MicroRNA-584 and the protein phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1), a new signaling route through which transforming growth factor-β Mediates the migration and actin dynamics of breast cancer cells

Insight into the Role of the miR-584 Family in Human Cancers

Among the non-coding RNAs, the aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is well described in the oncology field. It is clear that the altered expression of miRNAs is crucial for a variety of processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, motility, angiogenesis and metastasis insurgence. Considering these aspects, RNA-based therapies and the use of miRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis are underlined as promising opportunities against cancer death. In the era of precision medicine, significant progress in next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques has broadened knowledge regarding the miRNAs expression profile in cancer tissues and in the blood of cancer patients. In this scenario, pre-clinical and clinical studies suggested that the members of the miR-584 family, i.e., miR-584-5p and -3p, are prominent players in cancer development and progression. Under some conditions, these miRNAs are under-expressed in cancer tissues acting as tumor suppressors, while in other conditions, they are overexpressed, acting as oncogenes increasing the aggressive behavior of cancer cells. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview on the expression, upstream genes, molecular targets and signaling pathways influenced by the miR-584 family (i.e., miR-584-3p and -5p) in various human solid and hematological cancers. To achieve this goal, 64 articles on this topic are discussed. Among these articles, 55 are focused on miR-584-5p, and it is outlined how this miRNA could be used in future applications as a potential new therapeutic strategy and diagnostic tool.

Evaluation of differences in expression pattern of three isoforms of the transforming growth factor beta in patients with lumbosacral stenosis

The study investigates molecular changes in the lumbosacral (L/S) spine's yellow ligamentum flavum during degenerative stenosis, focusing on the role of transforming growth factor beta 1-3 (TGF-β-1-3). Sixty patients with degenerative stenosis and sixty control participants underwent molecular analysis using real-time quantitative reverse transcription reaction technique (RTqPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis (IHC). At the mRNA level, study samples showed reduced expression of TGF-β-1 and TGF-β-3, while TGF-β-2 increased by only 4%. Conversely, at the protein level, the study group exhibited significantly higher concentrations of TGF-β-1, TGF-β-2, and TGF-β-3 compared to controls. On the other hand, at the protein level, a statistically significant higher concentration of TGF-β-1 was observed (2139.33 pg/mL ± 2593.72 pg/mL vs. 252.45 pg/mL ± 83.89 pg/mL; p < 0.0001), TGF-β-2 (3104.34 pg/mL ± 1192.74 pg/mL vs. 258.86 pg/mL ± 82.98 pg/mL; p < 0.0001), TGF-β-3 (512.75 pg/mL ± 107.36 pg/mL vs. 55.06 pg/mL ± 9.83 pg/mL, p < 0.0001) in yellow ligaments obtained from patients of the study group compared to control samples. The study did not establish a significant correlation between TGF-β-1-3 concentrations and pain severity. The findings suggest that molecular therapy aimed at restoring the normal expression pattern of TGF-β-1-3 could be a promising strategy for treating degenerative stenosis of the L/S spine. The study underscores the potential therapeutic significance of addressing molecular changes at the TGF-β isoforms level for better understanding and managing degenerative spinal conditions.

Biological, diagnostic and therapeutic implications of exosomes in glioma

Despite therapeutic advances, overall survival in glioblastoma is dismal. To optimize progress, a more detailed understanding of glioma's molecular, cellular, and intercellular pathophysiology is needed. Recent investigation has revealed a vital role for exosomes in inter-cellular signaling, tumor cell support, and regulation of the tumor microenvironment. Exosomes carry miRNAs, lncRNAs, mRNAs, proteins, immune regulatory molecules, nucleic acids, and lipids; however, the composition of exosome cargo is variable depending on the cell of origin. Specific exosomal miRNA contents such as miR-21, miR-301a, miR-151a, miR-148a, and miR-5096 are altered in high-grade glioma. Unique proteomic, genomic, and miRNA signatures of tumor exosomes have been associated with disease pathobiology, temozolomide resistance, immunosuppression, and tumor proliferation. Exosomes hold promise for tissue diagnostic glioma diagnosis and monitoring response to therapy. This review summarizes the current understanding of exosomes, their crucial role in glioma pathology, and future directions for their use in diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: The MEDLINE/PubMed database was reviewed for papers written in English and publication dates of 1981-2023, using the search string "Exosome", "Extracellular vesicles", "Glioma", "Exosomes in glioma".

PHACTR1 promotes the mobility of papillary thyroid carcinoma cells by inducing F-actin formation

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) limits effective biomarkers for predicting prognosis and targeted therapy. Phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) is a mobility-promoting molecule due to its regulation on F-actin formation, which is valuable for the investigation of PTC. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between PHACTR1 and PTC carcinogenesis, especially mobility. Our results displayed that PHACTR1 expression was elevated in metastatic or larger PTC tissues. In addition, PTC cells K1 with more obvious mobility had higher PHACTR1 expression whereas weakly mobile cells TPC-1 was contrary. Moreover, PHACTR1 silencing inhibited the invasion, migration and tumorigenicity of K1 cells, while PHACTR1 overexpression promoted the invasion, migration and tumorigenicity in TPC-1 cells. Furthermore, PHACTR1 overexpression increased the fluorescent intensity of F-actin in TPC-1 cells. Importantly, the enhanced invasion and migration in TPC-1 cells caused by PHACTR1 overexpression were significantly reversed by the disruption of F-actin assembly with swinholide A. In conclusion, PHACTR1 can promote the mobility of PTC cells, which results in the carcinogenesis of PTC. PHACTR1-regulated F-actin formation determines the mobility of PTC cells. Therefore, PHACTR1 can function as a potential biomarker for predicting prognosis and targeting therapy in PTC.

Review article epithelial to mesenchymal transition‑associated microRNAs in breast cancer

Despite major advances, breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed carcinoma and remains a deadly disease among women worldwide. Many researchers point toward an important role of an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BC development and promoting metastasis. Here, will be discussed that how functional changes of transcription factors, signaling pathways, and microRNAs (miRNA) in BC promote EMT. A thorough understanding the EMT biology can be important to determine reversing the process and design treatment approaches. There are frequent debates as to whether EMT is really relevant to BC in vivo, in which due to the intrinsic heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, given the importance of EMT in cancer progression and metastasis, the implementation of therapies against cancer-associated EMT will continue to help us develop and test potential treatments.

Phactr1 negatively regulates bone mass by inhibiting osteogenesis and promoting adipogenesis of BMSCs via RhoA/ROCK2

The imbalance between osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is involved in the occurrence and development of osteoporosis (OP). Previous studies have indicated the potential of phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (Phactr1) in regulating osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs. The present study aims to investigate the function and mechanism of Phactr1 in regulating osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Herein, the expression of Phactr1 in bone and adipose tissue of OP rats was determined by immunohistochemical. BMSCs were subjected to osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation, and transfected with Phactr1 overexpression lentivirus, small interference RNA (siRNA) and KD025 (selective ROCK2 inhibitor). The relationship between Phactr1 and ROCK2 was detected by Co-IP experiment. The expression of Phactr1, Runx2, C/EBPα, RhoA and ROCK2 was detected by Western blot. Calcium nodule and lipid droplets were determined by alizarin red and Oil red O staining. Interestingly, Phactr1 increased in both bone and adipose tissue of OP rats. During osteogenic differentiation, Phactr1 decreased and active RhoA, ROCK2 increased, while overexpression Phactr1 inhibits the increase of Runx2. Phactr1 increased and active RhoA decreased, ROCK2 did not changed during adipogenic differentiation. While, Knockdown Phactr1 inhibits the increase of C/EBPα. Phactr1 and ROCK2 were combined in osteogenic differentiation, but not in adipogenic differentiation. By using KD025, the decrease of Phactr1 and increase of Runx2 were inhibited respectively in osteogenic differentiation. Meanwhile, when ROCK2 was inhibited, Phactr1, C/EBPα were significantly increased in adipogenic differentiation. These findings indicated that Phactr1 negatively regulates bone mass by inhibiting osteogenesis and promoting adipogenesis of BMSCs by activating RhoA/ROCK2.

