miR-30b-3p Inhibits Proliferation and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Suppressing PI3K/Akt Pathway

The biological function of miR-128-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma and its molecular mechanism functioning

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the major type of primary liver cancers, which is a most prevalent malignancy, as well as seriously threatens people's life and health. MiR-128-2 was reported to be associated with several human cancers, and is participated in the pathogenesis and development of cancers. Our research was performed to explore the expression profile and diagnostic significance of miR-128-2 in HCC.

METHODS

The serum miR-128-2 expression was measured in 130 HCC subjects and 118 healthy people using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. Chi-square (ÿ2) test was utilized to estimate the relationship of miR-128-2 level with clinicopathological characteristic. In addition, the diagnostic accuracy of miR-128-2 in HCC was estimated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy individuals, the level of miR-128-2 was obviously up-regulated in HCC cases (P < 0.01). And its level was closely related to AFP level (P = 0.013), TNM stage (P = 0.009) and differentiation (P = 0.036). Nevertheless, there was no obvious relationship with age, gender, tumor size, HBV status, ALT or metastasis (all P > 0.05). According to the ROC curve, serum miR-128-2 had a high value in discriminating HCC cases from control individuals, with a AUC value of 0.880 combing with the sensitivity of 79.2% and the specificity of 83.9%.

CONCLUSION

The serum level of miR-128-2 in cases with HCC was obviously increased, which was related to the malignant progression of HCC. Due to the reasonable sensitivity and specificity, miR-128-2 might be as a new and effective marker for the diagnosis of HCC.

Intricate confrontation: Research progress and application potential of TRIM family proteins in tumor immune escape

BACKGROUND

Tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins have more than 80 members and are widely found in various eukaryotic cells. Most TRIM family proteins participate in the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation system as E3-ubiquitin ligases; therefore, they play pivotal regulatory roles in the occurrence and development of tumors, including tumor immune escape. Due to the diversity of functional domains of TRIM family proteins, they can extensively participate in multiple signaling pathways of tumor immune escape through different substrates. In current research and clinical contexts, immune escape has become an urgent problem. The extensive participation of TRIM family proteins in curing tumors or preventing postoperative recurrence and metastasis makes them promising targets.

AIM OF REVIEW

The aim of the review is to make up for the gap in the current research on TRIM family proteins and tumor immune escape and propose future development directions according to the current progress and problems.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

This up-to-date review summarizes the characteristics and biological functions of TRIM family proteins, discusses the mechanisms of TRIM family proteins involved in tumor immune escape, and highlights the specific mechanism from the level of structure-function-molecule-pathway-phenotype, including mechanisms at the level of protein domains and functions, at the level of molecules and signaling pathways, and at the level of cells and microenvironments. We also discuss the application potential of TRIM family proteins in tumor immunotherapy, such as possible treatment strategies for combination targeting TRIM family protein drugs and checkpoint inhibitors for improving cancer treatment.

Deciphering roles of TRIMs as promising targets in hepatocellular carcinoma: current advances and future directions

Tripartite motif (TRIM) family is assigned to RING-finger-containing ligases harboring the largest number of proteins in E3 ubiquitin ligating enzymes. E3 ubiquitin ligases target the specific substrate for proteasomal degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), which seems to be a more effective and direct strategy for tumor therapy. Recent advances have demonstrated that TRIM genes associate with the occurrence and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TRIMs trigger or inhibit multiple biological activities like proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, ferroptosis and autophagy in HCC dependent on its highly conserved yet diverse structures. Remarkably, autophagy is another proteolytic pathway for intracellular protein degradation and TRIM proteins may help to delineate the interaction between the two proteolytic systems. In depth research on the precise molecular mechanisms of TRIM family will allow for targeting TRIM in HCC treatment. We also highlight several potential directions warranted further development associated with TRIM family to provide bright insight into its translational values in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aflatoxin B1 affects porcine alveolar macrophage growth through the calcium signaling pathway mediated by the ceRNA regulatory network

BACKGROUND

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), one of the most prevalent contaminants in human and animal food, impairs the immune system, but information on the mechanisms of AFB1-mediated macrophage toxicity is still lacking.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, for the first time, we employed whole transcriptome sequencing technology to explore the molecular mechanism by which AFB1 affects the growth of porcine alveolar macrophages (PAM). We found that AFB1 exposure reduced the proliferative capacity of PAM and prevented cell cycle progression. Based on whole transcriptome analysis, RT-qPCR, ICC and RNAi, we verified the role and regulatory mechanism of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in the process of AFB1 exposure affecting the growth of PAM.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that AFB1 induced MSTRG.43,583, MSTRG.67,490, MSTRG.84,995, and MSTRG.89,935 to competitively bind miR-219a, miR-30b-3p, and miR-30c-1-3p, eliminating the inhibition of its target genes CACNA1S, RYR3, and PRKCG. This activated the calcium signaling pathway to regulate the growth of PAM. These results provide valuable information on the mechanism of AFB1 exposure induced impairment of macrophage function in humans and animals.

