miRNA-34a decreases ovarian cancer cell proliferation and chemoresistance by targeting HDAC1

Restoring microRNA-34a overcomes acquired drug resistance and disease progression in human breast cancer cell lines via suppressing the ABCC1 gene

PURPOSE

Breast cancer is one of the leading types of cancer diagnosed in women. Despite the improvements in chemotherapeutic cure strategies, drug resistance is still an obstacle leading to disease aggressiveness. The small non-coding RNA molecules, miRNAs, have been implicated recently to be involved as regulators of gene expression through the silencing of mRNA targets that contributed to several cellular processes related to cancer metastasis. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the beneficial role and mechanism of miRNA-34a-based gene therapy as a novel approach for conquering drug resistance mediated by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in breast cancer cells, besides exploring the associated invasive behaviors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Bioinformatics tools were used to predict miRNA ABC transporter targets by tracking the ABC transporter pathway. After the establishment of drug-resistant breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 sublines, cells were transfected with the mimic or inhibitor of miRNA-34a-5p. The quantitative expression of genes involved in drug resistance was performed by QRT-PCR, and the exact ABC transporter target specification interaction was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis was utilized to determine the ability of miRNA-34a-treated cells against doxorubicin uptake and accumulation in cell cycle phases. The spreading capability was examined by colony formation, migration, and wound healing assays. The apoptotic activity was estimated as well.

RESULTS

Our findings firstly discovered the mechanism of miRNA-34a-5p restoration as an anti-drug-resistant molecule that highly significantly attenuates the expression of ABCC1 via the direct targeting of its 3'- untranslated regions in resistant breast cancer cell lines, with a significant increase of doxorubicin influx by MDA-MB-231/Dox-resistant cells. Additionally, the current data validated a significant reduction of metastatic potentials upon miRNA-34a-5p upregulation in both types of breast cancer-resistant cells.

CONCLUSION

The ectopic expression of miRNA-34a ameliorates the acquired drug resistance and the migration properties that may eventually lead to improved clinical strategies and outcomes for breast cancer patients. Additionally, miRNA-34a could be monitored as a diagnostic/prognostic biomarker for resistant conditions.

MicroRNA-Mediated Regulation of Histone-Modifying Enzymes in Cancer: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

In the past decade, significant advances in molecular research have provided a deeper understanding of the intricate regulatory mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis. MicroRNAs, short non-coding RNA sequences, exert substantial influence on gene expression by repressing translation or inducing mRNA degradation. In the context of cancer, miRNA dysregulation is prevalent and closely associated with various stages of carcinogenesis, including initiation, progression, and metastasis. One crucial aspect of the cancer phenotype is the activity of histone-modifying enzymes that govern chromatin accessibility for transcription factors, thus impacting gene expression. Recent studies have revealed that miRNAs play a significant role in modulating these histone-modifying enzymes, leading to significant implications for genes related to proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in cancer cells. This article provides an overview of current research on the mechanisms by which miRNAs regulate the activity of histone-modifying enzymes in the context of cancer. Both direct and indirect mechanisms through which miRNAs influence enzyme expression are discussed. Additionally, potential therapeutic implications arising from miRNA manipulation to selectively impact histone-modifying enzyme activity are presented. The insights from this analysis hold significant therapeutic promise, suggesting the utility of miRNAs as tools for the precise regulation of chromatin-related processes and gene expression. A contemporary focus on molecular regulatory mechanisms opens therapeutic pathways that can effectively influence the control of tumor cell growth and dissemination.

MicroRNA targeting: A novel therapeutic intervention for ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer, a perilous form of cancer affecting the female reproductive system, exhibits intricate communication networks that contribute to its progression. This study aims to identify crucial molecular abnormalities linked to the disease to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In particular, we investigate the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) as diagnostic biomarkers and explore their potential in treating ovarian cancer. By targeting miRNAs, which can influence multiple pathways and genes, substantial therapeutic benefits can be attained. In this review we want to shed light on the promising application of miRNA-based interventions and provide insights into the specific miRNAs implicated in ovarian cancer pathogenesis.

Diagnostics and Therapeutic Potential of miR-205 and miR-34a in Ovarian Cancer Management: A miRNA-Target-Based Analysis

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) treatment strategies mainly focused on surgery combined with chemotherapy. Recent targeted therapy techniques emerge as milestone and could be used for management of ovarian cancer (OC) progression with more efficacy. The aim is to evaluate the therapeutic and diagnostic potential of microRNA (miRNA) in management of EOC using in silico and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) expression analysis. We performed functional enrichment and miRNA-Target genes expression analysis in 48 EOC and 22 normal tissue samples using qRT-PCR and correlated with miRNA expression data in matched samples to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of miRNA in OC management. In silico functional enrichment analysis revealed miRNA association with disease. Target genes of miRNAs participate in several biologically important pathways leading to cancer progression. Targets of miRNA-205 and miRNA-34a were significantly downregulated, and upregulated, respectively, in EOC. Moreover, significant negative correlation between relative expression of miRNA-205 and target genes (BCL2, ZEB1, E2F1, and TP53) was observed with r = -0.813; r = -0.755; r = -0.559; and r = -0.767, respectively. Similarly, miRNA-34a also showed higher negative correlation with target genes (MDM4, MAPK3, BRCA1, AREG) with r = -0.840; r = -0.870; r = -0.622; and r = -0.623, respectively. In addition, receiver operating characteristics analysis of combined miRNA panel, miRNA-205-Target gene panel, and miRNA-34a-Target gene panel exhibited higher diagnostics value with area under the curve (AUC) of 92.7 (p < 0.0001), 94.8 (p < 0.0001), and 98.3 (p < 0.0001), respectively. Negative Correlation between miRNA and target genes expression data in matched samples highlights therapeutic potential of miRNA in EOC management. Moreover, combined diagnostic potential of miRNA-target gene panel could predict risk of EOC with higher AUC, sensitivity, and specificity.

