Identification of miR-145 targets through an integrated omics analysis

Emerging roles of miR-145 in gastrointestinal cancers: A new paradigm

Gastrointestinal (GI) carcinomas are a group of cancers affecting the GI tract and digestive organs, such as the gastric, liver, bile ducts, pancreas, small intestine, esophagus, colon, and rectum. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small functional non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) which are involved in regulating the expression of multiple target genes; mainly at the post-transcriptional level, via complementary binding to their 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). Increasing evidence has shown that miRNAs have critical roles in modulating of various physiological and pathological cellular processes and regulating the occurrence and development of human malignancies. Among them, miR-145 is recognized for its anti-oncogenic properties in various cancers, including GI cancers. MiR-145 has been implicated in diverse biological processes of cancers through the regulation of target genes or signaling, including, proliferation, differentiation, tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, metastasis, and therapy resistance. In this review, we have summarized the role of miR-145 in selected GI cancers and also its downstream molecules and cellular processes targets, which could lead to a better understanding of the miR-145 in these cancers. In conclusion, we reveal the potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value of miR-145 in GI cancer, and hope to provide new ideas for its application as a biomarker as well as a therapeutic target for the treatment of these cancer.

SPTBN1 abrogates renal clear cell carcinoma progression via glycolysis reprogramming in a GPT2-dependent manner

BACKGROUND

Renal clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most prevalent tumors worldwide. Discovering effective biomarkers is essential to monitor the prognosis and provide alternative clinical options. SPTBN1 is implicated in various cancerous processes. However, its role in ccRCC remains unelucidated. This study intends to explore the biological function and mechanism of SPTBN1 in ccRCC.

METHODS

Single-cell and bulk RNA-seq, tissue microarray, real-time quantitative PCR, and western blotting were applied to verify the expression and predictive value of SPTBN1 in ccRCC. Gain or loss of functional ccRCC cell line models were constructed, and in vitro and in vivo assays were performed to elucidate its tumorigenic phenotypes. Actinomycin D experiment, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), specific inhibitors, and rescue experiments were carried out to define the molecular mechanisms.

RESULTS

SPTBN1 was down-regulated in ccRCC and knockdown of SPTBN1 displayed a remarkably oncogenic role both in vitro and in vivo; while overexpressing SPTBN1 reversed this effect. SPTBN1 mediated ccRCC progression via the pathway of glutamate pyruvate transaminase 2 (GPT2)-dependent glycolysis. The expression of GPT2 was significantly negatively correlated with that of SPTBN1. As an RNA binding protein SPTBN1, regulated the mRNA stability of GPT2.

CONCLUSION

Our research demonstrated that SPTBN1 is significantly down-regulated in ccRCC. SPTBN1 knockdown promotes ccRCC progression via activating GPT2-dependent glycolysis. SPTBN1 may serve as a therapeutic target for the treatment of ccRCC.

Top Trends in Multiomics Research: Evaluation of 52 Published Studies and New Ways of Thinking Terminology and Visual Displays

Multiomics study designs have significantly increased understanding of complex biological systems. The multiomics literature is rapidly expanding and so is their heterogeneity. However, the intricacy and fragmentation of omics data are impeding further research. To examine current trends in multiomics field, we reviewed 52 articles from PubMed and Web of Science, which used an integrated omics approach, published between March 2006 and January 2021. From studies, data regarding investigated loci, species, omics type, and phenotype were extracted, curated, and streamlined according to standardized terminology, and summarized in a previously developed graphical summary. Evaluated studies included 21 omics types or applications of omics technology such as genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, epigenomics, environmental omics, and pharmacogenomics, species of various phyla including human, mouse, Arabidopsis thaliana, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and various phenotypes, including cancer and COVID-19. In the analyzed studies, diverse methods, protocols, results, and terminology were used and accordingly, assessment of the studies was challenging. Adoption of standardized multiomics data presentation in the future will further buttress standardization of terminology and reporting of results in systems science. This shall catalyze, we suggest, innovation in both science communication and laboratory medicine by making available scientific knowledge that is easier to grasp, share, and harness toward medical breakthroughs.

