The microRNA-200 family coordinately regulates cell adhesion and proliferation in hair morphogenesis

RNA regulatory mechanisms controlling TGF-β signaling and EMT in cancer

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a major contributor to metastatic progression and is prominently regulated by TGF-β signalling. Both EMT and TGF-β pathway components are tightly controlled by non-coding RNAs - including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) - that collectively have major impacts on gene expression and resulting cellular states. While miRNAs are the best characterised regulators of EMT and TGF-β signaling and the miR-200-ZEB1/2 feedback loop plays a central role, important functions for lncRNAs and circRNAs are also now emerging. This review will summarise our current understanding of the roles of non-coding RNAs in EMT and TGF-β signaling with a focus on their functions in cancer progression.

Comprehensive analysis of the expression profiles of mRNA, lncRNA, circRNA, and miRNA in primary hair follicles of coarse sheep fetal skin

BACKGROUND

The Qinghai Tibetan sheep, a local breed renowned for its long hair, has experienced significant deterioration in wool characteristics due to the absence of systematic breeding practices. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying follicle development in order to genetically enhance wool-related traits and safeguard the sustainable utilization of valuable germplasm resources. However, our understanding of the regulatory roles played by coding and non-coding RNAs in hair follicle development remains largely elusive.

RESULTS

A total of 20,874 mRNAs, 25,831 circRNAs, 4087 lncRNAs, and 794 miRNAs were annotated. Among them, we identified 58 DE lncRNAs, 325 DE circRNAs, 924 DE mRNAs, and 228 DE miRNAs during the development of medullary primary hair follicle development. GO and KEGG functional enrichment analyses revealed that the JAK-STAT, TGF-β, Hedgehog, PPAR, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway play crucial roles in regulating fibroblast and epithelial development during skin and hair follicle induction. Furthermore, the interactive network analysis additionally identified several crucial mRNA, circRNA, and lncRNA molecules associated with the process of primary hair follicle development. Ultimately, by investigating DEmir's role in the ceRNA regulatory network mechanism, we identified 113 circRNA-miRNA pairs and 14 miRNA-mRNA pairs, including IGF2BP1-miR-23-x-novel-circ-01998-MSTRG.7111.3, DPT-miR-370-y-novel-circ-005802-MSTRG.14857.1 and TSPEAR-oar-miR-370-3p-novel-circ-005802- MSTRG.10527.1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study offers novel insights into the distinct expression patterns of various transcription types during hair follicle morphogenesis, establishing a solid foundation for unraveling the molecular mechanisms that drive hair development and providing a scientific basis for selectively breeding desirable wool-related traits in this specific breed.

miRNA-200c-3p deficiency promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple-negative breast cancer by activating CRKL expression

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in malignant progression of Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Many studies have confirmed that miRNA-200c-3p is related to EMT. And we found that it is involved in the regulation of EMT, but the exact mechanism is unclear. CRKL is highly expressed in a variety of tumors and plays a role in EMT. In this study, the potential targets of miRNA-200c-3p were searched in miRPathDB, Targetscan and PicTar. And there are 68 potential targets at the intersection of the three databases. Then, bioinformatics and text mining performed by Coremine Medica, and found that among 68 potential targets, CRKL has the strongest correlation with EMT in TNBC. Therefore, we speculated that miRNA-200c-3p involvement in EMT might be related to CRKL. To verify miRNA-200c-3p inhibits the malignant phenotype of TNBC by regulating CRKL, RT‒PCR, western blotting, Clonal formation assays,CCK-8 proliferation assays, transwell invasion assays, Luciferase reporter assay and nude mouse transplantation tumor assay were performed. In this study, we found that miRNA-200c-3p is under-expressed and EMT-related genes are up-regulated in TNBC, and miRNA-200c-3p can inhibit cancer cell proliferation, invasion and the expression of EMT-related genes and proteins in TNBC. Further research confirmed that miRNA-200c-3p could inhibit EMT by inhibiting the expression of CRKL that directly combining CRKL gene.

Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling in breast cancer: Reciprocal regulation of microRNAs and implications in precision medicine

Breast cancer is a molecularly heterogeneous disease and the most common female malignancy. In recent years, therapy approaches have evolved to accommodate molecular diversity, with a focus on more biologically based therapies to minimize negative consequences. To regulate cell fate in human breast cells, the Hippo signaling pathway has been associated with the alpha subtype of estrogen receptors. This pathway regulates tissue size, regeneration, and healing, as well as the survival of tissue-specific stem cells, proliferation, and apoptosis in a variety of organs, allowing for cell differentiation. Hippo signaling is mediated by the kinases MST1, MST2, LATS1, and LATS2, as well as the adaptor proteins SAV1 and MOB. These kinases phosphorylate the downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, yes-associated protein (YAP), and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), suppressing the expression of their downstream target genes. The Hippo signaling pathway kinase cascade plays a significant role in all cancers. Understanding the principles of this kinase cascade would prevent the occurrence of breast cancer. In recent years, small noncoding RNAs, or microRNAs, have been implicated in the development of several malignancies, including breast cancer. The interconnections between miRNAs and Hippo signaling pathway core proteins in the breast, on the other hand, remain poorly understood. In this review, we focused on highlighting the Hippo signaling system, its key parts, its importance in breast cancer, and its regulation by miRNAs and other related pathways.

Whole-Genome Resequencing Reveals Genetic Diversity and Wool Trait-Related Genes in Liangshan Semi-Fine-Wool Sheep

Understanding the genetic makeup of local sheep breeds is essential for their scientific conservation and sustainable utilization. The Liangshan semi-fine-wool sheep (LSS), a Chinese semi-fine-wool breed renowned for its soft wool, was analyzed using whole-genome sequencing data including 35 LSS, 84 sheep from other domestic breeds, and 20 Asiatic mouflons. We investigated the genetic composition of LSS by conducting analyses of the population structure, runs of homozygosity, genomic inbreeding coefficients, and selection signature. Our findings indicated that LSS shares greater genetic similarity with Border Leicester and Romney sheep than with Tibetan (TIB), Yunnan (YNS), and Chinese Merino sheep. Genomic analysis indicated low to moderate inbreeding coefficients, ranging from 0.014 to 0.154. In identifying selection signals across the LSS genome, we pinpointed 195 candidate regions housing 74 annotated genes (e.g., IRF2BP2, BVES, and ALOX5). We also found the overlaps between the candidate regions and several known quantitative trait loci related to wool traits, such as the wool staple length and wool fiber diameter. A selective sweep region, marked by the highest value of cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity, encompassed IRF2BP2-an influential candidate gene affecting fleece fiber traits. Furthermore, notable differences in genotype frequency at a mutation site (c.1051 + 46T > C, Chr25: 6,784,190 bp) within IRF2BP2 were observed between LSS and TIB and YNS sheep (Fisher's exact test, p < 2.2 × 10-16). Taken together, these findings offer insights crucial for the conservation and breeding enhancement of LSS.

The Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Hair Regeneration and Hair Cycle

The health of hair is directly related to people's health and appearance. Hair has key physiological functions, including skin protection and temperature regulation. Hair follicle (HF) is a vital mini-organ that directly impacts hair growth. Besides, various signaling pathways and molecules regulate the growth cycle transition of HFs. Hair and its regeneration studies have attracted much interest in recent years with the increasing rate of alopecia. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as pluripotent stem cells, can differentiate into fat, bone, and cartilage and stimulate regeneration and immunological regulation. MSCs have been widely employed to treat various clinical diseases, such as bone and cartilage injury, nerve injury, and lung injury. Besides, MSCs can be used for treatment of hair diseases due to their regenerative and immunomodulatory abilities. This review aimed to assess MSCs' treatment for alopecia, pertinent signaling pathways, and new material for hair regeneration in the last 5 years.

Identification of Potential miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network Associated with Growth and Development of Hair Follicles in Forest Musk Deer

In this study, sRNA libraries and mRNA libraries of HFs of FMD were constructed and sequenced using an Illumina HiSeq 2500, and the expression profiles of miRNAs and genes in the HFs of FMD were obtained at the anagen and catagen stages. In total, 565 differentially expressed unigenes (DEGs) were identified, 90 of which were upregulated and 475 of which were downregulated. In the BP category of GO enrichment, the DEGs were enriched in the processes related to HF development and differentiation, including the hair cycle regulation and processes, HF development, skin epidermis development, regulation of HF development, skin development, the Wnt signaling pathway, and the BMP signaling pathway. Through KEGG analysis it was found that DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways associated with HF development and growth. A total of 186 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were screened (p < 0.05) in the HFs of FMD at the anagen stage vs. the catagen stage, 33 of which were upregulated and 153 of which were downregulated. Through DEmiRNA-mRNA association analysis, we found DEmiRNAs and target genes that mainly play regulatory roles in HF development and growth. The enrichment analysis of DEmiRNA target genes revealed similarities with the enrichment results of DEGs associated with HF development. Notably, both sets of genes were enriched in key pathways such as the Notch signaling pathway, melanogenesis, the cAMP signaling pathway, and cGMP-PKG. To validate our findings, we selected 11 DEGs and 11 DEmiRNAs for experimental verification using RT-qPCR. The results of the experimental validation were consistent with the RNA-Seq results.

Hypoxia mediates immune escape of pancreatic cancer cells by affecting miR-1275/AXIN2 in natural killer cells

Given the increasing incidence of pancreatic cancer and the low survival rate, the exploration of the complex tumor microenvironment and the development of novel treatment options is urgent. NK cells, known for their cytotoxic abilities and modulation of other immune cells, are vital in recognizing and killing cancer cells. However, hypoxic conditions in the tumor microenvironment have been found to impair NK cell functionality and contribute to tumor immune escape. Therefore, we aimed to uncover the mechanism through which hypoxia mediates the immune escape of pancreatic cancer cells, focusing on the influence of miR-1275/AXIN2 on NK cells. Using a combination of GEO dataset screening, Tumor Immune Estimation Resource 2.0 immunoscore screening, and the Cancer Genome Atlas data, we identified a correlation between miR-1275 and NK cells. The down-regulation of miR-1275 was associated with decreased NK cell activity and survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. Pathway analysis further linked miR-1275 expression with the hypoxic HIF1A pathway. In vitro experiments were conducted using the NK-92 cell, revealing that hypoxia significantly reduced miR-1275 expression and correspondingly decreased the cell-killing ability of NK cells. Upregulation of miR-1275 increased perforin, IFN-γ and TNF-α expression levels and enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity. Additionally, miR-1275 was found to bind to and inhibit AXIN2 expression, which when overexpressed, partially alleviated the promotive effect of upregulated miR-1275 on NK-92 cell killing ability. In conclusion, this research underscores the critical role of the miR-1275/AXIN2 axis in hypoxia-mediated immune escape in pancreatic cancer, thus opening new potential avenues for treatment strategies.

On the rules of engagement for microRNAs targeting protein coding regions

MiRNAs post-transcriptionally repress gene expression by binding to mRNA 3'UTRs, but the extent to which they act through protein coding regions (CDS regions) is less well established. MiRNA interaction studies show a substantial proportion of binding occurs in CDS regions, however sequencing studies show much weaker effects on mRNA levels than from 3'UTR interactions, presumably due to competition from the translating ribosome. Consequently, most target prediction algorithms consider only 3'UTR interactions. However, the consequences of CDS interactions may have been underestimated, with the reporting of a novel mode of miRNA-CDS interaction requiring base pairing of the miRNA 3' end, but not the canonical seed site, leading to repression of translation with little effect on mRNA turnover. Using extensive reporter, western blotting and bioinformatic analyses, we confirm that miRNAs can indeed suppress genes through CDS-interaction in special circumstances. However, in contrast to that previously reported, we find repression requires extensive base-pairing, including of the canonical seed, but does not strictly require base pairing of the 3' miRNA terminus and is mediated through reducing mRNA levels. We conclude that suppression of endogenous genes can occur through miRNAs binding to CDS, but the requirement for extensive base-pairing likely limits the regulatory impacts to modest effects on a small subset of targets.

Effect of Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 and an Interacting Non-Coding RNA on Secondary Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells in Cashmere Goats' Follicle Development Assessed by Whole-Transcriptome Sequencing Technology

Cashmere, a keratinised product of secondary hair follicles (SHFs) in cashmere goats, holds an important place in international high-end textiles. However, research on the complex molecular and signal regulation during the development and growth of hair follicles (HFs), which is essential for the development of the cashmere industry, is limited. Moreover, increasing evidence indicates that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) participate in HF development. Herein, we systematically investigated a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network mediated by circular RNAs (circRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in skin samples of cashmere goat embryos, using whole-transcriptome sequencing technology. We obtained 6468, 394, and 239 significantly differentially expressed mRNAs, circRNAs, and miRNAs, respectively. These identified RNAs were further used to construct a ceRNA regulatory network, mediated by circRNAs, for cashmere goats at a late stage of HF development. Among the molecular species identified, miR-184 and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 10 exhibited competitive targeted interactions. In secondary HF dermal papilla cells (SHF-DPCs), miR-184 promotes proliferation, inhibits apoptosis, and alters the cell cycle via the competitive release of FGF10. This study reports that FGF10 and its interaction with ncRNAs significantly affect SHF-DPCs, providing a reference for research on the biology of HFs in cashmere goats and other mammals.

Discovery and Functional Analysis of Secondary Hair Follicle miRNAs during Annual Cashmere Growth

Secondary hair follicles (SHFs) produce the thermoregulatory cashmere of goats. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play indispensable roles in hair follicle formation and growth. However, most studies examining miRNAs related to cashmere have been performed on goat skin. It remains unclear which miRNAs are highly expressed in SHFs or how miRNAs affect cashmere growth. In the present study, we isolated the SHFs under a dissecting microscope and analyzed the miRNA signatures during annual cashmere growth. Small-RNA sequencing followed by genome-wide expression analysis revealed that early anagen is a crucial phase for miRNA regulation of the cashmere growth, as revealed by two predominant groups of miRNAs. Although they exhibited opposite expression patterns, both groups demonstrated sharp changes of expression when in transit from early anagen to mid-anagen. In addition, we identified 96 miRNA signatures that were differentially expressed between different phases among 376 miRNAs. Functional analysis of the predicted target genes of highly expressed or differentially expressed miRNAs indicated that these miRNAs were involved in signal pathways associated with SHF development, regeneration, and regression. Furthermore, miR-143-3p was preferentially expressed in SHFs and Itga6 was identified as one of targets. The dual-luciferase and in situ hybridization assay demonstrated that miR-143-3p directly repressed the expression of Itga6, suggesting a possible novel role for miR-143-3p in cashmere growth.

