Suppression of microRNA-629 enhances sensitivity of cervical cancer cells to 1'S-1'-acetoxychavicol acetate via regulating RSU1

Curdepsidone A Induces Intrinsic Apoptosis and Inhibits Protective Autophagy via the ROS/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway in HeLa Cells

Among female oncology patients, cervical cancer stands as the fourth most prevalent malignancy, exerting significant impacts on their health. Over 600,000 women received the diagnosis of cervical cancer in 2020, and the illness claimed over 300,000 lives globally. Curdepsidone A, a derivative of depsidone, was isolated from the secondary metabolites of Curvularia sp. IFB-Z10. In this study, we revised the molecular structure of curdepsidone A and investigated the fundamental mechanism of the anti-tumor activity of curdepsidone A in HeLa cells for the first time. The results demonstrated that curdepsidone A caused G0/G1 phase arrest, triggered apoptosis via a mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, blocked the autophagic flux, suppressed the PI3K/AKT pathway, and increased the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HeLa cells. Furthermore, the PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) promoted apoptosis induced by curdepsidone A, while the PI3K agonist (IGF-1) eliminated such an effect. ROS scavenger (NAC) reduced curdepsidone A-induced cell apoptosis and the suppression of autophagy and the PI3K/AKT pathway. In conclusion, our results revealed that curdepsidone A hindered cell growth by causing cell cycle arrest, and promoted cell apoptosis by inhibiting autophagy and the ROS-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway. This study provides a molecular basis for the development of curdepsidone A as a new chemotherapy drug for cervical cancer.

Natural Products for Cancer Therapy: A Review of Their Mechanism of Actions and Toxicity in the Past Decade

The ethnopharmacological information gathered over many centuries and the presence of diverse metabolites have made the medicinal plants as the prime source of drugs. Despite the positive attributes of natural products, there are many questions pertaining to their mechanism of actions and molecular targets that impede their development as therapeutic agents. One of the major challenges in cancer research is the toxicity exerted by investigational agents towards the host. An understanding of their molecular targets, underlying mechanisms can reveal their anticancer efficacy, help in optimal therapeutic dose selection, to mitigate their side effects and toxicity towards the host. The purpose of this review is to collate details on natural products that are recently been investigated extensively in the past decade for their anticancer potential. Besides, critical analysis of their molecular targets and underlying mechanisms on multiple cancer cell lines, an in-depth probe of their toxicological screening on rodent models is outlined as well to observe the prevalence of their toxicity towards host. This review can provide valuable insights for researchers in developing methods, strategies during preclinical and clinical evaluation of anticancer candidates.

MicroRNA-629 promotes the tumorigenesis of non-small-cell lung cancer by targeting FOXO1 and activating PI3K/AKT pathway

OBJECTIVE

MicroRNA-629 (miR-629) has been found to play an important role in the pathogenesis of human cancers. However, the function of miR-629 is still unknown in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study is to preliminarily elucidate the regulatory mechanism of miR-629 in NSCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The mRNA and protein expression was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot analysis. The function of miR-629 was investigated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and Transwell assays. The relationship between miR-629 and FOXO1 was confirmed by dual luciferase assay.

RESULTS

MiR-629 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. High expression of miR-629 predicted poor prognosis in patients with NSCLC. Moreover, miR-629 promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion in NSCLC cells. In addition, FOXO1 was confirmed as a direct target of miR-629 in NSCLC. Furthermore, knockdown of FOXO1 also promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. More importantly, overexpression of FOXO1 weakened the carcinogenesis of miR-629 in NSCLC. Besides that, miR-629 promoted EMT and activated the PI3K/AKT pathway in NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-629 promotes the progression of NSCLC by targeting FOXO1 and regulating EMT/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Molecular and biological functions of gingerol as a natural effective therapeutic drug for cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most common and important gynecological cancers, which has a global concern with an increasing number of patients and mortality rates. Today, most women in the world who suffer from cervical cancer are developing advanced stages of the disease. Smoking and even exposure to secondhand smoke, infections caused by the human papillomavirus, immune system dysfunction and high-risk individual-social behaviors are among the most important predisposing factors for this type of cancer. In addition, papilloma virus infection plays a more prominent role in cervical cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy or radical hysterectomy, and radiotherapy are effective treatments for this condition, the side effects of these methods endanger a person's quality of life and cause other problems in other parts of the body. Studies show that herbal medicines, including taxol, camptothecin and combretastatins, have been shown to be effective in treating cervical cancer. Ginger (Zingiber officinale, Zingiberaceae) is one of the plants with valuable compounds such as gingerols, paradols and shogoals, which is a rich source of antioxidants, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents. Numerous studies have reported the therapeutic effects of this plant through various pathways in cervical cancer. In this article, we look at the signaling mechanisms and pathways in which ginger is used to treat cervical cancer.

