Hepatitis B virus X protein represses miRNA-148a to enhance tumorigenesis

MicroRNA as Key Players in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Insights into Their Role in Metastasis

Liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains the most common cancer in global epidemiology. Both the frequency and fatality of this malignancy have shown an upward trend over recent decades. Liver cancer is a significant concern due to its propensity for both intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis. Liver cancer metastasis is a multifaceted process characterized by cell detachment from the bulk tumor, modulation of cellular motility and invasiveness, enhanced proliferation, avoidance of the immune system, and spread either via lymphatic or blood vessels. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) playing a crucial function in the intricate mechanisms of tumor metastasis. A number of miRNAs can either increase or reduce metastasis via several mechanisms, such as control of motility, proliferation, attack by the immune system, cancer stem cell properties, altering the microenvironment, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Besides, two other types of non-coding RNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) can competitively bind to endogenous miRNAs. This competition results in the impaired ability of the miRNAs to inhibit the expression of the specific messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that are targeted. Increasing evidence has shown that the regulatory axis comprising circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA is correlated with the regulation of HCC metastasis. This review seeks to present a thorough summary of recent research on miRNAs in HCC, and their roles in the cellular processes of EMT, invasion and migration, as well as the metastasis of malignant cells. Finally, we discuss the function of the lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network as a crucial modulator of carcinogenesis and the regulation of signaling pathways or genes that are relevant to the metastasis of HCC. These findings have the potential to offer valuable insight into the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches for management of liver cancer metastasis.

Hepatitis B virus X protein and TGF-β: partners in the carcinogenic journey of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis B infection is substantially associated with the development of liver cancer globally, with the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases exceeding 50%. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) encodes the Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein, a pleiotropic regulatory protein necessary for the transcription of the HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) microchromosome. In previous studies, HBV-associated HCC was revealed to be affected by HBx in multiple signaling pathways, resulting in genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications in proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. In addition, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has dichotomous potentials at various phases of malignancy as it is a crucial signaling pathway that regulates multiple cellular and physiological processes. In early HCC, TGF-β has a significant antitumor effect, whereas in advanced HCC, it promotes malignant progression. TGF-β interacts with the HBx protein in HCC, regulating the pathogenesis of HCC. This review summarizes the respective and combined functions of HBx and TGB-β in HCC occurrence and development.

PBX1: a TALE of two seasons-key roles during development and in cancer

Pre-B cell leukemia factor 1 (PBX1) is a Three Aminoacid Loop Extension (TALE) homeodomain-containing transcription factor playing crucial roles in organ pattering during embryogenesis, through the formation of nuclear complexes with other TALE class and/or homeobox proteins to regulate target genes. Its contribution to the development of several organs has been elucidated mainly through the study of murine knockout models. A crucial role for human development has been recently highlighted through the discovery of different de novo pathogenic PBX1 variants in children affected by developmental defects. In the adult, PBX1 is expressed in selected tissues such as in the brain, in the gastro-intestinal and urinary systems, or in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, while in other organs is barely detectable. When involved in the t(1;19) chromosomal translocation it acts as an oncogene, since the resulting fusion protein drives pre-B cell leukemia, due to the induction of target genes not normally targeted by the native protein. Its aberrant expression has been associated to tumor development, progression, or therapy-resistance as in breast cancer, ovarian cancer or myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). On the other hand, in colorectal cancer PBX1 functions as a tumor suppressor, highlighting its context-dependent role. We here discuss differences and analogies of PBX1 roles during embryonic development and in cancer, focusing mainly on the most recent discoveries.

Integrative multi-omics analysis reveals the critical role of the PBXIP1 gene in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, and its strongest risk factor is aging. A few studies have explored the relationship between aging and AD, while the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We assembled data across multi-omics (i.e., epigenetics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, based on frozen tissues from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and neuropathological and clinical traits from the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP). Aging was assessed using six DNA methylation clocks (including the Horvath clock, Hannum clock, Levine clock, HorvathSkin clock, Lin clock, and Cortical clock) that capture mortality risk in literature. After accounting for age, we first identified a gene module (including 263 genes) that was related to the integrated aging measure of six clocks, as well as three neuropathological traits of AD (i.e., β-amyloid, Tau tangles, and tangle density). Interestingly, among 20 key genes with top intramodular connectivity of the module, PBXIP1 was the only one that was significantly associated with all three neuropathological traits of AD at the protein level after Bonferroni correction. Furthermore, PBXIP1 was associated with the clinical diagnosis of AD in both ROSMAP and three independent datasets. Moreover, PBXIP1 may be related to AD through its role in astrocytes and hippocampal neurons, and the mTOR pathway. The results suggest the critical role of PBXIP1 in AD and support the potential and feasibility of using multi-omics data to investigate mechanisms of complex diseases. However, more validations in different populations and experiments in vitro and in vivo are required in the future.

Will metformin use lead to a decreased risk of thyroid cancer? A systematic review and meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

It has been reported that metformin use may reduce the risk of thyroid cancer, but existing studies have generated inconsistent results. The purpose of this study was to investigate such association between metformin use and the risk of thyroid cancer.

METHODS

Studies of metformin use for the risk of thyroid cancer were searched in Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biomedical Database, Wanfang Data, and Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP) from the establishment date to December 2022. Newcastle-Ottawa scale is adopted for assessing the methodological quality of included studies, and the inter-study heterogeneity was assessed by using the I-squared statistic. Combined odds ratios (ORs) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated through either fixed-effects or random-effects model according to the heterogeneity. Besides, subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses and test for publication bias were conducted.

RESULTS

Five studies involving 1,713,528 participants were enrolled in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis. The result of the meta-analyses showed that metformin use was associated with a statistically significant lower risk of thyroid cancer (pooled OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.50-0.91, P = 0.011). Moreover, in the subgroup analysis, we found that the use of metformin may also aid in the prevention of thyroid cancer in Eastern population (pooled OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.35-0.88, P = 0.012) rather than Western population (pooled OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.52-1.54, P = 0.685). Sensitivity analysis suggested the results of this meta-analyses were relatively stable. No publication bias was detected.

CONCLUSION

Metformin use is beneficial for reducing the risk of thyroid cancer. For further investigation, more well-designed studies are still needed to elucidate the association between metformin use and the risk of thyroid cancer.

Mechanism of HBx carcinogenesis interaction with non-coding RNA in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an extremely malignant tumor that affects individuals throughout the world. One of the main causes of HCC is hepatitis B virus (HBV). Therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms underlying HBV carcinogenesis. Increasing evidence suggests that the HBV X protein (HBx), which is encoded by HBV, plays a significant role in cell apoptosis, DNA damage repair, and cell cycle regulation. This ultimately leads to the development of HCC. Additionally, recent studies have shown that non-coding RNA (ncRNA) also contributes to the carcinogenesis and pathogenesis of different of tumors. ncRNA plays a significant role in the formation of HCC by regulating the inflammatory signaling pathway, activating immune cells, and modifying epigenetics. However, it remains unclear whether ncRNA is involved in the regulation of the carcinogenic mechanisms of HBx. This article reviews the carcinogenic mechanism of HBx and its interaction with ncRNA, providing a novel strategy for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Dysregulated microRNAs as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy with a high incidence and fatality rate worldwide. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most important risk factors for its occurrence and development. Early detection of HBV-associated HCC (HBV-HCC) can improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes. Biomarkers are extremely helpful, not only for early diagnosis, but also for the development of therapeutics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a subset of non-coding RNAs approximately 22 nucleotides in length, have increasingly attracted scientists' attention due to their potential utility as biomarkers for cancer detection and therapy. HBV profoundly impacts the expression of miRNAs potentially involved in the development of hepatocarcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize the current progress on the role of miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of HBV-HCC. From a molecular standpoint, we discuss the mechanism by which HBV regulates miRNAs and investigate the exact effect of miRNAs on the promotion of HCC. In the near future, miRNA-based diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications will make their way into the clinical routine.

