Tumor suppressors microRNA-302d and microRNA-16 inhibit human glioblastoma multiforme by targeting NF-κB and FGF2

Tumor-derived miR-6794-5p enhances cancer growth by promoting M2 macrophage polarization

BACKGROUND

Solid tumors promote tumor malignancy through interaction with the tumor microenvironment, resulting in difficulties in tumor treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the communication between cells in the tumor and the surrounding microenvironment. Our previous study revealed the cancer malignancy mechanism of Bcl-w overexpressed in solid tumors, but no study was conducted on its relationship with immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we sought to discover key factors in exosomes secreted from tumors overexpressing Bcl-w and analyze the interaction with the surrounding tumor microenvironment to identify the causes of tumor malignancy.

METHODS

To analyze factors affecting the tumor microenvironment, a miRNA array was performed using exosomes derived from cancer cells overexpressing Bcl-w. The discovered miRNA, miR-6794-5p, was overexpressed and the tumorigenicity mechanism was confirmed using qRT-PCR, Western blot, invasion, wound healing, and sphere formation ability analysis. In addition, luciferase activity and Ago2-RNA immunoprecipitation assays were used to study the mechanism between miR-6794-5p and its target gene SOCS1. To confirm the interaction between macrophages and tumor-derived miR-6794-5p, co-culture was performed using conditioned media. Additionally, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and flow cytometry were performed to analyze macrophages in the tumor tissues of experimental animals.

RESULTS

MiR-6794-5p, which is highly expressed in exosomes secreted from Bcl-w-overexpressing cells, was selected, and it was shown that the overexpression of miR-6794-5p increased migratory ability, invasiveness, and stemness maintenance by suppressing the expression of the tumor suppressor SOCS1. Additionally, tumor-derived miR-6794-5p was delivered to THP-1-derived macrophages and induced M2 polarization by activating the JAK1/STAT3 pathway. Moreover, IL-10 secreted from M2 macrophages increased tumorigenicity by creating an immunosuppressive environment. The in vitro results were reconfirmed by confirming an increase in M2 macrophages and a decrease in M1 macrophages and CD8+ T cells when overexpressing miR-6794-5p in an animal model.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we identified changes in the tumor microenvironment caused by miR-6794-5p. Our study indicates that tumor-derived miR-6794-5p promotes tumor aggressiveness by inducing an immunosuppressive environment through interaction with macrophage.

miR‑302d‑3p regulates the viability, migration and apoptosis of breast cancer cells through regulating the TMBIM6‑mediated ERK signaling pathway

MicroRNAs (miRs/miRNAs) play important roles in the occurrence, metastasis and prognosis of multiple types of cancers. However, the specific role of miR-302d-3p and its underlying mechanism in breast cancer (BC) have not yet been reported. The present study aimed to identify the role of miR-302D-3p in BC and its potential mechanism using BC cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 and normal breast epithelial cell MCF-10A. Cancer and paracancerous tissue from patients with BC were also used. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was performed to detect the expression of miR-302d-3p and transmembrane Bax inhibitor motif containing 6 (TMBIM6). Dual-luciferase reporter assays verified the binding sites of miR-302d-3p and TMBIM6. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of TMBIM6. Cell transfection techniques were used to overexpress or interfere with miR-302d-3p and TMBIM6. A Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was performed to detect cell viability, and migration was measured using a wound healing assay. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins and pathway-related proteins were detected by western blotting. The expression of miR-302d-3p in BC cell lines was found to be downregulated. It was also demonstrated that miR-302d-3p could inhibit cell viability and migration and promote apoptosis. The expression of TMBIM6 in BC cell lines and tissues was upregulated. Upregulated miR-302d-3p was shown to inhibit viability and migration, and promote apoptosis by targeting TMBIM6, during which extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and its phosphorylation were inhibited in the ERK signaling pathway in cells. Overall, the present study demonstrated that miR-302d-3p could regulate the viability, migration and apoptosis of BC cells through regulating TMBIM6-mediated ERK signaling pathway.

MiR-193a-3p targets LGR4 to promote the inflammatory response in endometritis

Solving the reproductive barriers of dairy cows has become one of the most critical factors determining the dairy industry's development. Clinically, inflammation disease like endometritis is the most crucial cause in reducing dairy production's financial viability. MiR-193 family can induce cell apoptosis and differentiation has been reported in various diseases. LGR4 plays a vital role in reproductive system development and immune system regulation, and it is closely related to animal reproductive function and cytokine regulation. In this study, we observed a negative relationship between miR-193a-3p and LGR4 expression level in both inflammatory tissues and cells. The expression level of miR-193a-3p and LGR4 in bovine endometrial epithelial cells (BENDs) is regulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation time and dose-dependent. Subsequently, miR-193a-3p mimics and inhibitors were used to explore its functions in the inflammation response process, finding that overexpression of miR-193a-3p markedly increases the expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS, such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, while the group in which transfected inhibitor is on the contrary. Of note, immunofluorescence and western blot results showed that miR-193a-3p enhanced LPS-induced NF-κB p65 phosphorylation through targeting LGR4, whereas inhibiting miR-193a-3p could suppress the activation of NF-κB pathway significantly. In conclusion, our study firstly reported the mechanism by which miR-193a-3p targets LGR4 to elevate the inflammatory response in bovine endometrium injury, thereby implying that knockdown miR-193a-3p may lay the theoretical and practical basis for drug development of alleviating endometritis in dairy cows.

