miR-7-5p Promotes Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation by Targeting Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 4

TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT-ASSOCIATED miR-7-5p, miR-19a-3p, AND miR-23b-3p EXPRESSION IN PROSTATE CANCER WITH DIFFERENT PROGRESSION RISK

BACKGROUND

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the occurrence and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). At the same time, the mechanisms and features of the interaction between tumor cells and individual components of the TME in PCa remain not fully elucidated. The aim was to study the expression levels of tumor-associated miR-7-5p, miR-19a-3p, and miR-23b-3p in the PCa tissue and to analyze their relationship with the features of TME.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The work is based on the analysis of the results of the examination and treatment of 50 patients with PCa of stages II-IV. The expression of miRNA in the PCa tissue was analyzed by the real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin (VIM), and CD68 in PCa tissue was determined by the immunohistochemical method. The identification of mast cells in the PCa tissue was assessed by the histochemical method.

RESULTS

The analysis of the expression levels of tumor-associated miRNAs demonstrated that the tumor tissue of patients with a high risk of PCa progression was characterized by 4.93 (p < 0.01) and 8.97 (p < 0.05) times higher levels of miR-19a-3p and miR-23b-3p, respectively, compared to similar indicators in the group of patients with a low risk of PCa progression. The levels of miR-7-5p and miR-19a-3p expression in the PCa tissue correlated with the expression level of α-SMA (r = 0.49 and r = 0.45, respectively; p < 0.05) and VIM (r = 0.45 and r = 0.46; respectively, p < 0.05). A direct relationship (r = 0.44; p < 0.05) was established between the level of miR-7-5p expression and the degree of infiltration of the prostate gland tissue by tumor-associated macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

The features of the expression of tumor-associated miR-7-5p, miR-19a-3p, and miR-23b-3p indicated the prospect of their use as markers of the aggressiveness of the PCa course.

Coinfection of Dermal Fibroblasts by Human Cytomegalovirus and Human Herpesvirus 6 Can Boost the Expression of Fibrosis-Associated MicroRNAs

Tissue fibrosis can affect every type of tissue or organ, often leading to organ malfunction; however, the mechanisms involved in this process are not yet clarified. A role has been hypothesized for Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infections as triggers of systemic sclerosis (SSc), a severe autoimmune disease causing progressive tissue fibrosis, since both viruses and antiviral immune responses toward them have been detected in patients. Moreover, HCMV or HHV-6A infection was reported to increase the expression of fibrosis-associated transcriptional factors and miRNAs in human dermal fibroblasts. However, it is unlikely that they have separate effects in the infected host, as both viruses are highly prevalent in the human population. Thus, our study aimed to investigate, by quantitative real-time PCR microarray, the impact of HCMV/HHV-6A coinfection on the expression of pro-fibrotic miRNAs in coinfected cells, compared to the effect of single viruses. The results showed a possible synergistic effect of the two viruses on pro-fibrotic miRNA expression, thus suggesting that HCMV and HHV-6 may enhance each other and cooperate at inducing enhanced miRNA-driven fibrosis. These data may also suggest a possible use of virus-induced miRNAs as novel diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for SSc and its clinical treatment.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes and non-coding RNAs: Regulatory and therapeutic role in liver diseases

Liver disease has become a major health problem worldwide due to its high morbidity and mortality. In recent years, a large body of literature has shown that mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-Exo) are able to play similar physiological roles as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). More importantly, there is no immune rejection caused by transplanted cells and the risk of tumor formation, which has become a new strategy for the treatment of various liver diseases. Moreover, accumulating evidence suggests that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are the main effectors by which they exert hepatoprotective effects. Therefore, by searching the databases of Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and CNKI, this review comprehensively reviewed the therapeutic effects of MSC-Exo and ncRNAs in liver diseases, including liver injury, liver fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. According to the data, the therapeutic effects of MSC-Exo and ncRNAs on liver diseases are closely related to a variety of molecular mechanisms, including inhibition of inflammatory response, alleviation of liver oxidative stress, inhibition of apoptosis of hepatocytes and endothelial cells, promotion of angiogenesis, blocking the cell cycle of hepatocellular carcinoma, and inhibition of activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells. These important findings will provide a direction and basis for us to explore the potential of MSC-Exo and ncRNAs in the clinical treatment of liver diseases in the future.

