HBx-induced MiR-1269b in NF-κB dependent manner upregulates cell division cycle 40 homolog (CDC40) to promote proliferation and migration in hepatoma cells

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

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

The role and therapeutic potential of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in ischemic stroke

Stroke is a prevalent cerebrovascular condition with a global impact, causing significant rates of illness and death. Despite extensive research, the available treatment options for stroke remain restricted. Hence, it is crucial to gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with the onset and advancement of stroke in order to establish a theoretical foundation for novel preventive and therapeutic approaches. NF-κB, also known as nuclear factor κB, is a transcription factor responsible for controlling the expression of numerous genes and plays a crucial role in diverse physiological processes. NF-κB is triggered and regulates neuroinflammation and other processes after stroke, promoting the generation of cytokine storms and contributing to the advancement of ischemic stroke (IS). Therefore, NF-κB could potentially play a vital role in stroke by regulating diverse pathophysiological processes. This review provides an overview of the functions of NF-κB in stroke and its governing mechanisms. In addition, our attention is directed towards various potential therapies that aim to inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway in order to offer valuable insights for the advancement of innovative treatment approaches for stroke.

Exosomal MicroRNA and Protein Profiles of Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a main risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes, play an important role in tumor development and metastasis, including regulation of HBV-related HCC. In this study, we have characterized exosome microRNA and proteins released in vitro from hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC cell lines SNU-423 and SNU-182 and immortalized normal hepatocyte cell lines (THLE2 and THLE3) using microRNA sequencing and mass spectrometry. Bioinformatics, including functional enrichment and network analysis, combined with survival analysis using data related to HCC in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, were applied to examine the prognostic significance of the results. More than 40 microRNAs and 200 proteins were significantly dysregulated (p < 0.05) in the exosomes released from HCC cells in comparison with the normal liver cells. The functional analysis of the differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs (i.e., mir-483, mir-133a, mir-34a, mir-155, mir-183, mir-182), their predicted targets, and exosomal differentially expressed proteins (i.e., POSTN, STAM, EXOC8, SNX9, COL1A2, IDH1, FN1) showed correlation with pathways associated with HBV, virus activity and invasion, exosome formation and adhesion, and exogenous protein binding. The results from this study may help in our understanding of the role of HBV infection in the development of HCC and in the development of new targets for treatment or non-invasive predictive biomarkers of HCC.

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

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

In Silico Analysis of MicroRNA Expression Data in Liver Cancer

Abnormal miRNA expression has been evidenced to be directly linked to HCC initiation and progression. This study was designed to detect possible prognostic, diagnostic, and/or therapeutic miRNAs for HCC using computational analysis of miRNAs expression. Methods: miRNA expression datasets meta-analysis was performed using the YM500v2 server to compare miRNA expression in normal and cancerous liver tissues. The most significant differentially regulated miRNAs in our study undergone target gene analysis using the mirWalk tool to obtain their validated and predicted targets. The combinatorial target prediction tool; miRror Suite was used to obtain the commonly regulated target genes. Functional enrichment analysis was performed on the resulting targets using the DAVID tool. A network was constructed based on interactions among microRNAs, their targets, and transcription factors. Hub nodes and gatekeepers were identified using network topological analysis. Further, we performed patient data survival analysis based on low and high expression of identified hubs and gatekeeper nodes, patients were stratified into low and high survival probability groups. Results: Using the meta-analysis option in the YM500v2 server, 34 miRNAs were found to be significantly differentially regulated (P-value ⩽ .05); 5 miRNAs were down-regulated while 29 were up-regulated. The validated and predicted target genes for each miRNA, as well as the combinatorially predicted targets, were obtained. DAVID enrichment analysis resulted in several important cellular functions that are directly related to the main cancer hallmarks. Among these functions are focal adhesion, cell cycle, PI3K-Akt signaling, insulin signaling, Ras and MAPK signaling pathways. Several hub genes and gatekeepers were found that could serve as potential drug targets for hepatocellular carcinoma. POU2F1 and PPARA showed a significant difference between low and high survival probabilities (P-value ⩽ .05) in HCC patients. Our study sheds light on important biomarker miRNAs for hepatocellular carcinoma along with their target genes and their regulated functions.