MicroRNA Interactome Multiomics Characterization for Cancer Research and Personalized Medicine: An Expert Review

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) that are mutually modulated by their interacting partners (interactome) are being increasingly noted for their significant role in pathogenesis and treatment of various human cancers. Recently, miRNA interactome dissected with multiomics approaches has been the subject of focus since individual tools or methods failed to provide the necessary comprehensive clues on the complete interactome. Even though single-omics technologies such as proteomics can uncover part of the interactome, the biological and clinical understanding still remain incomplete. In this study, we present an expert review of studies involving multiomics approaches to identification of miRNA interactome and its application in mechanistic characterization, classification, and therapeutic target identification in a variety of cancers, and with a focus on proteomics. We also discuss individual or multiple miRNA-based interactome identification in various pathological conditions of relevance to clinical medicine. Various new single-omics methods that can be integrated into multiomics cancer research and the computational approaches to analyze and predict miRNA interactome are also highlighted in this review. In all, we contextulize the power of multiomics approaches and the importance of the miRNA interactome to achieve the vision and practice of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine in cancer research and clinical oncology.

βII spectrin (SPTBN1): biological function and clinical potential in cancer and other diseases

βII spectrin, the most common isoform of non-erythrocyte spectrin, is a cytoskeleton protein present in all nucleated cells. Interestingly, βII spectrin is essential for the development of various organs such as nerve, epithelium, inner ear, liver and heart. The functions of βII spectrin include not only establishing and maintaining the cell structure but also regulating a variety of cellular functions, such as cell apoptosis, cell adhesion, cell spreading and cell cycle regulation. Notably, βII spectrin dysfunction is associated with embryonic lethality and the DNA damage response. More recently, the detection of altered βII spectrin expression in tumors indicated that βII spectrin might be involved in the development and progression of cancer. Its mutations and disorders could result in developmental disabilities and various diseases. The versatile roles of βII spectrin in disease have been examined in an increasing number of studies; nonetheless, the exact mechanisms of βII spectrin are still poorly understood. Thus, we summarize the structural features and biological roles of βII spectrin and discuss its molecular mechanisms and functions in development, homeostasis, regeneration and differentiation. This review highlight the potential effects of βII spectrin dysfunction in cancer and other diseases, outstanding questions for the future investigation of therapeutic targets. The investigation of the regulatory mechanism of βII spectrin signal inactivation and recovery may bring hope for future therapy of related diseases.

Long non‑coding RNA FEZF1‑AS1 facilitates non‑small cell lung cancer progression via the ITGA11/miR‑516b‑5p axis

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key players in the development and progression of cancer. FEZ family zinc finger 1 antisense RNA 1 (FEZF1-AS1) is a novel lncRNA that is involved in the development of cancer and acts as a potential biomarker for cancer. However, the clinical significance and molecular mechanism of FEZF1-AS1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains uncertain. In the present study, FEZF1-AS1 was selected using Arraystar Human lncRNA microarray and was identified to be upregulated in NSCLC tissues and negatively associated with the overall survival of patients with NSCLC. Loss-of-function assays revealed that FEZF1-AS1 inhibition decreased cell proliferation and migration, and arrested cells at the G₂/M cell cycle phase. Mechanistically, FEZF1-AS1 expression was influenced by N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification. Since FEZF1-AS1 was mainly located in the cytoplasmic fraction of NSCLC cells, it was hypothesized that it may be involved in competing endogenous RNA regulatory network to impact the prognosis of NSCLC. Via integrating Arraystar Human mRNA microarray data and miRNA bioinformatics analysis, it was revealed that ITGA11 expression was decreased with loss of FEZF1-AS1 and increased with gain of FEZF1-AS1 expression, and microRNA (miR)-516b-5p inhibited the expression levels of both FEZF1-AS and ITGA11. RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation and RNA pulldown assays further demonstrated that FEZF1-AS1 could bind to miR-516b-5p and that ITGA11 was a direct target of miR-516b-5p by luciferase reporter assay. Overall, the present findings demonstrated that FEZF1-AS1 was upregulated and acted as an oncogene in NSCLC by regulating the ITGA11/miR-516b-5p axis, suggesting that FEZF1-AS1 may be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Functional omics analyses reveal only minor effects of microRNAs on human somatic stem cell differentiation

