Potential Value of miR-221/222 as Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Biomarkers for Diseases

Effects of Green Tea and Java Pepper Mixture on Gut Microbiome and Colonic MicroRNA-221/222 in Mice with Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis

In this study, we aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of a green tea and java pepper mixture (GTP) on the gut microbiome and microRNA (miR)-221/222 expression in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups: DSS-, DSS+, GTP50, and GTP100. In the GTP50 and GTP100 groups, GTP was orally administered to mice at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively, every day for 2 weeks, and colitis was induced in the DSS+, GTP50, and GTP100 groups by adding 3% DSS to their drinking water for 1 week. GTP was found to mitigate the severity of inflammation and the damage to goblet cells caused by DSS-induced colitis. The results showed that compared with the DSS- group, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was increased and that of Proteobacteria and Candidatus Melainabacteria was decreased in the GTP100 group. The ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes was also reduced in the GTP100 group. However, GTP administration did not modulate the microbial diversity. GTP administration upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of occludin and zonula occludens 1. In addition, GTP effectively downregulated the expression of miR-221 and miR-222. Overall, GTP altered the gut microbiota composition and downregulated colonic miR-221/222 expression in mice with DSS-induced colitis.

Investigation of the regulation of EGF signaling by miRNAs, delving into the underlying mechanism and signaling pathways in cancer

The EGF receptors (EGFRs) signaling pathway is essential for tumorigenesis and progression of cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that miRNAs are essential regulators of EGF signaling, influencing various pathway components and tumor behavior. This article discusses the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of miRNA-mediated regulation of EGF signaling in cancer. miRNAs utilize multiple mechanisms to exert their regulatory effects on EGF signaling. They can target EGF ligands, including EGF and TGF-directly, inhibiting their expression and secretion. In addition, miRNAs can modulate EGF signaling indirectly by targeting EGF receptors, downstream signaling molecules, and transcription factors implicated in regulating the EGF pathway. These miRNAs can disrupt the delicate equilibrium of EGF signaling, resulting in aberrant activation and fostering tumor cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and metastasis. The dysregulation of the expression of specific miRNAs has been linked to clinical outcomes in numerous types of cancer. Specific profiles of miRNA expression have been identified as prognostic markers, reflecting tumor characteristics, invasiveness, metastatic potential, and therapeutic response. These miRNAs can serve as potential therapeutic targets for interventions that modulate EGF signaling and improve patient outcomes. Understanding the intricate relationship between miRNAs and EGF signaling in cancer can transform cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. The identification of specific miRNAs involved in the regulation of the EGF pathway opens the door to the development of targeted therapies and personalized medicine approaches. In addition, miRNA-based interventions promise to overcome therapeutic resistance and improve the efficacy of existing treatments. miRNAs are crucial regulators of EGF signaling in cancer, affecting tumor behavior and clinical outcomes. Further research is required to decipher the complex network of miRNA-mediated EGF signaling regulation and translate these findings into clinically applicable strategies for enhanced cancer treatment.

V Brazilian Consensus on Rhinitis - 2024

Since we published the "IV Brazilian Consensus on Rhinitis", in2017, several advances have been achieved and have enabled a further understanding of the different aspects of "Rhinitis". This new guideline, developed jointly by ASBAI, SBP and SBORL, represents a relevant milestone in the updated and integrated management of the different forms of the disease, and it aims to unify evidence-based approaches to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this common and often underestimated condition. The document covers a wide range of topics, including clear definitions of the different phenotypes and endotypes of rhinitis, risk factors, updated diagnostic criteria, and recommended methods for clinical and laboratory investigation. We stress the importance of detailed clinical history and objective assessment, as well as tools for control and assessing severity tools an accurate diagnostic approach to the disease. Regarding treatment, it emphasizes the treatment customization, considering the severity of symptoms, the presence of comorbidities and the impact on the patient's quality of life. We discuss different drug treatment, in addition to non-pharmacological measures, such as environmental control and specific immunotherapy; and the possible role of immunobiological agents. Furthermore, the consensus addresses issues related to patient education, prevention and management of special situations, such as rhinitis in children, in pregnant women and in the elderly. In short, the "V Brazilian Consensus on Rhinitis" represents a comprehensive and updated guide for healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and management of rhinitis, aiming to improve patients' quality of life through an integrated and evidence-based approach.

m6A mRNA methylation-mediated MAPK signaling modulates the nasal mucosa inflammatory response in allergic rhinitis

Background

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a complex disease in which gene-environment interactions contribute to its pathogenesis. Epigenetic modifications, such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of mRNA, play important roles in regulating gene expression in multiple physiological and pathological processes. However, the function of m6A modification in AR and the inflammatory response is poorly understood.