Integrative Transcriptome-Wide Analyses Uncover Novel Risk-Associated MicroRNAs in Hormone-Dependent Cancers

Background

Hormone-dependent cancers (HDC) are among the leading causes of death worldwide among both men and women. Some of the established risk factors of HDC include unhealthy lifestyles, environmental factors, and genetic influences. Numerous studies have been conducted to understand gene-cancer associations. Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) integrate data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and gene expression (expression quantitative trait loci - eQTL) to yield meaningful information on biological pathways associated with complex traits/diseases. Recently, TWAS have enabled the identification of novel associations between HDC risk and protein-coding genes.

Methods

In the present study, we performed a TWAS analysis using the summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR)-heterogeneity in dependent instruments (HEIDI) method to identify microRNAs (miRNAs), a group of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) associated with HDC risk. We obtained eQTL and GWAS summary statistics from the ncRNA-eQTL database and the National Human Genome Research Institute-European Bioinformatics Institute (NHGRI-EBI) GWAS Catalog.

Results

We identified 13 TWAS-significant miRNAs at cis regions (±1 Mb) associated with HDC risk (two, five, one, two, and three miRNAs for prostate, breast, ovarian, colorectal, and endometrial cancers, respectively). Among them, eight novel miRNAs were recognized in HDC risk. Eight protein-coding genes targeted by TWAS-identified miRNAs (SIRT1, SOX4, RUNX2, FOXA1, ABL2, SUB1, HNRNPH1, and WAC) are associated with HDC functions and signaling pathways.

Conclusion

Overall, identifying risk-associated miRNAs across a group of related cancers may help to understand cancer biology and provide novel insights into cancer genetic mechanisms. This customized approach can be applied to identify significant miRNAs in any trait/disease of interest.

Common pathways and functional profiles reveal underlying patterns in Breast, Kidney and Lung cancers

Background

Cancer is a major health problem which presents a high heterogeneity. In this work we explore omics data from Breast, Kidney and Lung cancers at different levels as signalling pathways, functions and miRNAs, as part of the CAMDA 2019 Hi-Res Cancer Data Integration Challenge. Our goal is to find common functional patterns which give rise to the generic microenvironment in these cancers and contribute to a better understanding of cancer pathogenesis and a possible clinical translation down further studies.

Results

After a tumor versus normal tissue comparison of the signaling pathways and cell functions, we found 828 subpathways, 912 Gene Ontology terms and 91 Uniprot keywords commonly significant to the three studied tumors. Such features interestingly show the power to classify tumor samples into subgroups with different survival times, and predict tumor state and tissue of origin through machine learning techniques. We also found cancer-specific alternative activation subpathways, such as the ones activating STAT5A in ErbB signaling pathway. miRNAs evaluation show the role of miRNAs, such as mir-184 and mir-206, as regulators of many cancer pathways and their value in prognoses.

Conclusions

The study of the common functional and pathway activities of different cancers is an interesting approach to understand molecular mechanisms of the tumoral process regardless of their tissue of origin. The existence of platforms as the CAMDA challenges provide the opportunity to share knowledge and improve future scientific research and clinical practice.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13062-021-00293-8.

Complex Interplay of Genes Underlies Invasiveness in Fibrosarcoma Progression Model

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumours, with a great variability in their clinical behaviour. While our knowledge of sarcoma initiation has advanced rapidly in recent years, relatively little is known about mechanisms of sarcoma progression. JUN-murine fibrosarcoma progression series consists of four sarcoma cell lines, JUN-1, JUN-2, JUN-2fos-3, and JUN-3. JUN-1 and -2 were established from a single tumour initiated in a H2K/v-jun transgenic mouse, JUN-3 originates from a different tumour in the same animal, and JUN-2fos-3 results from a targeted in vitro transformation of the JUN-2 cell line. The JUN-1, -2, and -3 cell lines represent a linear progression from the least transformed JUN-2 to the most transformed JUN-3, with regard to all the transformation characteristics studied, while the JUN-2fos-3 cell line exhibits a unique transformation mode, with little deregulation of cell growth and proliferation, but pronounced motility and invasiveness. The invasive sarcoma sublines JUN-2fos-3 and JUN-3 show complex metabolic profiles, with activation of both mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis and a significant increase in spared respiratory capacity. The specific transcriptomic profile of invasive sublines features very complex biological relationships across the identified genes and proteins, with accentuated autocrine control of motility and angiogenesis. Pharmacologic inhibition of one of the autocrine motility factors identified, Ccl8, significantly diminished both motility and invasiveness of the highly transformed fibrosarcoma cell. This progression series could be greatly valuable for deciphering crucial aspects of sarcoma progression and defining new prognostic markers and potential therapeutic targets.

Identification of genes and miRNAs in paclitaxel treatment for breast cancer

AIM

Paclitaxel is a microtubule-stabilizing drug that has therapeutic effect on breast cancer. However, the molecular mechanism of paclitaxel on breast cancer has not been elucidated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Microarray data of GSE114403, including 50 pretreatment and 50 posttreatment samples, were downloaded from public database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between pretreatment and posttreatment were identified, followed by functional enrichment analysis. Then, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and transcription factor (TF)-miRNA-mRNA network were constructed. Finally, the survival analysis of hub genes was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 107 DEGs were screened from pretreatment versus posttreatment. Genes were significantly enriched in GO terms such as inflammatory response, and pathways like cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway. CXCL2, PTGS2, and ATF3 were considered as hub genes in PPI network. TFs such as FOXA2, NFE2L2, as well as miRNAs like has-miR-508-3p and has-miR-584 also played role in the paclitaxel treatment. Additionally, survival analysis revealed that breast cancer patients with high expression level of CXCL2, PTGS2, and ATF3 had longer survival time.

CONCLUSION

In summary, we demonstrated that CXCL2, PTGS2, and ATF3 might be diagnostic and therapeutic molecular biomarkers for breast cancer. These findings might provide further insights into the pathophysiology of breast cancer, as well as enhance our understanding of the anticancer effects of paclitaxel.

TGFβ Signaling in the Tumor Microenvironment

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is a pleiotropic growth factor. Under normal physiological conditions, TGFβ maintains homeostasis in mammalian tissues by restraining the growth of cells and stimulating apoptosis. However, the role of TGFβ signaling in the carcinogenesis is complex. TGFβ acts as a tumor suppressor in the early stages of disease and as a tumor promoter in its later stages where cancer cells have been relieved from TGFβ growth controls. Overproduction of TGFβ by cancer cells lead to a local fibrotic and immune-suppressive microenvironment that fosters tumor growth and correlates with invasive and metastatic behavior of the cancer cells. Here, we present an overview of the complex biology of the TGFβ family, and we discuss the roles of TGFβ signaling in carcinogenesis and how this knowledge is being leveraged to develop TGFβ inhibition therapies against the tumor.

