Targeting of SGK1 by miR-576-3p Inhibits Lung Adenocarcinoma Migration and Invasion

miR‑576‑3p/M‑phase phosphoprotein 8 axis regulates the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal digestive system cancer with unclear pathogenesis. M-phase phosphoprotein 8 (MPP8) has been shown to play a vital role in several cancer types, such as non-small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer and melanoma; however, there have been no studies into its role in HCC. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of MPP8 in regulating malignant phenotypes of liver cancer cells, and to further investigate the underlying mechanism. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to analyze related data from a public database, and to predict the potential microRNAs (miRNAs) that might target MPP8 mRNA; reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to measure the levels of mRNA and miRNA; western blotting was employed to detect protein levels; Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and plate colony formation assays, wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay were performed to evaluate the ability of cell proliferation, migration and invasion, respectively; dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to identify the target association. The results showed that MPP8 was a risk factor for the survival of patients with HCC, and was up-regulated in HCC tissue samples and cell lines; MPP8 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of liver cancer cells; MPP8 knockdown suppressed the PI3K/Akt pathway, and activation of this pathway reversed the inhibited liver cancer cell phenotypes by down-regulating MPP8; miR-576-3p, which was low in liver cancer cells, negatively regulated MPP8 expression by directly targeting its mRNA; up-regulating MPP8 expression reversed the inhibited signaling pathway and malignant phenotypes of liver cancer cells by miR-576-3p overexpression. In conclusion, the miR-576-3p/MPP8 axis regulates the proliferation, migration, and invasion of liver cancer cells through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. These findings lead novel insights into HCC progression, and propose MPP8 as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Dendritic Cell-Related Immune Marker CD1C for Predicting Prognosis and Immunotherapy Opportunities of Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most frequent type of lung cancer with a high mortality rate. Here, we aim to explore novel immune-related biomarkers for LUAD patients. Datasets, mRNA expression profiles, and clinical data concerned with LUAD were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), respectively. Differential expression analysis was performed to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Based on DEGs, we conducted functional enrichment analyses. Subsequently, Kaplan‑Meier (KM) was performed to analyze survival differences among different groups. Furthermore, immune cell infiltration proportion was calculated by CIBERSORT and TIMER. The relationship between gene and immune response was analyzed using Tumor Immune System Interactions (TISIDB) database. Finally, Pearson correlation analysis was performed between CD1C and six immune checkpoints. We identified dendritic cells (DCs)-related expression profiles from four LUAD samples. DCs' immune marker CD1C in LUAD was selected by univariate Cox regression analysis. Low CD1C expression patients had a poor prognosis. A total of 332 DEGs were identified in high and low CD1C expression groups, which primarily enriched in 348 GO terms and 30 KEGG pathways. There were significant differences in the infiltration proportion of 17 immune cells between high and low CD1C expression groups. Most immunomodulators, chemokines, and chemokine receptors were positively associated with CD1C expression. Six immune checkpoints were also positively correlated with CD1C expression. DCs related immunomarker CD1C probably plays a pivotal part in prognosis and immunotherapy of LUAD via a joint analysis of single-cell and bulk sequencing data.

MicroRNA‑mediated regulation in lung adenocarcinoma: Signaling pathways and potential therapeutic implications (Review)

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) poses a significant global health burden owing to its high incidence rate and unfavorable prognosis, driven by frequent recurrence and drug resistance. Understanding the biological mechanisms underlying LUAD is imperative to developing advanced therapeutic strategies. Recent research has highlighted the role of dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) in LUAD progression through diverse signaling pathways, including the Wnt and AKT pathways. Of particular interest is the novel pathological mechanism involving the interaction between competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and miRNAs. This review critically analyzed the impact of aberrant miRNA expression on LUAD development, shedding light on the associated signaling pathways. It also highlighted the emerging significance of ceRNA‑miRNA interactions in LUAD pathogenesis. Elucidating the intricate regulatory networks involving miRNAs and ceRNAs presents a promising avenue for the development of potential therapeutic interventions and diagnostic biomarkers in LUAD. Further research in this area is essential to advance precision medicine approaches and improve patient outcomes.

MicroRNA Profiling of Red Blood Cells for Lung Cancer Diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Despite extensive endeavors to establish cell-free circulating biomarkers for lung cancer diagnosis, clinical adoption remains elusive. Noteworthy, emergent evidence suggests the pivotal roles of red blood cells (RBCs) and their derivatives in tumorigenesis, illuminating potential avenues for diagnostic advancements using blood cell-derived microRNAs (miRNAs).

METHODS

We executed microarray analyses on three principal blood cell types-RBCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and neutrophils-encompassing 26 lung cancer patients and 26 healthy controls. Validation was performed using droplet digital PCR within an additional cohort comprising 42 lung cancer and 39 control cases.

RESULTS

Our investigation unearthed distinct miRNA profiles associated with lung cancer across all examined blood cell types. Intriguingly, RBC-miRNAs emerged as potential novel biomarkers for lung cancer, an observation yet to be documented. Importantly, integrating miRNAs from disparate blood cell types yielded a superior diagnostic accuracy for lung cancer over individual cell-type miRNAs. Subsequently, we formulated three diagnostic panels, adeptly discerning non-small cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma, maintaining consistency across various disease stages.

CONCLUSION

RBC-derived molecules introduce novel cancer biomarkers, and exploiting miRNA profiles across varied blood cell types unveils a promising frontier for lung cancer's early detection and histological classification.

Identification of a coagulation-related signature correlated with immune infiltration and their prognostic implications in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a fatal form of lung cancer with a poor prognosis. Coagulation system had been confirmed closely related to tumor progression and the hypercoagulable state encouraged the immune infiltration and development of tumor cells, leading to a poor prognosis in cancer patients. However, the use of the coagulation-related genes (CRGs) for prognosis in LUAD has yet to be determined. In this study, we constructed an immune-related signature (CRRS) and identified a potential coagulation-related biomarker (P2RX1).

