Prognostic significance of microRNA-101 in solid tumor: A meta-analysis

Role of MicroRNA-101 on Proliferation and Migration of Prostate Cancer Cells

Background: MicroRNA-101 is a tumor inhibitor that stimulates tumor progression by reducing or inhibiting the expression of certain oncogenes. Some studies presented that cox-2 is target of MicroRNA 101 in prostate cancer process. Methods: MicroRNA-101 expression was detected by RT-PCR in PC3 cell lines. A and to determine cell proliferation we used MTT assays. Cell would heal and Flow cytometry assays were also used to detect cellular migratory ability and apoptosis, respectively. To assess cox-2 protein expression, Immunohistochemistry was used and data analyzed by data analysis by SPSS 20. Results: PC3 cells treated by MicroRNA-101 mimics displayed a 24% elevation in growth rate compared with blank (P < 0.01) at 48 h, and a 12% increase (P < 0.01) at 72 h. On the other hand, at 48 and 72 h after the MicroRNA-101 inhibitor transfection, proliferation of PC3 cell was decreased significantly. The early apoptosis rate in transfected PC3 cells with MicroRNA-101 mimic (74.4%) and inhibitor (22.8%) were significantly different at 72 h after transfection (P < 0.05), MicroRNA-101 mimics inhibited cell migration, adhesion, and spread was wider relative to the group of control and inhibitor for the PC3 cells. Expression of Cox-2 in transfected PC3 with the MicroRNA-101 inhibitor was higher than the mimic and control groups significantly (P < 0.01). Conclusion: MicroRNA-101 by Cox-2 can play key roles in the prostate cancer pathogenesis.

Prognostic significance of microRNA miR-24 in cancers: a meta-analysis

The prognostic significance of miR-24 in tumors has not been determined. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to systematically assess the correlation between miR-24 and its prognostic value in cancers PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were used to search relevant articles (up to 1 October 2020). Studies that evaluated the prognostic value of miR-24 in tumors were included. The hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to evaluate survival outcomes and clinical characteristics. All data analyses were implemented using STATA 12.0 software. A total of 17 studies from 15 articles involving 1705 patients were collected for the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis revealed that elevated miR-24 expression was obviously associated with poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.20-2.31). Furthermore, we also found that elevated miR-24 expression was positively correlated with tumor size (large or small) and tumor stage (III-IV vs I-II). Elevated miR-24 expression indicates poor prognosis and may be a promising prognostic marker in different cancers. Our findings needed to be verified through further investigations. [Figure: see text].

Prognostic Value and Clinicopathological Features of MicroRNA-206 in Various Cancers: A Meta-Analysis

It has been reported that microRNA-206(miR-206) plays an important role in cancers and could be used as a prognostic biomarker. However, the results are controversial. Therefore, we summarize all available evidence and present a meta-analysis to estimate the prognostic value of miR-206 in various cancers. The relevant studies were collected by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases until August 21, 2020. Hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied to explore the association between miR-206 and survival results and clinicopathologic features. Sources of heterogeneity were investigated by subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis. Publication bias was evaluated using Egger's test. Twenty articles involving 2095 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled HR showed that low miR-206 expression was significantly associated with unfavourable overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.03, 95 CI%: 1.53-2.70, P < 0.01). In addition, we found that low miR-206 expression predicted significantly negative association with tumor stage (III-IV VS. I-II) (OR = 4.20, 95% CI: 2.17-8.13, P < 0.01), lymph node status (yes VS. no) (OR = 3.58, 95%: 1.51-8.44, P = 0.004), distant metastasis (yes VS. no) (OR = 3.19, 95%: 1.07-9.50, P = 0.038), and invasion depth (T3 + T4 vs. T2 + T1) (OR = 2.43, 95%: 1.70-3.49, P < 0.01). miR-206 can be used as an effective prognostic indicator in various cancers. Further investigations are warranted to validate the present results.

Focused screening reveals functional effects of microRNAs differentially expressed in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is still a leading cause of death worldwide. Recent studies have pointed to an important role of microRNAs in carcinogenesis. Several microRNAs are described as aberrantly expressed in CRC tissues and in the serum of patients. However, functional outcomes of microRNA aberrant expression still need to be explored at the cellular level. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of microRNAs aberrantly expressed in CRC samples in the proliferation and cell death of a CRC cell line.

METHODS

We transfected 31 microRNA mimics into HCT116 cells. Total number of live propidium iodide negative (PI-) and dead (PI+) cells were measured 4 days post-transfection by using a high content screening (HCS) approach. HCS was further used to evaluate apoptosis (via Annexin V and PI staining), and to discern between intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways, by detecting cleaved Caspase 9 and 8, respectively. To reveal mRNA targets and potentially involved mechanisms, we performed microarray gene expression and functional pathway enrichment analysis. Quantitative PCR and western blot were used to validate potential mRNA targets.

