The cluster of miR-143 and miR-145 affects the risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through co-regulating fascin homolog 1. PLoS One. 2012;7:e33987. [PMID: 22457808 PMCID: PMC3311581 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033987]

N6-methyladenosine-driven miR-143/145-KLF4 circuit orchestrates the phenotypic switch of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by vascular remodeling predominantly driven by a phenotypic switching in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). However, the underlying mechanisms for this phenotypic alteration remain incompletely understood. Here, we identified that RNA methyltransferase METTL3 is significantly elevated in the lungs of hypoxic PH (HPH) mice and rats, as well as in the pulmonary arteries (PAs) of HPH rats. Targeted deletion of Mettl3 in smooth muscle cells exacerbated hemodynamic consequences of hypoxia-induced PH and accelerated pulmonary vascular remodeling in vivo. Additionally, the absence of METTL3 markedly induced phenotypic switching in PASMCs in vitro. Mechanistically, METTL3 depletion attenuated m6A modification and hindered the processing of pri-miR-143/145, leading to a downregulation of miR-143-3p and miR-145-5p. Inhibition of hnRNPA2B1, an m6A mediator involved in miRNA maturation, similarly resulted in a significant reduction of miR-143-3p and miR-145-5p. We demonstrated that miR-145-5p targets Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) and miR-143-3p targets fascin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) in PASMCs. The decrease of miR-145-5p subsequently induced an upregulation of KLF4, which in turn suppressed miR-143/145 transcription, establishing a positive feedback circuit between KLF4 and miR-143/145. This regulatory circuit facilitates the persistent suppression of contractile marker genes, thereby sustaining PASMC phenotypic switch. Collectively, hypoxia-induced upregulation of METTL3, along with m6A mediated regulation of miR-143/145, might serve as a protective mechanism against phenotypic switch of PASMCs. Our results highlight a potential therapeutic strategy targeting m6A modified miR-143/145-KLF4 loop in the treatment of PH.

Long non-coding RNA UCA1 Knockdown Assisted by CRISPR/Cas9 in Female Cancer Cell Lines Increases Mir-143 Tumor-Suppressor

Background

The lncRNAs has been linked to several malignancies, including breast cancer. Our objective was to investigate the impact of urothelial carcinoma associated 1 (UCA1) on cellular growth and death by a CRISPR/Cas9 knockdown technique.

Methods

In 2020, the CHOPCHOP program was utilized to design two sgRNAs targeting the UCA gene. sgRNA1 and sgRNA2 were inserted into two different CRISPR plasmids to produce two recombinant plasmids. These recombinant plasmids were simultaneously transfected into MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 carcinoma of the breast cells. Proliferation and apoptosis were compared using the MTT test, CCK-8 assay, and flow cytometry evaluation. RNA-hybrid software, quantitative reverse transcription PCR, and luciferase assays were utilized to confirm the relationship between UCA1 and miR-143.

Results

Proliferated cells were less active in MTT and CCK-8 tests and fellow cytometry analysis. The PX459-sgRNA1,2 group had elevated levels of the cancer biomarker Caspase-3 gene expression (P<0.001). When WT-UCA1 and miR-143 were co-transfected, the luciferase activity was drastically decreased.

Conclusion

One very effective method of regulating cellular proliferation in vitro is the deletion of UCA1, which CRISPR/Cas9 accomplishes.

Emerging roles of miR-145 in gastrointestinal cancers: A new paradigm

Gastrointestinal (GI) carcinomas are a group of cancers affecting the GI tract and digestive organs, such as the gastric, liver, bile ducts, pancreas, small intestine, esophagus, colon, and rectum. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small functional non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) which are involved in regulating the expression of multiple target genes; mainly at the post-transcriptional level, via complementary binding to their 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). Increasing evidence has shown that miRNAs have critical roles in modulating of various physiological and pathological cellular processes and regulating the occurrence and development of human malignancies. Among them, miR-145 is recognized for its anti-oncogenic properties in various cancers, including GI cancers. MiR-145 has been implicated in diverse biological processes of cancers through the regulation of target genes or signaling, including, proliferation, differentiation, tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, metastasis, and therapy resistance. In this review, we have summarized the role of miR-145 in selected GI cancers and also its downstream molecules and cellular processes targets, which could lead to a better understanding of the miR-145 in these cancers. In conclusion, we reveal the potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value of miR-145 in GI cancer, and hope to provide new ideas for its application as a biomarker as well as a therapeutic target for the treatment of these cancer.

Predicting MiRNA-Disease Associations by Graph Representation Learning Based on Jumping Knowledge Networks

Growing studies have shown that miRNAs are inextricably linked with many human diseases, and a great deal of effort has been spent on identifying their potential associations. Compared with traditional experimental methods, computational approaches have achieved promising results. In this article, we propose a graph representation learning method to predict miRNA-disease associations. Specifically, we first integrate the verified miRNA-disease associations with the similarity information of miRNA and disease to construct a miRNA-disease heterogeneous graph. Then, we apply a graph attention network to aggregate the neighbor information of nodes in each layer, and then feed the representation of the hidden layer into the structure-aware jumping knowledge network to obtain the global features of nodes. The output features of miRNAs and diseases are then concatenated and fed into a fully connected layer to score the potential associations. Through five-fold cross-validation, the average AUC, accuracy and precision values of our model are 93.30%, 85.18% and 88.90%, respectively. In addition, for three case studies of the esophageal tumor, lymphoma and prostate tumor, 46, 45 and 45 of the top 50 miRNAs predicted by our model were confirmed by relevant databases. Overall, our method could provide a reliable alternative for miRNA-disease association prediction.

Cigarette Smoke Enhances the Malignant Phenotype of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Cells by Disrupting a Repressive Regulatory Interaction Between miR-145 and LOXL2

Although linked to esophageal carcinogenesis, the mechanisms by which cigarette smoke mediates initiation and progression of esophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, immortalized esophageal epithelial cells and EAC cells (EACCs) were cultured with or without cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) under relevant exposure conditions. Endogenous levels of microRNA (miR)-145 and lysyl-likeoxidase 2 (LOXL2) were inversely correlated in EAC lines/tumors compared with that in immortalized cells/normal mucosa. The CSC repressed miR-145 and upregulated LOXL2 in immortalized esophageal epithelial cells and EACCs. Knockdown or constitutive overexpression of miR-145 activated or depleted LOXL2, respectively, which enhanced or reduced proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenicity of EACC, respectively. LOXL2 was identified as a novel target of miR-145 as well as a negative regulator of this miR in EAC lines/Barrett's epithelia. Mechanistically, CSC induced recruitment of SP1 to the LOXL2 promoter; LOXL2 upregulation coincided with LOXL2 enrichment and concomitant reduction of H3K4me3 levels within the promoter of miR143HG (host gene for miR-145). Mithramycin downregulated LOXL2 and restored miR-145 expression in EACC and abrogated LOXL2-mediated repression of miR-145 by CSC. These findings implicate cigarette smoke in the pathogenesis of EAC and demonstrate that oncogenic miR-145-LOXL2 axis dysregulation is potentially druggable for the treatment and possible prevention of these malignancies.

Cancer Stem Cells in Tumor Microenvironment of Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach, Colon, and Rectum

Gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas are one of the world's deadliest cancers. Cancer stem cells and the tissue microenvironment are highly regulated by cell and molecular mechanisms. Cancer stem cells are essential for maintenance and progression and are associated with resistance to conventional treatments. This article reviews the current knowledge of the role of the microenvironment during the primary establishment of gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas in the stomach, colon, and rectum and its relationship with cancer stem cells. We also describe novel developments in cancer therapeutics, such as targeted therapy, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different treatments for improving gastrointestinal cancer prognosis.

