miR-493 by regulating of c-Jun targets Wnt5a/PD-L1-inducing esophageal cancer cell development

Active substance and mechanisms of Actinidia chinensis Planch for the treatment of breast cancer was explored based on network pharmacology and in silico study

In this paper, our objective was to investigate the potential mechanisms of Actinidia chinensis Planch (ACP) for breast cancer treatment with the application of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics. "Mihoutaogen" was used as a key word to query the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database for putative ingredients of ACP and its related targets. DrugBank, GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, and therapeutic target databases were used to search for genes associated with "breast cancer." Using Cytoscape 3.9.0 we then constructed the protein-protein interaction and drug-ingredient-target-disease networks. An enrichment analysis of Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway and gene ontology were performed to exploration of the signaling pathways associated with ACP for breast cancer treatment. Discovery Studio software was applied to molecular docking. Finally, the ligand-receptor complex was subjected to a 50-ns molecular dynamics simulation using the Desmond_2020.4 tools. Six main active ingredients and 176 targets of ACP and 2243 targets of breast cancer were screened. There were 118 intersections of targets for both active ingredients and diseases. Tumor protein P53 (TP53), AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Jun Proto-Oncogene (JUN), and Heat Shock Protein 90 Alpha Family Class A Member 1 (HSP90AA1) selected as the most important genes were used for verification by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The primary active compounds of ACP against breast cancer were predicted preliminarily, and its mechanism was studied, thereby providing a theoretical basis for future clinical studies.

Exploring Potential Biomarkers in Oesophageal Cancer: A Comprehensive Analysis

Oesophageal cancer (OC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. OC is highly aggressive, primarily due to its late stage of diagnosis and poor prognosis for patients' survival. Therefore, the establishment of new biomarkers that will be measured with non-invasive techniques at low cost is a critical issue in improving the diagnosis of OC. In this review, we summarize several original studies concerning the potential significance of selected chemokines and their receptors, including inflammatory proteins such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs), claudins (CLDNs), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs), adamalysines (ADAMs), as well as DNA- and RNA-based biomarkers, in OC. The presented results indicate the significant correlation between the CXCL12, CXCR4, CXCL8/CXCR2, M-CSF, MMP-2, MMP-9 ADAM17, ADAMTS-6, and CLDN7 levels and tumor stage, as well as the clinicopathological parameters of OC, such as the presence of lymph node and/or distant metastases. CXCL12, CXCL8/CXCR2, IL-6, TIMP-2, ADAM9, and ADAMTS-6 were prognostic factors for the overall survival of OC patients. Furthermore, IL-6, CXCR4, CXCL8, and MMP-9 indicate higher diagnostic utility based on the area under the ROC curve (AUC) than well-established OC tumor markers, whereas CLDN18.2 can be used in novel targeted therapies for OC patients.

MicroRNAs: A novel signature in the metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant epithelial tumor, characterized by squamous cell differentiation, it is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. The increased mortality rate of ESCC patients is predominantly due to the advanced stage of the disease when discovered, coupled with higher risk of metastasis, which is an exceedingly malignant characteristic of cancer, frequently leading to a high mortality rate. Unfortunately, there is currently no specific and effective marker to predict and treat metastasis in ESCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules, approximately 22 nucleotides in length. miRNAs are vital in modulating gene expression and serve pivotal regulatory roles in the occurrence, progression, and prognosis of cancer. Here, we have examined the literature to highlight the intimate correlations between miRNAs and ESCC metastasis, and show that ESCC metastasis is predominantly regulated or regulated by genetic and epigenetic factors. This review proposes a potential role for miRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for metastasis in ESCC metastasis, with the ultimate aim of reducing the mortality rate among patients with ESCC.

microRNA-497 slows esophageal cancer development and reverses chemotherapy resistance through its target QKI

Esophageal cancer (EC) is considered one of the most lethal cancers in human beings, and multiple miRNAs have been investigated to be involved in EC development by targeting their target genes. However, the function and related mechanism of miRNA-497 on EC tumorigenesis remain uncertain. This study first demonstrated that the expression levels of miR-497 in esophageal cancer specimens and cells were down-regulated. Forced expression of miR-497 inhibited cell proliferation, tube formation and migration in EC cells. To further investigate the potential molecular mechanism of miR-497 suppression in regulating EC, we found that miR-497 directly binds to the 3'-untranslational region of QKI, miR-497 overexpression suppressed QKI expression. We further found that overexpression of miR-497 enhanced the effect of chemotherapy in EC cell lines, and prevented the tumor growth of EC in vivo. Our findings indicated that miR-497 suppression increased QKI expression and therapeutic resistance of esophageal cancer, which is likely to be a biomarker of EC progression and potential therapeutic target.

Epigenetic modifications in esophageal cancer: An evolving biomarker

Esophageal cancer is a widespread cancer of the digestive system that has two main subtypes: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA). In the diverse range of cancer therapy schemes, the side effects of conventional treatments remain an urgent challenge to be addressed. Therefore, the pursuit of novel drugs with multiple targets, good efficacy, low side effects, and low cost has become a hot research topic in anticancer therapy. Based on this, epigenetics offers an attractive target for the treatment of esophageal cancer, where major mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNA regulation, chromatin remodelling and nucleosome localization offer new opportunities for the prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer. Recently, research on epigenetics has remained at a high level of enthusiasm, focusing mainly on translating the basic research into the clinical setting and transforming epigenetic alterations into targets for cancer screening and detection in the clinic. With the increasing emergence of tumour epigenetic markers and antitumor epigenetic drugs, there are also more possibilities for anti-esophageal cancer treatment. This paper focuses on esophageal cancer and epigenetic modifications, with the aim of unravelling the close link between them to facilitate precise and personalized treatment of esophageal cancer.