Small Non-Coding-RNA in Gynecological Malignancies

Gynecologic malignancies, which include cancers of the cervix, ovary, uterus, vulva, vagina, and fallopian tube, are among the leading causes of female mortality worldwide, with the most prevalent being endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancer. Gynecologic malignancies are complex, heterogeneous diseases, and despite extensive research efforts, the molecular mechanisms underlying their development and pathology remain largely unclear. Currently, mechanistic and therapeutic research in cancer is largely focused on protein targets that are encoded by about 1% of the human genome. Our current understanding of 99% of the genome, which includes noncoding RNA, is limited. The discovery of tens of thousands of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), possessing either structural or regulatory functions, has fundamentally altered our understanding of genetics, physiology, pathophysiology, and disease treatment as they relate to gynecologic malignancies. In recent years, it has become clear that ncRNAs are relatively stable, and can serve as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, as well as guide therapy choices. Here we discuss the role of small non-coding RNAs, i.e., microRNAs (miRs), P-Element induced wimpy testis interacting (PIWI) RNAs (piRNAs), and tRNA-derived small RNAs in gynecological malignancies, specifically focusing on ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancer.

Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products in Treatment of Cervical Cancer: A Review

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Though several natural products have been reported regarding their efficacies against cervical cancer, there has been no review article that categorized them according to their anti-cancer mechanisms. In this study, anti-cancerous natural products against cervical cancer were collected using Pubmed (including Medline) and google scholar, published within three years. Their mechanisms were categorized as induction of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis, inhibition of metastasis, reduction of resistance, and regulation of miRNAs. A total of 64 natural products suppressed cervical cancer. Among them, Penicillium sclerotiorum extracts from Cassia fistula L., ethanol extracts from Bauhinia variegate candida, thymoquinone obtained from Nigella sativa, lipid-soluble extracts of Pinellia pedatisecta Schott., and 1'S-1'-acetoxychavicol extracted from Alpinia conchigera have been shown to have multi-effects against cervical cancer. In conclusion, natural products could be attractive candidates for novel anti-cancer drugs.

Participation of MicroRNAs in the Treatment of Cancer with Phytochemicals

Cancer is a global health concern and one of the main causes of disease-related death. Even with considerable progress in investigations on cancer therapy, effective anti-cancer agents and regimens have thus far been insufficient. There has been compelling evidence that natural phytochemicals and their derivatives have potent anti-cancer activities. Plant-based anti-cancer agents, such as etoposide, irinotecan, paclitaxel, and vincristine, are currently being applied in medical treatments for patients with cancer. Further, the efficacy of plenty of phytochemicals has been evaluated to discover a promising candidate for cancer therapy. For developing more effective cancer therapy, it is required to apprehend the molecular mechanism deployed by natural compounds. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been realized to play a pivotal role in regulating cellular signaling pathways, affecting the efficacy of therapeutic agents in cancer. This review presents a feature of phytochemicals with anti-cancer activity, focusing mainly on the relationship between phytochemicals and miRNAs, with insights into the role of miRNAs as the mediators and the regulators of anti-cancer effects of phytochemicals.