NAFLD and HBV interplay - related mechanisms underlying liver disease progression

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) constitute common chronic liver diseases with worldwide distribution. NAFLD burden is expected to grow in the coming decade, especially in western countries, considering the increased incidence of diabetes and obesity. Despite the organized HBV vaccinations and use of anti-viral therapies globally, HBV infection remains endemic and challenging public health issue. As both NAFLD and HBV have been associated with the development of progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the co-occurrence of both diseases has gained great research and clinical interest. The causative relationship between NAFLD and HBV infection has not been elucidated so far. Dysregulated fatty acid metabolism and lipotoxicity in NAFLD disease seems to initiate activation of signaling pathways that enhance pro-inflammatory responses and disrupt hepatocyte cell homeostasis, promoting progression of NAFLD disease to NASH, fibrosis and HCC and can affect HBV replication and immune encountering of HBV virus, which may further have impact on liver disease progression. Chronic HBV infection is suggested to have an influence on metabolic changes, which could lead to NAFLD development and the HBV-induced inflammatory responses and molecular pathways may constitute an aggravating factor in hepatic steatosis development. The observed altered immune homeostasis in both HBV infection and NAFLD could be associated with progression to HCC development. Elucidation of the possible mechanisms beyond HBV chronic infection and NAFLD diseases, which could lead to advanced liver disease or increase the risk for severe complications, in the case of HBV-NAFLD co-existence is of high clinical significance in the context of designing effective therapeutic targets.

Hepatitis B virus X protein mediated epigenetic alterations in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide health problem. Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx), a pleiotropic regulatory protein encoded by HBV, is necessary for the transcription of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) minichromosomes, and affects the epigenetic regulation of host cells. The epigenetic reprogramming of HBx on host cell genome is strongly involved in HBV-related HCC carcinogenesis. Here, we review the latest findings of the epigenetic regulation induced by HBx protein in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including DNA methylation, histone modification and non-coding RNA expression. The influence of HBx on the epigenetic regulation of cccDNA is also summarized. In addition, preliminary studies of targeted drugs for epigenetic changes induced by HBx are also discussed. The exploration of epigenetic markers as potential targets will help to develop new prevention and/or treatment methods for HBx-related HCC.

A novel nine-microRNA-based model to improve prognosis prediction of renal cell carcinoma

Background

With the improved knowledge of disease biology and the introduction of immune checkpoints, there has been significant progress in treating renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. Individual treatment will differ according to risk stratification. As the clinical course varies in RCC, it has developed different predictive models for assessing patient’s individual risk. However, among other prognostic scores, no transparent preference model was given. MicroRNA as a putative marker shown to have prognostic relevance in RCC, molecular analysis may provide an innovative benefit in the prophetic prediction and individual risk assessment. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a prognostic-related microRNA risk score model of RCC and further explore the relationship between the model and the immune microenvironment, immune infiltration, and immune checkpoints. This practical model has the potential to guide individualized surveillance protocols, patient counseling, and individualized treatment decision for RCC patients and facilitate to find more immunotherapy targets.

Methods

Downloaded data of RCC from the TCGA database for difference analysis and divided it into a training set and validation set. Then the prognostic genes were screened out by Cox and Lasso regression analysis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to establish a predictive model that divided patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. The ENCORI online website and the results of the RCC difference analysis were used to search for hub genes of miRNA. Estimate package and TIMER database were used to evaluate the relationship between risk score and tumor immune microenvironment (TME) and immune infiltration. Based on Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, search for immune checkpoints related to the prognosis of RCC.