The role and application of transcriptional repressors in cancer treatment

Gene expression is modulated through the integration of many regulatory elements and their associated transcription factors (TFs). TFs bind to specific DNA sequences and either activate or repress transcriptional activity. Through decades of research, it has been established that aberrant expression or functional abnormalities of TFs can lead to uncontrolled cell division and the development of cancer. Initial studies on transcriptional regulation in cancer have focused on TFs as transcriptional activators. However, recent studies have demonstrated several different mechanisms of transcriptional repression in cancer, which could be potential therapeutic targets for the development of specific anti-cancer agents. In the first section of this review, "Emerging roles of transcriptional repressors in cancer development," we summarize the current understanding of transcriptional repressors and their involvement in the molecular processes of cancer progression. In the subsequent section, "Therapeutic applications," we provide an updated overview of the available therapeutic targets for drug discovery and discuss the new frontier of such applications.

A quantitative structural analysis of AR-42 derivatives as HDAC1 inhibitors for the identification of promising structural contributors

Alteration and abnormal epigenetic mechanisms can lead to the aberration of normal biological functions and the occurrence of several diseases. The histone deacetylase (HDAC) family of enzymes is one of the prime regulators of epigenetic functions modifying the histone proteins, and thus, regulating epigenetics directly. HDAC1 is one of those HDACs which have important contributions to cellular epigenetics. The abnormality of HDAC is correlated to the occurrence, progression, and poor prognosis in several disease conditions namely neurodegenerative disorders, cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, chemotherapy resistance, and survival in various cancers. Therefore, the progress of potent and effective HDAC1 inhibitors is one of the prime approaches to combat such diseases. In this study, both regression and classification-based molecular modelling studies were conducted on some AR-42 derivatives as HDAC1 inhibitors to elucidate the crucial structural aspects that are responsible for regulating their biological responses. This study revealed that the molecular polarizability, van der Waals volume, the presence of aromatic rings as well as the higher number of hydrogen bond acceptors might affect prominently their inhibitory activity and might be responsible for proper fitting and interactions at the HDAC1 active site to pertain effective inhibition.

Disease-Associated Regulation of Non-Coding RNAs by Resveratrol: Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Applications

There have been significant advances, particularly over the last 20 years, in the identification of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and their pathophysiological role in a wide range of disease states, particularly cancer and other chronic conditions characterized by excess inflammation and oxidative stress such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, liver and lung fibrosis. Such discoveries have potential therapeutic implications as a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the effects of ncRNAs on critical homeostatic control mechanisms and biochemical pathways might lead to the identification of novel druggable targets. In this context, increasing evidence suggests that several natural compounds can target ncRNAs at different levels and, consequently, influence processes involved in the onset and progression of disease states. The natural phenol resveratrol has been extensively studied for therapeutic purposes in view of its established anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, particularly in disease states such as cancer and cardiovascular disease that are associated with human aging. However, increasing in vitro and in vivo evidence also suggests that resveratrol can directly target various ncRNAs and that this mediates, at least in part, its potential therapeutic effects. This review critically appraises the available evidence regarding the resveratrol-mediated modulation of different ncRNAs in a wide range of disease states characterized by a pro-inflammatory state and oxidative stress, the potential therapeutic applications, and future research directions.

A comprehensive survey into the role of microRNAs in ovarian cancer chemoresistance; an updated overview

Ovarian cancer (OC), a frequent malignant tumor that affects women, is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in this group of individuals. For the treatment of ovarian cancer, systemic chemotherapy with platinum-based drugs or taxanes is the first-line option. However, drug resistance developed over time during chemotherapy medications worsens the situation. Since uncertainty exists for the mechanism of chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer, there is a need to investigate and overcome this problem. miRNAs are engaged in various signaling pathways that contribute to the chemotherapeutic resistance of ovarian cancer. In the current study, we have tried to shed light on the mechanisms by which microRNAs contribute to the drug resistance of ovarian cancer and the use of some microRNAs to combat this chemoresistance, leading to the worse outcome of ovarian cancer patients treated with systemic chemotherapeutics.

Mir-34a: a regulatory hub with versatile functions that controls osteosarcoma networks

Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most prevalent and highly aggressive bone malignancies. The treatment strategies of OS is under standard regimens, including surgical resection, chemotherapy, and other adjuvant therapy. However, the 5-year survival rate is still unsatisfactory. Previous studies have demonstrated that the expression of miR-34a decreases in osteosarcoma, which is involved in regulating numerous genes directly or indirectly at the post-transcriptional level and other pathways. Thus, miR-34a plays an important role in mediating OS cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis, and might be a pivotal biomarker for OS with diagnostic and therapeutic potentials. In this review, we aim to summarize the relationship between miR-34a and OS, with an emphasis on the specific mechanisms in OS development referring to miR-34a. Moreover, the potential role of miR-34a as a diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic candidate for OS would be presented in detail. However, the molecular mechanisms related to miR-34a and OS remain elusive, and more investigations are needed to reach a comprehensive understanding.

Exosomal lncRNA HOTAIR Promotes the Progression and Angiogenesis of Endometriosis via the miR-761/HDAC1 Axis and Activation of STAT3-Mediated Inflammation

Background

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and exosomes are implicated in endometriosis development. We measured the expression of an exosomal lncRNA, homeobox transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), and explored its molecular mechanism in endometriosis progression.