Comparative Analysis of mRNA and miRNA Expression between Dermal Papilla Cells and Hair Matrix Cells of Hair Follicles in Yak

The interaction between the dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and epidermal hair matrix cells (HMCs) of hair follicles (HFs) is crucial for the growth and development of HFs, but the molecular mechanism is complex and remains unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the key signaling molecules for cellular communication. In this study, the DPCs and HMCs of yak were isolated and cultured, and the differentially expressed mRNA and miRNA were characterized to analyze the molecular basis of the interaction between DPCs and HMCs during hair follicle (HF) development in yak. The mRNA differential expression and functional enrichment analysis revealed that there were significant differences between DPCs and HMCs, and they showed the molecular functional characteristics of dermal cells and epidermal cells, respectively. Multiple KEGG pathways related to HF development were enriched in the highly expressed genes in DPCs, while the pathways associated with microbiota and immunity were significantly enriched in the highly expressed genes in HMCs. By combining analysis with our previous 10× genomics single-cell transcriptome data, 39 marker genes of DPCs of yak were identified. A total of 123 relatively specifically expressed miRNAs were screened; among these, the miRNAs associated with HF development such as miR-143, miR-214, miR-125b, miR-31, and miR-200 were presented. In conclusion, the large changes in yak DPCs and HMCs for both mRNA and miRNA expression were revealed, and numerous specifically expressed mRNAs and miRNAs in DPCs or HMCs were identified, which may contribute to the interaction and cellular communication between DPCs and HMCs during HF development in yak.

An integrative analysis of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA competitive endogenous RNA network reveals potential mechanisms in the murine hair follicle cycle

Alopecia is a common progressive disorder associated with abnormalities of the hair follicle cycle. Hair follicles undergo cyclic phases of hair growth (anagen), regression (catagen), and rest (telogen), which are precisely regulated by various mechanisms. However, the specific mechanism associated with hair follicle cycling, which includes noncoding RNAs and regulation of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, is still unclear. We obtained data from publicly available databases and performed real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction validations. These analyses revealed an increase in the expression of miRNAs and a decrease in the expression of target mRNAs and lncRNAs from the anagen to telogen phase of the murine hair follicle cycle. Subsequently, we constructed the ceRNA networks and investigated their functions using enrichment analysis. Furthermore, the androgenetic alopecia (AGA) microarray data analysis revealed that several novel alopecia-related genes were identified in the ceRNA networks. Lastly, GSPT1 expression was detected using immunohistochemistry. Our analysis revealed 11 miRNAs (miR-148a-3p, miR-146a-5p, miR-200a-3p, miR-30e-5p, miR-30a-5p, miR-27a-3p, miR-143-3p, miR-27b-3p, miR-126a-3p, miR-378a-3p, and miR-22-3p), 9 target mRNAs (Atp6v1a, Cdkn1a, Gadd45a, Gspt1, Mafb, Mitf, Notch1, Plk2, and Slc7a5), and 2 target lncRNAs (Neat1 and Tug1) were differentially expressed in hair follicle cycling. The ceRNA networks were made of 12 interactive miRNA-mRNA pairs and 13 miRNA-lncRNA pairs. The functional enrichment analysis revealed the enrichment of hair growth–related signaling pathways. Additionally, GSPT1 was downregulated in androgenetic alopecia patients, possibly associated with alopecia progression. The ceRNA network identified by our analysis could be involved in regulating the hair follicle cycle.

Interaction of miR-200a-3p with YAP regulates cell proliferation and metastasis differentially in HPV-positive and HPV-negative cervical cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Although evidence has revealed that miR-200a-3p is involved in the malignant progression of various tumors, the regulatory mechanism of miR-200a-3p in the development of cervical cancer (CC) cells with different HPV statuses remains unknown. The present study was to investigate the differential effects of either miR-200a-3p or YAP on tumorous cells' fate in vitro in HPV-negative and HPV-positive cervical cancer cell models, and to explore if the changes in proliferation, migration, and invasion of the CC cells with different HPV statuses could be attributed to the differential interactions between miR-200a-3p and YAP.

METHODS

The colony formation assays, EDU assays and Transwell assays were performed for CC cell proliferation, migration and invasion capacities analysis. The prediction of downstream targets of miR-200a-3p was performed by bioinformatical databases. The dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to validate the binding sites of miR-200a-3p and YAP. The qRT-PCR assays were performed to quantify the mRNA expression of miR-200a-3p and YAP, and the protein levels of YAP were examined by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that miR-200a-3p overexpression suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of the HPV-negative C33A cells but promoted the growth and metastasis of HPV-positive CC cells, while YAP promoted the cell growth and metastasis not only in HPV-negative but also in the HPV-positive CC cells. The suppressive role of miR-200a-3p in C33A cells appeared to be mediated partially by direct interaction with YAP, and YAP might participate in miR-200a-3p-mediated cellular changes in CC cells differing from not only the presence or absence of HPV but even also the subtypes of HPV of CC cells. Meanwhile, we preliminarily revealed that the expression level of miR-200a-3p was significantly decreased in HPV-negative, but not in HPV16-positive cervical neoplasm mucus samples.

CONCLUSION

miR-200a-3p-mediated functional changes of YAP exhibited regulatory effects on cells' fate differentially in HPV-negative and HPV-positive cervical cancer cells.

Comprehensive Transcriptome Analysis of Hair Follicle Morphogenesis Reveals That lncRNA-H19 Promotes Dermal Papilla Cell Proliferation through the Chi-miR-214-3p/β-Catenin Axis in Cashmere Goats

Cashmere is initiated and develops in the fetal stages and the number and density of secondary hair follicles (SHFs) determine cashmere production and quality. Growing evidence indicates that both microRNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) play an indispensable role in hair follicle (HF) growth and development. However, little is known about miRNAs, lncRNAs, and their functions as well as their interactions during cashmere initiation and development. Here, based on lncRNA and miRNA high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, we identified 10,485 lncRNAs, 40,639 mRNAs, and 605 miRNAs in cashmere goat skin during HF induction, organogenesis, and cytodifferentiation stages. Among them, 521 lncRNAs, 5976 genes, and 204 miRNAs were differentially expressed (DE). KEGG analysis of DE genes indicated that ECM–receptor interaction and biosynthesis of amino acids were crucial for HF development. Notch, TGF-beta, and Wnt signaling pathways were also identified, which are conventional pathways associated with HF growth and development. Then, the ceRNA regulatory network was constructed, and the impact of lncRNA H19 was investigated in dermal papilla (DP) cells. The MTT, CCK-8, and EdU assays showed that the viability and proliferation of DP cells were promoted by H19, and mechanistic studies suggested that H19 performed its function through the chi-miR-214-3p/β-catenin axis. The present study created a resource for lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA studies in cashmere morphogenesis. It could contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of ncRNAs involved in the regulation of HF growth and development.

Altered Regulation of mRNA and miRNA Expression in Epithelial and Stromal Tissue of Keratoconus Corneas

Purpose

Evaluation of mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) expression in epithelium and stroma of patients with keratoconus.