Sulfiredoxin Promotes Cancer Cell Invasion through Regulation of the miR143-Fascin Axis

Intracellular antioxidant enzymes are critical for maintenance of redox homeostasis, but whether and how they contribute to the malignancy of cancer cells remains poorly understood. Sulfiredoxin (Srx) is a unique oxidoreductase in that it not only restores peroxidase activity of peroxiredoxins (Prxs) but also functions as a pivotal stimulator of oncogenic signaling. We found that abnormally high level of Srx promotes colorectal cancer (CRC) malignancy by stimulating gelatin degradation, invadopodia formation, and cell invasion. Fascin, an actin-bundling protein, was discovered and validated as one of the critical downstream targets of Srx activation. We demonstrated that depletion of Srx in CRC cells leads to upregulation of miR-143-3p, which mediates degradation of fascin mRNA through binding to conserved sites within the 3' untranslated region (UTR). Depletion of fascin in CRC cells recapitulates the effect of Srx loss, and restoration of fascin in Srx-depleted cells by miR-143-3p inhibitor or overexpression rescues defects in cell invasion. Therefore, our data demonstrate that the Srx-miR143-fascin axis plays a key role in promoting the malignancy of human CRC cells. In the future, the Srx-miR143-fascin axis can be used as a functional pathway to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic drugs or be targeted to develop promising chemotherapeutics for treatment of CRC patients.

IL-2 Modulates TAMs Derived Exosomal MiRNAs to Ameliorate Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development and Progression

Background. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is proved to play an irreplaceable role in antitumor regulation in numerous experimental and clinical trials. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are able to release exosomes to promote the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as essential component of microenvironment. In this study, our intention is to explore the effects of the exosomes from TAMs with IL-2 treatment on HCC development. TAMs were collected and cultured from HCC tissues. The exosomes from the TAMs treated with IL-2 (Exo^IL2-TAM) or not (Exo^TAM) were identified and used to treat HCC cells in vivo and in vitro. The proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis of HCC cells were measured. The changes of miRNAs in exosomes were explored to clarify the possible mechanisms. Both decrease of cell proliferation and metastasis and increase of apoptosis were observed with Exo^IL2-TAM treatment compared with Exo^TAMin vivo and in vitro. miR-375 was obviously augmented in Exo^IL2-TAM and HCC cells treated with Exo^IL2-TAM. Taken together, IL-2 may modulate exosomal miRNAs from TAMs to ameliorate hepatocellular carcinoma development. This study provides a new perspective to explain the mechanism by which IL-2 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma and implies the potential clinical value of exosomal miRNAs released by TAMs.

Blockade of the pro-fibrotic reaction mediated by the miR-143/-145 cluster enhances the responses to targeted therapy in melanoma

Lineage dedifferentiation toward a mesenchymal‐like state displaying myofibroblast and fibrotic features is a common mechanism of adaptive and acquired resistance to targeted therapy in melanoma. Here, we show that the anti‐fibrotic drug nintedanib is active to normalize the fibrous ECM network, enhance the efficacy of MAPK‐targeted therapy, and delay tumor relapse in a preclinical model of melanoma. Acquisition of this resistant phenotype and its reversion by nintedanib pointed to miR‐143/‐145 pro‐fibrotic cluster as a driver of this mesenchymal‐like phenotype. Upregulation of the miR‐143/‐145 cluster under BRAFi/MAPKi therapy was observed in melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo and was associated with an invasive/undifferentiated profile. The 2 mature miRNAs generated from this cluster, miR‐143‐3p and miR‐145‐5p, collaborated to mediate transition toward a drug‐resistant undifferentiated mesenchymal‐like state by targeting Fascin actin‐bundling protein 1 (FSCN1), modulating the dynamic crosstalk between the actin cytoskeleton and the ECM through the regulation of focal adhesion dynamics and mechanotransduction pathways. Our study brings insights into a novel miRNA‐mediated regulatory network that contributes to non‐genetic adaptive drug resistance and provides proof of principle that preventing MAPKi‐induced pro‐fibrotic stromal response is a viable therapeutic opportunity for patients on targeted therapy.

Fascin in Gynecological Cancers: An Update of the Literature

Simple Summary

Fascin, an actin-binding protein, is upregulated in different types of human cancers. It is reportedly responsible for increasing the invasive and metastatic ability of cancer cells by reducing cell–cell adhesions. This review provides a brief overview of fascin and its interactions with other genes and oncoviruses to induce the onset and progression of cancer.

Abstract

Fascin is an actin-binding protein that is encoded by the FSCN1 gene (located on chromosome 7). It triggers membrane projections and stimulates cell motility in cancer cells. Fascin overexpression has been described in different types of human cancers in which its expression correlated with tumor growth, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Moreover, overexpression of fascin was found in oncovirus-infected cells, such as human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), disrupting the cell–cell adhesion and enhancing cancer progression. Based on these findings, several studies reported fascin as a potential biomarker and a therapeutic target in various cancers. This review provides a brief overview of the FSCN1 role in various cancers with emphasis on gynecological malignancies. We also discuss fascin interactions with other genes and oncoviruses through which it might induce cancer development and progression.

Overexpression of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical significance

Cyclin‐dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) plays a significant role in certain malignancies. However, it remains unclear whether CDK1 plays a role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The aim of this study was to analyze the expression and clinical value of CDK1 in ESCC. CDK1 protein in 151 ESCC tissues and 138 normal esophageal tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. RNA‐seq of eight pairs of ESCC and adjacent esophageal specimens was performed to evaluate the levels of CDK1 mRNA. Microarray and external RNA‐seq data from 664 cases of ESCC and 1733 cases of control tissues were used to verify the difference in CDK1 expression between the two groups. A comprehensive analysis of all data was performed to evaluate the difference in CDK1 between ESCC tissues and control tissues. Further, functional enrichment analyses were performed based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of ESCC and co‐expressed genes (CEGs) of CDK1. In addition, a lncRNA‐miRNA‐CDK1 network was constructed. The expression of CDK1 protein was obviously increased in ESCC tissues (3.540 ± 2.923 vs. 1.040 ± 1.632, P < 0.001). RNA‐seq indicated that the mRNA level of CDK1 was also highly expressed in ESCC tissues (5.261 ± 0.703 vs. 2.229 ± 1.161, P < 0.0001). Comprehensive analysis revealed consistent up‐regulation of CDK1 (SMD = 1.41; 95% CI 1.00–1.83). Further, functional enrichment analyses revealed that the functions of these genes were mainly concentrated in the cell cycle. A triple regulatory network of PVT1‐hsa‐miR‐145‐5p/hsa‐miR‐30c‐5p‐CDK1 was constructed using in silico analysis. In summary, overexpression of CDK1 is closely related to ESCC tumorigenesis.

Emerging Role of Fascin-1 in the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment of the Gastrointestinal Cancers

Simple Summary

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including esophageal, gastric, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers, remain as one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with a large proportion accounting for fatalities related to metastatic disease. The active involvement of fascin-1 in forming membrane protrusions crucial for cellular movement has been identified as an important molecular mechanism behind the phenotypic switch from the localized to the metastatic tumor. Thus, fascin-1 expression status in the malignant tissue has been utilized as an important component in determining the patient’s clinicopathological outcomes. In this review, we provide an up-to-date literature review of the role of fascin-1 in the initiation and metastatic progression of GI tract cancers, its involvement in patients’ clinical outcomes, and its potential as a therapeutic target.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including esophageal, gastric, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers, remain as one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with a large proportion accounting for fatalities related to metastatic disease. Invasion of primary cancer occurs by the actin cytoskeleton remodeling, including the formation of the filopodia, stereocilia, and other finger-like membrane protrusions. The crucial step of actin remodeling in the malignant cells is mediated by the fascin protein family, with fascin-1 being the most active. Fascin-1 is an actin-binding protein that cross-links filamentous actin into tightly packed parallel bundles, giving rise to finger-like cell protrusions, thus equipping the cell with the machinery necessary for adhesion, motility, and invasion. Thus, fascin-1 has been noted to be a key component for determining patient diagnosis and treatment plan. Indeed, the overexpression of fascin-1 in GI tract cancers has been associated with a poor clinical prognosis and metastatic progression. Moreover, fascin-1 has received attention as a potential therapeutic target for metastatic GI tract cancers. In this review, we provide an up-to-date literature review of the role of fascin-1 in the initiation of GI tract cancers, metastatic progression, and patients’ clinical outcomes.