Knockdown of LncRNA DLEU2 Inhibits Cervical Cancer Progression via Targeting miR-128-3p

Objective

Cervical cancer is one of the most common female malignancies worldwide and represents a major global health challenge. The fast growth of tumor and high rates of metastasis still lead to a poor prognosis of cervical cancer patients. It is urgent to clarify the mechanism and identify predictive biomarkers for the treatment of cervical cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) have been identified in cervical cancer and are related to malignant phenotypes of cervical cancer cells. However, the roles and mechanism of LncRNA deleted in lymphocytic leukemia (DLEU2) in the tumorigenesis and progression of cervical cancer remain unknown.

Materials and Methods

qPCR was performed to analyze the expression of DLEU2, Cyclin D1, CDK4, Bax, Bcl2 and mi-128-3p. Western blot was performed to detect the cell cycle hallmarks expression. CCK8 was used to examine cell proliferation. Cellular apoptosis was analyzed by Hoechst 33,258 staining and AV/PI staining with flow cytometry. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. The xenograft model in nude mice was used to elucidate the function of DLEU2 in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay were proceeded to clarify whether miR-128-3p directly binds with lncRNA DLEU2. Pull‑down assay and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation assay were used for exploring the relationship between DLEU2 and miR-128-3p.

Results

We demonstrated that DLEU2 was upregulated in cervical cancer tumor tissues. Downregulation of DLEU2 inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase of cervical cancer cells in vitro, and suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Further, LncRNA DLEU2 is one of the targets of miR-128-3p. miR-128-3p inhibitor abrogated the cell proliferation suppressed by knockdown of DLEU2, apoptosis induced by knockdown of DLEU2 and reversed the expression of cell cycle hallmarks regulated by knockdown of DLEU2.

Conclusion

Taken together, these results suggested knockdown of DLEU2 inhibited cervical cancer progression via targeting miR-128-3p.

Circular RNA circEXOC6B Inhibits the Progression of Ovarian Cancer by Sponging miR-421 and Regulating RUS1 Expression

Background

Evidence has been shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a vital role during the development of ovarian cancer. However, the mechanism by which circEXOC6B regulates tumorigenesis of ovarian cancer remains unknown. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the role of circEXOC6B during the progression of ovarian cancer.

Materials and Methods

The dual-luciferase reporter system assay was used to determine the interaction between circEXOC6B, miR-421 and RUS1 in ovarian cancer, respectively. CCK8 and colony formatting were used to evaluate cell proliferation. Meanwhile, the expressions of RSU1, PINCH1 and ILK in SKOV3 cells were detected with Western blot.

Results

Downregulation of circEXOC6B markedly promoted the proliferation and invasion in A2780 cells. In contrast, upregulation of circEXOC6B significantly inhibited the proliferation and invasion in SKOV3 cells. Moreover, overexpression of circEXOC6B obviously induced the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assay identified that miR-421 was the potential miRNA binding of circEXOC6B, and RUS1 was the potential binding target of miR-421. Mechanism analysis indicated that upregulation of circEXOC6B increased the level of RUS1 by acting as a competitive "sponge" of miR-421.

Conclusion

In this study, we found that circEXOC6B suppressed the growth of ovarian cancer cells through upregulating RSU1 partially via sponging miR-421. Therefore, circEXOC6B might be a potential target for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

MicroRNA-Dependent Targeting of RSU1 and the IPP Adhesion Complex Regulates the PTEN/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

(1) Background: The microRNA (miR)-directed control of gene expression is correlated with numerous physiological processes as well as the pathological features of tumors. The focus of this study is on the role of miRs in the regulation of RSU1 and proteins in the IPP (integrin linked kinase, PINCH and parvin) complex. Because the IPP adaptor proteins link β integrins to actin cytoskeleton, and the RSU1 signaling protein connects the complex to the activation of cJun, ATF2 and the transcription of PTEN, their reduction by miRs has the potential to alter both adhesion and survival signaling. (2) Methods: Multiple database analyses were used to identify miRs that target RSU1 and PINCH1. miR transfection validated the effects of miRs on RSU1, PINCH1 and downstream targets in breast cancer cell lines. (3) Results: The miRs targeting RSU1 mRNA include miR-182-5p, -409-3p, -130a-3p, -221-3p, -744-5p and -106b-5p. Data show that miR-182-5p and -409-3p reduce RSU1, PINCH1 and inhibit the ATF2 activation of PTEN expression. miR-221-3p and miR-130a-3p target RSU1 and PINCH1 and, conversely, RSU1 depletion increases miR-221-3p and miR-130a-3p. (4) Conclusions: miRs targeting RSU1 and PINCH1 in mammary epithelial or luminal breast cancer cell lines reduced RSU1 signaling to p38 MAP kinase and ATF2, inhibiting the expression of PTEN. miR-221-3p, known to target PTEN and cell cycle regulators, also targets RSU1 and PINCH1 in luminal breast cancer cell lines.

