PELI3 mediates pro-tumor actions of down-regulated miR-365a-5p in non-small cell lung cancer

Bioinformatic analysis of dysregulated circular RNAs in pediatric pulmonary hypertension linked congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) may play important roles in the progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, the potential roles they play in childhood pulmonary arterial hypertension associated congenital heart disease (CHD) progression remains unclear.

METHODS

Thirteen human plasma samples including eight from pulmonary arterial hypertension secondary to CHD patients and five from a control group were analyzed using the Arraystar Human circRNA array. The relative expression levels of five differentially expressed circRNAs in pulmonary arterial hypertension were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. In parallel, these levels were also taken on control samples from 32 CHD patients. We used miRanda and TargetScan software packages to predict potential microRNA (miRNA)targets, which were then combined into a circRNA-miRNA-messenger RNA (mRNA) network.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven circRNAs (three upregulated and 24 downregulated) were differentially expressed between the pulmonary arterial hypertension and control groups. Compared to control group levels, circ_003416 expression in the pulmonary arterial hypertension group was significantly downregulated, while circ_005372 expression, in contrast, was significantly upregulated. The differential expression of these circRNAs was mainly linked to variation in levels of oxidative phosphorylation and tight junction signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified one overexpressed and one underexpressed circRNA in plasma samples from children with CHD associated pulmonary arterial hypertension. Bioinformatic analysis indicated these dysregulated circRNAs might be associated with the occurrence and regulation of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

A Next-Generation Sequencing of Plasma Exosome-Derived microRNAs and Target Gene Analysis with a Microarray Database of Thermally Injured Skins: Identification of Blood-to-Tissue Interactions at Early Burn Stage

Background

Plasma exosome-derived microRNA (miRNA) profiles following thermal injury and their relationship with gene expression derangements in burned skin remain unexplored. This study focused on the identification of key miRNA-mRNA axes in potential blood-to-tissue interactions at early burn stage.

Methods

Plasma exosomes were obtained from 6 severe burn patients 4–7 days post injury and 6 healthy volunteers. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of exosomal small RNAs presented the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs). Target genes of the DEMs were predicted in the mirDIP database. Dataset GSE8056 was enrolled to acquire differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in burned skin compared to normal skin. Overlap between the DEGs and target genes of the DEMs were focus genes. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and enrichment analyses of the focus genes demonstrated hub genes and suggested underlying mechanisms and pathways. The hub genes and upstream DEMs were selected to construct key miRNA-mRNA axes.

Results

The NGS of plasma exosome-derived small RNAs identified 85 DEMs (14 downregulated miRNAs and 71 upregulated miRNAs) with 12,901 predicted target genes. Dataset GSE8056 exhibited 1861 DEGs in partial-thickness burned skins 4–7 days postburn. The overlap between DEGs and target genes of DEMs displayed 1058 focus genes. The top 9 hub genes (CDK1, CCNB1, CCNA2, BUB1B, PLK1, KIF11, AURKA, NUSAP1 and CDCA8) in the PPI network of the focus genes pointed to 16 upstream miRNAs in DEMs, including 4 downregulated miRNAs (hsa-miR-6848-3p, has-miR-4684-3p, has-miR-4786-5p and has-miR-365a-5p) and 12 upregulated miRNAs (hsa-miR-6751-3p, hsa-miR-718, hsa-miR-4754, hsa-miR-6754-3p, hsa-miR-4739, hsa-miR-6739-5p, hsa-miR-6884-3p, hsa-miR-1224-3p, hsa-miR-6878-3p, hsa-miR-6795-3p, hsa-miR-550a-3p, and hsa-miR-550b-3p). A key miRNA-mRNA network in potential blood-to-tissue interactions at early burn stage was therefore constructed.

Conclusion

An NGS and bioinformatic analysis in the study identified key miRNA-mRNA axes in potential blood-to-tissue interactions at early burn stage, suggesting plasma exosome-derived miRNAs may impact on the alteration patterns of gene expressions in a burn wound.

Construction of an 11-microRNA-based signature and a prognostic nomogram to predict the overall survival of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a fatal malignancy owing to the lack of effective tools to predict overall survival (OS). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in HNSCC occurrence, development, invasion and metastasis, significantly affecting the OS of patients. Thus, the construction of miRNA-based risk signatures and nomograms is desirable to predict the OS of patients with HNSCC. Accordingly, in the present study, miRNA sequencing data of 71 HNSCC and 13 normal samples downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were screened to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) between HNSCC patients and normal controls. Based on the exclusion criteria, the clinical information and miRNA sequencing data of 67 HNSCC samples were selected and used to establish a miRNA-based signature and a prognostic nomogram. Forty-three HNSCC samples were assigned to an internal validation cohort for verifying the credibility and accuracy of the primary cohort. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to explore the functions of 11 miRNA target genes.