Methods

The epithelium and stroma of eight corneas of eight patients with keratoconus and eight corneas of eight non-keratoconus healthy controls were studied separately. RNA was extracted, and mRNA and miRNA analyses were performed using microarrays. Differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs in epithelial and stromal keratoconus samples compared to healthy controls were identified. Selected genes and miRNAs were further validated using RT-qPCR.

Results

We discovered 170 epithelial and 1498 stromal deregulated protein-coding mRNAs in KC samples. In addition, in epithelial samples 180 miRNAs and in stromal samples 379 miRNAs were significantly deregulated more than twofold compared to controls. Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of metabolic and axon guidance pathways for epithelial cells and enrichment of metabolic, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and focal adhesion pathways for stromal cells.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates significant differences in the expression and regulation of mRNAs and miRNAs in the epithelium and stroma of Patients with KC. Also, in addition to the well-known target candidates, we were able to identify further genes and miRNAs that may be associated with keratoconus. Signaling pathways influencing metabolic changes and cell contacts are affected in epithelial and stromal cells of patients with keratoconus.

Revisiting the miR-200 Family: A Clan of Five Siblings with Essential Roles in Development and Disease

Over two decades of studies on small noncoding RNA molecules illustrate the significance of microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) in controlling multiple physiological and pathological functions through post-transcriptional and spatiotemporal gene expression. Among the plethora of miRs that are essential during animal embryonic development, in this review, we elaborate the indispensable role of the miR-200 family (comprising miR-200a, -200b, 200c, -141, and -429) in governing the cellular functions associated with epithelial homeostasis, such as epithelial differentiation and neurogenesis. Additionally, in pathological contexts, miR-200 family members are primarily involved in tumor-suppressive roles, including the reversal of the cancer-associated epithelial–mesenchymal transition dedifferentiation process, and are dysregulated during organ fibrosis. Moreover, recent eminent studies have elucidated the crucial roles of miR-200s in the pathophysiology of multiple neurodegenerative diseases and tissue fibrosis. Lastly, we summarize the key studies that have recognized the potential use of miR-200 members as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancers, elaborating the application of these small biomolecules in aiding early cancer detection and intervention.

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity: why so many regulators?

The dynamic transition between epithelial-like and mesenchymal-like cell states has been a focus for extensive investigation for decades, reflective of the importance of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) through development, in the adult, and the contributing role EMT has to pathologies including metastasis and fibrosis. Not surprisingly, regulation of the complex genetic networks that underlie EMT have been attributed to multiple transcription factors and microRNAs. What is surprising, however, are the sheer number of different regulators (hundreds of transcription factors and microRNAs) for which critical roles have been described. This review seeks not to collate these studies, but to provide a perspective on the fundamental question of whether it is really feasible that so many regulators play important roles and if so, what does this tell us about EMT and more generally, the genetic machinery that controls complex biological processes.

Integrated Hair Follicle Profiles of microRNAs and mRNAs to Reveal the Pattern Formation of Hu Sheep Lambskin

Hair follicle development is closely associated with wool curvature. Current studies reveal the crucial role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in hair follicle growth and development. However, few studies are known regarding their role in wool curvature. To reveal the potential roles of miRNAs in Hu sheep lambskin with different patterns, a total of 37 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified in hair follicles between small waves (SM) and straight wool (ST) groups using RNA-seq. Through functional enrichment and miRNA-mRNA co-expression analysis, some key miRNAs (oar-miR-143, oar-miR-200b, oar-miR-10a, oar-miR-181a, oar-miR-10b, oar-miR-125b, etc.) and miRNA-mRNA pairs (miR-125b target CD34, miR-181a target FGF12, LMO3, miR-200b target ZNF536, etc.) were identified. Though direct or indirect ways affecting hair follicle development, these miRNAs and mRNAs may have possible effects on wool curvature, and this study thus provides valuable insight on potential pattern formation.

MicroRNA profiling of psoriatic skin identifies 11 miRNAs associated with disease severity

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that have emerged as central regulators of gene expression and powerful biomarkers of disease. Much is yet unknown about their role in psoriasis pathology. To globally characterize the miRNAome of psoriatic skin, skin biopsies were collected from psoriatic cases (n = 75) and non-psoriatic controls (n = 46) and RNA sequenced. Count data were meta-analysed with a previously published dataset (cases, n = 24, controls, n = 20), increasing the number of psoriatic cases fourfold from previously published studies. Differential gene expression analyses were performed comparing lesional psoriatic (PP), non-lesional psoriatic (PN) and control (NN) skin. Further, functional enrichment and cell-specific analyses were performed. Across all contrasts, we identified 439 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs), of which 85 were novel for psoriasis and 11 were related to disease severity. Meta-analyses identified 20 DEMs between PN and NN, suggesting an inherent change in the constitution of all skin in psoriasis. By integrating the miRNA transcriptome with mRNA target interactions, we identified several functionally enriched terms, including "thyroid hormone signalling," "insulin resistance" and various infectious diseases. Cell-specific expression analyses revealed that the upregulated DEMs were enriched in epithelial and immune cells. This study provides the most comprehensive overview of the miRNAome in psoriatic skin to date and identifies a miRNA signature related to psoriasis severity. Our results may represent molecular links between psoriasis and related comorbidities and have outlined potential directions for future functional studies to identify biomarkers and treatment targets.

miRNA-200c-3p targets talin-1 to regulate integrin-mediated cell adhesion

The ability of integrins on the cell surface to mediate cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix ligands is regulated by intracellular signaling cascades. During this signaling process, the talin (TLN) recruited to integrin cytoplasmic tails plays the critical role of the major adaptor protein to trigger integrin activation. Thus, intracellular levels of TLN are thought to determine integrin-mediated cellular functions. However, the epigenetic regulation of TLN expression and consequent modulation of integrin activation remain to be elucidated. Bioinformatics analysis led us to consider miR-200c-3p as a TLN1-targeting miRNA. To test this, we have generated miR-200c-3p-overexpressing and miR-200c-3p-underexpressing  cell lines, including HEK293T, HCT116, and LNCaP cells. Overexpression of miR-200c-3p resulted in a remarkable decrease in the expression of TLN1, which was associated with the suppression of integrin-mediated cell adhesion to fibronectin. In contrast, the reduction in endogenous miR-200c-3p levels led to increased expression of TLN1 and enhanced cell adhesion to fibronectin and focal adhesion plaques formation. Moreover, miR-200c-3p was found to target TLN1 by binding to its 3′-untranslated region (UTR). Taken together, our data indicate that miR-200c-3p contributes to the regulation of integrin activation and cell adhesion via the targeting of TLN1.