Results

There were nine miRNAs in the established model, with a concordance index of 0.702 and an area under the ROC curve of 0.701. Nine miRNAs were strongly correlated with the prognosis (P < 0.01), and those with high expression levels had a poor prognosis. We found a common target gene PDGFRA of hsa-miR-6718, hsa-miR-1269b and hsa-miR-374c, and five genes related to ICGs (KIR2DL3, TNFRSF4, LAG3, CD70 and TNFRSF9). The immune/stromal score, immune infiltration, and immune checkpoint genes of RCC were closely related to its prognosis and were positively associated with a risk score.

Conclusions

The established nine-miRNAs prognostic model has the potential to facilitate prognostic prediction. Moreover, this model was closely related to the immune microenvironment, immune infiltration, and immune checkpoint genes of RCC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09322-9.

miR-1269a and miR-1269b: Emerging Carcinogenic Genes of the miR-1269 Family

miRNAs play an important role in the occurrence and development of human cancer. Among them, hsa-mir-1269a and hsa-mir-1269b are located on human chromosomes 4 and 17, respectively, and their mature miRNAs (miR-1269a and miR-1269b) have the same sequence. miR-1269a is overexpressed in 9 cancers. The high expression of miR-1269a not only has diagnostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer but also is related to the poor prognosis of cancer patients such as esophageal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and glioma. miR-1269a can target 8 downstream genes (CXCL9, SOX6, FOXO1, ATRX, RASSF9, SMAD7, HOXD10, and VASH1). The expression of miR-1269a is regulated by three non-coding RNAs (RP11-1094M14.8, LINC00261, and circASS1). miR-1269a participates in the regulation of the TGF-β signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, and caspase-9-mediated apoptotic pathway, thereby affecting the occurrence and development of cancer. There are fewer studies on miR-1269b compared to miR-1269a. miR-1269b is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma, and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, but miR-1269b is low expressed in gastric cancer. miR-1269b can target downstream genes (METTL3, CDC40, SVEP1, and PTEN) and regulate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In addition, sequence mutations on miR-1269a and miR-1269b can affect their regulation of cancer. The current studies have shown that miR-1269a and miR-1269b have the potential to be diagnostic and prognostic markers for cancer. Future research on miR-1269a and miR-1269b can focus on elucidating more of their upstream and downstream genes and exploring the clinical application value of miR-1269a and miR-1269b.At present, there is no systematic summary of the research on miR-1269a and miR-1269b. This paper aims to comprehensively analyze the abnormal expression, diagnostic and prognostic value, and molecular regulatory pathways of miR-1269a and miR-1269b in multiple cancers. The overview in our work can provide useful clues and directions for future related research.

Endothelial progenitor cells overexpressing platelet derived growth factor-D facilitate deep vein thrombosis resolution

To assess the therapeutic efficacy of PDGF-D-overexpressing endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in deep vein thrombosis. Inferior vena cava thrombosis was induced in female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Animals were injected via the distal vena cava with EPCs overexpressing PDGF-D after transfection with a lentiviral vector containing the PDGF-D gene. The effect on thrombosis in animals who received EPCs was evaluated using MSB staining, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and venography; the steady-state mRNA and protein levels of PDGF-D and its receptor (PDGF-Rβ) were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively; and the PDGF-D-induced mobilization of circulating EPCs was estimated by flow cytology. Compared with controls, injection of EPCs overexpressing PDGF-D was associated with increased thrombosis resolution; recanalization; PDGF-D and PDGF-Rβ expression; induction of monocyte homing; and mobilization of EPCs to the venous circulation. In a rat model, transplantation of PDGF-D-overexpressing EPCs facilitated the resolution of deep vein thrombosis.

The Mechanisms of HBV-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy, and the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is its major pathogenic factor. Over the past decades, it has been confirmed that HBV infection could promote disease progression through a variety of mechanisms, ultimately leading to the malignant transformation of liver cells. Many factors have been identified in the pathogenesis of HBV-associated HCC (HBV-HCC), including HBV gene integration, genomic instability caused by mutation, and activation of cancer-promoting signaling pathways. As research in the progression of HBV-HCC progresses, the role of many new mechanisms, such as epigenetics, exosomes, autophagy, metabolic regulation, and immune suppression, is also being continuously explored. The occurrence of HBV-HCC is a complex process caused by interactions across multiple genes and multiple steps, where the synergistic effects of various cancer-promoting mechanisms accelerate the process of disease evolution from inflammation to tumorigenesis. In this review, we aim to provide a brief overview of the mechanisms involved in the occurrence and development of HBV-HCC, which may contribute to a better understanding of the role of HBV in the occurrence and development of HCC.

