MicroRNA-194 regulates cell viability and apoptosis by targeting CDH2 in prostatic cancer

Identification of prostate cancer associated genes for diagnosis and prognosis: a modernized in silico approach

Prostate cancer (PCa) ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Diagnosing PCa relies on molecular markers known as diagnostic biomarkers, while prognostic biomarkers are used to identify key proteins involved in PCa treatments. This study aims to gather PCa-associated genes and assess their potential as either diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for PCa. A corpus of 152,064 PCa-related data from PubMed, spanning from May 1936 to December 2020, was compiled. Additionally, 4199 genes associated with PCa terms were collected from the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. The PubMed corpus data was extracted using pubmed.mineR to identify PCa-associated genes. Network and pathway analyses were conducted using various tools, such as STRING, DAVID, KEGG, MCODE 2.0, cytoHubba app, CluePedia, and ClueGO app. Significant marker genes were identified using Random Forest, Support Vector Machines, Neural Network algorithms, and the Cox Proportional Hazard model. This study reports 3062 unique PCa-associated genes along with 2518 corresponding unique PMIDs. Diagnostic markers such as IL6, MAPK3, JUN, FOS, ACTB, MYC, and TGFB1 were identified, while prognostic markers like ACTB and HDAC1 were highlighted in PubMed. This suggests that the potential target genes provided by PubMed data outweigh those in the NCBI database.

The Bone Microenvironment Soil in Prostate Cancer Metastasis: An miRNA Approach

Bone metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) is associated with a high risk of mortality. Changes in the expression pattern of miRNAs seem to be related to early aspects of prostate cancer, as well as its establishment and proliferation, including the necessary steps for metastasis. Here we compiled, for the first time, the important roles of miRNAs in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of bone metastasis, focusing on recent in vivo and in vitro studies. PCa exosomes are proven to promote metastasis-related events, such as osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation and proliferation. Aberrant miRNA expression in PCa may induce abnormal bone remodeling and support tumor development. Furthermore, miRNAs are capable of binding to multiple mRNA targets, a dynamic property that can be harnessed for the development of treatment tools, such as antagomiRs and miRNA mimics, which have emerged as promising candidates in PCa treatment. Finally, miRNAs may serve as noninvasive biomarkers, as they can be detected in tissue and bodily fluids, are highly stable, and show differential expression between nonmetastatic PCa and bone metastatic samples. Taken together, the findings underscore the importance of miRNA expression profiles and miRNA-based tools as rational technologies to increase the quality of life and longevity of patients.

Potential of miRNAs in Plasma Extracellular Vesicle for the Stratification of Prostate Cancer in a South African Population

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cause of cancer death among African men. The analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) in plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) can be utilized as a non-invasive tool for the diagnosis of PCa. In this study, we used small RNA sequencing to profile miRNAs cargo in plasma EVs from South African PCa patients. We evaluated the differential expression of miRNAs between low and high Gleason scores in the plasma EVs of South African patients and in the prostatic tissue from data available in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Data Portal. We identified 7 miRNAs differently expressed in both EVs and prostatic tissues. We evaluated their expression using qPCR in a larger cohort of 10 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 24 patients with PCa. Here, we reported that the ratio between two of these miRNAs (i.e., miR-194-5p/miR-16-5p) showed a higher concentration in PCa compared to BPH and in metastatic PCa compared to localized PCa. We explored for the first time the profiling of miRNAs cargo in plasma EVs as a tool for the identification of putative markers in the South African population. Our finding indicated the ratio miR-194-5p/miR-16-5p as a non-invasive marker for the evaluation of PCa aggressiveness in this population.

Exploration of the breast ductal carcinoma in situ signature and its prognostic implications