TRIM27-USP7 complex promotes tumour progression via STAT3 activation in human hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

TRIM27 is stabilized by binding to USP7 and mediates tumour progression in several cancers; however, the roles of TRIM27-USP7 complex on STAT3 activation in HCC are unknown.

METHODS

Regulations and functions of TRIM27 for activating STAT3 in HCC were assessed using 207 HCC samples or HCC cells.

RESULTS

TRIM27 expression was increased in some cases of HCC. High TRIM27 expression was an independent predictor for poor prognosis in HCC after surgery. It was correlated with the expression of EpCAM, vimentin, MMP-9, and activation of STAT3 in HCC. TRIM27 expression was correlated with USP7 expression, and HCC with high TRIM27 expression together with high USP7 expression showed enhanced STAT3 activation, resulting in poorer prognosis. p-JAK1 expression was correlated with STAT3 activation in HCC with high TRIM27 expression. In vitro, USP7 knockdown decreased TRIM27 expression, suggesting that USP7 was essential for TRIM27 stabilization. Knocking down of TRIM27 or USP7 suppressed STAT3 activation and overexpression of TRIM27 accelerated STAT3 activation; therefore, the formation of TRIM27-USP7 complex was needed for STAT3 activation, which led to aggressive tumour proliferation and invasion by enhancing EMT and CSC-like property. Binding of JAK1 to TRIM27-USP7 complex was confirmed in vitro. Deletion of TRIM27-USP7 complex by USP7 inhibitor significantly inhibited tumour cell invasion by suppressing STAT3 activation.

CONCLUSIONS

TRIM27 is stabilized by binding to USP7 and is related to aggressive tumour progression in HCC via STAT3 activation, resulting in poor prognosis after operation. Therefore, TRIM27-USP7 complex is a useful prognostic predictor and a promising therapeutic target for HCC.

lncRNA PDCD4-AS1 Promotes the Progression of Glioma by Regulating miR-30b-3p/METTL7B Signaling

Background

Gliomas are the most common and most malignant primary tumors of the adult central nervous system, but their etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear. This study was aimed at investigating the expression and function of lncRNA PDCD4-AS1 in glioma and elucidating the mechanism by which PDCD4-AS1 regulates the biological features of glioma.

Method

The expression of PDCD4-AS1 was determined by bioinformatic analysis and qRT-PCR assay. PDCD4-AS1 was knocked down in glioma cells using siRNA transfection. The functional analysis of cells was conducted using CCK-8 proliferation, cell migration, and invasion assays, as well as cell cycle analysis. An in vivo tumorigenesis assay was performed to investigate the role of PDCD4-AS1 knockdown in glioma tumor growth. We performed bioinformatic analysis, RNA pull-down, and luciferase reporter assays to investigate the downstream targets of PDCD4-AS1. A rescue experiment was then performed to confirm the regulating mechanism.

Results

PDCD4-AS1 was found to be significantly upregulated in glioma patients' tumor tissues and cell lines. The silencing of PDCD4-AS1 inhibited glioma cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and induced cell cycle arrest. In vivo experiments showed that silencing PDCD4-AS1 inhibited glioma tumor growth. An investigation of the underlying mechanism suggested that PDCD4-AS1 positively regulated METTL7B expression by sponging miR-30b-3. Both the knockdown of miR-30b-3p and the overexpression of METTL7B could, respectively, reverse the malignant phenotype of cells affected by silencing PDCD4-AS1.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that PDCD4-AS1 exerted an oncogenic role by regulating the miR-30b-3p/METTL7B axis.

Circ_0091579 exerts an oncogenic role in hepatocellular carcinoma via mediating miR-136-5p/TRIM27

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) act as crucial regulators in tumorigenesis. In this study, the working mechanism of circ_0091579 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression was investigated.

METHODS

The expression of RNA and protein was measured via RT-qPCR and Western blot assay. Cell proliferation ability was analyzed via CCK8, EdU and colony formation assays. Cell migration and invasion abilities were detected via transwell assays. Flow cytometry was applied to assess cell cycle and apoptosis. The target relation between miR-136-5p and circ_0091579 or tripartite motif containing 27 (TRIM27) was certified using dual-luciferase reporter assay. Xenograft tumor model was utilized to assess the role of circ_0091579 in tumor growth in vivo. The protein level of Ki67 in tumor tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay.