RESULTS

Twenty microRNAs altered the proliferation of HCT116 cells in comparison to control. miR-22-3p, miR-24-3p, and miR-101-3p significantly repressed cell proliferation and induced cell death. Interestingly, all anti-proliferative microRNAs in our study had been previously described as poorly expressed in the CRC samples. Predicted miR-101-3p targets that were also downregulated by in our microarray were enriched for genes associated with Wnt and cancer pathways, including MCL-1, a member of the BCL-2 family, involved in apoptosis. Interestingly, miR-101-3p preferentially downregulated the long anti-apoptotic MCL-1 L isoform, and reduced cell survival specifically by activating the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Moreover, miR-101-3p also downregulated IL6ST, STAT3A/B, and MYC mRNA levels, genes associated with stemness properties of CRC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

microRNAs upregulated in CRC tend to induce proliferation in vitro, whereas microRNAs poorly expressed in CRC halt proliferation and induce cell death. We provide novel evidence linking preferential inhibition of the anti-apoptotic MCL-1 L isoform by miR-101-3p and consequent activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway as potential mechanisms for its antitumoral activity, likely due to the inhibition of the IL-6/JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

MicroRNA-101 suppresses liver fibrosis by downregulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

MicroRNA-101 (miR-101) is markedly downregulated in both hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of miR-101 on hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and liver fibrosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HSC LX-2 was treated with TGF-β1 and with or without miR-101 mimics. LX-2 vitality and proliferation, the expression of F-actin and mRNAs for α-SMA, collagen 1α1 (Col 1α1), and connective tissue growth factor 2 (CCN2) were measured. A 6-week intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was used to induce experimental liver fibrosis in mice, which were treated using a miR-101 negative control or miR-101 agomir from the fourth week until the end of the experiment. Liver function, hepatic hydroxyproline, liver histopathology, collagen deposition, α-SMA, type I collagen (Col I) and the protein-expressions of p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-mTOR were measured.

RESULTS

MiR-101 significantly suppressed the increased LX-2 vitality and high accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) induced by TGF-β1. Exposure to CCl4 led to the impairment of liver function and disruption of normal hepatic parenchyma in mice, as well as obvious liver fibrosis indicated by elevated levels of hydroxyproline, α-SMA, and Col 1α1 in liver tissues. MiR-101 administration significantly improved liver function, relieved hepatic parenchyma damage, and reversed liver fibrosis by decreasing the accumulation of ECM components. Furthermore, miR-101 substantially downregulated the CCl4-increased p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR in mouse liver.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-101 has antifibrotic effects in experimental liver fibrosis, and downregulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway may be one of its antifibrotic mechanisms.

Low Serum Levels of miR-101 Are Associated with Poor Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer Patients After Curative Resection

BACKGROUND Recent studies showed low expression of microRNA (miR)-101 in various malignancies. However, the association of serum miR-101 and colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. We investigated diagnostic and prognostic significance of serum miR-101 in CRC. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 263 consecutive CRC patients and 126 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Serum miR-101 levels were measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions. The association between serum miR-101 level and survival outcome was analyzed. RESULTS Serum miR-101 in CRC patients was significantly lower than in healthy volunteers (P<0.001). Low serum miR-101 level was significantly associated with advanced cancer stage. Moreover, survival analysis demonstrated that patients with a low serum miR-101 had poorer 5-year overall survival than patients with a high serum miR-101 level (p=0.041). Serum miR-101 level also were confirmed as an independent risk factor for CRC in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 1.468; 95%CI, 0.981-1.976; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Serum miR-101 level was significantly downregulated in CRC patients and was closely correlated with poor clinical outcome, suggesting that serum miR-101 might be a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker for CRC.

Tumor suppressive microRNA-124a inhibits stemness and enhances gefitinib sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cells by targeting ubiquitin-specific protease 14

Increasing evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant functional role by directly regulating respective targets in cancer stem cell (CSC)-induced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression and resistance to therapy. In this study, we found that hsa-miR-124a was downregulated during spheroid formation of the NSCLC cell lines SPC-A1 and NCI-H1650 and NSCLC tissues compared with normal lung cells and tissues. Patients with lower hsa-miR-124a expression had shorter overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Moreover, ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14) was confirmed to be a direct target of hsa-miR-124a. Furthermore, concomitant low hsa-miR-124a expression and high USP14 expression were correlated with a shorter median OS and PFS in NSCLC patients. Cellular functional analysis verified that the tumor suppressor hsa-miR-124a negatively regulated cell growth and self-renewal, and promoted apoptosis and gefitinib sensitivity of lung cancer stem cells by suppressing its target gene USP14. Our results provide the first evidence that USP14 is a direct target of hsa-miR-124a, and that hsa-miR-124a inhibits stemness and enhances the gefitinib sensitivity of NSCLC cells by targeting USP14. Thus, hsa-miR-124a and USP14 may be useful as tumor biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC.