MiR-590-3p suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma growth by targeting TEAD1

microRNAs: critical targets for treating rheumatoid arthritis angiogenesis

Vascular neogenesis, an early event in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inflammation, is critical for the formation of synovial vascular networks and plays a key role in the progression and persistence of chronic RA inflammation. microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of single-stranded, non-coding RNAs with approximately 21-23 nucleotides in length, regulate gene expression by binding to the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of specific mRNAs. Increasing evidence suggests that miRNAs are differently expressed in diseases associated with vascular neogenesis and play a crucial role in disease-related vascular neogenesis. However, current studies are not sufficient and further experimental studies are needed to validate and establish the relationship between miRNAs and diseases associated with vascular neogenesis, and to determine the specific role of miRNAs in vascular development pathways. To better treat vascular neogenesis in diseases such as RA, we need additional studies on the role of miRNAs and their target genes in vascular development, and to provide more strategic references. In addition, future studies can use modern biotechnological methods such as proteomics and transcriptomics to investigate the expression and regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs, providing a more comprehensive and in-depth research basis for the treatment of related diseases such as RA.

Functional role and epithelial to mesenchymal transition of the miR-590-3p/MDM2 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

There is considerable evidence that microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate several key tumor-associated genes/pathways and may themselves have a dual regulatory function either as tumor suppressors or oncogenic miRNA, depending on the tumor type. MicroRNA-590-3p (miR-590-3p) is a small non-coding RNA involved in the initiation and progression of numerous tumors. However, its expression pattern and biological role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are controversial.

RESULTS

In the current work, computational and RT-qPCR analysis revealed that HCC tissues and cell lines exhibited miR-590-3p downregulation. Forced expression of miR-590-3p attenuated HepG2 cells proliferation, migration, and repressed EMT-related gene expression. Bioinformatic, RT-qPCR, and luciferase assays revealed that MDM2 is a direct functional target of miR-590-3p. Moreover, the knockdown of MDM2 mimicked the inhibitory effect of miR-590-3p in HepG2 cells.

CONCLUSION

We have identified not only novel targets for miR-590-3p in HCC, but also novel target genes for miR590-3p/MDM2 pathway in HCC like SNAIL, SLUG, ZEB1, ZEB2, and N-cadherin. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate a crucial role for MDM2 in the regulatory mechanism of EMT in HCC.

Key therapeutic targets implicated at the early stage of hepatocellular carcinoma identified through machine-learning approaches

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent type of primary liver cancer. Early-stage detection plays an essential role in making treatment decisions and identifying dominant molecular mechanisms. We utilized machine learning algorithms to find significant mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) at the early and late stages of HCC. First, pre-processing approaches, including organization, nested cross-validation, cleaning, and normalization were applied. Next, the t-test/ANOVA methods and binary particle swarm optimization were used as a filter and wrapper method in the feature selection step, respectively. Then, classifiers, based on machine learning and deep learning algorithms were utilized to evaluate the discrimination power of selected features (mRNAs and miRNAs) in the classification step. Finally, the association rule mining algorithm was applied to selected features for identifying key mRNAs and miRNAs that can help decode dominant molecular mechanisms in HCC stages. The applied methods could identify key genes associated with the early (e.g., Vitronectin, thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, lactate dehydrogenase D (LDHD), miR-590) and late-stage (e.g., SPRY domain containing 4, regucalcin, miR-3199-1, miR-194-2, miR-4999) of HCC. This research could establish a clear picture of putative candidate genes, which could be the main actors at the early and late stages of HCC.

MiR-597-5p suppresses the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via targeting transcriptional enhancer associate domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with high incidence and mortality. MiR-597-5p is downregulated in tumor tissues of HCC compared with non-tumor tissues. However, its role in HCC is still unknown. This study aims to assess the function of miR-597-5p in HCC development and investigate the underlying mechanism. To perform gain- and loss-of-function studies, SK-HEP-1 cells and Huh-7 cells were transfected with miR-597-5p mimics and inhibitor, respectively. MiR-597-5p markedly reduced the cell viability and the expression of Ki-67 in HCC cells. MiR-597-5p also repressed the cell cycle progression of HCC cells and the protein levels of cyclin D1 and CDK2. Moreover, miR597-5p inhibited the migration and invasion of HCC cells and decreased MMP2 and MMP9 levels. Transcriptional enhancer associate domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1) was identified as a target of miR-597-5p by luciferase reporter assay. TEAD1 and its downstream target genes, CTGF and CYR61, were downregulated by miR-597-5p in HCC cells. Furthermore, miR-597-5p was demonstrated to function in HCC progression by targeting TEAD1 via TEAD1 expression gain and loss. Our study demonstrates that miR-597-5p represses the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells through targeting TEAD1, which provides a therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

Long non-coding RNA LUADT1 promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion by downregulating miR-1207-5p

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a typical type of malignant tumor. This research paper aims to study the function and mechanism of long non-coding RNA lung adenocarcinoma-related transcript 1 (lncRNA-LUADT1) in the progression of NPC. In this study, the expressions of lncRNA-LUADT1, miR-1207-5p, and TEAD1 in NPC tissues and cell lines were detected by RT-qPCR. Initially, the expression of lncRNA-LUADT1 and TEAD1 were significantly up-regulated in NPC tissues and cells, while miR-1207-5p was significantly down-regulated. Next, miR-1207-5p was confirmed to bind to lncRNA-LUADT1 or TEAD1 by bioinformatics and luciferase reporter assay. In addition, after interfering with lncRNA-LUADT1 expression, experiments of CCK8, EDU staining, and Transwell invasion were used to detect proliferation, invasion, and migration of NPC cells. The results showed that interfering with lncRNA-LUADT1 expression could inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration of NPC cells. Western blot showed that lncRNA-LUADT1 knockdown significantly decreased the expression of Hippo/YAP pathway protein (YAP1 and TAZ). However, interfering with the expression of miR-1207-5p reversed these results. In addition, the nude mouse tumor formation experiment suggested that low-expressed lncRNA-LUADT1 reduced the volume and weight of tumor tissues. In summary, lncRNA-LUADT1 down-regulation could inhibit NPC cell proliferation and invasion, which may be achieved through regulating miR-1207-5p expression and affecting TEAD1 expression, thus inhibiting the activation of Hippo/YAP signaling pathway.