Roles of PTEN inactivation and PD-1/PD-L1 activation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common type of esophageal cancer in China and developing countries. The purpose of this review is to summarize the roles of inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and activation of the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) upon binding to its ligand (PD-L1) in the promotion of ESCC. Studies of ESCC performed in vitro and in vivo indicated that PTEN and PD-L1 function in the regulation of cell proliferation, invasion, and migration; the epithelial-mesenchymal transition; resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy; and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Certain genetic variants of PTEN are related to susceptibility to ESCC, and PTEN and PD-L1 also function in ESCC progression and affect the prognosis of patients with ESCC. There is also evidence that the expression of PD-L1 and PTEN are associated with the progression of certain other cancers. Future studies should further examine the relationship of PD-L1 and PTEN and their possible interactions in ESCC.

miR-664b-3p inhibits colon cell carcinoma via negatively regulating Budding uninhibited by benzimidazole 3

MiR-664b-3p has been reported to play a crucial role in cancer progression. This research explores the biological effect and molecular mechanisms of miR-664b-3p in cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of colon cancer. The expression level of miR-664b-3p and Budding uninhibited by benzimidazole 3 (Bub3) in colon cancer cell lines and tissues were detected and analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR and bioinformatics method. The Western blot measured the expression level of proliferation-related, migration-related, and apoptosis-related proteins. CCK-8 assessed cell viability, and the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected by the Edu assay, wound-healing assay, and transwell assay, respectively. Annexin/propidium iodide (PI) assays detected apoptosis of cells. The target of miR-664b-3p was predicted by bioinformatics methods and then validated by gene engineering technology. MiR-664b-3p was downregulated in colon cancer tissues and cells. The cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of cells were inhibited after transfecting by miR-664b-3p mimics, whereas apoptosis was promoted. Over-expression of miR-664b-3p could reduce the expression of proliferation-promoted proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), proliferation marker protein Ki-67 (Ki-67), migration-promoted Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Matrix Metallopeptidase 2 (MMP-2), and Matrix Metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), and apoptosis-inhibited protein (Bcl-2) while increasing the expression of apoptosis-promoted BCL2-Associated X Protein (Bax), caspase-3, and caspase-9 proteins. The study indicated that miR-664b-3p plays a significant role in colon cancer and could regulate the progression of colon cancer tumor growth by suppressing the expression of BUB3 protein. These findings provide a novel strategy to screen and treat colon cancer.

circFIG 4 drives the carcinogenesis and metastasis of esophagus cancer via the miR-493-5p/E2F3 axis

Background

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a highly malignant tumor of the digestive tract. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been verified to play a regulatory role in the occurrence and progression of different cancers, including EC. This research aimed to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of circFIG 4 in EC progression.

Methods

The analyses of circFIG 4, miR‐493‐5p, and neuro‐oncological ventral antigen 2 levels were administrated by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The characteristics of circFIG 4 were determined by Ribonuclease R assay and Actinomycin D assay. Cell proliferation was assessed via colony formation assay and 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine incorporation assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. Western blot was performed to assess protein expression. The targeted interaction among circFIG 4, miR‐493‐5p, and E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) were validated using dual‐luciferase reporter or RNA immunoprecipitation assays.

Results

circFIG 4 was overtly upregulated in EC and was relatively stable in EC cells. circFIG 4 knockdown impeded proliferation, migration, and invasion and expedited apoptosis in EC cells. circFIG 4 served as a miR‐493‐5p sponge to act in the development of EC. Furthermore, circFIG 4 modulated EC progression via targeting miR‐493‐5p and miR‐493‐5p suppressed EC progression via targeting E2F3. circFIG 4 modulated E2F3 expression through acting as a sponge of miR‐493‐5p. Moreover, circFIG 4 knockdown inhibited EC tumorigenesis by targeting miR‐493‐5p/E2F3 axis tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusion

circFIG 4 silence mitigated EC malignant progression at least partly by mediating the miR‐493‐5p/E2F3 pathway, highlighting new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for EC treatment.

miR-493 by regulating of c-Jun targets Wnt5a/PD-L1-inducing esophageal cancer cell development

BACKGROUND

Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers across the globe; the 5-year survival of esophageal cancer patients is still low. MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation has been implicated in cancer development, and the miRNAs play a pivotal role in esophageal cancer pathogenesis. It is urgently needed to find out how miRNA dysregulation was involved in esophageal cancer (EC) development.

METHODS

Through experiments in vivo and in vitro, we explored potential signaling pathways, miR-493/Wnt5A/c-JUN loop, in EC. Their mechanistic roles in EC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were investigated through multiple validation steps in EC9706 and TE13 cell lines and EC specimens.

RESULTS

Overexpression of miR-493 attenuates esophageal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, miR-493 downregulation is an unfavorable factor in EC and negatively correlated with Wnt5A. The existence of miR-493 is also an important attribute of metabolism. Based on mechanism analyses, we show that miR-493 inhibits the activity of c-JUN and p-PI3K/p-AKT with enhanced p21 and directly regulates Wnt5A expression and function, whereas c-JUN binds the promoter region of miR-493 and suppressed the expression of miR-493, forming a negative feedback loop.

CONCLUSIONS

The miR-493/Wnt5A/c-JUN loop is a molecular feedback loop that refers to the development of esophageal cancer cells and a potential target for the treatment of esophageal cancer.