Tumor suppressor miR-449a inhibits the development of gastric cancer via down-regulation of SGPL1

miR-449a: A Promising Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Cancer and Other Diseases

In the regulation of gene expression, epigenetic factors like non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play an equal role in genetics. The role of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are members of the ncRNA family, in post-transcriptional gene regulation is well-documented and has important implications for both normal and abnormal biological processes, such as angiogenesis, proliferation, survival, and apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to synthesize previous research on miR-449a by analyzing published results from various databases, as there have been a number of investigations on miR-449's potential involvement in the development of human disorders. Based on our findings, miR-449 is strongly dysregulated in a wide range of diseases, from various cancers to cardiovascular diseases, cognitive impairments, and respiratory diseases, and it may play a pivotal role in the development of these problems. In addition, miR-449a functions as a crucial regulator of the expression of several well-known genes, including E2F-3, BCL2, NOTCH1, and SOX4. This, in turn, modulates various pathways and processes related to cancer, including Notch, PI3K, and TGF-β, and contributes to the improvement of cancer drug sensitivity. Curiously, abnormalities in the expression of this miRNA may serve as diagnostic or prognostic indicators for distinguishing between healthy people and patients or to evaluate the survival rates for specific disorders. This article provides a synopsis of the current understanding of miR-449a's role in human disease development through its regulation of gene expression and the biological processes related to these genes and their linked processes. In addition, we have covered the topic of miR-449a's potential as a clinical feature (diagnosis and prognosis) indicator for a range of disorders, both neoplastic and non-neoplastic. In general, our goal was to gain a thorough comprehension of the numerous functions of miR-449a in different disorders.

MiRNA-873-5p Acts as a Potential Novel Biomarker and Promotes Cervical Cancer Progression by Regulating ZEB1 via Notch Signaling Pathway

Objective:

Our group aimed to investigate the expression pattern of miRNA-873-5p in cervical cancer (CC) patients and its association with CC progression.

Methods:

Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was applied for the examination of the expressions of miRNA-873-5p in both CC specimens and cell lines. The clinical significance of miRNA-873-5p was statistically analyzed. MTT, colony formation, Transwell and flow cytometry assays were used to detect cell proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis changes of Hela and Siha cell line. Luciferase reporter assays and Western blots were utilized to identify the target genes of miRNA-873-5p. Western blot and RT-PCR were used to judge the dysregulation of Notch signaling.

Results:

Our results indicated that miRNA-873-5p expression was distinctly reduced in CC patients. Low miRNA-873-5p expressions were distinctly correlated with positively distant metastasis, The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and poor prognosis of CC patients. A functional assay using miRNA-873-5p mimics indicated that overexpression of miRNA-873-5p distinctly suppressed CC cells proliferation and metastasis, and promoted apoptosis. Bioinformatic assays revealed that miRNA-873-5p may target the 3’-UTR of ZEB1 and lead to the suppression of its translation, which was verified by the use of luciferase assays. Finally, overexpression of miRNA-873-5p suppressed the expressions of Jag1, Maml2 and Hey1.

Conclusion:

Taken together, we firstly provided evidence that miRNA-873-5p expression was a poor favorable factor for CC patients, and the use of miRNA-873-5p may represent a and potential biomarker and promising therapeutic approach for CC.