We identified a significant upregulation of miR-499-5p in LPS-treated lung tissues. miR-499-5p antagomir prevented, while miR-499-5p agomir promoted inflammation, oxidative stress and ALI in LPS-treated mice. Further studies indicated that miR-499-5p directly bound to the 3'-untranslated region of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) and decreased its protein level. SIRT1 inhibition blocked miR-499-5p antagomir-mediated pulmonary protection against LPS injury. miR-499-5p targets SIRT1 to aggravate LPS-induced ALI and it is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of ALI.

MicroRNA genetic signature in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Egyptian patients

Background

Cancer development is associated with deregulated microRNA (miRNA) in body fluids including serum, plasma, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Early diagnosis and early treatment of lung cancer improve survival and response to treatment. So, finding an easy detectable biomarker is crucially important to improve the disease outcome. So, we analyzed the differential expression of miRNA using microarray both in serum and BAL of 37 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and 30 healthy control subjects (15 non-smokers and 15 smokers).

Results

A total of 32 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed in serum of NSCLC patients versus controls (13 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated), whereas 14 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed in BAL of NSCLC patients relative to control (12 upregulated and 2 downregulated). The accuracy of MiRNAs to detect lung cancer patients versus control was 94.3% with a specificity of 97.8% and a sensitivity of 92.3%.

Conclusions

Expression of miRNAs is specific in both serum and BAL of NSCLC patients, indicating that they might be considered easy diagnostic biomarkers for early lung cancer detection.

Circulating MicroRNAs: Biogenesis and Clinical Significance in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) causes many deaths around the world. Early diagnosis can prevent the development of AMI and provide theoretical support for the subsequent treatment. miRNAs participate in the AMI pathological processes. We aim to determine the early diagnostic and the prognostic roles of circulating miRNAs in AMI in the existing studies and summarize all the data to provide a greater understanding of their utility for clinical application. We reviewed current knowledge focused on the AMI development and circulating miRNA formation. Meanwhile, we collected and analyzed the potential roles of circulating miRNAs in AMI diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic strategies. Additionally, we elaborated on the challenges and clinical perspectives of the application of circulating miRNAs in AMI diagnosis. Circulating miRNAs are stable in the circulation and have earlier increases of circulating levels than diagnostic golden criteria. In addition, they are tissue and disease-specific. All these characteristics indicate that circulating miRNAs are promising biomarkers for the early diagnosis of AMI. Although there are several limitations to be resolved before clinical use, the application of circulating miRNAs shows great potential in the early diagnosis and the prognosis of AMI.

LINC00265 targets miR-382-5p to regulate SAT1, VAV3 and angiogenesis in osteosarcoma

We explored the mechanism by which LINC00265 regulates angiogenesis of osteosarcoma cells via the miR-382-5p/spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase-1 (SAT1) and miR-382-5p/vav guanine nucleotide exchange factor 3 (VAV3) axis. Cell scratch assay, Transwell assay and tube formation assay were applied to detect cell migration, invasion and tube formation abilities. The effects of LINC00265 targeting miR-382-5p in osteosarcoma in vivo were studied using a tumour-burden assay. A total of 70 genes potentially involved in osteosarcoma angiogenesis were identified, and a Gene Ontology (GO) analysis found that SAT1 and VAV3 were closely related to angiogenesis. Bioinformatics analysis and clinical experiments confirmed that LINC00265, SAT1 and VAV3 were overexpressed in osteosarcoma and related to a poor prognosis, whereas miR-382-5p was downregulated and associated with a poor prognosis. It was confirmed that LINC00265 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of osteosarcoma cells by targeting miR-382-5p to mediate SAT1 and VAV3. Collectively, LINC00265 might promote proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis by targeting miR-382-5p/SAT1 and miR-382-5p/VAV3 in osteosarcoma.

Triptolide-induced apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer via a novel miR204-5p/Caveolin-1/Akt-mediated pathway

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies world-wide with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprising nearly 80% of all cases. Unfortunately, many lung cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease with an associated poor prognosis. Recently, the Chinese herb root extract Triptolide/Minnelide (TL) has shown significant promise as a therapeutic agent for NSCLC treatment both in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanism(s) of action regarding TL-induced cytotoxicity in NSCLC. We demonstrate that triptolide treatment of A549 and H460 NSCLC cells decreases Caveolin-1 (CAV-1) mRNA/protein expression, resulting in activation of the Akt/Bcl-2-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. CAV-1 down-regulation was triggered by Micro-RNA 204-5p (miR204-5p) up-regulation and could be significantly blocked by pre-treatment with both Sirt-1/Sirt-3 specific siRNA and SIRT-1/SIRT-3 enzyme inhibitors, EX-527 and nicotinamide. Overall, our results provide evidence for a novel mechanism by which TL exerts its cytotoxic effects on NSCLC via CAV-1 down-regulation. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate a pivotal role for TL induction of the Akt/Bax pathway in apoptosis of human lung cancer.