Regulators at Every Step-How microRNAs Drive Tumor Cell Invasiveness and Metastasis

Tumor cell invasiveness and metastasis are the main causes of mortality in cancer. Tumor progression is composed of many steps, including primary tumor growth, local invasion, intravasation, survival in the circulation, pre-metastatic niche formation, and metastasis. All these steps are strictly controlled by microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNA that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs can act as oncomiRs that promote tumor cell invasion and metastasis or as tumor suppressor miRNAs that inhibit tumor progression. These miRNAs regulate the actin cytoskeleton, the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) receptors including integrins and ECM-remodeling enzymes comprising matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), hence modulating cell migration and invasiveness. Moreover, miRNAs regulate angiogenesis, the formation of a pre-metastatic niche, and metastasis. Thus, miRNAs are biomarkers of metastases as well as promising targets of therapy. In this review, we comprehensively describe the role of various miRNAs in tumor cell migration, invasion, and metastasis.

Regulators at Every Step—How microRNAs Drive Tumor Cell Invasiveness and Metastasis

Tumor cell invasiveness and metastasis are the main causes of mortality in cancer. Tumor progression is composed of many steps, including primary tumor growth, local invasion, intravasation, survival in the circulation, pre-metastatic niche formation, and metastasis. All these steps are strictly controlled by microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNA that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs can act as oncomiRs that promote tumor cell invasion and metastasis or as tumor suppressor miRNAs that inhibit tumor progression. These miRNAs regulate the actin cytoskeleton, the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) receptors including integrins and ECM-remodeling enzymes comprising matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and regulate epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), hence modulating cell migration and invasiveness. Moreover, miRNAs regulate angiogenesis, the formation of a pre-metastatic niche, and metastasis. Thus, miRNAs are biomarkers of metastases as well as promising targets of therapy. In this review, we comprehensively describe the role of various miRNAs in tumor cell migration, invasion, and metastasis.

Post-translational Modification of OTULIN Regulates Ubiquitin Dynamics and Cell Death

Linear ubiquitination has emerged as an important post-translational modification that regulates NF-κB activation, inflammation, and cell death in both immune and non-immune compartments, including the skin. The deubiquitinase OTULIN specifically disassembles linear ubiquitin chains generated by the linear ubiquitin assembly complex (LUBAC) and is necessary to prevent embryonic lethality and autoinflammatory disease. Here, we dissect the direct role of OTULIN in cell death and find that OTULIN limits apoptosis and necroptosis in keratinocytes. During apoptosis, OTULIN is cleaved by capase-3 at Asp-31 into a C-terminal fragment that restricts caspase activation and cell death. During necroptosis, OTULIN is hyper-phosphorylated at Tyr-56, which modulates RIPK1 ubiquitin dynamics and promotes cell death. OTULIN Tyr-56 phosphorylation is counteracted by the activity of dual-specificity phosphatase 14 (DUSP14), which we identify as an OTULIN phosphatase that limits necroptosis. Our data provide evidence of dynamic post-translational modifications of OTULIN and highlight their importance in cell death outcome.

Role of exosomes in malignant glioma: microRNAs and proteins in pathogenesis and diagnosis

Malignant gliomas are the most common and deadly type of central nervous system tumors. Despite some advances in treatment, the mean survival time remains only about 1.25 years. Even after surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, gliomas still have a poor prognosis. Exosomes are the most common type of extracellular vesicles with a size range of 30 to 100 nm, and can act as carriers of proteins, RNAs, and other bioactive molecules. Exosomes play a key role in tumorigenesis and resistance to chemotherapy or radiation. Recent evidence has shown that exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) can be detected in the extracellular microenvironment, and can also be transferred from cell to cell via exosome secretion and uptake. Therefore, many recent studies have focused on exosomal miRNAs as important cellular regulators in various physiological and pathological conditions. A variety of exosomal miRNAs have been implicated in the initiation and progression of gliomas, by activating and/or inhibiting different signaling pathways. Exosomal miRNAs could be used as therapeutic agents to modulate different biological processes in gliomas. Exosomal miRNAs derived from mesenchymal stem cells could also be used for glioma treatment. The present review summarizes the exosomal miRNAs that have been implicated in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of gliomas. Moreover, exosomal proteins could also be involved in glioma pathogenesis. Exosomal miRNAs and proteins could also serve as non-invasive biomarkers for prognosis and disease monitoring. Video Abstract.

Identification of Susceptibility Loci for Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

Importance

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), an idiopathic disorder that predominantly affects young to middle-aged women, has emerged as an important cause of acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death.

Objective

To identify common single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) associated with SCAD susceptibility.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This single-center genome-wide association study examined approximately 5 million genotyped and imputed SNVs and subsequent SNV-targeted replication analysis results in individuals enrolled in the Mayo Clinic SCAD registry from August 30, 2011, to August 2, 2018. Data analysis was performed from June 21, 2017, to December 30, 2019.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Genetic loci and positional candidate genes associated with SCAD.

Results

This study included 484 white women with SCAD (mean [SD] age, 46.6 [9.2] years) and 1477 white female controls in the discovery cohort (mean [SD] age, 64.0 [14.5] years) and 183 white women with SCAD (mean [SD] age, 47.1 [9.9] years) and 340 white female controls in the replication cohort (mean [SD] age, 51.0 [15.3] years). Associations with SCAD risk reached genome-wide significance at 3 loci (1q21.3 [OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.51-2.09; P = 2.63 × 10-12], 6p24.1 [OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.51-2.09; P = 7.09 × 10-12], and 12q13.3 [OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.42-1.97; P = 3.62 × 10-10]), and 7 loci had evidence suggestive of an association (1q24.2 [OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.58-2.79; P = 2.88 × 10-7], 3q22.3 [OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.26-1.71; P = 6.65 × 10-7], 4q34.3 [OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.44-2.35; P = 9.80 × 10-7], 8q24.3 [OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.76-3.75; P = 9.65 × 10-7], 15q21.1 [OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.40-2.18; P = 7.23 × 10-7], 16q24.1 [OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.49-2.44; P = 2.56 × 10-7], and 21q22.11 [OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.59-2.82; P = 3.12 × 10-7]) after adjusting for the top 5 principal components. Associations were validated for 5 of the 10 risk alleles in the replication cohort. In a meta-analysis of the discovery and replication cohorts, associations for the 5 SNVs were significant, with relatively large effect sizes (1q21.3 [OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.54-2.03; P = 3.26 × 10-16], 6p24.1 [OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.49-1.97; P = 4.59 × 10-14], 12q13.3 [OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.47-1.94; P = 1.42 × 10-13], 15q21.1 [OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.48-2.17; P = 2.12 × 10-9], and 21q22.11 [OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.70-2.81; P = 1.09 × 10-9]). Each index SNV was within or near a gene highly expressed in arterial tissue and previously linked to SCAD (PHACTR1) and/or other vascular disorders (LRP1, LINC00310, and FBN1).

Conclusions and Relevance

This study revealed 5 replicated risk loci and positional candidate genes for SCAD, most of which are associated with extracoronary arteriopathies. Moreover, the alternate alleles of 3 SNVs have been previously associated with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, further implicating allelic susceptibility to coronary artery atherosclerosis vs dissection.