Network potential identifies therapeutic miRNA cocktails in Ewing sarcoma

MicroRNA (miRNA)-based therapies are an emerging class of targeted therapeutics with many potential applications. Ewing Sarcoma patients could benefit dramatically from personalized miRNA therapy due to inter-patient heterogeneity and a lack of druggable (to this point) targets. However, because of the broad effects miRNAs may have on different cells and tissues, trials of miRNA therapies have struggled due to severe toxicity and unanticipated immune response. In order to overcome this hurdle, a network science-based approach is well-equipped to evaluate and identify miRNA candidates and combinations of candidates for the repression of key oncogenic targets while avoiding repression of essential housekeeping genes. We first characterized 6 Ewing sarcoma cell lines using mRNA sequencing. We then estimated a measure of tumor state, which we term network potential, based on both the mRNA gene expression and the underlying protein-protein interaction network in the tumor. Next, we ranked mRNA targets based on their contribution to network potential. We then identified miRNAs and combinations of miRNAs that preferentially act to repress mRNA targets with the greatest influence on network potential. Our analysis identified TRIM25, APP, ELAV1, RNF4, and HNRNPL as ideal mRNA targets for Ewing sarcoma therapy. Using predicted miRNA-mRNA target mappings, we identified miR-3613-3p, let-7a-3p, miR-300, miR-424-5p, and let-7b-3p as candidate optimal miRNAs for preferential repression of these targets. Ultimately, our work, as exemplified in the case of Ewing sarcoma, describes a novel pipeline by which personalized miRNA cocktails can be designed to maximally perturb gene networks contributing to cancer progression.

SUMOylation of IGF2BP2 promotes vasculogenic mimicry of glioma via regulating OIP5-AS1/miR-495-3p axis

Rationale: Glioma is the most common primary malignant tumor of human central nervous system, and its rich vascular characteristics make anti-angiogenic therapy become a therapeutic hotspot. However, the existence of glioma VM makes the anti-angiogenic therapy ineffective. SUMOylation is a post-translational modification that affects cell tumorigenicity by regulating the expression and activity of substrate proteins.

Methods: The binding and modification of IGF2BP2 and SUMO1 were identified using Ni²⁺-NTA agarose bead pull-down assays, CO-IP and western blot; and in vitro SUMOylation assays combined with immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence staining were performed to explore the detail affects and regulations of the SUMOylation on IGF2BP2. RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression levels of IGF2BP2, OIP5-AS1, and miR-495-3p in glioma tissues and cell lines. CCK-8 assays, cell transwell assays, and three-dimensional cell culture methods were used for evaluating the function of IGF2BP2, OIP5-AS1, miR-495-3p, HIF1A and MMP14 in biological behaviors of glioma cells. Meantime, RIP and luciferase reporter assays were used for inquiring into the interactions among IGF2BP2, OIP5-AS1, miR-495-3p, HIF1A and MMP14. Eventually, the tumor xenografts in nude mice further as certained the effects of IGF2BP2 SUMOylation on glioma cells.

Results: This study proved that IGF2BP2 mainly binds to SUMO1 and was SUMOylated at the lysine residues K497, K505 and K509 sites, which can be reduced by SENP1. SUMOylation increased IGF2BP2 protein expression and blocked its degradation through ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, thereby increasing its stability. The expressions of IGF2BP2 and OIP5-AS1 were up-regulated and the expression of miR-495-3p was down-regulated in both glioma tissues and cells. IGF2BP2 enhances the stability of OIP5-AS1, thereby increasing the binding of OIP5-AS1 to miR-495-3p, weakening the binding of miR-495-3p to the 3'UTR of HIF1A and MMP14 mRNA, and ultimately promoting the formation of VM in glioma.

Conclusions: This study first revealed that SUMOylation of IGF2BP2 regulated OIP5-AS1/miR-495-3p axis to promote VM formation in glioma cells and xenografts growth in nude mice, providing a new idea for molecular targeted therapy of glioma.

Enhanced expression of miR-889 forecasts an unfavorable prognosis and facilitates cell progression in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

As a new type of molecular marker, microRNAs (miRNAs) can be used for early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of malignant tumors, and has broad clinical application prospects. This paper mainly studies the important role of miR-889 in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma and the prognostic significance of miR-889 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods

Quantitative real-time PCR analysis detected the expression levels of miR-889 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cell lines. Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression analysis were used to explore the prognostic significance of miR-889 in hepatocellular carcinoma. The CCK-8 and Transwell assays assay were used to assess cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities ability.

Results

The expression of miR-889 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues. Overexpression of miR-889 was significantly associated with TNM stage, hepatitis B virus infection, and cirrhosis. Patients with high miR-889 expression had shorter overall survival than those with low miR-889 expression. And functional studies in two hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines have shown that overexpression of miR-889 significantly promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro.

Conclusions

Overall, miR-889 was upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cell lines, and overexpression of miR-889 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Based on our findings, high expression of miR-889 may promote the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma, and high expression of miR-889 is also forecasted for an unfavorable prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Long Noncoding RNA Nuclear Paraspeckle Assembly Transcript 1 Promotes Progression and Angiogenesis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Through miR-590-3p/MDM2 Axis

Angiogenesis has been identified as one of the hallmarks of cancer and aggravates cancer development and progression. Accumulating evidence indicated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are powerful factors in regulating various cancer behaviors. The aim of this study is to verify the function and potential mechanisms of lncRNA NEAT1 in progression and angiogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We found that NEAT1 was overexpressed in ESCC tissues and correlated with clinical characteristics of patients. Silence of NEAT1 inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of ESCC cells. High throughput sequencing and western blotting revealed that NEAT1 regulated MDM2/p53 pathway. Rescue of MDM2 restored the effect of NEAT1 on progression and angiogenesis of ESCC cells. Nude mice xenograft models further validated the role of NEAT1 in vivo. Importantly, NEAT1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-590-3p to regulate MDM2 expression and miR-590-3p acted as a tumor suppressor in ESCC progression and angiogenesis. These findings suggested that NEAT1/miR-590-3p/MDM2 axis might serve as potential therapeutic targets for ESCC patients.

