MiR-27b-3p promotes migration and invasion in colorectal cancer cells by targeting HOXA10

A serum miRNAs signature for early diagnosis of bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer accounts for the most common type of urologic malignancy and presents high recurrence rate after surgical resection and adjuvant intravesical therapy. We aim to search for an early diagnostic biomarker in serum for bladder cancer in this study.

METHODS

The expression profiles of miRNAs in serum samples of 112 bladder cancer patients and 112 healthy controls were detected with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under curve (AUC) analysis were performed to assess the diagnostic efficiency of miRNAs. Stepwise logic regression analysis was used to construct a diagnostic signature with highest sensitivity and specificity. Bioinformatics analysis was applied to explore the potential biological functions and mechanisms of candidate miRNAs.

RESULTS

Five miRNAs including miR-451a, miR-381-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-142-5p and miR-27b-3p were found differentially expressed in serum samples of bladder patients and healthy subjects. The diagnostic signature was constructed with miR-27b-3p, miR-381-3p and miR-451a. AUC of the three-miRNA signature was 0.894 (0.837-0.936, p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of this signature were 86.90% and 77.38%, respectively, indicating that this signature has a good ability to diagnose bladder cancer.

CONCLUSION

The three-miRNA signature we constructed has favorable diagnostic capacity and may be a promising non-invasive biomarker in the early diagnosis of bladder cancer.KEY MESSAGESThere is still no clinical utilization of serum miRNAs in the early detection of bladder cancer.We screened and constructed a three-miRNA signature with the sensitivity of 86.90% and specificity of 77.38% which may be a promising non-invasive biomarker in the early diagnosis of bladder cancer.

miRNAs as short non-coding RNAs in regulating doxorubicin resistance

The treatment of cancer patients has been prohibited by chemoresistance. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anti-tumor compound disrupting proliferation and triggering cell cycle arrest via inhibiting activity of topoisomerase I and II. miRNAs are endogenous RNAs localized in cytoplasm to reduce gene level. Abnormal expression of miRNAs changes DOX cytotoxicity. Overexpression of tumor-promoting miRNAs induces DOX resistance, while tumor-suppressor miRNAs inhibit DOX resistance. The miRNA-mediated regulation of cell death and hallmarks of cancer can affect response to DOX chemotherapy in tumor cells. The transporters such as P-glycoprotein are regulated by miRNAs in DOX chemotherapy. Upstream mediators including lncRNAs and circRNAs target miRNAs in affecting capacity of DOX. The response to DOX chemotherapy can be facilitated after administration of agents that are mostly phytochemicals including curcumol, honokiol and ursolic acid. These agents can regulate miRNA expression increasing DOX's cytotoxicity. Since delivery of DOX alone or in combination with other drugs and genes can cause synergistic impact, the nanoparticles have been introduced for drug sensitivity. The non-coding RNAs determine the response of tumor cells to doxorubicin chemotherapy. microRNAs play a key role in this case and they can be sponged by lncRNAs and circRNAs, showing interaction among non-coding RNAs in the regulation of doxorubicin sensitivity.

Integrated Microarray-Based Data Analysis of miRNA Expression Profiles: Identification of Novel Biomarkers of Cisplatin-Resistance in Testicular Germ Cell Tumours

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) are the most common solid malignancy among young men, and their incidence is still increasing. Despite good curability with cisplatin (CDDP)-based chemotherapy, about 10% of TGCTs are non-responsive and show a chemoresistant phenotype. To further increase TGCT curability, better prediction of risk of relapse and early detection of refractory cases is needed. Therefore, to diagnose this malignancy more precisely, stratify patients more accurately and improve decision-making on treatment modality, new biomarkers are still required. Numerous studies showed association of differential expressions of microRNAs (miRNAs) with cancer. Using microarray analysis followed by RT-qPCR validation, we identified specific miRNA expression patterns that discriminate chemoresistant phenotypes in TGCTs. Comparing CDDP-resistant vs. -sensitive TGCT cell lines, we identified miR-218-5p, miR-31-5p, miR-125b-5p, miR-27b-3p, miR-199a-5p, miR-214-3p, let-7a and miR-517a-3p as significantly up-regulated and miR-374b-5p, miR-378a-3p, miR-20b-5p and miR-30e-3p as significantly down-regulated. In patient tumour samples, we observed the highest median values of relative expression of miR-218-5p, miR-31-5p, miR-375-5p and miR-517a-3p, but also miR-20b-5p and miR-378a-3p, in metastatic tumour samples when compared with primary tumour or control samples. In TGCT patient plasma samples, we detected increased expression of miR-218-5p, miR-31-5p, miR-517a-3p and miR-375-5p when compared to healthy individuals. We propose that miR-218-5p, miR-31-5p, miR-375-5p, miR-517-3p, miR-20b-5p and miR-378a-3p represent a new panel of biomarkers for better prediction of chemoresistance and more aggressive phenotypes potentially underlying metastatic spread in non-seminomatous TGCTs. In addition, we provide predictions of the targets and functional and regulatory networks of selected miRNAs.