Perspectives on miRNAs Targeting DKK1 for Developing Hair Regeneration Therapy

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) remains an unsolved problem for the well-being of humankind, although multiple important involvements in hair growth have been discovered. Up until now, there is no ideal therapy in clinical practice in terms of efficacy and safety. Ultimately, there is a strong need for developing a feasible remedy for preventing and treating AGA. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is critical in hair restoration. Thus, AGA treatment via modulating this pathway is rational, although challenging. Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) is distinctly identified as an inhibitor of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Thus, in order to stimulate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, inhibition of DKK1 is greatly demanding. Studying DKK1-targeting microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may lay the groundwork for the promotion of hair growth. Bearing in mind that DKK1 inhibition in the balding scalp of AGA certainly makes sense, this review sheds light on the perspectives of miRNA-mediated hair growth for treating AGA via regulating DKK1 and, eventually, modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Consequently, certain miRNAs regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via DKK1 inhibition might represent attractive candidates for further studies focusing on promoting hair growth and AGA therapy.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals an Inhibitory Effect of Dihydrotestosterone-Treated 2D- and 3D-Cultured Dermal Papilla Cells on Hair Follicle Growth

Dermal papillae are a target of androgen action in patients with androgenic alopecia, where androgen acts on the epidermis of hair follicles in a paracrine manner. To mimic the complexity of the dermal papilla microenvironment, a better culture model of human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) is needed. Therefore, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-treated two-dimensional (2D)- and 3D-cultured DPCs on hair follicle growth. 2D- and 3D-cultured DPC proliferation was inhibited after co-culturing with outer root sheath (ORS) cells under DHT treatment. Moreover, gene expression levels of β-catenin and neural cell adhesion molecules were significantly decreased and those of cleaved caspase-3 significantly increased in 2D- and 3D-cultured DPCs with increasing DHT concentrations. ORS cell proliferation also significantly increased after co-culturing in the control-3D model compared with the control-2D model. Ki67 downregulation and cleaved caspase-3 upregulation in DHT-treated 2D and 3D groups significantly inhibited ORS cell proliferation. Sequencing showed an increase in the expression of genes related to extracellular matrix synthesis in the 3D model group. Additionally, the top 10 hub genes were identified, and the expression of nine chemokine-related genes in DHT-treated DPCs was found to be significantly increased. We also identified the interactions between transcription factor (TF) genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) with hub genes and the TF-miRNA coregulatory network. Overall, the findings indicate that 3D-cultured DPCs are more representative of in vivo conditions than 2D-cultured DPCs and contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying androgen-induced alopecia.

Transgenic overexpression of the miR-200b/200a/429 cluster inhibits mammary tumor initiation

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Overexpression of the miR-200b/200a/429 cluster prevents mammary tumor initiation.

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miR-200s may prevent mammary tumor initiation by suppressing Spp1, Saa1 and Saa2.

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Overexpression of miR-200s does not impair normal mammary ductal development.

The miR-200 family consists of five members expressed as two clusters: miR-200c/141 cluster and miR-200b/200a/429 cluster. In the mammary gland, miR-200s maintain epithelial identity by decreasing the expression of mesenchymal markers leading to high expression of epithelial markers. While the loss of miR-200s is associated with breast cancer growth and metastasis the impact of miR-200 expression on mammary tumor initiation has not been investigated. Using mammary specific expression of the miR-200b/200a/429 cluster in transgenic mice, we found that elevated expression miR-200s could almost completely prevent mammary tumor development. Only 1 of 16 MTB-IGFIRba429 transgenic mice (expressing both the IGF-IR and miR-200b/200a/429 transgenes) developed a mammary tumor while 100% of MTB-IGFIR transgenic mice (expressing only the IGF-IR transgene) developed mammary tumors. RNA sequencing, qRT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry of mammary tissue from 55-day old mice found Spp1, Saa1, and Saa2 to be elevated in mammary tumors and inhibited by miR-200b/200a/429 overexpression. This study suggests that miR-200s could be used as a preventative strategy to protect women from developing breast cancer. One concern with this approach is the potential negative impact miR-200 overexpression may have on mammary function. However, transgenic overexpression of miR-200s, on their own, did not significantly impact mammary ductal development indicating the miR-200 overexpression should not significantly impact mammary function. Thus, this study provides the initial foundation for using miR-200s for breast cancer prevention and additional studies should be performed to identify strategies for increasing mammary miR-200 expression and determine whether miR-200s can prevent mammary tumor initiation by other genetic alterations.

MicroRNA-155-5p regulates survival of human decidua stromal cells through NF-κB in recurrent miscarriage

Recurrent miscarriage (RM) occurs in approximately 1% of all couples trying to conceive. Most of the research about recurrent miscarriage mainly focuses on immunology. However, the roles of microRNAs plays (miRNAs) in RM remain elusive. Here, the function of miR-155-5p in regulating survival of human decidua stromal cells through NF-κB signaling was explored in RM. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results showed that miR-155-5p was downregulated in both decidua tissues and serum from RM patients. While, the ELISA assay revealed that the overexpression of miR-155-5p reduced the inflammatory cytokines secretion including IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-10 in decidua stromal cells. The results of cell counting Kit8 (CCK-8) and immunofluorescence experiments suggested that transfection of miR-155-5p into decidua stromal cells can promote the growth and proliferation of cells. In addition, overexpression of miR-155-5p can also inhibit the apoptosis of decidua stromal cells. The western blot assay results demonstrated that the miR-155-5p exerted effect mainly through activating NF-κB signaling pathway in RM. In conclusion, the miRNA-155-5p can not only promote the growth and proliferation but also inhibit the apoptosis of decidua stromal cells depending on inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway in recurrent miscarriage.

Epithelial miR-141 regulates IL-13-induced airway mucus production

IL-13-induced goblet cell metaplasia contributes to airway remodeling and pathological mucus hypersecretion in asthma. miRNAs are potent modulators of cellular responses, but their role in mucus regulation is largely unexplored. We hypothesized that airway epithelial miRNAs play roles in IL-13-induced mucus regulation. miR-141 is highly expressed in human and mouse airway epithelium, is altered in bronchial brushings from asthmatic subjects at baseline, and is induced shortly after airway allergen exposure. We established a CRISPR/Cas9-based protocol to target miR-141 in primary human bronchial epithelial cells that were differentiated at air-liquid-interface, and goblet cell hyperplasia was induced by IL-13 stimulation. miR-141 disruption resulted in decreased goblet cell frequency, intracellular MUC5AC, and total secreted mucus. These effects correlated with a reduction in a goblet cell gene expression signature and enrichment of a basal cell gene expression signature defined by single cell RNA sequencing. Furthermore, intranasal administration of a sequence-specific mmu-miR-141-3p inhibitor in mice decreased Aspergillus-induced secreted mucus and mucus-producing cells in the lung and reduced airway hyperresponsiveness without affecting cellular inflammation. In conclusion, we have identified a miRNA that regulates pathological airway mucus production and is amenable to therapeutic manipulation through an inhaled route.

The miR-200 family is required for ectodermal organ development through the regulation of the epithelial stem cell niche

The murine lower incisor ectodermal organ contains a single epithelial stem cell (SC) niche that provides epithelial progenitor cells to the continuously growing rodent incisor. The dental stem cell niche gives rise to several cell types and we demonstrate that the miR‐200 family regulates these cell fates. The miR‐200 family is highly enriched in the differentiated dental epithelium and absent in the stem cell niche. In this study, we inhibited the miR‐200 family in developing murine embryos using new technology, resulting in an expanded epithelial stem cell niche and lack of cell differentiation. Inhibition of individual miRs within the miR‐200 cluster resulted in differential developmental and cell morphology defects. miR‐200 inhibition increased the expression of dental epithelial stem cell markers, expanded the stem cell niche and decreased progenitor cell differentiation. RNA‐seq. identified miR‐200 regulatory pathways involved in cell differentiation and compartmentalization of the stem cell niche. The miR‐200 family regulates signaling pathways required for cell differentiation and cell cycle progression. The inhibition of miR‐200 decreased the size of the lower incisor due to increased autophagy and cell death. New miR‐200 targets demonstrate gene networks and pathways controlling cell differentiation and maintenance of the stem cell niche. This is the first report demonstrating how the miR‐200 family is required for in vivo progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation.