RESULTS

Circ_0091579 expression was elevated in HCC tissues and cell lines. HCC patients with high circ_0091579 expression displayed low survival rate. Circ_0091579 knockdown suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and induced apoptosis of HCC cells. Circ_0091579 acted as a molecular sponge for miR-136-5p, and circ_0091579 silencing-mediated effects were largely overturned by the knockdown of miR-136-5p in HCC cells. MiR-136-5p interacted with the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of TRIM27, and TRIM27 overexpression largely counteracted miR-136-5p overexpression-induced influences in HCC cells. Circ_0091579 sponged miR-136-5p to up-regulate TRIM27 expression in HCC cells. Circ_0091579 silencing suppressed xenograft tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0091579 exhibited an oncogenic role to enhance the malignant potential of HCC cells through mediating miR-136-5p/TRIM27 axis in vitro and in vivo.

TRIM27 is an adverse prognostic biomarker and associated with immune and molecular profiles in right-sided colon cancer

Right-sided colon cancer (RCC), as an independent tumor entity, shows a poor prognosis. It is imperative to detect immune microenvironment-related genes for predicting RCC patient prognosis and study their function in RCC. Tripartite motif-containing 27 (TRIM27) was identified as a risk signature from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets by using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, differentially expressed analysis, and univariate Cox analysis. It predicted a poorer overall survival and increased lymph node metastasis, which were then validated in our 48 clinical samples. Using immunohistochemistry, TRIM27 was found to be highly expressed in both cancer cells and surrounding immunocytes, and its expression in tumor or immune cells both predicted a poorer prognosis. Thereafter, the functional mechanism, immune and molecular characteristics of TRIM27 were investigated using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) at the single-cell, somatic mutation, and RNA-seq level. Patients with highly expressed TRIM27 presented lower CD4⁺ T cell infiltration and activation of the mTORC1/glycolysis pathway. In addition, patients with highly expressed TRIM27 were characterized by hypermetabolism, higher tumor purity, more BRAF mutation, and more chromosomal instability. Collectively, TRIM27 is an important immune-related prognostic biomarker in patients with RCC. It may function via activating the mTORC1/glycolysis pathway and suppressing CD4⁺ T cells. These results indicated that TRIM27 could be a promising therapeutic target in RCC.

Liver transcriptomics reveals microRNA features of the host response in a mouse model of dengue virus infection

BACKGROUND

Organ dysfunction, especially liver injury, caused by dengue virus (DENV) infection has been associated with fatal cases in dengue patients around the world. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms of liver involvement in dengue remain unclear. There is accumulating evidence that miRNAs are playing an important role in regulating viral pathogenesis, and it can help in diagnostic and anti-viral therapies development.

METHODS

We collected liver tissues of DENV-infected for small RNA sequencing to identify significantly different express miRNAs during dengue virus infection, and the identified target genes of these miRNAs were annotated by biological function and pathway enrichment.

RESULTS

31 significantly altered miRNAs were identified, including 16 up-regulated and 15 down-regulated miRNAs. By performing a series of miRNA prediction and signaling pathway enrichment analyses, the down-regulated miRNAs of mmu-miR-484, mmu-miR-1247-5p and mmu-miR-6538 were identified to be the crucial miRNAs. Further analysis revealed that the inflammation and immune responses involving Hippo, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, Wnt, mTOR, TGF-beta, Tight junction, and Platelet activation were modulated collectively by these three key miRNAs during DENV infection. These pathways are considered to be closely associated with the pathogenic mechanism and treatment strategy of dengue patients.

CONCLUSION

The miRNAs identified by sequencing, especially miR-484 may be the potential therapeutic targets for liver involvement in dengue patients which involves the regulation of vascular permeability and expression of inflammatory cytokines.

[miR-30b-3p Inhibits the Proliferation and Invasion of Lung Adenocarcinoma by Targeting COX6B1]

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common clinical histological subtype of lung cancer and microRNAs (miRNAs) are a type of small non-coding RNAs which play a central role in cells. miR-30b-3p plays a key effect in many types of carcinoma, but there is still very little research on how it works in lung adenocarcinoma. The role and mechanism of miR-30b-3p in the proliferation and invasion of LUAD were explored in this study, to provide new targets for inhibiting the proliferation and invasion of LUAD.

METHODS

NCBI database was used to screen out miRNA with obvious differential expression, and the differential expression and survival curve were searched by StarBase database. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the relative expression of miR-30b-3p in each lung adenocarcinoma cell line. 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) cell proliferation assay and Transwell invasion assay were used to detect the proliferation and invasion of A549 cells in each group. The target genes of miR-30b-3p were determined by the target gene prediction websites. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of COX6B1 in each group of A549 cells. Double luciferase assay was used to verify the targeted binding relationship between miR-30b-3p and COX6B1.