LINC01089 blocks malignant progression of thyroid cancer by binding miR-27b-3p to enhance the FBLN5 protein level

LINC01089 suppresses the malignant progression of breast, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancers. However, the function of LINC01089 in thyroid cancer has not yet been elucidated. Here, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database showed that LINC01089 expression is remarkably reduced in thyroid cancer tissues. Lower LINC01089 expression was correlated with higher tumor stage and regional lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, LINC01089 overexpression effectively blocked thyroid cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. LINC01089 acted as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-27b-3p, thus inhibiting miR-27b-3p expression. miR-27b-3p overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of thyroid cancer, reversing the effect of LINC01089 overexpression on thyroid cancer. Fibulin-5 (FBLN5) was discovered as a target of miR-27b-3p in thyroid cancer. FBLN5 expression was found to be underexpressed in thyroid cancer and was enhanced and reduced by LINC00987 overexpression and miR-27b-3p overexpression, respectively. Furthermore, FBLN5 knockdown promoted the malignant progression of thyroid cancer cells by counteracting the effect of LINC00987. In conclusion, LINC01089 plays a tumor-suppressive role by binding miR-27b-3p to increase FBLN5 expression, confirming that LINC01089 has tremendous potential to become a therapeutic target for thyroid cancer treatment.

Confounding Factors Impacting microRNA Expression in Human Saliva: Methodological and Biological Considerations

There is growing interest in saliva microRNAs (miRNAs) as non-invasive biomarkers for human disease. Such an approach requires understanding how differences in experimental design affect miRNA expression. Variations in technical methodologies, coupled with inter-individual variability may reduce study reproducibility and generalizability. Another barrier facing salivary miRNA biomarker research is a lack of recognized “control miRNAs”. In one of the largest studies of human salivary miRNA to date (922 healthy individuals), we utilized 1225 saliva samples to quantify variability in miRNA expression resulting from aligner selection (Bowtie1 vs. Bowtie2), saliva collection method (expectorated vs. swabbed), RNA stabilizer (presence vs. absence), and individual biological factors (sex, age, body mass index, exercise, caloric intake). Differential expression analyses revealed that absence of RNA stabilizer introduced the greatest variability, followed by differences in methods of collection and aligner. Biological factors generally affected a smaller number of miRNAs. We also reported coefficients of variations for 643 miRNAs consistently present in saliva, highlighting several salivary miRNAs to serve as reference genes. Thus, the results of this analysis can be used by researchers to optimize parameters of salivary miRNA measurement, exclude miRNAs confounded by numerous biologic factors, and identify appropriate miRNA controls.

Hsa-microRNA-27b-3p inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression by inactivating transforming growth factor-activated kinase-binding protein 3/nuclear factor kappa B signalling

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hsa-microRNA-27b-3p (hsa-miR-27b) is involved in the formation and progression of various cancers, but its role and clinical value in HCC remain unclear.

Methods

The expression of hsa-miR-27b in HCC was examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH) assays of clinical samples. Cell Counting Kit-8 assays (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation assays, Transwell assays, filamentous actin (F-actin) staining and western blot analyses were used to determine the effects of hsa-miR-27b on HCC cells in vitro. Subcutaneous xenograft and lung metastatic animal experiments were conducted to verify the role of hsa-miR-27b in HCC in vivo. In silico prediction, qRT-PCR, western blot, anti-Argonaute 2 (AGO2) RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual luciferase reporter assays were applied to identify the target genes of hsa-miR-27b. To detect the impacts of hsa-miR-27b on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-кB) signalling cascades mediated by transforming growth factor-activated kinase-binding protein 3 (TAB3), we performed qRT-PCR, western blot assays, immunofluorescence staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and dual-luciferase reporter assays. Recombinant oncolytic adenovirus (Onco^Ad) overexpressing hsa-miR-27b was constructed to detect their therapeutic value in HCC.

