Tanshinones suppress non-small cell lung cancer through up-regulating miR-137

Tan IIA mitigates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration induced by ox-LDL through the miR-137/TRPC3 axis

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) has an important role in treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. The vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are a major part of the atherosclerotic plaque. However, the biological functions of Tan IIA in regulating VSMCs function remain mostly unclear. This research aimed at identifying the explicit molecular mechanism that Tan IIA regulates oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-mediated VSMC proliferation and migration. VSMCs challenged by ox-LDL were adopted as cellular model of atherosclerosis, and suffered from Tan IIA treatment. After that, cells proliferation, apoptosis or migration were measured. The expression levels of microRNA (miR)-137, transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily C member 3 (TRPC3) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were measured. The targeting relationship between miR-137 and TRPC3 was determined. It was found that Tan IIA blunted VSMC proliferation, PCNA expression and migration mediated by ox-LDL. Tan IIA promoted miR-137 level, and miR-137 knockdown reversed the influences of Tan IIA on VSMC proliferation, PCNA expression and migration in the presence of ox-LDL. TRPC3 was verified to be targeted by miR-137. Moreover, TRPC3 silencing exacerbated the influences of Tan IIA on VSMC proliferation, apoptosis and migration, and it mitigated the inhibitive effects of miR-137 knockdown on function of Tan IIA. We confirmed for the first time that Tan IIA constrained ox-LDL-stimulated VSMC proliferation and migration via regulating the miR-137/TRPC3 axis, which provided a theoretical basis for the research and promotion of Tan IIA as a therapeutic drug.

Salviae miltiorrhiza against human lung cancer: A review of its mechanism (Review)

Lung cancer is one of the commonest malignant tumors in the world today, causing millions of mortalities every year. New methods to treat lung cancer are urgently needed. Salviae miltiorrhiza Bunge is a common Chinese medicine, often used for promoting blood circulation. In the past 20 years, Salviae miltiorrhiza has made significant progress in the treatment of lung cancer and is considered to be one of the most promising methods to fight against the disease. A great amount of research has shown that the mechanism of Salviae miltiorrhiza against human lung cancer mainly includes inhibiting the proliferation of lung cancer cells, promoting lung cancer cell apoptosis, inducing cell autophagy, regulating immunity and resisting angiogenesis. Research has shown that Salviae miltiorrhiza has certain effects on the resistance to chemotherapy drugs. The present review discussed the status and prospects of Salviae miltiorrhiza against human lung cancer.

Analysis of exosomal competing endogenous RNA network response to paclitaxel treatment reveals key genes in advanced gastric cancer

Background

Exosome is an important component of the tumor immune microenvironment and plays critical role in cancer pathogenesis. The exosome transcriptome of gastric cancer (GC) response to paclitaxel chemotherapy has not been investigated in the past.

Methods

ceRNA microarrays were performed in exosomes from six advanced GC patients before and after paclitaxel treatment. Bioinformatics tools were used to identify differential expressing genes and construct competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. The importance of hub genes in the ceRNA network was confirmed by survival analysis and functional analysis.

Results

A total of 213 differential mRNAs, 370 lncRNAs, and 376 circRNAs were identified, and hub genes in ceRNA networks were screened. The differential genes were associated with GO terms SNAP complex, gap junction, protein transporter activity, cytokine receptor, and KEGG pathways synaptic vesicle cycle, propanoate metabolism, Epstein–Barr virus infection, heparin, and steroid biosynthesis, and beta-alanine metabolism. ULK2, CYP2R1, BTLA, and miR-105-5p are prognostic genes for overall survival. Paclitaxel may target ULK2 which is involved in mitosis and cell cycle. miR-105-5p may target ULK2 3’UTR.

Conclusion

The work for the first time identified exosomal RNA biomarkers and constructed a ceRNA network in GC response to paclitaxel, revealed novel molecular mechanisms of GC, and provided new candidates for GC diagnosis and treatment.