Methods

Expression of HOTAIR and microRNA (miR)-761 in different endometrial tissues was measured. Exosomes were isolated from a culture medium of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). RT-qPCR was used to measure HOTAIR expression in different exosome types. CCK-8, Edu, wound healing, transwell assays, flow cytometry and tube formation were used to detect the role of exosomal HOTAIR on ESCs and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The relationship among miR-761, HOTAIR, and histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. ESCs were transfected with miR-761 mimics or HDAC1 small interfering RNA (si-RNA) to ascertain if alterations in expression of miR-761 or HDAC1 could reverse the effect of exosomal HOTAIR. Then, we detected the effect of the HOTAIR/miR-761/HDAC1 axis on signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-mediated inflammation. In vivo experiments were conducted to verify in vitro results.

Results

HOTAIR expression was upregulated and miR-761 expression was downregulated in ectopic endometrium tissues. HOTAIR was packaged into exosomes and transported from ESCs to surrounding cells. Exosomal HOTAIR promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibited the apoptosis of ESCs. Angiogenesis of HUVECs was enhanced after cultured with exosomal HOTAIR. HOTAIR acted as a competing endogenous RNA to downregulate miR-761 and increase HDAC1 expression. miR-761 overexpression or HDAC1 knockdown reversed the role of exosomal HOTAIR on ESCs and HUVECs. The HOTAIR/miR-761/HDAC1 axis could activate STAT3-related proinflammatory cytokines and stattic (inhibitor of phosphorylated-STAT3) could reverse the effect of HOTAIR on ESCs and HUVECs. In vivo experiments suggested that exosomal HOTAIR promoted the growth of endometrial lesions in vivo.

Conclusion

Exosomal HOTAIR promoted the progression and angiogenesis of endometriosis by regulating the miR-761/HDAC1 axis and activating STAT3-mediated inflammation in vitro and in vivo, which may provide promising treatment for endometriosis.

Epi-miRNAs: Regulators of the Histone Modification Machinery in Human Cancer

Cancer is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Epigenetic deregulation is one of the most critical mechanisms in carcinogenesis and can be classified into effects on DNA methylation and histone modification. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs involved in fine-tuning their target genes after transcription. Various microRNAs control the expression of histone modifiers and are involved in a variety of cancers. Therefore, overexpression or downregulation of microRNAs can alter cell fate and cause malignancies. In this review, we discuss the role of microRNAs in regulating the histone modification machinery in various cancers, with a focus on the histone-modifying enzymes such as acetylases, deacetylases, methyltransferases, demethylases, kinases, phosphatases, desumoylases, ubiquitinases, and deubiquitinases. Understanding of microRNA-related aberrations underlying histone modifiers in pathogenesis of different cancers can help identify novel therapeutic targets or early detection approaches that allow better management of patients or monitoring of treatment response.

Down-regulation of ZNF252P-AS1 alleviates ovarian cancer progression by binding miR-324-3p to downregulate LY6K

Background

Ovarian cancer is a common gynecological malignant disease in women. Our work aimed to study the specific functions of ZNF252P antisense RNA 1 (ZNF252P-AS1) in ovarian cancer.

Methods

ZNF252P-AS1, miR-324-3p, and lymphocyte antigen 6 family member K (LY6K) expression were analyzed by bioinformatics tools in ovarian cancer tissues and was quantified by qRT-PCR in ovarian cancer cells. The effect of ZNF252P-AS1 knockdown, miR-324-3p suppression, and LY6K over-expression on apoptosis, cell viability, invasion, migration, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) was determined in vitro by using colony formation and EdU assays, flow cytometry, transwell assay, and Western blot. The interactions between ZNF252P-AS1 and miR-324-3p and between miR-324-3p and LY6K were validated by luciferase assays. The effects of restraining ZNF252P-AS1 in vivo were studied using BALB/c male nude mice.

Results

ZNF252P-AS1 and LY6K levels were up-regulated, while miR-324-3p was declined in ovarian cancer tissues and cells. ZNF252P-AS1 knockdown reduced ovarian cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT, whereas promoted its apoptosis. Besides, ZNF252P-AS1 interacted with miR-324-3p and reversely regulated its level, and miR-324-3p was directly bound to LY6K and negatively regulated its expression. Moreover, ZNF252P-AS1 knockdown reversed the effect of miR-324-3p on cancer cell apoptosis, growth, migration, invasion, and EMT. Similar results were discovered in the rescue experiments between miR-324-3p and LY6K. Additionally, mouse models in vivo experiments further validated that ZNF252P-AS1 knockdown distinctly inhibited tumor growth.

Conclusion

ZNF252P-AS1 mediated miR-324-3p/LY6K signaling to facilitate progression of ovarian cancer.

The Role of miRNA in Ovarian Cancer: an Overview

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a highly malignant disease that seriously threatens women’s health and poses challenges for clinicians. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been intensively studied in the field of oncology due to their regulatory roles in gene expressions through RNA degradation and/or translation inhibition. This review summarizes the current studies on miRNAs in OC and introduces the latest updates of miRNAs in the early screening, treatment, and prognostic prediction of OC, thereby demonstrating the clinical significance of miRNAs in OC. Further exploration on potential targets of miRNAs in OC may provide new insights on optimizing the diagnosis and treatment of OC. MiRNAs are important driving factors for the progression of OC and the dysregulation of miRNAs can serve as biomarkers in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of OC. Therefore, miRNAs are potential biological targets for early screening, targeted therapy, drug resistance monitoring, and prognosis improvement in malignancies such as OC.