METHODS

We obtained a total of 209 CRGs based on two coagulation-related KEGG pathways, then developed the CRRS signature by using the TCGA-LUAD RNA-seq data via the procedure of LASSO-Cox regression, stepwise-Cox regression, univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Grouped by the CRRS, Kaplan-Meier survival curves and receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn for the training and validation sets, respectively. In addition, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was exploited to explore immune infiltration level. Moreover, immunophenotypes and immunotherapy grouped by CRRS were further analyzed.

RESULTS

We developed an immune-related signature (CRRS) composed of COL1A2, F2, PLAUR, C4BPA, and P2RX1 in LUAD. CRRS was an independent risk factor for overall survival and displayed stable and powerful performance. Additionally, CRRS possessed distinctly superior accuracy than traditional clinical variables and molecular features. Functional analysis indicated that the differentially high expressed genes in the low-risk group significantly enriched in T cell and B cell receptor signaling pathways. The low-risk group was sensitive to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy and displayed abundant immune infiltration and immune checkpoint gene expression. Finally, we identified an independent prognostic gene P2RX1. Low expression of P2RX1 associated with poor overall survival and decreased immune infiltration.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed a significant correlation between CRRS and immune infiltration. CRRS could serve as a promising tool to improve the clinical outcomes for individual LUAD patients.

Monocarboxylate transporter 4 promotes the migration of non‑cancerous L929 fibroblast cells by activating the IGF1/IGF1R/PIK3R3/SGK1 axis

The tumor microenvironment (TME) and Warburg effect are critical for the regulation of tumor metastasis. The monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) family members, particularly MCT4, which is encoded by the solute carrier family 16 member 3 gene, play an important role in the regulation of the TME and mediation of the Warburg effect by transporting lactate out of cancer cells. Migration and invasion are two key features of metastasis. Few studies have investigated the mechanism by which MCT4 promotes cell migration, and the suggested mechanisms by which MCT4 promotes migration vary in different tumor cell models. The purpose of the present study was to use non-cancerous cells as a research model to investigate the specific mechanism underlying the promotion of migration by MCT4. In a previous study, murine L929 cells overexpressing human MCT4 (MCT4-L929 cells) were generated and MCT4 was demonstrated to promote the migration and invasion of these non-cancerous cells. In the present study, MCT4-L929 cells and control-L929 cells were used to investigate the potential pathways and mechanisms through which MCT4 promotes cell migration. RNA sequencing analysis revealed 872 differentially expressed genes, comprising 337 and 535 upregulated and downregulated genes, respectively, in the MCT4-L929 cells. Reverse transcription-quantitative analysis and western blotting revealed that MCT4 overexpression increased the transcription and protein levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1). In a wound healing assay, the migration of exogenous mouse IGF1-treated control-L929 cells was similar to that of MCT4-L929 cells. Additionally, the inhibition of IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) or serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1), a downstream protein in the IGF1 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase PI3K regulatory subunit 3 (PIK3R3) pathways, in MCT4-L929 cells mitigated the cell migration-promoting effect of MCT4. These novel findings suggest that MCT4 may promote the migration of L929 fibroblast cells via activation of the IGF1/IGF1R/PIK3R3/SGK1 axis.

MiRNAs in Lung Adenocarcinoma: Role, Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Therapy

Lung cancer has emerged as a significant public health challenge and remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Among various types of lung malignancies, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) stands as the most prevalent form. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in gene regulation, and their involvement in cancer has been extensively explored. While several reviews have been published on miRNAs and lung cancer, there remains a gap in the review regarding miRNAs specifically in LUAD. In this review, we not only highlight the potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications of miRNAs in LUAD, but also present an inclusive overview of the extensive research conducted on miRNAs in this particular context.

Development and validation of a TRP-related gene signature for overall survival prediction in lung adenocarcinoma

The transient receptor potential (TRP) channel is a type of channel protein widely distributed in peripheral and central nervous systems. Genes encoding TRP can be regulated by natural aromatic substances and serve as a therapeutic target for many diseases. However, the role of TRP-related genes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. In this study, we used data from TCGA to screen and identify 17 TRP-related genes that are differentially expressed between LUAD and normal lung tissues. Based on these differentially expressed genes (DEGs), we classified all patients with LUAD into two subtypes. Significant differences in prognosis, clinical features, and immune cell infiltration characteristics were observed between the two subtypes. Subsequently, a prognostic signature with 12 genes was established by applying the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression method, and all patients with LUAD were classified into low- and high-risk groups. Patients with LUAD in the low-risk group had a significantly longer survival time than those in the high-risk group (p < 0.001), which was confirmed by LUAD data from the GSE72094 and GSE68571 validation datasets. Combined with clinical characteristics, the risk score was found to be an independent predictor of overall survival (OS) in patients with LUAD. Additionally, patients with high TRP scores exhibited poorer clinical characteristics and immune status while showing a sensitive response to chemotherapeutic agents. In conclusion, the TRP score is a promising biomarker for determining the prognosis, molecular subtype, tumor microenvironment, and guiding personalized treatment in patients with LUAD.

MiR-486-5p specifically suppresses SAPCD2 expression, which attenuates the aggressive phenotypes of lung adenocarcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

MiR-486-5p expression is restrained in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, much less has been understood on its role in LUAD. We aimed to explore the biofunctions of miR-486-5p in LUAD.

METHODS

A differential expression analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas-LUAD dataset was done to screen the differently expressed miRNAs and mRNAs. MiR-486-5p and SAPCD2 mRNA expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR, and protein level of SAPCD2 was assayed by western blot. Upregulation and downregulation of miR-486-5p or SAPCD2 were achieved by cell transfection. For cell function assays, the proliferation of cancer cells was examined by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry and microscopy. Transwell assay was applied to evaluate cell migration and invasion. A dual-luciferase detection was employed to determine the miRNA-mRNA targeting relationship.