MicroRNA Regulatory Pathways in the Control of the Actin-Myosin Cytoskeleton

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key modulators of post-transcriptional gene regulation in a plethora of processes, including actin-myosin cytoskeleton dynamics. Recent evidence points to the widespread effects of miRNAs on actin-myosin cytoskeleton dynamics, either directly on the expression of actin and myosin genes or indirectly on the diverse signaling cascades modulating cytoskeletal arrangement. Furthermore, studies from various human models indicate that miRNAs contribute to the development of various human disorders. The potentially huge impact of miRNA-based mechanisms on cytoskeletal elements is just starting to be recognized. In this review, we summarize recent knowledge about the importance of microRNA modulation of the actin-myosin cytoskeleton affecting physiological processes, including cardiovascular function, hematopoiesis, podocyte physiology, and osteogenesis.

Fluctuating expression of miR-584 in primary and high-grade gastric cancer

Background

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Along with environmental factors, such as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, genetic changes play important roles in gastric tumor formations. miR-584 is a less well-characterized microRNA (miRNA), with apparent activity in human cancers. However, miR-584 expression pattern in gastric cancer development has remained unclear. This study aims to analyze the expression of miR-584 in gastric cancer samples and investigates the associations between this miRNA and H. pylori infection and clinical characteristics.

Methods

The expression level of miR-584 was studied in primary gastric cancers versus healthy control gastric mucosa samples using the RT-qPCR method. The clinical data were analyzed statistically in terms of miR-584 expression. In silico studies were employed to study miR-584 more broadly in order to assess its expression and find new potential target genes.

Results

Both experimental and in silico studies showed up-regulation of miR-584 in patients with gastric cancer. This up-regulation seems to be induced by H. pylori infection since the infected samples showed increased levels of miR-584 expression. Deeper analyses revealed that miR-584 undergoes a dramatic down-regulation in late stages, invasive and lymph node-metastatic gastric tumors. Bioinformatics studies demonstrated that miR-584 has a substantial role in cancer pathways and has the potential to target STAT1 transcripts. Consistent with the inverse correlation between TCGA RNA-seq data of miR-584 and STAT1 transcripts, the qPCR analysis showed a significant negative correlation between these two RNAs in a set of clinical samples.

Conclusion

miR-584 undergoes up-regulation in the stage of primary tumor formation; however, becomes down-regulated upon the progression of gastric cancer. These findings suggest the potential of miR-584 as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer.

Associations between PHACTR1 gene polymorphisms and pulse pressure in Chinese Han population

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) in Chinese twins was performed to explore associations between genes and pulse pressure (PP) in 2012, and detected a suggestive association in the phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) gene on chromosome 6p24.1 (rs1223397, P=1.04e⁻⁰⁷). The purpose of the present study was to investigate associations of PHACTR1 gene polymorphisms with PP in a Chinese population. We recruited 347 subjects with PP ≥ 65 mmHg as cases and 359 subjects with 30 ≤ PP ≤ 45 mmHg as controls. Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PHACTR1 gene were genotyped. Logistic regression was performed to explore associations between SNPs and PP in codominant, additive, dominant, recessive and overdominant models. The Pearson’s χ² test was applied to assess the relationships of haplotypes and PP. The A allele of rs9349379 had a positive effect on high PP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that rs9349379 was significantly related to high PP in codominant [AA vs GG, 2.255 (1.132–4.492)], additive [GG vs GA vs AA, 1.368 (1.049–1.783)] and recessive [AA vs GA + GG, 2.062 (1.051–4.045)] models. The positive association between rs499818 and high PP was significant in codominant [AA vs GG, 3.483 (1.044–11.613)] and recessive [AA vs GG + GA, 3.716 (1.119–12.339)] models. No significant association of haplotypes with PP was detected. There was no significant interaction between six SNPs without strong linkage. In conclusion, the present study presents that rs9349379 and rs499818 in the PHACTR1 gene were significantly associated with PP in Chinese population. Future research should be conducted to confirm them.

High Expression of the SH3TC2-DT/SH3TC2 Gene Pair Associated With FLT3 Mutation and Poor Survival in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: An Integrated TCGA Analysis

Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutation is one of the most common mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the effect of FLT3 mutation on survival is currently still controversial and the leukemogenic mechanisms are still under further investigation. The aim of our study is to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in FLT3-mutant AML and to find crucial DEGs whose expression level is related to prognosis for further analysis. By mining the TCGA-LAML dataset, 619 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and 1,428 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were identified between FLT3-mutant and FLT3-wildtype samples. Through weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and the following Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, we constructed the prognostic risk models to identify the hub DElncRNAs and DEmRNAs associated with AML prognosis. The presence of both SH3TC2 divergent transcript (SH3TC2-DT) and SH3TC2 in respective prognostic risk models promotes us to further study the significance of this gene pair in AML. SH3TC2-DT and SH3TC2 were identified to be coordinately high expressed in FLT3-mutant AML samples. High expression of this gene pair was associated with poor survival. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that high SH3TC2-DT/SH3TC2 expression was associated with FLT3 mutation, high WBC count, and intermediate cytogenetic and molecular–genetic risk. AML with SH3TC2-DT/SH3TC2 high expression showed enrichment of transcripts associated with stemness, quiescence, and leukemogenesis. Our study suggests that the SH3TC2-DT/SH3TC2 gene pair may be a possible biomarker to further optimize AML prognosis and may function in stemness or quiescence of FLT3-mutant leukemic stem cells (LSCs).

Key Regulatory miRNAs and their Interplay with Mechanosensing and Mechanotransduction Signaling Pathways in Breast Cancer Progression

According to the WHO, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Identification of underlying mechanisms in breast cancer progression is the main concerns of researches. The mechanical forces within the tumor microenvironment, in addition to biochemical stimuli such as different growth factors and cytokines, activate signaling cascades, resulting in various changes in cancer cell physiology. Cancer cell proliferation, invasiveness, migration, and, even, resistance to cancer therapeutic agents are changed due to activation of mechanotransduction signaling. The mechanotransduction signaling is frequently dysregulated in breast cancer, indicating its important role in cancer cell features. So far, a variety of experimental investigations have been conducted to determine the main regulators of the mechanotransduction signaling. Currently, the role of miRNAs has been well-defined in the cancer process through advances in molecular-based approaches. miRNAs are small groups of RNAs (∼22 nucleotides) that contribute to various biological events in cells. The central role of miRNAs in the regulation of various mediators involved in the mechanotransduction signaling has been well clarified over the last decade. Unbalanced expression of miRNAs is associated with different pathologic conditions. Overexpression and downregulation of certain miRNAs were found to be along with dysregulation of mechanotransduction signaling effectors. This study aimed to critically review the role of miRNAs in the regulation of mediators involved in the mechanosensing pathways and clarify how the cross-talk between miRNAs and their targets affect the cell behavior and physiology of breast cancer cells.

miRNA Expression Profiles and Potential as Biomarkers in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease

Pulmonary disease (PD) due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is increasing globally, but specific biomarkers for NTM-PD have not been established. As circulating miRNAs are promising biomarkers for various diseases, we investigated whether miRNAs have potential as NTM-PD biomarkers. Sera from 12 NTM-PD patients due to Mycobacterium avium, M. intracellulare, M. abscessus, or M. massiliense and three healthy controls were initially evaluated via small RNA sequencing. Multiple miRNAs showed significant differences in expression in patients compared to in healthy controls, with some expression differences unique to PD caused by a specific mycobacterial species. Notably, 14 miRNAs exhibited significant expression differences in PD associated with all four mycobacteria. Validation by quantitative reverse-transcription-PCR in an additional 40 patients with NTM-PD and 40 healthy controls confirmed that four differentially expressed miRNAs (hsa-miR-484, hsa-miR-584-5p, hsa-miR-625-3p, and hsa-miR-4732-5p) showed significantly higher serum expressions in NTM-PD patients than in controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of these four miRNAs supported the discriminative potential for NTM-PD and their combination provided an improved diagnostic value for NTM-PD. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis revealed their 125 target genes, which were mostly associated with immune responses. Collectively, this study identified four miRNAs as potential biomarkers for NTM-PD and provided insight into NTM-PD pathophysiology.

