MicroRNA-99b predicts clinical outcome of osteosarcoma and suppresses tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion

Comparison of Oncogenes, Tumor Suppressors, and MicroRNAs Between Schizophrenia and Glioma: The Balance of Power

The risk of cancer in schizophrenia has been controversial. Confounders of the issue are cigarette smoking in schizophrenia, and antiproliferative effects of antipsychotic medications. The author has previously suggested comparison of a specific cancer like glioma to schizophrenia might help determine a more accurate relationship between cancer and schizophrenia. To accomplish this goal, the author performed three comparisons of data; the first a comparison of conventional tumor suppressors and oncogenes between schizophrenia and cancer including glioma. This comparison determined schizophrenia has both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting characteristics. A second, larger comparison between brain-expressed microRNAs in schizophrenia with their expression in glioma was then performed. This identified a core carcinogenic group of miRNAs in schizophrenia offset by a larger group of tumor-suppressive miRNAs. This proposed "balance of power" between oncogenes and tumor suppressors could cause neuroinflammation. This was assessed by a third comparison between schizophrenia, glioma and inflammation in asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma (ALRCM). This revealed that schizophrenia shares more oncogenic similarity to ALRCM than glioma.

MicroRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network Mediates Activation of mTOR and VEGF Signaling in African American Prostate Cancer

African American (AA) men exhibit 1.6-fold higher prostate cancer (PCa) incidence and 2.4-fold higher mortality rates compared to European American (EA) men. In addition to socioeconomic factors, emerging evidence suggests that intrinsic biological differences may explain part of PCa disparities. In this study, we applied microRNA (miRNA)-driven bioinformatics to evaluate whether differential miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks play a role in promoting the AA PCa disparities. 10 differentially expressed miRNAs were imported to mirPath V.3 algorithm, leading to identification of 58 signaling pathways differentially regulated in AA PCa versus EA PCa. Among these pathways, we particularly focused on mTOR and VEGF signaling, where we identified 5 reciprocal miRNA-mRNA pairings: miR-34a-5p/HIF1A, miR-34a-5p/PIK3CB, miR-34a-5p/IGFBP2, miR-99b-5p/MTOR and miR-96-5p/MAPKAPK2 in AA PCa versus EA PCa. RT-qPCR validation confirmed that miR-34a-5p, miR-99b-5p and MAPKAPK2 were downregulated, while miR-96-5p, IGFBP2, HIF1A, PIK3CB and MTOR were upregulated in AA PCa versus EA PCa cells. Transfection of miRNA mimics/antagomir followed by RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis further verified that IGFBP2, HIF1A and PIK3CB are negatively regulated by miR-34a-5p, whereas MTOR and MAPKAPK2 are negatively regulated by miR-99b-5p and miR-96-5p, respectively, at mRNA and protein levels. Targeting reciprocal pairings by miR-34a-5p mimic, miR-99b-5p mimic or miR-96-5p antagomir downregulates HIF1α, PI3Kβ, mTOR, IGFBP2 but upregulates MAPKAPK2, subsequently reducing cell proliferation and sensitizing docetaxel-induced cytotoxicity in PCa cells. These results suggest that miRNA-mRNA regulatory network plays a critical role in AA PCa disparities, and targeting these core miRNA-mRNA pairings may reduce PCa aggressiveness and overcome the chemoresistance in AA patients.

Targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling by microRNAs as a therapeutic approach in chemoresistant osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma (OS) is an adolescent and young adult malignancy that mostly occurs in long bones. The treatment of OS is still a big challenge for clinicians due to increasing chemoresistance, and many efforts are being made today to find more beneficial treatments. In this regard, the use of microRNAs has shown a high capacity to develop promising therapies. By targeting cancer-involved signaling pathways, microRNAs reduce the cellular level of these protein pathways; thereby reducing the growth and invasion of tumors, and even leading cancer cells to apoptosis. One of these oncogenic pathways that play an important role in OS development and can be targeted by microRNAs is the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Hence, the first goal of this review article is to explain the cross-talk of microRNAs and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in OS and then discussing recent findings of the use of microRNAs as a therapeutic approach in OS.