MicroRNA let-7 and viral infections: focus on mechanisms of action

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are fundamental post-transcriptional modulators of several critical cellular processes, a number of which are involved in host defense mechanisms. In particular, miRNA let-7 functions as an essential regulator of the function and differentiation of both innate and adaptive immune cells. Let-7 is involved in several human diseases, including cancer and viral infections. Several viral infections have found ways to dysregulate the expression of miRNAs. Extracellular vesicles (EV) are membrane-bound lipid structures released from many types of human cells that can transport proteins, lipids, mRNAs, and miRNAs, including let-7. After their release, EVs are taken up by the recipient cells and their contents released into the cytoplasm. Let-7-loaded EVs have been suggested to affect cellular pathways and biological targets in the recipient cells, and can modulate viral replication, the host antiviral response, and the action of cancer-related viruses. In the present review, we summarize the available knowledge concerning the expression of let-7 family members, functions, target genes, and mechanistic involvement in viral pathogenesis and host defense. This may provide insight into the development of new therapeutic strategies to manage viral infections.

Retinoic Acid-Inducible Gene I-Like Receptors Activate Snail To Limit RNA Viral Infections

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like receptors (RLRs) are important cytosolic pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that sense viral RNA before mounting a response leading to the activation of type I IFNs. Several viral infections induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), even as its significance remains unclear. Here, we show that EMT or an EMT-like process is a general response to viral infections. Our studies identify a previously unknown mechanism of regulation of an important EMT-transcription factor (EMT-TF) Snail during RNA viral infections and describe its possible implication. RNA viral infections, poly(I·C) transfection, and ectopic expression of RLR components induced Snail levels, indicating that RLR pathway could regulate its expression. Detailed examination using mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein knockout (MAVS-KO) cells established that MAVS is essential in this regulation. We identified two interferon-stimulated response elements (ISREs) in the SNAI1 promoter region and demonstrated that they are important in its transcriptional activation by phosphorylated IRF3. Increasing the levels of Snail activated RLR pathway and dramatically limited replication of the RNA viruses dengue virus, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), and vesicular stomatitis virus, pointing to their antiviral functions. Knockdown of Snail resulted in a considerable increase in the JEV titer, validating its antiviral functions. Finally, transforming growth factor β-mediated IFNB activation was dependent on Snail levels, confirming its important role in type I IFN activation. Thus, EMT-TF Snail is transcriptionally coregulated with type I IFN by RLRs and, in turn, promotes the RLR pathway, further strengthening the antiviral state in the cell. Our work identified an interesting mechanism of regulation of Snail that demonstrates potential coregulation of multiple innate antiviral pathways triggered by RLRs. Identification of antiviral functions of Snail also provides an opportunity to expand the sphere of RLR signaling. IMPORTANCE RLRs sense viral genomic RNA or the double-stranded RNA intermediates and trigger the activation of type I IFNs. Snail transcription factor, commonly associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), has been reported to facilitate EMT in several viral infections. Many of these reports are based on oncoviruses, leading to the speculation that EMT induced during infection is an important factor in the oncogenesis triggered by these infections. However, our studies reveal that EMT or EMT-like processes during viral infections have important functions in antiviral response. We have characterized a new mechanism of transcriptional regulation of Snail by IRF3 through interferon-stimulated response elements in their promoters, and this finding could have importance in nonviral contexts as well. We also identify that EMT-TF Snail promotes antiviral status of the infected cells through the RLR pathway. This study characterizes a new regulatory mechanism of activation of Snail and establishes its unidentified function in antiviral response.

Mitochondrial Quality Control in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Mitochondria participate in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by modifying processes including but not limited to redox homeostasis, metabolism, and the cell death pathway. These processes depend on the health status of the mitochondria. Quality control processes in mitochondria can repair or eliminate “unhealthy mitochondria” at the molecular, organelle, or cellular level and form an efficient integrated network that plays an important role in HCC tumorigenesis, patient survival, and tumor progression. Here, we review the influence of mitochondria on the biological behavior of HCC. Based on this information, we further highlight the need for determining the role and mechanism of interaction between different levels of mitochondrial quality control in regulating HCC occurrence and progression as well as resistance development. This information may lead to the development of precision medicine approaches against targets involved in various mitochondrial quality control-related pathways.

mTOR Signaling: The Interface Linking Cellular Metabolism and Hepatitis B Virus Replication

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a conserved Ser/Thr kinase that includes mTOR complex (mTORC) 1 and mTORC2. The mTOR pathway is activated in viral hepatitis, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection-induced hepatitis. Currently, chronic HBV infection remains one of the most serious public health issues worldwide. The unavailability of effective therapeutic strategies for HBV suggests that clarification of the pathogenesis of HBV infection is urgently required. Increasing evidence has shown that HBV infection can activate the mTOR pathway, indicating that HBV utilizes or hijacks the mTOR pathway to benefit its own replication. Therefore, the mTOR signaling pathway might be a crucial target for controlling HBV infection. Here, we summarize and discuss the latest findings from model biology research regarding the interaction between the mTOR signaling pathway and HBV replication.

Crosstalk between Environmental Inflammatory Stimuli and Non-Coding RNA in Cancer Occurrence and Development

Simple Summary

Increasing evidence has indicated that chronic inflammatory processes have an influence on tumor occurrence and all stages of tumor development. A dramatic increase of studies into non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) biology has shown that ncRNAs act as oncogenic drivers and tumor suppressors in various inflammation-induced cancers. Thus, this complex network of inflammation-associated cancers and ncRNAs offers targets for prevention from the malignant transformation from inflammation and treatment of malignant diseases.

Abstract

There is a clear relationship between inflammatory response and different stages of tumor development. Common inflammation-related carcinogens include viruses, bacteria, and environmental mutagens, such as air pollutants, toxic metals, and ultraviolet light. The expression pattern of ncRNA changes in a variety of disease conditions, including inflammation and cancer. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have a causative role in enhancing inflammatory stimulation and evading immune responses, which are particularly important in persistent pathogen infection and inflammation-to-cancer transformation. In this review, we investigated the mechanism of ncRNA expression imbalance in inflammation-related cancers. A better understanding of the function of inflammation-associated ncRNAs may help to reveal the potential of ncRNAs as a new therapeutic strategy.

The Functions of Hepatitis B Virus Encoding Proteins: Viral Persistence and Liver Pathogenesis

About 250 million people worldwide are chronically infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV), contributing to a large burden on public health. Despite the existence of vaccines and antiviral drugs to prevent infection and suppress viral replication respectively, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) cure remains a remote treatment goal. The viral persistence caused by HBV is account for the chronic infection which increases the risk for developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV virion utilizes various strategies to escape surveillance of host immune system therefore enhancing its replication, while the precise mechanisms involved remain elusive. Accumulating evidence suggests that the proteins encoded by HBV (hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antigen, hepatitis B envelope antigen, HBx and polymerase) play an important role in viral persistence and liver pathogenesis. This review summarizes the major findings in functions of HBV encoding proteins, illustrating how these proteins affect hepatocytes and the immune system, which may open new venues for CHB therapies.