MicroRNA-1269b inhibits gastric cancer development through regulating methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)

The dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) expression is relevant to the progression of many tumors. As reported, the abnormal expression of miR-1269b is pivotal in certain cancers’ progression. This work was designed to study the role and hidden mechanism of miR-1269b in gastric cancer (GC) progression. In this work, we proved that miR-1269b was lowly expressed in GC tissues and cell lines, which was associated with larger tumor size and lymph node metastasis. MiR-1269b overexpression repressed the multiplication, migration and invasion of GC cells while miR-1269b inhibition had the opposite effects. Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) was identified as the direct target of miR-1269b in GC cells, and its overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of transfection of miR-1269b mimics on GC cell viability, migration and invasion. On all accounts, these data indicated that miR-1269b inhibits GC progression via targeting METTL3.

Regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of vasculogenic mimicry in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical hyper-vascular solid tumor; aberrantly rich in tumor vascular network contributes to its malignancy. Conventional anti-angiogenic therapies seem promising but transitory and incomplete efficacy on HCC. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is one of functional microcirculation patterns independent of endothelial vessels which describes the plasticity of highly aggressive tumor cells to form vasculogenic-like networks providing sufficient blood supply for tumor growth and metastasis. As a pivotal alternative mechanism for tumor vascularization when tumor cells undergo lack of oxygen and nutrients, VM has an association with the malignant phenotype and poor clinical outcome for HCC, and may challenge the classic anti-angiogenic treatment of HCC. Current studies have contributed numerous findings illustrating the underlying molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways supporting VM in HCC. In this review, we summarize the correlation between epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cancer stem cells (CSCs) and VM, the role of hypoxia and extracellular matrix remodeling in VM, the involvement of adjacent non-cancerous cells, cytokines and growth factors in VM, as well as the regulatory influence of non-coding RNAs on VM in HCC. Moreover, we discuss the clinical significance of VM in practice and the potential therapeutic strategies targeting VM for HCC. A better understanding of the mechanism underlying VM formation in HCC may optimize anti-angiogenic treatment modalities for HCC.

The modulation relationship of genomic pattern of intratumor heterogeneity and immunity microenvironment heterogeneity in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer in the world, with the second highest mortality rate among all cancer types. Growing evidence has demonstrated the notable effects of intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) and tumor immune microenvironment heterogeneity (TIMH) on the biological processes involved in HCC. However, the interactive mechanisms between ITH and TIMH is still unclear. The present study systematically screened the mRNA expression, simple nucleotide variation data and clinical data of samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The mutant-allele tumor heterogeneity (MATH) score was used to represent ITH, and TCGA cohort was divided into two groups according to the MATH score. Next, different immune-related signaling pathways and enriched immune-related genes were identified using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of these two groups, and the results revealed that interleukin-1α (IL1A) and serine/threonine-protein kinase PAK4 were associated with prognosis. Furthermore, CIBERSORT was utilized to calculate the fractions of 22 types of leukocytes to represent TIMH, and the fractions of M1 and M2 macrophages were confirmed to be associated with prognosis. Therefore, PAK4, interleukin-1α (IL1A), and M1/M2 ratio were selected as the key factors involved in the interaction between ITH and TIMH. Afterwards, microRNAs (miRNAs) that were linearly related to the M1/M2 ratio and the potential target genes of the miRNAs were screened. Finally, the regulatory network between PAK4, IL1A, and the M1/M2 ratio was established, bridged by the above miRNAs and the target genes. In addition, PAK4, heat shock protein 105 kDa and miRNA-1911 were demonstrated to be a key factor involved in immune response via Weighted Correlation Network Analysis in HCC.