miR-499a promotes PANC-1 cell proliferation by down-regulating PDCD4 expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive digestive system tumors, but study of the molecular mechanism of occurrence and development of PDAC is considerably limited. In order to better understand the potential pathogenesis, the differentially expressed miRNAs were screened in PDAC and adjacent tissues using miRNAs microarrays. We found that miR-499a was significantly up-regulated in PDAC tissues compared with adjacent tissues, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) and gene ontology (GO) analyses indicated programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4) is a key target gene of miR-499a, which is involved in the regulation of transcription, cellular biosynthetic process, RNA metabolic process, and other multiple biologic processes. Moreover, PDCD4 mRNA and protein expression were obviously down-regulated in PDAC tissues compared with adjacent tissues. In vitro, up-regulating of miR-499a could decrease PDCD4 expression and promote cell proliferation in PANC-1 cells transfected with miR-499a mimics. Similarly, promoting proliferation was also observed in PANC-1 cells transfected with PDCD4 siRNA. In conclusion, we first found miR-499a was significantly up-regulated in PDAC tissues, and we promoted PANC-1 cell proliferation by down-regulating PDCD4 expression.

An upstream open reading frame regulates vasculogenic mimicry of glioma via ZNRD1-AS1/miR-499a-5p/ELF1/EMI1 pathway

Increasing evidence has suggested that gliomas can supply blood through vasculogenic mimicry. In this study, the expression and function of ZNRD1‐AS1‐144aa‐uORF (144aa‐uORF) and some non‐coding RNAs in gliomas were assessed. Real‐time quantitative PCR or Western blot was used to discover the expression of 144aa‐uORF, ZNRD1‐AS1, miR‐499a‐5p, ELF1 and EMI1 in gliomas. In addition, RIP and RNA pull‐down assays were applied to explore the interrelationship between 144aa‐uORF and ZNRD1‐AS1. The role of the 144aa‐uORF\ZNRD1‐AS1\miR‐499a‐5p\ELF1\EMI1 axis in vasculogenic mimicry formation of gliomas was analysed. This study illustrates the reduced expression of the 144aa‐uORF in glioma tissues and cells. Up‐regulation of 144aa‐uORF inhibits proliferation, migration, invasion and vasculogenic mimicry formation within glioma cells. The up‐regulated 144aa‐uORF can increase the degradation of ZNRD1‐AS1 through the nonsense‐mediated RNA decay (NMD) pathway. Knockdown of ZNRD1‐AS1 inhibits vasculogenic mimicry in glioma cells by modulating miR‐499a‐5p. At the same time, miR‐499a‐5p is down‐regulated and has a tumour‐suppressive effect in gliomas. In addition, ZNRD1‐AS1 serves as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) and regulates the expression of ELF1 by binding to miR‐499a‐5p. Notably, ELF1 binds to the promoter region of EMI1 and up‐regulates EMI1 expression, while simultaneously promoting vasculogenic mimicry in glioma cells. This study suggests that the 144aa‐uORF\ZNRD1‐AS1\miR‐499a‐5p\ELF1\EMI1 axis takes key part in regulating the formation of vasculogenic mimicry in gliomas and may provide a potential target for glioma treatment.

MicroRNA Regulation of the Small Rho GTPase Regulators-Complexities and Opportunities in Targeting Cancer Metastasis

The small Rho GTPases regulate important cellular processes that affect cancer metastasis, such as cell survival and proliferation, actin dynamics, adhesion, migration, invasion and transcriptional activation. The Rho GTPases function as molecular switches cycling between an active GTP-bound and inactive guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-bound conformation. It is known that Rho GTPase activities are mainly regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs), GTPase-activating proteins (RhoGAPs), GDP dissociation inhibitors (RhoGDIs) and guanine nucleotide exchange modifiers (GEMs). These Rho GTPase regulators are often dysregulated in cancer; however, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a large family of small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate protein-coding gene expression, have been shown to play important roles in cancer metastasis. Recent studies showed that miRNAs are capable of directly targeting RhoGAPs, RhoGEFs, and RhoGDIs, and regulate the activities of Rho GTPases. This not only provides new evidence for the critical role of miRNA dysregulation in cancer metastasis, it also reveals novel mechanisms for Rho GTPase regulation. This review summarizes recent exciting findings showing that miRNAs play important roles in regulating Rho GTPase regulators (RhoGEFs, RhoGAPs, RhoGDIs), thus affecting Rho GTPase activities and cancer metastasis. The potential opportunities and challenges for targeting miRNAs and Rho GTPase regulators in treating cancer metastasis are also discussed. A comprehensive list of the currently validated miRNA-targeting of small Rho GTPase regulators is presented as a reference resource.