MiR-7-5p attenuates vascular smooth muscle cell migration and intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury by NF-kB signaling

Background

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the primary cause of coronary artery disease, which is featured by aberrant proliferation, differentiation, and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). MicroRNAs play crucial roles in AS, but the function of miR-7-5p in AS remains unclear. Here, we aimed to explore the effect of miR-7-5p on AS and VSMCs in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

The in vivo rat AS model and apoE-/- mouse model were established. The carotid artery injury was checked by immunohistochemistry staining. The RNA levels of miR-7-5p and p65 were measured by qPCR assay. Protein levels were checked by western blotting. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Cell migration was checked by Transwell assay and wound healing assay. The potential interaction between miR-7-5p with p65 was checked by luciferase reporter gene assay.

Results

MiR-7-5p was downregulated and NF-κB p65 was upregulated in injured carotid arteries in rat model. The carotid artery injury in the AS rats and the treatment of miR-7-5p attenuated the phenotype in the model. Immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot analysis revealed that PCNA levels were increased in injured carotid arteries of the model rats and miR-7-5p could reverse the levels. The cell viability of VSMCs was induced by PDGF-BB but miR-7-5p blocked the phenotype. PDGF-BB decreased apoptosis of VSMCs, while miR-7-5p was able to restore the cell apoptosis in the model. PDGF-BB-induced migration of VSMCs was attenuated by miR-7-5p. miR-7-5p mimic remarkably repressed the luciferase activity of p65 in VSMCs. The levels of p65 were inhibited by miR-7-5p in the cells. The PDGF-BB-promoted cell viability and migration of VSMCs was repressed by miR-7-5p and p65 overexpression reversed the phenotype.

Conclusion

We concluded that miR-7-5p attenuates vascular smooth muscle cell migration and intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury by NF-kB signaling.

Integrative Analysis of the lncRNA-Associated ceRNA Regulatory Network Response to Hypoxia in Alveolar Type II Epithelial Cells of Tibetan Pigs

The function of alveolar type II epithelial (ATII) cells is severely hampered by oxygen deficiency, and understanding the regulatory mechanisms controlling responses to hypoxia may assist in relieving injury induced by hypoxia. In this study, we cultured ATII cells from Tibetan pigs and Landrace pigs under hypoxic and normoxic environments to screen for differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, DEmiRNAs, and construct their associated ceRNA regulatory networks in response to hypoxia. Enrichment analysis revealed that target genes of DElncRNAs of Tibetan pigs and Landrace pig between the normoxic (TN, LN) and hypoxic (TL, LL) groups significantly enriched in the proteoglycans in cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and erbB signaling pathways, while the target genes of DEmiRNAs were significantly enriched in the axon guidance, focal adhesion, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Hypoxia induction was shown to potentially promote apoptosis by activating the focal adhesion/PI3K-Akt/glycolysis pathway. The ssc-miR-20b/MSTRG.57127.1/ssc-miR-7-5p axis potentially played a vital role in alleviating hypoxic injury by regulating ATII cell autophagy under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. MSTRG.14861.4-miR-11971-z-CCDC12, the most affected axis, regulated numerous RNAs and may thus regulate ATII cell growth in Tibetan pigs under hypoxic conditions. The ACTA1/ssc-miR-30c-3p/MSTRG.23871.1 axis is key for limiting ATII cell injury and improving dysfunction and fibrosis mediated by oxidative stress in Landrace pigs. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of the lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA regulatory mechanisms of Tibetan pigs under hypoxic conditions.

Novel Regulatory Factors and Small-Molecule Inhibitors of FGFR4 in Cancer

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) is a tyrosine kinase receptor that is a member of the fibroblast growth factor receptor family and is stimulated by highly regulated ligand binding. Excessive expression of the receptor and its ligand, especially FGF19, occurs in many types of cancer. Abnormal FGFR4 production explains these cancer formations, and therefore, this receptor has emerged as a potential target for inhibiting cancer development. This review discusses the diverse mechanisms of oncogenic activation of FGFR4 and highlights some currently available inhibitors targeting FGFR4.

MiR-7 in Cancer Development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA involved in the regulation of specific mRNA translation. They participate in cellular signaling circuits and can act as oncogenes in tumor development, so-called oncomirs, as well as tumor suppressors. miR-7 is an ancient miRNA involved in the fine-tuning of several signaling pathways, acting mainly as tumor suppressor. Through downregulation of PI3K and MAPK pathways, its dominant role is the suppression of proliferation and survival, stimulation of apoptosis and inhibition of migration. Besides these functions, it has numerous additional roles in the differentiation process of different cell types, protection from stress and chromatin remodulation. One of the most investigated tissues is the brain, where its downregulation is linked with glioblastoma cell proliferation. Its deregulation is found also in other tumor types, such as in liver, lung and pancreas. In some types of lung and oral carcinoma, it can act as oncomir. miR-7 roles in cell fate determination and maintenance of cell homeostasis are still to be discovered, as well as the possibilities of its use as a specific biotherapeutic.