MiR-195-5p inhibits proliferation and invasion of nerve cells in Hirschsprung disease by targeting GFRA4

Studies have reported that miR-195-5p plays a role in the Hirschsprung disease (HSCR). Our previous work found GDNF family receptor alpha 4 (GFRA4) is also associated with HSCR. In this study, we focused on whether miR-195-5p induces the absence of enteric neurons and enteric neural crest in HSCR by regulating GFRA4. The expression levels of GFRA4 and miR-195-5p in colon tissues were evaluated by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assay. We overexpressed GFRA4 or miR-195-5p in SH-SY5Y cells, the cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and invasion were subsequently investigated by CCK-8 assay, EdU staining, Flow cytometry analysis and Transwell assay, respectively. We also established the xenograft model to detect the effect of miR-195-5p on tumor growth and GFRA4 and p-RET expressions. GFRA4 expression was significantly downregulated in the HSCR colon tissues when compared with that in the control tissues. Overexpression of GFRA4 significantly promoted proliferation, invasion and cell cycle arrest, and inhibited apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells. We also proved that GFRA4 is a direct target of miR-195-5p, and miR-195-5p inhibited proliferation, invasion, cell cycle arrest and differentiation, and accelerated apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells which can be reversed by GFRA4 overexpression. Furthermore, we demonstrated that miR-195-5p suppressed tumor growth, and observably decreased GFRA4 and p-RET expressions. Our findings suggest that miR-195-5p plays an important role in the pathogenesis of HSCR. MiR-195-5p inhibited proliferation, invasion and cell cycle arrest, and accelerated apoptosis of nerve cells by targeting GFRA4.

Arsenic trioxide-induced upregulation of miR-1294 suppresses tumor growth in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting TEAD1 and PIM1

Recently, Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been reported as an efficient drug for suppression of cancer cell growth. Existing studies revealed the extensive involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in initiation and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the potential correlation between ATO and miRNAs in HCC progression remains to be explored. To conduct our research, we applied a qRT-PCR analysis to find miRNAs that were upregulated in HCC cells treated with ATO. In our present study, miR-1294 was found to be significantly upregulated in ATO-treated HCC cells. To confirm the function of ATO and miR-1294 in HCC progression, gain-of function assays were designed and conducted. As expected, proliferative ability of ATO-treated HCC cells was markedly weakened compared to DMSO-treated HCC cells. More importantly, proliferation was further suppressed in ATO-induced HCC cells after overexpression of miR-1294. Through bioinformatics analysis, some potential targets of miR-1294 were predicted. Further investigation revealed that Pim-1 proto-oncogene (PIM1) and TEA domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1) were two downstream targets of miR-1294 and could be negatively regulated by ATO. Functionally, we determined that cell proliferation and apoptosis resistance suppressed by miR-1294 and ATO were recovered by introduction of TEAD1 and PIM1. Collectively, this study revealed that a novel ATO-miR-1294-TEAD1/PIM1 axis regulated HCC cell growth, offering a potential insight into the HCC therapy.

Long non-coding RNA ESCCAL-1 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by down regulating the negative regulator of APOBEC3G

The expression of lncRNA ESCCAL-1 is upregulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the molecular pathways regulated by ESCCAL-1 in esophageal cancer remain obscure. We found that high expression of the lncRNA ESCCAL-1 in human ESCC tumors correlated with worse clinicopathologic features. Furthermore, depletion of ESCCAL-1 in ESCC models inhibited the cellular processes associated with malignancy, including proliferation, migration and invasion, resistance to apoptosis, and impaired tumor growth in mice. Using a combinatorial approach, we discovered that ESCCAL-1 regulates malignant phenotypes in ESCC by acting as a molecular sponge for miR-590-3p. This interaction prevents miR-590-3p from suppressing APOBEC3G expression. Increased APOBEC3G was also a biomarker of worse clinicopathologic features in human ESCC tumors. Depletion of ESSCAL-1 or APOBEC3G, or overexpression of miR-590-3p resulted in increased apoptosis due to downregulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling. This study demonstrates that the lncRNA ESCCAL-1 promotes malignant features of ESCC by relieving the inhibitory effect of miR-590-3p on APOBEC3G expression and identifies potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets to improve ESCC treatment outcomes.

Circular RNA MYLK Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression Through the miR29a/KMT5C Signaling Pathway

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the functions of the circular RNA circMYLK (hsa_circ_0002768) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to identify the underlying mechanisms of the circMYLK/miR29a/KMT5C axis.

Materials and Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to explore the expressions of circMYLK, miR-29a and KMT5C in HCC tissues and cells. A potential miRNA (miR-29a) regulated by circMYLK was also explored, and the target relationship between miR-29a and KMT5C was confirmed. FISH, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to examine the circMYLK/miR29a/KMT5C signaling pathways involved in HCC development. Additionally, HCC cells were implanted into nude mice subcutaneously to test the role of circMYLK in tumor growth.

Results

circMYLK was determined to be significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cells. Suppression of circMYLK repressed HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while increasing apoptosis. In addition, FISH, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting, as well as dual-luciferase reporter assays, revealed that circMYLK could bind to miR-29a. In rescue experiments, miR-29a had the potential to eliminate the inhibitory effect of circMYLK knockdown in HCC. Moreover, miR-29a was found to target the KMT5C gene, which was positively regulated by circMYLK. Finally, a nude mouse tumorigenicity assay showed that injection of circMYLK siRNA into nude mice drastically suppressed xenograft tumor formation in vivo.

Conclusion

Our current study demonstrated that circMYLK promotes HCC progression by acting as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-29a, which regulates the downstream oncogene KMT5C.

