MicroRNA-10a is reduced in breast cancer and regulated in part through retinoic acid

Decoding the secrets of longevity: unraveling nutraceutical and miRNA-Mediated aging pathways and therapeutic strategies

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA molecules that are not involved in coding for proteins. They have a significant function in regulating gene expression after the process of transcription. Their participation in several biological processes has rendered them appealing subjects for investigating age-related disorders. Increasing data indicates that miRNAs can be influenced by dietary variables, such as macronutrients, micronutrients, trace minerals, and nutraceuticals. This review examines the influence of dietary factors and nutraceuticals on the regulation of miRNA in relation to the process of aging. We examine the present comprehension of miRNA disruption in age-related illnesses and emphasize the possibility of dietary manipulation as a means of prevention or treatment. Consolidating animal and human research is essential to validate the significance of dietary miRNA control in living organisms, despite the abundance of information already provided by several studies. This review elucidates the complex interaction among miRNAs, nutrition, and aging, offering valuable insights into promising areas for further research and potential therapies for age-related disorders.

Dietary Epigenetic Modulators: Unravelling the Still-Controversial Benefits of miRNAs in Nutrition and Disease

In the context of nutrient-driven epigenetic alterations, food-derived miRNAs can be absorbed into the circulatory system and organs of recipients, especially humans, and potentially contribute to modulating health and diseases. Evidence suggests that food uptake, by carrying exogenous miRNAs (xenomiRNAs), regulates the individual miRNA profile, modifying the redox homeostasis and inflammatory conditions underlying pathological processes, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. The capacity of diet to control miRNA levels and the comprehension of the unique characteristics of dietary miRNAs in terms of gene expression regulation show important perspectives as a strategy to control disease susceptibility via epigenetic modifications and refine the clinical outcomes. However, the absorption, stability, availability, and epigenetic roles of dietary miRNAs are intriguing and currently the subject of intense debate; additionally, there is restricted knowledge of their physiological and potential side effects. Within this framework, we provided up-to-date and comprehensive knowledge on dietary miRNAs' potential, discussing the latest advances and controversial issues related to the role of miRNAs in human health and disease as modulators of chronic syndromes.

In Vitro microRNA Expression Profile Alterations under CDK4/6 Therapy in Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibition is one of the backbones of metastatic breast cancer therapy. However, there are a significant number of therapy failures. This study evaluates the biomarker potential of microRNAs for the prediction of a therapy response under cyclin-dependent kinase inhibition.

METHODS

This study comprises the analysis of intracellular and extracellular microRNA-expression-level alterations of 56 microRNAs under palbociclib mono as well as combination therapy with letrozole. Breast cancer cell lines BT-474, MCF-7 and HS-578T were analyzed using qPCR.

RESULTS

A palbociclib-induced microRNA signature could be detected intracellularly as well as extracellularly. Intracellular miR-10a, miR-15b, miR-21, miR-23a and miR-23c were constantly regulated in all three cell lines, whereas let-7b, let-7d, miR-15a, miR-17, miR-18a, miR-20a, miR-191 and miR301a_3p were regulated only in hormone-receptor-positive cells. Extracellular miR-100, miR-10b and miR-182 were constantly regulated across all cell lines, whereas miR-17 was regulated only in hormone-receptor-positive cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Because they are secreted and significantly upregulated in the microenvironment of tumor cells, miRs-100, -10b and -182 are promising circulating biomarkers that can be used to predict or detect therapy responses under CDK inhibition. MiR-10a, miR-15b, miR-21, miR-23a and miR-23c are potential tissue-based biomarkers.

Lnc-SELPLG-2:1 enhanced osteosarcoma oncogenesis via hsa-miR-10a-5p and the BTRC cascade

BACKGROUND

To investigate the potential role of Long Non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the progression of osteosarcoma.

METHODS

The candidate lncRNAs were screened with RNA-seq and confirmed with quantitative real-time PCR. Using MTS, transwell assay, and flow cytometric analysis, the effects of overexpressed lnc-SELPLG-2:1 on cell functions were determined. Immunohistochemical staining, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and luciferase reporter assay were used to evaluate the potential mechanism of lnc-SELPLG-2:1 in vivo and in vitro using a tumor model. Moreover, the effects of overexpression of hsa-miR-10a-5p on the functions of SaOS2 cells were determined using functional cell analysis. A response test was used to confirm the mechanism by which lnc-SELPLG-2:1 sponge hsa-miR-10a-5p promotes the expression of BTRC to regulate osteosarcoma.

RESULTS

Lnc-SELPLG-2:1 was highly expressed in osteosarcoma compared to normal cells and bone and marrow samples. Inhibition of lnc-SELPLG-2:1 accelerated cell apoptosis and suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas lnc-SELPLG-2:1 overexpression had the opposite effect. Moreover, inhibiting lnc-SELPLG-2:1 in an in vivo model decreased tumor size and suppressed the expression of cell migration-related proteins. The prediction, dual luciferase assay, and response test results indicated that hsa-miR-10-5p and BTRC were involved in the lnc-SELPLG-2:1 cascade. Unlike lnc-SELPLG-2:1, hsa-hsa-miR-10a-5p had opposite expression and function. Competitive binding of lnc-SELPLG-2:1 to hsa-hsa-miR-10a-5p prevented BTRC from miRNA-mediated degradation, thereby activating the expression of VIM, MMP9, and MMP2, promoting osteosarcoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibiting apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Lnc-SELPLG-2:1 is an oncogenesis activator in osteosarcoma, and its functions are performed via hsa-miR-10a-5p /BTRC cascade.

Novel epigenetic therapeutic strategies and targets in cancer

The critical role of dysregulated epigenetic pathways in cancer genesis, development, and therapy has typically been established as a result of scientific and technical innovations in next generation sequencing. RNA interference, histone modification, DNA methylation and chromatin remodelling are epigenetic processes that control gene expression without causing mutations in the DNA. Although epigenetic abnormalities are thought to be a symptom of cell tumorigenesis and malignant events that impact tumor growth and drug resistance, physicians believe that related processes might be a key therapeutic target for cancer treatment and prevention due to the reversible nature of these processes. A plethora of novel strategies for addressing epigenetics in cancer therapy for immuno-oncological complications are currently available - ranging from basic treatment to epigenetic editing. - and they will be the subject of this comprehensive review. In this review, we cover most of the advancements made in the field of targeting epigenetics with special emphasis on microbiology, plasma science, biophysics, pharmacology, molecular biology, phytochemistry, and nanoscience.