Results

The expression of hsa-miR-27b was lower in HCC than in adjacent non-tumourous tissues (ANTs), and the reduced expression of hsa-miR-27b was associated with worse outcomes in patients with HCC. Hsa-miR-27b significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, subcutaneous tumour growth and lung metastasis of HCC cells. The suppression of hsa-miR-27b promoted the nuclear translocation of NF-κB by upregulating TAB3 expression. TAB3 was highly expressed in HCC compared with ANTs and was negatively correlated with the expression of hsa-miR-27b. The impaired cell proliferation, migration and invasion by hsa-miR-27b overexpression were recovered by ectopic expression of TAB3. Recombinant Onco^Ad with overexpression of hsa-miR-27b induced anti-tumour activity compared with that induced by negative control (NC) Onco^Ad in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusions

By targeting TAB3, hsa-miR-27b acted as a tumour suppressor by inactivating the NF-кB pathway in HCC in vitro and in vivo, indicating its therapeutic value against HCC.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s11658-022-00370-4.

Exosomal MiRNAs in Osteosarcoma: Biogenesis and Biological Functions

MiRNAs are a group of non-coding RNA molecules that function in mRNA translational inhibition via base-pairing with complementary sequences in target mRNA. In oncology, miRNAs have raised great attention due to their aberrant expression and pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of multiple malignancies including osteosarcoma. MiRNAs can be transported by exosome, the nano-extracellular vesicle with a diameter of 30–150 nm. Recently, a growing number of studies have demonstrated that exosomal miRNAs play a critical role in tumor initiation and progression, by exerting multiple biological functions including metastasis, angiogenesis, drug resistance and immunosuppression. In this review, we aim to depict the biogenesis of exosomal miRNAs and summarize the potential diagnostic and therapeutic functions of exosomal miRNAs in osteosarcoma.

DNMBP-AS1 Regulates NHLRC3 Expression by Sponging miR-93-5p/17-5p to Inhibit Colon Cancer Progression

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in colon cancer (CC) progression, via binding microRNAs (miRNAs) to regulate the expression of corresponding messenger RNAs (mRNAs). This article aims to explore the detailed molecular mechanism of ceRNA in CC. Top mad 5000 lncRNAs and top mad 5000 mRNAs were used to perform weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and key modules were selected. We used 405 lncRNAs in the red module and 145 mRNAs in the purple module to build the original ceRNA network by online databases. The original ceRNA network included 50 target lncRNAs, 41 target miRNAs, and 34 target mRNAs. Fifty target lncRNAs were used to establish a prognostic risk model by univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analyses. LncRNAs in the risk model were used to build the secondary ceRNA network, which contained 9 lncRNAs in the risk model, 35 miRNAs, and 29 mRNAs. Survival analyses of 29 mRNAs in the secondary ceRNA network have shown HOXA10 and NHLRC3 were identified as crucial prognostic factors. Finally, we constructed the last ceRNA network including 5 lncRNAs in the risk model, 8 miRNAs, and 2 mRNAs related to prognosis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results revealed that DNMBP-AS1 and FAM87A were down-regulated in CC cells and tissues. Function assays showed that over-expression of DNMBP-AS1 and FAM87A inhibited CC cells proliferation and migration. Mechanism study showed that DNMBP-AS1 served as miR-93-5p/17-5p sponges and relieved the suppression effect of miR-93-5p/17-5p on their target NHLRC3. Our study suggested that DNMBP-AS1 inhibited the progression of colon cancer through the miR-93-5p/17-5p/NHLRC3 axis, which could be potential therapeutic targets for CC.