Following the implementation of breast screening programs, the occurrence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) as an early type of neoplasia has increased. Although the prognosis is promising, 20%-50% of DCIS patients will progress to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) if not treated. It is essential to look for promising biomarkers for predicting DCIS prognosis. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to explore the expression of genes that differed between DCIS and normal tissue in this investigation. Enrichment analysis was performed to characterize the biological role and intrinsic process pathway. The Cancer Genome Atlas Breast Cancer Dataset was used to categorize the hub genes, and the results were confirmed using the Cytoscape plugin CytoHubba and MCODE. The prognostic ability of the core gene signature was determined through time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC), Kaplan-Meier survival curve, Oncomine databases, and UALCAN databases. In addition, the prognostic value of core genes was verified in proliferation assays. We identified 217 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the present study, with 101 upregulated and 138 downregulated genes. The top genes were obtained from the PPI network (protein-protein interaction). A unique six-gene signature (containing GAPDH, CDH2, BIRC5, NEK2, IDH2, and MELK) was developed for DCIS prognostic prediction. Centered on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort, the ROC curve showed strong results in prognosis prediction. The six core gene signatures is often overexpressed in DCIS, with a weak prognosis. Furthermore, when breast cancer cells are transfected with small interfering RNAs, downregulation of core gene expression substantially inhibits cell proliferation, revealing a high potential for employing core genes in DCIS prognosis. In conclusion, the current investigation verified the six core genes signatures for prospective DCIS biomarkers, which may aid clinical decision-making for individual care.

hsa_circ_0000285 facilitates thyroid cancer progression by regulating miR-127-5p/CDH2

Thyroid cancer (THCA) is a leading endocrine cancer and becomes the fifth most commonly diagnosed malignancy in females. It is confirmed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) perform regulatory potencies in the pathological progress of THCA. Our purpose was to certify the trait of hsa_circ_0000285 (circ_0000285) and investigate its modulatory mechanism in THCA progression. We identified the expression profile of hsa_circ_0000285 in THCA by conducting qRT-PCR assay. Therewith, the potential of hsa_circ_0000285 in THCA development was determined with a set of functional experiments, including CCK-8, wound healing assay, Western blot, and xenograft model. The molecular mechanism underlying hsa_circ_0000285 was investigated with bioinformatic analysis, RIP and dual-luciferase reporter experiments. As opposed to normal samples and cells, hsa_circ_0000285 level was overtly increased in THCA specimens and cells. The downregulation of hsa_circ_0000285 weakened the proliferative and migratory capacity of THCA cells and promoted cell apoptosis. In addition, hsa_circ_0000285 silence suppressed the tumor growth of xenograft model mice in vivo. Notably, we demonstrated that hsa_circ_0000285 might target miR-127-5p/CDH2 axis in THCA. Afterward, our findings manifested that miR-127-5p attenuation blocked the function of hsa_circ_0000285 depletion in THCA cells. In the final step, CDH2 was proven to mediate the repressive potency of miR-127-5p in the malignant behaviors of THCA. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0000285 induced the development of THCA via functioning as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-127-5p to enhance CDH2 expression, which provided a new perspective for THCA therapy.

Small interfering RNA targeting N-cadherin regulates cell proliferation and migration in enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer

Enzalutamide is one of the options for treating patients with castration-resistant or metastatic prostate cancer. However, a substantial proportion of patients become resistant to enzalutamide after a period of treatment. Cells in these tumors typically exhibit increased proliferative and migratory capabilities, in which N-cadherin (CDH2) appear to serve an important role. In the present study, by up- and downregulating the expression of CDH2, the possible effects of CDH2 on the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP were investigated. Male sex hormone-sensitive LNCaP cells treated with 10 µM enzalutamide were named LNCaP enzalutamide-resistant (EnzaR) cells. Reverse transcription-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were used to measure CDH2, E-cadherin, α-SMA, Snail and Slug expression. Transfection with the pCMV-CDH2 plasmid was performed for CDH2 upregulation, whilst transfection with small interfering RNA (siRNA)-CDH2 was performed for CDH2 downregulation. MTT and Cell Counting Kit-4 assays were used to evaluate the proportion of viable cancer cells. Subsequently, gap closure assay was performed to evaluate the migratory capability of both LNCaP and LNCaP EnzaR cell lines. CDH2 expression was found to be increased in LNCaP EnzaR cells compared with that in LNCaP cells. CDH2 overexpression increased cell viability and migration in both LNCaP and LNCaP EnzaR cell lines. By contrast, the opposite trend was observed after CDH2 expression was knocked down. CDH2 expression also showed a high association with that of four epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers, which was confirmed by western blotting. Based on these results, it was concluded that knocking down CDH2 expression using siRNA transfection mediated significant influence on LNCaP EnzaR cell physiology, which may be a potential therapeutic option for prostate cancer treatment.