RESULTS

The expression of miR-30b-3p in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and lung adenocarcinoma cells was downregulated (P<0.05). Low expression levels of miR-30b-3p were associated with poor prognosis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (P=0.005,8). Overexpression of miR-30b-3p could inhibit the proliferation and the invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells (P<0.05). Double luciferase assay proved that miR-30b-3p could target and bind to COX6B1 (P<0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the overexpression of miR-30b-3p could downregulate the expression of COX6B1 in A549 cells (P<0.05). EdU cell proliferation assay and Transwell invasion assay showed that the overexpression of miR-30b-3p could reverse the promoting effect of upregulation of COX6B1 on proliferation and invasion in lung adenocarcinoma cells (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

miR-30b-3p acts as a tumor suppressor gene in lung adenocarcinoma, and it can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma by targeting the expression of COX6B1.

Circ_0030998 Restrains Cisplatin Resistance Through Mediating miR-1323/PDCD4 Axis in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

We aimed to explore the underlying mechanism behind the cisplatin (DDP) resistance of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells to identify novel potential therapeutic targets to overcome chemoresistance. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot assay were applied to analyze RNA and protein expression, respectively. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay was conducted to analyze the DDP resistance of NSCLC cells. Colony formation assay and 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay were performed to analyze cell proliferation ability. Flow cytometry was applied to assess cell apoptosis. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by transwell assays. Cell glycolytic metabolism was analyzed using commercial kits. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were performed to test the intermolecular target relations. Circular RNA_0030998 (circ_0030998) was down-regulated in DDP-resistant NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Circ_0030998 overexpression restrained the DDP resistance, proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolytic metabolism and triggered the apoptosis of NSCLC cells. Circ_0030998 overexpression contributed to the anti-tumor effect of DDP in the growth of xenograft tumor in vivo. MicroRNA-1323 (miR-1323) was a molecular target of circ_0030998 in NSCLC cells. Circ_0030998 overexpression-mediated effects on the DDP resistance and malignant properties of NSCLC cells were largely based on its negative regulation of miR-1323. MiR-1323 interacted with programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4). Circ_0030998 positively regulated PDCD4 expression partly through sponging miR-1323. MiR-1323 silencing restrained DDP resistance and progression of NSCLC partly through up-regulating PDCD4. Circ_0030998 suppressed DDP resistance and NSCLC progression depending on the regulation of miR-1323/PDCD4 axis.

Knockdown of lncRNA LINC00662 suppresses malignant behaviour of osteosarcoma cells via competition with miR-30b-3p to regulate ELK1 expression

Purpose

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone malignancy that mainly occurred in teenagers. This investigation is aimed to clarify the effect of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00662 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion in osteosarcoma and explore the underlying action mechanisms.

Methods

The mRNA expression of LINC00662 was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, wound healing, and transwell assays, respectively. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to validate the target relationships Between microRNA (miR)-30b-3p and LINC00662/ ETS domain-containing protein 1 (ELK1). Western blotting was performed to determine the protein expression of ELK1. Xenograft model was established to evaluate the effects of LINC00662 silencing on tumor growth in vivo.

Results

LncRNA LINC00662 and ELK1 were significantly increased, while miR-30b-3p was reduced in osteosarcoma tissues. The results of functional experiments indicated that transfection of small hairpin (sh)-LINC00662 and miR-30b-3p mimics repressed the migration, invasion, and proliferation of osteosarcoma cells. LncRNA LINC00662 also appeared to sponge miR-30b-3p in order to affect the expression of ELK1. Simultaneously, there were weak negative correlations between the expression of miR-30b-3p and LINC00662/ELK1 in osteosarcoma tissues. Rescue experiments suggested that ELK1 overexpression and downregulation of miR-30b-3p reversed the suppressive effects of sh-LINC00662 on the cell migration, invasion, and proliferation in osteosarcoma.

Conclusions

The current study indicated that knockdown of LINC00662 repressed cell migration, invasion, and proliferation through sponging miR-30b-3p to regulate the expression of ELK1 in osteosarcoma. These results may uncover a promising target for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

Characterization of the microRNA Expression Profiles in the Goat Kid Liver

The liver is the largest digestive gland in goats with an important role in early metabolic function development. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are crucial for regulating the development and metabolism in the goat liver. In the study, we sequenced the miRNAs in the liver tissues of the goat kid to further research their regulation roles in early liver development. The liver tissues were procured at 5-time points from the Laiwu black goats of 1 day (D1), 2 weeks (W2), 4 weeks (W4), 8 weeks (W8), and 12 weeks (W12) after birth, respectively with five goats per time point, for a total of 25 goats. Our study identified 214 differential expression miRNAs, and the expression patterns of 15 randomly selected miRNAs were examined among all five age groups. The Gene ontology annotation results showed that differential expression miRNA (DE miRNA) target genes were significantly enriched in the fatty acid synthase activity, toxin metabolic process, cell surface, and antibiotic metabolic process. The KEGG analysis result was significantly enriched in steroid hormone synthesis and retinol metabolism pathways. Further miRNA-mRNA regulation network analysis reveals 9 differently expressed miRNA with important regulation roles. Overall, the DE miRNAs were mainly involved in liver development, lipid metabolism, toxin related metabolism-related biological process, and pathways. Our results provide new information about the molecular mechanisms and pathways in the goat kid liver development.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Prognostic Values of the TRIM Family in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Accumulating studies have demonstrated the abnormal expressions and prognostic values of certain members of the tripartite motif (TRIM) family in diverse cancers. However, comprehensive prognostic values of the TRIM family in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are yet to be clearly defined.