Splicing to Keep Cycling: The Importance of Pre-mRNA Splicing during the Cell Cycle

Pre-mRNA splicing is a fundamental process in mammalian gene expression, and alternative splicing plays an extensive role in generating protein diversity. Because the majority of genes undergo pre-mRNA splicing, most cellular processes depend on proper spliceosome function. We focus on the cell cycle and describe its dependence on pre-mRNA splicing and accurate alternative splicing. We outline the key cell-cycle factors and their known alternative splicing isoforms. We discuss different levels of pre-mRNA splicing regulation such as post-translational modifications and changes in the expression of splicing factors. We describe the effect of chromatin dynamics on pre-mRNA splicing during the cell cycle. In addition, we focus on spliceosome component SF3B1, which is mutated in many types of cancer, and describe the link between SF3B1 and its inhibitors and the cell cycle.

The novel miR-1269b-regulated protein SVEP1 induces hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation and metastasis likely through the PI3K/Akt pathway

Decreased intercellular adhesion is a key step in the metastasis and recurrence of many cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). SVEP1 is an important cell adhesion molecule that plays a key role in regulating intercellular adhesion and embryonic lymphatic development. However, the expression patterns and roles of SVEP1 in HCC are still largely unknown. We identified SVEP1 expression by analyzing 220 HCC samples from our cancer center. TCGA and GEO online-databases were used for data calibration and validation. SVEP1 was differentially expressed in two groups of HCCs with different risks of recurrence and was deemed as an independent risk factor for the prognosis of HCC. The expression of SVEP1 is negatively related to the proliferation and metastasis of HCC. Downregulation of SVEP1 expression promoted in vitro HCC cell migration, chemotaxis, invasion and proliferation, as well as in vivo tumor growth, local invasion and metastasis in a mouse model. Bioinformatic analysis and RT-PCR results showed that miR-1269b expression is negatively correlated with the SVEP1 expression and the prognosis of HCC patients. Further experiments showed that miR-1269b directly targets and downregulates the expression of SVEP1, which further induces the phosphorylation of Akt at thr308. These regulatory effects ultimately mediate the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells. SVEP1 could serve as a promising prognostic marker of HCC. MiR-1269b downregulates SVEP1 expression and promotes HCC proliferation and metastasis likely through the PI3k/Akt signaling pathway.

Transcriptome analysis revealed key prognostic genes and microRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in HCC remain unclear and are in urgent need of elucidation. Therefore, we sought to identify biomarkers in the prognosis of HCC through an integrated bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and The Cancer Genome Atlas-Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA-LIHC) for the screening of common differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Function and pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction network construction and key gene identification were performed. The significance of key genes in HCC was validated by overall survival analysis and immunohistochemistry. Meanwhile, based on TCGA data, prognostic microRNAs (miRNAs) were decoded using univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis, and their target genes were predicted by miRWalk.

Results

Eleven hub genes (upregulated ASPM, AURKA, CCNB2, CDC20, PRC1 and TOP2A and downregulated AOX1, CAT, CYP2E1, CYP3A4 and HP) with the most interactions were considered as potential biomarkers in HCC and confirmed by overall survival analysis. Moreover, AURKA, PRC1, TOP2A, AOX1, CYP2E1, and CYP3A4 were considered candidate liver-biopsy markers for high risk of developing HCC and poor prognosis in HCC. Upregulation of hsa-mir-1269b, hsa-mir-518d, hsa-mir-548aq, hsa-mir-548f-1, and hsa-mir-6728, and downregulation of hsa-mir-139 and hsa-mir-4800 were determined to be risk factors of poor prognosis, and most of these miRNAs have strong potential to help regulate the expression of key genes.