A novel chemical inhibitor suppresses breast cancer cell growth and metastasis through inhibiting HPIP oncoprotein

Increasing evidence suggests the pivotal role of hematopoietic pre-B-cell leukemia transcription factor (PBX)-interacting protein (HPIP/PBXIP1) in cancer development and progression, indicating that HPIP inhibition may be a promising target for cancer therapy. Here, we screened compounds inhibiting breast cancer cell proliferation with HPIP fused with green fluorescent protein as a reporter. A novel agent named TXX-1-10 derived from rimonabant, an antagonist of cannabinoid receptor 1 with anticancer effects, has been discovered to reduce HPIP expression and has greater inhibitory effects on breast cancer cell growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo than rimonabant. TXX-1-10 regulates HPIP downstream targets, including several important kinases involved in cancer development and progression (e.g., AKT, ERK1/2, and FAK) as well as cell cycle-, apoptosis-, migration-, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes. Consistent with the results of anticancer effects, genome-wide RNA sequencing indicated that TXX-1-10 has more significant effects on regulation of the expression of genes related to DNA replication, cell cycle, apoptosis, cell adhesion, cell migration, and invasion than rimonabant. In addition, TXX-1-10 significantly regulated genes associated with the cell growth and extracellular matrix organization, many of which were shown to be regulated by HPIP. Moreover, compared with rimonabant, TXX-1-10 greatly reduces blood-brain barrier penetrability to avoid adverse central depressive effects. These findings suggest that HPIP inhibition may be a useful strategy for cancer treatment and TXX-1-10 is a promising candidate drug for cancer therapy.

Stable duplex-linked antisense targeting miR-148a inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate cancer cell proliferation by binding directly to the untranslated regions of messenger RNA (mRNA). MicroRNA-148a (miR-148a) is expressed at low levels in breast cancer (BC). However, little attention has been paid to the sequestration of miR-148a. Here, we performed a knockdown of miR-148a using anti-miRNA oligonucleotides (AMOs) and investigated the effect on BC cell proliferation. BC cell proliferation was significantly suppressed by AMO flanked by interstrand cross-linked duplexes (CL-AMO), whereas single-stranded and commercially available AMOs had no effect. The suppression was caused by sequestering specifically miR-148a. Indeed, miR-148b, another member of the miR-148 family, was not affected. Importantly, the downregulation of miR-148a induced a greater and longer-lasting inhibition of BC cell proliferation than the targeting of oncogenic microRNA-21 (miR-21) did. We identified thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), a tumor suppressor gene, as a target of miR-148a and showed that CL-AMO provoked an increase in TXNIP mRNA expression. This study provide evidence that lowly expressed miRNAs such as miR-148a have an oncogenic function and might be a promising target for cancer treatment.

The Epigenetic Modulation of Cancer and Immune Pathways in Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Influence of HBx and miRNA Dysregulation

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) pathogenesis is fueled by persistent HBV infection that stealthily maintains a delicate balance between viral replication and evasion of the host immune system. HBV is remarkably adept at using a combination of both its own, as well as host machinery to ensure its own replication and survival. A key tool in its arsenal, is the HBx protein which can manipulate the epigenetic landscape to decrease its own viral load and enhance persistence, as well as manage host genome epigenetic responses to the presence of viral infection. The HBx protein can initiate epigenetic modifications to dysregulate miRNA expression which, in turn, can regulate downstream epigenetic changes in HBV-HCC pathogenesis. We attempt to link the HBx and miRNA induced epigenetic modulations that influence both the HBV and host genome expression in HBV-HCC pathogenesis. In particular, the review investigates the interplay between CHB infection, the silencing role of miRNA, epigenetic change, immune system expression and HBV-HCC pathogenesis. The review demonstrates exactly how HBx-dysregulated miRNA in HBV-HCC pathogenesis influence and are influenced by epigenetic changes to modulate both viral and host genome expression. In particular, the review identifies a specific subset of HBx induced epigenetic miRNA pathways in HBV-HCC pathogenesis demonstrating the complex interplay between HBV infection, epigenetic change, disease and immune response. The wide-ranging influence of epigenetic change and miRNA modulation offers considerable potential as a therapeutic option in HBV-HCC.

MicroRNAs in the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review

Simple Summary

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequently occurring cancers, and the prognosis for late-stage HCC remains poor. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of HCC is expected to improve outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding, single-stranded RNAs that regulate the expression of various target genes, including those in cancer-associated genomic regions or fragile sites in various human cancers. We summarize the central roles of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of HCC and discuss their potential utility as valuable biomarkers and new therapeutic agents for HCC.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the seventh most frequent cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Despite substantial advances in therapeutic strategies, the prognosis of late-stage HCC remains dismal because of the high recurrence rate. A better understanding of the etiology of HCC is therefore necessary to improve outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, endogenous, noncoding, single-stranded RNAs that modulate the expression of their target genes at the posttranscriptional and translational levels. Aberrant expression of miRNAs has frequently been detected in cancer-associated genomic regions or fragile sites in various human cancers and has been observed in both HCC cells and tissues. The precise patterns of aberrant miRNA expression differ depending on disease etiology, including various causes of hepatocarcinogenesis, such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms and the association of miRNAs with the pathogenesis of HCC of various etiologies. In the present review, we summarize the key mechanisms of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of HCC and emphasize their potential utility as valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as innovative therapeutic targets, in HCC diagnosis and treatment.

Hepatitis B virus P protein initiates glycolytic bypass in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma via a FOXO3/miRNA-30b-5p/MINPP1 axis

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a crucial risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its underlying mechanism remains understudied.

Methods

Microarray analysis was conducted to compare the genes and miRNAs in liver tissue from HBV-positive and HBV-negative HCC patients. Biological functions of these biomarkers in HBV-related HCC were validated via in vitro and in vivo experiments. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of HBV on the proliferation and migration of tumor cells in HBV-positive HCC tissue. Bioinformatics analysis was then performed to validate the clinical value of the biomarkers in a large HCC cohort.

Results

We found that a gene, MINPP1 from the glycolytic bypass metabolic pathway, has an important biological function in the development of HBV-positive HCC. MINPP1 is down-regulated in HBV-positive HCC and could inhibit the proliferation and migration of the tumor cells. Meanwhile, miRNA-30b-5p was found to be a stimulator for the proliferation of tumor cell through glycolytic bypass in HBV-positive HCC. More importantly, miRNA-30b-5p could significantly downregulate MINPP1 expression. Metabolic experiments showed that the miRNA-30b-5p/MINPP1 axis is able to accelerate the conversion of glucose to lactate and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG). In the HBV-negative HCC cells, miRNA-30b-5p/MINPP1 could not regulate the glycolytic bypass to promote the tumorigenesis. However, once HBV was introduced into these cells, miRNA-30b-5p/MINPP1 significantly enhanced the proliferation, migration of tumor cells, and promoted the glycolytic bypass. We further revealed that HBV infection promoted the expression of miRNA-30b-5p through the interaction of HBV protein P (HBp) with FOXO3. Bioinformatics analysis on a large cohort dataset showed that high expression of MINPP1 was associated with favorable survival of HBV-positive HCC patients, which could lead to a slower progress of this disease.

Conclusion

Our study found that the HBp/FOXO3/miRNA-30b-5p/MINPP1 axis contributes to the development of HBV-positive HCC cells through the glycolytic bypass. We also presented miRNA-30b-5p/MINPP1 as a novel biomarker for HBV-positive HCC early diagnosis and a potential pharmaceutical target for antitumor therapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-020-01803-8.

MicroRNA-148a-3p inhibits progression of hepatocelluar carcimoma by repressing SMAD2 expression in an Ago2 dependent manner

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent common cancer worldwide with high mortality. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway was reported dysregulated during liver cancer formation and progression. As a key component of TGF-β signaling, the role of SMAD2 and its regulatory mechanisms in HCC remain unclear.

Methods

SMAD2 expression in paired HCC specimens were determined by western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC). quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) expression level. Cell migration, invasion and proliferation ability were evaluated by transwell, CCK8 and EdU assay. In silico websites were used to manifest overall survival rates of HCC patients or to predict miRNAs targeting SMAD2. Dual luciferase reporter assay and anti-Ago2 immunoprecipitation assay were performed to confirm the binding between SMAD2 mRNA and miRNA-148a-3p (miR-148a). Tumorigenesis and lung metastasis mouse model were used to explore the role of miR-148a in vivo. In situ hybridization (ISH) was conducted to determine the expression of miR-148a in liver tissues.