Association between MIR499A rs3746444 polymorphism and breast cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis

Numerous studies have investigated the association of MIR499A rs3746444 polymorphism with breast cancer susceptibility, but the results have been inconsistent. In this work, we performed a meta-analysis to obtain a more reliable estimate of the association between the polymorphism and susceptibility to breast cancer. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP and Wanfang databases up to January 2020. A total of 14 studies involving 6,797 cases and 8,534 controls were included for analysis under five genetic models: homozygous (GG vs. AA), heterozygous (AG vs. AA), dominant (AG + GG vs. AA), recessive (GG vs. AA + AG) and allele (G vs. A). A statistically significant association was observed between the polymorphism and an increased breast cancer susceptibility under all genetic models (homozygous, OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.03-1.71, P = 0.03; heterozygous, OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.00-1.16, P = 0.04; dominant, OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.02-1.30; P = 0.03; recessive, OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.06-1.72, P = 0.01; allele, OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.00-1.26, P = 0.04). Subgroup analysis based on ethnicity suggested that significant association was present only among Asians, but not Caucasians. In conclusion, MIR499A rs3746444 polymorphism was significantly associated with breast cancer susceptibility among Asians, suggesting its potential use as a genetic risk marker in this population.

Stat-3 signaling promotes cell proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer through PDCD4 downregulation

The present study explored a new downstream regulator of Stat-3 signaling, miR-499-5p and its target gene programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) in cell survival and metastasis of gastric cancer. Our results showed that miR-499-5p is significantly upregulated in human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901. We further demonstrated that miR-499-5p promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that upregulation of miR-499-5p expression associated with inhibition of PDCD4; STAT3 transcriptional activation by IL-6 is crucial for the upregulation of miR-499-5p expression. These results indicate that the STAT3-miR-499-5p-PDCD4 signaling axis plays an important role in gastric cancer progression and a potentially therapeutic target for gastric cancer treatment.

Dynamics of MiRNA Transcriptome in Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) Intestine Following Vibrio anguillarum Infection

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs, which could bind to the 3'-untranslated regions of their target mRNAs to regulate gene expression in various biological processes, including immune-regulated signaling pathways. Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.), an important commercial fish species in China, has been suffering with Vibrio anguillarum infection resulted in dramatic economic loss. Therefore, we investigated the expression profiles of miRNAs, as well as the immune-related miRNA-mRNA pairs in turbot intestine at 1 h, 4 h, and 12 h following V. anguillarum infection. As a result, 266 predicted novel miRNAs and 283 conserved miRNAs belonging to 92 miRNA families were detected. A total of 44 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the intestine following V. anguillarum infection. Following prediction, the potential target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were grouped into a wide range of functional categories, including immune defense/evasion, inflammatory responses, RIG-I signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. Moreover, we selected 15 differentially expressed immune genes and their related differentially expressed miRNAs to construct an interaction network for V. anguillarum infection in turbot. These results suggested that in teleost, as in higher vertebrates, miRNAs prominently contribute to immune responses, protecting the host against infection. In addition, this is the first report of comprehensive identification of turbot miRNAs being differentially regulated in the intestine related to V. anguillarum infection. Our results provided an opportunity for further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of miRNA regulation in turbot host-pathogen interactions.

Knockdown of estrogen receptor β increases proliferation and affects the transcriptome of endometrial adenocarcinoma cells

Background

Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) has been repeatedly suggested to play important roles in hormone-dependent cancer like in tumors of the breast, ovary or prostate. In this study, we intended to further elucidate its role in endometrial cancer.

Methods

For this purpose, we knocked down ERβ expression in two endometrial cancer cell lines, the ERα-negative/ERβ-positive line HEC-1A and the ERα/β-positive cell line RL95/2, by means of siRNA transfection. Cell proliferation after transfection was assessed using the fluorescent CTB Assay (Promega). In order to elucidate possible molecular mechanisms which might underlie the effect on proliferation, we performed transcriptome analyses by means of human Affymetrix Human Gene Chip 2.0. Additionally, we treated the employed cell lines with different ERβ modulators to examine their effect on proliferation.

Results

siRNA-mediated knockdown of ERβ significantly increased proliferation of both endometrial cancer cell lines. In HEC-1A cells, proliferation was significantly increased 4, 5 and 6 days after transfection, with a maximum of about 1.7-fold (p < 0.05) on day 6. Endometrial RL95/2 cells with an ERβ knockdown exhibited a clearly enhanced proliferation on day 3 and days 4 to 8, when even 2.4-fold higher numbers of viable cells were detected (p < 0.01). Transcriptome analysis revealed that this was accompanied by increased expression of several genes being known to be upregulated in cancer, including proliferation-associated genes and oncogenes, and by repression of genes associated with differentiation, apoptosis or growth inhibition. Corroborating the observed knockdown effects, treatment with the ERβ antagonists PHTTP and (R, R) THC was also able to induce proliferation of both cell lines.