The Role, Significance, and Association of MicroRNA-10a/b in Physiology of Cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate the translation of mRNA and protein, mainly at the posttranscriptional level. Global expression profiling of miRNAs has demonstrated a broad spectrum of aberrations that correlated with several diseases, and miRNA- 10a and miRNA-10b were the first examined miRNAs to be involved in abnormal activities upon dysregulation, including many types of cancers and progressive diseases. It is expected that the same miRNAs behave inconsistently within different types of cancer. This review aims to provide a set of information about our updated understanding of miRNA-10a and miRNA-10b and their clinical significance, molecular targets, current research gaps, and possible future applications of such potent regulators.

Circulating MicroRNAs as a New Class of Biomarkers of Physiological Reactions of the Organism to the Intake of Dietary Supplements and Drugs

BACKGROUND

The analysis of individual microRNAs (miRNAs) as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for the effective treatment of various diseases has aroused particular interest in the scientific community. The determination of circulating miRNAs makes it possible to assess biological changes associated with nutritional processes, the intake of dietary supplements and drugs, etc. The profile of circulating miRNAs reflects the individual adaptation of the organism to the effect of specific environmental conditions.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to systematize the data and show the importance of circulating miRNAs as new potential biomarkers of the organism's response to the intake of various dietary supplements, drugs, and consider the possibility of their use in doping control.

METHODS

A systematic analysis of scientific publications (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) on the miRNA expression profile in response to the intake of dietary supplements and drugs most often used by athletes, and supposed their role as potential markers in modern doping control was carried out.

RESULTS

The profile of circulating miRNAs is highly dependent on the intake of a particular drug, and, therefore, may be used as a marker of the effects of biologically active supplements and drugs including the substances from the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

CONCLUSION

Monitoring of circulating miRNAs can serve as a high-precision marker for detecting doping abuse in elite sports. However, it is necessary to conduct additional studies on the effect of complex drugs on the profile of circulating miRNAs and individual circulating miRNAs on a particular biological process.

The Mechanisms of Current Platinum Anticancer Drug Resistance in the Glioma

Gliomas are the most common and malignant primary tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Glioblastomas are the most malignant and aggressive form of primary brain tumors and account for the majority of brain tumor-related deaths. The current standard treatment for gliomas is surgical resection supplemented by postoperative chemotherapy. Platinum drugs are a class of chemotherapeutic drugs that affect the cell cycle, and the main site of action is the DNA of cells, which are common chemotherapeutic drugs in clinical practice. Chemotherapy with platinum drugs such as cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, or a combination thereof is used to treat a variety of tumors. However, the results of gliomas chemotherapy are unsatisfactory, and resistance to platinum drugs is one of the important reasons. The resistance of gliomas to platinum drugs is the result of a combination of influencing factors. Decreased intracellular drug concentration, enhanced function of cell processing active products, enhanced repair ability of cellular DNA damage, and blockage of related apoptosis pathways play an important role in it. It is known that the pathogenic properties of glioma cells and the response of glioma towards platinum-based drugs are strongly influenced by non-coding RNAs, particularly, by microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). miRNAs and lncRNAs control drug sensitivity and the development of tumor resistance towards platinum drugs. This mini-review summarizes the resistance mechanisms of gliomas to platinum drugs, as well as molecules and therapies that can improve the sensitivity of gliomas to platinum drugs.

Influence of the Bioactive Diet Components on the Gene Expression Regulation

Diet bioactive components, in the concept of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, consist of food constituents, which can transfer information from the external environment and influence gene expression in the cell and thus the function of the whole organism. It is crucial to regard food not only as the source of energy and basic nutriments, crucial for living and organism development, but also as the factor influencing health/disease, biochemical mechanisms, and activation of biochemical pathways. Bioactive components of the diet regulate gene expression through changes in the chromatin structure (including DNA methylation and histone modification), non-coding RNA, activation of transcription factors by signalling cascades, or direct ligand binding to the nuclear receptors. Analysis of interactions between diet components and human genome structure and gene activity is a modern approach that will help to better understand these relations and will allow designing dietary guidances, which can help maintain good health.

TCF21 regulates miR-10a-5p/LIN28B signaling to block the proliferation and invasion of melanoma cells

Background and aim

Some research has suggested that miRNA-10a (miR-10a-5p) had an inhibitory function in proliferation and invasion of cancers. Whereas the role of miR-10a-5p in melanoma has not been fully explored. This study aims to confirm LIN28B as the targeted gene of miR-10a-5p which was explored in melanoma cells. In addition, upstream regulatory molecule of miR-10a-5p was also investigated in melanoma cells.

Methods

Real-time Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was adopted to analyze miR-10a-5p expression level in melanoma and the normal human epidermal melanocyte cells. Several biological assays were performed to evaluate miR-10a-5p influences on cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability in A375 and B16-F10 cells. Gene prediction of miRNA targeting and a dual luciferase assay were applied to assess miR-10a-5p-targeted LIN28B. Western blot assessed the impacts of miR-10a-5p on the protein expression of LIN28B. Western blot analyzed the TCF21 effects on the expression of LIN28B and RT-qPCR assessed the influence of TCF21 on the expression level of miRNA-10a. In addition, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) Assay and JASPAR databases were employed to explore the regulatory relationship between TCF21 and miR-10a-5p.

Results

We discovered that miR-10a-5p expression was lower in melanoma cells and high expression of miR-10a-5p suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of melanoma cells. We also discovered that miR-10a-5p targeted the LIN28B mRNA 3′UTR area and diminished LIN28B protein expression. We found that LIN28B expression was strongly decreased by TCF21 upregulation in the two melanoma cells. The qRT-PCR assay showed that miR-10a-5p expression level was obviously boosted by increased TCF21 expression. The results also demonstrated that TCF21 directly regulated miR-10a-5p at transcript levels.

