miR-96 targets SOX6 and promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma

Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling in Gastrointestinal Cancer: Role of miRNAs as Biomarkers of Tumor Invasion

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are the most frequent neoplasm, responsible for half of all cancer-related deaths. Metastasis is the leading cause of death from GI cancer; thus, studying the processes that regulate cancer cell migration is of paramount importance for the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms adopted by cancer cells to promote cell migration and the subsequent metastasis formation by highlighting the key role that tumor microenvironment components play in deregulating cellular pathways involved in these processes. We, therefore, provide an overview of the role of different microRNAs in promoting tumor metastasis and their role as potential biomarkers for the prognosis, monitoring, and diagnosis of GI cancer patients. Finally, we relate the possible use of nutraceuticals as a new strategy for targeting numerous microRNAs and different pathways involved in GI tumor invasiveness.

Identification of the Key miRNAs and Genes Associated with the Regulation of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Network-Based Approach

Lung cancer is the major cause of cancer-associated deaths across the world in both men and women. Lung cancer consists of two major clinicopathological categories, i.e., small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Lack of diagnosis of NSCLC at an early stage in addition to poor prognosis results in ineffective treatment, thus, biomarkers for appropriate diagnosis and exact prognosis of NSCLC need urgent attention. The proposed study aimed to reveal essential microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the carcinogenesis of NSCLC that probably could act as potential biomarkers. The NSCLC-associated expression datasets revealed 12 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs). MiRNA-mRNA network identified key miRNAs and their associated genes, for which functional enrichment analysis was applied. Further, survival and validation analysis for key genes was performed and consequently transcription factors (TFs) were predicted. We obtained twelve miRNAs as common DEMs after assessment of all datasets. Further, four key miRNAs and nine key genes were extracted from significant modules based on the centrality approach. The key genes and miRNAs reported in our study might provide some information for potential biomarkers profitable to increased prognosis and diagnosis of lung cancer.

The role of Rho/ROCK in epileptic seizure-related neuronal damage

Epilepsy is one of the most severe neurological disorders characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures. Although more than two-thirds of patients can be cured with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), the rest one-third of epilepsy patients are resistant to AEDs. A series of studies have demonstrated Rho/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) pathway might be involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy in the recent twenty years. Several related pathway inhibitors of Rho/ROCK have been used in the treatment of epilepsy. We searched PubMed from Jan 1, 2000 to Dec 31, 2020, using the terms "epilepsy AND Rho AND ROCK" and "seizure AND Rho AND ROCK". We selected articles that characterized Rho/ROCK in animal models of epilepsy and patients. We then chose the most relevant research studies including in-vitro, in-vivo and clinical trials. The expression of Rho/ROCK could be a potential non-invasive biomarker to apply in treatment for patients with epilepsy. RhoA and ROCK show significant upregulation in the acute and chronic stage of epilepsy. ROCK inhibitors can reduce the epilepsy, epileptic seizure-related neuronal death and comorbidities. These findings demonstrate the novel development for diagnosis and treatment for patients with epilepsy. Rho/ROCK signaling pathway inhibitors may show more promising effects in epilepsy and related neurological diseases.

Advance of SOX Transcription Factors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Role, Tumor Immune Relevance to Targeted Therapy

Simple Summary

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest human health burdens worldwide. However, the molecular mechanism of HCC development is still not fully understood. Sex determining region Y-related high-mobility group box (SOX) transcription factors not only play pivotal roles in cell fate decisions during development but also participate in the initiation and progression of cancer. Given the significance of SOX factors in cancer and their ‘undruggable’ properties, we summarize the role and molecular mechanism of SOX family members in HCC and the regulatory effect of SOX factors in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of various cancers. For the first time, we analyze the association between the levels of SOX factors and that of immune components in HCC, providing clues to the pivotal role of SOX factors in the TIME of HCC. We also discuss the opportunities and challenges of targeting SOX factors for cancer.