Using WGCNA (weighted gene co-expression network analysis) to identify the hub genes of skin hair follicle development in fetus stage of Inner Mongolia cashmere goat

OBJECTIVE

Mature hair follicles represent an important stage of hair follicle development, which determines the stability of hair follicle structure and its ability to enter the hair cycle. Here, we used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify hub genes of mature skin and hair follicles in Inner Mongolian cashmere goats.

METHODS

We used transcriptome sequencing data for the skin of Inner Mongolian cashmere goats from fetal days 45-135 days, and divided the co expressed genes into different modules by WGCNA. Characteristic values were used to screen out modules that were highly expressed in mature skin follicles. Module hub genes were then selected based on the correlation coefficients between the gene and module eigenvalue, gene connectivity, and Gene Ontology (GO)/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. The results were confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

RESULTS

Ten modules were successfully defined, of which one, with a total of 3166 genes, was selected as a specific module through sample and gene expression pattern analyses. A total of 584 candidate hub genes in the module were screened by the correlation coefficients between the genes and module eigenvalue and gene connectivity. Finally, GO/KEGG functional enrichment analyses detected WNT10A as a key gene in the development and maturation of skin hair follicles in fetal Inner Mongolian cashmere goats. qPCR showed that the expression trends of 13 genes from seven fetal skin samples were consistent with the sequencing results, indicating that the sequencing results were reliable.n.

Stem cell-intrinsic mechanisms regulating adult hair follicle homeostasis

Adult hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) undergo dynamic and periodic molecular changes in their cellular states throughout the hair homeostatic cycle. These states are tightly regulated by cell-intrinsic mechanisms and by extrinsic signals from the microenvironment. HFSCs are essential not only for fuelling hair growth, but also for skin wound healing. Increasing evidence suggests an important role of HFSCs in organizing multiple skin components around the hair follicle, thus functioning as an organizing centre during adult skin homeostasis. Here, we focus on recent findings on cell-intrinsic mechanisms of HFSC homeostasis, which include transcription factors, histone modifications, DNA regulatory elements, non-coding RNAs, cell metabolism, cell polarity and post-transcriptional mRNA processing. Several transcription factors are now known to participate in well-known signalling pathways that control hair follicle homeostasis, as well as in super-enhancer activities to modulate HFSC and progenitor lineage progression. Interestingly, HFSCs have been shown to secrete molecules that are important in guiding the organization of several skin components around the hair follicle, including nerves, arrector pili muscle and vasculature. Finally, we discuss recent technological advances in the field such as single-cell RNA sequencing and live imaging, which revealed HFSC and progenitor heterogeneity and brought new light to understanding crosstalking between HFSCs and the microenvironment. The field is well on its way to generate a comprehensive map of molecular interactions that should serve as a solid theoretical platform for application in hair and skin disease and ageing.

MicroRNA-200b/c-3p regulate epithelial plasticity and inhibit cutaneous wound healing by modulating TGF-β-mediated RAC1 signaling

Cutaneous wound healing is pivotal for human skin to regain barrier function against pathogens. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to play regulatory roles in wound healing. However, the mechanism of miRNA regulation remains largely unknown. In this study, we focused on microRNA-200b/c-3p (miR-200b/c-3p) whose expression was abundant in intact epidermis, but dramatically decreased in skin wounds. In silico prediction identified RAC1 as a potential miR-200b/c-3p target. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-200b/c-p repressed RAC1 by direct targeting to its mRNA 3′UTR. Consistently, miR-200b/c-3p expression was discordantly related to RAC1 protein level during wound healing. Forced miR-200b/c-3p expression repressed RAC1 and inhibited keratinocyte migration as well as re-epithelialization in a mouse back skin full-thickness wound healing model. Mechanistically, miR-200b/c-3p modulated RAC1 to inhibit cell migration by repressing lamellipodia formation and intercellular adhesion dissolution in keratinocytes. Furthermore, we found that TGF-β1, which was highly expressed in skin wounds, contributed to the downregulation of miR-200b/c-3p in wound edge keratinocytes. Taken together, miR-200b/c-3p-mediated RAC1 repression inhibited keratinocyte migration to delay re-epithelialization. TGF-β1 induction attenuated miR-200b/c-3p regulation of RAC1 signaling in cutaneous wounds and the repression of miR-200b/c-3p accelerated keratinocyte migration to promote wound healing. Our data provide new insight into how miR-200b/c-3p affects keratinocyte migration and highlight the potential of miR-200b/c-3p targeting for accelerating wound healing.

Regulatory role of microRNAs in cancer through Hippo signaling pathway

Cancer is the major cause of death worldwide in countries of all income levels. The Hippo signaling pathway is a Drosophila kinase gene that was identified to regulate organ size, cell regeneration, and contribute to tumorigenesis. A huge variety of extrinsic and intrinsic signals regulate the Hippo signaling pathway. The Hippo signaling pathway consists of a wide array of components that merge numerous signals such as mechanical signals to address apoptosis resistance, cell proliferation, cellular outputs of growth, cell death and survival at cellular and tissue level. Recent studies have shed new light on the regulatory role of microRNAs in Hippo signaling and how they contribute to cancer progression. MicroRNAs influence various cancer-related processes such as, apoptosis, proliferation, migration, cell cycle and metabolism. Inhibition and overexpression of miRNAs via miRNA mimics and miRNA inhibitors, respectively, can uncover a hopeful and reliable insight for treatment and early diagnosis of cancer patients. In this review we will discuss our current understanding of regulatory role of miRNAs in Hippo signaling pathway.

Expression profile analysis to identify circular RNA expression signatures in hair follicle of Hu sheep lambskin

CircRNAs are involved in the regulation of various cellular and biological processes, but none of the studies have focused on hair follicle in sheep. In this study, the expression profile of circRNAs between small waves (SM) and straight wool (ST) groups was investigated using RNA-Seq. The results showed that a total of 5,527 circRNAs were identified and 114 of them were differentially expressed between two groups. Enrichment analysis revealed that the host genes with DE circRNAs were mainly enriched in TGF-beta pathway, Notch pathway. Miranda software was used to found that 129 miRNAs might be binding to 114 DE circRNAs, including miR-10a, miR-143, miR-let-7a, miR-199a-3p, miR-200a, which also had important influence on hair follicle morphogenesis. Furthermore, the coding potential of circRNAs was predicted, and 11 circRNAs were simultaneously identified with coding potential. In summary, circRNAs have important effects on hair follicle growth and development, and these results will provide a basis for molecular mechanism of pattern formation.