Conclusion

TCF21 induced miRNA-10a targeting LIN28B could affect the progression and growth of melanoma.

Natural products in the reprogramming of cancer epigenetics

Owing to the technological advancements, including next generation sequencing, the significance of deregulated epigenetic mechanisms in cancer initiation, progression and treatment has become evident. The accumulating knowledge relating to the epigenetic markers viz. DNA methylation, Histone modifications and non-coding RNAs make them one of the most interesting candidates for developing anti-cancer therapies. The reversibility of deregulated epigenetic mechanisms through environmental and dietary factors opens numerous avenues in the field of chemoprevention and drug development. Recent studies have proven that plant-derived natural products encompass a great potential in targeting epigenetic signatures in cancer and numerous natural products are being explored for their possibility to be considered as "epi-drug". This review intends to highlight the major aberrant epigenetic mechanisms and summarizes the essential functions of natural products like Resveratrol, Quercetin, Genistein, EGCG, Curcumin, Sulforaphane, Apigenin, Parthenolide and Berberine in modulating these aberrations. This knowledge along with the challenges and limitations in this field has potential and wider implications in developing novel and successful therapeutic strategies. The increased focus in the area will possibly provide a better understanding for the development of dietary supplements and/or drugs either alone or in combination. The interaction of epigenetics with different hallmarks of cancer and how natural products can be utilized to target them will also be interesting in the future therapeutic approaches.

mirPLS: a partial linear structure identifier method for cancer subtyping using microRNAs

MOTIVATION

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that have been successfully identified to be differentially expressed in various cancers. However, some miRNAs were reported to be up-regulated in one subtype of a cancer but down-regulated in another, making overall associations between these miRNAs and the heterogeneous cancer non-linear. These non-linearly associated miRNAs, if identified, are thus informative for cancer subtyping.

RESULTS

Here, we propose mirPLS, a Partial Linear Structure identifier for miRNA data that simultaneously identifies miRNAs of linear or non-linear associations with cancer status when non-linearly associated miRNAs can then be used for subsequent cancer subtyping. Simulation studies showed that mirPLS can identify both non-linearly and linearly outcome-associated miRNAs more accurately than the comparison methods. Using the identified non-linearly associated miRNAs much improves the cancer subtyping accuracy. Applications to miRNA data of three different cancer types suggest that the cancer subtypes defined by the non-linearly associated miRNAs identified by mirPLS are consistently more predictive of patient survival and more biological meaningful.

AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION

The R package mirPLS is available for downloading from https://github.com/pfruan/mirPLS.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Health-promoting role of dietary bioactive compounds through epigenetic modulations: a novel prophylactic and therapeutic approach

The epigenome is an overall epigenetic state of an organism, which is as important as that of the genome for normal development and functioning of an individual. Epigenetics involves heritable but reversible changes in gene expression through alterations in DNA methylation, histone modifications and regulation of non-coding RNAs in cells, without any change in the DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes are owned by various environmental factors including pollution, microbiota and diet, which have profound effects on epigenetic modifiers. The bioactive compounds present in the diet mainly include curcumin, resveratrol, catechins, quercetin, genistein, sulforaphane, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, alkaloids, vitamins, and peptides. Bioactive compounds released during fermentation by the action of microbes also have a significant effect on the host epigenome. Besides, recent studies have explored the new insights in vitamin's functions through epigenetic regulation. These bioactive compounds exert synergistic, preventive and therapeutic effects when combined as well as when used with chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore, these compounds have potential of therapeutic agents that could be used as "Epidrug" to treat many inflammatory diseases and various cancers where chemotherapy results have many side effects. In this review, the effect of diet derived bioactive compounds through epigenetic modulations on in vitro and in vivo models is discussed.

Retinoic acid and microRNA

Retinoic acid (RA), the biologically active metabolite of vitamin A, regulates a vast spectrum of biological processes, such as cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and morphogenesis. microRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in regulating gene expression by binding to messenger RNA (mRNA) which leads to mRNA degradation and/or translational repression. Like RA, miRNAs regulate multiple biological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, neurogenesis, tumorigenesis, and immunity. In fact, RA regulates the expression of many miRNAs to exert its biological functions. miRNA and RA regulatory networks have been studied in recent years. In this manuscript, we summarize literature that highlights the impact of miRNAs in RA-regulated molecular networks included in the PubMed.

Knockdown of lncRNA SNHG12 suppresses cell proliferation, migration and invasion in breast cancer by sponging miR-451a

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is a common cancer with high incidence in women worldwide. Although there are some studies focusing on the pathogenesis of BC, the regulatory mechanism needs to be further investigated. The function of lncRNA and miRNA has been demonstrated to participate in cell progression of BC. However, the function of SNHG12 has not been clearly elucidated.

METHODS

We detected the expression of SNHG12 and miR-451a using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The protein expression of AKT, p-AKT, mTOR and p-mTOR were measured using western blot. The relationship between SNHG12 and miR-451a was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. Cell proliferation was measured using MTT assay. Transwell assay was used to detect cell migration and invasion. Xenograft transplantation was used to detect the function of SNHG12 in vivo.

RESULTS

In this study, we found that SNHG12 was significantly increased in BC tissues and cells. Knockdown of SNHG12 inhibited BC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in vitro as well as suppressed tumor growth in vivo. In addition, miR-451a expression was obviously down-regulated in BC tissues and had negative correlation with SNHG12. Luciferase reporter assay determined that miR-451a was a target miRNA of SNHG12. Notably, SNHG12 knockdown decreased cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and AKT/mTOR pathway activation which could be reversed by down-regulation of miR-451a.

CONCLUSION

Knockdown of SNHG12 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and migration by regulating miR-451a through suppression of AKT/mTOR pathway in BC.