Abstract

Sex determining region Y (SRY)-related high-mobility group (HMG) box (SOX) factors belong to an evolutionarily conserved family of transcription factors that play essential roles in cell fate decisions involving numerous developmental processes. In recent years, the significance of SOX factors in the initiation and progression of cancers has been gradually revealed, and they act as potential therapeutic targets for cancer. However, the research involving SOX factors is still preliminary, given that their effects in some leading-edge fields such as tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) remain obscure. More importantly, as a class of ‘undruggable’ molecules, targeting SOX factors still face considerable challenges in achieving clinical translation. Here, we mainly focus on the roles and regulatory mechanisms of SOX family members in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the fatal human health burdens worldwide. We then detail the role of SOX members in remodeling TIME and analyze the association between SOX members and immune components in HCC for the first time. In addition, we emphasize several alternative strategies involved in the translational advances of SOX members in cancer. Finally, we discuss the alternative strategies of targeting SOX family for cancer and propose the opportunities and challenges they face based on the current accumulated studies and our understanding.

MicroRNA-96: A therapeutic and diagnostic tumor marker

Cancer has been always considered as one of the main human health challenges worldwide. One of the main causes of cancer-related mortality is late diagnosis in the advanced stages of the disease, which reduces the therapeutic efficiency. Therefore, novel non-invasive diagnostic methods are required for the early detection of tumors and improving the quality of life and survival in cancer patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have pivotal roles in various cellular processes such as cell proliferation, motility, and neoplastic transformation. Since circulating miRNAs have high stability in body fluids, they can be suggested as efficient noninvasive tumor markers. MiR-96 belongs to the miR-183-96-182 cluster that regulates cell migration and tumor progression as an oncogene or tumor suppressor by targeting various genes in solid tumors. In the present review, we have summarized all of the studies that assessed the role of miR-96 during tumor progression. This review clarifies the molecular mechanisms and target genes recruited by miR-96 to regulate tumor progression and metastasis. It was observed that miR-96 mainly affects tumorigenesis by targeting the structural proteins and FOXO transcription factors.

LncRNA TP53TG1 Promotes the Growth and Migration of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Activation of ERK Signaling

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) TP53 target 1 (TP53TG1) was discovered as a TP53 target gene. TP53TG1 has been reported as having dual roles by exerting tumor-suppressive and oncogenic activities that vary depending on the cancer type. Yet, the role of TP53TG1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not fully understood. In this study, we performed both gain- and loss-of-function studies to determine the biological role of TP53TG1 in HCC. We found that the knockdown of TP53 in HCC cells caused the upregulation of TP53TG1. Furthermore, we found that the knockdown of TP53TG1 not only suppressed HCC cell proliferation and migration, but also reduced intrinsic ERK signaling. In contrast, the overexpression of TP53TG1 increased ERK activation and enhanced HCC proliferation. In conclusion, our study reveals an oncogenic role of TP53TG1 in HCC, which provides a novel insight into the cell-type-specific function of TP53TG1 in HCC.

MicroRNAs: The Link between the Metabolic Syndrome and Oncogenesis

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a cluster of disorders that increase the risk of a plethora of conditions, in particular type two diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancers. MetS is a complex entity characterized by a chronic inflammatory state that implies dysregulations of adipokins and proinflammatory cytokins together with hormonal and growth factors imbalances. Of great interest is the implication of microRNA (miRNA, miR), non-coding RNA, in cancer genesis, progression, and metastasis. The adipose tissue serves as an important source of miRs, which represent a novel class of adipokines, that play a crucial role in carcinogenesis. Altered miRs secretion in the adipose tissue, in the context of MetS, might explain their implication in the oncogenesis. The interplay between miRs expressed in adipose tissue, their dysregulation and cancer pathogenesis are still intriguing, taking into consideration the fact that miRNAs show both carcinogenic and tumor suppressor effects. The aim of our review was to discuss the latest publications concerning the implication of miRs dysregulation in MetS and their significance in tumoral signaling pathways. Furthermore, we emphasized the role of miRNAs as potential target therapies and their implication in cancer progression and metastasis.