RESULTS

MiR-486-5p expression was notably reduced in LUAD tissue and cell lines. Upregulating miR-486-5p restrained the anti-apoptotic and proliferative abilities, as well as cell migratory and invasive phenotypes in LUAD cells. SAPCD2 was determined as one target of miR-486-5p. Also, SAPCD2 forced expression was able to attenuate the inhibitory impacts of miR-486-5p on the malignant phenotypes of LUAD cells.

CONCLUSION

MiR-486-5p suppressed cell malignant progression in LUAD by targeting SAPCD2, suggesting that the two may be targets for LUAD treatment.

MiR-96-5p Facilitates Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Phenotypes by Inhibiting FHL1

Objective

FHL1 is understood as a tumor repressor gene in various cancers and a possible target for cancer treatment. We investigated the influences of FHL1 on cell functions as well as its molecular mechanisms in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells.

Methods

The miRNA-mRNA modulatory axis was predicted by bioinformatics. The expression levels of FHL1 mRNA and protein in LUAD cells were, respectively, analyzed by qRT-PCR and western blot. Dual luciferase analysis was introduced to verify the interaction between miR-96-5p and FHL1. CCK-8, cell colony formation, and Transwell assays were utilized to analyze proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion of A549 cells.

Results

Expression of FHL1 mRNA and protein in LUAD tissue and cells was downregulated, which was linked with poor prognoses of patients. In addition, FHL1 overexpression could hamper colony formation, proliferation, invasion, and migration of LUAD cells. In addition, dual-luciferase analysis verified miR-96-5p as an upstream regulator of FHL1. Overexpression of miR-96-5p suppressed FHL1 expression in LUAD cells and promoted proliferation, invasion, and migration of LUAD cells, while overexpression of FHL1 could simultaneously restore the above-mentioned promoting effect.

Conclusion

MiR-96-5p fostered cell malignant behaviors by targeting FHL1. This research uncovered the regulatory mechanism of FHL1 in LUAD and offered optional therapeutic targets for LUAD patients.

circDNMT1 Promotes Malignant Progression of Gastric Cancer Through Targeting miR-576-3p/Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 Alpha Axis

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate multiple malignant behaviors of various types of cancer. The role of circDNMT1, a newly identified circRNA, remains unknown in gastric cancer (GC). This study aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of circDNMT1 in regulating GC progression.

Methods

microRNA (miRNA) and circRNA expression was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Western blotting was performed to measure hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) protein expression. Sanger sequencing, gel electrophoresis and fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed to identify the presence of circDNMT1. The clinicopathological features and overall survival of patients were analyzed based on circDNMT1 expression. The proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells were determined by cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine, wound healing and transwell assays. Glycolysis of GC cells was detected based on the levels of glucose uptake, the lactate acid, ATP and pyruvic acid production and the extracellular acidification and oxygen consumption rates. The binding sites between miR-576-3p and circDNMT1 or HIF-1α were predicted by online bioinformatic tools and were validated using RNA pull-down and luciferase reporter assays. Xenograft models were established to determine the effects of the circDNMT1/miR-576-3p/HIF-1α axis on GC growth and metastasis in vivo.

Results

circDNMT1 was successfully identified and shown to be overexpressed in GC tissues and cell lines. The expression levels of circDNMT1 were correlated with pathological T stage, pathological TNM stage and shorter survival time of GC patients. circDNMT1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis of GC cells. circDNMT1 functioned as an oncogenic factor by sponging miR-576-3p. HIF-1α was negatively regulated by miR-576-3p via binding its mRNA 3’ untranslated region. circDNMT1 promoted malignant behaviors and metabolic reprogramming of GC by targeting the miR-576-3p/HIF-1α axis both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrated that circDNMT1 knockdown inhibited GC proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis through sponging miR-576-3p/HIF-1α axis. circDNMT1 may be a novel target for GC treatment.

Apoptosis-Related Signature Predicts Prognosis and Immune Microenvironment Infiltration in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), a malignancy with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide, contains multiple genomic and epigenomic abnormalities. And the useful tumor markers associated with these abnormalities need further investigation. Whereas apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death, the expression of apoptosis-related genes in LUAD and its relationship with prognosis is unclear. In the present study, we identified 64 differentially expressed apoptosis-related genes (DEARGs) that were differentially expressed between LUAD tissue and normal lung tissue. Based on these DEARGs, all LUAD cases were classified into two subtypes using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort to assess the prognostic value of apoptosis-related genes for survival. An 11-gene signature was established by applying the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) Cox regression method to construct a multigene prediction model and classify all LUAD patients in the TCGA cohort into high or low AS-score groups. Patients in the low AS-score group had significantly higher survival and prognosis than those in the high AS-score group. Taking the median risk score of the AS-score, LUAD patients in the GSE68465 cohort were divided into two risk groups, low and high. The overall survival (OS) time was longer in the low AS-score group. Combined with clinical characteristics, the AS-score was an independent predictor of LUAD patients. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encylopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses showed that the differential genes between the two groups were mainly enriched in cellular immunity. Further analysis revealed higher immune checkpoint protein expression and higher tumor mutational burden (TMB) in the high AS-score group, suggesting better efficacy of immunotherapy in the high AS-score group than the low AS-score group. And the high AS-score group was better in chemotherapy and targeted therapy efficiency. In conclusion, the AS-score constructed based on apoptosis-related genes can predict the prognosis of LUAD patients and provide some guidance for the antitumor treatment of LUAD patients.

Lipid droplets and autophagosomes together with chaperones fine-tune expression of SGK1

Serum-glucocorticoid-induced kinase-1 (SGK1) regulates ion homeostasis and promotes survival under stress conditions. The expression of SGK1 is under transcriptional and post-translational regulations that are frequently altered in cancer and immune disorders. We report that an N-terminal amphipathic alpha-helix determines SGK1 expression levels through two distinct mechanisms. It tethers SGK1 to intracellular organelles generating a large pool of membrane-bound SGK1, which is differentially stabilized in lipid droplets (LD) in fed conditions or degraded in the endoplasmic reticulum by ER-phagy in starvation. Association of the α-helix to organelles does not depend on dedicated receptors or special phospholipids rather, it is intrinsic to its physicochemical properties and depends on the presence of bulky hydrophobic residues for attachment to LDs. The second mechanism is recruitment of protein-chaperones that recognize the α-helix as an unfolded protein promoting survival of the cytosolic SGK1 fraction. Together, the findings unveil an unexpected link between levels of energy storage and abundance of SGK1 and how changes in calorie intake could be used to modulate SGK1 expression, whereas the inhibition of molecular chaperones could serve as an additional enhancer in the treatment of malignancies and autoimmune disorders with high levels of SGK1 expression.