Hsa-miR-584-5p as a novel candidate biomarker in Turkish men with severe coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is still the preliminary cause of mortality and morbidity in the developed world. Identification of novel predictive and therapeutic biomarkers is crucial for accurate diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of the CAD. The aim of this study was to detect novel candidate miRNA biomarker that may be used in the management of CAD. We performed miRNA profiling in whole blood samples of angiographically confirmed Turkish men with CAD and non-CAD controls with insignificant coronary stenosis. Validation of microarray results was performed by qRT-PCR in a larger cohort of 62 samples. We subsequently assessed the diagnostic value of the miRNA and correlations of miRNA with clinical parameters. miRNA-target identification and network analyses were conducted by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software. Hsa-miR-584-5p was one of the top significantly dysregulated miRNA observed in miRNA microarray. Men-specific down-regulation (p = 0.040) of hsa-miR-584-5p was confirmed by qRT-PCR. ROC curve analysis highlighted the potential diagnostic value of hsa-miR-584-5p with a power area under the curve (AUC) of 0.714 and 0.643 in men and in total sample, respectively. The expression levels of hsa-miR-584-5p showed inverse correlation with stenosis and Gensini scores. IPA revealed CDH13 as the only CAD related predicted target for the miRNA with biological evidence of its involvement in CAD. This study suggests that hsa-miR-584-5p, known to be tumor suppressor miRNA, as a candidate biomarker for CAD and highlighted its putative role in the CAD pathogenesis. The validation of results in larger samples incorporating functional studies warrant further research.

MicroRNAs in breast cancer: Roles, functions, and mechanism of actions

Breast cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies in women in the world. Various factors are involved in the development and promotion of the malignancy; most of them involve changes in the expression of certain genes, such as microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs can regulate signaling pathways negatively or positively, thereby affecting tumorigenesis and various aspects of cancer progression, particularly breast cancer. Besides, accumulating data demonstrated that miRNAs are a novel tool for prognosis and diagnosis of breast cancer patients. Herein, we will review the roles of these RNA molecules in several important signaling pathways, such as transforming growth factor, Wnt, Notch, nuclear factor-κ B, phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt, and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase/mitogen activated protein kinase signaling pathways in breast cancer.

The role of inflammation and its related microRNAs in breast cancer: A narrative review

Breast cancer is recognized as the most common type of cancer among women with a high rate of mortality all over the world. Over the past years, growing attention has been regarded to realize more about the mechanisms underlying the disease process. It is revealed that the progression of breast cancer may be strongly linked to chronic inflammation owing to the role of inflammatory factors in genetic instability and subsequent cancer predisposition. Although the association between breast cancer and inflammatory pathways has been well-defined now, only recent evidence pointed towards the inflammation-related microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets involved in the crosstalk of multiple pathways during breast cancer development. Moreover, the practical interactions between these miRNAs and inflammatory factors are also a little characterized. In this review, we intended to describe the effects of predominant inflammatory pathways such as cytokines, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B, and nuclear factor kappa B in association with tumor promoting and tumor suppressing miRNAs on breast cancer progression. Providing new studies in the field of combining biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring breast cancer are very important. Notably, understanding the underlying mechanisms of miRNAs as a possible link between inflammation and tumorigenesis may offer a novel insight for combating this epidemic.

PHACTR1 gene polymorphism with the risk of coronary artery disease in Chinese Han population

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most frequent multifactorial disease worldwide and is characterised by endothelial injury, lipid deposition and coronary artery calcification. The purpose of this study was to determine the allelic and genotypic frequencies of two loci (rs2026458 and rs9349379) of phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) to the risk of developing CAD in the Chinese Han population.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted including 332 patients with CAD and 119 controls. Genotype analysis was performed by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Genetic model analysis was performed to evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms and CAD susceptibility using Pearson's χ² test and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The GG genotype of rs9349379 represented 50% and 29% of patients with CAD and controls, respectively (p<0.001). The CC genotype of rs2026458 was more prevalent in the controls than in patients with CAD compared with TT genotype (OR=0.548, 95% CI 0.351 to 0.856, p=0.008). Logistic regression analyses revealed that PHACTR1 rs9349379 GG genotype was significantly associated with increased risk of CAD in the recessive model (OR=2.359, 95% CI 1.442 to 3.862, p=0.001), even after adjusting for age gender, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and smoking habit. Heterogeneity test proved that rs9349379's risk effects on CAD were more significant among women.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicate that the PHACTR1 rs9349379 polymorphism is associated with the increased risk for CAD in the female Chinese Han population.

Phosphatase Actin Regulator-1 (PHACTR-1) Knockdown Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Migration and Promotes Cell Apoptosis in the bEnd.3 Mouse Brain Capillary Endothelial Cell Line

BACKGROUND The phosphatase actin regulator-1 (PHACTR-1) gene on chromosome 6 encodes an actin and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) binding protein, Phactr-1, which is highly expressed in brain tissues. Phactr-1 expression is involved in physiological and pathological cerebral microvascular events. This study aimed to investigate the role of expression of Phactr-1 in a mouse brain capillary endothelial cell line, bEnd.3, by knockdown the PHACTR-1 gene. MATERIAL AND METHODS Three bEnd.3 cell groups were studied, CON (normal control cells), NC (control scramble transfected cells), and KD (cells with PHACTR-1 gene knockdown). The PHACTR-1 gene was knocked down using transfection with small hairpin RNA (shRNA). In the three cell groups cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were studied by MTT and colony formation assays, transwell and scratch assays, and flow cytometry. The related cell pathways of associated with Phactr-1 knockdown were studied by Western blot. RESULTS Phactr-1 knockdown suppressed bEnd.3 cell proliferation and migration, promoted cell apoptosis, and downregulated the expressions of migration-associated proteins, including matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 and upregulated apoptosis-associated proteins, including Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, and caspase-3. CONCLUSIONS Phactr-1 was shown to have a role in the inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation and migration, promoted cell apoptosis, and regulated matrix metalloproteinases and apoptosis-associated proteins. These findings indicate that the expression of the Phactr-1 should be studied further in the cerebral microvasculature, both in vitro and in vivo, regarding its potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for cerebral microvascular disease.

miR‑584‑5p regulates migration and invasion in non‑small cell lung cancer cell lines through regulation of MMP‑14

An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are involved in cancer progression. In 2010, an estimated 1,500,000 patients suffered mortality from lung cancer (LC) worldwide, and ~80% of LC patients were diagnosed with non‑small‑cell lung cancer (NSCLC). miR‑584‑5p was reported to be a potential biomarker in the diagnosis of LC; in addition, miR‑584 was recently observed to suppress the progression of thyroid carcinoma, glioma and gastric cancer. However, the specific function of miR‑584‑5p in NSCLC remains unclear. In the present study, miR‑584‑5p was decreased in the tumor tissues of NSCLC patients. Furthermore, miR‑584‑5p markedly inhibited the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. The direct regulatory association between miR‑584‑5p and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‑14 was verified by a luciferase reporter gene assay. Furthermore, the results indicated that miR‑584‑5p inhibited the expression of MMP‑14 at the protein and mRNA levels. miR‑584‑5p also inhibited the expression of MMP‑4 and Slug, which are involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. Taken together, these results indicated that the miR‑584‑5p/MMP‑14 axis may serve as an anticancer target in the treatment of NSCLC patients.