Salvia miltiorrhiza in cancer: Potential role in regulating MicroRNAs and epigenetic enzymes

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in gene regulation by influencing the translation and longevity of various target mRNAs and the expression of various target genes as well as by modifying histones and DNA methylation of promoter sites. Consequently, when dysregulated, microRNAs are involved in the development and progression of a variety of diseases, including cancer, by affecting cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. Preparations from the dried root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge (Lamiaceae), also known as red sage or danshen, are widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases. Accumulating data suggest that certain bioactive constituents of this plant, particularly tanshinones, have broad antitumor effects by interfering with microRNAs and epigenetic enzymes. This paper reviews the evidence for the antineoplastic activities of S. miltiorrhiza constituents by causing or promoting cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and epigenetic changes to provide an outlook on their future roles in the treatment of cancer, both alone and in combination with other modalities.

tRNA-derived small RNAs: novel regulators of cancer hallmarks and targets of clinical application

tRNAs are a group of conventional noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) with critical roles in the biological synthesis of proteins. Recently, tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) were found to have important biological functions in the development of human diseases including carcinomas, rather than just being considered pure degradation material. tsRNAs not only are abnormally expressed in the cancer tissues and serum of cancer patients, but also have been suggested to regulate various vital cancer hallmarks. On the other hand, the application of tsRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets is promising. In this review, we focused on the basic characteristics of tsRNAs, and their biological functions known thus far, and explored the regulatory roles of tsRNAs in cancer hallmarks including proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, tumor microenvironment, drug resistance, cancer stem cell phenotype, and cancer cell metabolism. In addition, we also discussed the research progress on the application of tsRNAs as tumor biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

tRNA-derived fragments as New Hallmarks of Aging and Age-related Diseases

tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs), which are non-coding RNAs produced via tRNA cleavage with lengths of 14 to 50 nucleotides, originate from precursor tRNAs or mature tRNAs and exist in a wide range of organisms. tRFs are produced not by random fracture of tRNAs but by specific mechanisms. Considerable evidence shows that tRFs are detectable in model organisms of different ages and are associated with age-related diseases in humans, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. In this literature review, the origin and classification of tRFs and the regulatory mechanisms of tRFs in aging and age-related diseases are summarized. We also describe the available tRF databases and research techniques and lay a foundation for the exploration of tRFs as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of aging and age-related diseases.

Tanshinone IIA: A Review of its Anticancer Effects

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a pharmacologically lipophilic active constituent isolated from the roots and rhizomes of the Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen). Tan IIA is currently used in China and other neighboring countries to treat patients with cardiovascular system, diabetes, apoplexy, arthritis, sepsis, and other diseases. Recently, it was reported that tan IIA could have a wide range of antitumor effects on several human tumor cell lines, but the research of the mechanism of tan IIA is relatively scattered in cancer. This review aimed to summarize the recent advances in the anticancer effects of tan IIA and to provide a novel perspective on clinical use of tan IIA.

Roles of plant-derived bioactive compounds and related microRNAs in cancer therapy

Plant-derived bioactive compounds, often called phytochemicals, are active substances extracted from different plants. These bioactive compounds can release therapeutic potential abilities via reducing antitumor drugs side effects or directly killing cancer cells, and others also can adjust cancer initiation and progression via regulating microRNAs (miRNAs) expression, and miRNA can regulate protein-coding expression by restraining translation or degrading target mRNA. A mass of research showed that plant-derived bioactive compounds including tanshinones, astragaloside IV, berberine, ginsenosides and matrine can inhibit tumor growth and metastasis by rescuing aberrant miRNAs expression, which has influence on tumor progression, microenvironment and drug resistance in multifarious cancers. This review aims to provide a novel understanding of plant-derived bioactive compounds targeting miRNAs and shed light on their future clinical applications.

Tanshinone IIA regulates human AML cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis through miR-497-5p/AKT3 axis

Background

The roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza are used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and have high medicinal value. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is the active ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza which can inhibit the growth of acute leukemia cell lines in vitro, although the mechanism remains unclear.

Methods

CCK-8 assays and BrdU stain were used to evaluate cell proliferation ability. Western blot analysis was used to detect protein expression. miR-497-5p expression level was detected by using qRT-PCR, and Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) was used to detect cell apoptosis.

