miR-139-5p regulates proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of uterine leiomyoma cells by targeting TPD52

Related cellular signaling and consequent pathophysiological outcomes of ubiquitin specific protease 24

Ubiquitin-specific protease 24 (USP24) is an essential member of the deubiquitinating protease family found in eukaryotes. It engages in interactions with multiple proteins, including p53, MCL-1, E2F4, and FTH1, among others. Through these interactions, USP24 plays a critical role in regulating vital cellular processes such as cell cycle control, DNA damage response, cellular iron autophagy, and apoptosis. Increased levels of USP24 have been observed in various cancer types, including bladder cancer, lung cancer, myeloma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and gastric cancer. However, in certain tumors like kidney cancer, USP24 is significantly downregulated, and the specific mechanism behind this remains unclear. Currently, there are no officially approved USP24 inhibitors available for clinical use. Some existing inhibitors targeting USP24 have shown promising effects in treating malignancies; however, their precise mode of action and information regarding binding sites are not well understood. Moreover, further optimization is required to enhance the selectivity and efficacy of these inhibitors. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in understanding the cellular functions of USP24, its association with various diseases, and the development of small-molecule inhibitors that target this protein. In conclusion, USP24 represents a promising therapeutic target for various diseases, and ongoing research will contribute to validating its role and facilitating the development of effective treatments.

MiR-125b-5p/TPD52 Axis Affects Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Breast Cancer Cells

Aberrant gene expression caused by miRNAs disorders plays a relevant role in multiple steps of tumorigenesis. In this attempt, we studied the functional role of miR-125b-5p and TPD52 in breast cancer. TPD52 mRNA and miR-125b-5p levels were assessed via qRT-PCR, and TPD52 protein level was analyzed via western blot. By performing CCK-8, transwell invasion and wound healing assays, the phenotype changes in breast cancer cells were assessed. miR-125b-5p was proven as an upstream miRNA of TPD52 in breast cancer via TargetScan database, luciferase activity, and western blot. MiR-125b-5p was prominently decreased while TPD52 was dramatically increased in breast cancer cells. Functional assays exhibited that forced level of TPD52 facilitated cell proliferation, invasion and migration in breast cancer. In the end, the rescue assay proved that miR-125b-5p was a cancer repressor and modulated breast cancer progression by targeting TPD52. All above offer potential biomarkers for breast cancer treatment.

MiR-139-5p Inhibits the Development of Gastric Cancer through Targeting TPD52

BACKGROUND

Many researchers have confirmed that miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer (GC). This study focused on investigating the specific functions of miR-139-5p in GC.

METHODS

MiR-139-5p and TPD52 expressions were observed by qRT-PCR or western blot in GC. The functional mechanism of miR-139-5p was explored by the luciferase reporter assay, transwell assay, and MTT assay.

RESULTS

MiR-139-5p downregulation and TPD52 upregulation were detected in GC. Adverse clinical features and prognosis in GC patients were related to low miR-139-5p expression. MiR-139-5p overexpression restrained GC cell proliferation and metastasis. Furthermore, miR-139-5p directly targeted TPD52. TPD52 silencing blocked GC progression. And TPD52 upregulation weakened the antitumor effect of miR-139-5p in GC.

CONCLUSION

MiR-139-5p inhibits GC cell proliferation and metastasis through downregulating TPD52.