The contribution of microRNA-mediated posttranscriptional regulation on the final proteome in differentiating cells remains elusive. Here, we evaluated the impact of microRNAs (miRNAs) on the proteome of human umbilical cord blood-derived unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC) during retinoic acid (RA) differentiation by a systemic approach using next generation sequencing analysing mRNA and miRNA expression and quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteome analyses. Interestingly, regulation of mRNAs and their dedicated proteins highly correlated during RA-incubation. Additionally, RA-induced USSC demonstrated a clear separation from native USSC thereby shifting from a proliferating to a metabolic phenotype. Bioinformatic integration of up- and downregulated miRNAs and proteins initially implied a strong impact of the miRNome on the XXL-USSC proteome. However, quantitative proteome analysis of the miRNA contribution on the final proteome after ectopic overexpression of downregulated miR-27a-5p and miR-221-5p or inhibition of upregulated miR-34a-5p, respectively, followed by RA-induction revealed only minor proportions of differentially abundant proteins. In addition, only small overlaps of these regulated proteins with inversely abundant proteins in non-transfected RA-treated USSC were observed. Hence, mRNA transcription rather than miRNA-mediated regulation is the driving force for protein regulation upon RA-incubation, strongly suggesting that miRNAs are fine-tuning regulators rather than active primary switches during RA-induction of USSC.

Circ_Lrp6, a Circular RNA Enriched in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells, Acts as a Sponge Regulating miRNA-145 Function

RATIONALE

microRNAs (miRNAs) modulate gene expression by repressing translation of targeted genes. Previous work has established a role for miRNAs in regulating vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) activity. Whether circular RNAs are involved in the modulation of miRNA activity in VSMCs is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to identify circular RNAs interacting with miRNAs enriched in VSMCs and modulating the cells' activity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

RNA sequencing and bioinformatics identified several circular RNAs enriched in VSMCs; however, only one, possessing multiple putative binding sites for miR-145, was highly conserved between mouse and man. This circular RNA gemmed from alternative splicing of Lrp6 (lipoprotein receptor 6), a gene highly expressed in vessels and implicated in vascular pathologies and was thus named circ_Lrp6. Its role as a miR-145 sponge was confirmed by determining reciprocal interaction through RNA immunoprecipitation, stimulated emission depletion microscopy, and competitive luciferase assays; functional inhibition of miR-145 was assessed by measuring expression of the target genes ITGβ8 (integrin-β8), FASCIN (fascin actin-bundling protein 1), KLF4 (Kruppel-like factor 4), Yes1 (YES proto-oncogene 1), and Lox (lysyl oxidase). The interaction was preferentially localized to P-bodies, sites of mRNA degradation. Using loss- and gain-of-function approaches, we found that circ_Lrp6 hindered miR-145-mediated regulation of VSMC migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Differential expression of miR-145 and circ_Lrp6 in murine and human vascular diseases suggests that the ratio of circ_Lrp6 bound to miR-145 versus unbound could play a role in vascular pathogenesis. Viral delivery of circ_Lrp6 shRNA prevented intimal hyperplasia in mouse carotids.

CONCLUSIONS

circ_Lrp6 is an intracellular modulator and a natural sponge for miR-145, counterbalancing the functions of the miRNA in VSMCs.

Genome-wide identification of circulating-miRNA expression quantitative trait loci reveals the role of several miRNAs in the regulation of cardiometabolic phenotypes

Aims

To identify genetic variants that have a regulatory impact on circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) and to connect genetic risk to blood traits/biomarkers through the circulating miRNAs.