Fascin actin-bundling protein 1 in human cancer: promising biomarker or therapeutic target?

Fascin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) is a highly conserved actin-bundling protein that cross links F-actin microfilaments into tight, parallel bundles. Elevated FSCN1 levels have been reported in many types of human cancers and have been correlated with aggressive clinical progression, poor prognosis, and survival outcomes. The overexpression of FSCN1 in cancer cells has been associated with tumor growth, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Currently, FSCN1 is recognized as a candidate biomarker for multiple cancer types and as a potential therapeutic target. The aim of this study was to provide a brief overview of the FSCN1 gene and protein structure and elucidate on its actin-bundling activity and physiological functions. The main focus was on the role of FSCN1 and its upregulatory mechanisms and significance in cancer cells. Up-to-date studies on FSCN1 as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for human cancers are reviewed. It is shown that FSCN1 is an unusual biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for cancer.

Roles of MicroRNAs in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Pathogenesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 20-22 nucleotides long single-stranded noncoding RNAs. They regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally by base pairing with the complementary sequences in the 3'-untranslated region of their targeted mRNA. Aberrant expression of miRNAs leads to alterations in the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, thereby affecting cellular growth, proliferation, apoptosis, motility, and invasion capacity of gastrointestinal cells, including cells of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Thus, alterations in miRNAs expression associated with the pathogenesis and progression of ESCC. In addition, expression profiles of miRNAs correlated with various clinicopathological factors, including pathological stages, histological differentiation, invasion, metastasis of cancer, as well as survival rates and therapy response of patients with ESCC. Consequently, expression profiles of miRNAs could be useful as diagnostic, prognostic, and prediction biomarkers in ESCC. Herein, we describe the quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and microarray methods for detection and quantitate miRNAs in ESCC. In addition, we summarize the roles of miRNAs in ESCC pathogenesis, progression, and prognosis.

Fascin in Cell Migration: More Than an Actin Bundling Protein

Simple Summary

Cell migration is an essential biological process that regulates both development and diseases, such as cancer metastasis. Therefore, understanding the factors that promote cell migration is crucial. One of the factors known to regulate cell migration is the actin-binding protein, Fascin. Fascin is typically thought to promote cell migration through bundling actin to form migratory structures such as filopodia and invadapodia. However, Fascin has many other functions in the cell that may contribute to cell migration. How these novel functions promote cell migration and are regulated is still not well understood. Here, we review the structure of Fascin, the many functions of Fascin and how they may promote cell migration, how Fascin is regulated, and Fascin’s role in diseases such as cancer metastasis.

Abstract

Fascin, an actin-binding protein, regulates many developmental migrations and contributes to cancer metastasis. Specifically, Fascin promotes cell motility, invasion, and adhesion by forming filopodia and invadopodia through its canonical actin bundling function. In addition to bundling actin, Fascin has non-canonical roles in the cell that are thought to promote cell migration. These non-canonical functions include regulating the activity of other actin-binding proteins, binding to and regulating microtubules, mediating mechanotransduction to the nucleus via interaction with the Linker of the Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) Complex, and localizing to the nucleus to regulate nuclear actin, the nucleolus, and chromatin modifications. The many functions of Fascin must be coordinately regulated to control cell migration. While much remains to be learned about such mechanisms, Fascin is regulated by post-translational modifications, prostaglandin signaling, protein–protein interactions, and transcriptional means. Here, we review the structure of Fascin, the various functions of Fascin and how they contribute to cell migration, the mechanisms regulating Fascin, and how Fascin contributes to diseases, specifically cancer metastasis.

MicroRNA‑145‑5p suppresses fascin to inhibit the invasion and migration of cervical carcinoma cells

MicroRNAs (miRs) can affect the progression of cervical cancer (CC). The present study investigated the function of miR-145-5p in CC and demonstrated its association with fascin (FSCN1). The expression levels of miR-145-5p in CC tissues and cell lines were analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, and its direct targets were explored using a luciferase reporter assay. The viability, migration and invasion of HeLa cells transfected with small interfering FSCN1 or with miR-145-5p mimics and inhibitors were analyzed using Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays. The expression levels of FSCN1 mRNA and protein were investigated using reverse transcription PCR and western blotting. miR-145-5p was downregulated in CC tissues and cell lines. Moreover, overexpression of miR-145-5p inhibited the migration, invasion and viability of HeLa cells. miR-145-5p directly targeted FSCN1, which regulated the suppressive functions of miR-145-5p in CC cells. Overall, miR-145-5p is a tumor suppressor gene and a promising target for CC treatment.

MicroRNAs: potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of different cancers

A thorough understanding of the tumor environment and underlying genetic factors helps in the better formulation of cancer management strategies. Availability of efficient diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers facilitates early detection and progression of the disease. MicroRNAs affect different biological processes participating in tumorigenesis through regulation of their target genes. An expanding list of unique RNAs and understanding of their regulatory role has opened up a new field in cancer research. Based on a comprehensive literature search, we identified 728 miRNAs dysregulated in sixteen cancer types namely bladder cancer (BC), breast cancer (BrC), cervical cancer (CC), colorectal cancer (CRC), esophageal cancer (EC), endometrial cancer (EnC), gastric cancer (GC), hepatocellular cancer (HCC), head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC), lung cancer (LC), ovarian cancer (OC), pancreatic cancer (PC), prostate cancer (PrC), renal cell cancer (RCC), skin cancer (SC), and thyroid cancer (TC). Expression of 43 miRNAs was either upregulated or downregulated in six or more of these cancers. Finally, seven miRNAs namely mir-18a, mir-21, mir-143/145, mir-210, mir-218, mir-221, showing maximum dysregulation, either up- or down-regulation in the majority of cancers, were selected for a detailed presentation of their expression and evaluation of their potential as biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of different cancers.

How does fascin promote cancer metastasis?

Fascin is an F-actin-bundling protein that cross-links individual actin filaments into straight and stiff bundles. Fascin overexpression in cancer is strongly associated with poor prognosis and metastatic progression across different cancer types. It is well established that fascin plays a causative role in promoting metastatic progression. We will review the recent progress in our understanding of mechanisms underlying fascin-mediated cancer metastasis. This review will cover the biochemical basis for fascin-bundling activity, the mechanisms by which cancer cells upregulate fascin expression and the mechanism underlying fascin-mediated cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastatic colonization. We propose that fascin has broad roles in both metastatic dissemination and metastatic colonization. Understanding these mechanisms will be crucial to the development of anti-metastasis therapeutics targeting fascin.

Long intergenic non-coding RNA 00337 confers progression of esophageal cancer by mediating microrna-145-dependent fscn1

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been highlighted as prominent genetic modulators involved in multiple important biological processes of cancer cells, especially in esophageal cancer (EC). We tried to elucidate the potential role of LINC00337 in the progression of EC. Based on TCGA database analysis and Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction determination, high expression of LINC00337 and FSCN1 was detected, while miR-145 exhibited a low expression in EC. LINC00337 was identified to bind to miR-145 to impair the miR-145-dependent FSCN1 inhibition. The underlying regulatory mechanisms were evaluated by transfection with LINC00337 overexpression plasmid, siRNA against LINC00337, miR-145 mimic, or anta-miR-145. Downregulation of LINC00337 results in increased Bax level, decreased FSCN1, Bcl-2, VEGF, and p53 levels, in addition to diminished cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor growth, with accelerated cell apoptosis by upregulating miR-145. Taken together, the findings obtained provided evidence suggesting that LINC00337 acts as a tumor promoter in EC, providing insight and advancements for EC treatment.