Results

In this study, we found that SMAD2 was highly expressed in HCC and elevated SMAD2 expression predicted shorter overall survival (OS) time for HCC patients. SMAD2 promoted mobility and proliferation of HCC cells in vitro. We further revealed that the expression of miR-148a was negatively correlated with SMAD2 and found that miR-148a repressed SMAD2 expression by downregulating its mRNA through binding with Argonaute 2 (Ago2) in HCC. Transwell, CCK8 and animal experiments exhibited miR-148a inhibited metastasis and proliferation of HCC in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the phenotype changes caused by miR-148a manipulation were recovered by rescuing SMAD2 expression in HCC cells. ISH assay indicated miR-148a was downregulated in HCC and low expression of miR-148a associated with more aggressive clinic features and poor prognosis.

Conclusion

miR-148a was identified as a repressor of HCC progression by downregulating SMAD2 in an Ago2 dependent manner.

Dysregulated microRNAs in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Potential as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding small RNAs that can function as gene regulators and are involved in tumorigenesis. We review the commonly dysregulated miRNAs in liver tumor tissues and plasma/serum of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The frequently reported up-regulated miRNAs in liver tumor tissues include miR-18a, miR-21, miR-221, miR-222, and miR-224, whereas down-regulated miRNAs include miR-26a, miR-101, miR-122, miR-125b, miR-145, miR-199a, miR-199b, miR-200a, and miR-223. For a subset of these miRNAs (up-regulated miR-222 and miR-224, down-regulated miR-26a and miR-125b), the pattern of dysregulated circulating miRNAs in plasma/serum is mirrored in tumor tissue based on multiple independent studies. Dysregulated miRNAs target oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. Normalization of dysregulated miRNAs by up- or down-regulation has been shown to inhibit HCC cell proliferation or sensitize liver cancer cells to chemotherapeutic treatment. miRNAs hold as yet unrealized potential as biomarkers for early detection of HCC and as precision therapeutic targets, but further studies in diverse populations and across all stages of HCC are needed.

The Multiple Roles of Hepatitis B Virus X Protein (HBx) Dysregulated MicroRNA in Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HBV-HCC) and Immune Pathways

Currently, the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [HBV-HCC] relies on blunt tools that are unable to offer effective therapy for later stage pathogenesis. The potential of miRNA to treat HBV-HCC offer a more targeted approach to managing this lethal carcinoma; however, the complexity of miRNA as an ancillary regulator of the immune system remains poorly understood. This review examines the overlapping roles of HBx-dysregulated miRNA in HBV-HCC and immune pathways and seeks to demonstrate that specific miRNA response in immune cells is not independent of their expression in hepatocytes. This interplay between the two pathways may provide us with the possibility of using candidate miRNA to manipulate this interaction as a potential therapeutic option.

The role of MDM2-p53 axis dysfunction in the hepatocellular carcinoma transformation

Liver cancer is the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death globally. The main histological subtype is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is derived from hepatocytes. According to the epidemiologic studies, the most important risk factors of HCC are chronic viral infections (HBV, HCV, and HIV) and metabolic disease (metabolic syndrome). Interestingly, these carcinogenic factors that contributed to HCC are associated with MDM2-p53 axis dysfunction, which presented with inactivation of p53 and overactivation of MDM2 (a transcriptional target and negative regulator of p53). Mechanically, the homeostasis of MDM2-p53 feedback loop plays an important role in controlling the initiation and progression of HCC, which has been found to be dysregulated in HCC tissues. To maintain long-term survival in hepatocytes, hepatitis viruses have lots of ways to destroy the defense strategies of hepatocytes by inducing TP53 mutation and silencing, promoting MDM2 overexpression, accelerating p53 degradation, and stabilizing MDM2. As a result, genetic instability, chronic ER stress, oxidative stress, energy metabolism switch, and abnormalities in antitumor genes can be induced, all of which might promote hepatocytes' transformation into hepatoma cells. In addition, abnormal proliferative hepatocytes and precancerous cells cannot be killed, because of hepatitis viruses-mediated exhaustion of Kupffer cells and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and CD4+T cells by disrupting their MDM2-p53 axis. Moreover, inefficiency of hepatic immune response can be further aggravated when hepatitis viruses co-infected with HIV. Unlike with chronic viral infections, MDM2-p53 axis might play a dual role in glucolipid metabolism of hepatocytes, which presented with enhancing glucolipid catabolism, but promoting hepatocyte injury at the early and late stages of glucolipid metabolism disorder. Oxidative stress, fatty degeneration, and abnormal cell growth can be detected in hepatocytes that were suffering from glucolipid metabolism disorder, and all of which could contribute to HCC initiation. In this review, we focus on the current studies of the MDM2-p53 axis in HCC, and specifically discuss the impact of MDM2-p53 axis dysfunction by viral infection and metabolic disease in the transformation of normal hepatocytes into hepatoma cells. We also discuss the therapeutic avenues and potential targets that are being developed to normalize the MDM2-p53 axis in HCC.

Identification of differentially expressed miRNAs associated with thermal injury in epidermal stem cells based on RNA-sequencing

Current research indicates that epidermal stem cells (EpSCs) play an important role in promoting wound healing, but the mechanism of action of these cells during wound repair following thermal damage remains unclear. In the present study, the trypsin digestion method was used to isolate human EpSCs and the cells were incubated in a 51.5°C water tank for 35 sec to construct a thermal injury model. The differentially expressed miRNAs were identified using high-throughput sequencing technology, and bioinformatic methods were used to predict their target genes and signaling pathways that may be involved in wound repair. A total of 33 miRNAs including, hsa-miR-1973, hsa-miR-4485-3p, hsa-miR-548-5p, hsa-miR-212-3p and hsa-miR-4461 were upregulated, whereas 21 miRNAs including, hsa-miR-4520-5p, hsa-miR-4661-5p, hsa-miR-191-3p, hsa-miR-129-5p, hsa-miR-147b and hsa-miR-6868-3p were downregulated following thermal injury of the human EpSCs. The bioinformatic analysis indicated that the differentially expressed miRNAs are involved in biological processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation, cell growth apoptosis, cell adhesion and migration. The results showed that there is a differential expression pattern of miRNAs after thermal injury of human EpSCs and these differences are involved in the regulation of the wound healing process. These findings provide new clues for further study of the wound healing mechanism and targeted therapy.

MicroRNA-493-5p-mediated repression of the MYCN oncogene inhibits hepatic cancer cell growth and invasion

Primary hepatic tumors mainly include hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is one of the most frequent causes of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. Thus far, HCC prognosis has remained extremely poor given the lack of effective treatments. Numerous studies have described the roles played by microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer progression and the potential of these small noncoding RNAs for diagnostic or therapeutic applications. The current consensus supports the idea that direct repression of a wide range of oncogenes by a single key miRNA could critically affect the malignant properties of cancer cells in a synergistic manner. In this study, we aimed to investigate the oncogenes controlled by miR‐493‐5p, a major tumor suppressor miRNA that inactivates miR‐483‐3p oncomir in hepatic cancer cells. Using global gene expression analysis, we highlighted a set of candidate genes potentially regulated by miR‐493‐5p. In particular, the canonical MYCN protooncogene (MYCN) appeared to be an attractive target of miR‐493‐5p given its significant inhibition through 3′‐UTR targeting in miR‐493‐5p‐rescued HCC cells. We showed that MYCN was overexpressed in liver cancer cell lines and clinical samples from HCC patients. Notably, MYCN expression levels were inversely correlated with miR‐493‐5p in tumor tissues. We confirmed that MYCN knockdown mimicked the anticancer effect of miR‐493‐5p by inhibiting HCC cell growth and invasion, whereas MYCN rescue hindered miR‐493‐5p activity. In summary, miR‐493‐5p is a pivotal miRNA that modulates various oncogenes after its reexpression in liver cancer cells, suggesting that tumor suppressor miRNAs with a large spectrum of action could provide valuable tools for miRNA replacement therapies.