Analysis of microRNAs in Exosomes of Breast Cancer Patients in Search of Molecular Prognostic Factors in Brain Metastases

Brain metastases are the most severe tumorous spread during breast cancer disease. They are associated with a limited quality of life and a very poor overall survival. A subtype of extracellular vesicles, exosomes, are sequestered by all kinds of cells, including tumor cells, and play a role in cell-cell communication. Exosomes contain, among others, microRNAs (miRs). Exosomes can be taken up by other cells in the body, and their active molecules can affect the cellular process in target cells. Tumor-secreted exosomes can affect the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and have an impact on brain metastases forming. Serum samples from healthy donors, breast cancer patients with primary tumors, or with brain, bone, or visceral metastases were used to isolate exosomes and exosomal miRs. Exosomes expressed exosomal markers CD63 and CD9, and their amount did not vary significantly between groups, as shown by Western blot and ELISA. The selected 48 miRs were detected using real-time PCR. Area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy. We identified two miRs with the potential to serve as prognostic markers for brain metastases. Hsa-miR-576-3p was significantly upregulated, and hsa-miR-130a-3p was significantly downregulated in exosomes from breast cancer patients with cerebral metastases with AUC: 0.705 and 0.699, respectively. Furthermore, correlation of miR levels with tumor markers revealed that hsa-miR-340-5p levels were significantly correlated with the percentage of Ki67-positive tumor cells, while hsa-miR-342-3p levels were inversely correlated with tumor staging. Analysis of the expression levels of miRs in serum exosomes from breast cancer patients has the potential to identify new, non-invasive, blood-borne prognostic molecular markers to predict the potential for brain metastasis in breast cancer. Additional functional analyzes and careful validation of the identified markers are required before their potential future diagnostic use.

MiR-139-5p Targeting CCNB1 Modulates Proliferation, Migration, Invasion and Cell Cycle in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most frequent histological subtype of non-small cell lung cancer. Cyclin B1 (CCNB1) is the vital initiator and controller of mitosis. Studies have indicated that CCNB1 overexpression is closely associated with cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in many cancers. Thus, discovery of molecular mechanism of CCNB1 in LUAD is conducive to developing new diagnostic or therapeutic targets for LUAD. We acquired mature miRNA and mRNA expression information of LUAD from TCGA database, as well as related clinical data. CCNB1 expression in normal and LUAD tissue was analyzed. Relationship between CCNB1 and patient's survival and clinical stage was analyzed. Upstream regulatory gene miRNA of CCNB1 was predicted. qRT-PCR and western blot examined expression levels of CCNB1 and miR-139-5p in cells. CCK-8 tested cell proliferation. Scratch healing and Transwell determined cell migration and invasion. Flow cytometry analyzed the cell cycle. Dual-luciferase verified targeting relationship between the two genes. Compared to controls, CCNB1 expression was prominently high in LUAD patient samples, and associated with advanced tumor stages and shorter overall survival. MiR-139-5p expressed an evidently negative correlation with CCNB1 and was predicted to target CCNB1. MiR-139-5p mimics reduced CCNB1 mRNA and protein expression, and suppressed luciferase activity in a target-specific manner, as confirmed by a control construct with a mutated miR-139-5p binding site. CCNB1 overexpression fostered progression of LUAD cells. Mechanistically, miR-139-5p might negatively regulate CCNB1 in LUAD, thereby suppressing cell proliferation, migration, invasion and cell cycle.

Perinatal Exposure to Nicotine Alters Sperm RNA Profiles in Rats

Perinatal exposure to smoking has been associated with childhood asthma, one of the most common pediatric conditions affecting millions of children globally. Of great interest, this disease phenotype appears heritable as it can persist across multiple generations even in the absence of persistent exposure to smoking in subsequent generations. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying childhood asthma induced by perinatal exposure to smoking or nicotine remain elusive, an epigenetic mechanism has been proposed, which is supported by the data from our earlier analyses on germline DNA methylation (5mC) and histone marks (H3 and H4 acetylation). To further investigate the potential epigenetic inheritance of childhood asthma induced by perinatal nicotine exposure, we profiled both large and small RNAs in the sperm of F1 male rats. Our data revealed that perinatal exposure to nicotine leads to alterations in the profiles of sperm-borne RNAs, including mRNAs and small RNAs, and that rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, can attenuate the effect of nicotine and reverse the sperm-borne RNA profiles of F1 male rats to close to placebo control levels.

DUBR suppresses migration and invasion of human lung adenocarcinoma cells via ZBTB11-mediated inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in a variety of cancers, but the role of LncRNA DUBR in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the most prevalent form of lung cancer, remains unclear. In this study we investigated the expression of DUBR in LUAD to ascertain its association with the clinical pathology and prognosis of LUAD. Analysis of mRNA expression in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) LUAD database and in-house LUAD cohort (n = 94) showed that DUBR was significantly downregulated in LUAD, and was associated with poor prognosis. In LUAD cell lines (H1975, A549), overexpression of DUBR significantly suppressed the migration and invasion of the LUAD cells. We demonstrated that c-Myc could bind to the promoter of DUBR, and transcriptionally suppressed its expression. Knockdown of c-Myc almost completely blocked the invasion and migration of LUAD cells, whereas knockdown of DUBR partially rescued c-Myc-knockdown suppressed cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, DUBR overexpression significantly increased the expression of a downstream protein of DUBR, zinc finger, and BTB domain containing 11 (ZBTB11), in H1975 and A549 cells; knockdown of ZBTB11 partially rescued the DUBR-overexpression suppressed cell migration and invasion; knockdown of c-Myc significantly upregulated the expression of ZBTB11 in LUAD cells. Finally, we revealed that DUBR/ZBTB11 axis suppressed oxidative phosphorylation in LUAD cells. In short, we demonstrate that c-Myc/DUBR/ZBTB11 axis suppresses migration and invasion of LUAD by attenuating cell oxidative phosphorylation, which provides new insights into the regulatory mechanism of DUBR.