Methods

The prognostic values of the TRIM family were evaluated by survival analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis based on gene expression data and clinical data of HCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. The expression profiles, protein–protein interaction among the TRIM family, prediction of transcription factors (TFs) or miRNAs, genetic alterations, correlations with the hallmarks of cancer and immune infiltrates, and pathway enrichment analysis were explored by multiple public databases. Further, a TRIM family gene-based signature for predicting overall survival (OS) in HCC was built by using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. TCGA–Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (LIHC) cohort was used as the training set, and GSE76427 was used for external validation. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and survival analysis were used to estimate the signature. Finally, a nomogram combining the TRIM family risk score and clinical parameters was established.

Results

High expressions of TRIM family members including TRIM3, TRIM5, MID1, TRIM21, TRIM27, TRIM32, TRIM44, TRIM47, and TRIM72 were significantly associated with HCC patients’ poor OS. A novel TRIM family gene-based signature (including TRIM5, MID1, TRIM21, TRIM32, TRIM44, and TRIM47) was built for OS prediction in HCC. ROC curves suggested the signature’s good performance in OS prediction. HCC patients in the high-risk group had poorer OS than the low-risk patients based on the signature. A nomogram integrating the TRIM family risk score, age, and TNM stage was established. The ROC curves suggested that the signature presented better discrimination than the similar model without the TRIM family risk score.

Conclusion

Our study identified the potential application values of the TRIM family for outcome prediction in HCC.

ITGB1-DT/ARNTL2 axis may be a novel biomarker in lung adenocarcinoma: a bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is one of the most lethal malignant tumors that endangers human health. Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has increased dramatically in recent decades, accounting for nearly 40% of all lung cancer cases. Increasing evidence points to the importance of the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) intrinsic mechanism in various human cancers. However, behavioral characteristics of the ceRNA network in lung adenocarcinoma need further study.

METHODS

Groups based on SLC2A1 expression were used in this study to identify associated ceRNA networks and potential prognostic markers in lung adenocarcinoma. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to obtain the patients' lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA expression profiles, as well as clinical data. Informatics techniques were used to investigate the effect of hub genes on prognosis. The Cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the prognostic effect of hub genes. The methylation, GSEA, and immune infiltration analyses were utilized to explore the potential mechanisms of the hub gene. The CCK-8, transwell, and colony formation assays were performed to detect the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells.

RESULTS

We eventually identified the ITGB1-DT/ARNTL2 axis as an independent fact may promote lung adenocarcinoma progression. Furthermore, methylation analysis revealed that hypo-methylation may cause the dysregulated ITGB1-DT/ARNTL2 axis, and immune infiltration analysis revealed that the ITGB1-DT/ARNTL2 axis may affect the immune microenvironment and the progression of lung adenocarcinoma. The CCK-8, transwell, and colonu formation assays suggested that ITGB1-DT/ARNTL2 promotes the progression of lung adenocarcinoma. And hsa-miR-30b-3p reversed the ITGB1/ARNTL2-mediated oncogenic processes.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified the ITGB1-DT/ARNTL2 axis as a novel prognostic biomarker affects the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

Parathyroid Tumors: Molecular Signatures

Parathyroid tumors are rare endocrine neoplasms affecting 0.1–0.3% of the general population, including benign parathyroid adenomas (PAs; about 98% of cases), intermediate atypical parathyroid adenomas (aPAs; 1.2–1.3% of cases) and malignant metastatic parathyroid carcinomas (PCs; less than 1% of cases). These tumors are characterized by a variable spectrum of clinical phenotypes and an elevated cellular, histological and molecular heterogeneity that make it difficult to pre-operatively distinguish PAs, aPAs and PCs. Thorough knowledge of genetic, epigenetic, and molecular signatures, which characterize different parathyroid tumor subtypes and drive different tumorigeneses, is a key step to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers able to distinguish among different parathyroid neoplastic types, as well as provide novel therapeutic targets and strategies for these rare neoplasms, which are still a clinical and therapeutic challenge. Here, we review the current knowledge on gene mutations and epigenetic changes that have been associated with the development of different clinical types of parathyroid tumors, both in familial and sporadic forms of these endocrine neoplasms.

Butyrophilin-like 9 expression is associated with outcome in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with LUAD have a poor 5-year survival rate. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of LUAD has been on the rise in the past decade. This study explored the prognostic role of butyrophilin-like 9 (BTNL9) in LUAD.