FLI1 Exonic Circular RNAs as a Novel Oncogenic Driver to Promote Tumor Metastasis in Small Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE

The aberrantly upregulated Friend leukemia virus integration 1 (FLI1) is closely correlated with the malignant phenotype of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). It is interesting to note that the CRISPR gene knockout by Cas9 gRNAs that target the FLI1 coding region and the posttranscriptional knockdown by shRNAs that target the 3' region of FLI1 mRNA yielded distinct antimetastasis effects in SCLC cells. This study attempts to examine if FLI1 exonic circular RNAs (FECR) function as a new malignant driver that determines the metastatic phenotype in SCLC.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The clinical relevance of FECRs was examined in 56 primary SCLC tissues and 50 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues. The prognostic value of FECRs was examined by measuring serum exosomal FECRs in a longitudinal cohort of patients with SCLC. The oncogenic activity of FECRs was investigated in both SCLC cell lines and animal xenograft studies. Finally, we explored the molecular mechanisms underlying these noncoding RNAs as a malignant driver.

RESULTS

Therapeutic comparison of CRISPR Cas9 knockout and shRNA knockdown of FLI1 identified FECRs as a new noncanonical malignant driver in SCLC. Using RNA FISH and quantitative PCR, we found that FECR1 (exons 4-2-3) and FECR2 (exons 5-2-3-4) were aberrantly upregulated in SCLC tissues (P < 0.0001), and was positively associated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). Notably, serum exosomal FECR1 was associated with poor survival (P = 0.038) and clinical response to chemotherapy. Silencing of FECRs significantly inhibited the migration in two highly aggressive SCLC cell lines and reduced tumor metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, we uncovered that FECRs sequestered and subsequently inactivated tumor suppressor miR584-3p, leading to the activation of the Rho Associated Coiled-Coil Containing Protein Kinase 1 gene (ROCK1).

CONCLUSIONS

This study identifies FLI1 exonic circular RNAs as a new oncogenic driver that promotes tumor metastasis through the miR584-ROCK1 pathway. Importantly, serum exosomal FECR1 may serve as a promising biomarker to track disease progression of SCLC.

Expression and purification of human phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) in plant-based systems

Cardiovascular diseases are a prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality especially in industrialized countries. The human phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) may be involved in such diseases, but its precise regulatory function remains unclear due to the large number of potential interaction partners. The same phenomenon makes this protein difficult to express in mammalian cells, but it is also an intrinsically disordered protein that likely aggregates when expressed in bacteria due to the absence of chaperones. We therefore used a design of experiments approach to test the suitability of three plant-based systems for the expression of satisfactory quantities of recombinant PHACTR1, namely transient expression in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) BY-2 plant cell packs (PCPs), whole N. benthamiana leaves and BY-2 cell lysate (BYL). The highest yield was achieved using the BYL: up to 120 mg product kg-1 biomass equivalent within 48 h of translation. This was 1.3-fold higher than transient expression in N. benthamiana together with the silencing inhibitor p19, and 6-fold higher than the PCP system. The presence of Triton X-100 in the extraction buffer increased the recovery of PHACTR1 by 2-200-fold depending on the conditions. PHACTR1 was incompatible with biomass blanching and was stable for less than 16 h in raw plant extracts. Purification using a DDK-tag proved inefficient whereas 15% purity was achieved by immobilized metal affinity chromatography.

Exosomes derived from microRNA-584 transfected mesenchymal stem cells: novel alternative therapeutic vehicles for cancer therapy

Exosomes are small membranous vesicles which contain abundant RNA molecules, and are transferred from releasing cells to uptaking cells. MicroRNA (miRNA) is one of the transferred molecules affecting the adopted cells, including glioma cells. We hypothesized that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can secrete exosomes loading miRNA and have important effects on the progress of gliomas. To determine these effects by treating exosomal miRNA in culture media of miRNA mimic transfected MSCs, we assessed the in vitro cell proliferation and invasion capabilities, and the expression level of relative proteins associated with cell apoptosis, growth and migration. For animal studies, the mice injected with U87 cells were exposed to exosomes derived from miRNA-584-5p transfected MSCs, to confirm the influence of exosomal miRNA on the progress of glioma. Based on our results, we propose a new targeted cancer therapy wherein exosomes derived from miRNA transfected MSCs could be used to modulate tumor progress as the anticancer vehicles.

MicroRNA Control of TGF-β Signaling

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation shapes the transcriptome and proteome changes induced by various cellular signaling cascades. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs that are approximately 22 nucleotides long, which direct the post-transcriptional regulation of diverse target genes and control cell states. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family is a multifunctional cytokine family, which plays many regulatory roles in the development and pathogenesis of diverse diseases, including fibrotic disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Previous studies have shown that the TGF-β pathway includes the miRNA pathway as an important component of its downstream signaling cascades. Multiple studies of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related miRNAs have highlighted that miRNAs constitute the intrinsic bistable molecular switches of cell states by forming double negative feedback loops with EMT-inducing transcription factors. This may be important for understanding the reversibility of EMT at the single-cell level, the presence of distinct EMT transition states and the intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity of cancer cell phenotypes. In the present review, I summarize the connection between TGF-β signaling and the miRNA pathway, placing particular emphasis on the regulation of miRNA expression by TGF-β signaling, the modulation of TGF-β signaling by miRNAs, the miRNA-mediated modulation of EMT and endothelial–mesenchymal transition as well as the crosstalk between miRNA and TGF-β pathways in the tumor microenvironment.

The Long (lncRNA) and Short (miRNA) of It: TGFβ-Mediated Control of RNA-Binding Proteins and Noncoding RNAs

RNA-binding proteins (RBP) and noncoding RNAs (ncRNA), such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) and microRNAs (miRNA), control co- and posttranscriptional gene regulation (PTR). At the PTR level, RBPs and ncRNAs contribute to pre-mRNA processing, mRNA maturation, transport, localization, turnover, and translation. Deregulation of RBPs and ncRNAs promotes the onset of cancer progression and metastasis. Both RBPs and ncRNAs are altered by signaling cascades to cooperate or compete with each other to bind their nucleic acid targets. Most importantly, transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) signaling plays a significant role in controlling gene expression patterns by targeting RBPs and ncRNAs. Because of TGFβ signaling in cancer, RBP-RNA or RNA-RNA interactions are altered and cause enhanced cell growth and tumor cell dissemination. This review focuses on the emerging concepts of TGFβ signaling on posttranscriptional gene regulation and highlights the implications of RBPs and ncRNAs in cancer progression and metastasis. Mol Cancer Res; 16(4); 567-79. ©2018 AACR.