RNA sequencing-based microRNA expression signature in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: oncogenic targets by antitumor miR-143-5p and miR-143-3p regulation

Aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) disrupt intracellular RNA networks and contribute to malignant transformation of cancer cells. Utilizing the latest RNA sequencing technology, we newly created the miRNA expression signature of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A total of 47 miRNAs were downregulated in ESCC tissues, and these miRNAs were candidates for antitumor miRNAs in ESCC cells. Analysis of the signature revealed that several passenger strands of miRNAs were significantly downregulated in ESCC, e.g., miR-28-3p, miR-30a-3p, miR-30c-3p, miR-133a-3p, miR-139-3p, miR-143-5p, and miR-145-3p. Recent studies indicate that some passenger strands of miRNAs closely involved in cancer pathogenesis. In this study, we focused on both strands of pre-miR-143, and investigated their antitumor roles and target oncogenes in ESCC. Ectopic expression of miR-143-5p and miR-143-3p significantly attenuated malignant phenotypes (e.g., proliferation, migration, and invasive abilities) in ESCC cell lines. We revealed that six genes (HN1, HMGA2, NETO2, STMN1, TCF3, and MET) were putative targets of miR-143-5p regulation, and one gene (KRT80) was a putative target of miR-143-3p regulation in ESCC cells. Our ESCC miRNA signature and analysis strategy provided important insights into the molecular pathogenesis of ESCC.

The miR-143/145 Cluster, a Novel Diagnostic Biomarker in Chondrosarcoma, Acts as a Tumor Suppressor and Directly Inhibits Fascin-1

Chondrosarcoma is the second most frequent bone sarcoma. Due to the inherent chemotherapy and radiotherapy resistance and absence of known therapeutic targets, clinical management is limited to surgical resection. Consequently, patients with advanced disease face a poor prognosis. Hence, elucidating regulatory networks governing chondrosarcoma pathogenesis is vital for development of effective therapeutic strategies. Here, miRNA and mRNA next generation sequencing of different subtypes of human chondrogenic tumors in combination with in silico bioinformatics tools were performed with the aim to identify key molecular factors. We identified miR-143/145 cluster levels to inversely correlate with tumor grade. This deregulation was echoed in the miRNA plasma levels of patients and we provided the first evidence that circulating miR-145 is a potential noninvasive diagnostic biomarker and can be valuable as an indicator to improve the currently challenging diagnosis of cartilaginous bone tumors. Additionally, artificial upregulation of both miRNAs impelled a potent tumor suppressor effect in vitro and in vivo in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model. A combined in silico/sequencing approach revealed FSCN1 as a direct target of miR-143/145, and its depletion phenotypically resembled miR-143/145 upregulation in vitro. Last, FSCN1 is a malignancy-promoting factor associated with aggressive chondrosarcoma progression. Our findings underscore miR-143/145/FSCN1 as important players in chondrosarcoma and may potentially open new avenues for specific therapeutic intervention options. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

The ESX-1 Virulence Factors Downregulate miR-147-3p in Mycobacterium marinum-Infected Macrophages

As important virulence factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, EsxA and EsxB not only play a role in phagosome rupture and M. tuberculosis cytosolic translocation but also function as modulators of host immune responses by modulating numerous microRNAs (miRNAs). Recently, we have found that mycobacterial infection downregulated miR-148a-3p (now termed miR-148) in macrophages in an ESX-1-dependent manner. The upregulation of miR-148 reduced mycobacterial intracellular survival. Here, we investigated miR-147-3p (now termed miR-147), a negative regulator of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., interleukin-6 [IL-6] and IL-10), in mycobacterial infection. We infected murine RAW264.7 macrophages with Mycobacterium marinum, a surrogate model organism for M. tuberculosis, and found that the esxBA-knockout strain (M. marinum ΔesxBA) upregulated miR-147 to a level that was significantly higher than that induced by the M. marinum wild-type (WT) strain or by the M. marinum ΔesxBA complemented strain, M. marinum ΔesxBA/pesxBA, suggesting that the ESX-1 system (potentially EsxBA and/or other codependently secreted factors) is the negative regulator of miR-147. miR-147 was also downregulated by directly incubating the macrophages with the purified recombinant EsxA or EsxB protein or the EsxBA heterodimer, which further confirms the role of the EsxBA proteins in the downregulation of miR-147. The upregulation of miR-147 inhibited the production of IL-6 and IL-10 and significantly reduced M. marinum intracellular survival. Interestingly, inhibitors of either miR-147 or miR-148 reciprocally compromised the effects of the mimics of their counterparts on M. marinum intracellular survival. This suggests that miR-147 and miR-148 share converged downstream pathways in response to mycobacterial infection, which was supported by data indicating that miR-147 upregulation inhibits the Toll-like receptor 4/NF-κB pathway.

MicroRNA Expression Profiling on Paired Primary and Lymph Node Metastatic Breast Cancer Revealed Distinct microRNA Profile Associated With LNM

Breast cancer (BC) is the foremost cause of cancer-related deaths in women. BC patients are oftentimes presented with lymph node metastasis (LNM), which increases their risk of recurrence. Compelling data have recently implicated microRNAs in promoting BC metastasis. Therefore, the identification of microRNA (miRNA)-based molecular signature associated with LNM could provide an opportunity for a more personalized treatment for BC patients with high risk of LNM. In current study, we performed comprehensive miRNA profiling in matched primary breast and LNM and identified 40 miRNAs, which were differentially expressed in LNM compared to primary tumors. The expression of 14 miRNAs (Up: hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-150-5p, hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsa-miR-142-5p and down: hsa-miR-200a-3p, hsa-miR-200b-3p, hsa-miR-200c-3p, hsa-miR-205-5p, hsa-miR-210-3p, hsa-miR-214-3p, hsa-miR-141-3p, hsa-miR-127-3p, hsa-miR-125a-5p, and hsa-let-7c-5p) was subsequently validated in a second cohort of 32 breast and 32 matched LNM tumor tissues. Mechanistically, forced expression of hsa-miR-205-5p, or hsa-miR-214-3p epigenetically inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration. Global gene expression profiling on MDA-MB-231 cells overexpressing hsa-miR-205-5p, or hsa-miR-214-3p in combination with in silico target prediction and ingenuity pathway analyses identified multiple bona fide targets for hsa-miR-205-5p, hsa-miR-214-3p affecting cellular proliferation and migration. Interestingly, interrogation of the expression levels of hsa-miR-205 and hsa-miR-214 in the METABRIC breast cancer dataset revealed significantly poor overall survival in patients with downregulated expression of miR-205 [HR = 0.75 (0.61–0.91)], p = 0.003 and hsa-miR-214 [HR = 0.74 (0.59–0.93) p = 0.008]. Our data unraveled the miRNA-transcriptional landscape associated with LNM and provide novel insight on the role of several miRNAs in promoting BC LNM, and suggest their potential utilization in the clinical management of BC patients.

The Microrna-143/145 Cluster in Tumors: A Matter of Where and When

The establishment and spreading of cancer involve the acquirement of many biological functions including resistance to apoptosis, enhanced proliferation and the ability to invade the surrounding tissue, extravasate from the primary site, survive in circulating blood, and finally extravasate and colonize distant organs giving origin to metastatic lesions, the major cause of cancer deaths. Dramatic changes in the expression of protein coding genes due to altered transcription factors activity or to epigenetic modifications orchestrate these events, intertwining with a microRNA regulatory network that is often disrupted in cancer cells. microRNAs-143 and -145 represent puzzling players of this game, with apparently contradictory functions. They were at first classified as tumor suppressive due to their frequently reduced levels in tumors, correlating with cell survival, proliferation, and migration. More recently, pro-oncogenic roles of these microRNAs have been described, challenging their simplistic definition as merely tumor-suppressive. Here we review their known activities in tumors, whether oncogenic or onco-suppressive, and highlight how their expression and functions are strongly dependent on their complex regulation downstream and upstream of cytokines and growth factors, on the cell type of expression and on the specific tumor stage.