Nutritive vitamins as epidrugs

Epigenetic modifications play an important role in disease pathogenesis and therefore are a focus of intense investigation. Epigenetic changes include DNA, RNA, and histone modifications along with expression of non-coding RNAs. Various factors such as environment, diet, and lifestyle can influence the epigenome. Dietary nutrients like vitamins can regulate both physiological and pathological processes through their direct impact on epigenome. Vitamin A acts as a major regulator of above-mentioned epigenetic mechanisms. B group vitamins including biotin, niacin, and pantothenic acid also participate in modulation of various epigenome. Further, vitamin C has shown to modulate both DNA methylation and histone modifications while few reports have also supported its role in miRNA-mediated pathways. Similarly, vitamin D also influences various epigenetic modifications of both DNA and histone by controlling the regulatory mechanisms. Despite the information that vitamins can modulate the epigenome, the detailed mechanisms of vitamin-mediated epigenetic regulations have not been explored fully and hence further detailed studies are required to decipher their role at epigenome level in both normal and disease pathogenesis. The current review summarizes the available literature on the role of vitamins as epigenetic modifier and highlights the key evidences for developing vitamins as potential epidrugs.

Nanotechnology, in silico and endocrine-based strategy for delivering paclitaxel and miRNA: Prospects for the therapeutic management of breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent and reoccurring cancers and the second most common reason of death in women. Despite advancements in therapeutic strategies for breast cancer, early tumor recurrence and metastasis in patients indicate resistance to chemotherapeutic medicines, such as paclitaxel due to the abnormal expression of ER and EGF2 in breast cancer cells. Therefore, the development of alternatives to paclitaxel is urgently needed to overcome challenges involving drug resistance. An increasing number of studies has revealed miRNAs as novel natural alternative substances that play a crucial role in regulating several physiological processes and have a close, adverse association with several diseases, including breast cancer. Due to the therapeutic potential of miRNA and paclitaxel in cancer research, the current review focuses on the differential roles of various miRNAs in breast cancer development and treatment. miRNA delivery to a specific target site, the development of paclitaxel and miRNA formulations, and nanotechnological strategies for the delivery of nanopaclitaxel in the management of breast cancer are discussed. These strategies involve improving the cellular uptake and bioavailability and reducing the toxicity of free paclitaxel to achieve accumulation tumor site. Furthermore, a molecular docking study was performed to ascertain the enhanced anticancer activity of the nanoformulation of ANG1005 and Abraxane. An in silico analysis revealed that ANG1005 and Abraxane nanoformulations have superior and significantly enhanced interactions with the proteins α-tubulin and Bcl-2. Therefore, ANG1005 and Abraxane may be more suitable in the therapeutic management of breast cancer than the existing free paclitaxel. miRNAs can revert abnormal gene expression to normalcy; since miRNAs serve as tumor suppressors. Therefore, restoration of particular miRNAs levels as a replacement therapy may be an effective endocrine potential strategy for treating ER positive/ negative breast cancers.

MicroRNA and retinoic acid

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Retinoic acid is a metabolite of vitamin A that is necessary to maintain health in human and most of the other vertebrates. MicroRNAs (miR or miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA particles that diminish mRNA translation of various genes and so can regulate critical cell processes including cell death, proliferation, development, etc. The aim of this review is to study interrelations between retinoic acid with miRNAs.

METHODS

We reviewed and summarized all published articles in PubMed, Europe PMC, and Embase databases with any relationship between retinoic acid and miRNAs from Jun 2003 to Dec 2018 that includes 126 articles.

RESULTS

Results showed direct and indirect relationships between retinoic acid and miRNAs in various levels including effects of retinoic acid on expression of various miRNAs and miRNA-biogenesis enzymes, and effect of miRNAs on metabolism of retinoic acid.

DISCUTION AND CONCLUSION

This review indicates that retinoic acid has inter-correlations with various miRNA members and their metabolism in health and disease may require implications of the other.

miR-10a-5p is increased in atopic dermatitis and has capacity to inhibit keratinocyte proliferation

BACKGROUND

miR-10a-5p has been shown to regulate cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness and endothelial cell inflammatory responses. The function of miR-10a-5p in the skin has not been previously studied. The aim of the current study was to examine miR-10a-5p expression, regulation, and function in keratinocytes (KCs) in association with atopic dermatitis (AD).

METHODS

The expression of miR-10a-5p and its target genes was analyzed using RT-qPCR, mRNA array analysis, in situ hybridization, and immunofluorescence. The transfection of miRNA mimics, cell cycle distribution analysis, and luciferase assays was used to study miR-10a-5p functions in human primary KCs.

RESULTS

miR-10a-5p was found to be upregulated in lesional skin from patients with AD and in proliferating KCs. Array and pathway analysis of IL-1β-stimulated KCs revealed that miR-10a-5p inhibited many genes that affect cell cycle progression and only a few inflammation-related genes. Accordingly, fewer cells in S-phase and reduced proliferation were detected as characteristics of miR-10a-5p-transfected KCs. The influence of miR-10a-5p on cell proliferation was also evident in KCs induced by AD-related cytokines, including IL-4, IL-17, and IL-1β, as measured by the capacity to strongly suppress the expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67. Among AD-related putative direct target genes, we verified hyaluronan synthase 3, a damage-associated positive regulator of KC migration and proliferation, as a direct target of miR-10a-5p.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-10a-5p inhibits KC proliferation and directly targets hyaluronan synthase 3 and thereby may modulate AD-associated processes in the skin.

Epigenetic Gene Regulation by Dietary Compounds in Cancer Prevention

Traditionally, cancer has been viewed as a set of diseases that are driven by the accumulation of genetic mutations, but we now understand that disruptions in epigenetic regulatory mechanisms are prevalent in cancer as well. Unlike genetic mutations, however, epigenetic alterations are reversible, making them desirable therapeutic targets. The potential for diet, and bioactive dietary components, to target epigenetic pathways in cancer is now widely appreciated, but our understanding of how to utilize these compounds for effective chemopreventive strategies in humans is in its infancy. This review provides a brief overview of epigenetic regulation and the clinical applications of epigenetics in cancer. It then describes the capacity for dietary components to contribute to epigenetic regulation, with a focus on the efficacy of dietary epigenetic regulators as secondary cancer prevention strategies in humans. Lastly, it discusses the necessary precautions and challenges that will need to be overcome before the chemopreventive power of dietary-based intervention strategies can be fully harnessed.

