Integrative analysis of miRNAs-mRNAs reveals that miR-182 up-regulation contributes to proliferation and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by targeting PTEN

Identification of Mir-182-3p/FLI-1 Axis as a Key Signaling in Immune Response in Cervical Cancer: A Comprehensive Bioinformatic Analysis

miRNAs modulate gene expression and play critical functions as oncomiRs or tumor suppressors. The miR-182-3p is important in chemoresistance and cancer progression in breast, lung, osteosarcoma, and ovarian cancer. However, the role of miR-182-3p in cervical cancer (CC) has not been elucidated.

AIM

To analyze the role of miR-182-3p in CC through a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis.

METHODS

Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used for the expression analysis. The mRNA targets of miR-182-3p were identified using miRDB, TargetScanHuman, and miRPathDB. The prediction of island CpG was performed using the MethPrimer program. The transcription factor binding sites in the FLI-1 promoter were identified using ConSite+, Alibaba2, and ALGGEN-PROMO. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis was performed in STRING 11.5.

RESULTS

miR-182-3p was significantly overexpressed in CC patients and has potential as a diagnostic. We identified 330 targets of miR-182-3p including FLI-1, which downregulates its expression in CC. Additionally, the aberrant methylation of the FLI-1 promoter and Ap2a transcription factor could be involved in downregulating FLI1 expression. Finally, we found that FLI-1 is a possible key gene in the immune response in CC.

CONCLUSIONS

The miR-182-3p/FLI-1 axis plays a critical role in immune response in CC.

Integration of Human and Viral miRNAs in Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Tumors and Implications for Drug Repurposing

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several tumors, and has substantial relevance for public health. Therapeutics innovation for EBV-related disorders is much needed. In this context, miRNAs are noncoding RNA molecules that play vital roles in EBV infection. miRNA-Seq and RNA-Seq data for EBV-associated clinical samples and cell lines have been generated, but their detailed integrative analyses, and exploitation for drug repurposing against EBV are lacking. Hence, we identified and analyzed the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) in EBV-infected cell lines (28) and infected (28) and uninfected human tissue (20) samples using an in-house pipeline. We found significantly enriched host miRNAs like hsa-mir-3651, hsa-mir-1248, and hsa-mir-29c-3p in EBV-infected samples from EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma, among others. Furthermore, we also identified significantly enriched novel miRNAs such as hsa-mir-29c-3p, hsa-mir-3651, and hsa-mir-98-3p, which were not previously reported in EBV-related tumors. Differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs) were identified in EBV-infected cell lines (21) and uninfected human tissue (14) samples. We predicted and selected 1572 DEMs (upregulated) that are targeted by 547 DEmiRs (downregulated). These were further classified into essential (870) and nonessential (702) genes. Moreover, a miRNA-mRNA network was developed for the hub miRNAs. Importantly, we used the DEMs during EBV latent infection types I, II, and III to identify the candidate drugs for repurposing: Glyburide, Levodopa, Nateglinide, and Stiripentol, among others. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first integrative analyses that identified DEmiRs and DEMs as potential therapeutic targets and predicted drugs as potential candidates for repurposing against EBV-related tumors.

Indirect regulation of HIPPO pathway by miRNA mediates high-intensity intermittent exercise to ameliorate aging skeletal muscle function

Exercise-induced microRNA (miRNA) and HIPPO pathways participate in the regulation of skeletal muscle plasticity but their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on miRNA expression and the HIPPO pathway in the skeletal muscle of aging rats to determine its role in the amelioration of muscle aging. Thirty-six 18-month-old female rats were randomly divided into sedentary control (SED, n = 12), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT, n = 12), and HIIT (n = 12) groups, with continuous exercise for 8 months. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, KEGG enrichment, and dual-luciferase assays were performed on the target skeletal muscle. Compared with the SED group, the MICT and HIIT groups showed a significant trend of improvement in Lee's index and grip strength and a marked increase in skeletal muscle mitochondrial function, apoptosis, antioxidant, and lipolysis-related protein expression. They also exhibited PI3K/AKT pathway activation and a decrease in expression of HIPPO pathway-related proteins; 20 miRNAs were differentially expressed and enriched in the exercise group compared with the SED group, including the HIPPO pathway and metabolic pathways. Further analysis of L6 cells confirmed that miR-182 may target PTEN, which indirectly regulates HIPPO signaling, but not Mob1. the combined application of HIIT and MICT increased the antioxidant and lipolytic capacities of skeletal muscle and improved atrophy of aging skeletal muscle; HIIT was more effective than MICT. This may be related to HIIT-mediated AKT pathway activation and HIPPO pathway inhibition by miRNAs (miR-486 and miR-182).

Hsa_circ_0000345 inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via miR-513a-3p/PTEN axis

BACKGROUND

Hsa_circ_0000345 has been reported to be down-regulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Whether hsa_circ_0000345 can exert antitumor effect in NPC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the possible biological role of hsa_cic_0000345 in suppressing the progression of NPC.

METHODS

Hsa_circ_0000345 expression was detected in normal nasopharynx epithelial cells (NP69) and NPC cell lines (SUNE1, HONE1, 6-10B and HNE1). The influence of hsa_circ_0000345 on cell proliferation, migration and invasion of NPC cells was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and transwell assays. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were performed to examine gene and protein expression, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay was carried out to verify the relationship among hsa_circ_0000345, miR-513a-3p and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN).

RESULTS

Compared with NP69 cells, hsa_circ_0000345 was down-regulated in NPC cells. Moreover, hsa_circ_0000345 overexpression repressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion of SUNE1 cells, whereas hsa_circ_0000345 knockdown promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion of 6-10B cells. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0000345 promoted PTEN expression by sponging miR-513a-3p. Both miR-513a-3p overexpression and PTEN knockdown promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion of SUNE1 cells, which were effectively abolished by hsa_circ_0000345 up-regulation.

CONCLUSION

Hsa_circ_0000345 inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion of NPC cells via miR-513a-3p/PTEN axis, thereby suppressing the progression of NPC. Thus, this work suggests that hsa_circ_0000345 may be a potential biomarker for diagnosis and treatment of NPC.