Exosome long non-coding RNA SOX2-OT contributes to ovarian cancer malignant progression by miR-181b-5p/SCD1 signaling

Ovarian cancer is a common gynecologic cancer with increased mortality and morbidity. Exosome-delivered long non-coding RNAs have been well found in cancer development. However, the function of exosomal SOX2-OT in ovarian cancer development is still unreported. In the present study, we were interested in the investigation of the effect of exosomal SOX2-OT during ovarian cancer pathogenesis. Significantly, we revealed that the SOX2-OT expression levels were up-regulated in the ovarian cancer patients' plasma exosomes. The depletion of exosomal SOX2-OT inhibited migration, invasion, and proliferation and induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. In mechanical exploration, SOX2-OT could sponge miR-181b-5p, and miR-181b-5p was able to target SCD1 in the ovarian cancer cells. The SCD1 overexpression and miR-181b-5p inhibitor could reverse exosomal SOX2-OT-mediated ovarian cancer progression. Functionally, the depletion of exosomal SOX2-OT significantly reduced tumor growth of ovarian cancer cells in vivo. In summary, we concluded that exosomal SOX2-OT enhanced ovarian cancer malignant phenotypes by miR-181b-5p/SCD1 axis. Our finding presents novel insights into the mechanism by which exosomal lncRNA SOX2-OT promotes ovarian cancer progression. SOX2-OT, miR-181b-5p, and SCD1 may serve as potential targets for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer: epigenetics, drug resistance, and progression

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. OC is associated with the activation of oncogenes, the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, and the activation of abnormal cell signaling pathways. Moreover, epigenetic processes have been found to play an important role in OC tumorigenesis. Epigenetic processes do not change DNA sequences but regulate gene expression through DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA. This review comprehensively considers the importance of epigenetics in OC, with a focus on microRNA and long non-coding RNA. These types of RNA are promising molecular markers and therapeutic targets that may support precision medicine in OC. DNA methylation inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors may be useful for such targeting, with a possible novel approach combining these two therapies. Currently, the clinical application of such epigenetic approaches is limited by multiple obstacles, including the heterogeneity of OC, insufficient sample sizes in reported studies, and non-optimized methods for detecting potential tumor markers. Nonetheless, the application of epigenetic approaches to OC patient diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis is a promising area for future clinical investigation.

Upregulation of MicroRNA-34a Sensitizes Ovarian Cancer Cells to Resveratrol by Targeting Bcl-2

PURPOSE

Resveratrol (REV), a natural compound found in red wine, exhibits antitumor activity in various cancers, including ovarian cancer (OC). However, its potential anti-tumor mechanisms in OC are not well characterized. Here, we tried to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of REV in OC cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The anti-proliferative effects of REV against OC cells were measured using CCK-8 assay. Apoptosis was measured using an Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit. The anti-metastasis effects of REV were evaluated by invasion assay and wound healing assay. The miRNA profiles in REV-treated cells were determined by microarray assay.

RESULTS

Our results showed that REV treatment suppresses the proliferation, induces the apoptosis, and inhibits the invasion and migration of OV-90 and SKOV-3 cells. miR-34a was selected for further study due to its tumor suppressive roles in various human cancers. We found miR-34a overexpression enhanced the inhibitory effects of REV on OC cells, whereas miR-34a inhibition had the opposite effect in OC cells. In addition, we verified that BCL2, an anti-apoptotic gene, was found directly targeted by miR-34a. We also found that REV reduced the expression of Bcl-2 in OC cells. Further investigations revealed that overexpression of Bcl-2 significantly abolished the anti-tumor effects of REV on OC cells.

CONCLUSION

Overall, these results demonstrated that REV exerts anti-cancer effects on OC cells through an miR-34a/Bcl-2 axis, highlighting the therapeutic potential of REV for treatment of OC.

The comprehensive landscape of miR-34a in cancer research

MicroRNA-34 (miR-34) plays central roles in human diseases, especially cancers. Inactivation of miR-34 is detected in cancer cell lines and tumor tissues versus normal controls, implying its potential tumor-suppressive effect. Clinically, miR-34 has been identified as promising prognostic indicators for various cancers. In fact, members of the miR-34 family, especially miR-34a, have been convincingly proved to affect almost the whole cancer progression process. Here, a total of 512 (miR-34a, 10/21), 85 (miR-34b, 10/16), and 114 (miR-34c, 10/14) putative targets of miR-34a/b/c are predicted by at least ten miRNA databases, respectively. These targets are further analyzed in gene ontology (GO), KEGG pathway, and the Reactome pathway dataset. The results suggest their involvement in the regulation of signal transduction, macromolecule metabolism, and protein modification. Also, the targets are implicated in critical signaling pathways, such as MAPK, Notch, Wnt, PI3K/AKT, p53, and Ras, as well as apoptosis, cell cycle, and EMT-related pathways. Moreover, the upstream regulators of miR-34a, mainly including transcription factors (TFs), lncRNAs, and DNA methylation, will be summarized. Meanwhile, the potential TF upstream of miR-34a/b/c will be predicted by PROMO, JASPAR, Animal TFDB 3.0, and GeneCard databases. Notably, miR-34a is an attractive target for certain cancers. In fact, miR-34a-based systemic delivery combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy can more effectively control tumor progression. Collectively, this review will provide a panorama for miR-34a in cancer research.

Oleuropein reduces cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer by targeting apoptotic pathway regulators

AIMS

Despite many attempts to treat ovarian cancer, 13,940 individuals perish annually due to this disease worldwide. Chemotherapy is the main approach to ovarian cancer treatment, but the development of drug resistance is a major obstacle to the successful treatment. Oleuropein is a phenolic ingredient with anticancer characteristics. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of oleuropein on cell viability, cisplatin resistance, and apoptosis, as well as the expression levels of miR-34a, miR-125b, miR16, miR-21, and some of their potential target genes in ovarian cancer cells.

MAIN METHODS

A2780S and A2780/CP cell lines were exposed to different concentrations of oleuropein alone or in combination with cisplatin for 48 h and 72 h. After that, the cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated using MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Bioinformatics analyses were conducted using STRING database and Cytoscape software. The effect of oleuropein and/or cisplatin on the expression of miRNAs and target genes was assessed via Real-time PCR.