MicroRNA Expression Profiling on Paired Primary and Lymph Node Metastatic Breast Cancer Revealed Distinct microRNA Profile Associated With LNM

Breast cancer (BC) is the foremost cause of cancer-related deaths in women. BC patients are oftentimes presented with lymph node metastasis (LNM), which increases their risk of recurrence. Compelling data have recently implicated microRNAs in promoting BC metastasis. Therefore, the identification of microRNA (miRNA)-based molecular signature associated with LNM could provide an opportunity for a more personalized treatment for BC patients with high risk of LNM. In current study, we performed comprehensive miRNA profiling in matched primary breast and LNM and identified 40 miRNAs, which were differentially expressed in LNM compared to primary tumors. The expression of 14 miRNAs (Up: hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-150-5p, hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsa-miR-142-5p and down: hsa-miR-200a-3p, hsa-miR-200b-3p, hsa-miR-200c-3p, hsa-miR-205-5p, hsa-miR-210-3p, hsa-miR-214-3p, hsa-miR-141-3p, hsa-miR-127-3p, hsa-miR-125a-5p, and hsa-let-7c-5p) was subsequently validated in a second cohort of 32 breast and 32 matched LNM tumor tissues. Mechanistically, forced expression of hsa-miR-205-5p, or hsa-miR-214-3p epigenetically inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration. Global gene expression profiling on MDA-MB-231 cells overexpressing hsa-miR-205-5p, or hsa-miR-214-3p in combination with in silico target prediction and ingenuity pathway analyses identified multiple bona fide targets for hsa-miR-205-5p, hsa-miR-214-3p affecting cellular proliferation and migration. Interestingly, interrogation of the expression levels of hsa-miR-205 and hsa-miR-214 in the METABRIC breast cancer dataset revealed significantly poor overall survival in patients with downregulated expression of miR-205 [HR = 0.75 (0.61-0.91)], p = 0.003 and hsa-miR-214 [HR = 0.74 (0.59-0.93) p = 0.008]. Our data unraveled the miRNA-transcriptional landscape associated with LNM and provide novel insight on the role of several miRNAs in promoting BC LNM, and suggest their potential utilization in the clinical management of BC patients.

Hypoxia-induced microRNA-10b-3p promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma growth and metastasis by targeting TSGA10

Evidence has shown that hypoxia promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) growth and metastasis, but the molecular mechanisms underlying that response remain poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators that participate in various cancer-related processes. Here, we demonstrated that hypoxia along with hypoxia-inducible factor 1α significantly increased expression of miR-10b-3p. Inhibition of miR-10b-3p weakened the effects of hypoxia on ESCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while miR-10b-3p overexpression had the opposite effects. Mechanistically, miR-10b-3p acted as cancer-promoting gene by targeting testis specific 10. Using a xenograft model, we observed that administration of miR-10b-3p agomir to tumors enhanced their growth and metastasis in vivo. These findings verified the potent regulatory role played by hypoxia-induced miR-10b-3p expression in ESCC progression. These results suggest that miR-10b-3p may be a useful therapeutic target for treating ESCC.

Cluster miRNAs and cancer: Diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic opportunities

MiRNAs are class of noncoding RNA important for gene expression regulation in many plants, animals and viruses. MiRNA clusters contain a set of two or more miRNA encoding genes, transcribed together as polycistronic miRNAs. Currently, there are approximately 159 miRNA clusters reported in the human genome consisting of miRNAs ranging from two or more miRNA genes. A large proportion of clustered miRNAs resides in and around the fragile sites or cancer associated genomic hotspots and plays an important role in carcinogenesis. Altered expression of miRNA cluster can be pro-tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic and can be targeted for clinical management of cancer. Over the past few years, manipulation of miRNA clusters expression is attempted for experimental purpose as well as for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic applications in cancer. Re-expression of miRNAs by epigenetic therapy, genome editing such as clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and miRNA mowers showed promising results in cancer therapy. In this review, we focused on the potential of miRNA clusters as a biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis, targeted therapy as well as strategies for modulating their expression in a therapeutic context. This article is categorized under: Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNAs RNA Processing > Processing of Small RNAs RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Biogenesis of Effector Small RNAs.

miR-145 Contributes to the Progression of Cervical Carcinoma by Directly Regulating FSCN1

The purpose of our study was to investigate the underlying mechanism and functional role of microRNA-145 (miR-145) in cervical cancer. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect miR-145 and FSCN1 expression levels in tissues and HeLa cells. Western blotting was performed to determine the protein level of FSCN1. The luciferase assay was used to verify the direct target of miR-145. The CCK-8 assay and 2D colony formation assays were performed to determine the effects of miR-145 mimics or FSCN1 silencing on cell proliferation. miR-145 expression levels were significantly down-regulated, while FSCN1 expression levels were significantly up-regulated in the cervical carcinoma tissues compared with their matched non-cancerous tissues. In addition, FSCN1 expression levels were negatively correlated to miR-145 in tissues. Next, FSCN1 was verified as the direct target of miR-145 in HeLa cells. Moreover, overexpression of miR-145 dramatically inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cells. The silencing of FSCN1 exhibited the similar patterns on cell proliferation as miR-145 overexpression. The miR-145/ FSCN1 axis contributes to the progression of cervical cancer by inhibition of cervical cancer cell proliferation.

Serum expression of selected miRNAs in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC)

Background

The aim of the present study was to identify specific serum miRNAs (preoperative serum samples compared to healthy controls) as potential diagnostic markers for detection in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Serum samples obtained from 66 patients with LSCC were compared with 100 healthy control subjects. Additionally, miRNA levels were evaluated to identify possible correlations with clinicopathological features.

Methods

The expression of 377 miRNAs (screening set) was evaluated by microarray screening. The most differentially expressed miRNAs were validated by high-throughput real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in the group of LSCC patients and healthy controls. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the highly and significantly identified deregulated miRNA(s) as potential candidate biomarker(s).

Results

According to the array analysis, eleven miRNAs revealed an altered expression profile. The levels of serum expression of miR-31, miR-141, miR-149a, miR-182, LET-7a, miR-4853p, miR-122 and miR-33 were up-regulated, and those of miR-145, miR-223 and miR-133a down-regulated, in the LSCC group compared to healthy controls. ROC curve analyses revealed an AUC (area under the ROC curve) of 1.00 (95%Cl: 0.999–1.00; P <  0.001) for miR-31 and LET-7a, 1.00 (95%Cl: 1.00–1.00; P <  0.001) for miR-33 respectively, indicating that these three miRNAs had an additive effect regarding diagnostic value. No statistically significant differences were found between the serum levels of these eleven miRNAs and the tested clinicopathological features.

Conclusion

Our findings outline a distinct miRNA expression profile in laryngeal cancer (LC) cases which can be used to diagnose LSCC patients with high sensitivity and specificity. Particular miRNA signatures (miR-31, LET-7a and miR-33) may be considered as novel, non-invasive biomarkers for LC diagnosis.

Trial registration

Registration number: RNN/203/13/KE. Date of registration 18.06.2013r.