MicroRNA-891a-5p is a novel biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer and targets HOXA5 to regulate tumor cell biological function

Numerous studies have shown that the dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA/miR) is an important factor in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. However, the role of miR-891a-5p in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the clinical value and biological function of miR-891a-5p in NSCLC. The mRNA expression level of miR-891a-5p in NSCLC was determined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and was used to determine the diagnostic value of miR-891a-5p, by creating a receiver operating characteristic curve. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate its prognostic value in patients with NSCLC. Furthermore, cell experiments were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms and functional role of miR-891a-5p in NSCLC progression. The results indicated that miR-891a-5p expression level was significantly higher in serum and tissues from patients with NSCLC and NSCLC cell lines. In addition, serum miR-891a-5p was found to have a diagnostic value in patients with NSCLC, and the increase in the expression level of miR-891a-5p in tumor tissues was associated with differentiation, and the tumor, node and metastases stages of cancer, which could be used for NSCLC prognosis. In addition, the experiments revealed that NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion and migration were significantly increased by the overexpression of miR-891a-5p and were significantly reduced by its downregulation. Furthermore, a luciferase reporter assay and the protein expression levels of HOXA5 showed that HOXA5 might be a miR-891a-5p target gene. In summary, the results indicated that high miR-891a-5p expression level could be a novel biomarker in patients with NSCLC and that it promoted tumor cell proliferation, invasion and migration. HOXA5 may be a target of miR-891a-5p, which may mediate miR-891a-5p function in NSCLC.

Identifying biomolecules and constructing a prognostic risk prediction model for recurrence in osteosarcoma

INTRODUCTION

Osteosarcoma is a high-morbidity bone cancer with an unsatisfactory prognosis. The aim of this study is to develop novel potential prognostic biomarkers and construct a prognostic risk prediction model for recurrence in osteosarcoma.

METHODS

By analyzing microarray data, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to screen prognostic RNA signatures and to build a prognostic model. The RNA signatures were validated using Kaplan-Meier curves. Then, we developed and validated a nomogram combining age, recurrence, metastatic, and Prognostic score (PS) models to predict the individual's overall survival at the 3- and 5-year points. Pathway enrichment of RNA was conducted based on the significant co-expressed RNAs.

RESULTS

A total of 319 mRNAs and 14 lncRNAs were identified in the microarray data. One lncRNA (LINC00957) and six mRNAs (METL1, CA9, B3GALT4, ALDH1A1, LAMB3, and ITGB4) were identified as RNA signatures and showed good performances in survival prediction for both the training and validation cohorts. Cox regression analysis showed that the seven RNA signatures could independently predict overall survival. Furthermore, age, recurrence, metastatic, and PS models were identified as independent prognostic factors via univariate and multivariate Cox analyses (P < 0.05) and included in the prognostic nomogram. The C-index values for the 3- and 5-year overall survival predictions of the nomogram were 0.809 and 0.740, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study provides the novel potential of seven RNA candidates as prognostic biomarkers. Nomograms were constructed to provide accurate and individualized survival prediction for recurrence in osteosarcoma patients.

Downregulation of miR-1826 Indicates a Poor Prognosis for Osteosarcoma Patients and Regulates Tumor Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most frequent bone tumor with high metastasis. This study is aimed at assessing the expression and prognostic significance of microRNA-1826 (miR-1826) in OS patients, as well as its biological function in tumor progression.

Methods

Quantitative Real-Time PCR was employed to measure the expression of miR-1826 in OS tissues and cell lines. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression model were used to evaluate the prognostic value of miR-1826. CCK-8 and Transwell assay were conducted to investigate the effect of miR-1826 on OS cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Results

miR-1826 expression was downregulated in OS tissues and cell lines and associated with OS patients' clinical stage and distant metastasis. Low levels of miR-1826 were related with shorter survival time and determined as an independent prognostic indicator for the overall survival of OS patients. The overexpression of miR-1826 in OS cells led to inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Conclusion

The decreased expression of miR-1826 predicts a poor prognosis in OS patients, and its overexpression inhibits OS cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. This newly identified miR-1826 provides a novel sight into the pathogenesis of OS and offers a candidate prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for OS treatment.