METHODS

Gene expression profile of buytrophilins (BTNs) was determined using the GEPIA database. The effect of BTNL9 on the survival of LUAD patients was assessed using Kaplan-Meier plotter and OncoLnc. Correlation between BTNL9 expression and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TILs) was explored using TIMER and GEPIA databases. Further, the relationship between BTNL9 expression and drug response was evaluated using CARE. Besides, construction and evaluation of nomogram based on BTNL9 expression and TNM stage.

RESULTS

BTNL9 expression was downregulated in LUAD and was associated with a poor probability of 1, 3, 5-years overall survival (OS). In addition, BTNL9 expression was regulated at epigenetic and post-transcriptional modification levels. Moreover, BTNL9 expression was significantly positively correlated with ImmuneScore and ESTIMATEScore. Furthermore, BTNL9 expression was positively associated with infiltration levels of B cells, CD4+ T cells, and macrophages. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that BTNL9 expression in B cells and dendritic cells (DCs) was significantly associated with OS. BTNL9 expression was significantly positively correlated with CARE scores.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings show that BTNL9 is a potential prognostic biomarker for LUAD. Low BTNL9 expression levels associated with low infiltration levels of naïve B cells, and DCs in the tumor microenvironment are unfavorable for OS in LUAD patients.

Selenium-deficient diet induces inflammatory response in the pig adrenal glands by activating TLR4/NF-κB pathway via miR-30d-R_1

Selenium (Se) is an important trace element to maintain the body's dynamic balance. Lack of Se can cause inflammation. Studies have shown that inflammation often leads to disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, but the mechanism by which Se deficiency causes inflammation of the porcine adrenal glands is still unclear. In order to study the effect of Se deficiency on the adrenal glands of pigs, we obtained Se-deficient pig adrenal glands through a low-Se diet. The results of mass spectrometry showed that the Se content in the Se-deficient group was only one-tenth of the control group. We detected the expression of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and downstream factors by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, and found that the lack of Se affected the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. It is known that miR-155-3p, miR-30d-R_1, and miR-146b have all been verified for targeting relationship with TLR4. We confirmed by qRT-PCR that miR-30d-R_1 decreased most significantly in the Se-deficient pig model. Then we tested 25 selenoproteins and some indicators of oxidative stress. It is confirmed that Se deficiency reduces the antioxidant capacity and induces oxidative stress in pig adrenal tissue. In short, a diet lacking Se induces oxidative stress in pig adrenal tissues and leads to inflammation through the miR-30d-R_1/TLR4 pathway. This study provides a reference for the prevention of adrenal inflammation in pigs from a nutritional point of view.

Circ_0006168 Promotes the Migration, Invasion and Proliferation of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells via miR-516b-5p-Dependent Regulation of XBP1

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) exert important roles in carcinogenesis. Here, we aimed to uncover the working mechanism of circ_0006168 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) development.

Methods

Western blot assay and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to determine protein and RNA expression, respectively. Wound healing assay and transwell migration assay were performed to assess cell migration ability, whereas cell invasion ability was evaluated by transwell invasion assay. 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and colony formation assay were utilized to analyze cell proliferation ability. Xenograft tumor model was utilized to assess the role of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) in xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and RNA pull down assay were used to verify intermolecular interactions.

Results

XBP1 silencing suppressed the migration, invasion and proliferation of ESCC cells in vitro and restrained the xenograft tumor growth in vivo. MicroRNA-516b-5p (miR-516b-5p) interacted with the 3ʹ untranslated region (3ʹUTR) of XBP1 in ESCC cells. MiR-516b-5p overexpression inhibited the proliferation and motility of ESCC cells. MiR-516b-5p was a molecular target of circ_0006168 in ESCC cells. The interference of circ_0006168 restrained the motility and proliferation of ESCC cells. Circ_0006168 acted as miR-516b-5p sponge to up-regulate XBP1 expression in ESCC cells. MiR-516b-5p silencing or the accumulation of XBP1 largely rescued the proliferation ability and motility in circ_0006168-silenced ESCC cells.

Conclusion

In conclusion, circ_0006168 contributed to ESCC development through promoting the proliferation and motility of ESCC cells via mediating miR-516b-5p/XBP1 axis.