Modulation of all-trans retinoic acid-induced MiRNA expression in neoplastic cell lines: a systematic review

Background

Cancer is a genetic and epigenetic disease that involves inactivation of tumor suppressor genes and activation of proto-oncogenes. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is an isomer of retinoic acid involved in the onset of differentiation and apoptosis of a number of normal and cancer cells, functioning as an anti-cancer agent in several neoplasms. Ectopic changes in the expression of certain microRNAs (miRNAs) occur in response to ATRA, leading to phenotypic alterations in neoplastic cell lines. Moreover, the modulation of miRNA patterns upon ATRA-treatment may represent an effective chemopreventive and anti-cancer therapy strategy. The present systematic review was performed to provide an overview of the modulation of ATRA-induced miRNA expression in different types of neoplastic cells and identify the efficacy of intervention factors (i.e., concentration and duration of treatment) and how they influence expression profiles of oncogenesis-targeting miRNAs.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted according to the PRISMA statement via the US National Library of Medicine MEDLINE/PubMed bibliographic search engine.

Results

The search identified 31 experimental studies involving human cell lines from nine different cancer types (neuroblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioma, glioblastoma, embryonal carcinoma, and colorectal cancer) treated with ATRA at concentrations ranging from 10^− 3 μmol/L to 10² μmol mol/L for 24 h to 21 days.

Conclusion

The concentrations used and the duration of treatment of cancer cells with ATRA varied widely. The presence of ATRA in the culture medium of cancer cells was able to modulate the expression of more than 300 miRNAs, and inhibit invasive behavior and deregulated growth of cancer cells, resulting in total tumor remission in some cases. ATRA may thus be broadly effective for neoplasm treatment and prevention, although these studies may not accurately represent in vivo conditions. Additional studies are required to elucidate ATRA-induced miRNA modulation during neoplasm treatment.

S-equol inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells via regulating miR-10a-5p and PI3K/AKT pathway

S-equol is the exclusive enantiomeric form of the soy isoflavone metabolite produced by human intestinal bacterial flora, which has strong anti-cancer activity. Based on this, the purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-breast cancer mechanism of S-equol. We examined the effects of S-equol on proliferation and apoptosis of MCF-7 cells by cell counting kit-8 assay and flow cytometry. Screening for microRNAs and predicting their target genes using the starBase and Targetscan website, respectively. Protein expression was detected by Western blot. The microRNA level were quantified by real-time PCR. The results showed that S-equol inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer MCF-7 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner and promoted apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. The expression of miR-10a-5p was significantly decreased in breast cancer tissues and breast cancer cell lines, and the expression of miR-10a-5p was negatively correlated with the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. Luciferase reporter experiments demonstrated that miR-10a-5p directly targets PIK3CA 3'UTR to function. It was further found that S-equol exerts an anti-breast cancer effect by up-regulating miR-10a-5p and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway. Our study revealed the mechanism of S-equol against breast cancer, and miR-10a-5p may be a potential target for the treatment of breast cancer.

Overexpression of MicroRNA-10a in Germ Cells Causes Male Infertility by Targeting Rad51 in Mouse and Human

Spermatogenesis is a complicated process including spermatogonial stem cells self-renewal and differentiates into mature spermatozoa. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as a class of small non-coding RNAs play a crucial role during the process of spermatogenesis. However, the function of a plenty of miRNAs on spermatogenesis and the potential mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we show that genetically conditional overexpressed miR-10a in germ cells caused complete male sterility, characterized by meiotic arrested in germ cells. Analysis of miR-10a overexpression mouse testes reveals that failure of double strand break (DSB) repairs and aberrant spermatogonial differentiation. Furthermore, we identified Rad51 as a key target of miR-10a in germ cell by bioinformatics prediction and luciferase assay, which may be responsible for the infertility of the miR-10a overexpressed mice and germ cell arrested patients. Our data show that miR-10a dependent genetic regulation of meiotic process is crucial for male germ cell development and spermatogenesis in both mouse and human. These findings facilitate our understanding of the roles of miRNA-10a in spermatogenesis and male fertility.

LncRNA MIR22HG inhibits growth, migration and invasion through regulating the miR-10a-5p/NCOR2 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Despite the rapidly identified numbers of lncRNA in humans, exploration of the molecular mechanisms of lncRNA is lagging, because the molecular mechanisms of lncRNA can be various and complex in different conditions. In this study, we found a new molecular mechanism for a versatile molecule, MIR22HG. MIR22HG is an lncRNA that contributes to the initiation and progression of many human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We report that MIR22HG was downregulated in 120 HCC samples compared with adjacent nontumor liver tissues. More interestingly, decreased expression of MIR22HG in HCC could predict poor prognosis of HCC patients. Knockdown of MIR22HG promoted the growth, migration and invasion of HCC cells. In exploring the molecular mechanism of MIR22HG, we found that MIR22HG functioned as a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinomas, in part through serving as a competing endogenous RNA to modulate the miRNA‐10a‐5p level. Moreover, NCOR2 was verified to act as the downstream target gene of MIR22HG/miR‐10a‐5p. In addition, the MIR22HG/miRNA‐10a‐5p/NCOR2 axis inhibited the activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. Together, our results demonstrated that MIR22HG inhibited HCC progression in part through the miR‐10a‐5p/NCOR2 signaling axis and might act as a new prognostic biomarker for HCC patients.

BCR-ABL enhances the prolyl isomerase activity of Pin 1 by interacting with DAPK1 in ph+ ALL

Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)/BCR-ABL-positive (ph+ ) ALL is the most common genetic abnormality associated with ALL and has been shown to confer the worst prognosis to both children and adults. Increasing evidence has revealed that the dysregulation of prolyl isomerase Pin 1 contributes to multicancer development and progression, including ALL, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that the expression of Pin 1 was enhanced in ph+ ALL patient samples and was associated positively with the expression of BCR-ABL. Genetically or pharmacologically inhibiting Pin 1 expression or activity produces potent therapeutic efficacy against ph+ ALL. We further demonstrated that BCR-ABL enhances the prolyl isomerase activity of Pin 1 by decreasing the phosphorylated level of Pin 1 at Ser 71 and interacting with DAPK1. The inhibition of BCR-ABL activity by imatinib in human ph+ ALL cells reduces the prolyl isomerase activity of Pin 1, further suggesting a key role of the newly identified BCR-ABL-Pin 1 axis in ph+ ALL progression. Thus, the combined suppression of Pin 1 and BCR-ABL proteins may be exploited as an additional target therapy for ph+ ALL.