MiR-96 promotes myocardial infarction-induced apoptosis by targeting XIAP

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has becoming a common leading cause of sudden death worldwide. MiR-96 has been identified that can target anti-apoptotic related genes in various human diseases. However, its role in AMI remains unclear. In this study, we found that miR-96 was significantly upregulated in the ischemic heart of MI mice (mice with myocardial infarction) and also in the H₂O₂-treated neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (CMs). In response H₂O₂, miR-96 inhibitor could significantly promote cell viability and reduce cell apoptosis of CMs, and inhibit the expression of Cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, while promote Bcl-2 expression. In addition, downregulation of miR-96 remarkedly reduced the infarct size and the percentages of apoptotic cells in the heart tissues of MI mice, and then protected against the damaged cardiac function. Moreover, we identified that XIAP (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis) acted as a direct target gene of miR-96, meanwhile si-XIAP could obviously reverse miR-96 inhibitor induced protective effect in H₂O₂-treated CMs Taken together, our study demonstrated that miR-96 promoted AMI progression by directly targeting XIAP, and inhibiting the anti-apoptotic function of XIAP (Graphical abstract), which provided a novel therapeutic target for AMI treatment.

microRNA-19a-3p and microRNA-376c-3p Promote Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression Through SOX6-Mediated Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Background

Recent researches have suggested that microRNA (miR)-19a-3p and miR-376c-3p might function as initiators in diverse cancers. Based on which, in this current study, we aimed to probe into the combined effects and mechanisms of miR-19a-3p and miR-376c-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

Methods

Tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues from 21 cases of HCC patients, HCC cell lines, and human normal liver cell lines were used in this study. RT-qPCR and Western blot were implemented to detect the expression of miR-19a-3p, miR-376c-3p, SOX6, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway-associated factors in HCC tissues and cells. The direct relationships between miR-19a-3p or miR-376c-3p and SOX6 were confirmed by luciferase activity assay. HCC cells were treated with miR-19a-3p inhibitor, miR-376c-3p inhibitor, or oe-SOX-6 to figure out their functions in HCC malignancy. The in vivo assays were conducted for the confirmation of in vitro results.

Results

In both HCC tissues and cells, miR-19a-3p and miR-376c-3p were highly expressed, and SOX6 was poorly expressed. Depleted miR-19a-3p or miR-376c-3p was found to result in retarded HCC development. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase activity assay revealed that SOX6 was the common target gene of miR-19a-3p and miR-376c-3p. Overexpressed SOX6 was demonstrated to block the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, thereby slowing down HCC progression. The in vivo assays showed that suppressed miR-19a-3p or miR-376c-3p and elevated SOX6 could reduce the tumor volume and weight of nude mice.

Conclusion

This study suggests that miR-19a-3p/miR-376c-3p activates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway via targeting SOX6, contributing to promoted biological functions of HCC cells.

SRY-related high-mobility-group box 6 suppresses cell proliferation and is downregulated in breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers endangering women's health. SRY-related high-mobility-group box 6 (SOX6) is associated with many cancers, though its role has not been reported in breast cancer. Here, we aimed to explore the expression and function of SOX6 in breast cancer. On the basis of the analysis of SOX6 in The Cancer Genome Atlas, Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia and Genotype-Tissue Expression databases, we revealed that SOX6 was downregulated in breast cancer, and we verified the results at the cellular level by means of western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR. When SOX6 was overexpressed, the proliferation of breast cancer cells was inhibited, and apoptosis was promoted. Moreover, the methylation level of the SOX6 promoter in breast cancer was significantly higher than that in normal tissues. 5'-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine reversed the high level of methylation that was caused by decreased expression of SOX6. This evidence suggests that SOX6 is a tumor suppressor gene associated with breast cancer. This study could provide a new target for breast cancer treatment.