Exploring the MIR143-UPAR Axis for the Inhibition of Human Prostate Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

MIR143 is pathologically downregulated and may function as a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer. Likewise, the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (UPAR) is overexpressed in prostate carcinoma, representing a negative prognostic marker and putative therapeutic target gene. In this paper, we establish UPAR as a new direct target of MIR143. Luciferase reporter gene constructs identify one of the two in silico-predicted binding sites as functionally relevant for direct MIR143 binding to the 3′ UTR, and, concomitantly, transfection of MIR143 reduces UPAR protein levels in prostate carcinoma cells in vitro. Inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and colony formation, spheroid growth and integrity, and cell viability are extensively analyzed, and they are compared to direct small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated uPAR knockdown or combined microRNA (miRNA)-siRNA treatment. Switching to a therapeutically more relevant in vivo model, we demonstrate tumor-inhibitory effects of MIR143 replacement therapy by systemic treatment of mice bearing subcutaneous PC-3 tumor xenografts with MIR143 formulated in polymeric nanoparticles. This efficient, nanoparticle-mediated delivery of intact MIR143 mediates the marked downregulation of uPAR protein, but not mRNA levels, thus indicating translational inhibition rather than mRNA degradation. In summary, we identify UPAR as a direct target gene of MIR143, and we establish the therapeutic anti-tumor potential of nanoparticle-based MIR143 replacement in prostate cancer.

miR-143 inhibits migration and invasion through regulating LASP1 in human esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the common cancers in China with high incidence and poor prognosis. Increasing evidence has emphasized the important roles of differentially expressed miRNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progression. Previous studies indicated that miR-143-3p and LASP1 influence cell growth in ESCC and other cancer types. However, the function and molecular mechanism of action of miR-143 and LASP1 in ESCC have not been fully explored.

METHODS

miR-143 and LASP1 expression were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The protein level of LASP1 was measured by western blot. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay. Cell migration and invasion capacity was measured by transwell assay. Targeting of LASP1 mRNA by miR-143 was verified by luciferase reporter assay. Overall survival of ESCC patients with different miR-143 expression level was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

RESULTS

miR-143 expression was down-regulated, while LASP1 expression was up-regulated in ESCC tissues and cells compared to non-malignant counterparts. LASP1 mRNA was identified as a target of miR-143. Low miR-143 expression or high LASP1 expression significantly associated with ESCC patients' decreased survival. miR-143 mimic transfection inhibited ESCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro, which was impaired by LASP1 overexpression.

CONCLUSION

miR-143 suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by down-regulating LASP1.

Effect of STAT3 decoy oligodeoxynucleotides mediated by ultrasound-targeted microbubbles combined with ultrasound on the growth of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Effect of STAT3 decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) transduced by ultrasound microbubbles combined with ultrasound on the growth of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its mechanism were analyzed. EC9706 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into four groups: group E (ultrasound microbubble + ultrasound irradiation), group P (liposome + ultrasound irradiation), group C (ultrasound), and group CC (ultrasound microbubbles). Mutant ODNs were used in groups E and P and the control group was group EC and PC, respectively. Immunofluorescence assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the transfection efficiency of each group. MTT colorimetric assay was performed to analyze the inhibition rate in each group. The effect of STAT3 decoy ODN on the proliferation of esophageal squamous carcinoma cells was calculated. Revese transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting were performed to detect the expression of the STAT signaling pathway downstream of gene expression levels. The model of subcutaneous transplantation of nude mice was used to show the effect of different transfections and STAT3 decoy ODN on the weight and volume of the transplanted tumor in mice. The cell inhibition rate was higher in group E than in groups P (F=8.382, P<0.001) and CC (F=6.469, P<0.001). Compared with groups EC, PC and C, respectively, the mRNA expression of STAT3, bcl-xL and Cyclin D1 decreased in groups E, P and CC (F=5.328, P<0.001). The weight and volume of nude mice in groups E, P and CC exhibited an inhibitory effect on the weight and volume of nude mice. Ultrasound irradiation combined with ultrasound microbubbles is an effective transfection method. The transfection of STAT3 decoy ODN can significantly inhibit the activity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells and enhance apoptosis of cells, which has potential clinical value.

MicroRNA-145 promotes esophageal cancer cells proliferation and metastasis by targeting SMAD5

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the relative expression and molecular function of microRNA (miR)-145 in esophageal cancer and understand its mechanistic involvement in this disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The relative expression of miR-145 in clinical samples was analyzed using the public GSE43732 dataset. The prognostic analysis with respect to miR-145 expression was performed with Kaplan-Meier plot. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and the anchorage-independent growth was evaluated by soft agar assay. The migration and invasion of esophageal cancer cells were measured using transwell chamber. The regulatory effect of miR-145 on SMAD5 was determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The endogenous SMAD5 protein was measured by Western blot.

RESULTS

We demonstrated high expression of miR-145 associated with late stage and unfavorable prognosis of esophageal cancer. Ectopic expression of miR-145 mimic significantly stimulated cell proliferation and anchorage-independent growth. Furthermore, high level of miR-145 significantly promoted both migration and invasion in vitro. Notably, we identified SMAD5 as direct target of miR-145, the suppressed expression of which consequently led to increased cell proliferation and migration/invasion.

CONCLUSION

Our study uncovered the crucial role of miR-145/SMAD5 in esophageal cancer and highlighted its target potential for diagnostic and therapeutic purpose.

Fascin protein stabilization by miR-146a implicated in the process of a chronic inflammation-related colon carcinogenesis model

OBJECTIVE

In sporadic colon tumors, multistep process of well-known genetic alterations accelerates carcinogenesis; however, this does not appear to be the case in inflammation-related ones. We previously established a model of inflammation-related colon carcinogenesis using human colonic adenoma cells, and identified fascin as a driver gene of this process. We analyzed the microRNAs involved in the stable fascin expression in colon adenocarcinoma cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

miRNA microarray analysis was performed using FPCK-1-1 adenoma cells and its-derived FPCKpP₁-4 adenocarcinoma cells through chronic inflammation. To assess the involvement of miRNA in the inflammation-related carcinogenesis, sphere-forming ability, expression of colon cancer stemness markers, and stability of fascin protein via the proteasome using tough decoy RNA technique.

RESULTS

We found that 17 miRNAs including miR-146a were upregulated and 16 miRNAs were downregulated in FPCKpP₁-4 adenocarcinoma cells. We revealed that miR-146a in the adenocarcinoma cells brought about acquisition of sphere formation, cancer stemness, and inhibition of proteasomal degradation of the fascin protein.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that stable fascin expression is brought about via the inhibition of proteasome degradation by miR-146a in the process of a chronic inflammation-related colon carcinogenesis.

Clinical evaluation of 4 types of microRNA in serum as biomarkers of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no specific biomarker for esophageal cancer used in clinical practice. However, studies consider that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) could have useful implications in clinical practice. The present study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using serum microRNAs as biomarkers for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the expression levels of serum miR-21, miR-25, miR-145 and miR-203 were detected in 31 untreated patients with ESCC (EC-UT), 35 inactive period patients with ESCC following treatment (EC-T), 33 patients with esophageal benign disease (benign) and 32 healthy donors (healthy). Furthermore, the ability of these microRNAs to function as biomarkers of ESCC alone and in combination were investigated. The expression levels of serum miR-21, miR-25 and miR-145 in EC-UT were significantly higher than in the other groups (P<0.001). High sensitivity and specificity were shown when miRNAs were used as biomarkers for ESCC, particularly miR-21 and the combination of miR-21 with miR-145. Comparing EC-UT with healthy, benign and EC-T groups, and a combined group (3 groups set as 1 negative control), the sensitivity and specificity of miR-21 were 71.0 and 96.9, 74.2 and 87.9, 77.4 and 82.9, and 74.2 and 88.0%, respectively. The combined sensitivity and specificity of miR-21 and miR-145 were 71.0 and 96.9, 90.9 and 72.7, 97.1 and 82.9, and 80.6 and 80.0%, respectively. In conclusion, 3 types of miRNA (miR-21, miR-25 and miR-145) in serum could serve as potential biomarkers for ESCC. Furthermore, the expression level of miR-145 in serum was upregulated, compared with the downregulation reported in previous studies in ESCC tissues and cells.