The Regulatory Role of MicroRNA in Hepatitis-B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HBV-HCC) Pathogenesis

The incidence and mortality of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) is an intractable public health problem in developing countries that is compounded by limited early detection and therapeutic options. Despite the early promise of utilizing the regulatory role of miRNA in liver cancer, this field remains largely in the work-in-progress phase. This exploratory review paper adopts a broad focus in order to collate evidence of the regulatory role of miRNA in each stage of the HBV-HCC continuum. This includes the regulatory role of miRNA in early HBV infection, chronic inflammation, fibrosis/cirrhosis, and the onset of HCC. The paper specifically investigates HBV dysregulated miRNA that influence the expression of the host/HBV genome in HBV-HCC pathogenesis and fully acknowledges that this does not cover the full spectrum of dysregulated miRNA. The sheer number of dysregulated miRNA in each phase support a hypothesis that future therapeutic interventions will need to consider incorporating multiple miRNA panels.

NCAPG Promotes The Proliferation Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through PI3K/AKT Signaling

Purpose

Studies show that high expression of non-SMC condensin I complex subunit G (NCAPG) is associated with many tumors. In this study, we explore the mechanism by which NCAPG promotes proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients and methods

Liver cancer and paracancerous tissue specimens of 90 HCC patients were collected, and expression levels of NCAPG in these tissues and cell lines were evaluated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. HCC cells were transfected with siRNAs and plasmids, and pathway activators or inhibitors were added. The 5-ethynyl-2ʹ-deoxyuridine (EdU) proliferation assay was used to measure cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate cell apoptosis. Western blot assays were performed as a standard procedure to detect total protein expression. Treated HCC cells were subcutaneously injected into nude mice.

Results

Analysis using the Oncomine database showed that NCAPG was upregulated in HCC and immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays showed it was upregulated in both HCC tissues and HCC cell lines. The overexpression of NCAPG could promote HCC cell proliferation and reduce HCC cell apoptosis. More importantly, RNA-sequencing analysis predicted that NCAPG plays a role in the HCC via PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. The PI3K/AKT/FOXO4 pathway was aberrantly activated, and the expressions of apoptosis-related protein were altered when NCAPG was overexpressed or silenced both in vitro and in vivo. LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, could eliminate the NCAPG role of promoting HCC cell proliferation and reducing HCC cell apoptosis, while 740Y-P, a PI3K activator, contributed to the opposite effect.

Conclusion

NCAPG functions as an oncogene in HCC and plays a role in promoting cell proliferation and antiapoptosis through activating the PI3K/AKT/FOXO4 pathway.

miR-596 suppresses the expression of Survivin and enhances the sensitivity of osteosarcoma cells to the molecular targeting agent anlotinib

Background

Osteosarcoma (OSA), the most common primary bone malignancy, is characterized by a wide spectrum of complicated pathologies and frequent distal metastasis and causes death in adolescents and young adults worldwide. Antitumor drug treatment strategies include various cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, while molecular targeted therapy for OSA is currently less used. The present work revealed the role played by the miR-596/Survivin axis in affecting the sensitivity of OSA cells to anlotinib, a novel molecular targeting agent.

Methods

By virtual screening, we found that miR-596 might target Survivin by using an online tool (miRDB). RNA levels of miR-596 and Survivin in clinical specimens were examined with qPCR. The effect of miR-596 on anlotinib’s antitumor effect was examined with MTT experiments, the subcutaneous tumor model, or the intramuscular tumor model.

Results

Overexpression of miR-596 via lentiviral particles repressed the protein level of Survivin in U2OS cells. Transfection of miR-596 enhanced the antitumor effect of anlotinib on U2OS cells or five cell lines derived from OSA patients.

Conclusion

miR-596 targets Survivin and enhances the antitumor effect of anlotinib on OSA cells.

A temperature-sensitive phase-change hydrogel of tamoxifen achieves the long-acting antitumor activation on breast cancer cells

Background: Breast cancer is one of the foremost threats to female health nowadays. Tamoxifen, an antagonist of estrogen receptor-α (ERα), is the first choice for endocrine-dependent breast cancer (ERα-positive breast cancer) treatment. However, ERα has an important function in the normal physical regulation of estrogen, and current oral administration of tamoxifen has potential side effects on normal endocrine secretion. In the present work, we aim to develop novel approaches to increase the antitumor effect of tamoxifen on breast cancer cells and decrease the potential side effects in the human body during treatment. Methods: A temperature-sensitive phase-change hydrogel for tamoxifen (Tam-Gel) was generated. After establishing subcutaneous tumors formed by MCF-7, an ERα-positive breast cancer cell line, in nude mice, an intratumoral injection of Tam-Gel was performed to examine whether Tam-Gel facilitated the slow-release or antitumor effect of tamoxifen. A metastatic breast cancer model was established using the intrahepatic growth of MCF-7 cells in immunodeficient rats. Results: Tam-Gel can transform from liquid to hydrogel at room temperature. An intratumoral injection of Tam-Gel facilitated the slow-release or antitumor effect of tamoxifen. Once Tam-Gel, but not Tam-Sol, was administered by intratumoral injection, it significantly decreased the uptake of radionuclide probes (¹⁸F-fluoroestradiol or ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose) by cells in rats' livers and the intrahepatic growth of MCF-7 cells in rats' livers. Conclusion: A novel slow-release system was successfully prepared to facilitate the long-term release of tamoxifen in breast cancer tissues, and achieved an antitumor effect in the long term.

Contribution of hepatitis B virus X protein-induced aberrant microRNA expression to hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis

The hepatitis B virus-encoded X (HBX) protein plays important roles in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previous studies have demonstrated that HBX can induce alterations in the expression of numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the carcinogenesis of various tumors. However, the global profile of liver miRNA changes induced by HBX has not been characterized. In this study, we conducted a miRNA microarray analysis to investigate the influence of HBX on the expression of total miRNAs in liver in relation to HCC. Comparative analysis of the data from human normal liver cells (L02) and human HCC cells (HepG2), with or without HBX, identified 19 differentially expressed miRNAs, including 5 with known association to HBX. Target gene prediction for the aberrantly expressed miRNAs identified a total of 304 potential target genes, involved in sundry pathways. Finally, pathway analysis of the HBXinduced miRNAs pathway showed that 5 of the total miRNAs formed an internetwork, suggesting that HBX might exert its pathological effects on hepatic cells through functional synergy with miRNAs that regulated common pathways in liver cells. Therefore, this work provides new insights into the mechanisms of HCC as well as potential diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets for use in clinical management of HCC.

Alcohol dysregulates miR-148a in hepatocytes through FoxO1, facilitating pyroptosis via TXNIP overexpression

OBJECTIVE

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a leading cause of death among chronic liver diseases. However, its pathogenesis has not been completely established. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key contributors to liver diseases progression. This study investigated hepatocyte-abundant miRNAs dysregulated by ALD, its impact on hepatocyte injury and the underlying basis.

DESIGN

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) human and animal liver samples and hepatocytes were used to assess miR-148a levels. Pre-miR-148a was delivered specifically to hepatocytes in vivo using lentivirus. Immunoblottings, luciferase reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays were carried out in cell models.

RESULTS

The miRNA profile and PCR analyses enabled us to find substantial decrease of miR-148a in the liver of patients with AH. In mice subjected to Lieber-DeCarli alcohol diet or binge alcohol drinking, miR-148a levels were also markedly reduced. In cultured hepatocytes and mouse livers, alcohol exposure inhibited forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) expression, which correlated with miR-148a levels and significantly decreased in human AH specimens. FoxO1 was identified as a transcription factor for MIR148A transactivation. MiR-148a directly inhibited thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) expression. Consequently, treatment of hepatocytes with ethanol resulted in TXNIP overexpression, activating NLRP3 inflammasome and caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis. These events were reversed by miR-148a mimic or TXNIP small-interfering RNA transfection. Hepatocyte-specific delivery of miR-148a to mice abrogated alcohol-induced TXNIP overexpression and inflammasome activation, attenuating liver injury.