TWIST1/miR-584/TUSC2 pathway induces resistance to apoptosis in thyroid cancer cells

TWIST1, a transcription factor, plays a pivotal role in cancer initiation and progression. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the deadliest human malignancies; TWIST1 is overexpressed in ATC and increases thyroid cancer cell survival, migration and invasion. The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of TWIST1 are partially known. Here, using miRNome profiling of papillary thyroid cancer cells (TPC-1) ectopically expressing TWIST1, we identified miR-584. We showed that TWIST1 directly binds miR-584 using chromatin immunoprecipitation. Importantly, miR-584 was up-regulated in human ATC compared to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and normal thyroid samples. Overexpression of miR-584 in TPC cells induced resistance to apoptosis, whereas stable transfection of anti-miR-584 in TPC-TWIST1 and 8505C cells increased the sensitivity to apoptosis. Using bioinformatics programs, we identified TUSC2 (tumor suppressor candidate 2) as a novel target of miR-584. TUSC2 mRNA and protein levels were decreased in TPC miR-584 and increased in TPC-TWIST1 anti-miR-584 cells. Luciferase assays demonstrated direct targeting. Restored expression of TUSC2 rescued the inhibition of apoptosis induced by miR-584. Finally, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis showed that TUSC2 was down-regulated in ATC and PTC samples compared to normal thyroids. In conclusion, our study identified a novel TWIST1/miR-584/TUSC2 pathway that plays a role in resistance to apoptosis of thyroid cancer cells.

Differential expression of TGFβ isoforms in breast cancer highlights different roles during breast cancer progression

While TGFβ plays a critical role in tumor formation and progression, the role and contribution of its three different isoforms remain unclear. In this study, we aimed at elucidating the prognostic value of the TGFβ isoforms and assessed their expression levels in breast cancer patients at different stages of the disease. We found higher levels of TGFβ1 and TGFβ3 in cancer patients compared to normal tissues, with no significant changes in TGFβ2 expression. Similarly, TGFβ1 and TGFβ3, but not TGFβ2, showed higher expression levels in advanced lymph node-positive and metastatic tumors, suggesting different roles for the different isoforms in tumor progression and the metastatic process, while in the least aggressive molecular subtype (luminal A), expression of the three TGFβ isoforms significantly correlated with expression of both TGFβ receptors, such correlation only occurred between TGFβ1 and TGFβ3 and the TGFβ type II receptor (TβRII) in the highly aggressive basal-like subtype. Interestingly, a distinct and somehow opposite pattern was observed in HER-2 tumors, only showing significant association pattern between TGFβ2 and the TGFβ type I receptor (TβRI). Finally, the three TGFβ isoforms showed distinct association patterns with patient outcome depending on the different molecular subtype, highlighting context-dependent, differential prognostic values.

Bioinformatics facilitating the use of microarrays to delineate potential miRNA biomarkers in aristolochic acid nephropathy

Aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) is a rapidly progressive acute or chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). The present study attempted to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the miRNA-directed development of AAN. Our differentially expressed analysis identified 11 DE-miRNAs and retrieved the target genes of these DE-miRNAs; then, network analysis and functional analysis further identified 6 DE-miRNAs (has-miR-192, has-miR-194, has-miR-542-3p, has-miR-450a, has-miR-584, has-miR-33a) as phenotypic biomarkers of AAN. Surprisingly, of has-miR-192 has been reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of AAN, and has-miR-194, has-miR-542-3p and has-miR-450a was first-time identified to link to the development of AAN. In addition, the expressional changes of has-miR-584 and has-miR-33a may be associated with the development of AAN as well, which must be further confirmed by the associated experiments. Taken together, our work reveals for the first time the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in the development of AAN and this will contribute to miRNA-based diagnosis and treatment of AAN.

Transforming Growth Factor-beta Regulation of Ephrin Type-A Receptor 4 Signaling in Breast Cancer Cellular Migration

Breast cancer consists of a range of tumor subtypes with different clinical characteristics, disease prognosis, and treatment-response. Luminal breast cancer has the best prognosis while basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) represents the worst subtype. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) plays a prominent role in stimulating the migration and invasion of malignant breast cancer cells contributing to tumor progression. In this study, we identified the Ephrin type-A receptor 4 (EPHA4) as a novel target of TGFβ in breast cancer. Moreover, we show that TGFβ induction of EPHA4 gene expression is specific to basal-like tumors and is required for TGFβ-mediated cell migration. We further addressed the mechanism and found EPHA4 to be required for TGFβ-mediated cell migration in breast cancer through TGFβ-induced short term and long term activation of RhoGTPases. Finally, our data revealed a strong association between high EPHA4 expression and advanced tumor stage, aggressive BLBC molecular subtype and poor prognosis. Importantly, we found significant co-expression of EPHA4 and the TGFβ receptor type-2 (TGFβR2) in breast cancer subtypes associated with increased tumor relapse and drug resistance. Together, this study highlight the important role of the TGFβ/EPHA4 signaling axis in mediating tumor aggressiveness and poor patient survival in human breast cancer.

miRNA-584-3p inhibits gastric cancer progression by repressing Yin Yang 1- facilitated MMP-14 expression

Recent evidence shows the emerging roles of promoter-targeting endogenous microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating gene transcription. However, miRNAs affecting the transcription of matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP-14) in gastric cancer remain unknown. Herein, through integrative mining of public datasets, we identified the adjacent targeting sites of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) and miRNA-584-3p (miR-584-3p) within MMP-14 promoter. We demonstrated that YY1 directly targeted the MMP-14 promoter to facilitate its expression in gastric cancer cells. In contrast, miR-584-3p recognized its complementary site within MMP-14 promoter to suppress its expression. Mechanistically, miR-584-3p interacted with Argonaute 2 to recruit enhancer of zeste homolog 2 and euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase 2, resulting in enrichment of repressive epigenetic markers and decreased binding of YY1 to MMP-14 promoter. miR-584-3p inhibited the in vitro and in vivo tumorigenesis and aggressiveness of gastric cancer cells through repressing YY1-facilitated MMP-14 expression. In clinical gastric cancer tissues, the expression of YY1 and miR-584-3p was positively or negatively correlated with MMP-14 levels. In addition, miR-584-3p and YY1 were independent prognostic factors associated with favorable and unfavorable outcome of gastric cancer patients, respectively. These data demonstrate that miR-584-3p directly targets the MMP-14 promoter to repress YY1-facilitated MMP-14 expression and inhibits the progression of gastric cancer.

A microRNA signature associated with pathological complete response to novel neoadjuvant therapy regimen in triple-negative breast cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy aims to improve the outcome of breast cancer patients, but only few would benefit from this treatment. Pathological complete response has been proposed as a surrogate marker for the prediction of long-term clinical benefits; however, 50%-85% patients have an unfavorable pathological complete response to chemotherapy. MicroRNAs are known biomarkers of breast cancer progression; nevertheless, their potential to identify patients with pathological complete response remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether a microRNA profile could be associated with pathological complete response in triple-negative breast cancer patients receiving 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide-cisplatin/paclitaxel as a novel neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In the discovery cohort, the expression of 754 microRNAs was examined in tumors from 10 triple-negative breast cancer patients who achieved pathological complete response and 8 without pathological complete response using TaqMan Low-Density Arrays. Unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis identified 11 microRNAs with significant differences between responder and no-responder patients (fold change ≥ 1.5; p < 0.05). The differential expression of miR-30a, miR-9-3p, miR-770, and miR-143-5p was validated in an independent group of 17 patients with or without pathological complete response. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that expression of these four microRNAs was associated with an increased disease-free survival. Gene ontology classification of predicted microRNA targets indicated that numerous genes are involved in pathways related to chemoresistance, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, focal adhesion kinase, WNT, ERbB, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and AKT signaling. In summary, we identified a novel microRNA expression signature associated with pathological complete response in breast cancer. We propose that the four validated microRNAs could be used as molecular biomarkers of clinical response in triple-negative breast cancer patients with pathological complete response to neoadjuvant therapy.