Conclusions

This study undertook the first large-scale integrated bioinformatics analysis of the data from Illumina BeadArray platforms and the TCGA database. With a comprehensive analysis of transcriptional alterations, including mRNAs and miRNAs, in HCC, our study presented candidate biomarkers for the surveillance and prognosis of the disease, and also identified novel therapeutic targets at the molecular and pathway levels.

miR-26b-5p Inhibits the Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Human Papillary Thyroid Cancer in a β-Catenin-Dependent Manner

Background

miR-26b-5p is reported to be involved in the progression of multiple cancers, but its function and mechanism in human papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remain unknown. We aimed to uncover the function and mechanism of miR-26b-5p in PTC.

Methods

We performed qRT-PCR to detect the differences in miR-26b-5p expression between normal tissue and PTC. In vitro, we established cell lines stably overexpressing miR-26b-5p and investigated the function and underlying mechanism of miR-26b-5p in PTC.

Results

miR-26b-5p was downregulated in PTC compared with normal tissue. miR-26b-5p was correlated with the clinical stage. miR-26b-5p inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of PTC cell lines. We next detected EMT and proliferation markers. miR-26b-5p was shown to exert its function in a β-catenin-dependent manner.

Conclusion

Taken together, our results showed that miR-26b-5p inhibits proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT by degrading β-catenin.

miR-1269b Drives Cisplatin Resistance of Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via Modulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Background

MiRNAs have been reported to induce certain drug resistance in multiple solid tumors via various mechanisms. Our study aimed to investigate whether miRNA-1269b was involved in the chemoresistance and the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

MTT and colony formation assay were conducted to determine cell proliferation and cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry with annexin V/PI. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to validate miRNA-targeting sequences. The function of miR-1269b in cisplatin-resistant was evaluated in vivo in a mouse tumor model.

Results

We found that miR-1269b expression was up-regulated in cisplatin-resistant NSCLC specimens and NSCLC cell lines, which resulted in the promotion of chemoresistance and tumorigenicity. miR-1269b overexpression enhanced drug resistance and promoted cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, with reduced apoptosis rate of A549 cells inin vitro cell culture. Mechanistically, we identified PTEN as the direct target of miR-1269b, and the PTEN level was negatively correlated with miR-1269b in NSCLC specimens. Further study demonstrated that miR-1269b targeted PTEN to modulate PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these findings suggest that the miR-1269b/PTEN/PI3K/AKT-mediated network might promote cisplatin resistance in NSCLC, and that miR-1269b can be a potential therapeutic target for chemoresistance in NSCLC patients.

HBV-encoded miR-2 functions as an oncogene by downregulating TRIM35 but upregulating RAN in liver cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been well established as a high-risk factor for the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cellular microRNA (miRNA) is involved in tumorigenesis by accelerating the malignant phenotype in HCC. However, whether HBV can encode miRNAs that contribute to HCC is not entirely clear.

METHODS

In this study, an miRNA encoded by HBV (HBV-miR-2) was identified by Solexa sequencing in HBV-positive HCC specimens and further verified in serum samples from HCC patients with HBV infection and in HBV-positive HCC cell lines. To evaluate the roles of HBV-miR-2 in liver cancer cells, we determined cell viability and migration/invasion ability by gain-of-function experiment in HBV(-) liver cancer cells (HepG2 and Huh7) and loss-of-function experiments in Huh7 cells stably expressing HBV-miR-2 (Huh7/HBV-miR-2 cells) and HepG2.2.15 cells. Furthermore, to elucidate the mechanism by which HBV-miR-2 work on cell malignancy, we identified and studied the effect of two target genes (TRIM35 and RAN) of HBV-miR-2 in liver cancer cells.

FINDINGS

We revealed that HBV-miR-2 promoted HCC cell growth ability by suppressing apoptosis and promoting migration and invasion by enhancing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), functioning as an oncogene in the development of HBV-related HCC. Furthermore, we demonstrated that HBV-miR-2 suppresses the expression of TRIM35 but enhances RAN expression by targeting their 3'-untranslated regions (3'UTR) and that the ectopic expression of TRIM35 or knockdown of RAN counteracted the malignant phenotypes induced by HBV-miR-2.