Conclusions

Our data clearly support the putative role of ERβ as tumor suppressor in endometrium as previously suggested in studies on other tissues and encourage further studies to find out to what extent this molecule might be a potential therapy target in this cancer entity.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-019-5928-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Knockdown of LncRNA SCAMP1 suppressed malignant biological behaviours of glioma cells via modulating miR-499a-5p/LMX1A/NLRC5 pathway

Dysregulation of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) confirm that it plays a crucial role in tumourigenesis and malignant progression of glioma. The present study demonstrated that LncRNA secretory carrier membrane protein 1 (SCAMP1) was up‐regulated and functioned as an oncogene in glioma cells. In addition, miR‐499a‐5p was down‐regulated meanwhile exerted tumour‐suppressive function in glioma cells. Subsequently, inhibition of SCAMP1 significantly restrained the cell proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as promoted apoptosis by acting as a molecular sponge of miR‐499a‐5p. Transcription factor LIM homeobox transcription factor 1, alpha (LMX1A) was overexpressed in glioma tissues and cells. Moreover, miR‐499a‐5p targeted LMX1A 3′‐UTR in a sequence‐specific manner. Hence, down‐regulation of SCAMP1 remarkably reduced the expression level of LMX1A, indicating that LMX1A participated in miR‐499a‐5p‐induced tumour‐suppressive effects on glioma cells. Furthermore, knockdown of LMX1A decreased NLR family, CARD domain containing 5 (NLRC5) mRNA and protein expression levels through directly binding to the NLRC5 promoter region. Down‐regulation of NLRC5 obviously inhibited malignant biological behaviours of glioma cells through attenuating the activity of Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway. In conclusion, our study clarifies that SCAMP1/miR‐499a‐5p/LMX1A/NLRC5 axis plays a critical role in modulating malignant progression of glioma cells, which provide a novel therapeutic strategy for glioma treatment.

Identification of potential long noncoding RNA associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma using deep sequencing

Objective

To identify differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) compared with chronic nasopharyngitis (CNP) tissues.

Methods

This prospective cohort study enrolled patients with NPC and CNP. The levels of lncRNAs in NPC and CNP tissues was detected by deep sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis and antisense prediction were performed to reveal the function of differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and correlation analyses were used to evaluate the clinical and prognostic value of lncRNAs.

Results

A total of 30 NPC and 27 CNP tissues were analysed. A total of 296 DELs were identified. LncRNAs ENSG00000227084 and ENSG00000230489 might play important roles in the development of NPC by interfering with the Rap1 signalling pathway and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, respectively. Antisense prediction showed that lncRNA ENSG00000230489 was paired with VAV3 mRNA. LncRNAs ENSG00000230489 (area under the ROC curve = 0.9138) and ENSG00000227084 (area under the ROC curve = 0.8037) may be diagnostic markers for NPC. Furthermore, low levels of ENSG00000230489 was positively associated with distant metastasis.

Conclusion

LncRNAs ENSG00000230489 and ENSG00000227084 may be potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for NPC.

Role of Dusp6 Phosphatase as a Tumor Suppressor in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

DUSP6/MKP3 is a dual-specific phosphatase that regulates extracellular regulated kinase ERK1/2 and ERK5 activity, with an increasingly recognized role as tumor suppressor. In silico studies from Gene expression Omnibus (GEO) and Cancer Genome atlas (TCGA) databases reveal poor prognosis in those Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with low expression levels of DUSP6. In agreement with these data, here we show that DUSP6 plays a major role in the regulation of cell migration, motility and tumor growth. We have found upregulation in the expression of several genes involved in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in NSCLC-DUSP6 depleted cells. Data obtained in RNA-seq studies carried out in DUSP6 depleted cells identified EGFR, TGF-β and WNT signaling pathways and several genes such as VAV3, RUNXR2, LEF1, FGFR2 whose expression is upregulated in these cells and therefore affecting cellular functions such as integrin mediated cell adhesion, focal adhesion and motility. Furthermore, EGF signaling pathway is activated via ERK5 and not ERK1/2 and TGF-β via SMAD2/3 in DUSP6 depleted cells. In summary DUSP6 is a tumor suppressor in NSCLC and re-establishment of its expression may be a potential strategy to revert poor outcome in NSCLC patients.