miR-335-5p Inhibits Progression of Uterine Leiomyoma by Targeting ARGLU1

Studies have demonstrated that miR-335-5p exhibits an essential role in the progress of multiple tumors, including thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer, and non-small-cell lung cancer. However, the possible expression, the detailed role, and the underlying mechanisms of miR-335-5p in uterine leiomyoma (UL) still remained unclear. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the mechanism and function of miR-335-5p in UL. In our study, microRNA-335-5p (miR-335-5p) is significantly downregulated in UL tissues and UL cell lines, especially in HCC1688 and SK-UT-1 cells. Functionally, overexpression of miR-335-5p notably inhibits the viability of UL cell lines by CCK-8 assay. Besides, upregulation of miR-335-5p inhibits proliferation of UL cell lines by colony formation assay and decreases the protein levels of PCNA and Ki-67 detected by western blot assay. In addition, overexpression of miR-335-5p induces UL cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Upregulation of miR-335-5p decreases the levels of Cyclin A1, Cyclin B1, and Cyclin D2 and upregulates the expression of p27 protein. Additionally, upregulation of miR-335-5p promotes the apoptosis of UL cell lines, increases the protein levels of Bax, Cleaved caspase-3, and Cleaved caspase-9, and decreases the protein expression of Bcl-2. Moreover, Arginine and Glutamate-Rich protein 1 (ARGLU1) is predicted as a target of miR-335-5p by ENCORI and miRDB and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. ARGLU1 is negatively associated with miR-335-5p. Furthermore, overexpression of ARGLU1 partly restores the effects of miR-335-5p mimic on the viability, proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of UL cell lines. To conclude, miR-335-5p may play a repressive role in UL by targeting ARGLU1 and serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of UL.

MicroRNA-139-5p Suppresses Cell Malignant Behaviors in Breast Cancer through Targeting MEX3A

OBJECTIVE

The study was designed to evaluate the underlying mechanism of microRNA-139-5p in breast cancer (BC).

METHODS

Expression statuses of microRNA-139-5p and MEX3A were measured by qRT-PCR and western blotting. The anticancer effect of microRNA-139-5p in vitro was tested by a set of assays. Interaction between microRNA-139-5p and MEX3A was validated by dual-luciferase detection.

RESULTS

MicroRNA-139-5p expression in BC cells was obviously low, while MEX3A was significantly overexpressed. MicroRNA-139-5p restrained proliferative, invasive, and migratory abilities of BC cells and increased apoptosis level of BC cells, while MEX3A exerted a promoting effect on BC cell growth. Dual-luciferase reporter detection confirmed that microRNA-139-5p bound to MEX3A 3'-UTR.

CONCLUSIONS

MicroRNA-139-5p inhibited the development of BC by targeting MEX3A. MicroRNA-139-5p/MEX3A may be a target for BC therapy.

Implication of miR-126 and miR-139-5p in Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Dysregulation in Systemic Sclerosis

Compelling evidence shows the involvement of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) pathogenesis. This study investigated whether microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the dysregulation of pDCs in SSc patients already at early stages. RNA from circulating pDCs was isolated from two independent cohorts of SSc patients with different disease phenotypes, and individuals with Raynaud’s phenomenon, for microRNA profiling and RNA-sequencing analysis. Proteomic analysis was exploited to identify novel direct miRNA targets at the protein level. Twelve and fifteen miRNAs were differentially expressed in at least one group of patients compared to healthy controls in discovery cohort I and II, respectively. Of note, miR-126 and miR-139-5p were upregulated in both preclinical and definite SSc patients and correlated with the expression of type I interferon (IFN)-responsive genes. Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) stimulation of healthy pDCs upregulated the expression of both miRNAs, similarly to what was observed in patients. The proteomic analysis identified USP24 as a novel target of miR-139-5p. The expression level of USP24 was inversely correlated with miR-139-5p expression in SSc patients and induced by TLR9 stimulation in healthy pDCs. These findings demonstrated that the miRNA profile is altered in pDCs of SSc patients already at early stages of the disease and indicate their potential contribution to pDC activation observed in patients.

Diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic significance of miR-139-5p in cancers

miRNAs are a group of non-coding RNAs that have regulatory functions in post-transcriptional gene expression. These molecules play a fundamental role in cellular processes, for instance cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Scientific investigations have previously established that miRNAs can either promote or suppress tumor development by mediating different signaling pathways. miR-139-5p, located on chromosome 11q13.4, has been examined extensively in cancers. Studies have demonstrated that miR-139-5p might be an attractive cancer biomarker. Herein, we will review how miR-139-5p acts in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy, as well as elucidating its major target genes and associated signaling pathways.