Fecal microRNAs as Innovative Biomarkers of Intestinal Diseases and Effective Players in Host-Microbiome Interactions

Over the past decade, short non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs), including circulating and fecal miRNAs have emerged as important modulators of various cellular processes by regulating the expression of target genes. Recent studies revealed the role of miRNAs as powerful biomarkers in disease diagnosis and for the development of innovative therapeutic applications in several human conditions, including intestinal diseases. In this review, we explored the literature and summarized the role of identified dysregulated fecal miRNAs in intestinal diseases, with particular focus on colorectal cancer (CRC) and celiac disease (CD). The aim of this review is to highlight one fascinating aspect of fecal miRNA function related to gut microbiota shaping and bacterial metabolism influencing. The role of miRNAs as “messenger” molecules for inter kingdom communications will be analyzed to highlight their role in the complex host-bacteria interactions. Moreover, whether fecal miRNAs could open up new perspectives to develop novel suitable biomarkers for disease detection and innovative therapeutic approaches to restore microbiota balance will be discussed.

The microRNA/TET3/REST axis is required for olfactory globose basal cell proliferation and male behavior

In the main olfactory epithelium (MOE), new olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) are persistently generated to replace lost neurons throughout an organism's lifespan. This process predominantly depends on the proliferation of globose basal cells (GBCs), the actively dividing stem cells in the MOE. Here, by using CRISPR/Cas9 and RNAi coupled with adeno-associated virus (AAV) nose delivery approaches, we demonstrated that knockdown of miR-200b/a in the MOE resulted in supernumerary Mash1-marked GBCs and decreased numbers of differentiated OSNs, accompanied by abrogation of male behaviors. We further showed that in the MOE, miR-200b/a targets the ten-eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase TET3, which cooperates with RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) to exert their functions. Deficiencies including proliferation, differentiation, and behaviors illustrated in miR-200b/a knockdown mice were rescued by suppressing either TET3 or REST. Our work describes a mechanism of coordination of GBC proliferation and differentiation in the MOE and olfactory male behaviors through miR-200/TET3/REST signaling.

Chi-miR-30b-5p inhibits dermal papilla cells proliferation by targeting CaMKIIδ gene in cashmere goat

Background

During goat embryonic morphogenesis and postnatal initiation of hair follicle (HF) regeneration, dermal papilla (DP) cells play a vital role in hair formation. Growing evidence shows that microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in HF development and DP cell proliferation. However, the molecular mechanisms have not been thoroughly investigated.

Result

In this study, we utilized miRNA sequencing (miRNA-Seq) to identify differentially expressed miRNAs at different HF cycling stages (anagen and telogen). MiRNA-Seq has identified 411 annotated miRNAs and 130 novel miRNAs in which 29 miRNAs were up-regulated and 32 miRNAs were down-regulated in the anagen phase compared to the telogen phase. Target gene prediction and functional enrichment analysis indicated some major biological pathways related to hair cycling, such as Wnt signaling pathways, ECM-receptor interaction, VEGF signaling pathway, biosynthesis of amino acids, metabolic pathways, ribosome and oxidative phosphorylation. Also, we explored the function of chi-miR-30b-5p in regulating hair growth cycle. Similar to the HF cycling, DP cells were isolated from skin and used to investigate miRNA functions. The MTT and EdU assays showed that the viability and proliferation of DP cells were inhibited or promoted after the transfection of chi-miR-30b-5p mimic or inhibitor, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis revealed CaMKIIδ as a candidate target gene of chi-miR-30b-5p, and the dual-luciferase and western blot assay demonstrated that chi-miR-30b-5p bound to the 3’UTR of CaMKIIδ and further inhibited its translation.

Conclusion

Chi-miR-30b-5p was found to be highly expressed in the telogen than that in the anagen phase and could inhibit the proliferation of DP cells by targeting CaMKIIδ. Our study provides new information on the regulatory functions of miRNAs during HF development.

Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Involvement of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA Networks in Hair Follicle Induction in Aohan Fine Wool Sheep Skin

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) and microRNAs (miRNA) are new found classes of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that are not translated into proteins but regulate various cellular and biological processes. In this study, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis of ncRNA and mRNA expression in Aohan fine wool sheep (AFWS) at different growth stages (embryonic day 90, embryonic day 120, and the day of birth), and explored their relationship with wool follicle growth. In total, 461 lncRNAs, 106 miRNAs, and 1,009 mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed during the three stages of wool follicle development. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed to clarify the roles of the differentially expressed lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA in the different stages of wool follicle development. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the results of RNA-seq analysis. lncRNA (MSTRG.223165) was found to act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) and may participate in wool follicle development by acting as an miR-21 sponge. Network prediction implicated the MSTRG.223165-miR-21-SOX6 axis in the wool follicle development. The targeting relationships of miR-21 with SOX6 and MSTRG.223165 were validated in dual-luciferase assays. This is the first report indicating the association of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network with wool follicle development in AFWS. This study provides new insights into the regulation of the wool follicle growth and represents a solid foundation for wool sheep breeding programs.

Ovarian Cancer Exosomes Trigger Differential Biophysical Response in Tumor-Derived Fibroblasts

Exosomes are cell-secreted microvesicles that play important roles in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) progression, as they are constantly secreted into ascites fluids. While cells spontaneously release exosomes, alterations in intracellular calcium or extracellular pH can release additional exosomes. Yet, little is known about how these exosomes compare to those that are continuously released without stimulation and how they mediate cellular activities important in cancer progression. Here, we demonstrate that chelation of extracellular calcium leads to release of chelation-induced exosomes (CI-exosomes) from OVCAR-3 EOC cells. CI-exosomes display a unique miRNA profile compared to naturally secreted exosomes (SEC-exosomes). Furthermore, treatment with CI- and SEC-exosomes leads to differential biophysical and functional changes including, adhesion and migration in EOC-derived fibroblasts that suggest the development of a malignant tumor microenvironment. This result highlights how tumor environmental factors contribute to heterogeneity in exosome populations and how different exosome populations mediate diversity in stromal cell behavior.

miR-19 promotes development of renal fibrosis by targeting PTEN-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition

In recent years, it has been found that miRNA may play an important role in the field of gene regulation; miRNAs can participate in the regulation of various physiologic processes such as cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and insulin secretion by regulation of target genes. The purpose of this study is to observe the relationship between the expression of miR-19 and renal fibrosis, to analyze the regulatory effect of miR-19 on renal tubular EMT, and to reveal its role and working mechanism in renal fibrosis. We found that the expression of miR-19 was significantly increased in peripheral blood of patients with renal fibrosis, in renal tissue of unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO) mice, and in NRK-52E cells treated with TGF-β1. Overexpression of miR-19 could decrease the expression of E-cadherin and increase the expression of α-SMA and fibronectin, while inhibition of miR-19 reverses TGF-β1-induced EMT. Further studies revealed that miR-19 could inhibit its expression by binding to the 3'-UTR of PTEN. MiR-19 inhibitor or Akt inhibitor blocks phospho-Akt by TGF-β1, and Akt inhibitors block miR-19 mimic-induced EMT. In UUO mice, overexpression of miR-19 promoted the development of renal fibrosis, while inhibition of miR-19 expression produced the opposite result. These results indicate that abnormal expression of miR-19 is associated with renal fibrosis. Moreover, miR-19 activates the Akt signaling pathway by targeting PTEN, and induces EMT in renal tubular epithelial cells, thereby promoting renal fibrosis.