Single nucleotide polymorphism rs3746444 in miR‑499a affects susceptibility to non‑small cell lung carcinoma by regulating the expression of CD200

The present study evaluated the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3746444 and the risk of non‑small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) in a Chinese population. Computational analyses and luciferase assays were performed to investigate the regulatory relationship between miR‑499a and CD200. In addition, reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays were performed to examine the effect of rs3746444 on the expression of miR‑499a and CD200. The results demonstrated a significant difference in the smoking history of patients carrying malignant pulmonary nodules and those carrying benign pulmonary nodules. Furthermore, CD200 was demonstrated to be a direct target of miR‑499a, and a miR‑499a binding site was located in the 3'UTR of CD200. Notably, the levels of miR‑499a in malignant pulmonary nodules were higher compared with benign pulmonary nodules, while the levels of CD200 were higher in benign pulmonary nodules compared with malignant pulmonary nodules. In addition, the subjects carrying the AA genotype of SNP rs3746444 exhibited upregulated miR‑499a expression and reduced CD200 expression, compared with the subjects carrying AG and GG genotypes. These findings indicate that the SNP rs3746444 in miR‑499a could affect the prognosis of NSCLC patients by regulating the expression of CD200.

MicroRNAs as Potential Targets for Therapeutic Intervention With Metastasis of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

The death toll of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is primarily due to metastases, which are poorly amenable to therapeutic intervention. In this review we focus on miRs associated with metastasis of NSCLC as potential new targets for anti-metastatic therapy. We discuss miRs validated as therapeutic targets by in vitro data, identification of target(s) and pathway(s) and in vivo efficacy data in at least one clinically-relevant metastasis-related model. A few of the discussed miRs correlate with the clinical status of NSCLC patients. Using miRs as therapeutic agents has the advantage that targeting a single miR can potentially interfere with several metastatic pathways. Depending on their mode of action, the corresponding miRs can be up- or down-regulated compared to normal matching tissues. Here, we describe therapeutic approaches for reconstitution therapy and miR inhibition, general principles of anti-metastatic therapy as well as current technical pitfalls.

miR-499-5p Attenuates Mitochondrial Fission and Cell Apoptosis via p21 in Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a broad-spectrum anti-tumor drug, but its cardiotoxicity limits its clinical application. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying DOX cardiotoxicity will benefit clinical practice and remedy heart failure. Our present study observed that DOX caused cardiomyocyte (H9c2) apoptosis via the induction of abnormal mitochondrial fission. Notably, the expression levels of p21 increased in DOX-treated cardiomyocytes, and the silencing of p21 using siRNA greatly attenuated mitochondrial fission and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. We also found that miR-499-5p could directly target p21 and attenuated DOX-induced mitochondrial fission and apoptosis. The role of the miR-499-5p-p21 axis in the prevention of DOX cardiotoxicity was also validated in the mice model. DOX treatment induced an upregulation of p21, which induced subsequent abnormal mitochondrial fission and myocardial apoptosis in mouse heart. Adenovirus-harboring miR-499-5p-overexpressing mice exhibited significantly reduced p21 expression, mitochondrial fission and myocardial apoptosis in hearts following DOX administration. The miR-499-5p-overexpressing mice also exhibited improved cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cardiac function after DOX treatment. However, miR-499-5p was not involved in the DOX-induced apoptosis of cancer cells. Taken together, these findings reveal an emerging role of p21 in the regulation of mitochondrial fission program. miR-499-5p attenuated mitochondrial fission and DOX cardiotoxicity via the targeting of p21. These results provide new evidence for the miR-499-5p-p21 axis in the attenuation of DOX cardiotoxicity. The development of new therapeutic strategies based on the miR-499-5p-p21 axis is a promising path to overcome DOX cardiotoxicity as a chemotherapy for cancer treatment.

ActivinA: a new leukemia-promoting factor conferring migratory advantage to B-cell precursor-acute lymphoblastic leukemic cells

B-cell precursor-acute lymphoblastic leukemia modulates the bone marrow (BM) niche to become leukemia-supporting and chemo-protective by reprogramming the stromal microenvironment. New therapies targeting the interplay between leukemia and stroma can help improve disease outcome. We identified ActivinA, a TGF-β family member with a well-described role in promoting several solid malignancies, as a factor favoring leukemia that could represent a new potential target for therapy. ActivinA resulted over-expressed in the leukemic BM and its production was strongly induced in mesenchymal stromal cells after culture with leukemic cells. Moreover, MSCs isolated from BM of leukemic patients showed an intrinsic ability to secrete higher amounts of ActivinA compared to their normal counterparts. The pro-inflammatory leukemic BM microenvironment synergized with leukemic cells to induce stromal-derived ActivinA. Gene expression analysis of ActivinA-treated leukemic cells showed that this protein was able to significantly influence motility-associated pathways. Interestingly, ActivinA promoted random motility and CXCL12-driven migration of leukemic cells, even at suboptimal chemokine concentrations, characterizing the leukemic niche. Conversely, ActivinA severely impaired CXCL12-induced migration of healthy CD34⁺ cells. This opposite effect can be explained by the ability of ActivinA to increase intracellular calcium only in leukemic cells, boosting cytoskeleton dynamics through a higher rate of actin polymerization. Moreover, by stimulating the invasiveness of the leukemic cells, ActivinA was found to be a leukemia-promoting factor. Importantly, the ability of ActivinA to enhance BM engraftment and the metastatic potential of leukemic cells was confirmed in a xenograft mouse model of the disease. Overall, ActivinA was seen to be a key factor in conferring a migratory advantage to leukemic cells over healthy hematopoiesis within the leukemic niche.