miR-96 regulates liver tumor-initiating cells expansion by targeting TP53INP1 and predicts Sorafenib resistance

Liver tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) contribute to tumorigenesis, progression, recurrence and drug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the underlying mechanism for the propagation of liver T-ICs remains unclear. In the present study, our finding shows that miR-96 is upregulated in liver T-ICs. Functional studies revealed that forced miR-96 promotes liver T-ICs self-renewal and tumorigenesis. Conversely, knockdown miR-96 inhibits liver T-ICs self-renewal and tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, miR-96 downregulates TP53INP1 via its mRNA 3'UTR in liver T-ICs. Furthermore, the miR-96 expression determines the responses of hepatoma cells to sorafenib treatment. Analysis of patient cohorts and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) further demonstrate that the miR-96 may predict sorafenib benefits in HCC patients. Our findings revealed the crucial role of the miR-96 in liver T-ICs expansion and sorafenib response, rendering miR-96 as an optimal target for the prevention and intervention of HCC.

miR-96-5p attenuates malathion-induced apoptosis of human kidney cells by targeting the ER stress marker DDIT3

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are major players in cellular responses to xenobiotic compounds and toxins. However, their functions in organophosphate-induced cytotoxicity remain unclear. This study investigated the involvement of miR-96-5p in the non-cholinergic toxicity of malathion in normal human kidney cells (HK-2 cells). Malathion decreased HK-2 cell viability and the expression of miR-96-5p in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, transfection with miR-96-5p mimics attenuated malathion-induced HK-2 cell apoptosis, whereas transfection with a miR-96-5p inhibitor increased HK-2 cell apoptosis. Luciferase assays indicated that miR-96-5p could bind directly to the 3'-untranslated region of DDIT3, a well-known marker of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Further analyses of the expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins indicated that miR-96-5p may function to reduce malathion-induced HK-2 cell apoptosis via regulation of the DDIT3/B-cell lymphoma (BCL)-2/caspase-3 signaling pathway. In summary, the results of the present study indicate that miR-96-5p protects HK-2 cells from malathion-induced ER stress-dependent apoptosis by targeting DDIT3.

Curcumin Suppresses Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion Through Modulating miR-21-5p/SOX6 Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Curcumin is the major component of turmeric, which has an anticancer property in multiple cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanisms are still largely unclear. This research aims to assess the pharmacological function of curcumin and explore the potential microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA regulatory mechanism in curcumin-mediated HCC progression. Materials and Methods: Hep3B and Huh-7 cells were used for in vitro experiments. Cells were exposed to various doses of curcumin, and transfection was conducted using Lipofectamine 2000. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were examined using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide or transwell assay. The abundances of miR-21-5p and gender-determining region Y-related high-mobility group box 6 (SOX6) were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or Western blot. The relationship between miR-21-5p and SOX6 was analyzed through luciferase reporter analysis. Results: Curcumin repressed HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. miR-21-5p level was decreased in curcumin-treated cells, and miR-21-5p overexpression reversed curcumin-mediated inhibition of HCC progression. SOX6 was targeted through miR-21-5p, and SOX6 restoration attenuated miR-21-5p-induced promotion of HCC progression. Moreover, curcumin exposure increased SOX6 expression through regulating miR-21-5p, and knockdown of SOX6 overturned curcumin-modulated suppression of HCC progression. Conclusions: Curcumin repressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells by regulating miR-21-5p and SOX6, indicating the promisingly pharmacological effect of curcumin in HCC.