MicroRNA serum profiles and chronic graft versus host disease

Chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) is the most common long-term complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). During the last decade, the interest of micro RNAs (miRNAs) in the pathophysiological process of cGVHD has increased. The objectives of this study were to investigate a wide range of serum miRNAs in allografted patients and identify associations between miRNAs and cGVHD. The study included 79 allotransplanted adults, where serum samples were obtained one year after the allo-HSCT, and miRNA profiling analysis in serum was performed. 50 of the 79 patients (63%) had signs of cGVHD at the one-year post-allo-HSCT control. miRNA-sequencing analysis revealed 1380 different miRNAs detected for at least one patient, while 233 miRNAs (17%) were detected in more than 70 patients. We identified ten miRNAs that differed significantly between patients with and without cGVHD (p <0.005, false discovery rate (FDR) <0.1), and all or these miRNAs were detected for >75 of the patients. Furthermore, five distinct miRNAs; miR-365-3p, miR-148-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-378-3p, and miR-192-5p, were found to be particularly associated with cGVHD in our analysis and validated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Based on only three miRNAs, miR-365-3p, miR-148-3p, and miR-378-3p, we developed a miRNA signature which by bioinformatic approaches and linear regression model utterly improved our potential diagnostic biomarker model for cGVHD. We conclude that miRNAs are differently expressed among patients with and without cGVHD, although further and larger studies are needed to validate our present findings.

miR‑125a‑5p reverses epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and restores drug sensitivity by negatively regulating TAFAZZIN signaling in breast cancer

MicroRNA (miR)‑125a‑5p represses tafazzin phospholipid‑lysophospholipid transacylases (TAFAZZIN) expression and inhibits the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) of ovarian cancer cells. EMT was found to have a crucial role in the acquisition of chemoresistance. Thus, the present study aimed to determine whether miR‑125a‑5p reverses EMT and restores drug sensitivity by negatively regulating TAFAZZIN in breast cancer. The expression of miR‑125a‑5p/TAFAZZIN and its association with chemotherapy response were determined in tissue samples from patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, the effects of miR‑125a‑5p on breast cancer cells were elucidated using cell proliferation and cell apoptosis assays. Then, the regulatory mechanism of miR‑125a‑5p in breast cancer was investigated by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR, western blotting, dual‑luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. The results demonstrated that miR‑125a‑5p inhibited the EMT of MCF‑7/adriamycin (Adr) breast cancer cells, as well as decreased the proliferation and increased the apoptosis of breast cancer cells treated with Adr/docetaxel. In addition, miR‑125a‑5p downregulated the expression levels of TAFAZZIN, Transglutaminase 2, phosphorylated‑AKT, N‑cadherin, vimentin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and significantly increased those of E‑cadherin, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in MCF7/Adr cells. Similar results were obtained with small interfering RNA‑TAFAZZIN. Moreover, TAFAZZIN was identified as a direct target of miR‑125a‑5p in MCF7/Adr breast cancer cells. In addition, increased miR‑125a‑5p expression was observed in breast tumors from patients exhibiting a chemotherapy response, and TAFAZZIN mRNA expression was elevated in patients with no chemotherapy response. Hence, miR‑125a‑5p expression was negatively correlated with TAFAZZIN mRNA expression in breast cancer tissues. All these data suggested that miR‑125a‑5p reverses EMT and restores drug sensitivity by negatively regulating TAFAZZIN in breast cancer and, therefore, has potential as a novel therapeutic target for this disease.

MicroRNA-27b-3p inhibits the proliferation and invasion of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma by targeting EGFR and MMP-13

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is a common malignant tumor. The aim of the present study was to examine the biological function of microRNA (miR)-27b-3p in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and its underlying mechanism. The relative expression levels of miR-27b-3p were determined in A-431, Colo-16 and NHEK/SVTERT3-5 cell lines. The regulatory effects of miR-27b-3p on the proliferation of CSCC cells were evaluated using MTT and colony formation assays. Transwell assays were conducted to examine the role of miR-27b-5p in the migratory and invasive abilities of CSCC cells. The levels of EGFR, MMP-13, Akt, phosphorylated (p)-Akt, cyclin D1, N-cadherin (CAD) and E-CAD were detected in CSCC cells using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot analysis. Binding between miR-27b-3p and the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of EGFR or MMP-13 was assessed using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. miR-27b-3p was significantly downregulated in CSCC cell lines, compared with the skin keratinocyte cell line. Transfection with a miR-27b-3p mimic significantly reduced the proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities of CSCC cells in vitro. Moreover, miR-27b-3p mimic transfection downregulated the mRNA and protein levels of EGFR, MMP-13, cyclin D1, p-Akt and N-CAD, whilst upregulating E-CAD levels in CSCC cells. miR-27b-3p was found to target the EGFR and MMP-13 3'-UTRs, thus downregulating the expression of these molecules. The inhibition of CSCC proliferation by miR-27b-3p was effectively reversed by EGFR overexpression. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of miR-27b-3p on the migratory and invasive abilities of CSCC cells was abolished by MMP-13 overexpression. In conclusion, miR-27b-3p inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of CSCC cells by downregulating the expression of EGFR and MMP-13 and may represent a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic option for CSCC.