MicroRNAs as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer, and the second most common cause of cancer-associated death globally. One of the major reasons for this high rate of mortality is a failure to make an early diagnosis. The average survival in untreated HCC patients is estimated to be approximately three months. The 5-year overall survival rate after radical resection is about 15-40% and within two years, more than two third of patients experience a relapse. To date, the most common biomarker which has been used for the diagnosis of HCC is serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). However, there is a lack of sensitive and specific tumor biomarkers for the early diagnosis of HCC. MicroRNAs are a class of short endogenous RNA with crucial role in many biological activities and cellular pathways and can be found in various tissues and body fluids. The aim of this review was to summarize the results of recent studies investigating miRNAs as novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis and prognostic risk stratification of patients with this type of liver cancer.

MicroRNA‑590 inhibits migration, invasion and epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting low‑density lipoprotein receptor‑related protein 6

MicroRNA-590 (miR-590) has been revealed as a tumor suppressor, while low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) is considered to act as a tumor promoter. However, their roles and underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate these mechanisms. The expression levels of miR-590 and LRP6 in human ESCC samples and cell lines were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict the relationship between miR-590 and LRP6, and luciferase assay was performed to validate the relationship between these factors. Transwell assays were used to determine cell migration and invasion, while western blotting assays were used to detect the protein expression levels of LRP6, E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin. The present study demonstrated that miR-590 was downregulated and LRP6 was upregulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, it was found that miR-590 overexpression and LRP6 knockdown inhibited cell migration, invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ESCC cell lines. Additional mechanistic studies identified that LRP6 was a target of, and was inhibited by, miR-590. Collectively, the present findings suggested that miR-590 inhibited the invasion, migration and EMT of ESCC cells by mediating LRP6.

The Chinese Medicine, Shezhi Huangling Decoction, Inhibits the Growth and Metastasis of Glioma Cells via the Regulation of miR-1298-5p/TGIF1 Axis

Purpose

In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has achieved good results in treating gliomas. This research aimed to reveal the effect of Shezhi Huangling decoction (SD) on glioma cell process.

Methods

U87 and U251 cells were treated with different concentrations (10, 30 and 50 μg/mL) of SD or transfected with miR-1298-5p mimic, inhibitor and siRNA targeting TGIF1. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were detected. The expression of miR-1298-5p was measured by qRT-PCR, while TGIF1 expression was examined by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blot.

Results

SD treatment inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells and induced the apoptosis. In addition, SD treatment induced the expression of miR-1298-5p in glioma cells. The low expression of miR-1298-5p was examined in glioma tissues and was significantly related to the high histological grade of glioma patients and predicted a poor prognosis. MiR-1298-5p directly targeted the 3'-UTR of transforming growth factor β induced factor 1 (TGIF1) and reduced TGIF1 protein expression. MiR-1298-5p restricted the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells and induced cell apoptosis by targeting TGIF1.

Conclusion

Our data reveal that SD acts as a cancer-inhibiting agent in glioma via miR-1298-5p/TGIF1 axis, suggesting a potential therapeutic application of SD in glioma.

microR-505/heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein M inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the expression of microRNA-505 (miR-505) and explore its clinical significance, biological function and mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Expression of miR-505 was measured in 128 paired HCC tissues and five cell lines by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). MTT assay, Transwell migration, invasion assays and apoptosis assay were performed to explore the functional role of miR-505. The target gene of miR-505 was assessed using the bioinformatics assay and the related signaling pathway was confirmed using western blot. Results: Expression of miR-505 in HCC serum and tissues were downregulated. The overexpression of miR-505 in HCC cells inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis, as well as enhanced cell apoptosis by directly downregulating heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein M (HNRNPM). The activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was suppressed by the overexpression of miR-505 but was promoted by the upregulation of HNRNPM. Conclusion: The results suggest that the regulation of miR-505/HNRNPM may be a novel strategy to improve the targeted therapy of HCC.

Effect of LINC00657 on Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cells by Regulating miR-590-3p

Objective

To investigate the effect of LINC00657 on breast carcinoma by regulating miR-590-3p.

Methods

Ninety-seven cases with breast carcinoma who were admitted to Qingdao Chengyang People’s Hospital were collected. The breast carcinoma (n=97) and tumor-adjacent tissues (n=97) of patients were collected during the operation with the permission of the patients. The expressions of LINC00657 and miR-590-3p were detected in breast carcinoma cells and tissues. The breast carcinoma cells were transfected and their proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were detected.

Results

LINC00657 was highly expressed in breast carcinoma tissues, while miR-590-3p was reduced (P<0.05). The proliferation, invasion and migration of cells transfected with si-LINC00657 or miR-590-3p-mimics were significantly inhibited, and the apoptosis rate increased, resulting in the up-regulation of the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Caspase-3 and the reduction of Bcl-2 (P<0.05). After si-LINC00657 or miR-590-3p-mimics, the level of GOLPH3 decreased. Through double luciferase report and RIP experiment, it was confirmed that LINC00657 could act as a sponge of miR-590-3p to negatively regulate its expression. After correlation analysis, it was concluded that there was a negative correlation between LINC00657 and miR-590-3p. Rescue experiments concluded that co-transfection of si-LINC00657+miR-590-3P-inhibitor could reverse the inhibitory action of si-LINC00657 on breast carcinoma cells.

Conclusion

LINC00657 can participate in the biological behavior process of breast carcinoma by regulating miR-590-3p/GOLPH3 signal.

MiR-559 targets GP73 to suppress proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common malignant tumors with poor overall prognosis. As a tumor suppressor, the function of miR-559 in HCC is not clear. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR was carried out to measure the expression of miR-559 in HCC cell lines. The effects of miR-559 on HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated through a series of functional assays. The mechanism through which miR-559 regulates HCC cells was investigated by dual-luciferase reporter assay and functional experiments. The results revealed that miR-559 expression was low in HCC cell lines. Upregulation of miR-559 suppressed HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed Golgi membrane protein 73 (GP73) as a target gene of miR-559. Moreover, miR-559 could negatively regulate GP73 expression in HCC cells. These results demonstrated that low-level expression of miR-559 was associated with HCC, and overexpression of miR-559 could inhibit HCC cell growth and invasion via targeting GP73.