MicroRNA‑103a‑3p promotes metastasis by targeting TPD52 in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) exhibits slow continuous growth, frequent local recurrences and a high incidence of blood metastasis, with advanced lung metastasis frequently occurring and being among the primary causes of mortality. MicroRNAs (miR) serve a significant role in the initiation and development of cancer and may be tumour‑specific molecular targets. However, the role of miR‑103a‑3p in SACC remains largely unknown. In the present study, the expression levels of miR‑103a‑3p and tumour protein D52 (TPD52) were detected by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. In addition, wound‑healing assays, Transwell assays and mouse models of lung metastasis were used to investigate the biological functions exerted by miR‑103a‑3p. The present results suggested that miR‑103a‑3p expression was significantly upregulated in SACC samples. Gain‑of‑function and loss‑of‑function studies in SACC cells demonstrated that miR‑103a‑3p acted as an oncogene by promoting tumour cell migration in vitro and lung metastasis in vivo. Dual‑luciferase reporter gene assays indicated that miR‑103a‑3p exerted its regulatory functions by binding to the 3' untranslated region of TPD52 mRNA. TPD52 overexpression rescued the effect of miR‑103a‑3p on promoting SACC cell migration, suggesting that miR‑103a‑3p acted as an oncogene to promote cancer metastasis by directly targeting TPD52. Thus, the newly identified miR‑103a‑3p/TPD52 axis contributes to the understanding of SACC pathogenesis, providing insights into the identification of novel biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets in SACC.

Knockdown of lncRNA PCAT6 Enhances Radiosensitivity in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Regulating miR-185-5p/TPD52 Axis

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play essential roles in regulating the radiosensitivity of cancers. Prostate cancer-associated transcript 6 (PCAT6) exerts oncogenic roles in several tumors. However, the roles of PCAT6 and its underlying mechanism in regulating the radiosensitivity of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have not been investigated.

Methods

The expression levels of PCAT6, microRNA-185-5p (miR-185-5p) and tumor protein D52 (TPD52) were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell viability, apoptosis and colony formation were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry and colony formation assay, respectively. The interaction between miR-185-5p and PCAT6 or TPD52 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Western blot was carried out to detect the protein level of TPD52.

Results

PCAT6 and TPD52 were highly expressed and miR-185-5p was lowly expressed in TNBC tissues and cells, which was associated with an aggressive tumor phenotype in patients, affecting lymph node metastasis and clinical stage. PCAT6 or TPD52 knockdown or miR-185-5p overexpression enhanced the radiosensitivity of TNBC cells via inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis. PCAT6 directly interacted with miR-185-5p and negatively regulated miR-185-5p expression. Moreover, TPD52 was confirmed as a target of miR-185-5p. Besides, PCAT6 regulated the radiosensitivity of TNBC cells through acting as a molecular sponge of miR-185-5p to modulate TPD52 expression.

Conclusion

Knockdown of PCAT6 promoted the radiosensitivity of TNBC cells through regulating miR-185-5p/TPD52 axis, providing a vital theoretical basis to improve the radiotherapy efficiency of TNBC.

Star-PAP regulates tumor protein D52 through modulating miR-449a/34a in breast cancer

Tumor protein D52 (TPD52) is an oncogene amplified and overexpressed in various cancers. Tumor-suppressive microRNA-449a and microRNA-34a (miR-449a/34a) were recently reported to inhibit breast cancer cell migration and invasion via targeting TPD52. However, the upstream events are not clearly defined. Star-PAP is a non-canonical poly (A) polymerase which could regulate the expression of many miRNAs and mRNAs, but its biological functions are not well elucidated. The present study aimed to explore the regulative roles of Star-PAP in miR-449a/34a and TPD52 expression in breast cancer. We observed a negative correlation between the expression of TPD52 and Star-PAP in breast cancer. Overexpression of Star-PAP inhibited TPD52 expression, while endogenous Star-PAP knockdown led to increased TPD52. Furthermore, RNA immunoprecipitation assay suggested that Star-PAP could not bind to TPD52, independent of the 3′-end processing. RNA pull-down assay showed that Star-PAP could bind to 3′region of miR-449a. In line with these results, blunted cell proliferation or cell apoptosis caused by Star-PAP was rescued by overexpression of TPD52 or downregulation of miR-449a/34a. Our findings identified that Star-PAP regulates TPD52 by modulating miR-449a/34a, which may be an important molecular mechanism underlying the tumorigenesis of breast cancer and provide a rational therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.