Mangiferin Inhibits Human Lung Adenocarcinoma by Suppressing MiR-27b and MiR-92a

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the most prevalent malignancies. However, its mechanism and therapeutic strategy remain to be clarified. Mangiferin is a flavonoid derived from the leaves of mango trees of the lacquer family that has many pharmacological and physiological effects. This research aimed to elucidate the biological effect of mangiferin in LUAD cell lines and clarify the in vitro mechanism of mangiferin. Mangiferin was shown to significantly restrain the proliferation of LUAD cells (A549, H1299, and H2030 cells) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, mangiferin was capable of stimulating apoptosis, and more cells were blocked in G1 and S phase in the mangiferin-treated cells than in those not treated with mangiferin. Microarrays and micro-RNA sequencing data suggested that there is a higher level of miR-27b and miR-92a in LUAD tissues than in non-LUAD tissues. Additional experiments indicated that mangiferin may be related to the downregulated levels of miR-92a and miR-27b. In conclusion, mangiferin likely regulates proliferation and apoptosis in LUAD cells by reducing the expression levels of miR-92a and miR-27b.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Gene Signature Related to Prognostic in Colon Adenocarcinoma

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) remains an important cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key mechanism, promoting not only the invasive or metastatic phenotype but also resistance to therapy. Using bioinformatics approaches, we studied the alteration on EMT related genes and its implication on COAD prognostic based on public datasets. For the EMT mechanisms, two overexpressed genes were identified (NOX4 and IGF2BP3), as well as five downregulated genes (BMP5, DACT3, EEF1A2, GCNT2 and SFRP1) that were related to prognosis in COAD. A qRT-PCR validation step was conducted in a COAD patient cohort comprising of 29 tumor tissues and 29 normal adjacent tissues, endorsing the expression level for BMP5, as well as for two of the miRNAs targeting key EMT related genes, revealing upregulation of miR-27a-5p and miR-146a-5p. The EMT signature can be used to develop a panel of biomarkers for recurrence prediction in COAD patients, which may contribute to the improvement of risk stratification for the patients.

miR-27b-3p Down-Regulation Prevents Hypoxia-Induced Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis Through Regulating Yes-Associated Protein 1 (YAP1) Expression

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common birth defects. MicroR-NAs (miRNAs) are a group of endogenous, non-coding small RNAs and mediate the target genes expression. An increasing evidence showed that in recent years, miRNAs have given rise to more and more attention in heart protection and development. In our research, the main purpose was to determine the effect of miR-27b-3p in CHD and analyze related mechanisms. Methods: We performed qRT-PCR analysis to examine miR-27b-3p expression in myocardial tissue from 30 patients with CHD and hypoxia-induced H9C2 cells. Then, we performed biological software TargetScan to predict the relationship of miR-27b-3p and YAP1, and dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the results. H9C2 cells were transfected with inhibitor control, miR-27b-3p inhibitor, miR-27b-3p inhibitor + control-siRNA or miR-27b-3p inhibitor + YAP1-siRNA for 6 hours and then induced by hypoxia for 72 hours. Subsequently, we performed MTT and FCM analysis to detect cell viability and apoptosis. Finally, we used western blot assay to measure the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Results: Our study indicated that miR-27b-3p expression in myocardial samples of cyanotic CHD patients was significantly higher than that of the acyanotic CHD patients. miR-27b-3p expression was gradually up-regulated with the increase of hypoxia induction time in H9C2 cells. Besides, we confirmed that YAP1 was a target gene of miR-27b-3p. Moreover, our results showed that miR-27b-3p inhibitor improved cell viability, decreased apoptosis, and affected apoptosis-related proteins expression in hypoxia induced H9C2 cells. These changes were reversed by YAP1-siRNA. All data demonstrated that miR-27b-3p/YAP1 might be new potential bio-marker and therapeutic target for CHD treatment.