The functions of N6-methyladenosine modification in lncRNAs

Increasing evidence indicates that mRNAs are often subject to posttranscriptional modifications. Among them, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), which has been shown to play key roles in RNA splicing, stability, nuclear export, and translation, is the most abundant modification of RNA. Extensive studies of m6A modification of mRNAs have been carried out, while little is known about m6A modification of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Recently, several studies reported m6A modification of lncRNAs. In this review, we focus on these m6A-modified lncRNAs and discuss possible functions of m6A modification.

MicroRNA-490-3p suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and migration by targeting the aurora kinase A gene (AURKA)

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common and prevalent cancer type among liver cancers. In this study, expression of miR-490-3p and aurora kinase A gene (AURKA) was investigated in HCC. Additionally, we explored the microRNA (miR)-490-3p/AURKA relationship as well as the influence on HCC cell proliferation and migration.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The dual luciferase reporter assay serves to verify the target relationship between miR-490-3p and AURKA. miR-490-3p mimics, AURKA siRNA and AURKA cDNA, were transfected into HCC cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were chosen for examining the relative expression of miR-490-3p and AURKA in HCC tissues, adjacent tissues, HCC cells and normal cells. The study detected the proliferation of HCC cells with the application of MTT assay and colony formation assay. Transwell assay was applied for the observation of migration, and wound healing assay for invasion.

RESULTS

The experiment results showed that miR-490-3p expression was down-regulated and AURKA expression was up-regulated in HCC cells and tissues. AURKA was the target gene of miR-490-3p and overexpression of miR-490-3p could inhibit the expression of AURKA in HCC cells. miR-490-3p overexpression could inhibit HCC cell migration and invasion, while AURKA promoted HCC cell migration. All experiment results indicated that miR-490-3p was low-expressed while AURKA was over-expressed in HCC cells and tissues compared to normal liver cells and tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-490-3p could down-regulate the expression of AURKA, thus suppressing the proliferation and migration of HCC cells.

miR-590-3p and Its Downstream Target Genes in HCC Cell Lines

miRNAs are small non-coding RNA sequences of 18-25 nucleotides. They can regulate different cellular pathways by acting on tumor suppressors, oncogenes, or both. miRNAs are mostly tissue-specific, and their expression varies depending on the cancer or the tissue in which they are found. hsa-miR-590-3p was found to be involved in several types of cancers. In this study, we identified potential downstream target genes of hsa-miR-590-3p computationally. Several bioinformatics tools and more than one approach were used to identify potential downstream target genes of hsa-miR-590-3p. CX3CL1, SOX2, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and FOXA2 were utilized as potential downstream target genes of hsa-miR-590-3p. SNU449 and HepG2, hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, were used to carry out various molecular techniques to further validate our in silico results. mRNA and protein expression levels of these genes were detected using RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Co-localization of hsa-miR-590-3p and its candidate downstream target gene, SOX2, was carried out using a miRNA in situ hybridization combined with immunohistochemistry staining through anti-SOX2. The results show that there is an inverse correlation between hsa-miR-590-3p expression and SOX2 protein expression in SNU449. Subsequently, we suggest that SOX2 can be a direct downstream target of has-miR-590-3p indicating that it may have a role in the self-renewal and self-maintenance of cancer cells. We also suggest that CX3CL1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and FOXA2 show a lot of potential as downstream target genes of hsa-miR-590-3p signifying its role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Studying the expression of hsa-miR-590-3p downstream targets can enrich our understanding of the cancer pathogenesis and how it can be used as a therapeutic tool.

MiR-590-3p regulates proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblast by targeting ZEB1

Previous studies have implicated the attractive and promising role of miR‐590‐3p to restore the cardiac function following myocardial infarction (MI). However, the molecular mechanisms for how miR‐590‐3p involves in cardiac fibrosis remain largely unexplored. Using human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) as the cellular model, luciferase report assay, mutation, EdU assay and transwell migration assay were applied to investigate the biological effects of miR‐590‐3p on the proliferation, differentiation, migration and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts. We found that miR‐590‐3p significantly suppressed cell proliferation and migration of HCFs. The mRNA and protein expression levels of α‐SMA, Col1A1 and Col3A were significantly decreased by miR‐590‐3p. Moreover, miR‐590‐3p directly targeted at the 3’UTR of ZEB1 to repress the translation of ZEB1. Interfering with the expression of ZEB1 significantly decreased the cell proliferation, migration activity, mRNA and protein expressions of α‐SMA, Col1A1 and Col3A. Furthermore, the expressions of miR‐590‐3p and ZEB1 were identified in infarct area of MI model in pigs. Collectively, miR‐590‐3p suppresses the cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts by targeting ZEB1. These works will provide useful biological information for future studies on potential roles of miR‐590‐3p as the therapeutic target to recover cardiac function following MI.

PTHR1 May Be Involved in Progression of Osteosarcoma by Regulating miR-124-3p-AR-Tgfb1i1, miR-27a-3p-PPARG-Abca1, and miR-103/590-3p-AXIN2 Axes

