Obesity-associated miR-27a upregulation promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis through suppressing SFRP1

Rs3746444 T>C locus in miR-499 increases the susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis 14812 subjects

BACKGROUND

Recently, many investigations have suggested that the rs3746444 T>C locus in the microRNA (miR)-499 gene may contribute to the occurrence of cancer. However, reports on the association between rs3746444 and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are conflicting.

AIM

To further understand and explore the potential correlation between the single-nucleotide polymorphism of rs3746444 and the incidence of HCC.

METHODS

In this meta-analysis, we obtained electronic literature by searching the PubMed, Embase and Chinese BioMedical Disc databases (through May 20, 2022). All eligible case-control, prospective cohort or nested case-control studies with sufficient data for calculating the odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals were included.

RESULTS

Ultimately, a total of 17 independent studies were included. We identified that rs3746444 was associated with the development of HCC (C vs T: P = 0.019 and CC/CT vs TT: P = 0.016). In Asian individuals, rs3746444 was associated with susceptibility to HCC (C vs T: P = 0.013 and CC/CT vs TT: P = 0.016). In addition, this study identified that the miR-499 rs3746444 locus was associated with susceptibility to HCC in the normal/healthy control subgroup (C vs T: P = 0.034 and CC/CT vs TT: P = 0.024).

CONCLUSION

In summary, this meta-analysis highlights that rs3746444 in the miR-499 gene is involved in the occurrence of HCC, especially in Asian individuals.

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling as a Driver of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression: An Emphasis on Molecular Pathways

Liver cancers cause a high rate of death worldwide and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered as the most common primary liver cancer. HCC remains a challenging disease to treat. Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is considered a tumor-promoting factor in various cancers; hence, the present review focused on the role of Wnt signaling in HCC, and its association with progression and therapy response based on pre-clinical and clinical evidence. The nuclear translocation of β-catenin enhances expression level of genes such as c-Myc and MMPs in increasing cancer progression. The mutation of CTNNB1 gene encoding β-catenin and its overexpression can lead to HCC progression. β-catenin signaling enhances cancer stem cell features of HCC and promotes their growth rate. Furthermore, β-catenin prevents apoptosis in HCC cells and increases their migration via triggering EMT and upregulating MMP levels. It is suggested that β-catenin signaling participates in mediating drug resistance and immuno-resistance in HCC. Upstream mediators including ncRNAs can regulate β-catenin signaling in HCC. Anti-cancer agents inhibit β-catenin signaling and mediate its proteasomal degradation in HCC therapy. Furthermore, clinical studies have revealed the role of β-catenin and its gene mutation (CTNBB1) in HCC progression. Based on these subjects, future experiments can focus on developing novel therapeutics targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling in HCC therapy.

MicroRNAs: The Link between the Metabolic Syndrome and Oncogenesis

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a cluster of disorders that increase the risk of a plethora of conditions, in particular type two diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancers. MetS is a complex entity characterized by a chronic inflammatory state that implies dysregulations of adipokins and proinflammatory cytokins together with hormonal and growth factors imbalances. Of great interest is the implication of microRNA (miRNA, miR), non-coding RNA, in cancer genesis, progression, and metastasis. The adipose tissue serves as an important source of miRs, which represent a novel class of adipokines, that play a crucial role in carcinogenesis. Altered miRs secretion in the adipose tissue, in the context of MetS, might explain their implication in the oncogenesis. The interplay between miRs expressed in adipose tissue, their dysregulation and cancer pathogenesis are still intriguing, taking into consideration the fact that miRNAs show both carcinogenic and tumor suppressor effects. The aim of our review was to discuss the latest publications concerning the implication of miRs dysregulation in MetS and their significance in tumoral signaling pathways. Furthermore, we emphasized the role of miRNAs as potential target therapies and their implication in cancer progression and metastasis.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) inhibits palmitic acid (PA)-induced MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis by regulating miR-200b-3p/Chrdl1/PPARγ

Background

Obesity is closely related to osteoporosis. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) have anti-osteoporosis activity.