Methods and results

Leveraging miRNA-Seq data and the 1000 Genomes imputed genotypes, we carried out genome-wide association analysis for SNPs that regulate the expression of circulating miRNAs in a sample of 710 unrelated subjects of European ancestry. Wherever possible, we used data from the Framingham and the Geuvadis studies to replicate our findings. We found at least one genome-wide significant (P < 5e−8) miRNA-eQTL (mirQTL) for 143 circulating miRNAs. Overall each mirQTL explained a small portion (<1%) of variation in miRNA levels; however, we identified a few mirQTLs that explained 4% to 20% of variation in miRNA levels in plasma. Unlike trans-mirQTLs (P = 0.7), cis-mirQTLs tend to be also associated with their counterpart mature miRNAs (P < 0.0001), this suggests trans-mirQTLs exert their effect through processes that affect the stability of mature miRNAs; whereas, cis-mirQTLs mainly regulate the expression of primary-miRNAs. Next, we used the identified mirQTLs to investigate the links between circulating miRNAs with blood traits/biomarkers through Mendelian randomization analysis. We found miR-1908-5p plays an important role in regulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), fasting glucose, HbA1c, and several lipid-metabolites in blood, whereas, miR-10b-5p mediates the trans-regulatory effect of the ABO locus on several blood proteins, coronary artery disease, and TC. Moreover, we demonstrated that a higher plasma level of miR-199a is causally associated with lower levels of LDL and TC. Finally, we found miR-143-3p and miR-145-5p are functionally related and mediate the effect of ZFPM2 on a number of its protein targets in blood including VEGFA, SERPINE1, and PDGFs.

Conclusions

This study identifies SNPs that have a regulatory impact on circulating miRNAs, and underlines the role of several circulating miRNAs in mediating the effect of a number of GWAS loci on cardiometabolic phenotypes.

Function of microRNA-145 and mechanisms underlying its role in malignant tumor diagnosis and treatment

miRNAs are single-stranded small RNAs that do not encode proteins. They can combine complementarily with the 3′-UTRs of target gene mRNA molecules to promote targeted mRNA degradation or inhibit mRNA translation, thereby regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. MiRNAs participate in regulation of cell cycling, growth, apoptosis, differentiation, and stress responses. MiRNA-145 (miR-145) is a tumor suppressor that targets various tumor-specific genes and proteins, thereby influencing related signaling pathways. MiR-145 not only regulates tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis, but is also important for tumor angiogenesis and tumor stem cell proliferation. Here, we review the roles and mechanisms of miR-145 in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors. Published data confirm that miR-145 expression in various tumors is significantly lower than that in normal tissues and that overexpression of miR-145 inhibits the growth of different tumor cells, significantly reduces the ability of tumors to spread, and improves sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. We conclude that miR-145 is a potential marker for use in the early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of patients with cancer, has a role as a tumor suppressor, and is a promising cancer treatment target candidate.

Podocalyxin-like protein promotes gastric cancer progression through interacting with RUN and FYVE domain containing 1 protein

Podocalyxin‐like protein (PODXL), a transmembrane glycoprotein with anti‐adhesive properties, is associated with an aggressive tumor phenotype and poor prognosis of several cancers. To elucidate the biological significance of PODXL and its molecular mechanism in gastric cancer (GC), we investigated the expression of PODXL in GC samples and assessed its effects on biological behaviors and the related signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the possible and closely interacted partners of PODXL were identified. Our data showed that the protein or mRNA level of PODXL was significantly upregulated in tissues or serum of GC patients compared with normal‐appearing tissues (NAT) or those of healthy volunteers. Overall survival (OS) curves showed that patients with high PODXL levels in tissues or serum had a worse 5‐year OS. In vitro, restoring PODXL expression promoted tumor progression by increasing cell proliferation, colony formation, wound healing, migration and invasion, as well as suppressing the apoptosis. Furthermore, the PI3K/AKT, NF‐κB and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways were activated. There was a significant positive correlation between PODXL and RUN and FYVE domain containing 1 (RUFY1) expression in tissues or serum. Subsequent mass spectrometry analysis, co‐immunoprecipitation assays and western blot analysis identified PODXL/RUFY1 complexes in GC cells, and silencing RUFY1 expression in GC cells significantly attenuated PODXL‐induced phenotypes and their underlying signaling pathways. Our results suggested that PODXL promoted GC progression via a RUFY1‐dependent signaling mechanism. New GC therapeutic opportunities through PODXL and targeting the PODXL/RUFY1 complex might improve cancer therapy.