Integrated analysis of directly captured microRNA targets reveals the impact of microRNAs on mammalian transcriptome

MicroRNA (miRNA)-mediated regulation is widespread, relatively mild but functionally important. It remains challenging to unequivocally identify miRNA targeted RNAs at a genomic scale and determine how changes in miRNA levels affect the transcriptome. Here, we captured individual miRNAs and their targeted RNA sites in wild-type, miR-200 family knockout and induced epithelial cells. We detected 1797 miRNAs interacting with 13,830 transcripts at 616,127 sites by sequencing 1,230,019 unique miRNA:RNA chimeras. Although mRNA sites that are bound by miRNAs and contain matches to seed sequences confer the strongest regulation, ∼40%-60% of miRNA bound regions do not contain seed matches. Different miRNAs have different preferences to seed matches and 3' end base-pairing. For individual miRNAs, the effectiveness of mRNA regulation is highly correlated with the number of captured miRNA:mRNA chimeras. Notably, elevated miR-200 expression robustly represses existing targets with little impact on newly recognized targets. Global analysis of directly captured mRNA targets reveals pathways that are involved in cancer and cell adhesion and signaling pathways that are highly regulated by many different miRNAs in epithelial cells. Comparison between experimentally captured and TargetScan predicted targets indicates that our approach is more effective in identifying bona fide targets by reducing false positive and negative predictions. This study reveals the global binding landscape and impact of miRNAs on the mammalian transcriptome.

Grainyhead-like 2 as a double-edged sword in development and cancer

Grainyhead-like 2 (GRHL2), one of the three homologs of Drosophila grainyhead, contributes to epithelial morphogenesis and differentiation. Dysregulation of GRHL2 has been shown to be involved in hearing loss and neural tube defects during embryogenesis. Moreover, it is well-recognized that GRHL2 suppresses epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that is required for migration and invasion of carcinoma, implicating, GRHL2 in carcinogenesis. Diverse mechanisms, as well as the varied roles of GRHL2 in different tumor tissues, have been elucidated. However, the functions of GRHL2 appear to be more complicated than initially thought. GRHL2, acting as either a tumor enhancer or a tumor inhibitor, depends on the type of cancer. In this review, we summarize research progress about normal physiological functions of GRHL2 including epithelial morphogenesis, neural tube closure, and hearing loss. Moreover, the mechanisms of GRHL2 in tumorigenesis, containing EMT suppression, forming a negative feedback loop with ZEB1 and miR200 family, interactions with estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent signaling pathway, regulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase and relationships with TGF-beta signaling pathway are discussed in this review in an effort to better understand the roles of GRHL2 in a variety of cancers toward the goal of GRHL2-targeted treatment in the near future.

Preliminary study on microR-148a and microR-10a in dermal papilla cells of Hu sheep

Background

Hu sheep, a unique Chinese breed with high reproductive performance, are also well known for their rare white lambskin in China. The quality of lambskin is affected by hair follicles, and dermal papilla cells are an important component of hair follicles that plays a key role in hair follicle growth and development. This study helps elucidate the effect of miR-148a and miR-10a on hair follicle growth and development.

Results

Based on the results of gene chip and high-throughput sequencing, bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) was used as a research object. Bioinformatics analysis and the dual-luciferase reporter system indicated that, along with Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) that miR-148a and miR-10a target relationships with BMP7. BMP7 was the target gene both for miR-148a and miR-10a by the dual-luciferase reporter system and Western blot. Hu sheep dermal papilla cells were successfully isolated and purified, and after transfecting miR-148a/miR-10a mimics and inhibitors into dermal papilla cells, a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to determine that miR-148a/miR-10a inhibited the proliferation of Hu sheep dermal papilla cells. In addition, after the overexpression of miR-148a, the expression levels of Smad3 (P < 0.05), Smad6 (P < 0.05), Smad4 (P < 0.01), and Smad5 (P < 0.01) were significantly higher than those of the control groups. After the inhibition of miR-148a, the expression levels of Smad3 (P < 0.05), Smad4 (P < 0.05), and TGF-β (P < 0.01) were significantly lower than those of the control groups. After the overexpression of miR-10a, the expression levels of Smad1 (P < 0.01), Smad2 (P < 0.05), Smad4 (P < 0.01), Smad5 (P < 0.01), and TGF-β (P < 0.05) were significantly lower than those of the control groups. After the inhibition of miR-10a, the expression levels of Smad1 (P < 0.01) and Smad2 (P < 0.05) were significantly lower than those of the control groups.

Conclusions

These results revealed the target relationship between miR-148a, miR-10a and BMP7, and the effect of miR-148a and miR-10a on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells. They will provide the basis for a follow-up study on how miR-148a, and miR-10a mediate BMP7 regulation of hair follicle growth and development.

miR-20a regulates sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to NK cells by targeting MICA

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading cancer-related causes of deaths in the world. Recently, microRNAs have been reported to regulate the tumor growth, invasion and the immunosuppression. In the present study, we found that miR-20a was increased in human CRC specimens compared with the healthy normal tissues. However, miR-20a overexpression and knockdown did not impair the CRC cell growth in vitro. Our results indicated that CD107a⁺ NK cells are increased in CRC group. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that miR-20a knockdown promoted the CRC cells sensitive to NK cells, whereas miR-20a overexpression showed the opposite results. Our results suggest that the regulation of NK cells by miR-20a depends on NKG2D. Luciferase reporter assays revealed that the NKG2D ligand Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I-related chain genes A (MICA) is the direct target of miR-20a. Flow cytometry showed the MICA protein level is significantly reduced in miR-20a-overexpressing CRC cells and increased in miR-20a knockdown CRC cells. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-20a regulates sensitivity of CRC cells to NK cells by targeting MICA.

Long noncoding RNA UCA1 promotes the proliferation, invasion, and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via modulation of miR-145

BACKGROUND

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant tumor characterized by highly malignant local invasion and distant metastasis. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which play significant roles in tumorigenesis and progression. However, little is known about the potential role of the lncRNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) in NPC cell invasion and migration.

METHODS

Real-time quantitative PCR was used to analyze the expression of lncRNA UCA1 in NPC cell lines and NP69. lncRNA UCA1 knock-down nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line models were established through siRNA. Cell viability was evaluated by Cell counting kit-8 and Colony forming assay. The migration and invasion capacities were evaluated by wound healing and transwell migration and invasion assays. Western blot analysis were used to examine protein changes followed by UCA1 knock-down.

RESULTS

Our study confirmed that UCA1 was upregulated in NPC cell lines and involved in NPC tumorigenesis according to our established UCA1-associated competing endogenous RNA network. Moreover, functional analyses indicated that the downregulation of UCA1 exerted inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Mechanistic analyses revealed that UCA1 was the target of miR-145 and functioned as a sponge to repress miR-145 expression. Rescue experiments suggested that lncRNA UCA1 reversed the miR-145-mediated inhibition on oncogene ADAM17 expression, thus promoting the proliferation, invasion, and migration of NPC cells.

CONCLUSION

LncRNA UCA1 functions as a tumor promoter in NPC. UCA1 promotes the proliferation and invasion of NPC cells by sponging miR-145, functionally altering ADAM17 expression targeted by miR-145. Our exploration of the underlying mechanism of UCA1 in NPC may provide novel therapeutic targets for NPC.