KEY FINDINGS

Upon treatment with oleuropein, the expression of P21, P53, and TNFRSF10B increased while that of Bcl-2 and Mcl1 decreased. Moreover, this is the 1st report of a significant decrease in the expression of miR-21 and increase in the expression of miR-34a, miR-125b, and miR16 by oleuropein and/or cisplatin in ovarian cancer cells.

SIGNIFICANCE

Altogether, these data revealed that oleuropein regulated the expression of the above-mentioned miRNAs in ovarian cancer cells, which potentially resulted in apoptosis induction, cell proliferation inhibition, and cisplatin resistance decline in ovarian cancer cells. To confirm the results of this study, it is suggested that similar experiments be performed in animal models of ovarian cancer.

Effect of microRNA-4268 on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Through Regulating Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Level

STAT3 is closely related to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). miR-4268 is predicted to regulate STAT3 level by MiRDB analysis. Therefore, our study investigated whether miR-4268 affects NSCLC cells by regulating STAT3. The control group (NC group), miR-4268 Mimics group, and miR-4268 Mimics +pFBD-STAT3 group were set up followed by analysis of miR-4268 and STAT3 mRNA level by QRT-PCR, relationship between miR-4268 and STAT3 by dual fluorescein reporter assay, STAT3 and Tubulin protein level by Western blot, cell proliferation by MTT assay and apoptosis by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. Compared with normal tissue, miR-4268 expression in cancer tissue was significantly reduced (P <0.01), while STAT3 level was elevated (P <0.01). STAT3 was a target gene of miR-4268. Compared with NC group, STAT3 level was significantly reduced in miR-4268 Mimics group (P <0.01) and increased in miR-4268 Mimics+pFBD-STAT3 group compared with miR-4268 Mimics group (P <0.05). Compared to NC group, miR-4268 Mimics group had reduced cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis and opposite changes were observed in miR-4268 Mimics+pFBD-STAT3 group which had increased cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis (P < 0.05). miR-4268 regulates STAT3 mRNA level and inhibits NSCLC cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis. However, over-expression of STAT3 can inhibit the effect of miR-4268.

miR-130a-3p promotes cell proliferation and invasion by targeting estrogen receptor α and androgen receptor in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecological cancer in women worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is required but not sufficient for developing cervical cancer. HPV E6 and E7 proteins are able to directly interact with certain nuclear receptors; however, whether steroid hormone receptors mediate cervical carcinogenesis is not completely understood. The present study demonstrated via immunohistochemistry that estrogen receptor α (ERα) and androgen receptor (AR) expression were decreased in a sequential manner from healthy cervical tissues to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia tissues and further to cervical cancer (CC) tissues, whereas microRNA (miR)-130a-3p expression levels were higher in CC tissues compared with healthy tissues. Both ERα and AR were direct targets of miR-130a-3p, as determined by performing luciferase reporter assays and western blotting. Functionally, compared with the corresponding control groups, miR-130a-3p knockdown, ERα overexpression and AR overexpression significantly inhibited CC cell proliferation and invasion, as demonstrated by the results obtained from the Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays in vitro. In addition, antagomiR-130a decreased tumor size and weight in vivo compared with control antagomiR as determined via the xenograft tumor growth assay. Therefore, the results suggested that miR-130a-3p might contribute to tumor progression by suppressing ERα and AR, and serve as a promising candidate target for the treatment of patients with CC.

EZH2-mediated lncRNA ABHD11-AS1 promoter regulates the progression of ovarian cancer by targeting miR-133a-3p

Long-chain noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in a wide range of biological and pathological processes in ovarian cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of EZH2-mediated ABHD11-AS1 promoter on the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. The expression levels of EZH2, ABHD11-AS1 and miR-133a-3p were examined in ovarian cancer tissues using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Cell proliferation was evaluated using cell counting kit 8 assay, and cell invasion/migration was determined using a Transwell assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry. Dual luciferase assay was performed to confirm the interaction between ABHD11-AS1 and miR-133a-3p. The binding site of H3K27me3 on ABHD11-AS1 promoter was confirmed by ChIP. The expression of ABHD11-AS1 was significantly upregulated in ovarian cancer samples, and its levels were closely associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor stage and 3-year survival rate. Furthermore, interference of ABHD11-AS1 suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells, while cell apoptosis was promoted. Additionally, miR-133a-3p could be a novel target of ABHD11-AS1, and EZH2-mediated H3K27me3 protein might bind to ABHD11-AS1 promoter directly. Moreover, rescue experiments indicated that the effects caused by ABHD11-AS1 knockdown on the malignant characteristics of ovarian cancer cells were notably enhanced by miR-133a-3p mimics, whereas the influences on cell growth and metastasis induced by overexpressed ABHD11-AS1 were abrogated by the restoration of miR-133a-3p expression. In summary, EZH2-mediated enrichment of H3K27me3 on ABHD11-AS1 promoter could regulate the progression of ovarian cancer via miR-133a-3p. Therefore, EZH2/ABHD11-AS1/miR-133a-3p axis might be a putative candidate for targeted treatment of ovarian cancer.

The Role of Non-Coding RNAs as Prognostic Factor, Predictor of Drug Response or Resistance and Pharmacological Targets, in the Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the most common keratinocyte-derived skin cancer in the Caucasian population. Exposure to UV radiations (UVRs) represents the main risk carcinogenesis, causing a considerable accumulation of DNA damage in epidermal keratinocytes with an uncontrolled hyperproliferation and tumor development. The limited and rarely durable response of CSCC to the current therapeutic options has led researchers to look for new therapeutic strategies. Recently, the multi-omics approaches have contributed to the identification and prediction of the key role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs), circularRNAs (circRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the regulation of several cellular processes in different tumor types, including CSCC. ncRNAs can modulate transcriptional and post-transcriptional events by interacting either with each other or with DNA and proteins, such as transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins. In this review, the implication of ncRNAs in tumorigenesis and their potential role as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in human CSCC are reported.

