miR-34c-5p mediates the cellular malignant behaviors of oral squamous cell carcinoma through targeted binding of TRIM29

AGO2-RIP-Seq reveals miR-34/miR-449 cluster targetome in sinonasal cancers

Sinonasal tumours are heterogeneous malignancies, presenting different histological features and clinical behaviour. Many studies emphasize the role of specific miRNA in the development and progression of cancer, and their expression profiles could be used as prognostic biomarkers to predict the survival. Recently, using the next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based miRNome analysis the miR-34/miR-449 cluster was identified as miRNA superfamily involved in the pathogenesis of sinonasal cancers (SNCs). In the present study, we established an Argonaute-2 (AGO2): mRNA immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing to analyse the regulatory role of miR-34/miR-449 in SNCs. Using this approach, we identified direct target genes (targetome), which were involved in regulation of RNA-DNA metabolic, transcript and epigenetic processes. In particular, the STK3, C9orf78 and STRN3 genes were the direct targets of both miR-34c and miR-449a, and their regulation are predictive of tumour progression. This study provides the first evidence that miR-34/miR-449 and their targets are deregulated in SNCs and could be proposed as valuable prognostic biomarkers.

Intricate confrontation: Research progress and application potential of TRIM family proteins in tumor immune escape

BACKGROUND

Tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins have more than 80 members and are widely found in various eukaryotic cells. Most TRIM family proteins participate in the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation system as E3-ubiquitin ligases; therefore, they play pivotal regulatory roles in the occurrence and development of tumors, including tumor immune escape. Due to the diversity of functional domains of TRIM family proteins, they can extensively participate in multiple signaling pathways of tumor immune escape through different substrates. In current research and clinical contexts, immune escape has become an urgent problem. The extensive participation of TRIM family proteins in curing tumors or preventing postoperative recurrence and metastasis makes them promising targets.

AIM OF REVIEW

The aim of the review is to make up for the gap in the current research on TRIM family proteins and tumor immune escape and propose future development directions according to the current progress and problems.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

This up-to-date review summarizes the characteristics and biological functions of TRIM family proteins, discusses the mechanisms of TRIM family proteins involved in tumor immune escape, and highlights the specific mechanism from the level of structure-function-molecule-pathway-phenotype, including mechanisms at the level of protein domains and functions, at the level of molecules and signaling pathways, and at the level of cells and microenvironments. We also discuss the application potential of TRIM family proteins in tumor immunotherapy, such as possible treatment strategies for combination targeting TRIM family protein drugs and checkpoint inhibitors for improving cancer treatment.

ncRNA-mediated low expression of P2RY14 correlates with poor prognosis and tumor immune infiltration in ovarian carcinoma

Background

Ovarian cancer (OV) has been puzzling clinicians because of its poor prognosis. More and more evidence show that the G protein coupled receptor P2RY14 plays a key role in the initiation and progression of various types of human cancer. The purpose of our study is to explore the correlation between P2RY14 and the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients and the relevant mechanism.

Methods

First, the differentially expressed gene P2RY14 was screened from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Explored possible P2RY14 related miRNAs and lncRNAs through multiple public databases, predicted and analyzed the expression level of candidate miRNAs and candidate lncRNAs that can bind to candidate miRNAs in OV through StarBase database. The TIMER database was used to comprehensively analyze the expression of tumor infiltrating immune cells, and to analyze the correlation between the expression level of P2RY14 and the level of immune cell infiltration in OV or the expression level of immune checkpoints.

Results

Patients with P2RY14 overexpression had better overall survival (OS) and progression-free interval (PFI). In the Targetscan database, 22 upstream miRNAs that may bind to P2RY14 were predicted. According to the regulatory network constructed by the Cytoscape software, correlation analysis and the role of miRNAs in the prognosis of OV, we first determined that the candidate miRNAs were miR-34c-5p. Then, we predicted the upstream lncRNAs of miR-34c-5p in the StarBase database, the expression level of these lncRNAs in OV in the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database, and the role in prognosis. We determined that LINC00665 is the most potential lncRNA upstream of ovarian cancer miRNA (hsa-miR-34c-5p)-P2RY14. Then, we analyzed the results in the Timer database, suggesting that P2RY14 expression was positively correlated with CD8⁺T Cell, CD4⁺T Cell, Macrophage, Neutral and Dendritic cells, and negatively correlated with B cells. Meanwhile, P2RY14 was positively correlated with CD274 and PDCD1.

Conclusions

P2RY14 can be used as a new predictive biomarker of ovarian cancer. Intervention of P2RY14 can affect the prognosis of ovarian cancer by affecting LINC00665-miR-34c-5p-P2RY14 axis. These findings provide a potential target for the development of anti-cancer strategies for ovarian cancer.

MicroRNA-34c-5p exhibits anticancer properties in gastric cancer by targeting MAP2K1 to inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion

Purpose

Gastric cancer(GC)is one of the deadliest digestive tract tumors worldwide，existing studies suggest that dysregulated expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of GC. This study aimed to investigate the expression, biological function, and downstream mechanism of miR-34c-5p in GC, provide new targets for gastric cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

The expression of miR-34c-5p in GC tissues and cell lines was examined by RT-qPCR. Cell wound healing, transwell and cell cloning assays were used to detect the effect of miR-34c-5p on the migration and invasion abilities, respectively, of GC cells. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of related proteins. Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict the binding of MAP2K1 to miR-34c-5p and the targeting relationship was confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay.

Results

The expression level of miR-34c-5p was significantly decreased in GC tissues and cell lines. miR-34c-5p overexpression inhibited migration, invasion, and colony formation of gastric cancer cells, the related protein E-cadherin expression was significantly increased and N-cadherin, vimentin, and PCNA expression were significantly decreased, while miR-34c-5p knockdown exerted the opposite effects. In addition, the targeting relationship between miR-34c-5p and MAP2K1 was predicted and confirmed, and further confirmed by rescue experiments that MAP2K1 alleviated the inhibitory effect of miR-34c-5p in GC.

Conclusion

MiR-34c-5p is lowly expressed in GC, and it can target MAP2K1 to exert inhibitory effects on GC proliferation, invasion, and migration. These findings provide a promising biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.