MicroRNA-140-3p represses the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma cells via targeting TYMS (thymidylate synthetase)

MicroRNA (miR)-140-3p has been proved to repress lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and our study aims to further evaluate the mechanism. Bioinformatic analyses were performed. The viability, proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of transfected LUAD cells were all determined via Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, Scratch, Transwell, and tube formation assays. The targeting relationship between miR-140-3p and thymidylate synthetase (TYMS) was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Relative expressions of miR-140-3p, TYMS, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition- (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin), angiogenesis- (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)), and apoptosis-related factors (cleaved caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax)) were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or Western blot. TYMS was high-expressed yet miR-140-3p was low-expressed in LUAD cells. Upregulation of miR-140-3p inhibited TYMS expression, viability, colony formation, migration, invasion, and tube length within LUAD cells, while downregulation of miR-140-3p did oppositely. Silenced TYMS, the downstream target gene of miR-140-3p, reversed the effects of miR-140-3p downregulation on TYMS expression, cell viability, colony formation, migration, invasion, and tube length as well as the metastasis-, apoptosis- and angiogenesis-related proteins in LUAD cells. Upregulation of miR-140-3p inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of LUAD cells via targeting TYMS.

Long noncoding RNA LINC01287 promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells via the miR-3529-5p/RNASEH2A axis under the competitive endogenous RNA pattern

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is regarded as the most common type of lung cancer. The molecular targeted therapies for LUAD have being extensively studied. Ribonuclease H2 subunit A (RNASEH2A) is a nucleotide degrading enzyme gene that exerts great influence on cell proliferation, DNA replication and genomic stability. According to bioinformatics analysis, RNASEH2A expression in LUAD tissues is predicted to be upregulated and high expression of RNASEH2A might be related to lower survival rate in LUAD patients. In the present study, we investigated functions of RNASEH2A in LUAD. The mRNA RNASEH2A showed high expression in LUAD cells, and its knockdown inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in LUAD cells. RNASEH2A was found to be a target gene of microRNA miR-3529-5p after their expression levels and interaction being examined. Long noncoding RNA LINC01287 upregulated RNASEH2A expression in LUAD cells by combining with miR-3529-5p in a competitive way. Rescue assays revealed that the overexpression of RNASEH2A reversed the suppression of cell proliferation and the promotion of cell apoptosis induced by miR-3529-5p overexpression or LINC01287 knockdown. Finally, forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) interacted with RNASEH2A promoter and LINC01287 promoter to upregulate the expression levels of RNASEH2A and LINC01287 in LUAD cells. Overall, FOXA1-induced LINC01287 serves as a competing endogenous RNA to promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of LUAD cells via upregulation of RNASEH2A expression at the posttranscriptional level by competitively combining with miR-3529-5p.

Long noncoding RNA ZFPM2-AS1 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating the miR-576-3p/HIF-1α axis

Long noncoding RNA (LncRNA) zinc finger protein multitype 2 antisense RNA 1 (ZFPM2-AS1) is highly expressed in a variety of tumors and is involved in promoting the malignant biological behaviors of cancer cells. However, the mechanism of ZFPM2-AS1 in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be explored. The ZFPM2-AS1 expression in HCC was measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR); cell counting kit-8, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), and transwell assays were used to confirm the biological functions of ZFPM2-AS1 in regulating the malignant biological behaviors of HCC cells; the luciferase reporter gene assay was employed to detect whether ZFPM2-AS1 could bind to microRNA (miR)-576-3p; the regulatory relationship between ZFPM2-AS1 and miR-576-3p was probed by qRT-PCR; the effects of ZFPM2-AS1 and miR-576-3p on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The expression of ZFPM2-AS1 in HCC tissues, compared with that in normal liver tissues, was significantly upregulated. Knockdown of ZFPM2-AS1 markedly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while the overexpression of ZFPM2-AS1 worked oppositely. miR-576-3p could reverse the effects of ZFPM2-AS1 on the biological behaviors of HCC cells. Besides, ZFPM2-AS1 could bind to miR-576-3p and positively regulate the expression of HIF-1α, a target gene of miR-576-3p, by adsorbing miR-576-3p. ZFPM2-AS1 is abnormally highly expressed in HCC and facilitates proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells by adsorbing miR-576-3p and upregulating HIF-1α expression.

MiR-96-5p is an oncogene in lung adenocarcinoma and facilitates tumor progression through ARHGAP6 downregulation

Accumulating investigations illustrated that miRNA acts as a key regulator in tumor progression, whereas regulatory role of miR-96-5p in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is warranted. Thus, we sought to probe mechanism of miR-96-5p in this disease. Through bioinformatics analysis, miR-96-5p level in normal tissue and LUAD tissue in TCGA database were obtained. Meanwhile, mRNA expression dataset was analyzed to obtain downregulated mRNAs binding to miR-96-5p. qRT-PCR assessed miR-96-5p and ARHGAP6 mRNA in LUAD. Western blot assessed protein level of ARHGAP6 in LUAD. Dual-luciferase reporter gene detection verified targeting relationship of miR-96-5p and ARHGAP6. Biological functional experiments such as CCK-8, colony formation, scratch healing, and Transwell assessed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. MiR-96-5p was overexpressed, which fostered LUAD cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. ARHGAP6 was downregulated in LUAD and targeted by miR-96-5p. ARHGAP6 upregulation prominently restored promotion of miR-96-5p on cell progression. MiR-96-5p could stimulate LUAD progression through targeting ARHGAP6. This study generates a novel direction and lays a theoretical basis for targeted therapy.