Our previous study has indicated that the parathyroid hormone type 1 receptor (PTHR1) may play important roles in development and progression of osteosarcoma (OS) by regulating Wnt, angiogenesis, and inflammation pathway genes. The goal of this study was to further illuminate the roles of PTHR1 in OS by investigating upstream regulation mechanisms (including microRNA [miRNA] and transcription factors [TFs]) of crucial genes. The microarray dataset GSE46861 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, in which six tumors with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) PTHR1 knockdown (PTHR1.358) and six tumors with shRNA control knockdown (Ren.1309) were collected from mice. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PTHR1.358 and Ren.1309 were identified using the linear models for microarray data (LIMMA) method, and then the miRNA-TF-mRNA regulatory network was constructed using data from corresponding databases, followed by module analysis, to screen crucial regulatory relationships. OS-related human miRNAs were extracted from the curated Osteosarcoma Database. Gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were enriched using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) tool. As a result, the miRNA-TF-mRNA regulatory network, including 1049 nodes (516 miRNA, 25 TFs, and 508 DEGs) and 15942 edges (interaction relationships, such as Pparg-Abca1 and miR-590-3p-AXIN2), was constructed, from which three significant modules were extracted and modules 2 and 3 contained interactions between miRNAs/TFs and DEGs such as miR-103-3p-AXIN2, miR-124-3p-AR-Tgfb1i1, and miR-27a-3p-PPARG-Abca1. miR-27a-3p was a known miRNA associated with OS. Abca1, AR, and miR-124-3p were hub genes in the miRNA-TF-mRNA network. Tgfb1i1 was involved in cell proliferation, Abca1 participated in the cholesterol metabolic process, and AXIN2 was associated with the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Furthermore, we also confirmed upregulation of miR-590-3p and downregulation of AXIN2 in the mouse OS cell line K7M2-WT transfected with PTHR1 shRNA. In conclusion, PTHR1 may play important roles in progression of OS by activating miR-124-3p-AR-Tgfb1i1, miR-27a-3p-PPARG-Abca1, and miR-103/590-3p-AXIN2 axes.

Long Noncoding RNA FAM225A Promotes Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Tumorigenesis and Metastasis by Acting as ceRNA to Sponge miR-590-3p/miR-1275 and Upregulate ITGB3

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) play important roles in the tumorigenesis and progression of cancers. However, the clinical significance of lncRNAs and their regulatory mechanisms in nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis (NPC) are largely unknown. Here, based on a microarray analysis, we identified 384 dysregulated lncRNAs, of which, FAM225A was one of the most upregulated lncRNAs in NPC. FAM225A significantly associated with poor survival in NPC. N(6)-Methyladenosine (m6A) was highly enriched within FAM225A and enhanced its RNA stability. FAM225A functioned as an oncogenic lncRNA that promoted NPC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor growth, and metastasis. Mechanistically, FAM225A functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for sponging miR-590-3p and miR-1275, leading to the upregulation of their target integrin β3 (ITGB3), and the activation of FAK/PI3K/Akt signaling to promote NPC cell proliferation and invasion. In summary, our study reveals a potential ceRNA regulatory pathway in which FAM225A modulates ITGB3 expression by binding to miR-590-3p and miR-1275, ultimately promoting tumorigenesis and metastasis in NPC. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings demonstrate the clinical significance of the lncRNA FAM225A in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and the regulatory mechanism involved in NPC development and progression, providing a novel prognostic indicator and promising therapeutic target.

Inhibition of the aberrant A1CF-FAM224A-miR-590-3p-ZNF143 positive feedback loop attenuated malignant biological behaviors of glioma cells

Background

Glioma is the most common and lethal type of malignant brain tumor. Accumulating evidence has highlighted that RNA binding protein APOBEC1 complementation factor (A1CF) is involved in various cellular processes by modulating RNA expression, and acts as an oncogene in breast cancer. However, the function of A1CF in glioma remained unclear.

Methods

Quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analysis were employed to detect the expression levels of A1CF, lncRNA family with sequence similarity 224 member A (FAM224A), miR-590-3p, zinc finger protein 143 (ZNF143) and ArfGAP with SH3 domain, ankyrin repeat and PH domain 3 (ASAP3) in glioma tissues and cell lines. The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, migration and invasion assays, and flow cytometry analysis were conducted to evaluate the function of A1CF, FAM224A, miR-590-3p, ZNF143 and ASAP3 in the malignant biological behaviors of glioma cells. Moreover, luciferase reporter, RIP and ChIP assays were used to investigate the interactions among A1CF, FAM224A, miR-590-3p, ZNF143, ASAP3 and MYB. Finally, the xenograft tumor growth assay further ascertained the biological roles of A1CF, FAM224A and miR-590-3p in glioma cells.

Results

A1CF was upregulated and functioned as an oncogene via stabilizing and increasing FAM224A expression; moreover, high A1CF and FAM224A expression levels indicated a poorer prognosis for glioma patients. Conversely, miR-590-3p was downregulated and exerted a tumor-suppressive function in glioma cells. Inhibition of A1CF significantly restrained cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted apoptosis by upregulating miR-590-3p in a FAM224A-dependent manner. FAM224A was a molecular sponge of miR-590-3p and they were in an RNA-induced silencing complex. ZNF143 was upregulated in glioma tissues and cell lines. MiR-590-3p could negatively modulate the expression of ZNF143 via binding to the ZNF143 3′ UTR. Moreover, ZNF143 participated in miR-590-3p-induced tumor-suppressive activity on glioma cells. ASAP3 and MYB were transcriptionally activated by ZNF143, and importantly, ZNF143 could directly target the promoter of FAM224A and stimulate its expression, collectively forming a positive feedback loop.

Conclusions

The present study clarifies that the A1CF-FAM224A-miR-590-3p-ZNF143 positive feedback loop conducts critical regulatory effects on the malignant progression of glioma cells, which provides a novel molecular target for glioma therapy.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1200-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

MicroRNA-590-3P suppresses cell survival and triggers breast cancer cell apoptosis via targeting sirtuin-1 and deacetylation of p53

Downregulation of microRNA-590-3p (miR-590-3p) is a frequently occurring, nonphysiological event which is observed in several human cancers, especially breast cancer. However, the significance of miR-590-3p still remain unclear in the progression of this disease. This study explored the role of miR-590-3p in apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Gene expression of miR-590-3p, Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), Bcl-2 associated X protein (BAX), and p21 was evaluated with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and SIRT1 protein expression was assessed by Western blot analysis in breast cancer cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay were used to evaluate targeting of SIRT1 messenger RNA (mRNA) by miR-590-3p. Cells were transfected with miR-590-3p mimic and inhibitor and their effects on the expression and activity of SIRT1 were evaluated. The effects of miR-590-3p upregulation on the acetylation of p53 as well as cell viability and apoptosis were assessed by Western blot analysis, WST-1 assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. miR-590-3p expression was considerably downregulated in breast cancer cells which was accompanied by upregulation of SIRT1 expression. SIRT1 was recognized as a direct target for miR-590-3p in breast cancer cells and its protein expression and activity was dramatically inhibited by the miR-590-3p. In addition, there was an increase in p53 and its acetylated form that ultimately led to upregulation of BAX and p21 expression, suppression of cell survival, and considerable induction of apoptosis in breast cancer cells. These findings suggest that miR-590-3p exerts tumor-suppressing effects through targeting SIRT1 in breast cancer cells, which makes it a potential therapeutic target for developing more efficient treatments for breast cancer.