[METTL14 as a predictor of postoperative survival outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of RNA methyltransferase METTL14 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its clinical significance.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of METTL14 in 147 pairs of HCC and adjacent hepatic tissues. According to the scores rated by pathologists, the 147 cases of HCC were divided into high and low METTL14 expression groups. The correlation between the expression of METTL14 and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed, and Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the relationship between the expression of METTL14 and the prognosis and survival (including the overall survival and disease-free survival) of the patients with HCC after operation. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were carried out to assess the impact of METTL14 expression level on the overall survival and tumor-free survival of the patients after operation using a COX regression model and explore whether METTL14 expression level is an independent prognostic risk factor of the postoperative patients.

RESULTS

The expression of METTL14 was significantly lower in HCC tissues than in the adjacent tissues (P < 0.001). METTL14 expression in HCC tissues was significantly correlated with the tumor size (P=0.044) and TNM stage (P=0.046). A low expression of METTL14 in HCC tissues was significantly correlated with a poor prognosis and a significantly shortened overall survival time and disease-free survival time of the patients (P < 0.05), and was an independent risk factor affecting the overall survival and disease-free survival of HCC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

METTL14 may be a new prognostic marker for patients with HCC after hepatectomy.

Overexpression of microRNA-96 is associated with poor prognosis and promotes proliferation, migration and invasion in cholangiocarcinoma cells via MTSS1

MicroRNA-96 (miR-96) has been revealed serve an oncogenic role in various types of cancer. However, the role of miR-96 in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) development and progression is yet to be elucidated. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of miR-96 in CCA. The expression pattern of miR-96 in CCA tissues and cell lines was evaluated using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analyses were conducted to investigate the prognostic significance of miR-96 in CCA. Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays were performed to identify the functions of miR-96. The association between miR-96 and metastasis suppressor-1 (MTSS1) was verified using a dual-luciferase assay. The results demonstrated that miR-96 expression levels were increased in CCA tissues and cell lines compared with those in adjacent normal tissues and normal human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cell lines, respectively. High expression levels of miR-96 were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, differentiation and TNM stage. In addition, upregulated expression of miR-96 was associated with a poorer prognosis and was predicted to be a prognostic factor in patients with CCA. Overexpression of miR-96 in vitro promoted CCA cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Additionally, MTSS1 was identified as a direct target of miR-96. The results of the present study indicated the clinical and biological importance of miR-96 as an oncogene in CCA. miR-96 may represent an independent prognostic biomarker and may promote CCA cell proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting MTSS1.

MiRNA-96-5p contributed to the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by targeting FOXO3

Various microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) and the forkhead box O (FOXO) family proteins have been shown to influence gastric cancer progression and development. Here, we aimed to identify the gastric cancer related miRNAs and their relationship with the FOXO family. MiRNA profiles were generated by miRNA microarray screening from pre-operative plasma samples. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western bolt were used to determine the expression levels of miR-96 and FOXO family. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide assay and colony formation assay were used to test the cell viability. The miR-96-5p and FOXO3 interaction were confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. Our results demonstrated the excessive expression of miR-96-5p in gastric cancer cell lines and plasma samples from gastric cancer patients. In addition, the protein levels of FOXO3 were decreased in tissue samples from gastric cancer patients. Moreover, miR-96-5p accelerated the gastric cancer cell proliferation by directly targeting FOXO3. Therefore, we conclude that iR-96-5p might promote the progression of gastric cancer by directly targeting FOXO3 mRNA and downregulating the expression of FOXO3 protein, which provides new insights for the molecular mechanism of gastric cancer.

