Tbx5 inhibits hedgehog signaling in determination of digit identity

MicroRNA-603 Promotes Progression of Cutaneous Melanoma by Regulating TBX5

Background

Although studies manifested that microRNA-603 plays a vital role in many cancers, the modulatory mechanism of microRNA-603 in cutaneous melanoma remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the roles of microRNA-603 in cutaneous melanoma cells.

Methods

First, microRNA-603 expression in cutaneous melanoma cell lines was detected by qRT-PCR. The mRNA and protein expression levels of TBX5 in cutaneous melanoma cell lines were tested by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. In addition, the interaction between microRNA-603 and TBX5 was determined by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, and their impacts on the growth of cutaneous melanoma cells were detected by cellular function experiments such as MTT, colony formation, and Transwell assays.

Results

The expression level of microRNA-603 in human cutaneous melanoma cells was relatively upregulated. Overexpressing microRNA-603 could promote progression of cutaneous melanoma cells, while silencing microRNA-603 expression could suppress the malignant progression of cutaneous melanoma. In addition, TBX5 was lowly expressed in cutaneous melanoma cells. As confirmed by dual-luciferase assay, microRNA-603 could specifically bind to 3′UTR of TBX5 and regulate TBX5. The results of the rescue experiment demonstrated that inhibiting microRNA-603 expression could suppress the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cutaneous melanoma cells, but its suppressive effect could be restored by TBX5.

Conclusion

MicroRNA-603 could regulate the expression of TBX5, thus promoting the malignant progression of cutaneous melanoma cells.

Extracellular vesicles-encapsulated microRNA-10a-5p shed from cancer-associated fibroblast facilitates cervical squamous cell carcinoma cell angiogenesis and tumorigenicity via Hedgehog signaling pathway

Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) secretes extracellular vesicle (EV)-encapsulated microRNAs (miRNAs) which have been underlined great promise for therapeutic target for diseases and cancers. Our study aimed to explore the role of EV-encapsulated miR-10a-5p from CAFs in angiogenesis in cervical cancer. Expression of miR-10a-5p in clinical samples of cervical cancer and cancer cells was detected by in situ hybridization and RT-qPCR. Results demonstrated that miR-10a-5p expression was upregulated in both cancer tissues and cells. CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) from cervical cancer patient tissues were characterized under transmission electron microscopy, followed by EV isolation from CAFs. The EVs labeled with PKH67 were cultured with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) cell line (SiHa) and HUVECs. Data indicated that CAF-EVs were internalized by cancer cells and promoted cell proliferation and tube formation. CAF-EVs then were transfected with miR-10a-5p inhibitor and then injected into nude mice. While injection of CAF-EVs promoted tumor growth and increased VEGFR and CD31 expression level, miR-10a-5p inhibitor-treated CAF-EVs resulted in decreased tumor volume and amount of vessel around tumor. Of note, dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and bioinformatic analysis indicated TBX5 as a target gene of miR-10a-5p. Moreover, EV-derived miR-10a-5p promoted angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro through activation of Hedgehog signaling via downregulation of TBX5. Taken altogether, miR-10a-5p in CAF-EVs promoted CSCC cell angiogenesis and tumorigenicity via activation of Hh signaling by inhibition of TBX5, providing insight into novel treatment based on miR-10a-5p against CSCC.