INTERPRETATION

Our findings indicate that an HBV-encoded miRNA, HBV-miR-2, promotes oncogenic activity by downregulating TRIM35 expression and upregulating RAN expression in liver cancer cells, likely providing insight into tumorigenesis in HBV-related liver cancer. FUND: This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No: 81830094; 91629302; 31270818) and the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin (No: 12JCZDJC25100).

Identification of prognostic markers for hepatocellular carcinoma based on miRNA expression profiles

AIMS

The aim of the study was to identify key miRNAs related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and then to explore their potential function and clinical significance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The miRNA expression profiles of 387 HCC and 62 normal liver tissues were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. GEO2R tool and edgeR package in R/Bioconductor were used to screen out HCC-related miRNAs. VennDiagram package was used to identify key miRNAs related to HCC. The miRWalk tool and multiple R packages, such as pROC and survival, were used to explore potential function and clinical significance of these key miRNAs.

KEY FINDINGS

A total of 17 and 300 HCC-related human miRNAs were identified in GEO dataset and TCGA, respectively. Thereinto seven miRNAs including hsa-miR-199a-3p, hsa-miR-199b-3p, hsa-miR-139-5p, hsa-miR-139-3p, hsa-miR-424-3p, hsa-miR-1269b and hsa-miR-1269a were key miRNAs related to HCC. Functional enrichment analysis showed that these key miRNAs were involved in multiple biological processes, such as telomere maintenance via telomerase, protein sumoylation, histone mRNA metabolic process and angiotensin maturation. Cox regression analysis indicated that hsa-miR-139-5p expression was associated with the prognosis of HCC patients. ROC curve analysis suggested that survival prediction model developed based on tumor stage and hsa-miR-139-5p exhibited good performance in predicting 3-year overall survival of HCC patients.

SIGNIFICANCE

The present study identified several HCC-related miRNAs, which might serve as new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for HCC. In addition, hsa-miR-139-5p might act as a promising prognostic indicator for HCC patients.

Hepatitis B virus x protein accelerated the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cell through lncRNA SNHG20/PTEN pathway

This study investigated the underlying mechanism of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 20 (SNHG20) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). LncRNA SNHG20 and PTEN expression levels were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot. The proliferation of HCC cells was measured by MTT assay, and the apoptosis of HCC cells was measured by flow cytometry analysis. SNHG20 expression level and HBx protein level were upregulated in HBV(+) group than that of HBV(-) group, whereas PTEN protein level was downregulated in HBV(+) group. Besides, SNHG20 was highly expressed in HBV(+) HCC cells than in HBV(-) HCC cells. SNHG20 expression level was positively associated with HBV x protein (HBx) in HCC cells, and HBx-SNHG20 involved in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of HCC cells. Moreover, SNHG20 was confirmed to interact with PTEN, which negatively regulated PTEN protein level. Finally, we proved HBx-SNHG20-PTEN signalling pathway involved in the regulation of HCC cell proliferation and apoptosis. In vivo experiments showed SNHG20 knockdown inhibited tumour growth of HBV(+) HCC. HBx promoted the proliferation of HCC cell and reduced the apoptosis of HCC cells through the SNHG20/PTEN signalling pathway.

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

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

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

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

Deregulation of the Notch pathway as a common road in viral carcinogenesis

The Notch pathway is a conserved signaling pathway and a form of direct cell-cell communication related to many biological processes during development and adulthood. Deregulation of the Notch pathway is involved in many diseases, including cancer. Almost 20% of all cancer cases have an infectious etiology, with viruses responsible for at least 1.5 million new cancer cases per year. Seven groups of viruses have been classified as oncogenic: hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV respectively), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1), human papillomavirus (HPV), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). These viruses share the ability to manipulate a variety of cell pathways that are critical in proliferation and differentiation, leading to malignant transformation. Viral proteins interact directly or indirectly with different members of the Notch pathway, altering their normal function. This review focuses exclusively on the direct interactions of viral oncoproteins with Notch elements, providing a deeper understanding of the dual behavior of the Notch pathway as activator or suppressor of neoplasia in virus-related cancers.