The role of microRNAs in the pathogenesis, grading and treatment of hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a prevalent parasitic disease worldwide. The main pathological changes of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis are hepatic granuloma and fibrosis due to worm eggs. Portal hypertension and ascites induced by hepatic fibrosis are usually the main causes of death in patients with chronic hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Currently, no effective vaccine exists for preventing schistosome infections. For quite a long time, praziquantel (PZQ) was widely used for the treatment of schistosomiasis and has shown benefit in treating liver fibrosis. However, drug resistance and chemical toxicity from PZQ are being increasingly reported in recent years; therefore, new and effective strategies for treating schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis are urgently needed. MicroRNA (miRNA), a non-coding RNA, has been proved to be associated with the development of many human diseases, including schistosomiasis. In this review, we present a balanced and comprehensive view of the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis, grading, and treatment of schistosomiasis-associated hepatic fibrosis. The multiple regulatory roles of miRNAs, such as promoting or inhibiting the development of liver pathology in murine schistosomiasis are also discussed in depth. Additionally, miRNAs may serve as candidate biomarkers for diagnosing liver pathology of schistosomiasis and as novel therapeutic targets for treating schistosomiasis-associated hepatic fibrosis.

SOX6 suppresses the development of lung adenocarcinoma by regulating expression of p53, p21CIPI , cyclin D1 and β-catenin

The Sry‐related high‐mobility group box6 (SOX6) has been implicated in the development of cancer, but its role in lung cancer is incompletely understood. Here, we report that SOX6 expression is frequently down‐regulated in lung adenocarcinoma tissues. Moreover, SOX6 can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells, which may occur through cell cycle arrest at G1/S due to up‐regulation of p53 and p21^CIPI and down‐regulation of cyclin D1 and β‐catenin. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the expression of SOX6 is significantly associated with patient disease‐related survival and is an independent prognostic factor for lung adenocarcinoma. These data suggest that SOX6 may act as a suppressor of lung adenocarcinoma.

miR-96 acts as a tumor suppressor via targeting the BCR-ABL1 oncogene in chronic myeloid leukemia blastic transformation

MicroRNA-mediated posttranscriptional regulation is an important epigenetic regulatory mechanism of gene expression, and its dysregulation is involved in the development and progression of a variety of malignancies, including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The BCR-ABL1 fusion gene is not only the initiating factor of CML, but it is also an important driving factor for blastic transformation. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase activity, represented by imatinib, are currently the first-line treatment for CML. However, due to primary resistance or secondary resistance caused by mutations in the BCR-ABL1 kinase domain, TKIs cannot completely prevent the progression of CML; thus, the study of BCR-ABL1 gene expression regulation is of great significance. In this study, bioinformatics analysis and our results showed that miR-96 could directly bind to the 3'UTR region of BCR-ABL1 to regulate fusion protein expression, thereby regulating its downstream signaling pathway activity. We also found that miR-96 was downregulated during the progression from the chronic phase (CML-CP) to the blast crisis (CML-BC). Downregulation of miR-96 could promote the proliferation and participate in the cell differentiation of CML-BC cells. Additionally, we found that the novel histone deacetylase drug chidamide and the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor decitabine could restore the low expression of miR-96 in CML cells, and there were two abnormal hypermethylated sites in the promoter region of miR-96 in CML, suggesting that its low expression might be at least partially regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. In addition, re-expression of miR-96 could increase the sensitivity of CML-BC cells to imatinib. Thus, miR-96 functions as a tumor suppressor, and re-expression of this microRNA might have therapeutic benefits in CML blastic transformation.

miR-96-5p promotes the proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells by suppressing Caveolae1

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the second most common gynaecological malignancy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be aberrantly expressed in OC tissue and have been proposed as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for OC.

RESULTS

In this study, we found that miR-96-5p was up-regulated in OC tissues and OC cells compared to normal ovarian tissues and epithelial cell line. And, miR-96-5p was also up-regulated in the serum samples from OC patients compared to health participants. In addition, there was a positive correlation of miR-96-5p levels between OC tissues and serum samples. At the cellular level, overexpression of miR-96-5p promoted cell proliferation and migration in OC cells. Moreover, we further validated Caveolae1 (CAV1) as the direct target of miR-96-5p in OC cells through luciferase activity assays and western blot. CAV1 was obvious low expression in OC tissues. The overexpression of CAV1 abrogated the promotion of miR-96-5p on the OC cells proliferation and migration. Finally, we found that AKT signaling pathway was involved in this process. MiR-96-5p inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT and expression of down-stream proteins Cyclin D1 and P70 by targeting CAV1.