Vav proteins maintain epithelial traits in breast cancer cells using miR-200c-dependent and independent mechanisms

The bidirectional regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT) is key in tumorigenesis. Rho GTPases regulate this process via canonical pathways that impinge on the stability of cell-to-cell contacts, cytoskeletal dynamics, and cell invasiveness. Here, we report that the Rho GTPase activators Vav2 and Vav3 utilize a new Rac1-dependent and miR-200c-dependent mechanism that maintains the epithelial state by limiting the abundance of the Zeb2 transcriptional repressor in breast cancer cells. In parallel, Vav proteins engage a mir-200c-independent expression prometastatic program that maintains epithelial cell traits only under 3D culture conditions. Consistent with this, the depletion of endogenous Vav proteins triggers mesenchymal features in epithelioid breast cancer cells. Conversely, the ectopic expression of an active version of Vav2 promotes mesenchymal-epithelial transitions using E-cadherin-dependent and independent mechanisms depending on the mesenchymal breast cancer cell line used. In silico analyses suggest that the negative Vav anti-EMT pathway is operative in luminal breast tumors. Gene signatures from the Vav-associated proepithelial and prometastatic programs have prognostic value in breast cancer patients.

A Meta-Analysis of miR-499 rs3746444 Polymorphism for Cancer Risk of Different Systems: Evidence From 65 Case-Control Studies

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, short and non-coding RNAs that may play important roles in the pathogenesis of tumor. The associations between microRNA-499 rs3746444 polymorphism and cancer risk in different systems remain inconclusive. This article is aimed to obtain more exact estimation of these relationships through a meta-analysis based on 52,456 individuals. We retrieved relevant and eligible studies from Pubmed and Embase database up to January 10, 2018. ORs and 95% CIs were used to estimate the associations between miR-499 polymorphism and cancer susceptibility in different systems. All analyses were performed using the Stata 11.0 software. A total of 65 case-control studies were retrieved using explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study included 23,762 cases and 28,694 controls. Overall cancer analysis showed the association between miR-499 polymorphism and susceptibility to cancer was significant. MicroRNA-499 rs3746444 was found to be significantly associated with increased risk of cancer of the respiratory system (CC vs. TT: OR = 1.575, 95% CI = 1.268–1.955, CC vs. TC+TT: OR = 1.527, 95% CI = 1.232–1.892), digestive system (CC vs. TT: OR = 1.153, 95% CI = 1.027–1.295; TC vs. TT: OR = 1.109, 95% CI = 1.046–1.176; CC+TC vs. TT: OR = 1.112, 95% CI = 1.018–1.216; CC vs. TC+TT: OR = 1.137, 95% CI = 1.016–1.272; C vs. T: OR = 1.112, 95% CI = 1.025–1.206), urinary system (TC vs. TT: OR = 1.307, 95% CI = 1.130–1.512; CC+TC vs. TT: OR = 1.259, 95% CI = 1.097–1.446; C vs. T: OR = 1.132, 95% CI = 1.014–1.264), and gynecological system (C vs. T: OR = 1.169, 95% CI = 1.002–1.364). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the result showed that significant association with an increased cancer risk was found in Asian. Subgroup analysis based on type of tumor was also performed, miR-499 rs3746444 is associated with susceptibility of cervical squamous cell carcinoma, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Distinct functions of dynamin isoforms in tumorigenesis and their potential as therapeutic targets in cancer

Dynamins and their related proteins participate in the regulation of neurotransmission, antigen presentation, receptor internalization, growth factor signalling, nutrient uptake, and pathogen infection. Recently, emerging findings have shown dynamin proteins can also contribute to the genesis of cancer. This up-to-date review herein focuses on the functionality of dynamin in cancer development. Dynamin 1 and 2 both enhance cancer cell proliferation, tumor invasion and metastasis, whereas dynamin 3 has tumor suppression role. Antisense RNAs encoded on the DNA strand opposite a dynamin gene regulate the function of dynamin, and manipulate oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Certain dynamin-related proteins are also upregulated in distinct cancer conditions, resulting in apoptotic resistance, cell migration and poor prognosis. Altogether, dynamins are potential biomarkers as well as representing promising novel therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. This study also summarizes the current available dynamin-targeted therapeutics and suggests the potential strategy based on signalling pathways involved, providing important information to aid the future development of novel cancer therapeutics by targeting these dynamin family members.