Identification and verification of the molecular mechanisms and prognostic values of the cadherin gene family in gastric cancer

While cadherin (CDH) genes are aberrantly expressed in cancers, the functions of CDH genes in gastric cancer (GC) remain poorly understood. The clinical significance and molecular mechanisms of CDH genes in GC were assessed in this study. Data from a total of 1226 GC patients included in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Kaplan–Meier plotter database were used to independently explore the value of CDH genes in clinical application. The TCGA RNA sequencing dataset was used to explore the molecular mechanisms of CDH genes in GC. Using enrichment analysis tools, CDH genes were found to be related to cell adhesion and calcium ion binding in function. In TCGA cohort, 12 genes were found to be differentially expressed between GC para-carcinoma and tumor tissue. By analyzing GC patients in two independent cohorts, we identified and verified that CDH2, CDH6, CDH7 and CDH10 were significantly associated with a poor GC prognosis. In addition, CDH2 and CDH6 were used to construct a GC risk score signature that can significantly improve the accuracy of predicting the 5-year survival of GC patients. The GSEA approach was used to explore the functional mechanisms of the four prognostic CDH genes and their associated risk scores. It was found that these genes may be involved in multiple classic cancer-related signaling pathways, such as the Wnt and phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling pathways in GC. In the subsequent CMap analysis, three small molecule compounds (anisomycin, nystatin and bumetanide) that may be the target molecules that determine the risk score in GC, were initially screened. In conclusion, our current study suggests that four CDH genes can be used as potential biomarkers for GC prognosis. In addition, a prognostic signature based on the CDH2 and CDH6 genes was constructed, and their potential functional mechanisms and drug interactions explored.

Regulation of Neuroendocrine-like Differentiation in Prostate Cancer by Non-Coding RNAs

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) represents a variant of prostate cancer that occurs in response to treatment resistance or, to a much lesser extent, de novo. Unravelling the molecular mechanisms behind transdifferentiation of cancer cells to neuroendocrine-like cancer cells is essential for development of new treatment opportunities. This review focuses on summarizing the role of small molecules, predominantly microRNAs, in this phenomenon. A published literature search was performed to identify microRNAs, which are reported and experimentally validated to modulate neuroendocrine markers and/or regulators and to affect the complex neuroendocrine phenotype. Next, available patients’ expression datasets were surveyed to identify deregulated microRNAs, and their effect on NEPC and prostate cancer progression is summarized. Finally, possibilities of miRNA detection and quantification in body fluids of prostate cancer patients and their possible use as liquid biopsy in prostate cancer monitoring are discussed. All the addressed clinical and experimental contexts point to an association of NEPC with upregulation of miR-375 and downregulation of miR-34a and miR-19b-3p. Together, this review provides an overview of different roles of non-coding RNAs in the emergence of neuroendocrine prostate cancer.

MiR-145 suppresses the motility of prostate cancer cells by targeting cadherin-2

Metastasis is the main cause of poor prognosis in the advanced prostate cancer in clinic. Accumulating evidences have proposed that cell motility greatly contributes to the multiple steps of the metastatic process. MicroRNA-145 (miR-145) has been found to be downregulated in prostate cancer and serve as a putative tumor suppressor via decrease of cell growth and augmentation of cell death; however, the effects and the underlying mechanisms of miR-145 in prostate cancer cell motility have not been completely clarified. In the current study, we first demonstrated that miR-145 exerted inhibitory effects on the aggressive phenotype of the prostate cancer cells. Based on the bioinformatics analysis of the putative target genes of miR-145, we further experimentally identified a novel mechanism of miR-145 suppressing the aggressive phenotype of prostate cancer cells via directly targeting cadherin-2 (CDH2) protein translation. Re-expression of CDH2 could rescue miR-145-triggered cell migration and invasion defects. Our results suggested that miR-145 suppressed the motility of prostate cancer cells via post-transcriptional downregulation of CDH2 expression, and miR-145-CDH2 pair might serve as a potential target for intervention of prostate cancer metastasis.