MiR-10a-5p targets TFAP2C to promote gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Background

By regulating target genes, microRNAs play essential roles in carcinogenesis and drug resistance in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Previous studies have shown that microRNA-10a-5p (miR-10a-5p) is overexpressed in PDAC and acts as an oncogene to promote the metastatic behavior of PDAC cells. However, the role of miR-10a-5p in PDAC chemoresistance remains unclear.

Methods

The effects of miR-10a-5p on biological behaviors were analyzed. MiR-10a-5p and TFAP2C levels in tissues were detected, and the clinical value was evaluated.

Results

We found that miR-10a-5p is up-regulated in gemcitabine-resistant PDAC cells and enhances PDAC cell gemcitabine resistance in vitro and vivo. Meanwhile, we also determined that miR-10a-5p promotes the migratory and invasive ability of PDAC cells. Next, we confirmed that transcription factor activating protein 2 gamma (TFAP2C) is a target of miR-10a-5p, and TFAP2C overexpression resensitizes PDAC cells to gemcitabine, which is initiated by miR-10a-5p. Further studies revealed that TFAP2C also decreased PDAC cell migration and invasion capability. Finally, survival analysis demonstrated that high miR-10a-5p expression levels and low TFAP2C expression levels were both independent adverse prognostic factors in patients with PDAC.

Conclusion

Together, these results indicate that miR-10a-5p/TFAP2C may be new therapeutic target and prognostic marker in PDAC.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-018-0739-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Serum miR-10a-5p and miR-196a-5p as non-invasive biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85% of all cases. MicroRNAs are stable molecules in the blood and can be used as biomarkers for early diagnosis of various malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate expression of miR-10a-5p and miR-196a-5p in tissue and serum of patients with NSCLC and to explore its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics.

METHODS

A total of 20 pairs of tissues and 80 serum samples were obtained from NSCLC patients. Seventy-five serum samples from healthy individuals of the same age and gender were also collected. The expression level of miR-10a-5p and miR-196a-5p was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The relationship between miR-10a-5p and miR-196a-5p expression level in NSCLC tissues and serum and clinicopathological characteristics was estimated respectively. The diagnostic value of miRNA-10a-5p and miR-196a-5p in NSCLC was assessed by the Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve method.

RESULTS

We found that miRNA-10a-5p and miR-196a-5p expression levels were increased significantly in NSCLC tissues compared with non-tumor adjacent normal tissues. Serum miR-10a-5p and miR-196-5p were over-expressed in NSCLC patients compared with healthy controls. The higher miR-10a-5p or miR-196-5p expression levels were positively correlated with advanced tumor stage and positive lymph node metastasis. The area under the curve (AUC) of serum miR-10a-5p and miR-196-5p to diagnose NSCLC were 0.709 and 0.785. Optimal sensitivity and specificity were 65.98% and 72.71%, 67.86% and 77.57%, respectively in differentiating NSCLC patients from healthy controls. The combination of these two miRNAs with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) further increased the diagnostic value, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.801 (sensitivity, 76.34%; specificity, 79.26%) using logistic regression model analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum miR-10a-5p and miR-196a-5p may be useful noninvasive biomarkers for the clinical diagnosis of NSCLC.

Role of MicroRNA Regulation in Obesity-Associated Breast Cancer: Nutritional Perspectives

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed in women, and the incidence of breast cancer is increasing every year. Obesity has been identified as one of the major risk factors for breast cancer progression. The mechanisms by which obesity contributes to breast cancer development is not yet understood; however, there are a few mechanisms counted as potential producers of breast cancer in obesity, including insulin resistance, chronic inflammation and inflammatory cytokines, adipokines, and sex hormones. Recent emerging evidence suggests that alterations in microRNA (miRNA) expressions are found in several diseases, including breast cancer and obesity; however, miRNA roles in obesity-linked breast cancer are beginning to unravel. miRNAs are thought to be potential noninvasive biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients with comorbid conditions of obesity as well as therapeutic targets. Recent studies have evidenced that nutrients and other dietary factors protect against cancer and obesity through modulation of miRNA expressions. Herein, we summarize a comprehensive overview of up-to-date information related to miRNAs and their molecular targets involved in obesity-associated breast cancer. We also address the mechanisms by which dietary factors modulate miRNA expression and its protective roles in obesity-associated breast cancer. It is hoped that this review would provide new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of obesity-associated breast cancer to reduce the burden of breast cancer.

Transcriptomic profiling in human mesangial cells using patient-derived lupus autoantibodies identified miR-10a as a potential regulator of IL8

Autoantibody-mediated inflammation directed at resident kidney cells mediates lupus nephritis (LN) pathogenesis. This study investigated the role of miRNA in human mesangial cells (HMCs) stimulated with auto anti-dsDNA immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies. HMCs were treated with antibodies purified from active LN patients or non-specific IgG controls in the presence of normal serum. Aberrant miRNA was screened using high throughput sequencing. Anti-dsDNA IgG up-regulated 103 miRNAs and down-regulated 30 miRNAs. The miRNAs regulated genes in the cell cycle, catabolic processes, regulation of transcription and apoptosis signalling. miR-10a was highly abundant in HMCs but was specifically downregulated upon anti-dsDNA IgG induction. Interestingly, the expression of miR-10a in kidney biopsies from class III and IV LN patients (n = 26) was downregulated compared with cadaveric donor kidneys (n = 6). Functional studies highlighted the downstream regulator of miR-10a in the chemokine signalling and cell proliferation or apoptosis pathways. Luciferase assay confirmed for the first time that IL8 was a direct target of miR-10a in HMCs. In conclusion, anti-dsDNA IgG Ab down-regulated miR-10a expression in HMCs resulting in the induction of various target genes involved in HMC proliferation and chemokine expression.