Targeting miRNAs by natural products: A new way for cancer therapy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression through mRNA degradation or translation inhibition. MiRNAs play important roles in a variety of biological processes, and dysregulation of miRNA expression is highly associated with cancer development. Individual miRNA regulates multiple gene expressions, enabling them to regulate multiple cellular signaling pathways simultaneously. Hence, miRNAs could be served as cancer biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, and also therapeutic targets. Recently, more and more evidences showed that natural products such as paclitaxel, curcumin, resveratrol, genistein or epigallocatechin-3-gallate exert their anti-proliferative and/or pro-apoptotic effects through regulating one or more miRNAs, leading to the inhibition of cancer cell growth, induction of apoptosis or enhancement of conventional cancer therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we outlined the recent advances in the regulation of miRNAs expression by the natural products and highlight the importance of these natural drugs as a potential strategy in cancer treatment. This review will help us better understand how natural products modulate miRNAs and contribute to the development of effective and safe natural drugs for therapeutic purposes.

The roles of microRNA in human cervical cancer

Although a potentially preventable disease, cervical cancer (CC) is the second most commonly diagnosed gynaecological cancer with at least 530,000 new cases annually, and the prognosis with CC is still poor. Studies suggest that aberrant expression of microRNA (miRNA) contributes to the progression of CC. As a group of small non-coding RNA with 18-25 nucleotides, miRNA regulate about one-third of all human genes. They function by repressing translation or inducing mRNA cleavage or degradation, including genes involved in diverse and important cellular processes, including cell cycling, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Results showed that misexpression of miRNA is closely related to the onset and progression of CC. This review will provide an overview of the function of miRNA in CC and the mechanisms involved in cervical carcinogenesis.

Targeting micro-RNAs by natural products: a novel future therapeutic strategy to combat cancer

MicroRNAs are a class of short, non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role in normal physiology by attenuating translation or targeting messenger RNAs for degradation. Deregulation of miRNAs disturbs key molecular events in interconnected processes such as cell proliferation, tumor angiogenesis, self-renewal, apoptosis, metastasis and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. This process initiates, promotes and develops the pathophysiology of cancer. The modulation of miRNAs results in epigenetic changes in the genome, which eventually leads to cancer. Targeting deregulated miRNAs by natural products derived from plants is an ideal strategy to combat tumorigenesis. Owing to their fewer side effects, natural products have been used as chemotherapeutic agents against various cancers. These natural products modulate the dysregulated signaling pathways by downregulating the oncogenic miRNAs which play a crucial role in the development of tumorigenesis and maintain a fine balance of tumor suppressor miRNAs. This review article aims to highlight the key modifications of miRNAs which lead to tumorigenesis and the chemotherapeutic potential of natural products by targeting miRNAs and their possible mechanism of inhibition for developing an effective anti-cancer agent(s). They will have less damaging effects on normal cells for future chemotherapeutics.

CD44s Induces miR-629-3p Expression in Association with Cisplatin Resistance in Head and Neck Cancer Cells