Identification of the pyroptosis‑related prognostic gene signature and the associated regulation axis in lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains the most common deadly disease and has a poor prognosis. Pyroptosis could regulate tumour cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, thereby affecting the prognosis of cancer patients. However, the role of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in LUAD remains unclear. In our study, comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was performed to construct a prognostic gene model and ceRNA network. The correlations between PRGs and tumour-immune infiltration, tumour mutation burden, and microsatellite instability were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation analysis. A total of 23 PRGs were upregulated or downregulated in LUAD. The genetic mutation variation landscape of PRG in LUAD was also summarised. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these 33 PRGs were mainly involved in pyroptosis, the NOD-like receptor signalling pathway, and the Toll-like receptor signalling pathway. Prognosis analysis indicated a poor survival rate in LUAD patients with low expression of NLRP7, NLRP1, NLRP2, and NOD1 and high CASP6 expression. A prognostic PRG model constructed using the above five prognostic genes could predict the overall survival of LUAD patients with medium-to-high accuracy. Significant correlation was observed between prognostic PRGs and immune-cell infiltration, tumour mutation burden, and microsatellite instability. A ceRNA network was constructed to identify a lncRNA KCNQ1OT1/miR-335-5p/NLRP1/NLRP7 regulatory axis in LUAD. In conclusion, we performed a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and identified a prognostic PRG signature containing five genes (NLRP7, NLRP1, NLRP2, NOD1, and CASP6) for LUAD patients. Our results also identified a lncRNA KCNQ1OT1/miR-335-5p/NLRP1/NLRP7 regulatory axis, which may also play an important role in the progression of LUAD. Further study needs to be conducted to verify this result.

Identification and Kinetic Characterization of Serum- and Glucocorticoid-Regulated Kinase Inhibitors Using a Fluorescence Polarization-Based Assay

The serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (SGK) family consists of three isoforms (SGK1, SGK2, and SGK3) that have been implicated in the regulation of tumor growth, metastasis, autophagy, and epithelial ion transport. SGK1 and SGK3 play essential roles in protein kinase B (AKT or PKB)-independent phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)-mediated tumorigenesis, as evidenced by the significantly elevated expression levels of SGK1 and SGK3 in many cancers, including prostate cancer, colorectal carcinoma, estrogen-dependent breast cancer, and glioblastoma. Therefore, SGK is a potential target for anticancer therapy. A small kinase-focused library comprising 160 compounds was screened against SGK1 using a fluorescence polarization-based kinase assay that yielded a Z'-factor of 0.82. Among the 39 compounds obtained as initial hits in a primary screen, 12 compounds contained the thiazolidine-2,4-dione scaffold. The inhibitory mechanisms of the most potent hit, KMU010402, were further investigated using kinetic analyses, followed by determination of the inhibition constants for SGK1, SGK2, and SGK3. Molecular modeling was used to propose a potential binding mode of KMU010402 to SGK1.

MicroRNA-26b-5p alleviates murine collagen-induced arthritis by modulating Th17 cell plasticity

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease, and the abnormal differentiation of IL-17-producing T helper (Th17) cells is an important factor in the pathogenesis. Previous studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs, miR) act as key regulators of Th17 cells. However, the effects of miRNAs on Th17 cell differentiation and plasticity in RA are not clear. In this study, not only low miR-26b-5p expression and high IL-17A level were observed in the peripheral blood of RA patients, but also the negative correlation between miR-26b-5p and IL-17A was explored. The changes in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice were consistent with those in RA patients. The results of in vitro experiments showed that miR-26b-5p mainly inhibited the initial differentiation of Th17 cells but did not impact the differentiation of induced-Treg into Th17-like cells. Meanwhile, miR-26b-5p mimics treatment alleviated inflammatory responses and reduced Th17 proportion in CIA mice. These results indicated that miR-26b-5p could alleviate the development of mice CIA by inhibiting the excessive Th17 cells, and that miR-26b-5p could modulate the plasticity of Th17 cell differentiation in RA, mainly block the initial differentiation. This may provide a novel strategy for the clinical treatment of RA.

TYK2 is a prognostic biomarker and associated with immune infiltration in the lung adenocarcinoma microenvironment

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains a major disease with high morbidity and mortality. The Janus kinases (JAKs) play a significant part in cellular biological process, inflammation and immunity. The role of JAK family in LUAD is still ambiguous.

METHODS

Various bioinformatics web portals were applied to explore the prognostic value of JAK family and their correlation with immune infiltration in LUAD.

RESULTS

JAK1/2 was downregulated, whereas JAK3/TYK2 was upregulated in patients with LUAD compared with the healthy controls in subgroup analyses based on gender, age, smoking habits, cancer stage, TP53 mutation status, and nodal metastasis status. Drug sensitivity indicated that low expression of JAK3 and TYK2 were resistant to most of the small molecules or drugs. High TYK2 expression was associated with favorable overall survival and relapse free survival in LUAD. Moreover, univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that clinical stage, lymphatic node metastasis and TYK2 expression were the independent factors affecting the prognosis of LUAD patients. TYK2 expression in LUAD patients was positively associated with the abundance of immune cells (B cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells) and immune biomarker sets. Moreover, TYK2 was mainly involved in RNA binding, transcriptional mis-regulation in cancer and cell cycles. We also identified several TYK2-associated miRNA or transcription factor targets in LUAD.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that TYK2 was a biomarker and associated with prognosis and immune infiltration in LUAD, laying a foundation for further study about the role of TYK2 in the carcinogenesis and progression of LUAD.

HDAC2 interacts with microRNA-503-5p to regulate SGK1 in osteoarthritis

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disabling joint disease that causes articular cartilage degeneration. It has been implicated that altered expression of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) is found in patients with OA. However, the specific role of HDAC2 in the development of OA still remains enigmatic. Hence, we sought to characterize the functional relevance of HDAC2 in the development of OA.