Nutrimiromics: Role of microRNAs and Nutrition in Modulating Inflammation and Chronic Diseases

Nutrimiromics studies the influence of the diet on the modification of gene expression due to epigenetic processes related to microRNAs (miRNAs), which may affect the risk for the development of chronic diseases. miRNAs are a class of non-coding endogenous RNA molecules that are usually involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing by inducing mRNA degradation or translational repression by binding to a target messenger RNA. They can be controlled by environmental and dietary factors, particularly by isolated nutrients or bioactive compounds, indicating that diet manipulation may hold promise as a therapeutic approach in modulating the risk of chronic diseases. This review summarizes the evidence regarding the influence of nutrients and bioactive compounds on the expression of miRNAs related to inflammation and chronic disease in several models (cell culture, animal models, and human trials).

MicroRNA-10a suppresses breast cancer progression via PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

Previous studies have demonstrated that microRNA-10a (miR-10a) regulates various opposing biological functions in breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the exact functions of miR-10a in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. miR-10a expression was initially detected in two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 and a normal human mammary epithelial cell line MCF-10A. The proliferation, migration and apoptosis of breast cancer cells were analyzed using MTT assays, Transwell assays and flow cytometry, respectively, following transfection of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with an miR-10a mimic or anti-miR-10a. The expression of phosphorylated (p-)protein kinase B (Akt), p-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), p-ribosomal protein S6 kinase β-1 (p-p70S6K), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit α (PIK3CA), Cytochrome C (Cyt C), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), BCL-2 associated X, apoptosis regulator (Bax), and cleaved caspase-3 were analyzed by western blotting. The migration of MCF-7 cells pretreated with an mTOR inhibitor CCI-779, was detected using a Transwell assay. Relative miR-10a expression was significantly elevated in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and was at its highest levels in MCF-7 cells. Transfection with the miR-10a mimic significantly inhibited proliferation and migration, and promoted the apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, upregulation of miR-10a markedly suppressed the levels of p-Akt, p-mTOR, p-p70S6K, and PIK3CA, and increased the expression of Cyt C, cleaved caspase-3, and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. Anti-miR-10a had the opposite effects. In addition, CCI-779 reversed the effect of anti-miR-10a on the migration of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, miR-10a is downregulated in high aggressive breast cancer cells. miR-10a inhibited the proliferation and migration, and promoted apoptosis of breast cancer cells via phosphoinositide/Akt/mTOR signaling, and the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Regulation of spindle and kinetochore-associated protein 1 by antitumor miR-10a-5p in renal cell carcinoma

Analysis of our original microRNA (miRNA) expression signature of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) showed that microRNA‐10a‐5p (miR‐10a‐5p) was significantly downregulated in RCC specimens. The aims of the present study were to investigate the antitumor roles of miR‐10a‐5p and the novel cancer networks regulated by this miRNA in RCC cells. Downregulation of miR‐10a‐5p was confirmed in RCC tissues and RCC tissues from patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Ectopic expression of miR‐10a‐5p in RCC cell lines (786‐O and A498 cells) inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion. Spindle and kinetochore‐associated protein 1 (SKA1) was identified as an antitumor miR‐10a‐5p target by genome‐based approaches, and direct regulation was validated by luciferase reporter assays. Knockdown of SKA1 inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion in RCC cells. Overexpression of SKA1 was observed in RCC tissues and TKI‐treated RCC tissues. Moreover, analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas database demonstrated that low expression of miR‐10a‐5p and high expression of SKA1 were significantly associated with overall survival in patients with RCC. These findings showed that downregulation of miR‐10a‐5p and overexpression of the SKA1 axis were highly involved in RCC pathogenesis and resistance to TKI treatment in RCC.

Down-regulation of miR-10a-5p in synoviocytes contributes to TBX5-controlled joint inflammation

MicroRNAs are considered to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of human inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between miR‐10a‐5p and TBX5 in synoviocytes and evaluate their contribution to joint inflammation. The expression of miR‐10a‐5p and TBX5 in the synovium of RA and human synovial sarcoma cell line SW982 stimulated by IL‐1β was determined by RT‐qPCR and Western blotting. The direct interaction between miR‐10a‐5p and TBX5 3′UTR was determined by dual‐luciferase reporter assay in HeLa cells. Mimics and inhibitors of miR‐10a‐5p were transfected into SW982 cells. TBX5 was overexpressed by plasmid transfection or knocked down by RNAi. Proinflammatory cytokines and TLR3 and MMP13 expressions were determined by RT‐qPCR and Western blotting. Down‐regulated expression of miR‐10a‐5p and up‐regulation of TBX5 in human patients with RA were found compared to patients with OA. IL‐1β could reduce miR‐10a‐5p and increase TBX5 expression in SW982 cells in vitro. The direct target relationship between miR‐10a‐5p and 3′UTR of TBX5 was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. Alterations of miR‐10‐5p after transfection with its mimic and inhibitor caused the related depression and re‐expression of TBX5 and inflammatory factors in SW982 cells. Overexpression of TBX5 after pCMV3‐TBX5 plasmid transfection significantly promoted the production of TLR3, MMP13 and various inflammatory cytokines, while this effect was rescued after knocking down of TBX5 with its specific siRNA. We conclude that miR‐10a‐5p in a relation with TBX5 regulates joint inflammation in arthritis, which would serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for RA treatment.

miR-10a inhibits cell proliferation and promotes cell apoptosis by targeting BCL6 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

The BCL6 (B-Cell Lymphoma 6) gene is a proto-oncogene that is often expressed in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). BCL6 loss of function can kill DLBCL cells, demonstrating that BCL6 is necessary for the survival of DLBCL cells and could be a therapeutic target. In this study, we found that BCL6 protein levels were consistently upregulated in DLBCL tissues, whereas its mRNA levels varied randomly in tissues, suggesting that a post-transcriptional mechanism was involved in BCL6 regulation. We used bioinformatics analysis to search for miRNAs, which potentially target BCL6, and identified specific targeting sites for miR-10a in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of BCL6. We further identified an inverse correlation between miR-10a levels and BCL6 protein levels, but not mRNA levels, in DLBCL tumor tissue samples. By overexpressing or knocking down miR-10a in DLBCL cells, we experimentally validated that miR-10a directly recognizes the 3′-UTR of the BCL6 transcript and regulated BCL6 expression. Furthermore, we demonstrated that negatively regulating BCL6 by miR-10a suppressed the proliferation and promoted apoptosis of DLBCL cells.