Summary: Star-PAP is an important regulator of miR-449a/34a and was first identified indirectly regulating TPD52 via modulating miR-449a/34a. Furthermore, Star-PAP-miR-449a/34a-TPD52 axis is involved in proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells.

MicroRNA-139-3p Inhibits The Growth And Metastasis Of Ovarian Cancer By Inhibiting ELAVL1

Background

The aberrant expression of microRNA-139-3p (miR-139-3p) has been recently involved in the development of multiple tumor types, but its function in ovarian cancer remains not well investigated. In this study, we mainly investigated the function of miR-139-3p in the progression of ovarian cancer.

Methods

The levels of miR-139-3p in ovarian cancer cells and tissues were detected using quantitative real-time-PCR (qRT-PCR) assay. The proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cell were determined, respectively. A luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm ELAV Like RNA Binding Protein 1 (ELAVL1) was a target gene of miR-139-3p. The expression of ELAVL1 was detected using Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining assay. The roles of miR-139-3p on the growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer cell in vivo were explored using transplanted tumor model and experimental lung metastasis model.

Results

MiR-139-3p was down-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues and ovarian cancer cell lines (SK-OV-3, A2780 and OVCAR-3). Overexpression of miR-139-3p decreased the growth, colony formation, migration and invasiveness of SK-OV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells. Moreover, overexpression of miR-139-3p reduced the growth and lung metastasis of ovarian cancer cells in vivo. The luciferase reporter gene assay indicated that ELAVL1 was a target of miR-139-3p and its expression was negatively regulated by miR-139-3p. Furthermore, the expression of ELAVL1 was inversely correlated with miR-139-3p level in ovarian cancer tissue.

Conclusion

Taken together, we demonstrated that miR-139-3p regulated ovarian cancer growth and metastasis by modulating the expression of ELAVL1.

Differential MicroRNA Expression Profiles as Potential Biomarkers for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a clinical challenge due to its poor prognosis. Therefore, the early diagnosis of PDAC is extremely important for achieving a cure. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) could serve as a potential biomarker for the early detection and prognosis of PDAC. In this work we analyzed plasma samples from healthy persons and PDAC patients to assess differential miRNA expression profiles by next generation sequencing technology and bioinformatics analysis. In this way, 165 mature miRNAs were found to be significantly deregulated in the patient group, of which 75 and 90 mature miRNAs were up- and down-regulated compared with healthy individuals, respectively. Furthermore, 1029 novel miRNAs were identified. In conclusion, plasma miRNA expression profiles are different between healthy individuals and patients with PDAC. These data provide a possibility for use of miRNA as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of PDAC.

miR-107 Enhances the Sensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells to Paclitaxel

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Chinese women. Paclitaxel (PTX) is a chemotherapy medication used to treat breast cancer patients. However, a side effect of paclitaxel is the severe drug resistance. Previous studies demonstrated that dysregulation of microRNAs could regulate sensitivity to paclitaxel in breast cancer. Here, the present study aimed to lucubrate the underlying mechanisms of miR-107 in regulating the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to PTX. The results demonstrated that miR-107 was down-regulated in breast cancer tumor tissues, while TPD52 was significantly up-regulated compared with the non-tumor adjacent tissues. After confirming that TPD52 may be a major target of miR-107 via a dual-luciferase reporter assay, the western blot and RT-qPCR assays further demonstrated that miR-107 may reduce the expression level of TPD52 as well. In addition, miR-107 may prominently enhance PTX induced reduction of cell viability and the promotion of cell apoptosis in breast cancer, and the variation could be reversed by co-transfected with pcDNA3.1-TPD52. Finally, miR-107 could further reduce the decreased expression of TPD52, Wnt1, β-catenin and cyclin D1 that was induced by PTX in both mRNA and protein levels, which were rescued by pcDNA3.1-TPD52 indicating that miR-107 regulated breast cancer cell sensitivity to PTX may be targeting TPD52 through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Reversal of cisplatin resistance by microRNA-139-5p-independent RNF2 downregulation and MAPK inhibition in ovarian cancer