Methods

Anterior cruciate ligament surgery was performed to generate the rat model of OA. Luciferase assay was performed to evaluate the relationship between microRNA-503-5p (miR-503-5p) and serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase-1 (SGK1). Functional experiments were conducted to examine the functional significance of miR-503-5p, histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), and SGK1 on the progression of OA by determining proliferation, apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis-associated proteins and inflammatory cytokines.

Results

HDAC2 could inhibit miR-503-5p expression. SGK1 was the target gene of miR-503-5p. Upregulation of miR-503-5p or silencing of HDAC2 contributed to enhanced proliferation, suppressed apoptosis (reduced expression of Caspase-3 and Bax but elevated expression of Bcl2), and promoted inflammation in chondrocytes of OA rats.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study demonstrated that HDAC2 could promote OA through miR-503-5p/SGK1 axis, which might function as a therapeutic target for OA treatment.

SGK1 in Human Cancer: Emerging Roles and Mechanisms

Serum and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase 1 (SGK1) is a member of the "AGC" subfamily of protein kinases, which shares structural and functional similarities with the AKT family of kinases and displays serine/threonine kinase activity. Aberrant expression of SGK1 has profound cellular consequences and is closely correlated with human cancer. SGK1 is considered a canonical factor affecting the expression and signal transduction of multiple genes involved in the genesis and development of many human cancers. Abnormal expression of SGK1 has been found in tissue and may hopefully become a useful indicator of cancer progression. In addition, SGK1 acts as a prognostic factor for cancer patient survival. This review systematically summarizes and discusses the role of SGK1 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of diverse cancer types; focuses on its essential roles and functions in tumorigenesis, cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, autophagy, metabolism, and therapy resistance and in the tumor microenvironment; and finally summarizes the current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of SGK1 at the molecular level. Taken together, this evidence highlights the crucial role of SGK1 in tumorigenesis and cancer progression, revealing why it has emerged as a potential target for cancer therapy.

ClC-3/SGK1 regulatory axis enhances the olaparib-induced antitumor effect in human stomach adenocarcinoma

Currently, only a few available targeted drugs are considered to be effective in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) treatment. The PARP inhibitor olaparib is a molecularly targeted drug that continues to be investigated in BRCA-mutated tumors. However, in tumors without BRCA gene mutations, particularly in STAD, the effect and molecular mechanism of olaparib are unclear, which largely restricts the use of olaparib in STAD treatment. In this study, the in vitro results showed that olaparib specifically inhibited cell growth and migration, exerting antitumor effect in STAD cell lines. In addition, a ClC-3/SGK1 regulatory axis was identified and validated in STAD cells. We then found that the down-regulation of ClC-3/SGK1 axis attenuated olaparib-induced cell growth and migration inhibition. On the contrary, the up-regulation of ClC-3/SGK1 axis enhanced olaparib-induced cell growth and migration inhibition, and the enhancement effect could be attenuated by SGK1 knockdown. Consistently, the whole-cell recorded chloride current activated by olaparib presented the same variation trend. Next, the clinical data showed that ClC-3 and SGK1 were highly expressed in human STAD tissues and positively correlated (r = 0.276, P = 0.009). Furthermore, high protein expression of both ClC-3 (P = 0.030) and SGK1 (P = 0.006) was associated with poor survival rate in STAD patients, and positive correlations between ClC-3/SGK1 and their downstream molecules in STAD tissues were demonstrated via the GEPIA datasets. Finally, our results suggested that olaparib inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway in STAD cells, and up-regulation of ClC-3/SGK1 axis enhanced olaparib-induced PI3K/AKT pathway inhibition. The animal experiments indicated that olaparib also exerted antitumor effect in vivo. Altogether, our findings illustrate that olaparib exerts antitumor effect in human STAD, and ClC-3/SGK1 regulatory axis enhances the olaparib-induced antitumor effect. Up-regulation of the ClC-3/SGK1 axis may provide promising therapeutic potential for the clinical application of olaparib in STAD treatment.

Identification of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Bone Marrow Circulating MicroRNAs

BACKGROUND

In addition to their roles in different biological processes, microRNAs in the tumor microenvironment appear to be potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for various malignant diseases, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To date, no screening of circulating miRNAs has been carried out in the bone marrow compartment of AML. Accordingly, we investigated the circulating miRNA profile in AML bone marrow at diagnosis (AMLD) and first complete remission post treatment (AMLPT) in comparison to healthy donors (HD).

METHODS

Circulating miRNAs were isolated from AML bone marrow aspirations, and a low-density TaqMan miRNA array was performed to identify deregulated miRNAs followed by quantitative RT-PCR to validate the results. Bioinformatic analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of the highly and significantly identified deregulated miRNA(s) as potential candidate biomarker(s).

RESULTS

We found several deregulated miRNAs between the AMLD vs. HD vs. AMLPT groups, which were involved in tumor progression and immune suppression pathways. We also identified significant diagnostic and prognostic signatures with the ability to predict AML patient treatment response.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a possible role of enriched circulating bone marrow miRNAs in the initiation and progression of AML and highlights new markers for prognosis and treatment monitoring.

The prospect of serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) in cancer therapy: a rising star

Serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) is an AGC kinase that has been reported to be involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Recent evidence has accumulated that SGK1 acts as an essential Akt-independent mediator of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in cancer. SGK1 is overexpressed in several tumors, including prostate cancer, colorectal carcinoma, glioblastoma, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer. The functions of SGK1 include regulating tumor growth, survival, metastasis, autophagy, immunoregulation, calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling, cancer stem cells, cell cycle, and therapeutic resistance. In this review, we introduce the pleiotropic role of SGK1 in the development and progression of tumors, summarize its downstream targets, and integrate the knowledge provided by preclinical studies that the prospect of SGK1 inhibition as a potential therapeutic approach.