CONCLUSIONS

The above findings suggested that targeting miR-96-5p may be a promising strategy for OC treatment.

MiR-499 inhibited hypoxia/reoxygenation induced cardiomyocytes injury by targeting SOX6

Objective

MiR-499 has been reported to be expressed only in cardiomyocytes, and its expression would increase after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). miR-499 plays a role in the process of cardiomyocytes injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), however, it still remains unclear.

Results

Hypoxia inhibited miR-499-5p expression and H/R induced apoptosis. SOX6 was a target gene of miR-499-5p, and high expression of miR-499-5p inhibited the expression of SOX6. MiR-499-5p reduced H9c2 cells injury by inhibiting the expression of SOX6, overexpression of which could reverse the effect of miR-499-5p on H9c2 cells. MiR-499-5p inhibited the levels of LDH and MDA, while overexpression of miR-499-5p inhibited H/R-induced cell apoptosis. MiR-499-5p could up-regulate the level of Bcl-2 and down-regulate the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3. However, SOX6 partially reversed these effects of miR-499-5p.

Conclusion

We proved that miR-499-5p inhibited H/R-induced cardiomyocytes injury by targeting SOX6. Our results suggested that miR-499-5p/SOX6 pathway may present a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of AMI.

miR-185-5p targets ROCK2 and inhibits cell migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma

Previous studies demonstrated microRNA-185 (miR-185) as a tumor suppressive microRNA (miRNA) in various types of cancer. The current study aimed to verify this finding in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explored the downstream channel of miR-185-5p. We detected miR-185-5p and Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) mRNA and protein levels by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting in HCC tissues and cell lines. Luciferase reporter assay proved the direct relationship between miR-185-5p and ROCK2. Cell migration and invasion were assessed via Transwell assay. miR-185-5p level was reduced in HCC tissues and cell lines. miR-185-5p overexpression impeded migration and invasion of HCC cells. Moreover, miR-185-5p directly targeted ROCK2 which was repressed by miR-185-5p in HCC. In addition, ROCK2 contributed to cell metastasis of HCC. In summary, miR-185-5p inhibited cell metastasis of HCC by suppressing ROCK2. The novel miR-185/ROCK2 axis shows potential in improving the therapies of HCC and enhancing HCC survival.

Anticancer effect of miR-96 inhibitor in bladder cancer cell lines

The present study aimed to investigate the role of microRNA-96 (miR-96) in the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of bladder cancer cell lines, and the associated mechanisms. The expression of miR-96 and human ether-à-go-go-related (HERG1) potassium channel in the normal uroepithelium SV-HUC-1 cell line, and bladder cancer T24 and 5637 cell lines were examined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or/and western blotting. Transfection with miR-96 inhibitor or scrambled control (SC) was used to study the biological activities of miR-96 in bladder cancer cell lines. MTT, flow cytometric and Transwell assays were applied to detect cell viability, apoptosis and invasion, respectively. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was applied to determine the association between miR-96 and HERG1 expression. As demonstrated, miR-96 was highly expressed in the two bladder cancer cell lines, particularly in T24 cells. Following transfection with miR-96 inhibitor, miR-96 expression was significantly reduced in the T24 cell line, compared with SC. The miR-96 inhibitor suppressed cell proliferation and invasion, promoted apoptosis and arrested the cell cycle at the G₁ phase. Consistently, HERG1 was also highly expressed in the two bladder cancer cell lines at the mRNA and protein level, but not in the normal uroepithelium cell line. The miR-96 inhibitor also significantly decreased HERG1 expression compared with SC. The results of the dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-96 directly targeted wild-type HERG1. In conclusion, miR-96 inhibitor exhibited anticancer effects on bladder cancer cells by inhibiting proliferation and invasion of cells, and promoting their apoptosis. HERG1 was an important target of miR-96. These results provided experimental evidence supporting miR-96 as a therapeutic target for patients with bladder cancer.