CONCLUSION

Alcohol decreases miR-148a expression in hepatocytes through FoxO1, facilitating TXNIP overexpression and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which induces hepatocyte pyroptosis. Our findings provide information on novel targets for reducing incidence and progression of ALD.

The Biological Function of Hepatitis B Virus X Protein in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major malignant tumors that lead to death. Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is an important risk factor for HCC initiation. HBx protein, encoded by the HBV X gene, is a significant factor that promotes HBV-related HCC, although the exact molecular mechanism remains unclear. This article summarizes the pathological roles and related mechanisms of HBx in HCC. HBx plays a carcinogenic role by promoting cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis and inhibiting apoptosis in HCC. A detailed study of the biological functions of HBx will help to elucidate the mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis and lead to the development of novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of HBV-related HCC.

Molecular Mechanisms Driving Progression of Liver Cirrhosis towards Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B and C Infections: A Review

Almost all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a major type of primary liver cancer, also have liver cirrhosis, the severity of which hampers effective treatment for HCC despite recent progress in the efficacy of anticancer drugs for advanced stages of HCC. Here, we review recent knowledge concerning the molecular mechanisms of liver cirrhosis and its progression to HCC from genetic and epigenomic points of view. Because ~70% of patients with HCC have hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we focused on HBV- and HCV-associated HCC. The literature suggests that genetic and epigenetic factors, such as microRNAs, play a role in liver cirrhosis and its progression to HCC, and that HBV- and HCV-encoded proteins appear to be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms, including immune checkpoints and molecular targets of kinase inhibitors, associated with liver cirrhosis and its progression to HCC.

Molecular Mechanisms Driving Progression of Liver Cirrhosis towards Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B and C Infections: A Review

Almost all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a major type of primary liver cancer, also have liver cirrhosis, the severity of which hampers effective treatment for HCC despite recent progress in the efficacy of anticancer drugs for advanced stages of HCC. Here, we review recent knowledge concerning the molecular mechanisms of liver cirrhosis and its progression to HCC from genetic and epigenomic points of view. Because ~70% of patients with HCC have hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we focused on HBV- and HCV-associated HCC. The literature suggests that genetic and epigenetic factors, such as microRNAs, play a role in liver cirrhosis and its progression to HCC, and that HBV- and HCV-encoded proteins appear to be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms, including immune checkpoints and molecular targets of kinase inhibitors, associated with liver cirrhosis and its progression to HCC.

Hepatitis B Virus Induces Autophagy to Promote its Replication by the Axis of miR-192-3p-XIAP Through NF kappa B Signaling

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major risk factor for the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. It has been reported that viral infection can interfere with cellular microRNA (miRNA) expression and participate in the pathogenesis of oncogenicity. Here, we report that decreasing levels of the expression of the miRNA miR-192-3p is associated with rising levels of HBV DNA in the serum of HBV patients. We revealed that HBV infection repressed the expression of miR-192-3p through hepatitis B x protein interaction with c-myc. We further showed that miR-192-3p was repressed by HBV transfection in vitro and in a mouse model, leading to cellular autophagy. Using an miRNA target prediction database miRBase, we identified X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) as a target gene of miR-192-3p and demonstrated that miR-192-3p directly targeted the XIAP 3'-untranslated region of XIAP messenger RNA. Importantly, we discovered that HBV promoted autophagy through miR-192-3p-XIAP axis and that this process was important for HBV replication in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that miR-192-3p functioned through the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway to inhibit autophagy, thereby reducing HBV replication. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that miR-192-3p is a regulator of HBV infection and may play a potential role in hepatocellular carcinoma. It may also serve as a biomarker or therapeutic target for HBV patients.

Dynamic expression of ZNF382 and its tumor-suppressor role in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinogenesis

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the primary cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Zinc-finger protein 382 (ZNF382), which belongs to zinc-finger protein family, has been documented to be downregulated in certain types of cancer. However, its role in HCC remains largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that ZNF382 expression was significantly elevated in HBV-infected liver cirrhosis tissues relative to HBV-negative normal liver tissues at protein levels, but not at mRNA levels, and was positively correlated with the levels of HBV DNA and hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx). Further studies revealed that ZNF382 was a target of miR-6867, and HBx promoted the translation of ZNF382 during HBV chronic infection through Erk-mediated miR-6867 inhibition. In addition, our data showed that ZNF382 was frequently downregulated by promoter methylation in HBV-related HCCs relative to HBV-infected liver cirrhosis tissues, and decreased expression of ZNF382 was strongly correlated with poor survival in early-stage HCC patients. Functional studies demonstrated that ZNF382 was a potent tumor suppressor in HCC cells through inhibiting cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenic potential in nude mice, and inducing cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, ZNF382 exerted its tumor-suppressor functions in HCC through transcriptionally repressing its downstream targets such as Fos proto-oncogene (FOS), Jun proto-oncogene (JUN), disheveled segment polarity protein 2 (DVL2), and frizzled class receptor 1 (FZD1), thereby impairing the activities of activating protein 1 (AP-1) and Wnt/β-catenin pathways and activating p53 signaling. Altogether, our data show that ZNF382 acts as a tumor suppressor, and is co-regulated by HBx and epigenetic mechanism in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

miR-148a regulates expression of the transferrin receptor 1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that allows for transferrin-bound iron uptake in mammalian cells. It is overexpressed in various cancers to satisfy the high iron demand of fast proliferating cells. Here we show that in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) TFR1 expression is regulated by miR-148a. Within the TFR1 3′UTR we identified and experimentally validated two evolutionarily conserved miRNA response elements (MREs) for miR-148/152 family members, including miR-148a. Interestingly, analyses of RNA sequencing data from patients with liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) revealed a significant inverse correlation of TFR1 mRNA levels and miR-148a. In addition, TFR1 mRNA levels were significantly increased in the tumor compared to matched normal healthy tissue, while miR-148a levels are decreased. Functional analysis demonstrated post-transcriptional regulation of TFR1 by miR-148a in HCC cells as well as decreased HCC cell proliferation upon either miR-148a overexpression or TFR1 knockdown. We hypothesize that decreased expression of miR-148a in HCC may elevate transferrin-bound iron uptake, increasing cellular iron levels and cell proliferation.

Hematopoietic PBX-interacting protein mediates cartilage degeneration during the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) has been recognized as the most common chronic age-related disease. Cartilage degeneration influences OA therapy. Here we report that hematopoietic pre-B cell leukemia transcription factor-interacting protein (HPIP) is essential for OA development. Elevated HPIP levels are found in OA patients. Col2a1-CreER^T2/HPIP^f/f mice exhibit obvious skeletal abnormalities compared with their HPIP^f/f littermates. HPIP deficiency in mice protects against developing OA. Moreover, intra-articular injection of adeno-associated virus carrying HPIP-specific short hairpin RNA in vivo attenuates OA histological signs. Notably, in vitro RNA-sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing profiles identify that HPIP modulates OA cartilage degeneration through transcriptional activation of Wnt target genes. Mechanistically, HPIP promotes the transcription of Wnt targets by interacting with lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF1). Furthermore, HPIP potentiates the transcriptional activity of LEF1 and acetylates histone H3 lysine 56 in the promoters of Wnt targets, suggesting that HPIP is an attractive target in OA regulatory network.

Identification of potential miRNA-mRNA regulatory network contributing to pathogenesis of HBV-related HCC

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Increasing evidence indicates that microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA axis is involved in HCC. However, a comprehensive miRNA-mRNA regulatory network in HBV-related HCC is still absent. This study aims to identify potential miRNA-mRNA regulatory pathways contributing to pathogenesis of HBV-related HCC.