Screening and functional prediction of differentially expressed circular RNAs in human glioma of different grades

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have a critical regulatory function in human glioma. However, novel circRNAs related to different pathological grades of glioma and their crucial potential function are worth screening and prediction. CircRNA expression profiling was performed for 6 paired high- and low-grade glioma tissues and 5 adjacent normal brain tissues through next-generation sequencing. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was conducted to validate circRNA expression. Bioinformatics analysis was performed, and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks were constructed. The expression and survival data of miRNAs and target genes were examined by GEPIA, Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), ONCOMINE, and cBioPortal databases. The RNA binding proteins (RBPs), open reading frames (ORFs) and N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modifications of the identified circRNAs were also predicted. Through multilevel research screening, 4 circRNAs (hsa_circ_0000915, hsa_circ_0127664, hsa_circ_0008362, and hsa_circ_0001467) were associated with glioma of different pathological grades and could be preferred candidates for subsequent functional analysis. Therefore, circRNAs are associated with the different pathological grades of glioma and reveal their potential critical regulatory function. CircRNAs might provide vital molecular biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for glioma.

miRNA signature in glioblastoma: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are transcripts with sizes of about 22 nucleotides, which are produced through a multistep process in the nucleus and cytoplasm. These transcripts modulate the expression of their target genes through binding with certain target regions, particularly 3' suntranslated regions. They are involved in the pathogenesis of several kinds of cancers, such as glioblastoma. Several miRNAs, including miR-10b, miR-21, miR-17-92-cluster, and miR-93, have been up-regulated in glioblastoma cell lines and clinical samples. On the other hand, expression of miR-7, miR-29b, miR-32, miR-34, miR-181 family members, and a number of other miRNAs have been decreased in this type of cancer. In the current review, we explain the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of glioblastoma through providing a summary of studies that reported dysregulation of these epigenetic effectors in this kind of brain cancer.

MicroRNA-202 inhibits cell migration and invasion through targeting FGF2 and inactivating Wnt/β-catenin signaling in endometrial carcinoma

Recently, many mircroRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the development and progression of cancer have been reported to regulate cell growth and metastasis, including microRNA-202 (miR-202). The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the effect of miR-202 on endometrial carcinoma (EC) cell migration and invasion. First, qRT-PCR showed that miR-202 was down-regulated in EC tissues, which was associated with poor prognosis in EC patients. Functionally, transwell assay indicated that miR-202 inhibited cell migration and invasion in EC cells. In addition, miR-202 also blocked epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through suppressing N-cadherin and Vimentin expressions and promoting E-cadherin expression. Moreover, the dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is a direct target gene for miR-202 in EC cells. Furthermore, up-regulation of FGF2 attenuated the inhibitory effect of miR-202 on cell migration and invasion in EC. Besides that, miR-202 inactivated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling by suppressing β-catenin expression in EC. In conclusion, miR-202 inhibited cell migration and invasion by targeting FGF2 and inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in EC.

The Effect of Composol Medium on miR-16 Expression during Platelet Storage up to Day 7 at Room Temperature

Objective

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, noncoding RNAs that play vital roles in gene regulation. It has been shown that storage has an effect on platelet miRNAs. MiR-16 is highly expressed in platelets and it appears to target the genes involved in cell death. It has been shown that platelets could be stored in Composol for a longer period of time. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the expression pattern of miR-16 in platelet concentrates (PCs) in plasma and Composol media.

Materials and Methods

In an experimental study, ten PC bags were collected and each bag was divided into two separate bags, one with the 70% Composol and the other with only plasma. Both bags were stored for 7 days at 22˚C and tested on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 of storage. For each sample, we performed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 (WST-1) test was used to assess platelet viability in all of the samples. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS and REST software. A P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

miR-16 was significantly elevated during the storage days, with fold changes of 3.47 (plasma) and 2.77 (Composol). The Composol group had significantly decreased miR-16 expression compared with the plasma group. Results of the WST-1 test showed less decrease in optical density (OD) in the Composol group (0.93 ± 0.4) during the storage days compared with the plasma group (0.75 ± 0.3).

Conclusion

Our finding supported results from previous studies that reported an increase in miR-16 expression during platelet storage. In addition, miR-16 down-regulation in Composol medium implied that Composol might be a good solution for long-term platelet storage because it has the potential to elevate the shelf-life of platelets stored at 22˚C.