Transcriptional Profiling Reveals the Regulatory Role of DNER in Promoting Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Wnt/β-catenin and NOTCH signaling contribute to the pathogenesis and growth of (PanNENs). The wnt and Notch signaling pathways form an integrated signaling device termed "wntch" and regulate stochastic cell fate decisions, suggesting the essentiality of Wnt/Notch interactions in disease progression. However, the function of Wnt/Notch interactions in PanNENs is unclear. We analyzed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs, mRNAs and pathways according to enriched Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways associated with PanNENs. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the levels of the lncRNA XLOC_221242 and the mRNA encoding Delta/Notch-like epidermal growth factor (EGF)-related receptor (DNER) were significantly increased in tumor tissues compared with normal tissues (n = 3). Protein-protein interaction (PPI) prediction combined with transcriptional profiling data analysis revealed that DNER expression levels were positively correlated with those of DNA-binding factor (RBPJ), S phase kinase-associated protein 1 (Skp1), CTNNB1 and Cadherin-2 (CDH2), which promote PanNEN tumorigenesis and progression. These results were consistent with those of immunohistochemical analysis of DNER, RBPJ, SKP1, CTNNB1, and CDH2 expression (n = 15). These findings provide compelling clinical and molecular evidence supporting the conclusion that DNER and the related RBPJ, SKP1, CTNNB1, and CDH2 signaling contribute to PanNEN tumorigenesis and progression by activating wnt/Notch interactions.

LncRNA JPX overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma drives malignancy via miR-944/CDH2 axis

OBJECTIVES

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common head and neck cancer with high incidence. Numerous reports have elucidated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve as crucial regulatory factors in various diseases including cancer. Nonetheless, the role of lncRNA JPX in OSCC is still not elaborated.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In our research, we detected the expression of lncRNA JPX through qRT-PCR. Colony formation, EdU staining, Transwell, TUNEL, and caspase-3 activity assays were applied for estimating the function of lncRNA JPX in OSCC. RIP, pull-down, and luciferase reporter experiments were adopted to examine the interrelations between lncRNA JPX, miR-944, and CDH2.

RESULTS

LncRNA JPX was discovered as highly expressed in OSCC cells. Silencing lncRNA JPX restrained OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Interestingly, lncRNA JPX bound with miR-944 and then augmented CDH2 via a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism. Importantly, overexpressed CDH2 recovered the suppression of silenced lncRNA JPX on the oncogenic behaviors of OSCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

In short, lncRNA JPX contributes to OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via miR-944/CDH2 axis, which offers a new direction for potential targeted treatment of OSCC.

miR-194-5p negatively regulates the proliferation and differentiation of rabbit skeletal muscle satellite cells

Skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs), also known as a multipotential stem cell population, play a crucial role during muscle growth and regeneration. In recent years, numerous miRNAs have been associated with the proliferation and differentiation of SMSCs in a number of mammalian species; however, the regulatory mechanisms of miR-194-5p in rabbit SMSCs still remain scarce. In this study, miR-194-5p was first observed to be highly expressed in the rabbit leg muscle. Furthermore, both the mimics and inhibitor of miR-194-5p were used to explore its role in the proliferation and differentiation of rabbit SMSCs cultured in vitro. Results from both EdU and CCK8 assays showed that miR-194-5p inhibited the proliferation of SMSCs. Meanwhile, Mef2c was identified as a target gene of miR-194-5p based on the dual-luciferase reporter assay results. In addition, upregulation of miR-194-5p decreased the expression levels of Mef2c and MyoG during rabbit SMSCs differentiation on Days 3 and 7 of in vitro culture. Taken together, these data demonstrated that miR-194-5p negatively regulates the proliferation and differentiation of rabbit SMSCs by targeting Mef2c.

Knockdown of lncRNA ZNRD1-AS1 inhibits progression of bladder cancer by regulating miR-194 and ZEB1

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common urinary neoplasm with high incidence worldwide. Long noncoding RNA zinc ribbon domain containing 1 antisense RNA 1 (ZNRD1-AS1) has been reported to be upregulated in BC. However, the exact role of ZNRD1-AS1 as well as its mechanism remains poorly understood.

METHODS

Zinc ribbon domain containing 1 antisense RNA 1, and its potential downstream genes microRNA-194 (miR-194) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) levels were detected via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blot. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were detected to assess the influences of ZNRD1-AS1, miR-194 and ZEB1 on BC cells by colony formation, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell analysis or western blot. The relationship between miR-194 and ZNRD1-AS1 or ZEB1 was analyzed by luciferase activity analysis. The xenograft experiment was performed to assess the function of ZNRD1-AS1 in vivo.