A systematic study of critical miRNAs on cells proliferation and apoptosis by the shortest path

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs are a class of important small noncoding RNAs, which have been reported to be involved in the processes of tumorigenesis and development by targeting a few genes. Existing studies show that the imbalance between cell proliferation and apoptosis is closely related to the initiation and development of cancers. However, the impact of miRNAs on this imbalance has not been studied systematically.

RESULTS

In this study, we first construct a cell fate miRNA-gene regulatory network. Then, we propose a systematical method for calculating the global impact of miRNAs on cell fate genes based on the shortest path. Results on breast cancer and liver cancer datasets show that most of the cell fate genes are perturbed by the differentially expressed miRNAs. Most of the top-identified miRNAs are verified in the Human MicroRNA Disease Database (HMDD) and are related to breast and liver cancers. Function analysis shows that the top 20 miRNAs regulate multiple cell fate related function modules and interact tightly based on their functional similarity. Furthermore, more than half of them can promote sensitivity or induce resistance to some anti-cancer drugs. Besides, survival analysis demonstrates that the top-ranked miRNAs are significantly related to the overall survival time in the breast and liver cancers group.

CONCLUSION

In sum, this study can help to systematically study the important role of miRNAs on proliferation and apoptosis and thereby uncover the key miRNAs during the process of tumorigenesis. Furthermore, the results of this study will contribute to the development of clinical therapy based miRNAs for cancers.

MicroRNA-126 exerts antitumor functions in ovarian cancer by targeting EGFL7 and affecting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and ERK/MAPK signaling pathway

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a common gynecological malignant carcinoma worldwide. Accumulating research has revealed that multiple microRNAs (miRNAs) are abnormally expressed at different levels in various malignancies, playing vital roles in tumorigenesis. This study investigated the regulatory functions and potential mechanism of miR-126 in OC proliferation, invasion and migration. It was found that miR-126 was prominently downregulated in OC. Moreover, the decrease of miR-126 promoted the aggressive phenotypes and indicated poor prognosis of OC patients. Functional assays demonstrated that restoration of miR-126 dramatically repressed OC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assay was conducted to verify putative binding sites of miR-126 in the epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL7) 3 untranslated region (3'UTR), indicating that EGFL7 was a target gene of miR-126 in OC cells. It was further discovered that miR-126 exerts its function on regulating ERK/MAPK pathway and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in OC cells. The above findings suggested that miR-126 served as a cancer suppressor in OC, suggesting a promising application of miR-126 in the clinical diagnosis and therapeutics of OC.

MicroRNAs in gastric cancer: Biomarkers and therapeutic targets

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of non-coding RNAs that have critical roles in regulation of expression of genes. They can inhibit or decrease expression of target genes mostly via interaction with 3' untranslated region of their targets. Their crucial roles in the regulation of expression of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes have potentiated them as contributors in tumorigenesis. Moreover, their stability in body fluids has enhanced their potential as cancer biomarkers. In the present review article, we describe the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer and advances in application of miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in this kind of malignancy.

Role of non-coding RNAs and RNA modifiers in cancer therapy resistance

As the standard treatments for cancer, chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been widely applied to clinical practice worldwide. However, the resistance to cancer therapies is a major challenge in clinics and scientific research, resulting in tumor recurrence and metastasis. The mechanisms of therapy resistance are complicated and result from multiple factors. Among them, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), along with their modifiers, have been investigated to play key roles in regulating tumor development and mediating therapy resistance within various cancers, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, etc. In this review, we attempt to elucidate the mechanisms underlying ncRNA/modifier-modulated resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, providing some therapeutic potential points for future cancer treatment.

The role of miR-34 in cancer drug resistance

Resistance to conventional chemotherapy remains a major cause of cancer relapse and cancer-related deaths. Therefore, there is an urgent need to overcome resistance barriers. To improve cancer treatment approaches, it is critical to elucidate the basic mechanisms underlying drug resistance. Increasingly, the mechanisms involving micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are studied because miRNAs are also considered practical therapeutic options due to high degrees of specificity, efficacy, and accuracy, as well as their ability to target multiple genes at the same time. Years of research have firmly established miR-34 as a key tumor suppressor miRNA whose target genes are involved in drug resistance mechanisms. Indeed, numerous articles show that low levels of circulating miR-34 or tumor-specific miR-34 expression are associated with poor response to chemotherapy. In addition, elevation of inherently low miR-34 levels in resistant cancer cells effectively restores sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Here, we review this literature, also highlighting some contradictory observations. In addition, we discuss the potential utility of miR-34 expression as a predictive biomarker for chemotherapeutic drug response. Although caution needs to be exercised, miR-34 is emerging as a biomarker that could improve cancer precision medicine.

miRNA profile in ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is a gynecological cancer with high mortality and a heterogeneous nature which complicates its early detection and primary prevention. Numerous studies have evaluated expression profile microRNAs (miRNAs) in tissue and serum samples of ovarian cancer patients to find appropriate biomarkers for this malignancy. Functional experiments also verified the oncogenic or suppressor effects of a number of miRNAs. miRNAs exert their role through degradation or inhibition of translation of the target mRNA. Through this regulatory function, they modulate numerous cellular processes which are ultimately associated with carcinogenesis. A number of miRNAs including miR-135a-3p, miR-200c, miR-216a and miR-340 regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition program thus modulate invasiveness of ovarian cancer cell. Others have been shown to regulate some fundamental pathways in carcinogenesis such as mTOR and PI3K/AKT pathways. Such vast area of function of miRNAs in ovarian cancer has suggested them as putative therapeutic options for future years. In this review, we summarize the recent findings regarding the role of miRNAs in ovarian cancer pathogenesis, their application as biomarkers and the future perspectives of this research area.