MiR-184 expression is regulated by AMPK in pancreatic islets

AMPK is a critical energy sensor and target for widely used antidiabetic drugs. In β cells, elevated glucose concentrations lower AMPK activity, and the ablation of both catalytic subunits [β-cell–specific AMPK double-knockout (βAMPKdKO) mice] impairs insulin secretion in vivo and β-cell identity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that silence gene expression that are essential for pancreatic β-cell function and identity and altered in diabetes. Here, we have explored the miRNAs acting downstream of AMPK in mouse and human β cells. We identified 14 down-regulated and 9 up-regulated miRNAs in βAMPKdKO vs. control islets. Gene ontology analysis of targeted transcripts revealed enrichment in pathways important for β-cell function and identity. The most down-regulated miRNA was miR-184 (miR-184-3p), an important regulator of β-cell function and compensatory expansion that is controlled by glucose and reduced in diabetes. We demonstrate that AMPK is a potent regulator and an important mediator of the negative effects of glucose on miR-184 expression. Additionally, we reveal sexual dimorphism in miR-184 expression in mouse and human islets. Collectively, these data demonstrate that glucose-mediated changes in AMPK activity are central for the regulation of miR-184 and other miRNAs in islets and provide a link between energy status and gene expression in β cells.—Martinez-Sanchez, A., Nguyen-Tu, M.-S., Cebola, I., Yavari, A., Marchetti, P., Piemonti, L., de Koning, E., Shapiro, A. M. J., Johnson, P., Sakamoto, K., Smith, D. M., Leclerc, I., Ashrafian, H., Ferrer, J., Rutter, G. A. MiR-184 expression is regulated by AMPK in pancreatic islets.

Retracted Article: MiR-182-5p and miR-96-5p increased hepatocellular carcinoma cell mobility, proliferation and cisplatin resistance partially by targeting RND3

We investigated whether miR-182-5p or miR-96-5p could increase hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development by targeting Rho Family GTPase 3 (RND3) gene expression. The expression levels of miR-182-5p, miR-96-5p and mRNA/protein of RND3 in non-HCC liver tissue, HCC tissue and adjacent tissue specimens were evaluated by RT-qPCR and western blot. Patient-derived HCC cell culture was established, and miR-182-5p or miR-96-5p agomir or antagomir treatment was performed to mimic the overexpression or knockdown of the two miRNAs. HCC cell mobility in vitro was monitored by trans-well migration and invasion assay, while HCC cell growth in vitro was evaluated by cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis assay. HCC cell apoptosis was further investigated by caspase-3/-8/-9 activity assay. MiR-182-5p and miR-96-5p were significantly upregulated in HCC tissue specimens compared with non-HCC or adjacent tissue specimens, inversely correlating to RND3 mRNA expression level. Treatment with miR-182-5p or miR-96-5p agomir significantly reduced RND3 mRNA/protein expression level in HCC cells. MiR-182-5p- or miR-96-5p-targeting RND3 mRNA was verified by luciferase reporter assay and AGO2-RNA immunoprecipitation assay. MiR-182-5p or miR-96-5p agomir treatment significantly rescued HCC cell migration and invasion in vitro that were repressed by RND3 overexpression, during which ROCK1 and ROCK2 inhibition were involved. MiR-182-5p or miR-96-5p agomir treatment also increased HCC cell proliferation and cisplatin resistance in vitro, which could be antagonized by RND3 overexpression or ROCK inhibition. Thus, miR-182-5p and miR-96-5p increased HCC cell mobility, proliferation and cisplatin resistance in vitro partially by targeting RND3.

We investigated whether miR-182-5p or miR-96-5p could increase hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development by targeting Rho Family GTPase 3 (RND3) gene expression.