METHODS

Microarray GSE69580 was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. GEO2R and 'R-limma' were used to conduct differential expression analysis. The common miRNAs appeared in the two analytic sets were screened as potential differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs). The prognostic roles of screened DE-miRNAs in HCC were further evaluated using Kaplan-Meier plotter database. Target genes of DE-miRNAs were predicted by miRNet. Then, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were established for these targets via the STRING database, after which hub genes in the networks were identified by Cytoscape. Functional annotation and pathway enrichment analyses for the target genes were performed through DAVID database. Three enriched pathways related to HBV-related HCC were selected for further analysis and potential target genes commonly appeared in all three pathways were screened. Cytoscape was employed to construct miRNA-hub gene network. The expression and correlation of potential miRNAs and targets were further detected in clinical HBV-related HCC samples by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

7 upregulated and 9 downregulated DE-miRNAs were accessed. 5 of 7 upregulated DE-miRNAs and 5 of 7 downregulated DE-miRNAs indicated significant prognostic roles in HCC. 2312 and 1175 target genes were predicted for the upregulated and downregulated DE-miRNAs, respectively. TP53 was identified as the hub gene in the PPI networks. Pathway enrichment analysis suggested that these predicted targets were linked to hepatitis B, pathways in cancer, microRNAs in cancer and viral carcinogenesis. Further analysis of these pathways screened 20 and 16 target genes for upregulated and downregulated DE-miRNAs, respectively. By detecting the expression of 36 target genes, six candidate target genes were identified. Finally, a potential miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was established based on the results of qRT-PCR and expression correlation analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

In the study, potential miRNA-mRNA regulatory pathways were identified, exploring the underlying pathogenesis and effective therapy strategy of HBV-related HCC.

Anticancer efficiency of cycloartane triterpenoid derivatives isolated from Cimicifuga yunnanensis Hsiao on triple-negative breast cancer cells

Background

The roots and rhizomes of Cimicifuga yunnanensis Hsiao are commonly used as anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic remedies and detoxification agents in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Although C. yunnanensis has been considered as supplementary medicine for several disorders, the antitumor effect of this herb and its key components has not been explored.

Materials and methods

The rhizomes of C. yunnanensis were isolated by chromatographic techniques. Structures of isolated compounds were identified based on spectroscopic methods and comparison with published data. The in vitro anticancer activities of purified components were also performed by MTT experiments. The in vivo anticancer activities were examined by subcutaneous tumor model or a breast cancer liver metastasis model.

Results

In this study, we aimed to identify and characterize the effective antitumor components from the rhizomes of C. yunnanensis. By bioassay-guided fractionation techniques and chemical characterization, 12 cycloartane triterpenes and four chromones were isolated, among them, 11 compounds were identified in this genus at first. The identified two compounds showed dramatic inhibitory activities against breast cancer cells: compound 4 (23-epi-26-deoxyactein) and compound 13 (cimigenol). Then, we examined the antitumor effect of these two selective candidate chemicals on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells in vivo and found that they could reduce tumor growth in subcutaneous tumor model or breast cancer liver metastasis model.

Conclusion

These results suggested that the selective compounds isolated from C. yunnanensis Hsiao could be the promising new agents for TNBC treatment.

Long Non-Coding RNAs as Mediators of Tumor Microenvironment and Liver Cancer Cell Communication

The tumor microenvironment is an important concept that defines cancer development not only through tumor cells themselves but also the surrounding cellular and non-cellular components, including stromal cells, blood vessels, infiltrating inflammatory cells, cancer stem cells (CSC), cytokines, and growth factors, which act in concert to promote tumor cell survival and metastasis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and aggressive human malignancies worldwide. Poor prognosis is largely attributable to the high rate of tumor metastasis, highlighting the importance of identifying patients at risk in advance and developing novel therapeutic targets to facilitate effective intervention. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are a class of non-protein coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides frequently dysregulated in various cancer types, which have multiple functions in widespread biological processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and metabolism. lncRNAs are involved in regulation of the tumor microenvironment and reciprocal signaling between cancer cells. Targeting of components of the tumor microenvironment or cancer cells has become a considerable focus of therapeutic research and establishing the effects of different lncRNAs on this network should aid in the development of effective treatment strategies. The current review provides a summary of the essential properties and functional roles of known lncRNAs associated with the tumor microenvironment in HCC.

14-3-3ζ binds to hepatitis B virus protein X and maintains its protein stability in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

14‐3‐3ζ, a phosphopeptide‐binding molecule, is reportedly overexpressed in the cancerous tissues of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) protein X (HBx) draws intensive attention in HBV‐related HCC because it not only regulates HBV replication, but also promotes carcinogenesis by interacting with various tumor or antitumor molecules. This study is performed to investigate whether and how 14‐3‐3ζ interacts with HBx. The coimmunoprecipitation (Co‐IP) results showed that 14‐3‐3ζ bond to HBx in HBV‐infected Hep3B HCC cells and CSQT‐2 portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) cells. By performing Co‐IP assay in HBV‐free Huh7 cells expressing wild‐type HBx, mutant HBx‐S31A, or HBx‐S31D (serine³¹ was mutated into alanine³¹ or aspartic acid³¹), we found that the phosphorylated serine³¹ with its near amino acid residues constituted a RPLphosphoS³¹GP (R, arginine; P, proline; L, leucine; S, serine; G, glycine) motif in HBx for 14‐3‐3ζ docking. This 14‐3‐3ζ‐HBx interaction was partly impaired when Akt signaling transduction was blocked by LY294002. Furthermore, 14‐3‐3ζ silencing augmented HBx ubiquitination and decreased its expression in cancer cells and xenograft tumor. The migratory and invasive abilities of CSQT‐2 cells were inhibited upon 14‐3‐3ζ silencing, whereas partly restored by HBx overexpression. Additionally, 14‐3‐3ζ positively correlated with HBx to be overexpressed in the primary HCC tissues (r = 0.344) and metastatic PVTT (r = 0.348). In summary, findings of this study reveal a novel 14‐3‐3ζ‐HBx interaction in HCC cells and suggest 14‐3‐3ζ as a candidate target for treating HBV‐related HCC.

MicroRNA-520a suppresses HBV replication in HepG2.2.15 cells by inactivating AKT

Objective

To investigate whether the mechanism by which a microRNA, miR-520a, suppresses the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) involves the regulation of the serine/threonine kinase (AKT) gene.

Methods

The effects of miR-520a on the proliferation, mitotic index and apoptosis of the HBV-replicating human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2.2.15 were measured using standard laboratory methods including flow cytometry. The effects of miR-520a on HBV transcription and replication were assessed using methods including immunoassays and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. The effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to AKT on the levels of AKT mRNA and protein were also evaluated.

Results

In HepG2.2.15 cells, miRNA-520a reduced HBV transcription and replication by reducing AKT levels. MiRNA-520a decreased cell proliferation and mitosis entry of cells and increased apoptosis in HepG2.2.15 cells. AKT levels were reduced significantly by its siRNA, which resulted in suppression of HBV replication in HepG2.2.15 cells.

Conclusions

MiRNA-520a inhibited AKT gene expression and suppressed HBV transcription and replication. These findings suggest that miRNA-520a may be a novel target for the treatment of HBV infection because miRNA-520a reduced HepG2.2.15 cell survival and inhibited HBV replication associated with the AKT signalling pathway.

Novel ADAM-17 inhibitor ZLDI-8 enhances the in vitro and in vivo chemotherapeutic effects of Sorafenib on hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the greatest life threats for Chinese people, and the prognosis of this malignancy is poor due to the strong chemotherapy resistance in patients. Notch pathway components mediate cell survival and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and also participate in the induction of multi-drug resistance (MDR). In the present study, we demonstrated the discovery of a novel inhibitor for Notch activating/cleaving enzyme ADAM-17, named ZLDI-8; it inhibited the cleavage of NOTCH protein, consequently decreased the expression of pro-survival/anti-apoptosis and EMT related proteins. ZLDI-8 treatment enhanced the susceptibility of HCC cells to a small molecular kinase inhibitor Sorafenib, and chemotherapy agents Etoposide and Paclitaxel. ZLDI-8 treatment enhanced the effect of Sorafenib on inhibiting tumor growth in nude HCC-bearing mice model. These results suggest that ZLDI-8 can be a promising therapeutic agent to enhance Sorafenib's anti-tumor effect and to overcome the MDR of HCC patients.