Methods

We used the ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide to induce an AR mouse model. Nasal symptoms, histopathology, and serum cytokines were examined. We performed combined m6A and RNA sequencing to analyze changes in m6A modification profiles. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing qPCR (MeRIP-qPCR) were used to verify differential methylation of mRNAs and the m6A methylation level. Knockdown or inhibition of Alkbh5 in nasal mucosa of mice was mediated by lentiviral infection or IOX1 treatment.

Results

We showed that m6A was enriched in a group of genes involved in MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, we identified a MAPK pathway involving Map3k8, Erk2, and Nfκb1 that may play a role in the disrupted inflammatory response associated with nasal inflammation. The m6A eraser, Alkbh5, was highly expressed in the nasal mucosa of AR model mice. Furthermore, knockdown of Alkbh5 expression by lentiviral infection resulted in high MAPK pathway activity and a significant nasal mucosa inflammatory response. Our findings indicate that ALKBH5-mediated m6A dysregulation likely contributes to a nasal inflammatory response via the MAPK pathway.

Conclusion

Together, our data show that m6A dysregulation mediated by ALKBH5, is likely to contribute to inflammation of the nasal mucosa via the MAPK signaling pathway, suggesting that ALKBH5 is a potential biomarker for AR treatment.

Metabolic and circadian inputs encode anticipatory biogenesis of hepatic fed microRNAs

Starvation and refeeding are mostly unanticipated in the wild in terms of duration, frequency, and nutritional value of the refed state. Notwithstanding this, organisms mount efficient and reproducible responses to restore metabolic homeostasis. Hence, it is intuitive to invoke expectant molecular mechanisms that build anticipatory responses to enable physiological toggling during fed-fast cycles. In this regard, we report anticipatory biogenesis of oscillatory hepatic microRNAs that peak during a fed state and inhibit starvation-responsive genes. Our results clearly demonstrate that the levels of primary and precursor microRNA transcripts increase during a fasting state, in anticipation of a fed response. We delineate the importance of both metabolic and circadian cues in orchestrating hepatic fed microRNA homeostasis in a physiological setting. Besides illustrating metabo-endocrine control, our findings provide a mechanistic basis for the overarching influence of starvation on anticipatory biogenesis. Importantly, by using pharmacological agents that are widely used in clinics, we point out the high potential of interventions to restore homeostasis of hepatic microRNAs, whose deregulated expression is otherwise well established to cause metabolic diseases.

A comprehensive review on the functional role of miRNA clusters in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) poses a significant health threat in women globally. MicroRNA clusters (MCs), comprising multiple miRNA-encoding genes, are pivotal in gene regulation. Various factors, including circular RNA and DNA methylation, govern MC expression. Dysregulated MC expression correlates strongly with CC development via promoting the acquisition of cancer hallmarks. Certain MCs show promise for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy selection due to their distinct expression patterns in normal, premalignant and tumor tissues. This review explains the regulation and biological functions of MCs and highlights the clinical relevance of abnormal MC expression in CC.

MicroRNAs in adult high-grade gliomas: Mechanisms of chemotherapeutic resistance and their clinical relevance

Notorious for its high mortality rate, the current standard treatment for high-grade gliomas remains a challenge. This is largely due to the complex heterogeneity of the tumour coupled with dysregulated molecular mechanisms leading to the development of drug resistance. In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been considered to provide important information about the pathogenesis and prognostication of gliomas. miRNAs have been shown to play a specific role in promoting oncogenesis and regulating resistance to anti-glioma therapeutic agents through diverse cellular mechanisms. These include regulation of apoptosis, alterations in drug efflux pathways, enhanced activation of oncogenic signalling pathways, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-like process (EMT-like) and a few others. With this knowledge, upregulation or inhibition of selected miRNAs can be used to directly affect drug resistance in glioma cells. Moreover, the clinical use of miRNAs in glioma management is becoming increasingly valuable. This comprehensive review delves into the role of miRNAs in drug resistance in high-grade gliomas and underscores their clinical significance. Our analysis has identified a distinct cluster of oncogenic miRNAs (miR-9, miR-21, miR-26a, miR-125b, and miR-221/222) and tumour suppressive miRNAs (miR-29, miR-23, miR-34a-5p, miR 181b-5p, miR-16-5p, and miR-20a) that consistently emerge as key players in regulating drug resistance across various studies. These miRNAs have demonstrated significant clinical relevance in the context of resistance to anti-glioma therapies. Additionally, the clinical significance of miRNA analysis is emphasised, including their potential to serve as clinical biomarkers for diagnosing, staging, evaluating prognosis, and assessing treatment response in gliomas.