LncRNA ANRIL promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion during acute myeloid leukemia pathogenesis via negatively regulating miR-34a

OBJECTIVE

LncRNA ANRIL (antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus) was highly expressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients to promote AML pathogenesis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the roles and molecular events of ANRIL associated with AML progression.

METHODS

Expression patterns of ANRIL and miR-34a in the bone marrow (BM) samples and cell lines were determined using qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of cells with ANRIL knockdown or miR-34a overexpression were assessed by CCK-8, EdU staining, flow cytometry and Transwell assays, respectively. The dual-luciferase reporter assay was employed to validate the relationship between miR-34a and Histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1). The binding of E2 F1 (E2 F transcription factor 1) with gene promoter was analyzed by ChIP. Furthermore, the tumorigenicity of AML was determined by xenograft transplantation in nude mice.

RESULTS

ANRIL was up-regulated both in the BM samples from AML patients and cell lines (HL-60 and THP-1), of which expression was negatively correlated with miR-34a expression. ANRIL knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion but promoted apoptosis of AML cells, while overexpression of miR-34a exerted opposite effects. miR-34a was verified as a downstream gene targeted by ANRIL. Moreover, HDAC1 was a direct target of miR-34a, and HDAC1 overexpression impaired the recruitment of E2 F1 to ASPP2 (apoptosis stimulating proteins of p53) gene promoter. ANRIL knockdown significantly inhibited the tumorigenesis of AML.

CONCLUSION

ANRIL promotes AML development through HDAC1-mediated epigenetic suppression of ASPP2 via negatively regulating miR-34a, which might serve as a therapeutic target for AML treatment.

Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell-secreted exosomes overexpressing microRNA-34a ameliorate glioblastoma development via down-regulating MYCN

PURPOSE

Exosomes play important roles in intercellular communication through signaling pathways affecting tumor microenvironment modulation and tumor proliferation, including those in glioblastoma (GBM). As yet, however, limited studies have been conducted on the inhibitory effect of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hBMSC)-derived exosomes on GBM development. Therefore, we set out to assess the role of hBMSC secreted exosomes, in particular those carrying microRNA-34a (miR-34a), in the development of GBM.

METHODS

Microarray-based expression analysis was employed to identify differentially expressed genes and to predict miRNAs regulating MYCN expression. Next, hBMSCs were transfected with a miR-34a mimic or inhibitor after which exosomes were isolated. Proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and temozolomide (TMZ) chemosensitivity of exosome-exposed GBM cells (T-98G, LN229 and A-172) were measured in vitro. The mechanism underlying MYCN regulation was investigated using lentiviral transfections. The in vivo inhibitory effect of exosomal miR-34a was measured in nude mice xenografted with GBM cells through subcutaneous injection of hBMSCs with an upregulated miR34a content.

RESULTS

We found that poorly-expressed miR-34a specifically targeted and negatively regulated the expression of MYCN in GBM cells. In addition we found that miR-34a was delivered to T-98G, LN229 and A-172 GBM cells via hBMSC-derived exosomes. Exogenous overexpression of miR-34a in hBMSC-derived exosomes resulted in inhibition of GBM cell proliferation, invasion, migration and tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo, while promoting the chemosensitivity of GBM cells to TMZ by silencing MYCN.

CONCLUSIONS

From our data we conclude that hBMSC-derived exosomes overexpressing miR-34a may be instrumental for the therapeutic targeting and clinical management of GBM.

Down-regulated miR-374c and Hsp70 promote Th17 cell differentiation by inducing Fas expression in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

OBJECTIVE

Fas is a positive regulator of Th17 cells differentiation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, its upstream regulators are still not fully determined. This study was designed to explore the upstream regulators of Fas in regulating Th17 cells differentiation in EAE.

METHODS

The mouse model of EAE was established by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein injection. Th17 cells differentiation was induced by IL-23, IL-6 and TGF-β.

RESULTS

Down-regulated Hsp70 and miR-374c and up-regulated Fas were observed in the spleen and brain of EAE mice. Hsp70 overexpression evidently reduced Fas protein level, but not mRNA level. The luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-374c targets Fas. Overexpression of miR-374c down-regulated the mRNA and protein level of Fas. The concentration of IL-17A in CD4+ T-cells was reduced by miR-374c or Hsp70 overexpression, and Fas overexpression altered this trend. Hsp70 did not regulate the expression of miR-374c, and likewise, miR-374c did not regulate the expression of Hsp70. Further results suggested that Hsp70 and miR-374c regulated Fas expression through different ways to affect Th17 cells differentiation in EAE.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that down-regulated miR-374c and Hsp70 promote Th17 cell differentiation by inducing Fas expression in EAE.

miR-141-3p and TRAF5 Network Contributes to the Progression of T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Numerous lines of evidence have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in regulating the progression in many types of cancers, including T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). In this study, the potential underlying mechanism and functional role of miR-141-3p in T-ALL cells were determined. We found that the expression level of miR-141-3p was significantly downregulated, while that of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 5 (TRAF5) was strongly upregulated in tissues from patients with T-ALL compared with healthy controls. Subsequently, upregulation of miR-141-3p significantly repressed T-ALL cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. Conversely, downregulation of miR-141-3p significantly inhibited cell apoptosis and enhanced T-ALL cell proliferation. We also verified that TRAF5 was the direct target of miR-141-3p in T-ALL cells. Additionally, TRAF5 overexpression significantly repressed cell apoptosis and increased T-ALL cell proliferation. In summary, miR-141-3p regulates T-ALL cell progression by directly targeting TRAF5, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for T-ALL.

