Inhibition of miR-24 suppresses malignancy of human non-small cell lung cancer cells by targeting WWOX in vitro and in vivo

Molecular Mechanism of WWOX Inhibiting the Development of Esophageal Cancer by Inhibiting Hippo Signaling Pathway

With the emergence of combined surgical treatments, complemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, survival rates for esophageal cancer patients have improved, but the overall 5-year survival rate remains low. Therefore, there is an urgent need for further research into the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer and the development of effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment methods. We initially utilized the GeneCards and DisGeNET databases to identify the esophageal cancer-associated gene WWOX (WW domain containing oxidoreductase). Subsequently, we employed RT-qPCR (Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR) and WB (western blot) to investigate the differential expression of WWOX in HEEC (human esophageal endotheliocytes) and various ESCC (esophageal squamous cell carcinoma) cell lines. We further evaluated alterations in cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis via CCK8 (cell counting kit-8) and clonal formation, Transwell assays and flow cytometry. Additionally, we investigated changes in protein expressions related to the Hippo signaling pathway (YAP/TEAD) through RT-qPCR and WB. Lastly, to further elucidate the regulatory mechanism of WWOX in ESCC, we performed exogenous YAP rescue experiments in ESCC cells with WWOX overexpression to investigate the alterations in apoptosis and proliferation. Results indicated that the expression of WWOX in ESCC was significantly downregulated. Subsequently, upon overexpression of WWOX, ESCC cell proliferation and migration decreased, while apoptosis increased. Additionally, the expression of YAP and TEAD were reduced. However, the sustained overexpression of YAP attenuated the inhibitory effects of WWOX on ESCC cell malignancy. In conclusion, WWOX exerts inhibitory effects on the proliferation and migration of ESCC and promotes apoptosis by suppressing the Hippo signaling pathway. These findings highlight the potential of WWOX as a novel target for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer.

LINC01137/miR-186-5p/WWOX: a novel axis identified from WWOX-related RNA interactome in bladder cancer

Introduction: The discovery of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) dates back to the pre-genomics era, but the progress in this field is still dynamic and leverages current post-genomics solutions. WWOX is a global gene expression modulator that is scarcely investigated for its role in regulating cancer-related ncRNAs. In bladder cancer (BLCA), the link between WWOX and ncRNA remains unexplored. The description of AP-2α and AP-2γ transcription factors, known as WWOX-interacting proteins, is more commonplace regarding ncRNA but still merits investigation. Therefore, this in vitro and in silico study aimed to construct an ncRNA-containing network with WWOX/AP-2 and to investigate the most relevant observation in the context of BLCA cell lines and patients. Methods: RT-112, HT-1376, and CAL-29 cell lines were subjected to two stable lentiviral transductions. High-throughput sequencing of cellular variants (deposited in the Gene Expression Omnibus database under the GSE193659 record) enabled the investigation of WWOX/AP-2-dependent differences using various bioinformatics tools (e.g., limma-voom, FactoMineR, multiple Support Vector Machine Recursive Feature Elimination (mSVM-RFE), miRDB, Arena-Idb, ncFANs, RNAhybrid, TargetScan, Protein Annotation Through Evolutionary Relationships (PANTHER), Gene Transcription Regulation Database (GTRD), or Evaluate Cutpoints) and repositories such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia. The most relevant observations from cap analysis gene expression sequencing (CAGE-seq) were confirmed using real-time PCR, whereas TCGA data were validated using the GSE31684 cohort. Results: The first stage of the whole study justified focusing solely on WWOX rather than on WWOX combined with AP-2α/γ. The most relevant observation of the developed ncRNA-containing network was LINC01137, i.e., long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that unraveled the core network containing UPF1, ZC3H12A, LINC01137, WWOX, and miR-186-5p, the last three being a novel lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis. Patients' data confirmed the LINC01137/miR-186-5p/WWOX relationship and provided a set of dependent genes (i.e., KRT18, HES1, VCP, FTH1, IFITM3, RAB34, and CLU). Together with the core network, the gene set was subjected to survival analysis for both TCGA-BLCA and GSE31684 patients, which indicated that the increased expression of WWOX or LINC01137 is favorable, similar to their combination with each other (WWOX↑ and LINC01137↑) or with MIR186 (WWOX↑/LINC01137↑ but MIR186↓). Conclusion: WWOX is implicated in the positive feedback loop with LINC01137 that sponges WWOX-targeting miR-186-5p. This novel WWOX-containing lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis should be further investigated to depict its relationships in a broader context, which could contribute to BLCA research and treatment.