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II [CDDP] ) is a well-known chemotherapeutic drug that has been used for the treatment of various types of human cancers, including head and neck cancer. Cisplatin exerts anticancer effects by causing DNA damage, replication defects, transcriptional inhibition, cell cycle arrest, and the induction of apoptosis. However, drug resistance is one of the most serious problems with cancer chemotherapy, and it causes expected therapeutic effects to not always be achieved. Here, we analyzed global microRNA (miRNA) expression in CD44 standard form (CD44s)-expressing SAS cells, and we identified miR-629-3p as being responsible for acquiring anticancer drug resistance in head and neck cancer. The introduction of miR-629-3p expression inhibited apoptotic cell death under cisplatin treatment conditions, and it promoted cell migration. Among the computationally predicted target genes of miR-629-3p, we found that a number of gene expressions were suppressed by the transfection with miR-629-3p. Using a xenografting model, we showed that miR-629-3p conferred cisplatin resistance to SAS cells. Clinically, increased miR-629-3p expression tended to be associated with decreased survival in head and neck cancer patients. In conclusion, our data suggest that the increased expression of miR-629-3p provides a mechanism of cisplatin resistance in head and neck cancer and may serve as a therapeutic target to reverse chemotherapy resistance.

Elevated Expression of miR-629 Predicts a Poor Prognosis and Promotes Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Osteosarcoma

Purpose

Osteosarcoma (OS) is an invasive bone tumor that primarily affects children and adolescents. MicroRNA-629 (miR-629) acts as an oncogene involved in the development of various cancers. This study aims to reveal the clinical significance and biological function of miR-629 in OS.

Patients and Methods

The levels of miR-629 expression in tissues and cells were detected through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Chi-square test was used to evaluate the relationship between miR-621 expression and clinical parameters in patients with OS. Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analysis of the effect of miR-629 expression on the prognosis of OS patients. CCK-8 and Transwell experiments were used to demonstrate the effect of miR-629 on OS cell function.

Results

Compared with the controls, miR-629 levels were significantly elevated in patients with OS (P < 0.001), Furthermore, miR-629 upregulation showed significantly associated with clinical stage (P = 0.011), distant metastasis (P = 0.003) and poor survival (log rank test, P = 0.013) in OS patients. miR-629 might be a potential prognostic biomarker for OS (HR = 2.890, 95% CI = 1.126-7.416, P = 0.027). Cell function experiments proved that the high expression of miR-629 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of OS.

Conclusion

All experimental results demonstrated that miR-629 as an oncogene promotes the tumor cell growth, migration and invasion of OS, and miR-629 may act as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for patients with this malignant tumor.

Pharmacological Effects of 1'-Acetoxychavicol Acetate, a Major Constituent in the Rhizomes of Alpinia galanga and Alpinia conchigera

1'-Acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) is found in the rhizomes or seeds of Alpinia galanga and Alpinia conchigera, which are used as traditional spices in cooking and traditional medicines in Southeast Asia. ACA possesses numerous medicinal properties. Those include anticancer, antiobesity, antiallergy, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, gastroprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities. ACA is also observed to exhibit antidementia activity. Recent studies have demonstrated that combining ACA with other substances results in synergistic anticancer effects. The structural factors that regulate the activity of ACA include (1) the acetyl group at position 1', (2) the acetyl group at position 4, and (3) the unsaturated double bond between positions 2' and 3'. ACA induces the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which regulates the signal transduction pathways, and has an important role in the prevention of diseases, including cancer, obesity, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Such findings suggest that AMPK has a central role in different pharmacological functions of ACA, and ACA is useful for the prevention of life-threatening diseases. However, more studies should be performed to evaluate the clinical effects of ACA and to better understand its potential.

MiR-629 regulates hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodelling by targeting FOXO3 and PERP

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is featured by the increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arterial pressure. Despite that abnormal proliferation and phenotypic changes in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) contributing to the pathophysiology of PAH, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we detected the expression of miR‐629 in hypoxia‐treated HPASMCs and explored the mechanistic role of miR‐629 in regulating HPASMC proliferation, migration and apoptosis. Hypoxia time‐dependently induced up‐regulation of miR‐629 and promoted cell viability and proliferation in HPASMCs. Treatment with miR‐629 mimics promoted HPASMCs proliferation and migration, but inhibited cell apoptosis; while knockdown of miR‐629 suppressed the cell proliferation and migration but promoted cell apoptosis in HPASMCs. The bioinformatics prediction revealed FOXO3 and PERP as downstream targets of miR‐629, and miR‐629 negatively regulated the expression of FOXO3 and PERP via targeting the 3’ untranslated regions. Enforced expression of FOXO3 or PERP attenuated the miR‐629 overexpression or hypoxia‐induced enhanced effects on HPASMC proliferation and proliferation, and the suppressive effects on HPASMC apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression of miR‐629 was up‐regulated, and the expression of FOXO3 and PERP mRNA was down‐regulated in the plasma from PAH patients when compared to healthy controls. In conclusion, the present study provided evidence regarding the novel role of miR‐629 in regulating cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis of HPASMCs during hypoxia.