Pan-cancer analysis reveals cooperativity of both strands of microRNA that regulate tumorigenesis and patient survival

Recently, both 5p and 3p miRNA strands are being recognized as functional instead of only one, leaving many miRNA strands uninvestigated. To determine whether both miRNA strands, which have different mRNA-targeting sequences, cooperate to regulate pathways/functions across cancer types, we evaluate genomic, epigenetic, and molecular profiles of >5200 patient samples from 14 different cancers, and RNA interference and CRISPR screens in 290 cancer cell lines. We identify concordantly dysregulated miRNA 5p/3p pairs that coordinately modulate oncogenic pathways and/or cell survival/growth across cancers. Down-regulation of both strands of miR-30a and miR-145 recurrently increased cell cycle pathway genes and significantly reduced patient survival in multiple cancers. Forced expression of all four strands show cooperativity, reducing cell cycle pathways and inhibiting lung cancer cell proliferation and migration. Therefore, we identify miRNA whose 5p/3p strands function together to regulate core tumorigenic processes/pathways and reveal a previously unknown pan-cancer miRNA signature with patient prognostic power.

5p and 3p miRNA strands have different mRNA-targeting sequences and may both functionally impact gene expression in cancer. Here, the authors undertake a pan-cancer analysis that indicates 5p/3p miRNA strands function together to regulate tumorigenic processes.

Synergistic therapeutic effect of combined PDGFR and SGK1 inhibition in metastasis-initiating cells of breast cancer

Lack of insight into the identity of the cells that initiate metastasis hampers the development of antimetastatic therapies. Only a tiny fraction of tumor cells termed metastasis-initiating cells (MICs) are able to successfully seed metastases, causing recurrence and therapeutic resistance. Using metastasis models, we describe a subpopulation of MIC derivates from lung metastases that do not have proliferation advantages, express high levels of the PDGF receptors and EMT/stemness-related genes, and are unique in their ability to initiate metastasis. PDGF factors specifically boost the metastatic potential of MIC populations in a PDGFR-dependent manner. However, PDGFR inhibition preferentially suppresses lung metastases, but does not reduce the primary tumor burden. Thus, we found that PDGFR inhibition blocks AKT activation, whereas SGK1, which shares high-similarity kinase domain and overlap substrates with AKT overexpression remains active in MICs. SGK1 and PDGF signaling act in concert to promote metastatic formation, and SGK1 inhibition confers vulnerability to PDGFR inhibitors, also eliciting a powerful antitumor effect. In vivo, SGK1 inhibitors sensitize xenograft tumors to PDGFR-targeted therapies by reducing primary tumor growth and lung metastasis. Consequently, dual inhibition of PDGFR and SGK1 exhibited strong antitumor activities in established breast cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, this approach not only provides insight into MIC transformation but also aids the design of improved therapeutic strategies for advanced breast cancer.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Identifies Novel Prognostic Factors and a Prognostic Score

Background and Objective

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common histological type of all lung cancers and is associated with genetic and epigenetic aberrations. The tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) stage is the most authoritative indicator of the clinical outcome in LUAD patients in current clinical practice. In this study, we attempted to identify novel genetic and epigenetic modifications and integrate them as a predictor of the prognosis for LUAD, to supplement the TNM stage with additional information.

Methods

A dataset of 445 patients with LUAD was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Both genetic and epigenetic aberrations were screened for their prognostic impact on overall survival (OS). A prognostic score (PS) integrating all the candidate prognostic factors was then developed and its prognostic value validated.

Results

A total of two micro-RNAs, two mRNAs and two DNA methylation sites were identified as prognostic factors associated with OS. The low- and high-risk patient groups, divided by their PS level, showed significantly different OS (p < 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (RFS; p = 0.005). Patients in the early stages (stages I/II) and advanced stages (stages III/IV) of LUAD could be further subdivided by PS into four subgroups. PS remained efficient in stratifying patients into different OS (p < 0.001) and RFS (p = 0.005) when the low- and high-risk subgroups were in the early stages of the disease. However, there was only a significant difference in OS (p = 0.04) but not RFS (p = 0.2), between the low-risk and high-risk subgroups when both were in advanced stages.

Conclusion

PS, in combination with the TNM stage, provides additional precision in stratifying patients with significantly different OS and RFS prognoses. Further studies are warranted to assess the efficiency of PS and to explain the effects of the genetic and epigenetic aberrations observed in LUAD.

Retracted Article: Circular RNA hsa_circ_0000467 modulates SGK1 to facilitate cell migration, metastasis, and EMT while repressing apoptosis in colorectal cancer by sponging miR-383-5p

Recent data indicated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) were implicated in tumor progression including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mechanism of hsa_circ_0000467 in CRC remains unclear. The levels of hsa_circ_0000467, microRNA-383-5p (miR-383-5p), and serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) in CRC tissues and cells were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The cell viability and apoptotic rate were detected through cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The migration and invasion abilities were evaluated via Transwell assay. The protein levels of cleaved caspase 3 (C-caspase 3), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), N-cadherin, E-cadherin, SGK1, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were detected by western blot assay. The dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were constructed to verify the interaction between miR-383-5p and hsa_circ_0000467 or SGK1. The mouse model experiment was performed to further validate the effects of hsa_circ_0000467 on CRC progression. Hsa_circ_0000467 and SGK1 were enhanced while miR-383-5p was reduced in CRC tissues and cells. Hsa_circ_0000467 silencing suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) but induced apoptosis in CRC cells by regulating miR-383-5p. Hsa_circ_0000467 sponged miR-383-5p and SGK1 was a direct target of miR-383-5p. Besides, hsa_circ_0000467 promoted SGK1 expression in CRC cells by sponging miR-383-5p. Furthermore, miR-383-5p restrained cell proliferation, metastasis, and EMT but facilitated apoptosis in CRC cells by modulating SGK1. Also, hsa_circ_0000467 knockdown blocked xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Hsa_circ_0000467 promoted CRC progression by regulating SGK1 expression via miR-383-5p.

Recent data indicated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) were implicated in tumor progression including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mechanism of hsa_circ_0000467 in CRC remains unclear.