Protective effects of microRNA-330 on amyloid β-protein production, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease by targeting VAV1 via the MAPK signaling pathway

This study aims to explore the effect of miR-330 targeting VAV1 on amyloid β-protein (Aβ) production, oxidative stress (OS), and mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice through the MAPK signaling pathway. Putative targeted gene of miR-330 was performed by a miRNA target prediction website and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. AD mouse model was successfully established. Fourteen C57 mice were randomized into AD and control groups. The positive protein expression rate of VAV1 was measured by immunohistochemistry. Neuron cells were assigned into control, blank, negative control (NC), miR-330 mimics, miR-330 inhibitors, siRNA-VAV1, and miR-330 inhibitors + siRNA-VAV1 groups. Expression of miR-330, VAV1, ERK1, JNK1, P38MAPK, Aβ, COX, and lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1) were determined using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Colorimetry was applied to measure the levels of OS parameters of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Aβ production in brain tissue was detected using ELISA, while that in neuron cell was measured by radioimmunoassay. MiR-330 was down-regulated in neuron cells of AD mice and VAV1 was negatively regulated by miR-330. Compared with the control group, the positive protein expression rate of VAV1 was significantly elevated in the AD group. Overexpression of miR-330 decreased the expression of VAV1, ERK1, JNK1, P38MAPK, and Aβ, but increased the expression of COX and LRP-1. AD mice revealed elevated Aβ production and MDA with decreased SOD level. The result indicates that overexpressed miR-330 targeting VAV1 through the MAPK signaling pathway reduces Aβ production and alleviates OS and mitochondrial dysfunction in AD.

lncRNA-MEG3 Suppresses the Proliferation and Invasion of Melanoma by Regulating CYLD Expression Mediated by Sponging miR-499-5p

The abnormal expression of long noncoding RNA- (lncRNA-) MEG3 was clearly identified in a number of malignant tumors, but the specific function of MEG3 remains unknown in malignant melanoma until now. The research attempts to explore the effects of MEG3 on the growth and metastasis of malignant melanoma. MEG3 and miR-499-5p expression were determined by qRT-PCR method. Western blotting assay was applied to detect protein expression. Luciferase reporter assay was used to assess the correlation between MEG3 and miR-499-5p and between CYLD and miR-499-5p. Cell growth, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis were examined by CCK-8 assay, EdU assay, and flow cytometry assay, respectively. The invasion ability of melanoma cells was investigated by wound-healing and Transwell assays. The effect of MEG3 on growth of melanoma in vivo and cell chemosensitivity was detected by xenograft animal model and CCK-8 assay. As a result, the expression of MEG3 was decreased in melanoma tissues and cell lines. The level of MEG3 was significantly associated with poor prognosis. MEG3 could bind to miR-499-5p and CYLD mRNA contained a binding site of miR-499-5p. The expression of CYLD was reduced and the level of miR-499-5p was elevated in melanoma tissues and cell lines. Luciferase reporter assay and western blot assay confirmed that MEG3 regulated the expression of CYLD by sponging miR-499-5p. Functionally, upregulation of MEG3 inhibited melanoma cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, enhanced melanoma cell apoptosis, arrested melanoma cell cycle, and regulated the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and cyclin D1 by regulating CYLD expression mediated by sponging miR-499-5p. Importantly, overexpression of MEG3 suppressed the growth of xenograft tumor and improved chemotherapy sensitivity of A375 cells to cisplatin and 5-FU treatment. In conclusion, MEG3 has a crucial function in the tumorigenesis of melanoma, and MEG3 may be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of melanoma.