Downregulation of microRNA‑629‑5p in colorectal cancer and prevention of the malignant phenotype by direct targeting of low‑density lipoprotein receptor‑related protein 6

Aberrant expression of numerous microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) significantly affects disease progression. Recently, miR‑629‑5p (miR‑629) was identified as a tumor‑promoting miRNA in the malignant processes of a number of human cancers. However, few studies have been conducted regarding expression profiles and detailed roles of miR‑629 in CRC. In the present study, reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to assess miR‑629 expression in CRC tissues and cell lines. Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay, flow cytometry and Transwell assays were performed to determine the in vitro effects of miR‑629 on CRC cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis, respectively. Xenograft models were employed to determine the in vivo effects of miR‑629 on tumor growth in nude mice. Molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of miR‑629 in CRC cells were explored. miR‑629 expression decreased in CRC tissues and cell lines. The decreased aberrant miR‑629 expression was significantly associated with tumor size, lymphatic metastasis and tumor‑node‑metastasis stage of CRC, and was a predictor of poor prognosis. Restoring miR‑629 expression attenuated CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion; promoted cell apoptosis in vitro; and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Low‑density lipoprotein receptor‑related protein 6 (LRP6) was a direct target gene of miR‑629 in CRC cells. Furthermore, the effect of LRP6 knockdown was similar to that of miR‑629 overexpression in CRC cells. Restoration of LRP6 expression neutralized the effects of miR‑629 in CRC cells. miR‑629 suppressed the activation of the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway through LRP6 regulation both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, miR‑629 suppressed the development and progression of CRC by directly targeting LRP6 and inhibiting the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, miR‑629 may be a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in CRC.

MicroRNA‑629 inhibition suppresses the viability and invasion of non‑small cell lung cancer cells by directly targeting RUNX3

Dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) directly modulate the biological functions of non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and contribute to the initiation and progression of NSCLC; however, the specific roles and underlying mechanisms of the dysregulated miRNAs in NSCLC require further investigation. The present study reported that miRNA‑629‑5p (miR‑629) was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. High miR‑629 expression levels were significantly associated with tumour size, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis in patients with NSCLC. Functional experiments indicated that miR‑629 inhibition suppressed the viability and invasion NSCLC cells in vitro. Furthermore, bioinformatics prediction, luciferase reporter assay, reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis demonstrated that runt‑related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) was a direct target gene of miR‑629 in NSCLC. Restoration of RUNX3 expression suppressed the effects of miR‑629 inhibition in NSCLC cells. Rescue experiments revealed that RUNX3 knockdown partially abrogated the effects of miR‑629 inhibition on NSCLC cells. In summary, miR‑629 directly targeted RUNX3 to inhibit the progression of NSCLC, suggesting that this miRNA may be considered as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for patients with NSCLC.

microRNAs: New prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is as a kind of cancer beginning from the cervix. Given that cervical cancer could be observed in women who infected with papillomavirus, regular oral contraceptives, and multiple pregnancies. Early detection of cervical cancer is one of the most important aspects of the therapy of this malignancy. Despite several efforts, finding and developing new biomarkers for cervical cancer diagnosis are required. Among various prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers, miRNA have been emerged as powerful biomarkers for detection, treatment, and monitoring of response to therapy in cervical cancer. Here, we summarized various miRNAs as an employable platform for prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers in the treatment of cervical cancer.