MicroRNA-34a/IL-6R pathway as a potential therapeutic target for ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma

Accumulating evidence has indicated that microRNAs play a critical role in the pathogenesis of human cancers. microRNA-34a (miR-34a) has been shown to be a key regulator of tumor suppression by targeting several cancer-related signals, including the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R)/Signal Transducers and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. Previously, we determined that miR-34a expression was frequently reduced in high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), the major subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Considering that the IL-6R/STAT3 signaling pathway is upregulated and believed to be a potential therapeutic target in EOC, we investigated the biological significance of reduced miR-34a expression in HGSC with regard to IL-6R signaling. Additionally, we evaluated the viability of miR-34a as a therapeutic application for HGSC both in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, we found that the ectopic expression of miR-34a significantly reduced tumor proliferation and invasion through downregulation of IL-6R expression, suggesting that reduced miR-34a expression might play an important role in the malignant potential of HGSC through upregulation of the IL-6R/STAT3 signaling pathway. Moreover, we demonstrated that replacement of miR-34a reduced tumorigenicity of HGSC in vivo. Therefore, this study may provide the rationale for miR-34a replacement as a promising therapeutic strategy for HGSC.

A 19‑miRNA Support Vector Machine classifier and a 6‑miRNA risk score system designed for ovarian cancer patients

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy with high incidence and mortality. The present study aimed to develop approaches for determining the recurrence type and identify potential miRNA markers for OC prognosis. The miRNA expression profile of OC (the training set, including 390 samples with recurrence information) was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The validation sets GSE25204 and GSE27290 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Prescreening of clinical factors was conducted using the survival package, and the differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) were identified using the limma package. Using the Caret package, the optimal miRNA set was selected to build a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. The miRNAs and clinical factors independently related to prognosis were analyzed using the survival package, and the risk score system was constructed. Finally, the miRNA-target regulatory network was built by Cytoscape software, and enrichment analysis was performed. There were 46 DE-miRNAs between the recurrent and non-recurrent samples. After the optimal 19-miRNA set was selected for constructing the SVM classifier, 6 DE-miRNAs (miR-193b, miR-211, miR-218, miR-505, miR-508 and miR-514) independently related to prognosis were further extracted to build the risk score system. The neoplasm cancer status was independently correlated with the prognosis and conducted with stratified analysis. Additionally, the target genes in the regulatory network were enriched in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton and the TGF-β signaling pathway. The 6-miRNA signature may serve as a potential biomarker for OC prognosis, particularlyfor recurrence.

Exosome circRNA secreted from adipocytes promotes the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting deubiquitination-related USP7

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the major form of liver cancer, has shown increasing incidence and poor prognosis. Adipose tissue is known to function in energy storage and metabolism regulation by the secretion of adipokines. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel type of noncoding RNA, have recently been recognized as key factors in tumor development, but the role of exosome circRNAs derived from adipose tissues has not been defined yet. Here, adipose-secreted circRNAs were found to regulate deubiquitination in HCC, thus facilitating cell growth. It was observed that exosome circ-deubiquitination (circ-DB) is upregulated in HCC patients with higher body fat ratios. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo studies showed that exo-circ-DB promotes HCC growth and reduces DNA damage via the suppression of miR-34a and the activation of deubiquitination-related USP7. Finally, the results showed that the effects of adipose exosomes on HCC cells can be reversed by knockdown of circ-DB. These results indicate that exosome circRNAs secreted from adipocytes promote tumor growth and reduce DNA damage by suppressing miR-34a and activating the USP7/Cyclin A2 signaling pathway.

ALA-PDT promotes HPV-positive cervical cancer cells apoptosis and DCs maturation via miR-34a regulated HMGB1 exosomes secretion

5-Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy(ALA-PDT) has been widely used for cervical cancer treatment, but the mechanisms are still not fully delineated. Here we showed that ALA-PDT significantly upregulated HMGB1 while downregulated miR-34a expression levels in cervical cancer tissues, and the percentages of mature DCs(mDCs) were increased in ALA-PDT treated patients' peripheral blood. After treating HPV-positive Hela, SiHa, Caski and HPV-negative C33 A cervical cancer cell lines with ALA-PDT, HPV-positive cells' proliferative ability was significantly inhibited and apoptosis rates were elevated, while no significant changes were found in HPV-negative C33 A cell line. Most importantly, in HPV-positive cells, we found that miR-34a were downregulated in cytoplasm, and both cytoplasm and exosome HMGB1 were significantly elevated comparing to cancer cells without ALA-PDT treatment, and it could be reversed by miR-34a mimic transfection, which indicated that HPV infection and miR-34a downregulation might be vital for ALA-PDT treatment. Based on the HMGB1 is the potential target of miR-34a and an inverse correlation between miR-34a and HMGB1 in ALA-PDT treated cancer tissues, we verified that HMGB1 could be targeted and downregulated by miR-34a mimic, and ALA-PDT promotes HMGB1 secretion by inhibiting miR-34a expression. By co-culturing cervical cancer cell lines with immature DCs(imDCs) in the Transwell systems, we found that ALA-PDT induced HMGB1 exosomes could promote DCs maturation, which could be reversed by silencing HMGB1 in HPV-positive cervical cancer cells. In vivo animal experiments also proved that ALA-PDT inhibited tumor growth in tumor bearing mice, which was reversed by co-transfected with miR-34a mimic or silencing HMGB1 in HPV-positive cells. Hence we concluded that ALA-PDT treatment specifically inhibited HPV-positive cervical cancer cells' proliferative ability, promoted cell apoptosis and modulated DCs maturation by regulating miR-34a mediated HMGB1 exosomes secretion.