Long non‑coding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 gene promotes the development of cervical cancer via the NF‑κB pathway

The long noncoding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 gene (LncRNA PVT1) has an important role in tumor occurrence and development, yet the role and underlying molecular mechanisms of this RNA in cervical cancer have not yet been elucidated. In the present study, three cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa, Ca Ski and SiHa) were used to verify how LncRNA PVT1 mediates cervical cancer development, and the H8 cell line was used as a control. A LncRNA PVT1 overexpression vector or small interfering RNAs targeting LncRNA PVT1 were transfected into cervical cancer cells to generate LncRNA PVT1 overexpression and silencing in these cells. LncRNA PVT1 overexpression accelerated the growth of cervical cancer cells by advancing the cell cycle and inhibiting cellular apoptosis; increases in Cyclin D1 (CCND1) mRNA and activated Bcl‑2 protein expression levels also supported this finding. Furthermore, NF‑κB activation and expression was increased by LncRNA PVT1 overexpression. In addition, NF‑κB activation or inhibition induced changes in cell viability, accompanied by changes in CCND1 and Bcl‑2 expression. Increases or decreases in microRNA‑16 (miR‑16) expression (using miR mimics and inhibitors) also corresponded to changes in LncRNA PVT1 expression, in vitro. miR‑16 mimics and inhibitor had opposite effects to those of NF‑κB activity, and miR‑16 was demonstrated to directly interact with the NF‑κB gene as measured using the dual‑luciferase assay. In summary, LncRNA PVT1 inhibits the effect of miR‑16, promoting the cell cycle and inhibiting cellular apoptosis of cervical cancer cells, potentially via the NF‑κB pathway. The data from the present study will contribute to the current knowledge surrounding the theoretical basis of cervical cancer and provide a new perspective for the treatment of cervical cancer.

FGF-2 and FGFR-1 might be independent prognostic factors in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma

AIMS

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-1 are associated with tumour invasiveness, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. The aims of this study were to investigate FGF-2 expression and FGFR-1 expression in oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC), and their correlation with OTSCC patients' prognosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

One hundred and sixty-seven cases were retrospectively selected, including 85 surgical specimens of patients with OTSCC, 46 incisional biopsies of OTSCC, and 36 incisional biopsies of OED. Tissue sections were subjected to immunohistochemical staining for FGF-2 and FGFR-1, and digitally scored. Elevated scores of FGF-2 and FGFR-1 immunostaining were associated with high-grade OEDs. FGF-2 positivity in the stroma was associated with vascular invasion and a worse prognosis, in both overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) analyses, in univariate and multivariate models. FGFR-1 positivity in the stroma was correlated with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. FGFR-1 expression in either the malignant cells or the stroma was strongly correlated with shorter OS and DFS.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our findings suggest that increased FGF-2 expression and increased FGFR-1 expression are associated with high-grade OEDs, and are correlated with the presence of metastasis and adverse outcomes in OTSCC patients.

MicroRNA 302b-3p/302c-3p/302d-3p inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and promotes apoptosis in human endometrial carcinoma cells

Background

Studies have shown that the microRNA miR-302 can affect the proliferation, migration and cell cycle progression of endometrial carcinoma (EC). miR-302 clusters have been shown to play an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of cancer cells and in their tumorigenicity.

Subjects and methods

In this study, we detected the expression of genes through quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We detected the expression of proteins through Western blot. The Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) double-staining assay were used to detect the ability of miR-302b-3p/302c-3p/302d-3p to affect the cell apoptosis. The CCK-8 were used to detect the ability of miR-302b-3p/302c-3p/302d-3p to affect the cell proliferation. The Cell cycle analysis were used to detect the ability of miR-302b-3p/302c-3p/302d-3p to affect the cell cycle. Finally, the wound healing assay was used to detect the ability of miR-302b-3p/302c-3p/302d-3p to impact cell migration.

Results

We found that miR-302b-3p/302c-3p/302d-3p of the miR-302 cluster was downregulated in EC, and it altered the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in the EC cell lines Ishikawa and HEC-1A. Western blot and the Annexin V- FITC/PI double-staining assay were used to detect the ability of miR-302b-3p/302c-3p/302d-3p to promote the apoptosis of Ishikawa and HEC-1A cells. In addition, qRT-PCR results showed that overexpression of miR-302b-3p/302c-3p/302d-3p significantly inhibited the expression of ZEB1, suppressed the expression of Bcl-2 and promoted the expression of BAX. The overexpression of miR-302b-3p/302c-3p/302d-3p inhibited the proliferation and migration of Ishikawa and HEC-1A cells. Cell cycle analysis showed that miR-302b-3p/302c-3p/302d-3p arrested cell cycle progression in the G0/G1 phase.

Conclusion

All results showed that miR-302b-3p/302c-3p/302d-3p can be used as a tumor suppressor in EC and is expected to be a new target for the treatment of EC.