Circulating miRNA as fine regulators of the physiological responses to physical activity: Pre-analytical warnings for a novel class of biomarkers

MicroRNAs are endogenous non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by specifically binding the target mRNA and by consequently inducing its degradation. miRNAs can be released into the circulation where they remain stable and they can be measured. Their changes reflect individual biologic adaptation to exposures to specific environmental conditions. As such, measurement of circulating microRNAs represents an opportunity to evaluate biologic changes associated with interventions such as exercise and diet. Physical activity is, indeed, a very important modifying factor for circulating miRNAs. Toward their use in clinical settings several issues should be still solved. Their clinical application is hindered by the high heterogeneity of the analytical procedures used for their measurements. Furthermore, several pre-analytical concerns equally reduce the clinical applicability of miRNA. Pre-analytical phase in sports medicine is an important issue both because, often the conditions in which sampling are performed are peculiar (and not always canonical) and because some of the tested parameters, in the case of professional athletes, enters in routine anti-doping testing and, as such, they should be treated according to precise rules in order to avoid any false positive results. Aim of this review is to give an overview of the main available knowledges about the pre-analytical management of the sample for circulating miRNA evaluation along with the importance of miRNA as regulators of the response to physical activity and their possible future use in anti-doping settings.

T3/TRs axis in hepatocellular carcinoma: new concepts for an old pair

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and its burden is expected to further increase in the next years. Chronic inflammation, induced by multiple viruses or metabolic alterations, and epigenetic and genetic modifications, cooperate in cancer development via a combination of common and distinct aetiology-specific pathways. In spite of the advances of classical therapies, the prognosis of this neoplasm has not considerably improved over the past few years. The advent of targeted therapies and the approval of the systemic treatment of advanced HCC with the kinase inhibitor sorafenib have provided some hope for the future. However, the benefits obtained from this treatment are still disappointing, as it extends the median life expectancy of patients by only few months. It is thus mandatory to find alternative effective treatments. Although the role played by thyroid hormones (THs) and their nuclear receptors (TRs) in human cancer is still unclear, mounting evidence indicates that they behave as oncosuppressors in HCC. However, the molecular mechanisms by which they exert this effect and the consequence of their activation following ligand binding on HCC progression remain elusive. In this review, we re-evaluate the existing evidence of the role of TH/TRs in HCC development; we will also discuss how TR alterations could affect fundamental biological processes, such as hepatocyte proliferation and differentiation, and consequently HCC progression. Finally, we will discuss if and how TRs can be foreseen as therapeutic targets in HCC and whether selective TR modulation by TH analogues may hold promise for HCC treatment.

Current state of phenolic and terpenoidal dietary factors and natural products as non-coding RNA/microRNA modulators for improved cancer therapy and prevention

The epigenetic regulation of cancer cells by small non-coding RNA molecules, the microRNAs (miRNAs), has raised particular interest in the field of oncology. These miRNAs play crucial roles concerning pathogenic properties of cancer cells and the sensitivity of cancer cells towards anticancer drugs. Certain miRNAs are responsible for an enhanced activity of drugs, while others lead to the formation of tumor resistance. In addition, miRNAs regulate survival and proliferation of cancer cells, in particular of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), that are especially drug-resistant and, thus, cause tumor relapse in many cases. Various small molecule compounds were discovered that target miRNAs that are known to modulate tumor aggressiveness and drug resistance. This review comprises the effects of naturally occurring small molecules (phenolic compounds and terpenoids) on miRNAs involved in cancer diseases.

Essential vitamins for an effective T cell response

Effective adaptive immune responses rely upon appropriate activation of T cells by antigenic peptide-major histocompatibility complex on the surface of antigen presenting cells (APCs). Activation relies on additional signals including co-stimulatory molecules on the surface of the APCs that promote T cell expansion. The immune response is further sculpted by the cytokine environment. However, T cells also respond to other environmental signals including hormones, neurotransmitters, and vitamins. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms through which vitamins A and D impact immune responses, particularly in the context of T cell responses.

miR-548d-3p/TP53BP2 axis regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells

Fast growth and hardly any apoptosis are important characteristics of breast cancer, which assure the spread via invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells. Inhibition of fast proliferation and induction of apoptosis are critical way to cure this cancer. microRNAs (miRNAs) had been increasingly reported to be the critical regulator of tumorigenesis. In our study, we found that increasing copy number of miR-548d-2-3p is critically involved poor prognosis. We overexpressed miR-548d-3p in MDA-MB-231cells and found that the proliferation was promoted significantly, whereas the inhibition of miR-548d-3p repressed the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells and also induced the increase in apoptosis. Additionally, we found that miR-548d-3p downregulated the expression of TP53BP2 by directly targeting the 3'UTR. We also found that knockdown of TP53BP2 significantly resorted the proliferation and apoptosis regulated by miR-548d-3p inhibitor. Our study showed that miR-548d-3p/TP53BP2 pathway is critically involved in the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells and may be new therapeutic target of breast cancer cells.

MiR-512-5p induces apoptosis and inhibits glycolysis by targeting p21 in non-small cell lung cancer cells

MicroRNAs are a family of small non-coding RNAs that constitute a prevalent gene regulation. In this study, we showed the expression of miR-512-5p is downregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient tumor samples compared to its paired normal lung tissues. Moreover, expression of miR-512-5p was increased by retinoic acid treatment. Overexpression of miR-512-5p induced apoptosis of NSCLC cell lines A549 and H1299, and miR-512-5p inhibitor reversed this effect in H1299 cells stably expressing miR-512. miR-512-5p inhibited glycolysis and migration in NSCLC cells, but shows no effect on cell proliferation. We identified p21 as a target gene of miR-512-5p. Overexpression of miR-512-5p led to the decrease of p21 protein and mRNA level. Knockdown of p21 resulted in similar effects on apoptosis and glycolysis as that observed of miR-512-5p overexpression, as well as rescued the effect of miR-512-5p inhibitor on cell apoptosis in H1299 cells stably expressing miR-512. In conclusion, our present study revealed miR-512-5p was able to target p21 to induce apoptosis and inhibit glycolysis in A549 and H1299 cell lines.