IL6R is a target of miR-197 in human keratinocytes

WTAP mediated m6A-modified circ_0056856 contributes to the proliferation, migration, and invasion of IL-22-stimulated human keratinocyte by miR-197-3p/CDK1 axis

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammation-associated skin disorder, and interleukin-22 (IL-22) is involved in psoriasis pathogenesis by boosting the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes. Mounting evidence has shown that circRNAs might play an important role in several aspects of psoriasis. This study is designed to explore the role and mechanism of circ_0056856 in regulating the phenotypes of IL-22-induced keratinocytes (HaCaT cells).

METHODS

Circ_0056856, microRNA-197-3p (miR-197-3p), Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), and Wilms tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) levels were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion were analyzed using 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), Wound scratch, and Transwell assays. After being predicted by Circinteractome or TargetScan, binding between miR-197-3p and circ_0056856 or CDK1 was verified by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. CDK1 and WTAP protein levels were determined using Western blot. Interaction between WTAP and circ_0056856 was assessed using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) assay.

RESULTS

Increased circ_0056856, CDK1, and WTAP were observed in psoriasis patients and IL-22-treated HaCaT cells. Moreover, circ_0056856 knockdown might repress IL-22-induced HaCaT cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. In mechanism, circ_0056856 might function as a sponge of miR-197-3p to modulate CDK1 expression, and WTAP improved circ_0056856 expression via m6A methylation.

CONCLUSION

WTAP-guided m6A modified circ_0056856 facilitates IL-22-stimulated HaCaT cell damage through the miR-197-3p/CDK1 axis, which could provide novel insights into psoriasis treatment.

Exosomes from chondrocytes overexpressing miR-214-3p facilitate M2 macrophage polarization and angiogenesis to relieve Legg Calvé-Perthes disease

OBJECTIVE

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) is a partial or total necrosis of femoral head bone caused by blood supply disorder and its etiology is not clear. Studies have revealed that microRNA-214-3p (miR-214-3p) plays a vital role in LCPD, however, its exact mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the potential role of chondrocytes-derived exosomes carrying miR-214-3p (exos-miR-214-3p) in the pathogenesis of LCPD.

METHODS

RT-qPCR was performed to evaluate miR-214-3p expression level in femoral head cartilage, serum and chondrocytes of patients with LCPD, as well as dexamethasone (DEX)-exposed TC28 cells. Effects of exos-miR-214-3p on the proliferation and apoptosis were verified via MTT assay, TUNEL staining and caspase3 activity assay. The M2 macrophage markers were assessed by flow cytometry, RT-qPCR and Western blot. Moreover, angiogenic effects of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were tested using CCK-8 and tube formation assays. Bioinformatics prediction, luciferase assay and ChIP were applied to verify the association between ATF7, RUNX1 and miR-214-3p.

RESULTS

miR-214-3p was found to be decreased in patients with LCPD and DEX-treated TC28 cells, of which overexpression promoted cell proliferation and suppressed apoptosis. Mechanistically, exos-miR-214-3p facilitated M2 polarization by ATF7/TLR4 axis and HUVECs angiogenesis via RUNX1/VEGFA axis.

CONCLUSION

miR-214-3p alleviates LCPD by promoting M2 polarization of macrophages and angiogenesis.

RNF113A targeted by miR-197 promotes proliferation and inhibits autophagy via CXCR4/CXCL12/AKT/ERK/Beclin1 axis in cervical cancer

Ring Finger Protein 113 (RNF113A), an ubiquitin E3 ligase, is genetically associated with many biological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, cell death, and neurogenesis. Recently, RNF113A has been found to be an abnormal expression in many diseases, such as X-linked trichothiodystrophy syndrome and esophageal cancer. Here, we explore the potential mechanism of RNF113A in the progression of cervical cancer (CC). In this study, we evaluated the expression level and biological function of RNF113A in CC both in vitro and in vivo by bioinformatic prediction, DIA proteomic analysis, compensation experiment, Co-IP, dual-luciferase reporter assay and nude mouse xenograft to identify the RNF113A-associated autophagy pathways involved with tumorigenesis. Consistent with the prediction from biological information analysis, we found that RNF113A was highly expressed in human CC tissues and cells. In addition, this study illustrated that the high expression of RNF113A dramatically promoted proliferation and suppressed autophagy both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, low expression of RNF113A enhanced autophagy activities and inhibited tumor growth in CC. We also found that miRNA-197, the level of which (negative correlation with RNF113A) declined in human CC, directly restrained the expression of RNF113A. Mechanistically, proteomic and mechanistic assays uncovered that RNF113A confirmed as the direct downstream target of miR-197, promoted proliferation and restrained autophagy in CC not through direct ubiquitination degradation of autophagy marker Beclin1 but via CXCR4/CXCL12/AKT/ERK/Beclin1 signal transduction axis. In summary, we found a new miR-197/RNF113 A/CXCR4/CXCL12/AKT/ERK/Beclin1 regulation pathway that plays an important part in the survival and progression of CC.

MiR-199a-3p Induces Mesenchymal to Epithelial Transition of Keratinocytes by Targeting RAP2B

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is an epidermal skin cancer that evolves from normal epidermis along several pre-malignant stages. Previously we found specific miRNAs alterations in each step along these stages. miR-199a-3p expression decreases at the transition to later stages. A crucial step for epithelial carcinoma cells to acquire invasive capacity is the disruption of cell-cell contacts and the gain of mesenchymal motile phenotype, a process known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This study aims to study the role of decreased expression of miR-199a-3p in keratinocytes' EMT towards carcinogenesis. First, we measured miR-199a-3p in different stages of epidermal carcinogenesis. Then, we applied Photoactivatable Ribonucleoside-Enhanced Crosslinking and Immunoprecipitation (PAR-CLIP) assay to search for possible biochemical targets of miR-199a-3p and verified that Ras-associated protein B2 (RAP2B) is a bona-fide target of miR-199a-3p. Next, we analyzed RAP2B expression, in CSCC biopsies. Last, we evaluated possible mechanisms leading to decreased miR-199a-3p expression. miR-199a-3p induces a mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) in CSSC cells. Many of the under-expressed genes in CSCC overexpressing miR-199a-3p, are possible targets of miR-199a-3p and play roles in EMT. RAP2B is a biochemical target of miR-199a-3p. Overexpression of miR-199a-3p in CSCC results in decreased phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (FAK). In addition, inhibiting FAK phosphorylation inhibits EMT marker genes' expression. In addition, we proved that DNA methylation is part of the mechanism by which miR-199a-3p expression is inhibited. However, it is not by the methylation of miR-199a putative promoter. These findings suggest that miR-199a-3p inhibits the EMT process by targeting RAP2B. Inhibitors of RAP2B or FAK may be effective therapeutic agents for CSCC.