How interacting pathways are regulated by miRNAs in breast cancer subtypes

BACKGROUND

An important challenge in cancer biology is to understand the complex aspects of the disease. It is increasingly evident that genes are not isolated from each other and the comprehension of how different genes are related to each other could explain biological mechanisms causing diseases. Biological pathways are important tools to reveal gene interaction and reduce the large number of genes to be studied by partitioning it into smaller paths. Furthermore, recent scientific evidence has proven that a combination of pathways, instead than a single element of the pathway or a single pathway, could be responsible for pathological changes in a cell.

RESULTS

In this paper we develop a new method that can reveal miRNAs able to regulate, in a coordinated way, networks of gene pathways. We applied the method to subtypes of breast cancer. The basic idea is the identification of pathways significantly enriched with differentially expressed genes among the different breast cancer subtypes and normal tissue. Looking at the pairs of pathways that were found to be functionally related, we created a network of dependent pathways and we focused on identifying miRNAs that could act as miRNA drivers in a coordinated regulation process.

CONCLUSIONS

Our approach enables miRNAs identification that could have an important role in the development of breast cancer.

MicroRNA-584-3p, a novel tumor suppressor and prognostic marker, reduces the migration and invasion of human glioma cells by targeting hypoxia-induced ROCK1

Here, we report that microRNA-584-3p (miR-584-3p) is up-regulated in hypoxic glioma cells and in high-grade human glioma tumors (WHO grades III–IV) relative to normoxic cells and to low-grade tumors (WHO grades I–II), respectively. The postoperative survival time was significantly prolonged in the high-grade glioma patients with high miR-584-3p expression compared with those with low miR-584-3p expression. miR-584-3p may function as a potent tumor suppressor and as a prognostic biomarker for malignant glioma. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these properties remain poorly understood. Our mechanistic studies revealed that miR-584-3p suppressed the migration and invasion of glioma cells by disrupting hypoxia-induced stress fiber formation. Specifically, we have found that ROCK1 is a direct and functionally relevant target of miR-584-3p in glioma cells. Our results have demonstrated a tumor suppressive function of miR-584-3p in glioma, in which it inhibits the migration and invasion of tumor cells by antagonizing hypoxia-induced, ROCK1-dependent stress fiber formation. Our findings have potential implications for glioma gene therapy and suggest that miR-584-3p could represent a prognostic indicator for glioma.

Possible role of intronic polymorphisms in the PHACTR1 gene on the development of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a complex multifactorial and polygenetic disease in which the interaction of numerous genes, genetic variants, and environmental factors plays a major role in its development. In an attempt to demonstrate the association between certain genetic variants and CVD, researchers have run large genomic wild association studies (GWAS) in recent decades. These studies have correlated several genomic variants with the presence of CVD. Recently, certain polymorphisms in the phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) gene have been shown to be associated with CVD (i.e., coronary artery disease, coronary artery calcification, early onset myocardial infarction, cervical artery dissection and hypertension) in different ethnic groups. It is important to state that all of the described PHACTR1 genetic variants associated with CVD are located in non-translating gene regions known as introns. Thus, the purpose of this article is to hypothesize the effect of certain intronic polymorphisms in the PHACTR1 gene on pathological processes in the cardiovascular system. In addition, we present compelling evidence that supports this hypothesis as well as a methodology that could be used to assess the allelic effect using in vitro and in vivo models, which will ultimately demonstrate the pathophysiological contribution of PHACTR1 intronic polymorphisms to the development of CVD.

A dual prognostic role for the TGFβ receptors in human breast cancer

The transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) plays a dual role in breast cancer, acting as a tumor suppressor in early carcinomas while promoting tumor metastasis in more advanced breast carcinoma. As a result, the prognostic role of TGFβ and its signaling components in breast cancer remains unclear. Here we evaluated the expression levels of TGFβ signaling receptors TβRII and TβRI using human breast cancer tissue microarrays and a large publicly available gene profiling database in relation to various clinicopathological parameters. Our results indicate that breast cancer tissues express lower TβRII and TβRI protein levels compared with normal breast tissue. In contrast to TβRI expression, TβRII mRNA expression levels were also significantly downregulated in invasive breast cancer compared with normal breast tissue (4.18-fold downregulation, P=9.3×10^-115). Interestingly, within the cancer cases analyzed, our results revealed a direct correlation between high TβRII and TβRI expression levels and classic poor prognostic clinicopathological parameters, including larger tumor size, advanced tumor stage, and poorly differentiated tumors. Next, we examined TGFβ receptors' expression in relation to breast cancer molecular subtypes. Importantly, our results revealed that whereas expression of TGFβ receptors in luminal A and triple-negative breast cancer showed no correlation with patient outcome, their expression in luminal B and HER2 subtypes showed significant association with favorable patient outcome. Together, these results indicate that although TGFβ receptors are downregulated in breast cancer, their expression in tumors is an indicator of aggressive breast cancer phenotype. Moreover, the relation between TGFβ pathway and patient outcome is breast cancer subtype dependent.

Construction of an initial microRNA regulation network in breast invasive carcinoma by bioinformatics analysis

INTRODUCTION

microRNAs (miRNA) are involved in many biological processes. They repress target gene expression and play a vital role in breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA). Although many miRNAs are identified to be aberrantly expressed in BRCA and deemed as tumor markers, only sporadic individual studies report their target genes and the pathways involved.

METHODS

miRNA and mRNA expression data were collected from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) pilot project. Aberrantly expressed miRNAs and mRNAs in BRCA were identified by comparing tumor samples with normal adjacent tissues. Differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs in different breast cancer subtypes were also analyzed. miRNA/target correlations were predicted by calculating the spearman correlation coefficients between miRNA and mRNA, and validated by luciferase assay.

RESULTS

31 up-regulated miRNAs, 37 down-regulated miRNAs, 1105 up-regulated mRNAs and 1222 down-regulated mRNAs were identified in BRCA; 125 miRNA/target correlations were predicted, 6 of them were validated. In addition, we also found 9 miRNAs and 143 mRNAs differently expressed between estrogen receptor positive and negative breast cancers, and 4 miRNAs and 46 mRNAs differently expressed between progesterone receptor positive and negative breast cancers. Twelve miRNA/target correlations determined the breast cancer subtypes.

CONCLUSION

We developed a new systematic analytic method for analyzing TCGA database, which took into account both miRNA and mRNA data to dissect the miRNA regulation network in BRCA.

MicroRNAs, TGF-β signaling, and the inflammatory microenvironment in cancer

Inflammatory cells and mediators form a major part of the tumor microenvironment and play important roles in the regulation of cancer initiation, tumor cell proliferation, and metastasis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in several physiological and pathological processes, including the regulation of the inflammatory microenvironment in cancer. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is an inflammation-related cytokine that functions in both tumor suppression and promotion; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Recent evidence indicates an association between miRNAs and TGF-β signaling, providing new insight into the nature of the inflammatory microenvironment in cancer. The present review is an overview of the interaction between miRNAs and inflammatory cytokines, with emphasis on the cross talk between TGF-β signaling and miRNAs and their influence on cancer cell behavior. The emerging roles of miRNAs in cancer-related inflammation and the potential to target miRNA signaling pathways for cancer therapy are also discussed.