Objective

This study aimed to explore the role of LBPs in palmitic acid (PA)-induced osteoblast apoptosis.

Methods

The microarray data set GSE37676 was downloaded from Gene Expression Ominibus (GEO) database. Top 300 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were used to construct a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network based on STRING database, and significant modules were analyzed and their key genes were screened by using Cytoscape software. COEXPEDIA database showed that there was co-expression between Chrdl1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ). MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with 100–500 μg/mL of PA. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot assays were used to detect mRNA and protein levels. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry were used to detect cell viability and cell apoptosis.

Results

Chrdl1 was the key gene from the most significant module and downregulation in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with PA. MicroRNA miR-200b-3p and PPARγ were significantly upregulated among PA-treated MC3T3-E1 cells. The results of luciferase reporter gene assay showed that miR-200b-3p targeted Chrdl1 3’-UTR. Over-expressing miR-200b-3p promoted PA-induced cell apoptosis and inhibited cell viability. After pre-treating cells with PA and LBP, MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis rate was relatively lower than that of mimics+PA₂₀₀ group. Chrdl1 inhibition partly reversed miR-200b-3p effect on inhibiting apoptosis among MC3T3-E1 cells pre-treated with LBP and PA. Decreased C CASP3, PPARγ and increased Chrdl1 by miR-200b-3p inhibition were partly reversed by Chrdl1 inhibition.

Conclusions

LBPs inhibit PA-induced MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis by mainly decreasing miR-200b-3p to upregulate Chrdl1, but miR-200b-3p/Chrdl1/PPARγ is not the only mechanism for LBPs protecting osteoblasts from PA.

Circulating exosomal microRNAs as potential biomarkers of hepatic injury and inflammation in a murine model of glycogen storage disease type 1a

Most patients affected by glycogen storage disease type 1a (GSD1a), an inherited metabolic disorder caused by mutations in the enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase-α (G6Pase-α), develop renal and liver complications, including the development of hepatocellular adenoma/carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to identify potential biomarkers of the pathophysiology of the GSD1a-affected liver. To this end, we used the plasma exosomes of a murine model of GSD1a, the LS-G6pc ^{-/ -} mouse, to uncover the modulation in microRNA expression associated with the disease. The microRNAs differentially expressed between LS-G6pc ^-/- and wild-type mice, LS-G6pc ^-/- mice with hepatocellular adenoma and LS-G6pc ^-/- mice without adenoma, and LS-G6pc ^-/- mice with amyloidosis and LS-G6pc ^-/- mice without amyloidosis were identified. Pathway analysis demonstrated that the target genes of the differentially expressed microRNA were significantly enriched for the insulin signaling pathway, glucose and lipid metabolism, Wnt/β-catenin, telomere maintenance and hepatocellular carcinoma, and chemokine and immune regulation signaling pathways. Although some microRNAs were common to the different pathologic conditions, others were unique to the cancerous or inflammatory status of the animals. Therefore, the altered expression of several microRNAs is correlated with various pathologic liver states and might help to distinguish them during the progression of the disease and the development of late GSD1a-associated complications.

MicroRNAs and obesity-induced endothelial dysfunction: key paradigms in molecular therapy

The endothelium plays a pivotal role in maintaining vascular health. Obesity is a global epidemic that has seen dramatic increases in both adult and pediatric populations. Obesity perturbs the integrity of normal endothelium, leading to endothelial dysfunction which predisposes the patient to cardiovascular diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules that play important roles in a variety of cellular processes such as differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and stress response; their alteration contributes to the development of many pathologies including obesity. Mediators of obesity-induced endothelial dysfunction include altered endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), oxidative stress, autophagy machinery and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. All of these factors have been shown to be either directly or indirectly caused by gene regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive description of the therapeutic potential of miRNAs to treat obesity-induced endothelial dysfunction. This may lead to the identification of new targets for interventions that may prevent or delay the development of obesity-related cardiovascular disease.