Metformin inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells by suppressing the phosphorylation of Akt

Metformin (Met) is a therapeutic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. There is evidence that Met may reduce the risk of cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by inhibiting tumor cell growth, prolonging the overall survival time in patients with various types of malignancy. However, the function and mechanism of Met have not been fully elucidated in osteosarcoma (OS). The present study evaluated the anti-proliferative effect of Met on MG63 and U2OS OS cells, identifying that it acted in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Met also inhibited OS cell migration and invasion, potentially by regulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in OS cells. Mechanistically, Met was demonstrated to partly exert these functions through the suppression of Akt phosphorylation, which was associated with increased phosphatase and tensin (PTEN) expression. Silencing PTEN prevented the Met-induced inhibition of the growth and metastasis of OS cells. As Met has anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects on OS cells it is a potential candidate, in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, for use in the treatment of OS.

miR-223-3p Inhibits Human Osteosarcoma Metastasis and Progression by Directly Targeting CDH6

Cadherin-6 (CDH6) is aberrantly expressed in cancer and closely associated with tumor progression. However, the functions of CDH6 in human osteosarcoma and the molecular mechanisms underlying CDH6 in osteosarcoma oncogenesis remain poorly understood. In this work, we assessed the role of CDH6 in human osteosarcoma and identified that the expression of CDH6 was closely related with the overall survival and poor prognosis of osteosarcoma patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated as important epigenetic regulators during the progression of osteosarcoma. Using dual-luciferase reporter assays, we showed that miR-223-3p suppresses CDH6 expression by directly binding to the 3' UTR of CDH6. miR-223-3p overexpression significantly inhibited cell invasion, migration, growth, and proliferation by suppressing the CDH6 expression in vivo and in vitro. Besides, CDH6 overexpression in the miR-223-3p-transfected osteosarcoma cells effectively rescued the inhibition of cell invasion, migration, growth, and proliferation mediated by miR-223-3p. Additionally, Kaplan-Meier analysis suggests that the expression of miR-223-3p predicts favorable clinical outcomes for osteosarcoma patients. Moreover, the expression of miR-223-3p was downregulated in osteosarcoma patients and was negatively associated with the expression of CDH6. Collectively, these data highlight that miR-223-3p/CDH6 axis is an important novel pleiotropic regulator and could early predict the metastatic potential in human osteosarcoma treatments.

Non-coding RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma: molecular functions and pathological implications

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading lethal malignancy worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying liver carcinogenesis remain poorly understood. Over the past two decades, overwhelming evidence has demonstrated the regulatory roles of different classes of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in liver carcinogenesis related to a number of aetiologies, including HBV, HCV and NAFLD. Among the ncRNAs, microRNAs, which belong to a distinct class of small ncRNAs, have been proven to play a crucial role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Deregulation of microRNAs has been broadly implicated in the inactivation of tumour-suppressor genes and activation of oncogenes in HCC. Modern high-throughput sequencing analyses have unprecedentedly identified a very large number of non-coding transcripts. Divergent groups of long ncRNAs have been implicated in liver carcinogenesis through interactions with DNA, RNA or proteins. Overall, ncRNAs represent a burgeoning field of cancer research, and we are only beginning to understand the importance and complicity of the ncRNAs in liver carcinogenesis. In this Review, we summarize the common deregulation of small and long ncRNAs in human HCC. We also comprehensively review the pathological roles of ncRNAs in liver carcinogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and HCC metastasis and discuss the potential applications of ncRNAs as diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets in human HCC.

LINC00052 regulates the expression of NTRK3 by miR-128 and miR-485-3p to strengthen HCC cells invasion and migration

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are a group of RNAs that are more than 200 nt in length but cannot encode proteins. Accumulating evidences showed that abnormal LncRNA expressions are highly involved in many kinds of tumor. By using gene trap methods which could knockdown gene expression to find important genes, we found one LncRNA which called intergenic non-protein coding RNA 52 (LINC00052) has the ability to inhibit invasion and migration of hepatocarcinoma cells. We found that invasion, migration and proliferation abilities in SMMC7721 cell were inhibited after up-expressing LINC00052. We identified that NTRK3 was the target gene of LINC00052. Down-expression of NTRK3 could increase SMMC7721 cell invasion, migration and proliferation. Meanwhile, we discovered that LINC00052 could regulate NTRK3 expression by forming complementary base pairing with miR-128 and miR-485-3p to reduce the luciferase activity of NTRK3 3′UTR. These results reveal a new mechanism for understanding hepatocarcinoma cells invasion and migration.

MEIS-1 level in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma can predict the post-treatment outcomes of radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a local-ablative therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). At present, there is no predictive marker for RFA treatment outcomes. This work aimed to valuate myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1 (MEIS-1) in predicting post-RFA treatment outcomes of unresectable HCC patients. The time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) of 81 HCC patients who received RFA treatment were measured. The protein level of MEIS-1 in tumor specimens was measured by western blot. The role of MEIS-1 in RFA-treating HCC in vivo growth nude mouse model was examined via PET/CT imaging. Higher level of MEIS-1 in tumor tissue is associated with better RFA treatment outcomes. The median TTP was 9.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.8–11.3) months in patients with high MEIS-1 expression (n = 43) versus 6.0 (95% CI: 4.6–7.4) months in patients with low MEIS-1 expression (n = 38). Moreover, in rodent HCC model we found overexpression of MEIS-1 enhanced the anti-tumor effect of RFA treatment. We conclude that high level of MEIS-1 expression predicts better RFA treatment outcome in HCC.

Molecular alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections

Chronic infections with hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C viruses (HCV) are the leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Both viruses encode multifunctional regulatory proteins activating several oncogenic pathways, which induce accumulation of multiple genetic alterations in the infected hepatocytes. Gene mutations in HBV- and HCV-induced HCCs frequently impair the TP53, Wnt/b-catenin, RAS/RAF/MAPK kinase and AKT/mTOR pathways, which represent important anti-cancer targets. In this review, we highlight the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of primary liver cancer, with particular emphasis on the host genetic variations identified by high-throughput technologies. In addition, we discuss the importance of genetic alterations, such as mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter, for the diagnosis, prognosis, and tumor stratification for development of more effective treatment approaches.

Androgen enhances the activity of ETS-1 and promotes the proliferation of HCC cells

The expression of androgen receptor (AR) has been detected in hepatocellular cancer (HCC). However, there is no universal model detailing AR’s function and mechanism in HCC. This study’s results show that treatment with dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an endogenous androgen, promoted HCC cells’ proliferation and up-regulated the transcription factor activity of ETS-1 (E26 transformation specific sequence 1), which mediates the migration and invasion of cancer cells via protein-protein interaction between AR and ETS-1. Results from luciferase assays showed that ETS-1’s activity was significantly up-regulated following androgen treatment. AR mediated ETS-1’s DHT-induced transcription factor activity. A potential protein-protein interaction between ETS-1 and AR was identified via glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation assays. The mechanisms’ data indicated that enhancing AR activity increases ETS-1’s activity by modulating its cytoplasmic/nuclear translocation and recruiting ETS-1 to its target genes’ promoter. Moreover, while overexpression of AR significantly increased the proliferation or in vitro migration or invasion of HepG2 cells in the presence of androgen, inhibiting AR’s activity reduced these abilities. Thus, AR’s function as a novel ETS-1 co-activator or potentially therapeutic target of HCC has been demonstrated.