PATZ1 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A New Biomarker That Negatively Correlates with PD-L1 Expression and Suppresses the Malignant Phenotype

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, is still an unmet medical problem due to the lack of both effective therapies against advanced stages and markers to allow a diagnosis of the disease at early stages before its progression. Immunotherapy targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint is promising for many cancers, including NSCLC, but its success depends on the tumor expression of PD-L1. PATZ1 is an emerging cancer-related transcriptional regulator and diagnostic/prognostic biomarker in different malignant tumors, but its role in lung cancer is still obscure. Here we investigated expression and role of PATZ1 in NSCLC, in correlation with NSCLC subtypes and PD-L1 expression. A cohort of 104 NSCLCs, including lung squamous cell carcinomas (LUSCs) and adenocarcinomas (LUADs), was retrospectively analyzed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of PATZ1 and PD-L1. The results were correlated with each other and with the clinical characteristics, showing on the one hand a positive correlation between the high expression of PATZ1 and the LUSC subtype and, on the other hand, a negative correlation between PATZ1 and PD-L1, validated at the mRNA level in independent NSCLC datasets. Consistently, two NSCLC cell lines transfected with a PATZ1-overexpressing plasmid showed PD-L1 downregulation, suggesting a role for PATZ1 in the negative regulation of PD-L1. We also showed that PATZ1 overexpression inhibits NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and that Patz1-knockout mice develop LUAD. Overall, this suggests that PATZ1 may act as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC.

Versatile role of miR-24/24-1*/24-2* expression in cancer and other human diseases

MiRNAs (miRs) have been proven to be well-validated therapeutic targets. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that intricate, intrinsic and paradoxical functions of miRs are context-dependent because of their multiple upstream regulators, broad spectrum of downstream molecular targets and distinct expression in various tissues, organs and disease states. Targeted therapy has become an emerging field of research. One key for the development of successful miR-based/targeted therapy is to acquire integrated knowledge of its regulatory network and its association with disease phenotypes to identify critical nodes of the underlying pathogenesis. Herein, we systematically summarized the comprehensive role of miR-24-3p (miR-24), along with its passenger strands miR-24-1-5p* (miR-24-1) and miR-24-2-5p* (miR-24-2), emphasizing their microenvironment, intracellular targets, and associated gene networks and regulatory phenotypes in 18 different cancer types and 13 types of other disorders. MiR-24 targets and regulates numerous genes in various cancer types and enhances the expression of several oncogenes (e.g., cMyc, BCL2 and HIF1), which are challenging in terms of druggability. In contrast, several tumor suppressor proteins (p21 and p53) have been reported to be downregulated by miR-24. MiR-24 also regulates the cell cycle and is associated with numerous cancer hallmarks such as apoptosis, proliferation, metastasis, invasion, angiogenesis, autophagy, drug resistance and other diseases pathogenesis. Overall, miR-24 plays an emerging role in the diagnosis, prognosis and pathobiology of various diseases. MiR-24 is a potential target for targeted therapy in the era of precision medicine, which expands the landscape of targetable macromolecules, including undruggable proteins.

Effect of WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase Gene Polymorphism on Clinicopathological Characteristics of Patients with EGFR Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma in Taiwan

Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common histological type of non-small cell lung cancer, which accounts for the majority of lung cancers. Previous studies have showed that dysregulation of WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) participates in the generation of several cancer types, including lung cancer. However, whether these WWOX polymorphisms are related to the clinical risk of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated lung adenocarcinoma is worthy of investigation. The present study examined the relationship between the WWOX single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs11545028, rs12918952, rs3764340, rs73569323, and rs383362) and the clinicopathological factors in lung adenocarcinoma patients with or without EGFR mutations. We found that there was no significant difference in the genotype distribution of WWOX polymorphism between EGFR wild-type and EGFR mutant in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Our results demonstrated that the presence of at least one G genotype (CG and GG) allele on WWOX rs3764340 was associated with a significantly higher risk of nearby lymph node involvement in those patients harboring EGFR mutations (odds ratio (OR) = 3.881, p = 0.010) compared with the CC genotype. Furthermore, in the subgroup of lung adenocarcinoma patients with the EGFR-L858R mutation, both WWOX rs3764340 C/G (OR = 5.209, p = 0.023) and rs73569323 C/T polymorphisms (OR = 3.886, p = 0.039) exhibited significant associations with the size of primary tumors and the invasion of adjacent tissues. In conclusion, these data indicate that WWOX SNPs may help predict tumor growth and invasion in patients with EGFR mutant lung adenocarcinoma, especially those with the EGFR-L858R mutant in Taiwan.

Long Noncoding RNA PMS2L2 Downregulates miR-24 through Methylation to Suppress Cell Apoptosis in Ulcerative Colitis

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the colon. It has been reported that PMS2L2 plays protective roles in inflammatory injury. This study aimed to investigate the role of the long noncoding RNA PMS2L2 in UC.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients with UC as well as 62 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Expressions of PMS2L2 and miR-24 in plasma from UC patients and healthy controls were determined by RT-qPCR. The interaction between PMS2L2 and miR-24 was predicted by bioinformatics and confirmed by RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down. The role of PMS2L2 in the regulation of miR-24 gene methylation was analyzed by methylation-specific PCR. The effects of PMS2L2 and miR-24 on the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blots.