MicroRNA-590-3p inhibits trophoblast-dependent maternal spiral artery remodeling by repressing low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6

Background

The remodeling of maternal spiral artery following embryo implantation, which relies on well‐regulated trophoblast functions, is a pivotal process to ensure a successful pregnancy. Low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 6 (LRP6) and microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are suggested to be involved in angiogenesis and several vascular diseases; however, their functions in the control of trophoblast remain elusive. We therefore aimed to examine the roles of LRP6 and miR‐590‐3p in the regulation of trophoblast during the remodeling of maternal spiral artery.

Methods

HTR‐8/SVneo cell, a trophoblast cell line, was utilized to study the effects of LRP6 and miR‐590‐3p on apoptosis, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, as well as tube formation. Expression of angiogenic factors placental growth factor (PlGF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and activities of canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway, which were implicated in the process of artery remodeling, were also examined.

Results

MiR‐590‐3p directly targeted 3′ untranslated region (3′‐UTR) of LRP6 mRNA and repressed LRP6 expression, which in turn inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, as well as tube formation, and resulted in apoptosis in HTR‐8/SVneo cells. Further, inhibition of LRP6 through miR‐590‐3p significantly suppressed the expression of PlGF, MMPs, and VEGF and reduced the activation of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway.

Conclusion

MicroRNAs‐590‐3p may inhibit trophoblast‐dependent maternal spiral artery remodeling, via both trophoblast invasion and endovascular formation, by repressing LRP6.

LncRNA GACAT1 Promotes Gastric Cancer Cell Growth, Invasion And Migration By Regulating MiR-149-mediated Of ZBTB2 And SP1

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were involved in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). In our study, we have determined that GACAT1 expression was upregulated in GC. Overexpression of GACAT1 promoted GC cell proliferation, invasion and migration. We also determined that miR-149 directly interacts with the target site on GACAT1. Furthermore, we investigated that miR-149 downregulated ZBTB2 and SP1 expressions which were induced by GACAT1, miR-149 inhibited GC cell growth and invasion mediated by GACAT1. In conclusion, we found that miR-149 downregulated ZBTB2 and SP1 expressions, and inhibited GC cell progression mediated by GACAT1. Therefore, we indicated that GACAT1 and miR-149 may be potential therapeutic targets for GC.

Hippo pathway affects survival of cancer patients: extensive analysis of TCGA data and review of literature

The disruption of the Hippo pathway occurs in many cancer types and is associated with cancer progression. Herein, we investigated the impact of 32 Hippo genes on overall survival (OS) of cancer patients, by both analysing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and reviewing the related literature. mRNA and protein expression data of all solid tumors except pure sarcomas were downloaded from TCGA database. Thirty-two Hippo genes were considered; for each gene, patients were dichotomized based on median expression value. Survival analyses were performed to identify independent predictors, taking into account the main clinical-pathological features affecting OS. Finally, independent predictors were correlated with YAP1 oncoprotein expression. At least one of the Hippo genes is an independent prognostic factor in 12 out of 13 considered tumor datasets. mRNA levels of the independent predictors coherently correlate with YAP1 in glioma, kidney renal clear cell, head and neck, and bladder cancer. Moreover, literature data revealed the association between YAP1 levels and OS in gastric, colorectal, hepatocellular, pancreatic, and lung cancer. Herein, we identified cancers in which Hippo pathway affects OS; these cancers should be candidates for YAP1 inhibitors development and testing.

miR-410-3p promotes prostate cancer progression via regulating PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Prostate cancer has become one of commonest urologic tumors in male. In recent years, miRNAs are continually attracting attentions of researchers for their special regulatory function in human cancers. Previous study has revealed that miR-410 acts as a biomarker for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Whereas, the specific biological function of miR-410-3p in prostate cancer remains unknown. The aim of this study is to explore the function and molecular mechanism of miR-410-3p in prostate cancer. The high expression of miR-410-3p was examined in prostate cancer tissues and cell lines by qRT-PCR. Next, the prognostic value was identified by Kaplan Meier method. High expression of miR-410-3p indicated poor prognosis of prostate cancer patients. To investigate the biological function of miR-410-3p in prostate cancer, loss-of function assays were designed and performed in two prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and DU145). As a result, downregulated miR-410-3p suppressed cell proliferation, migration and EMT progress. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis was performed to determine that the acceleration effects of miR-410-3p on cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, further analysis demonstrated that the effects of miR-410-3p exert oncogenic functions through downregulating PTEN. All findings in this study revealed that miR-410-3p inhibits prostate cancer progression via downregulating PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

MiR-490-3p inhibits autophagy via targeting ATG7 in hepatocellular carcinoma

The miR-490-3p was transfected into HepG2 cells to explore the correlation between miR-490-3p and hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy and its downstream target gene ATG7. Then we could possibly provide a mechanism for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. MiR-490-3p was screened out by fold change > 4 and P < 0.01 using gene microarray data. The expression level of miR-490-3p was tested by qRT-PCR and the prognosis analysis was achieved by using TCGA data. The cell proliferation was tested via colony formation assay and CCK-8 after the miR-490-3p mimics were transfected into HepG2 cells; the variations of cell cycle and apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry assay; the number of autophagosome was observed by electron microscopy and the changes of autophagy-relative protein LC-II and LC-I as well as their ratio was tested by western blot. MiR-490-3p is low expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and tissues. The results of TCGA showed that miR-490-3p high expression indicated better prognosis. After HepG2 cells were transfected with miR-490-3p mimics, cell viability was increased, cell proliferation was enhanced, cell cycle was blocked in G0/G1 phase, cell apoptosis rate was increased, the number of autophagosomes was reduced, autophagy-associated protein LC-II was decreased, and LC-I was increased and their ratio was decreased. After 3-MA was added, cell proliferation was declined, cell apoptosis rate was increased. Besides, the autophagy was inhibited by knocking down the ATG7, which promoted the cell apoptosis. MiR-490-3p could suppress cell proliferation, retard cell cycle and upgrade cell apoptosis by inhibiting autophagy in HCC cells via targeting ATG7. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(6):468-478, 2018.