Blood and lung microRNAs as biomarkers of pulmonary tumorigenesis in cigarette smoke-exposed mice

Cigarette smoke (CS) is known to dysregulate microRNA expression profiles in the lungs of mice, rats, and humans, thereby modulating several pathways involved in lung carcinogenesis and other CS-related diseases. We designed a study aimed at evaluating (a) the expression of 1135 microRNAs in the lung of Swiss H mice exposed to mainstream CS during the first 4 months of life and thereafter kept in filtered air for an additional 3.5 months, (b) the relationship between lung microRNA profiles and histopathological alterations in the lung, (c) intergender differences in microRNA expression, and (d) the comparison with microRNA profiles in blood serum. CS caused multiple histopathological alterations in the lung, which were almost absent in sham-exposed mice. An extensive microRNA dysregulation was detected in the lung of CS-exposed mice. Modulation of microRNA profiles was specifically related to the histopathological picture, no effect being detected in lung fragments with non-neoplastic lung diseases (emphysema or alveolar epithelial hyperplasia), whereas a close association occurred with the presence and multiplicity of preneoplastic lesions (microadenomas) and benign lung tumors (adenomas). Three microRNAs regulating estrogen and HER2-dependent mechanisms were modulated in the lung of adenoma-bearing female mice. Blood microRNAs were also modulated in mice affected by early neoplastic lesions. However, there was a poor association between lung microRNAs and circulating microRNAs, which can be ascribed to an impaired release of mature microRNAs from the damaged lung. Studies in progress are evaluating the feasibility of analyzing blood microRNAs as a molecular tool for lung cancer secondary prevention.

A Novel Vav3 Homolog Identified in Lamprey, Lampetra japonica, with Roles in Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Immune Response

Vav guanine nucleotide exchange factor 3 (Vav3), a Rho family GTPase, regulates multiple cell signaling pathways including those of T- and B-cell receptors in vertebrates through mediating the activities of the Rho family members. Whether the lamprey possesses Vav3 homolog and what role it plays in immune response remain unknown. Gene cloning, recombinant expression, antibody production and expression pattern analyses were performed to characterize the lamprey Vav3 in the current study. The lamprey Vav3 is closer to jawed vertebrates' Vav3 molecules (about 53% identities in general) than to Vav2 molecules of jawless and jawed vertebrates (about 51% identities in general) in sequence similarity. Conserved motif analysis showed that the most distinguished parts between Vav3 and Vav2 proteins are their two Src-homology 3 domains. The relative expression levels of lamprey vav3 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated in lamprey lymphocytes and supraneural myeloid bodies after mixed-antigens stimulation, respectively. In addition, lamprey Vav3 were up-regulated drastically in lymphocytes and supraneural myeloid bodies after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) rather than phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation. Lamprey Vav3 distributed in the cytoplasm of variable lymphocyte receptor B positive (VLRB⁺) lymphocytes, and the number of plasmacytes (VLRB and lamprey Vav3 double positive) in blood lymphocytes also increased after LPS stimulation. Our results proved that lamprey Vav3 was involved in the LPS-mediated immune reaction of lamprey and provided a clue for the further study of the precise role lamprey Vav3 played in the signaling pathway of lamprey VLRB⁺ lymphocytes.

Up- regulation of miR-328-3p sensitizes non-small cell lung cancer to radiotherapy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are believed to be resistant against radiotherapy in certain types of cancers. The aim of our study was to determine the clinical application of miRNAs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Sixty NSCLC tissue samples and adjacent histologically normal tissues were obtained for miRNAs microarray analysis and validated by RT-qPCR. Correlation between miRNA expression level and clinicopathological features was evaluated. Our study examined the influence of changed miRNA expression on the damaged DNA and its associated radio sensitivity. Luciferase assay was performed to determine potential effects on the targeted gene. Our study identified fifteen altered miRNAs in which miR-328-3p was down regulated in NSCLC tumour tissue as compared to normal tissues. Down-expression of miR-328-3p was positively associated with an enhanced lymph node metastasis, advanced clinical stage and a shortened survival rate. miR-328-3p expression was decreased in A549 cells compared to other NSCLC cell lines. Up-regulation of miR-328-3p demonstrated a survival inhibition effect in A549 and restored NSCLC cells' sensitivity to radio therapy. An increased miR-328-3p expression promoted irradiation-induced DNA damage in cells. γ-H2AX was identified as the direct target of miR-328-3p. Over-expressed miR-328-3p can improve the radiosensitvity of cells by altering the DNA damage/repair signalling pathways in NSCLC.

MicroRNA Profile of Lung Tumor Tissues Is Associated with a High Risk Plasma miRNA Signature

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. Many studies have reported that alterations in miRNA expression are involved in several human tumors. We have previously identified a circulating miRNA signature classifier (MSC) able to discriminate lung cancer with more aggressive features. In the present work, microarray miRNA profiling of tumor tissues collected from 19 lung cancer patients with an available MSC result were perform in order to find a possible association between miRNA expression and the MSC risk level. Eleven tissue mature miRNAs and six miRNA precursors were observed to be associated with the plasma MSC risk level of patients. Not one of these miRNAs was included in the MSC algorithm. A pathway enrichment analysis revealed a role of these miRNA in the main pathways determining lung cancer aggressiveness. Overall, these findings add to the knowledge that tissue and plasma miRNAs behave as excellent diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, which may find rapid application in clinical settings.