RESULTS

Zinc ribbon domain containing 1 antisense RNA 1level was upregulated in BC. ZNRD1-AS1 silence repressed proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT in BC cells. MiR-194 was identified as a target of ZNRD1-AS1, and miR-194 upregulation repressed proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT by ZNRD1-AS1 sponging. ZEB1 was targeted via miR-194 and its interference impeded proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT. Moreover, ZNRD1-AS1 regulated ZEB1 expression via miR-194. Besides, inhibition of ZNRD1-AS1 attenuated tumor growth by miR-194/ZEB1 axis in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Knockdown of ZNRD1-AS1 suppressed BC cell development in vitro and in vivo via targeting miR-194 to regulate ZEB1, indicating a novel avenue for treatment of BC.

Reciprocal Feedback Loop of the MALAT1-MicroRNA-194-YAP1 Pathway Regulates Progression of Acute Pancreatitis

Background

Acute pancreatitis (AP) has a high mortality rate and often has serious complications. The Hippo-YAP signaling pathway is mainly involved in cell proliferation and stem cell self-renewal. Recent studies have reported that YAP1 plays a crucial role in pancreatic cancer initiation and acute and chronic pancreatitis (CP). However, the role of YAP1 in AP still needs to be clarified.

Material/Methods

To assess the role of YAP1 in the progression of AP, we established a cell model of AP in AR42J cells. AR42J, a rat pancreatic acinar cell line, was stimulated with caerulein to mimic AP-like acinar cell injury. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA to investigate the role of YAP1 in the progression of AP.

Results

The results showed that YAP1 and MALAT1 were the targets of miR-194 and were upregulated in caerulein-treated AR42J cells. Overexpression of MALAT1 or YAP1 can increase the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α secreted by AR42J cells, while miR-194 dramatically counteracts this enhancement effect.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated a regulation loop among MATAL1, miR-194, and YAP1, which dynamically regulates the progression of AP, providing a new therapeutic target for treatment of this disease.

CDH2 gene rs11564299 polymorphism is a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis in a Chinese population: a case-control study

Background

Cadherin-2 (CDH2) gene polymorphisms were reported to be associated with the induction and development of knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

This case–control study was designed to explore the association between CDH2 gene rs11564299 polymorphism and the risk of knee OA in Chinese subjects. The polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing.

Results

G allele or GG genotype of CDH2 gene rs11564299 polymorphism was related to increased risk for knee OA in the Chinese Han population. Additionally, subgroup analyses indicated that the female, smoker, drinker, and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² groups showed increased risk for knee OA. Additionally, this polymorphism was associated with CRP and Kellgren–Lawrence grade.

Conclusion

In summary, this current study reveals that CDH2 gene rs11564299 polymorphism is a risk factor for knee OA development in this Chinese population. The genotypes distribution differed significantly among OA patients and healthy controls and may be a useful tool in the evaluation of OA susceptibility in Chinese Han population.

The downregulation of miR-519a predicts poor prognosis and contributes to tumor progression in gastric cancer

INTRODUCTION

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been demonstrated to be involved in the pathogenesis of various human cancers. However, the role of microRNA-519a (miR-519a) in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the clinical value and biological function of miR-519a in GC.

METHODS

The expression of miR-519a in GC tissues and cell lines was estimated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A survival analysis for GC patients was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox regression analysis was used to confirm the prognostic value of miR-519a. The biological function and potential targets of miR-519a in GC progression were assessed using cell experiments.

RESULTS

In this study, we found that miR-519a was an important tumor suppressor with downregulated expression in GC tissues and cells compared with the normal controls (all P < 0.05). MiR-519a expression was inversely correlated with differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and patients' TNM stages. Decreased miR-519a expression was associated with the poor overall survival of GC patients (log-rank P = 0.002) and served as an independent prognostic biomarker for the patients. The in vitro analyses indicated that miR-519a overexpression in GC cells resulted in inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and IGFBP1 was determined to be a direct target of miR-519a.

CONCLUSION

All the data in the present study revealed that the downregulated expression of miR-519a predicts the poor prognosis of GC and is involved in the regulation of GC progression. We consider that miR-519a may be a candidate therapeutic target for GC treatment.