miR-590-3p Promotes Ovarian Cancer Growth and Metastasis via a Novel FOXA2-Versican Pathway

miRNAs play important roles in gene regulation, and their dysregulation is associated with many diseases, including epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). In this study, we determined the expression and function of miR-590-3p in EOC. miR-590-3p levels were higher in high-grade carcinoma when compared with low-grade or tumors with low malignant potential. Interestingly, plasma levels of miR-590-3p were significantly higher in patients with EOC than in subjects with benign gynecologic disorders. Transient transfection of miR-590-3p mimics or stable transfection of mir-590 increased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In vivo studies revealed that mir-590 accelerated tumor growth and metastasis. Using a cDNA microarray, we identified forkhead box A2 (FOXA2) and versican (VCAN) as top downregulated and upregulated genes by mir-590, respectively. miR-590-3p targeted FOXA2 3' UTR to suppress its expression. In addition, knockdown or knockout of FOXA2 enhanced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Overexpression of FOXA2 decreased, whereas knockout of FOXA2 increased VCAN mRNA and protein levels, which was due to direct binding and regulation of the VCAN gene by FOXA2. Interrogation of the TCGA ovarian cancer database revealed a negative relationship between FOXA2 and VCAN mRNA levels in EOC tumors, and high FOXA2/low VCAN mRNA levels in tumors positively correlated with patient survival. Finally, overexpression of FOXA2 or silencing of VCAN reversed the effects of mir-590. These findings demonstrate that miR-590-3p promotes EOC development via a novel FOXA2-VCAN pathway.Significance: Low FOXA2/high VCAN levels mediate the tumor-promoting effects of miR-590-3p and negatively correlate with ovarian cancer survival. Cancer Res; 78(15); 4175-90. ©2018 AACR.

miR-590-3p mediates melatonin-induced cell apoptosis by targeting septin 7 in the human osteoblast cell line hFOB 1.19

The present study aimed to investigate the association between septin 7 (SEPT7) and melatonin-induced apoptosis in the human fetal osteoblastic cell line hFOB 1.19. MicroRNA (miR)‑590‑3p was identified by identifying overlapping miRNAs that target SEPT7, across different databases (miRDB, DIANA and Targetscan). Apoptosis was assessed via flow cytometric analysis. Small interfering RNA of SEPT7 and a miR‑590‑3p inhibitor were used for gene silencing and the efficiency was assessed by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Western blotting was used to measure the expression of proteins associated with pathways mediating endoplasmic reticulum stress and melatonin‑induced apoptosis. The present study identified that SEPT7 was a potential target of miR‑590‑3p and demonstrated that SEPT7 is associated with mediating the pro‑apoptotic effect of miR‑590‑3p in human osteoblast cell line hFOB 1.19. High concentrations of melatonin may result in the inhibition of miR‑590‑3p expression, leading to the upregulation of target genes that promote apoptosis.

Identifying key regulating miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinomas by an omics' method

The miRNAs play important regulating roles in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To uncover key regulating miRNAs in HCC that were neglected by traditional analyzing methods of transcriptomics data, we proposed a novel molecular-network-based omics' (MNBO) method. With this method, we predicted HCC-regulating miRNAs, and confirmed the role of a novel miR-590-3P/EED axis by a clinical study and in vitro, in vivo wet-experiments. The miR-590-3P is significantly down-regulated in HCC patients. And low level of miR-590-3P in HCC is associated with poor prognosis of patients. In HCC cell lines, the miR-590-3P suppressed cell proliferation by inhibiting the transformation G1 phase to S phases of the cell cycle. Moreover, the miR-590-3P inhibited migration and invasion of HCC cells. Further investigations indicated that miR-590-3P play its roles by inhibiting polycomb protein EED. The experiments in animal model implied miR-590-3P could be a potential therapeutic agent for HCC in the future. In conclusion, the discovery of miR-590-3P revealed the MNBO would be a useful strategy to uncover key regulating miRNAs in HCC.

MiR-590-3p promotes proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer via Hippo pathway

Studies reported that miR-590-3p was involved in human cancer progression. However, its roles of oncogene or anti-oncogene in malignancies still remain elusive. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of miR-590-3p on the cell proliferation and metastasis via Hippo pathway in colorectal cancer (CRC). In our study, miR-590-3p was demonstrated highly expressed in CRC tissues, compared with adjacent normal tissues (P<0.05). In addition, miR-590-3p was positively associated with TNM stage and distant metastasis. Survival analysis showed that high miR-590-3p was related with poor overall survival rate. Then, over-expressed miR-590-3p was demonstrated to promote proliferation, invasion and migration of colon caner cells. What’s more, MST1, LATS1 and SAV1 mRNA were showed lowly expressed and YAP1 expression in mRNA and protein levels were highly expressed in CRC tissues, compared with adjacent normal tissues (all P<0.05). miR-590-3p expression was negatively associated with LATS1 and SAV1 mRNA respectively and positively related with YAP1 mRNA in CRC tissues, meanwhile, there was no relationship between miR-590-3p and MST1 mRNA. Furthermore, over-expressing miR-590-3p inhibited expressions of LATS1 and SAV1, promoted YAP1 expression and didn’t effect MST1 expression in colon cancer cells. And luciferase assay showed that miR-590-3p over-expression inhibited the luciferase activity of LATS1 and SAV1 3’UTR, meanwhile it had no effect on the mutated form of these two plasmids. Taken together, these data suggest that highly-expressed miR-590-3p promotes biological effect of proliferation and metastasis via targeting Hippo pathway, and predicts worse clinical outcomes of CRC patients.