RESULTS

PMS2L2 was downregulated in the plasma of UC patients compared to that in age- and gender-matched healthy control. In human colonic epithelial cells (HCnEpCs), PMS2L2 overexpression inhibited miR-24 expression via promoting the methylation of miR-24 gene. In contrast, miR-24 overexpression failed to affect PMS2L2. In the detection of cell apoptosis, PMS2L2 overexpression could promote the expression of Bcl-2 and inhibit Bax, cleaved-caspase-3, and cleaved-caspase-9 expressions stimulated by LPS. Flow cytometer revealed that PMS2L2 elevation suppressed the apoptosis of HCnEpCs induced by LPS, but miR-24 aggravated the apoptosis. PMS2L2 overexpression rescued the detrimental effect of miR-24 on cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

PMS2L2 may downregulate miR-24 via methylation to suppress cell apoptosis in UC.

MicroRNA-24 in Cancer: A Double Side Medal With Opposite Properties

MicroRNA-24 (miR-24) has been widely studied in a variety of human cancers, which plays different roles in specific type of cancers. In the present review, we summarized the recent surveys regarding the role of miR-24 in different human cancers. On the one hand, miR-24 was reported to be down-regulated in some types of cancer, indicating its role as a tumor suppressor. On the other hand, it has shown that miR-24 was up-regulated in some other types of cancer, even in the same type of cancer, suggesting the role of miR-24 being as an oncogene. Firstly, miR-24 was dysregualted in human cancers, which is related to the clinical performance of cancer patients. Thus miR-24 could be used as a potential non-invasive diagnostic marker in human cancers. Secondly, miR-24 was associated with the tumor initiation and progression, being as a promoter or inhibitor. Therefore, miR-24 might be an effective prognostic biomarker in different type of cancers. Lastly, the abnormal expression of miR-24 was involved in the chemo- and radio- therapies of cancer patients, indicating the role of miR-24 being as a predictive biomarker to cancer treatment. Totally, miR-24 contributes to tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and tumor therapy, which closely related to clinic. The present review shows that miR-24 plays a double role in human cancers and provides plenty of evidences to apply miR-24 as a potential novel therapeutic target in treating human cancers.

MiR-24 Promotes Cell Growth in Human Glioma by CDX1/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

MicroRNA-24 (miR-24) has been identified to be related to the development of glioma. However, the exact molecular mechanism of miR-24 in glioma progression remains vague. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of miR-24 in sepsis and to reveal the associated mechanisms. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to compare the levels of miR-24 in glioma and normal tissue. The miR-24 inhibitor or miR-24 mimic was transfected into glioma cells, and then the effects of miR-24 on cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected using CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blot was used to examine the levels of CDX1 (caudal-type homeobox 1), PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, Cyclin D1, p27, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Bcl-2, Bax, and Cleaved-casp3. Luciferase assay was used to identify the target gene of miR-24. An animal model was established in mice to detect the role of miR-24 in vivo. These results suggested that miR-24 was elevated in glioma, and miR-24 could promote glioma progression by facilitating cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis through CDX1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, indicating a novel pathway underlying progression in glioma cells and providing a potential target for glioma treatment.

LncRNA HOTAIRM1 Inhibits the Proliferation and Invasion of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells via the miR-498/WWOX Axis

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) is a major form of lung cancer, which is a main cause of global cancer-related death in male and female patients. LncRNAs are implicated in tumor development. However, the functions and mechanisms of the LncRNA HOTAIRM1 in ADC are not known.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Here, the downregulated HOTAIRM1 in ADC was selected by TCGA analysis. Subsequently, qRT-PCR, CCK-8, EdU, cell apoptosis, cell cycle and cell invasion assays were utilized for evaluating the roles of HOTAIRM1 in ADC. Finally, we explored the mechanism of HOTAIRM1 in ADC.

RESULTS

HOTAIRM1 expression was considerably decreased in ADC tissues. The knockdown of HOTAIRM1 promoted the cell cycle, growth, and invasion of ADC. Moreover, HOTAIRM1 competitively bound miR-498 to regulate the expression of WWOX.

CONCLUSION

HOTAIRM1 suppressed the proliferation and invasion of ADC cells via the modulation of miR-498/WWOX axis. This finding suggested that it might be clinically valuable as a biomarker for ADC. Furthermore, the findings suggest LncRNA HOTAIRM1 as a candidate therapeutic target in ADC.

Knockout of beta-2 microglobulin reduces stem cell-induced immune rejection and enhances ischaemic hindlimb repair via exosome/miR-24/Bim pathway

Generating universal human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells (UMSCs) without immune rejection is desirable for clinical application. Here we developed an innovative strategy using CRISPR/Cas9 to generate B2M^‐UMSCs in which human leucocyte antigen (HLA) light chain β2‐microglobulin (B2M) was deleted. The therapeutic potential of B2M^‐UMSCs was examined in a mouse ischaemic hindlimb model. We show that B2M^‐UMSCs facilitated perfusion recovery and enhanced running capability, without inducing immune rejection. The beneficial effect was mediated by exosomes. Mechanistically, microRNA (miR) sequencing identified miR‐24 as a major component of the exosomes originating from B2M^‐UMSCs. We identified Bim as a potential target of miR‐24 through bioinformatics analysis, which was further confirmed by loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function approaches. Taken together, our data revealed that knockout of B2M is a convenient and efficient strategy to prevent UMSCs‐induced immune rejection, and it provides a universal clinical‐scale cell source for tissue repair and regeneration without the need for HLA matching in the future.