Results

In total, 11 DEMs were successfully identified. An 11-miRNA risk signature and a prognostic nomogram were constructed based on the expression levels of these 11 DEMs and clinical information. The signature and nomogram were further validated by calculating the C-index, area under the curve (AUC) in receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, and calibration curves, which revealed their promising performance. The results of the internal validation cohort shown the reliable predictive accuracy both of the miRNA-based signature and the prognostic nomogram. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that a mass of signal pathways participated in HNSCC proliferation and metastasis.

Conclusion

Overall, we constructed an 11-miRNA-based signature and a prognostic nomogram with excellent accuracy for predicting the OS of patients with HNSCC.

Global profiling of lncRNAs-miRNAs-mRNAs reveals differential expression of coding genes and non-coding RNAs in the lung of beagle dogs at different stages of Toxocara canis infection

The roundworm Toxocara canis causes toxocariasis in dogs and larval migrans in humans. Better understanding of the lung response to T. canis infection could explain why T. canis must migrate to and undergoes part of its development inside the lung of the definitive host. In this study, we profiled the expression patterns of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs in the lungs of Beagle dogs infected by T. canis, using high throughput RNA sequencing. At 24 h p.i., 1,012 lncRNAs, 393 mRNAs and 10 miRNAs were differentially expressed (DE). We also identified 883 DElncRNAs, 264 DEmRNAs and 20 DEmiRNAs at 96 h p.i., and 996 DElncRNAs, 342 DEmRNAs and eight DEmiRNAs at 36 days p.i., between infected and control dogs. Significant changes in the levels of expression of transcripts related to immune response and inflammation were associated with the antiparasitic response of the lung to T. canis. The remarkable increase in the expression of scgb1a1 at all time points after infection suggests the need for consistent moderation of the excessive inflammatory response. Also, upregulation of foxj1 at 24 h p.i., and downregulation of IL-1β and IL-21 at 96 h p.i., suggest an attenuation of the humoral immunity of infected dogs. These results indicate that T. canis pathogenesis in the lung is mediated through contributions from both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis revealed significant interactions between DElncRNAs, DEmiRNAs and DEmRNAs, and improved our understanding of the ceRNA regulatory mechanisms in the context of T. canis infection. These data provide comprehensive understanding of the regulatory networks that govern the lung response to T. canis infection and reveal new mechanistic insights into the interaction between the host and parasite during the course of T. canis infection in the canine.

miR-365a-5p suppresses gefitinib resistance in non-small-cell lung cancer through targeting PELI3

Aim: Demonstrate the function of dysregulated miR-365a-5p-PELI3 signaling axis in the generation of gefitinib resistance during treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients & methods: All the NSCLC patients who participated in this research were recruited from the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University. PC9 cells and PC9GR cells were cultured for in vitro experiments. Results: Patients who were primary resistant to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor had lower miR-365a-5p levels. MiR-365a-5p directly targeted PELI3 mRNA. MiR-365a-5p overexpression enhanced the function of gefitinib in inhibiting cell viability. Tumor growth was suppressed through miR-365a-5p in nude mice. Conclusion: Dysregulated miR-365a-5p-PELI3 signaling axis triggered the generation of gefitinib resistance in NSCLC.

Long Non-coding RNA MIAT Mediates Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Development Through Regulating the miR-128-3p/PELI3 Axis

In this study, we set out to characterize the expression status of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Myocardial Infarction Associated Transcript (MIAT) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and elucidate its mechanistic contribution to this disease. Relative expression levels of MIAT, Pellino E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase Family Member 3 (PELI3), and microRNA (miR)-128-3p were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. PELI3 protein level was determined by immunoblotting. Cell viability and proliferation were evaluated by the MTT assay and colony formation assay, respectively. Cell invasion and migration were assessed by wound-healing closure and transwell assays, respectively. The regulatory actions of miR-128-3p on both MIAT and PELI3 were interrogated by luciferase reporter assay. We demonstrated the aberrant upregulation of MIAT in NSCLC and its association with tumor progression. We further uncovered the negative correlation among MIAT, PELI3, and miR-128-3p. MIAT deficiency significantly compromised cell viability, proliferation, invasion, and migration, while increased miR-128-3p and decreased PELI3 expressions. Application of miR-128-3p inhibitor significantly stimulated luciferase activities driven by both MIAT and PELI3 promoter and phenotypically promoted cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion. Our study highlighted the mechanistic contribution of the MIAT/miR-128-3p/PELI3 signaling cascade in NSCLC.