Curcumol inhibits the viability and invasion of colorectal cancer cells via miR-30a-5p and Hippo signaling pathway

MicroRNA-30a-5p (miR-30a-5p), which functions as a tumor suppressor, has been reported to be downregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and to be associated with cancer invasion. However, the detailed regulatory mechanism of curcumol in the malignant progression of CRC remains unknown. MTT, Transwell, scratch, western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR assays were performed to examine how curcumol inhibited CRC cell viability, invasion and migration, and to detect the role of miR-30a-5p and curcumol in the invasion and Hippo signaling pathways of CRC cells. The present study revealed that miR-30a-5p expression was downregulated in human CRC tissues and cells. The results demonstrated that miR-30a-5p downregulation was accompanied by the inactivation of the Hippo signaling pathway, which was demonstrated to promote CRC cell viability, invasion and migration. Curcumol treatment was identified to increase miR-30a-5p expression and to activate the Hippo signaling pathway, which in turn inhibited the invasion and migration of CRC cells. Overexpression of miR-30a-5p enhanced the effects of curcumol on cell invasion and migration, and the Hippo signaling pathway in CRC cells. Furthermore, downregulation of miR-30a-5p reversed the effects of curcumol on cell invasion and migration, and the Hippo signaling pathway in CRC cells. These findings identified novel signaling pathways associated with miR-30a-5p and revealed the effects of curcumol on miR-30a-5p expression. Therefore, curcumol may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy to delay CRC progression.

Circulating miR-30b-5p levels in plasma as a novel potential biomarker for early detection of breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Recently, microRNAs have been demonstrated to be potential non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis assessment or prediction of response to treatment in cancer. In this study, we evaluate the potential of miR-30b-5p as a biomarker for early diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) in tissue and plasma.

METHODS

Expression of miR-30b-5p was determined in a series of 112 BC and 40 normal breast tissues. Circulating miR-30b-5p levels in plasma samples were determined in a discovery cohort of 38 BC patients and 40 healthy donors and in a validation cohort of 83 BC patients and 83 healthy volunteers. miR-30b-5p expression was measured by quantitative real-time PCR and receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was carried out.

RESULTS

The miR-30b-5p expression was significantly lower in BC tissue than in healthy breast samples. In contrast, circulating miR-30b-5p levels were significantly higher in BC patients compared with healthy donors. Furthermore, circulating miR-30b-5p levels were significantly higher in patients with positive axillary lymph node and de novo metastatic patients. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis demonstrated a good diagnostic potential of miR-30b-5p to detect BC even at an early stage of the disease.

CONCLUSION

Thus, we highlight the potential of miR-30b-5p as a non-invasive, fast, reproducible and cost-effective diagnostic biomarker of BC.

The role of epigenetics in the reproductive toxicity of environmental endocrine disruptors

Environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs) seriously endanger human health by interfering with the normal function of reproductive systems. In males, EEDs can affect sperm formation and semen quality as well spermatogenesis, ultimately reducing fertility. In females, EEDs can affect uterine development and the expression levels of reproduction-related genes, ultimately reducing female fertility and the normal development of the fetus. There are a large number of putative mechanisms by which EEDs can induce reproductive toxicity, and many studies have shown the involvement of epigenetics. In this review, we summarize the role of DNA methylation, noncoding RNAs, genomic imprinting, chromatin remodeling and histone modification in the reproductive toxicity of EEDs.

Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) MRPL23-AS1 promotes tumor progression and carcinogenesis in osteosarcoma by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling via inhibiting microRNA miR-30b and upregulating myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9)

Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) contributes to the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma (OS), although the underlying mechanism is not clear. In the present study, we showed that lncRNA MRPL23-AS1 was remarkably increased in OS tissues and cell lines. Stable knockdown of MRPL23-AS1 evidently attenuated cell viability and invasive ability, meanwhile inhibited in vivo tumor growth and dissemination. In terms of mechanism, luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays showed that MRPL23-AS1 competitively interacted with miR-30b, increasing myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) expression, a trans- activator of β-catenin, resulting in the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, thereby promoting OS tumorigenesis and metastasis. Importantly, high MRPL23-AS1 was positively correlated with MYH9, while conversely correlated with miR-30b, suggesting that the regulatory axis of MRPL23-AS1/miR-30b/MYH9 does exist in OS. Clinically, OS patients with high MRPL23-AS1 had larger tumor size, higher stage and easier metastasis than those with low MRPL23-AS1, moreover, MRPL23-AS1 was identified as an adverse prognostic factor for OS survival. In conclusion, our results show that MRPL23-AS1 is a key oncogenic lncRNA in OS, targeting of MRPL23-AS1 may be a promising treatment for OS patients.

Prognostic values of GPNMB identified by mining TCGA database and STAD microenvironment

The survival rate of stomach adenocarcinoma patients with immune and stromal scores and different clinicopathological features obtained from the TCGA datasets was systematically compared. A list of genes that are correlated with stomach adenocarcinoma microenvironment were extracted using the TCGA database to predict the prognosis and survival. In addition, the differentially expressed genes were extracted by comparing the immune and stromal scores of the groups. The protein-protein interaction network, and functional and pathway enrichment analyses of differentially expressed genes were performed. A total of 8 hub genes were selected from the differentially expressed genes to predict the overall survival and disease-free survival rates. GPNMB was selected from the hub genes based on the survival and prognosis analyses. A nomogram was built by including the potential risk factors based on multivariate Cox analysis. Cell function experiments and xenograft tumors were conducted in vivo to further verify the role of GPNMB in tumor progression. The predicted microRNA, miR-30b-3p, might act as upstream negative regulator and binding to 3’ UTR of GPNMB, confirming by fluorescent enzyme reporter gene experiment. In summary, immune-related scores are crucial factors in the malignant progression of stomach adenocarcinoma and GPNMB acts as a potentially useful prognostic factor for stratification and in developing the treatment strategy

