MiR-139-5p Targetedly Regulates YAF2 and Mediates the AKT/P38 MAPK Signaling Pathway to Alleviate the Metastasis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells and Their Resistance Against Cisplatin

miRNAs and exosomal miRNAs in lung cancer: New emerging players in tumor progression and therapy response

Non-coding RNAs have shown key roles in cancer and among them, short RNA molecules are known as microRNAs (miRNAs). These molecules have length less than 25 nucleotides and suppress translation and expression. The functional miRNAs are produced in cytoplasm. Lung cancer is a devastating disease that its mortality and morbidity have undergone an increase in recent years. Aggressive behavior leads to undesirable prognosis and tumors demonstrate abnormal proliferation and invasion. In the present review, miRNA functions in lung cancer is described. miRNAs reduce/increase proliferation and metastasis. They modulate cell death and proliferation. Overexpression of oncogenic miRNAs facilitates drug resistance and radio-resistance in lung cancer. Tumor microenvironment components including macrophages and cancer-associated fibroblasts demonstrate interactions with miRNAs in lung cancer. Other factors such as HIF-1α, lncRNAs and circRNAs modulate miRNA expression. miRNAs have also value in the diagnosis of lung cancer. Understanding such interactions can pave the way for developing novel therapeutics in near future for lung cancer patients.

LncRNA AC012360.1 facilitates growth and metastasis by regulating the miR-139-5p/LPCAT1 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. However, whether lncRNA AC012360.1 contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. In HCC tissues, differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified by bioinformatics. AC012360.1 level was validated and its role in HCC progression was investigated. Among the top 10 upregulated lncRNAs, AC012360.1 exhibited the greatest increase in HCC tissues. Additionally, AC012360.1 was upregulated in HCC tissues/cells. Moreover, AC012360.1 knockdown refrained cell proliferation/metastasis and tumor growth. Conversely, AC012360.1 overexpression showed an oncogenic role. AC012360.1 and lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1) contained miR-139-5p binding sites. Furthermore, miR-139-5p silencing partially mitigated the role of AC012360.1 knockdown, while LPCAT1 knockdown partially abolished the tumor-promoting effect of AC012360.1 overexpression. In conclusion, AC012360.1 exhibited its oncogenic function in HCC through sponging miR-139-5p and upregulating LPCAT1 expression.

Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 6-(Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl)quinazoline Derivatives as Anticancer Agents via PI3Kα Inhibition

Aberrant expression of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signalling pathway is often associated with tumourigenesis, progression and poor prognosis. Hence, PI3K inhibitors have attracted significant interest for the treatment of cancer. In this study, a series of new 6-(imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl)quinazoline derivatives were designed, synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS spectra analyses. In the in vitro anticancer assay, most of the synthetic compounds showed submicromolar inhibitory activity against various tumour cell lines, among which 13k is the most potent compound with IC50 values ranging from 0.09 μΜ to 0.43 μΜ against all the tested cell lines. Moreover, 13k induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and cell apoptosis of HCC827 cells by inhibition of PI3Kα with an IC50 value of 1.94 nM. These results suggested that compound 13k might serve as a lead compound for the development of PI3Kα inhibitor.

Genomic Characterization of Rare Primary Cardiac Sarcoma Entities

Primary cardiac sarcomas are considered rare malignant entities associated with poor prognosis. In fact, knowledge regarding their gene signature and possible treatments is still limited. In our study, whole-transcriptome sequencing on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from one cardiac osteosarcoma and one cardiac leiomyosarcoma was performed, to investigate their mutational profiles and to highlight differences and/or similarities to other cardiac histotypes. Both cases have been deeply detailed from a pathological point of view. The osteosarcoma sample presented mutations involving ATRX, ERCC5, and COL1A1, while the leiomyosarcoma case showed EXT2, DNM2, and PSIP1 alterations. Altered genes, along with the most differentially expressed genes in the leiomyosarcoma or osteosarcoma sample versus the cardiac angiosarcomas and intimal sarcomas (e.g., YAF2, PAK5, and CRABP1), appeared to be associated with cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and the repair of DNA damage, which are key mechanisms involved in tumorigenesis. Moreover, a distinct gene expression profile was detected in the osteosarcoma sample when compared to other cardiac sarcomas. For instance, WIF1, a marker of osteoblastic differentiation, was upregulated in our bone tumor. These findings pave the way for further studies on these entities, in order to identify targeted therapies and, therefore, improve patients' prognoses.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin Induces ROS-Mediated Apoptosis by Modulating the PI3K/AKT and p38 MAPK-Dependent Signaling in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT), a naturally occurring flavonolignan, possesses several pharmacological properties, including anticancer property. However, the mechanisms underlying DPT mode of action in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of DPT on OSCC and the underlying mechanisms. Results of the MTT assay revealed that DPT significantly reduced the cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that DPT induces apoptosis in OSCC cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, DPT enhanced the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in OSCC cells. Mechanistically, DPT induced apoptosis in OSCC cells by suppressing the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway while activating the p38 MAPK signaling to regulate the expression of apoptotic proteins. Treatment with SC79, an AKT activator, reversed the effects of DPT on AKT signaling in OSCC cells. Taken together, these results provide the basis for the use of DPT in combination with conventional chemotherapy for the treatment of oral cancer.

Salidroside alleviates severe acute pancreatitis-triggered pancreatic injury and inflammation by regulating miR-217-5p/YAF2 axis

BACKGROUND

Our previous studies have shown that salidroside (Sal) exerted a protective effect in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) via inhibiting the inflammatory response. However, the molecular mechanism has not been fully elucidated.

METHODS

Using SAP rat model and miRNA microarray, the effect of Sal on miRNA expression profiling was determined and then validated their changes by quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Then, SAP cell model, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay were used to explore the biological function of miR-217-5p in vitro. Bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter assay and miRNA pulldown assay were performed to investigate the underlying mechanism of miR-217-5p in the protection of Sal against SAP.

RESULTS

Compared with SAP group, 21 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in SAP + Sal group. The target genes of these miRNAs were strongly associated with regulation of transcription, Axon guidance, Pathways in cancer and MAPK signaling pathway. Among these miRNAs, miR-217-5p was the most downregulated miRNA. Sal treatment alleviated cell injury and reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Whereas overexpression of miR-217-5p reversed the effects of Sal. We identified YY1 associated factor 2 (YAF2) as a direct target gene of miR-217-5p and Sal treatment could upregulate YAF2 expression via targeting miR-217-5p. Furthermore, knockdown of YAF2 counteracted Sal-induced alleviation of cell injury and inflammation. Moreover, Sal could suppress the activation of p38 MAPK pathway by regulating miR-217-5p/YAF2 axis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings for the first time highlighted that Sal alleviated pancreatic injury and inhibited inflammation by regulating miR-217-5p/YAF2 axis, which might provide new therapeutic strategies for SAP treatment.

Regulation of apoptosis, autophagy and ferroptosis by non‑coding RNAs in metastatic non‑small cell lung cancer (Review)

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a common type of cancer worldwide, is normally associated with a poor prognosis. It is difficult to treat successfully as it often metastasizes into brain or bone. Methods to facilitate the induction of effective programmed cell death (PCD) in NSCLC cells to reverse drug resistance, or to inhibit the invasion and migration of NSCLC cells, are currently under investigation. The present study summarized the regulatory functions of PCD, including apoptosis, autophagy and ferroptosis, in the context of NSCLC metastasis. It further summarized how regulatory agents, including long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs and microRNAs, regulate PCD during the metastasis of NSCLC and characterized new potential diagnostic biomarkers of NSCLC metastasis.