FGF21 attenuates hypoxia‑induced dysfunction and inflammation in HPAECs via the microRNA‑27b‑mediated PPARγ pathway

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is a chronic and progressive disorder characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling, including endothelial cell dysfunction and inflammation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) play an important role in the development of PAH. In addition, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been found to have marked anti-dysfunction and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the latent effects of FGF21 against PAH through the miR-27b/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) axis. Human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (HPAECs) subjected to hypoxia were used as PAH models. The results revealed that PPARγ expression was downregulated and miR-27b expression was upregulated in the HPAECs exposed to hypoxia. Luciferase assay suggested that PPARγ was a target gene of miR-27b. Furthermore, miR-27b inhibited the expression of the PPARγ gene, thereby aggravating hypoxia-induced HPAEC dysfunction. Moreover, miR-27b activated the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway and the expression of inflammatory factors [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α] by targeting PPARγ. In addition, the expression of miR-27b decreased following treatment of the hypoxia-exposed HPAECs with FGF21. Furthermore, FGF21 alleviated hypoxia-induced HPAEC dysfunction and inflammation by inhibiting miR-27b expression and thereby promoting PPARγ expression. On the whole, the findings of the present study suggest that FGF21 may serve as a therapeutic target for managing PAH through the miR-27b-mediated PPARγ pathway.

MiR-27a-3p/miR-27b-3p Promotes Neurofibromatosis Type 1 via Targeting of NF1

The dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is a crucial molecular signature of disease development. The potential implication of miRNAs in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) remains poorly investigated. The expression levels of miR-27a-3p, miR-27b-3p, and neurofibromin 1 (NF1) were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. The functional roles of miR-27a-3p and miR-27b-3p in NF1 were explored by CCK8 (Cell Counting Kit-8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), terminal deoxynucleoitidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), and transwell assays. Luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down, and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were employed to study the probable target relationship between miRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA). MiR-27b-3p and miR-27a-3p were upregulated in dermal and plexiform human Schwann cells (HSC) from NF1 neurofibromas as well as cell lines of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). MiR-27a-3p/miR-27b-3p mimics promoted the proliferative, migratory, and invasive ability of dermal HSC and MPNST cell ST88-14, while inhibiting the apoptotic capacity. MiR-27a-3p/miR-27b-3p inhibitors elicited the opposite impacts on the above cellular behaviors in dermal HSC and ST88-14. Intriguingly, NF1 was revealed to be the target of both miR-27a-3p and miR-27b-3p, and was negatively modulated by them. MiR-27a-3p/miR-27b-3p upregulation suppressed the expression of NF1 in dermal HSC and ST88-14. Furthermore, NF1 depletion counterbalanced the functional alteration induced by miR-27a-3p/miR-27b-3p inhibition. Our study suggests that both miR-27b-3p and miR-27a-3p are involved in upstream molecular activity responsible for the depletion of NF1, representing promising targets for therapeutic application in NF1.

Upregulation of miR-1269 Contributes to the Progression of Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer Cells and Is Associated With Poor Prognosis

Background:

MicroRNA-1269 (miR-1269) has been identified upregulated in several cancers, as well as in esophageal cancer. In the present study, we investigated the clinical prognostic significance and potential functional role of miR-1269 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods:

A total of 107 ESCC patients who underwent surgical resection were enrolled in this study. miR-1269 expression was measured using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to explore the prognostic significance of miR-1269. CCK-8 assays and Transwell assays were used to investigate the effects of miR-1269 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The direct association between miR-1269 and SOX6 was evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results:

The expression of miR-1269 was significantly upregulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines compared with adjacent normal tissues and esophageal epithelial cell line, respectively. What’s more, the upregulation of miR-1269 was associated with positive lymph node metastasis and advanced TNM stage. ESCC patients with high miR-1269 expression had shorter overall survival than those with low miR-1269 expression levels. Compared with the control group, overexpression of miR-1269 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while knockdown of miR-1269 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. SOX6 was a direct target of miR-1269.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that miR-1269 plays an important role in the progression of ESCC by targeting SOX6 and may be a potential prognostic biomarker and the miR-1269/SOX6 axis may be a therapeutic target for the patient with ESCC.