Identification of cancer stem cell characteristics in liver hepatocellular carcinoma by WGCNA analysis of transcriptome stemness index

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are characterized by self-renewal and -differential potential as compared to common cancer cells and play an important role in the development and therapeutic resistance of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). However, the specific pathogenesis of LIHC stem cells is still unclear, and the genes involved in the stemness of LIHC stem cells are currently unknown. In this study, we investigated novel biomarkers associated with LIHC and explored the expression characteristics of stem cell-related genes in LIHC. We found that mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) was significantly overexpressed in liver cancer tissues. Further, mRNAsi expression in LIHC increased with the tumor pathological grade, with grade 4 tumors harboring the greatest stem cell features. Upon establishing mRNAsi scores based on mRNA expression of every gene, we found an association with poor overall survival in LIHC. Moreover, modules of interest were determined based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) inclusion criteria, and three significant modules (red, green, and brown) and 21 key genes (DCN, ECM1, HAND2, PTGIS, SFRP1, SRPX, COLEC10, GRP182, ADAMTS7, CD200, CDH11, COL8A1, FAP, LZTS1, MAP1B, NAV1, NOTCH3, OLFML2A, PRR16, TMEM119, and VCAN) were identified. Functional analysis of these 21 genes demonstrated their enrichment in pathways involved in angiogenesis, negative regulation of DNA-binding transcription factor activity, apoptosis, and autophagy. Causal relationship with proteins indicated that the Wnt, Notch, and Hypoxia pathways are closely related to LIHC tumorigenesis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a novel CSC biomarker, mRNAsi, to predict the prognosis of LIHC. Further, we identified 21 key genes through mRNA expression network analysis, which could be potential therapeutic targets to inhibit the stemness of cancer cells in LIHC.

Bioinformatic screening and experimental analysis identify SFRP1 as a prognostic biomarker for tongue squamous cell carcinomas

OBJECTIVE

To provide a prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC).

DESIGN

Screening the prognostic genes of TSCC by bioinformatics, and verifying the correlation between the above genes and the prognosis of TSCC by experiments.

RESULTS

Twenty-four common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between TSCC and the corresponding normal tissues were screened from four sets of TSCC functional gene expression series in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Further bioinformatics research based on the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) indicate that the low expression of SFRP1 might be correlated with poor prognosis of TSCC patients. By colony formation assay, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blotting, immunohistochemical staining, flowcytometry, lentivirus transfection and animal experiments, it was confirmed that the low level of SFRP1 expression correlated with poor prognosis of TSCC patients.

CONCLUSION

This study identified SFRP1 as a novel prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for TSCC.

MicroRNA-27a (miR-27a) in Solid Tumors: A Review Based on Mechanisms and Clinical Observations

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of highly conserved, non-coding single-stranded RNAs transcribed as ~70 nucleotide precursors to an 18–22 nucleotide product (1). miRNAs can silence their homologous target genes at the post-transcriptional level, and these genes have been revealed to play an important role in tumorigenesis, invasion and metastasis (2). MicroRNA-27a (miR-27a), transcripted by miR-27a gene, has proved to implicate with many kinds of solid tumors, showing potential as a useful biomarker or drug target for clinical application. However, even though miR-27a has been reported in many cancers, the mechanism and signal pathways of miR-27 in oncogenesis, invasion, and metastasis are still obscure. Moreover, recent studies show that miR-27a pays an important role in epithelial-mesenchymal-transition, regulating tumor immune response, and chemoresistance. In this review, we summarize the current literature, demonstrate the established link between miR-27a and tumorigenesis, and focus on recently identified mechanisms. The review also aims to demonstrate the potential of miR-27a as a diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarker in solid tumors and to discuss the possibilities of targeted therapy and drug design.