Racial differences in endometrial cancer molecular portraits in The Cancer Genome Atlas

Endometrial cancer (EC) is now the most prevalent gynaecological malignancy in the Western world. Black or African American women (BoAA) have double the mortality of Caucasian women, and their tumours tend to be of higher grade. Despite these disparities, little is known regarding the mutational landscape of EC between races. Hence, we wished to investigate the molecular features of ECs within The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset by racial groupings. In total 374 Caucasian, 109 BoAA and 20 Asian patients were included in the analysis. Asian women were diagnosed at younger age, 54.2 years versus 64.5 years for Caucasian and 64.9 years for BoAA women (OR 3.432; p=0.011); BoAA women were more likely to have serous type tumors (OR 2.061; p=0.008). No difference in overall survival was evident. The most frequently mutated gene in Caucasian and Asian tumours was PTEN (63% and 85%), unlike BoAA cases where it was TP53 (49%). Mutation and somatic copy number alteration (SCNA) analysis revealed an enrichment of TP53 mutations in BoAAs; whereas POLE and RPL22 mutations were more frequent in Caucasians. Major recurrent SCNA racial differences were observed at chromosomes 3p, 8, 10, and 16, which clustered BoAA tumors into 4 distinct groups and Caucasian tumors into 5 groups. There was a significantly higher frequency of somatic mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes in Asian tumours, in particular PMS2 (p=0.0036). In conclusion, inherent racial disparities appear to be present in the molecular profile of EC, which could have potential implications on clinical management.

A novel microRNA identified in hepatocellular carcinomas is responsive to LEF1 and facilitates proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via targeting of NFIX

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers. It has been demonstrated that various cellular microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in HCC development. Here, we analyzed the miRNA profile in HCC tissues by Solexa sequencing, and we identified a novel microRNA, miR-HCC1, which is upregulated in HCC tissues. Further experiments showed that miR-HCC1 promoted HCC cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro, and migration and invasion resulting from the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Nuclear factor I/X (NFIX), which inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in HCC cells, was identified as a direct and functional target of miR-HCC1. Furthermore, lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF1), a transcription factor, was shown to bind the promoter of miR-HCC1 and activate its expression. Collectively, these results indicate that LEF1-upregulated miR-HCC1 functions as an oncogene through the negative regulation of NFIX expression, which links the LEF1/miR-HCC1/NFIX axis to contribute to cell proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells and could provide novel insights into miRNA function and hepatocarcinogenesis and potential biomarkers for HCC.

miR-3928v is induced by HBx via NF-κB/EGR1 and contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy by down-regulating VDAC3

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) plays a critical role in the tumorigenic behavior of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to participate in HCC development via the regulation of their target genes. However, HBV-modulated miRNAs involved in tumorigenesis remain to be identified. Here, we found that a novel highly expressed miRNA, TLRC-m0008_3p (miR-3928v), may be an important factor that promotes the malignancy of HBV-related HCC.

METHODS

Solexa sequencing was applied to profile miRNAs, and RT-qPCR was used to identify and quantitate miRNAs. We studied miR-3928v function in HCC cell lines by MTT, colony formation, migration/invasion, and vascular mimicry (VM) assays in vitro and by a xenograft tumor model in vivo. Finally, we predicted and verified the target gene of miR-3928v by a reporter assay, studied the function of this target gene, and cloned the promoter of miR-3928v and the transcription factor for use in dual-luciferase reporter assays and EMSAs.

RESULTS

A variant of miR-3928 (miR-3928v) was identified and found to be highly expressed in HBV (+) HCC tissues. Voltage-dependent anion channel 3 (VDAC3) was validated as a target of miR-3928v and found to mediate the effects of miR-3928v in promoting HCC growth and migration/invasion. Furthermore, HBx protein increased early growth response 1 (EGR1) expression and facilitated its translocation into the nucleus to enhance miR-3928v promoter activity in an NF-κB signaling-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-3928v is induced by HBx through the NF-κB/EGR1 signaling pathway and down-regulates the tumor suppressor gene VDAC3 to accelerate the progression of HCC.