Results

Here we reported that Tan IIA could inhibit cell proliferation, induce cell cycle arrest, and promote cell apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Thus, Tan IIA had the anti-cancer activity in AML cell lines, which was likely mediated by up-regulation of miR-497-5p expression. Our data further showed that in AML cells, the same effects were observed with overexpression of miR-497-5p by a miR-497-5p mimic. We demonstrated that Tan IIA could inhibit the expression of AKT3 by up-regulating the expression of miR-497-5p. We subsequently identified that AKT3 was the direct target of miR-497-5p, and that treatment with Tan IIA obviously reversed the effect of treatment with an miR-497-5p inhibitor under harsh conditions. In turn, PCNA expression was increased and cleaved Caspase-3 was suppressed, which contributed to the growth of AML cells.

Conclusions

Our results showed that Tan IIA could inhibit cell proliferation in AML cells through miR-497-5p-mediated AKT3 downregulation pathway.

Cryptotanshinone Suppresses Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via microRNA-146a-5p/EGFR Axis

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a cancer-driven gene, plays an important role in tumorigenesis of lung cancer. Cryptotanshinone (CT) is the main constituent of salia miltiorrhiza and has been found to affect tumor progression. However, the mechanism of CT on lung cancer is still not clear. Here we found that CT could suppress the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by inhibiting EGFR. We further confirmed that knockdown of EGFR also suppressed cell proliferation and arrested cell cycle progression. Furthermore, we evaluated EGFR was a direct target gene of miR-146a-5p which was upregulated by CT. In general, our results proved that CT could restrain NSCLC via miR-146a-5p/EGFR axis. CT and miR-146a-5p have the potential to be positive candidates in drug development of NSCLC.

MicroRNA-296, a suppressor non-coding RNA, downregulates SGLT2 expression in lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide and has the highest mortality rate in China. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are involved in tumorigenesis and their important role in cancer is becoming increasingly apparent. The expression of miR‑296‑5p in particular has been shown to be significantly downregulated in lung cancer. Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 [SGLT2, also known as solute carrier family 5 member 2 (SLC5A2)] is an oncogene that promotes tumorigenesis. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of miR‑296‑5p in lung cancer and whether this involves the targeting of SGLT2. For this purpose, we examined miR‑296‑5p and SGLT2 expression in human lung cancer samples and cell lines by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. In addition, the data analysis website TCGA was used for survival analysis with respect to SGLT2 expression. The effects of miR‑296‑5p were also examined on cell proliferation and cell cycle progression using respective assays. The results demonstrate that miR‑296‑5p is significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues. Additionally, it is demonstrated that SGLT2 is directly targeted by miR‑296‑5p. Furthermore, our data reveal that the knockdown of SGLT2 using siRNA inhibits cell proliferation and impedes cell cycle progression. Collectively, data suggest that miR‑296‑5p not only inhibits NSCLC by downregulating SGLT2 expression, but also acts as a novel regulator of aberrant lung cancer cells to limit lung cancer progression.

tRF-Leu-CAG promotes cell proliferation and cell cycle in non-small cell lung cancer

tRNA-derived RNA fragments (tRFs), non-coding single-stranded RNAs with 14-35 nt in length, were found to play important roles in gene regulation, even in carcinogenesis. In this study, we investigated the expression of tRF-Leu-CAG in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its function in the cell proliferation and cell cycle of NSCLC. The expression level of tRF-Leu-CAG was detected in NSCLC tissues, cell lines, and sera. tRF-Leu-CAG RNA levels were higher in NSCLC tumor tissues than in normal tissues, and also upregulated in NSCLC cell lines. A significant relationship was observed between stage progression and tRF-Leu-CAG in NSCLC sera. We found that in H1299 cells, inhibition of tRF-Leu-CAG suppressed cell proliferation and impeded cell cycle. AURKA was also repressed with the knockdown of tRF-Leu-CAG. Thus, our study revealed that tRF-Leu-CAG may be involved in regulating AURKA and could be a new diagnostic marker and potential therapeutic target in NSCLC.