Natural Compound Modulates the Cervical Cancer Microenvironment-A Pharmacophore Guided Molecular Modelling Approaches

Cervical cancer is regarded as one of the major burdens noticed in women next to breast cancer. Although, human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are regarded as the principal causative agents, they require certain other factors such as oestrogen hormone to induce cervical cancer. Aromatase is an enzyme that converts androgens into oestrogens and hindering this enzyme could subsequently hamper the formation of oestrogen thereby alleviating the disease. Accordingly, in the current investigation, a structure based pharmacophore was generated considering two proteins bearing the Protein Data Bank (PDB) codes 3EQM (pharm 1) and 3S7S (pharm 2), respectively. The two models were employed as the 3D query to screen the in-house built natural compounds database. The obtained 51 compounds were escalated to molecular docking studies to decipher on the binding affinities and to predict the quintessential binding modes which were affirmed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The compound has induced dose-dependent down regulation of PP2B, Nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS2), and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) genes in the HeLa cells and has modulated the expression of apoptotic genes such as Bax, Bcl2, and caspases-3 at different concentrations. These results guide us to comprehend that the identified aromatase inhibitor was effective against the cervical cancer cells and additionally could server as scaffolds in designing new drugs.

MiR-629-5p promotes colorectal cancer progression through targetting CXXC finger protein 4

MiR-629-5p has been shown to function as a tumor promoter in some types of cancer. However, the role of miR-629-5p in colorectal cancer remains unclear. Here, the significant up-regulation of miR-629-5p in colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines was observed. Overexpression of miR-629-5p showed a positive effect on cell proliferation and migration. The enhanced miR-629-5p level also suppressed cell apoptosis and resulted in a low Bax level and a high Bcl-2 level. Further down-regulating miR-629-5p demonstrated opposite effects. CXXC finger protein 4 (CXXC4) was predicted as a direct target of miR-629-5p. Dual-luciferase reporter and Western blotting assays exhibited miR-629-5p directly bound to the 3′UTR of CXXC4 and then down-regulated its expression at post-transcriptional level. CXXC4 knockdown rescued the decreased cell proliferation and migration and the enhanced cell apoptosis induced by inhibiting miR-629-5p expression. Notably, overexpression of miR-629-5p also conferred 5-fluorouracil sensitivity, which was partly abrogated by coexpression of CXXC4. Overall, the results presented here suggest that miR-629-5p functions as a tumor promoter by improving proliferation and migration and repressing apoptosis and 5-FU sensitivity in colorectal cancer progression by directly down-regulating CXXC4.

The clinicopathological significance of UBE2C in breast cancer: a study based on immunohistochemistry, microarray and RNA-sequencing data

BACKGROUND

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C) has been previously reported to correlate with the malignant progression of various human cancers, however, the exact molecular function of UBE2C in breast carcinoma (BRCA) remained elusive. We aimed to investigate UBE2C expression in BRCA and its clinical significance.

METHODS

The expression of UBE2C in 209 BRCA tissue samples and 53 adjacent normal tissue samples was detected using immunohistochemistry. The clinical role of UBE2C was analyzed. Public databases including the human protein atlas and Oncomine were used to assess UBE2C expression in BRCA. Moreover, the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database was employed to investigate the prognostic value of UBE2C in BRCA.

RESULTS

The positive expression rate of UBE2C in BRCA was 70.8% (148/209), and UBE2C expression in the adjacent breast tissue was negative. The expression of UBE2C was positively correlated with tumor size (r = 0.32, P < 0.001), histological grade (r = 0.237, P = 0.001), clinical stage (r = 0.198, P = 0.004), lymph node metastasis (r = 0.155, P = 0.026), HER2 expression level (r = 0.356, P < 0.001), Ki-67 expression level (r = 0.504, P < 0.001), and P53 expression level (r = 0.32, P = 0.001). Negative correlations were found between UBE2C expression and the ER (r = - 0.403, P < 0.001) and PR (r = - 0.468, P < 0.001) status. UBE2C gene expression data from the public databases all proved that UBE2C was overexpressed in BRCA. According to the TCGA data analysis, a higher positive expression of UBE2C was associated with worse survival of BRCA patients (P = 0.0428), and data from cBioPortal indicated that 11% of all sequenced BRCA patients possessed a gene alteration of UBE2C, predominately gene amplification and mRNA regulation.

CONCLUSION

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C might pose an oncogenic effect on the progression of BRCA.