Ischaemic preconditioning-induced serum exosomes protect against myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury in rats by activating the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway

Ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury can lead to severe arrhythmia and aggravate myocardial damage. Exosomes are small-membrane vesicles that play a protective role in myocardial I/R injury. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of ischaemic preconditioning (IPC)-induced serum exosomes (IPC-Exo) on myocardial I/R injury in rats and its underlying mechanism. Serum exosomes were extracted from IPC rats and quantified using a bicinchoninic acid assay kit. IPC-Exo (50 μg) was injected into the infarcted myocardium immediately after ligation. Rats were randomly divided into Sham, I/R, IPC-Exo + I/R, I/R + LY294002, and I/R + IPC-Exo + LY294002 groups. Haemodynamic parameters were measured by physiological recording. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to detect cardiac function. The serum levels of creatine kinase isomer-MB, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-10 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining was used to measure the myocardial infarct size. Apoptosis in myocardial tissues was detected by TUNEL staining. Western blotting was used to detect the levels of PI3K/AKT and apoptosis-related proteins. Our results showed that treatment with IPC-Exo ameliorated cardiac function and reduced inflammatory factor production, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and myocardial infarct size. Moreover, IPC-Exo treatment promoted the protein expression of Bcl-2, p-PI3K, and p-AKT but inhibited that of caspase-3 and Bax. However, treatment with LY294002 significantly reversed that IPC-Exo-induced increase in p-PI3K and p-AKT levels, improvement of haemodynamics, and decrease of inflammatory factor production and apoptosis in the I/R + IPC-Exo group. Taken together, our results suggest that IPC-Exo may alleviate I/R injury via activating the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.

High-Throughput MicroRNA Profiling of Vitreoretinal Lymphoma: Vitreous and Serum MicroRNA Profiles Distinct from Uveitis

Purpose: Vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) is a non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the diffuse large B cell type (DLBCL), which is an aggressive cancer causing central nervous system related mortality. The pathogenesis of VRL is largely unknown. The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) has recently acquired remarkable importance in the pathogenesis of many diseases including cancers. Furthermore, miRNAs have shown promise as diagnostic and prognostic markers of cancers. In this study, we aimed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs and pathways in the vitreous and serum of patients with VRL and to investigate the pathogenesis of the disease. Materials and Methods: Vitreous and serum samples were obtained from 14 patients with VRL and from controls comprising 40 patients with uveitis, 12 with macular hole, 14 with epiretinal membrane, 12 healthy individuals. The expression levels of 2565 miRNAs in serum and vitreous samples were analyzed. Results: Expression of the miRNAs correlated significantly with the extracellular matrix (ECM) ‒receptor interaction pathway in VRL. Analyses showed that miR-326 was a key driver of B-cell proliferation, and miR-6513-3p could discriminate VRL from uveitis. MiR-1236-3p correlated with vitreous interleukin (IL)-10 concentrations. Machine learning analysis identified miR-361-3p expression as a discriminator between VRL and uveitis. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that aberrant microRNA expression in VRL may affect the expression of genes in a variety of cancer-related pathways. The altered serum miRNAs may discriminate VRL from uveitis, and serum miR-6513-3p has the potential to serve as an auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of VRL.

The Crosstalk between Tumor Cells and the Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Role of Exosomal microRNAs and their Clinical Implications

The communication between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and their microenvironment is an essential mechanism supporting or preventing tumor development and progression. Recent evidence has identified extracellular vesicles (EVs) as one of the mechanisms mediating paracrine signaling between cells. Exosomes, the most described class of EVs, deliver proteins, mRNAs, noncoding RNAs, DNA, and lipids to recipient cells, also at remote distances. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as part of the non-coding RNA exosomal cargo, have an important role in regulating cellular pathways in targeted cells, regulating several processes related to tumor progression invasion and metastasis, such as angiogenesis, immune-escape, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and multi-drug resistance. Accumulating evidence suggests exosomal miRNAs as relevant players in the dynamic crosstalk among cancerous, immune, and stromal cells in establishing the tumorigenic microenvironment. In addition, they sustain the metastasic niche formation at distant sites. In this review, we summarized the recent findings on the role of the exosome-derived miRNAs in the cross-communication between tumor cells and different hepatic resident cells, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the cell re-programming. In addition, we describe the clinical implication derived from the exosomal miRNA-driven immunomodulation to the current immunotherapy strategies and the molecular aspects influencing the resistance to therapeutic agents.