MicroRNAs: Multifaceted Regulators of Colorectal Cancer Metastasis and Clinical Applications

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third-commonest malignant cancer, and its metastasis is the major reason for cancer-related death. The process of metastasis is highly coordinated and involves a complex cascade of multiple steps. In recent years, miRNAs, as highly conserved, endogenous, noncoding, single-stranded RNA, has been confirmed to be involved in the development of various cancers. Considering that miRNA is also involved in a series of biological behaviors, regulating CRC occurrence and development, we review and summarize the role of miRNAs and related signaling pathways in several CRC-metastasis stages, including invasion and migration, mobility, metabolism, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, tumor-microenvironment communication, angiogenesis, anoikis, premetastatic-niche formation, and cancer stemness. In addition, we review the application of miRNAs as diagnostic CRC markers and in clinical treatment resistance. This review can contribute to understanding of the mechanism of miRNAs in CRC progression and provide a theoretical basis for clinical CRC treatment.

LINC01089 Blocks the Proliferation and Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer Cells via Regulating miR-27b-3p/HOXA10 Axis

Background

An increasing number of studies demonstrate that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are regulators in cancer biology. Nevertheless, the expression and mechanism of LINC01089 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was taken to investigate the expression levels of LINC01089 and miR-27b-3p in CRC tissues and cells. MTT method and transwell test were employed to assess the proliferation and invasion of CRC cells, respectively. Dual-luciferase activity reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assay, Pearson's correlation analysis, and Western blot were performed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of LINC01089/miR-27b-3p/HOXA10 axis in CRC.

Results

LINC01089 was down-regulated in CRC tissues and cell lines. LINC01089 overexpression impeded the proliferation and invasion of SW620 and LoVo cells, whereas LINC01089 knockdown increased the malignancy of SW480 and HT29 cells. Moreover, LINC01089 directly interacted with miR-27b-3p to repressed its expression and indirectly promoted the expression of HOXA10.

Conclusion

LINC01089 impedes the proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells by adsorbing miR-27b-3p and up-regulating the expression of HOXA10.

miRNAs-Based Molecular Signature for KRAS Mutated and Wild Type Colorectal Cancer: An Explorative Study

microRNAs (miRNAs) have been proposed as promising molecular biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and responsive therapeutic targets in different types of cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we evaluated the expression levels of 84 cancer-associated miRNAs in a cohort of 39 human samples comprising 13 peritumoral and 26 tumoral tissues from surgical specimens of CRC patients. KRAS mutations were detected in 11 tumoral samples. In a first analysis, we found 5 miRNAs (miR-215-5p, miR-9-5p, miR-138-5p, miR378a-3p, and miR-150-5p) that were significantly downregulated and one upregulated (miR-135b-5p) in tumoral tissues compared with the peritumoral tissues. Furthermore, by comparing miRNA profile between KRAS mutated CRC tissues respect to wild type CRC tissues, we found 7 miRNA (miR-27b-3p, miR-191-5p, miR-let7d-5p, miR-15b-5p, miR-98-5p, miR-10a-5p, and miR-149-5p) downregulated in KRAS mutated condition. In conclusion, we have identified a panel of miRNAs that specifically distinguish CRC tissues from peritumoral tissue and a different set of miRNAs specific for CRC with KRAS mutations. These findings may contribute to the discovering of new molecular biomarkers with clinic relevance and might shed light on novel molecular aspects of CRC.

Sorting Mechanisms for MicroRNAs into Extracellular Vesicles and Their Associated Diseases

Extracellular vesicles (EV) are secretory membranous elements used by cells to transport proteins, lipids, mRNAs, and microRNAs (miRNAs). While their existence has been known for many years, only recently has research begun to identify their function in intercellular communication and gene regulation. Importantly, cells have the ability to selectively sort miRNA into EVs for secretion to nearby or distant targets. These mechanisms broadly include RNA-binding proteins such as hnRNPA2B1 and Argonaute-2, but also membranous proteins involved in EV biogenesis such as Caveolin-1 and Neural Sphingomyelinase 2. Moreover, certain disease states have also identified dysregulated EV-miRNA content, shedding light on the potential role of selective sorting in pathogenesis. These pathologies include chronic lung disease, immune response, neuroinflammation, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and heart disease. In this review, we will overview the mechanisms whereby cells selectively sort miRNA into EVs and also outline disease states where EV-miRNAs become dysregulated.