Involvement of aberrantly expressed microRNAs in the pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that act as fine-tuners of the post-transcriptional control of protein-coding or noncoding RNAs by repressing translation or cleaving RNA transcripts in a sequence-dependent manner in cells. Accumulating evidence have been indicated that aberrantly expressed miRNAs are deeply involved in human pathogenesis, including cancers. Surprisingly, these small, single-stranded RNAs (18-23 nucleotides) have been shown to function as antitumor or oncogenic RNAs in several types of cancer cells. A single miRNA has regulating hundreds or thousands of different mRNAs, and individual mRNA has been regulated by multiple different miRNAs in normal cells. Therefore, tightly controlled RNA networks can be disrupted by dysregulated of miRNAs in cancer cells. Investigation of novel miRNA-mediated RNA networks in cancer cells could provide new insights in the field of cancer research. In this review, we focus on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and discuss current findings of the involvement of aberrantly expressed miRNAs in the pathogenesis of HNSCC.

miR-145 expression enhances integrin expression in SK-GT-4 cell line by down-regulating c-Myc expression

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is increasing in frequency and is the 6th most common cause of cancer death in North America. In adenocarcinoma cell lines, we have previously demonstrated that expression of miR-145, leads to enhanced invasion, resistance to anoikis and better attachment to fibronectin in esophageal adenocarcinoma. In contrast, expression of miR-145 acts as a tumor suppressor in squamous cell carcinoma. The molecular mechanisms responsible for the oncogenic effects of miR-145 were investigated. In this report, we demonstrate that we can partially recreate the miR-145 effects in EAC by knock down of the expression of c-Myc, which is one of the targets of miR-145. Knocking down of c-Myc expression resulted in upregulation of integrin subunits α5 and β3. Finally, we demonstrated that integrin α5 expression correlates to fibronectin attachment potential whereas integrin β3 expression correlates with resistance to anoikis and invasion potential. Finally, we demonstrate that expression of miR-145 in esophageal adenocarcinoma cell line (SK-GT-4) enhances tumor growth and metastasis in a NOD/SCID xenograft model. Overall, the oncogenic potential of miR-145 in EAC appears to be mediated by downregulation of c-Myc leading to the expression of integrins subunits α5 and β3.

Long noncoding RNA ROR regulates chemoresistance in docetaxel-resistant lung adenocarcinoma cells via epithelial mesenchymal transition pathway

Emerging evidence indicates that the dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) contributes to the development and progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LAD), however the underlying mechanism of action of lncRNAs remains unclear. It is well known that the effective treatment of cancers has been hindered by drug resistance in the clinical setting. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been recognized to be involved in acquiring drug resistance, cell migration and invasion properties in several types of cancer. Docetaxel-resistant LAD cells established previously in our lab present chemoresistant and mesenchymal features. Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA, regulator of reprogramming (linc-ROR), was first discovered in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and was upregulated in docetaxel-resistant LAD cells. In this study, we tried to make clarification of lincRNA-related mechanisms underlying EMT followed by acquired resistance to chemotherapy in LAD. In order to hit the mark, we made use of multiple methods including microarray analysis, qRT-PCR, western blotting analysis, loss/gain-of-function analysis, luciferase assays, drug sensitivity assays, wound-healing assay and invasion assay. We found that decreased expression of linc-ROR effectively reversed EMT in docetaxel-resistant LAD cells and sensitized them to chemotherapy. The function of linc-ROR exerted in LAD cells depended on the sponging of miR-145, therefore, releasing the miR-145 target FSCN1, and thus contributing to the acquisition of chemoresistance and EMT phenotypes of docetaxel-resistant LAD cells. Our findings revealed that linc-ROR might act as potential therapeutic target to overcome chemotherapy resistance in LAD.

MicroRNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets

Esophageal cancer is a common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the major histological type of esophageal cancer in developing countries including China, and the prognosis is very poor. Many microRNAs are involved in several important biological and pathologic processes, and promote tumorigenesis. To better understand the prognostic and therapeutic roles of microRNAs in ESCC, we reviewed the diagnosis and prognosis associated oncogenic microRNAs (e.g. miR-21 and miR-17-92 cluster) and tumor suppressor microRNAs (e.g. miR-375, miR-133a and miR-133b), and diagnosis and prognosis associated oncogenic target genes (e.g. PDCD4 and CCND1) and tumor suppressor target genes (e.g. EZH2 and PDK1). We also summarized the prognostic microRNA and target gene pairs (e.g. miR-296 and CCND1, miR214 and EZH2). Taken together, our review highlights the opportunities and challenges for microRNAs in the molecular diagnosis and target therapy of ESCC.

Primary tumor microRNA signature predicts recurrence and survival in patients with locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is an aggressive cancer necessitating the development of improved risk stratification tools for personalized care. Previously, microRNAs have been shown to correlate with the progression and prognosis of various cancer types; however, the value in EAC remains largely unexplored. We performed global microRNA profiling on 32 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded EAC specimens to identify microRNAs associated with progression. Literature search and pathway analysis further refined output to five significantly deregulated candidate biomarkers. Four of the five microRNAs (miR-652-5p, miR-7-2-3p, miR-3925-3p, and miR-219-3p) were validated by qRT-PCR. Survival outcomes were evaluated in testing set of 26 stage II/III EAC patients to determine the prognostic relevance of the selected microRNAs. In the testing set, miR-652-5p and miR-7-2-3p expressions were significantly associated with progression-free survival (p-value = .00771 and p-value = .00293). The highest area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.8212 for the combination of miR-652-5p and miR-7-2-3p. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that the miR-652-5p/miR-7-2-3p signature may serve as a promising prognostic marker in patients with locally advanced EAC.

LincRNA-ROR promotes metastasis and invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by regulating miR-145/FSCN1

Background and objective

In an attempt to discover a new biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the regulation mechanism of large intergenic non-coding RNA–regulator of reprogramming (lincRNA-ROR) as a microRNA (miRNA) sponge was studied.

Patients and methods

ROR expression in 91 pairs of ESCC tissue samples and matched adjacent tissues was quantified with real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The ROR–miRNA–mRNA regulatory network was built with 161 esophageal cancer (EC) tissues and 11 adjacent tumor tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. A total of 96 cases of ESCC from TCGA database were collected for analysis on survival rates. The regulatory relationship between ROR, miR-145 and FSCN1 was verified in ESCC cells via qRT-PCR, dual luciferase reporter (DLR) assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and Western blotting. The transwell method was used to detect cell migration and invasion.

Results

ROR expression in ESCC tumor tissues was significantly higher than in the adjacent tissues, p<0.001. The survival rate of ESCC patients with high ROR expression levels was lower than that of patients with low ROR expression levels (p<0.001). ROR overexpression could downregulate miR-145 by up to 50% was proven by RIP, DLR assay, and qRT-PCR. Two effective binding sites of ROR to miR-145 were verified by DLR assay. One of the sites has never been cited in the literature. The Western blotting results showed that FSCN1 was a downstream target of ROR/miR-145 (p<0.05). Transwell assays were used to show that overexpression of ROR enhanced migration and invasion behavior of ESCC and miR-145 hindered these effects.

Conclusion

ROR acted as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-145 in ESCC. A novel, effective miR-145 binding site of ROR was discovered. The ROR/miR-145/FSCN1 pathway was shown to take part in the metastasis of ESCC. ROR is likely an oncogene biomarker for ESCC early diagnosis and prognosis.