MicroRNAs in pancreatic cancer diagnosis and therapy

Pancreatic cancer remains a disease with very poor prognosis (only 5-6% of patients are still alive after five years). Attempts to improve the results of treatment of pancreatic cancer focus on a better understanding of the pathogenesis, and non-invasive diagnostic methods (genetic testing from peripheral blood), which would create the possibility of early diagnosis and early surgical treatment before the onset of metastasis. New hopes for the improvement of early diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are associated with genetic testing of microRNA expression changes. A large body of evidence has revealed that microRNAs are aberrantly expressed in the serum and in cancer tissues and elicit oncogenic or tumour-suppressive functions. Selected microRNAs can distinguish pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from non-cancerous lesions of the pancreas. This review focuses on the involvement of microRNAs in the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Research results related to the development of a novel therapeutic strategy based on the modulation of microRNA expressions for a better outcome in patients with pancreatic cancer are also presented.

Mixomics analysis of breast cancer: Long non-coding RNA linc01561 acts as ceRNA involved in the progression of breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at finding the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), miRNA and mRNA which played critical roles in breast cancer (BrCa) by using mixOmics R package.

METHOD

The BrCa dataset were obtained from TCGA and then analyzed using "DESeq2" R package. Multivariate analyses were performed with the "mixOmics" R package and the first component of the stacked partial least-Squares discriminant analysis results were used for searching the interested lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA. qRT-PCR was applied to identify the bioinformatics results in four BrCa cell lines (MCF7, BT-20, ZR-75-1, and MX-1) and the breast epithelial cell line MCF-10 A. Then cells (MCF-1 and MX-1) were transfected with si-linc01561, miR-145-5p mimics and si-MMP11 to further investigate the effects of linc01561, miR-145-5p and MMP11 on the BrCa cells proliferation and apoptosis.

RESULTS

MixOmics results showed that linc01561, miR-145-5p and MMP11 might play important roles in BrCa. qRT-PCR results identified that in BrCa cell lines, linc01561 and MMP11 were higher expressed while miR-145-5p was lower expressed compared with those in epithelial cell line. The linc01561 inhibition elevated miR-145-5p expression and then suppressed MMP11 expression. Moreover, linc01561 inhibition suppressed the BrCa cells proliferation and promoted the apoptosis, which was realized by up-regulating expression of miR-145-5p and down-regulating expression of MMP11.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the findings of this study, based on ceRNA theory, combining the research foundation of miR-145-5p and MMP11, and taking linc01561 as a new study point, provide new insight into molecular-level reversing proliferation and apoptosis of BrCa.

miR-133b, a particular member of myomiRs, coming into playing its unique pathological role in human cancer

MicroRNAs, a family of single-stranded and non-coding RNAs, play a crucial role in regulating gene expression at posttranscriptional level, by which it can mediate various types of physiological and pathological process in normal developmental progress and human disease, including cancer. The microRNA-133b originally defined as canonical muscle-specific microRNAs considering their function to the development and health of mammalian skeletal and cardiac muscles, but new findings coming from our group and others revealed that miR-133b have frequently abnormal expression in various kinds of human cancer and its complex complicated regulatory networks affects the tumorigenicity and development of malignant tumors. Very few existing reviews on miR-133b, until now, are principally about its role in homologous cluster (miR-1, −133 and -206s), however, most of constantly emerging new researches now are focused mainly on one of them, so In this article, to highlight the unique pathological role of miR-133b playing in tumor, we conduct a review to summarize the current understanding about one of the muscle-specific microRNAs, namely miR-133b, acting in human cancer. The review focused on the following four aspects: the overview of miR-133b, the target genes of miR-133b involved in human cancer, the expression of miR-133b and regulatory mechanisms leading to abnormal expression of miR-133b.

ABC Transporters and Their Role in the Neoadjuvant Treatment of Esophageal Cancer

The prognosis of esophageal cancer (EC) is poor, despite considerable effort of both experimental scientists and clinicians. The tri-modality treatment consisting of neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery has remained the gold standard over decades, unfortunately, without significant progress in recent years. Suitable prognostic factors indicating which patients will benefit from this tri-modality treatment are missing. Some patients rapidly progress on the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, which is thus useless and sometimes even harmful. At the same time, other patients achieve complete remission on neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and subsequent surgery may increase their risk of morbidity and mortality. The prognosis of patients ranges from excellent to extremely poor. Considering these differences, the role of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters, among other factors, in the EC response to chemotherapy may be more important compared, for example, with pancreatic cancer where all patients progress on chemotherapy regardless of the treatment or disease stage. This review surveys published literature describing the potential role of ATP-binding cassette transporters, the genetic polymorphisms, epigenetic regulations, and phenotypic changes in the prognosis and therapy of EC. The review provides knowledge base for further research of potential predictive biomarkers that will allow the stratification of patients into defined groups for optimal therapeutic outcome.