Some microRNAs (miRs) are dysregulated in cancers, and aberrant miR expression has been reported to correlate with chemoresistance of cancer cells. Therefore, the present study aims at investigating the effects of microRNA-139-5p (miR-139-5p) on cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer (OC) with involvement of ring finger protein 2 (RNF2) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. OC tissues were obtained from 66 primary OC patients. The cisplatin-sensitive A2780 and cisplatin-resistant A2780/DDP cell lines were collected for construction of RNF2 silencing and overexpressed plasmids. Cell vitality and apoptosis were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double-staining, respectively. Next, expression of RNF2, extracellular signal-related kinase, and p38 was determined by quantitative reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Finally, the volume of xenograft tumors in BALB/c nude mice was detected. RNF2 and miR-139-5p were identified to be involved in OC. In addition, MAPK activation and RNF2 were related to cisplatin resistance of OC. miR-139-5p was downregulated in cisplatin-resistant OC tissues, and miR-139-5p overexpression could inhibit cell vitality, reduce cisplatin resistance, and promote apoptosis of OC cells. Furthermore, miR-139-5p combined with MAPK inhibitors more obviously reduced cisplatin resistance of OC. Taken together, this study demonstrated that miR-139-5p overexpression combined with inactivation of the MAPK signaling pathway can reverse the cisplatin resistance of OC by suppressing RNF2. Thus, miR-139-5p overexpression might be a future therapeutic strategy for OC.

Inhibition of the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through fibroblast growth factor 18 suppressed by miR-139

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant tumor and one of the most common causes for human cancer-related deaths. Fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) is overexpressed in many types of cancer, and is associated with cell proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis. miR-139 has recently been reported as a tumor suppressor in various types of cancer and it can regulate many tumor-related genes, however its association with FGF18 expression in HCC has not been reported and thus remains unknown. In the present study, to explore the potential regulation mechanism of miR-139 with FGF18 in HCC, HCC tissues and cell lines were used. The results revealed that FGF18 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells, however miR-139 was lowly expressed. FGF18 was demonstrated to be a direct target of miR-139. Furthermore, the suppressive effect of miR-139 on FGF18 and in turn on proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration and tumor-induced angiogenesis of HCC cells was investigated. FGF18 was suggested as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in HCC patients and miR-139 may be a promising strategy used in HCC treatment via the suppression of FGF18.

MicroRNA-139-5p inhibits bladder cancer proliferation and self-renewal by targeting the Bmi1 oncogene

MiR-139-5p has been reported to be overexpressed in many types of cancers, but its role in bladder cancer has not been elucidated yet. Here, we report that miR-139-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in bladder cancer and inhibits the cancer stem cell self-renewal by targeting Bmi1 directly. We found that miR-139-5p expression was significantly downregulated in the bladder cancer specimens compared with that in adjacent normal tissues. In vitro, restoration of miR-139-5p expression significantly inhibited the proliferation of bladder cancer cells. Mechanism analysis revealed that miR-139-5p could decrease Bmi1 protein levels by binding to the 3' untranslated region of Bmi1 messenger RNA. Stem cell-related proteins such as c-MYC, NANOG, OCT4, and KLF4 and signaling pathways such as Wnt signaling were suppressed by restoration of miR-139-5p in bladder cancer cells. In addition, miR-139-5p expression also blocked self-renewal of bladder cancer stem cells by inhibiting Bmi1. In summary, our study supports that miR-139-5p acts as a tumor suppressor in bladder cancer development and suppresses cancer stem cell property of bladder cancer. Our study also suggests that miR-139-5p has the potential to be used as a therapeutic molecule for bladder cancer treatment.