Function of miR-25 in the invasion and metastasis of esophageal squamous carcinoma cells and bioinformatical analysis of the miR-106b-25 cluster

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are a class of small, non-coding RNA molecules that serve a key function in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Recent evidence indicates that miRNAs may act as powerful regulators of migration and invasion. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of miR-25 on the invasion and metastasis of KYSE-150 and EC109 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells, and predict the mechanism of this effect by bioinformatically analyzing the miR-106b-25 cluster. In order to alter the expression of miR-25 in the two cell lines, a miR-25 inhibitor or mimic were transfected into the cells, which were then studied via Transwell migration and invasion assays. Subsequently, the target genes of the miR-106b-25 cluster were predicted using miRanda, PicTar, TargetScan and miRTarbase, and the functions of the target genes were predicted via Gene Ontology term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses. Then, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was produced using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes. The results revealed that overexpressing miR-25 led to significantly increased cell migration and invasion in KYSE150 and EC109 cells. Suppressing miR-25 resulted in significantly decreased cell migration and invasion in KYSE150 cells, while the result was not significant in EC109 cells. Target genes of the miR-106b-25 cluster were significantly enriched in the biological process regulation of cellular metabolic process and several cancer-associated pathways, such as those for glioma and melanoma. The PPI network revealed that PTEN, TP53, MDM2, E2F1, PRMT5, MCM2, RB1, CDKN1A, SHAD7 and EZH2 may serve core roles within the network and associate with one another during the pathogenesis of ESCC. These results indicate that a high expression of miR-25 promotes the invasion and metastasis of ESCC cells, while the influence of low expression of miR-25 differs with cells with different degrees of differentiation. Invasion and metastasis are not effected in cells with poor differentiation, while they were decreased in well differentiated cells. Furthermore, PTEN, TP53, MDM2, E2F1, PRMT5, MCM2, RB1, CDKN1A, SHAD7 and EZH2 may be targeted by the miR-106b-25 cluster, and act together to regulate the development of ESCC.

miR-145-5p Suppresses Tumor Cell Migration, Invasion and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition by Regulating the Sp1/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the progression of human cancer. Although previous reports have shown that miR-145-5p is down-regulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the roles and mechanisms of down-regulation of miR-145-5p in ESCC are still largely unknown. Using microRNA microarray and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, we confirmed that miR-145-5p was down-regulated in ESCC tissues. In vitro assays revealed that ectopic miR-145-5p expression repressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). miR-145-5p also reduced the expressions of cell cycle genes including cyclin A2 (CCNA2), cyclin D1 (CCND1) and cyclin E1 (CCNE1), the EMT-associated transcription factor Slug, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) including MMP2, MMP7 and MMP13. Furthermore, miR-145-5p mimics reduced candidate target gene specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and nuclear factor κ B (NF-κB) (p65) both in mRNA and protein levels. Knockdown of Sp1 phenocopied the effects of miR-145-5p overexpression on cell cycle regulators, EMT and the expression of NF-κB (p65). Importantly, inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway or knockdown of NF-κB (p65) phenocopied the effects of miR-145-5p on the migration, invasion and EMT of ESCC cells. In conclusion, our results suggested that miR-145-5p plays tumor-suppressive roles by inhibiting esophageal cancer cell migration, invasion and EMT through regulating the Sp1/NF-κB signaling pathway.

MicroRNA expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers

The aim of the present study was to identify more effective molecular diagnostic biomarkers for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The non‑coding RNA profile GSE43732, generated from 238 paired frozen tissues from 119 patients, was analyzed. Raw data were preprocessed and the differentially expressed miRNAs were screened by limma package with log2 fold change >2. Prognosis‑associated miRNAs were identified using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Kaplan-Meier (KM) curve analysis. miRNAs with an area under the ROC curve of ≥0.7 were selected. miRNA target genes were identified from verification and predictive databases, and an miRNA regulatory network was constructed and visualized using Cytoscape software. Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment analyses of the target genes were performed using TargetMine. A total of 107 differentially expressed miRNAs, including 54 upregulated and 53 downregulated miRNAs, were obtained. The KM survival curves revealed that 44 miRNAs were significantly associated with prognosis. Furthermore, 9 upregulated and 3 downregulated miRNAs were obtained. Two upregulated miRNAs, hsa‑miR‑143‑3p and hsa‑miR‑145‑5p, and two downregulated miRNAs, hsa‑miR‑182‑5p and hsa‑miR‑455‑5p, were identified and demonstrated to be associated with prognosis in ESCC. In addition, 8 known and 245 predicted target genes of hsa‑miR‑455‑5p were screened and the regulatory networks were constructed. Furthermore, these genes were functionally associated with macromolecule metabolic process and melanoma. In conclusion, two novel tumor suppressive miRNAs including miR‑182‑5p and miR‑455‑5p were identified. miR‑455‑5p in particular may be involved in the regulation of ESCC. These miRNAs may be used to predict the prognosis of ESCC.

Targeting oncogenic PLCE1 by miR-145 impairs tumor proliferation and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Phospholipase C epsilon 1 (PLCE1) is a susceptibility gene in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Nevertheless, the role of PLCE1 in ESCC tumorigenesis has not been elucidated. In this study, we determined the function of PLCE1 and its regulatory microRNA (miRNA) in ESCC. PLCE1 protein was excessively expressed in ESCC and precancerous lesions compared with that in normal tissues. High PLCE1 expression levels in ESCC were significantly linked with poor overall survival. Knockdown of PLCE1 promoted the apoptosis, cytokine-induced apoptosis, and sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs but abrogated the proliferation and EMT phenotype of ESCC in vitro. Notably, miR-145 was newly identified as a potent repressor of PLCE1 expression by directly targeting the 3′UTR of PLCE1. MiR-145 also inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis, as well as controlled the cytoskeleton dynamics of esophageal cancer. Moreover, miR-145 was expressed at low levels in a large cohort of patients with ESCC and was inversely correlated with PLCE1 protein expression in cancer cells and tissues. These findings demonstrate that PLCE1 functions as tumor promoter in ESCC and can be suppressed by miR-145 through inhibition of PLCE1 translation. Hence, delivery of PLCE1-targeting miR-145 is a potential therapeutic approach for esophageal cancer.

microRNA-145 modulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition and suppresses proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting SIP1 in human cervical cancer cells

PURPOSE

Previously, it has been reported that microRNA-145 (miR-145) is lowly expressed in human cervical cancers and that its putative tumour suppressive role may be attributed to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulation. Here, we aimed to assess whether miR-145 may affect EMT-associated markers/genes and suppress cervical cancer growth and motility, and to provide a mechanistic basis for these phenomena.

METHODS

The identification of the SMAD-interacting protein 1 (SIP1) mRNA as putative miR-145 target was investigated using a 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) luciferase assay and Western blotting, respectively. The functional effects of exogenous miR-145 expression, miR-145 suppression or siRNA-mediated SIP1 expression down-regulation in cervical cancer-derived C33A and SiHa cells were analysed using Western blotting, BrdU incorporation (proliferation), transwell migration and invasion assays. In addition, the expression levels of miR-145 and SIP1 were determined in primary human cervical cancer and non-cancer tissue samples using qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

We found that miR-145 binds to the wild-type 3'UTR of SIP1, but not to its mutant counterpart, and that, through this binding, miR-145 can effectively down-regulate SIP1 expression. In addition, we found that exogenous miR-145 expression or siRNA-mediated down-regulation of SIP1 expression attenuates the proliferation, migration and invasion of C33A and SiHa cells and alters the expression of the EMT-associated markers CDH1, VIM and SNAI1, whereas inhibition of endogenous miR-145 expression elicited the opposite effects. The expression of miR-145 in cervical cancer tissue samples was found to be low, while that of SIP1 was found to be high compared to non-cancerous cervical tissues. An inverse expression correlation between the two was substantiated through the anlaysis of data deposited in the TCGA database.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that low miR-145 expression levels in conjunction with elevated SIP1 expression levels may contribute to cervical cancer development. MiR-145-mediated regulation of SIP1 provides a novel mechanistic basis for its tumour suppressive mode of action in human cervical cancer cells.