MiR-145 ameliorates neuropathic pain via inhibiting inflammatory responses and mTOR signaling pathway by targeting Akt3 in a rat model

Neuropathic pain perplexes a large population of patients with various diseases. Inflammation plays a key role in the physiopathology of neuropathic pain. Anti-inflammatory can be a promising strategy to treat neuropathic pain. We generated a chronic constriction injury rat model to mimic neuropathic pain by ligating the left ischiadic nerves of rats. Then we performed intrathecal injection of miR-145 mimics to treat these rats for seven consecutive days. Pain behavior tests including mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were analyzed. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting were performed to detect the changes of signaling pathway after miR-145 mimic treatment. Targeting of Akt3 by miR-145 was studied by dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. MiR-145 mimics injection significantly mollified both mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in rats, and down-regulated secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. We confirmed that miR-145 directly targeted Akt3, inhibiting NF-κB and mTOR downstream genes in rat dorsal root ganglia. MiR-145 can mollify neuropathic pain in a chronic constriction injury rat model by reducing inflammation and ion channel overexpression through Akt3/mTOR and Akt3/NF-κB signaling pathways.

miR-375 Regulates Invasion-Related Proteins Vimentin and L-Plastin

Invasion is a hallmark of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We previously determined that low relative miR-375 expression was associated with poor patient prognosis. HNSCC cells with increased miR-375 expression have lower invasive properties and impaired invadopodium activity. Using stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture and reverse-phase liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, we assessed the impact of miR-375 expression on protein levels in UM-SCC-1 cells. Increased miR-375 expression was associated with down-regulation of proteins involved in cellular assembly and organization, death and survival, and movement. Two invasion-associated proteins, vimentin and L-plastin, were strongly down-regulated by miR-375. Luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that high miR-375 expression reduced vimentin promoter activity, suggesting that vimentin is an indirect target of miR-375. Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) is a potential miR-375 direct target, and its knockdown reduced vimentin and L-plastin expression. Data in The Cancer Genome Atlas HNSCC database showed a significant inverse correlation between miR-375 expression and RUNX1, vimentin, and L-plastin RNA expression. These clinical correlations validate our in vitro model findings and support a mechanism in which miR-375 suppresses RUNX1 levels, resulting in reduced vimentin and L-plastin expression. Furthermore, knockdown of RUNX1, L-plastin, and vimentin resulted in significant reductions in cell invasion in vitro, indicating the functional significance of miR-375 regulation of specific proteins involved in HNSCC invasion.

Pulsed SILAC as a Approach for miRNA Targets Identification in Cell Culture

Pulsed stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (pSILAC) comprises a variation of the classical SILAC proteomic methodology that enables the identification of short-term proteomic responses such as those elicited by micro RNAs (miRNAs). Here, we describe a detailed pSILAC protocol for global identification and quantification of protein translation alterations induced by a miRNA using 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes as a model system.

MicroRNA Targeted Therapeutic Approach for Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer remains the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the US and is expected to be the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. Therefore, it is important to better understand the molecular pathogenesis, phenotypes and features of pancreatic cancer in order to design novel molecularly targeted therapies for achieving better therapeutic outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer. Recently, the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer became a hot topic in the scientific community of pancreatic cancer research. By conducting miRNA expression profiling, the aberrant expression of miRNAs was revealed in the serum and in cancer tissues from patients with pancreatic cancer. These aberrantly expressed miRNAs are critically correlated with the disease stage, drug resistance, and survival of pancreatic cancer patients. Hence, targeting these tiny molecules, the specific miRNAs, could provide an efficient and optimal approach in the therapy of pancreatic cancer. Indeed, the pre-clinical and in vivo experiments showed that nanoparticle delivery of synthetic oligonucleotides or treatment with natural agents could be useful to modulate the expression of miRNAs and thereby inhibit pancreatic cancer growth and progression, suggesting that targeting miRNAs combined with conventional anti-cancer therapeutics could be a novel therapeutic strategy for increasing drug sensitivity and achieving better therapeutic outcome of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.