1
|
Taeb S, Rostamzadeh D, Amini SM, Rahmati M, Eftekhari M, Safari A, Najafi M. MicroRNAs targeted mTOR as therapeutic agents to improve radiotherapy outcome. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:233. [PMID: 38965615 PMCID: PMC11229485 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03420-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that regulate genes and are involved in various biological processes, including cancer development. Researchers have been exploring the potential of miRNAs as therapeutic agents in cancer treatment. Specifically, targeting the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway with miRNAs has shown promise in improving the effectiveness of radiotherapy (RT), a common cancer treatment. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of miRNAs targeting mTOR as therapeutic agents to enhance RT outcomes in cancer patients. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific miRNAs that target mTOR and their impact on radiosensitivity for personalized cancer treatment approaches. The review also discusses the role of mTOR in cell homeostasis, cell proliferation, and immune response, as well as its association with oncogenesis. It highlights the different ways in which miRNAs can potentially affect the mTOR pathway and their implications in immune-related diseases. Preclinical findings suggest that combining mTOR modulators with RT can inhibit tumor growth through anti-angiogenic and anti-vascular effects, but further research and clinical trials are needed to validate the efficacy and safety of using miRNAs targeting mTOR as therapeutic agents in combination with RT. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of the potential of miRNAs targeting mTOR to enhance RT efficacy in cancer treatment and emphasizes the need for further research to translate these findings into improved clinical outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shahram Taeb
- Department of Radiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Davoud Rostamzadeh
- Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Seyed Mohammad Amini
- Radiation Biology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rahmati
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Mohammad Eftekhari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Arash Safari
- Department of Radiology, Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center (INIRPRC), School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, 71439-14693, Iran
| | - Masoud Najafi
- Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Department, School of Paramedical Sciences, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
- Medical Biology Research Center, Institute of Health Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
- Medical Technology Research Center, Institute of Health Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Heimbucher T, Hog J, Gupta P, Murphy CT. PQM-1 controls hypoxic survival via regulation of lipid metabolism. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4627. [PMID: 33009389 PMCID: PMC7532158 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18369-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals have evolved responses to low oxygen conditions to ensure their survival. Here, we have identified the C. elegans zinc finger transcription factor PQM-1 as a regulator of the hypoxic stress response. PQM-1 is required for the longevity of insulin signaling mutants, but surprisingly, loss of PQM-1 increases survival under hypoxic conditions. PQM-1 functions as a metabolic regulator by controlling oxygen consumption rates, suppressing hypoxic glycogen levels, and inhibiting the expression of the sorbitol dehydrogenase-1 SODH-1, a crucial sugar metabolism enzyme. PQM-1 promotes hypoxic fat metabolism by maintaining the expression of the stearoyl-CoA desaturase FAT-7, an oxygen consuming, rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid biosynthesis. PQM-1 activity positively regulates fat transport to developing oocytes through vitellogenins under hypoxic conditions, thereby increasing survival rates of arrested progeny during hypoxia. Thus, while pqm-1 mutants increase survival of mothers, ultimately this loss is detrimental to progeny survival. Our data support a model in which PQM-1 controls a trade-off between lipid metabolic activity in the mother and her progeny to promote the survival of the species under hypoxic conditions. Animals respond to hypoxic stress by adjusting metabolic processes to balance survival and reproduction. Here the authors identify the transcription factor PQM-1 as a metabolic regulator that balances hypoxic lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in C. elegans to limit somatic integrity and promote progeny survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Heimbucher
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA. .,Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA. .,Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79104, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.
| | - Julian Hog
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79104, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - Piyush Gupta
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79104, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - Coleen T Murphy
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA. .,Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sun YL, Guan XL, Zhang P, Li MF, Zhang J, Sun L. Pol-miR-363-3p plays a significant role in the immune defense of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus against bacterial and viral infection. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 104:439-446. [PMID: 32561457 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2020.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we examined the function of a Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) microRNA (miRNA), pol-miR-363-3p. We found that pol-miR-363-3p targets an ubiquitin-specific protease (USP), USP32. USP is a family of deubiquitinating enzymes essential to the functioning of the ubiquitin proteasome system. In mammals, USP32 is known to be associated with cancer and immunity. In fish, the function of USP32 is unknown. We found that flounder USP32 (PoUSP32) expression was detected in the major tissues of flounder, particularly intestine. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that pol-miR-363-3p directly regulated PoUSP32 in a negative manner by interaction with the 3'UTR of PoUSP32. Overexpression of pol-miR-363-3p or interference with PoUSP32 expression in flounder cells significantly blocked Streptococcus iniae infection. Consistently, in vivo knockdown of pol-miR-363-3p or overexpression of PoUSP32 enhanced dissemination of S. iniae in flounder tissues, whereas in vivo knockdown of PoUSP32 inhibited S. iniae dissemination. In addition, pol-miR-363-3p knockdown also significantly promoted the tissue dissemination of the viral pathogen megalocytivirus, which, as well as S. iniae, regulated pol-miR-363-3p expression. Together these results revealed an important role of pol-miR-363-3p in flounder immune defense against bacterial and viral infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Ling Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiao-Lu Guan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mo-Fei Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Li Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Blackwell TK, Sewell AK, Wu Z, Han M. TOR Signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans Development, Metabolism, and Aging. Genetics 2019; 213:329-360. [PMID: 31594908 PMCID: PMC6781902 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.302504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Target of Rapamycin (TOR or mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, development, and behaviors by modulating protein synthesis, autophagy, and multiple other cellular processes in response to changes in nutrients and other cues. Over recent years, TOR has been studied intensively in mammalian cell culture and genetic systems because of its importance in growth, metabolism, cancer, and aging. Through its advantages for unbiased, and high-throughput, genetic and in vivo studies, Caenorhabditis elegans has made major contributions to our understanding of TOR biology. Genetic analyses in the worm have revealed unexpected aspects of TOR functions and regulation, and have the potential to further expand our understanding of how growth and metabolic regulation influence development. In the aging field, C. elegans has played a leading role in revealing the promise of TOR inhibition as a strategy for extending life span, and identifying mechanisms that function upstream and downstream of TOR to influence aging. Here, we review the state of the TOR field in C. elegans, and focus on what we have learned about its functions in development, metabolism, and aging. We discuss knowledge gaps, including the potential pitfalls in translating findings back and forth across organisms, but also describe how TOR is important for C. elegans biology, and how C. elegans work has developed paradigms of great importance for the broader TOR field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Keith Blackwell
- Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Aileen K Sewell
- Department of MCDB, University of Colorado at Boulder, and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boulder, Colorado
| | - Ziyun Wu
- Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Min Han
- Department of MCDB, University of Colorado at Boulder, and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boulder, Colorado
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Li S, Sun Z, Chen T, Pan J, Shen Y, Chen X, Zhou X, Cheng R, Yang Y. The role of miR-431-5p in regulating pulmonary surfactant expression in vitro. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2019; 24:25. [PMID: 30988675 PMCID: PMC6446292 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-019-0150-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pulmonary surfactant is the complex mixture of lipid and protein that covers the alveolar surface. Pulmonary surfactant deficiency is one of the main causes of neonatal respiratory distress. Recent studies showed that miRNA plays an important role in lung development, but research into miR-431 regulation of pulmonary surfactant are sparse. In this study, we explored the regulatory role of miR-431-5p in the expression of pulmonary surfactant and identified its potential target gene, Smad4. Methods The bioinformatics tool TargetScan was used to predict the targets of miR-431. The expression of miR-431-5p was achieved via transfection of miR-431-5p mimics, an miR-431-5p inhibitor and corresponding negative control. The level of miR-431-5p was determined using quantitative real-time PCR. The CCK8 assay was conducted to confirm cell growth 12 h after transfection with miR-431-5p mimics, inhibitor or NC. Smad4 and surfactant-associated proteins in A549 were analyzed using western blot and quantitative real-time PCR. Results Smad4 was validated as a target of miR-431 in A549 cells. Overexpression of miR-431 accelerated A549 proliferation and inhibited A549 apoptosis. The mRNA and protein levels for the surfactant proteins (SP-A, SP-B, SP-C and SP-D) were found to be differentially expressed in A549 cells over- or under-expressing miR-431-5p. Conclusion Our results show that miR-431-5p is critical for pulmonary surfactant expression and that its regulation is closely related to the TGF-β/Smad4 pathway. These results will help us to study the pathophysiological mechanism of lung developmental diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shujun Li
- 1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhongyi Sun
- 2Department of Pediatrics, The First Affliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tao Chen
- 3Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jingjing Pan
- 2Department of Pediatrics, The First Affliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanqing Shen
- 4Department of Neonates, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No 72, Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008 China
| | - Xiaoqing Chen
- 2Department of Pediatrics, The First Affliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- 4Department of Neonates, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No 72, Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008 China
| | - Rui Cheng
- 4Department of Neonates, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No 72, Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008 China
| | - Yang Yang
- 4Department of Neonates, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No 72, Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210008 China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang P, Liu XM, Ding L, Zhang XJ, Ma ZL. mTOR signaling-related MicroRNAs and Cancer involvement. J Cancer 2018; 9:667-673. [PMID: 29556324 PMCID: PMC5858488 DOI: 10.7150/jca.22119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of single-stranded RNAs, 18-23 nucleotides in length that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been closely associated with the development of cancer. In the process of tumorigenesis, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays important roles, and the mTOR signaling pathway is aberrant in various types of human cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast cancer, prostate cancer, as well as others. However, the relationship between miRNAs and the mTOR signaling pathway is indistinct. Herein, we not only summarize the progress of miRNAs and the mTOR signaling pathway in cancers, but also highlight their role in the diagnosis and treatment in the clinic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wang
- Lab for Noncoding RNA & Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Xiao-Min Liu
- Lab for Noncoding RNA & Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.,School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Lei Ding
- Lab for Noncoding RNA & Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Xin-Ju Zhang
- Lab for Noncoding RNA & Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Zhong-Liang Ma
- Lab for Noncoding RNA & Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| |
Collapse
|