Dual-Signal Amplification Strategy Based on Catalytic Hairpin Assembly and APE1-Assisted Amplification for High-Contrast miRNA Imaging in Living Cells

Early tumor diagnosis is crucial to successful treatment. Earlier studies have shown that microRNA is a biomarker for early tumor diagnosis. The development of highly sensitive miRNA detection methods, especially in living cells, plays an indispensable role for early diagnosis and treatment of tumor. Although the catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA)-based miRNA analysis strategy is commonly used for disease diagnosis, further application of CHA is hindered due to its low amplification efficiency and low tumor recognition contrast. To address these limitations, we propose a dual-signal amplification strategy based on CHA and APE1-assisted amplification, enabling highly sensitive and high-contrast miRNA imaging. The miR-221 was selected as a target model. This dual-signal amplification strategy has exhibited high amplification efficiency, which could analyze miRNA as low as 21 fM. This strategy also exhibited high specificity, which could distinguish target miRNA and nontarget with single-base differences. Moreover, this method showed significant potential for practical application, as it could successfully distinguish the expression difference of miR-221 in the plasma samples of normal people and patients. Most importantly, the expression level of the APE1 enzyme in tumor cells is higher than that in normal cells, allowing this strategy to sensitively and specifically image miRNA within tumor cells. This proposed method has also been successfully used to indicate fluctuations of intracellular miRNA and to distinguish miRNA expression between normal cells and cancer cells with high contrast. We anticipate that this method will provide fresh insights and can be a powerful tool for tumor diagnosis and treatment based on miRNA analysis.

Integrative role of small non-coding RNAs in viral immune response: a systematic review

Various viruses cause viral infection, and these viruses have different microscopic sizes, genetic material, and morphological forms. Due to a viral infection, the host body induces defense mechanisms that activate the innate and adaptive immune system. sncRNAs are involved in various biological processes and play an essential role in antiviral response in viruses including ZIKV, HCV, DENV, SARS-CoV, and West Nile virus, and regulate the complex interactions between the viruses and host cells. This review discusses the role of miRNAs, siRNAs, piRNAs, and tiRNAs in antiviral response. Cellular miRNAs bind with virus mRNA and perform their antiviral response in multiple viruses. However, the chemical modifications of miRNA necessary to avoid nuclease attack, which is then involved with intracellular processing, have proven challenging for therapeutic replacement of miRNAs. siRNAs have significant antiviral responses by targeting any gene of interest along the correct nucleotide of targeting mRNA. Due to this ability, siRNAs have valuable characteristics in antiviral response for therapeutic purposes. Additionally, the researchers noted the involvement of piRNAs and tiRNAs in the antiviral response, yet their findings were deemed insignificant.

MicroRNAs Associated with a Bad Prognosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Their Impact on Macrophage Polarization

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) associated with gene expression regulation. Since the discovery of the first miRNA in 1993, thousands of miRNAs have been studied and they have been associated not only with physiological processes, but also with various diseases such as cancer and inflammatory conditions. MiRNAs have proven to be not only significant biomarkers but also an interesting therapeutic target in various diseases, including cancer. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), miRNAs have been regarded as a welcome addition to the limited therapeutic armamentarium, and there is a vast amount of data on miRNAs and their dysregulation. Macrophages are innate immune cells, present in various tissues involved in both tissue repair and phagocytosis. Based on their polarization, macrophages can be classified into two groups: M1 macrophages with pro-inflammatory functions and M2 macrophages with an anti-inflammatory action. In cancer, M2 macrophages are associated with tumor evasion, metastasis, and a poor outcome. Several miRNAs have been associated with a poor prognosis in AML and with either the M1 or M2 macrophage phenotype. In the present paper, we review miRNAs with a reported negative prognostic significance in cancer with a focus on AML and analyze their potential impact on macrophage polarization.

Functional and Potential Therapeutic Implication of MicroRNAs in Pancreatic Cancer

The alarmingly low five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer presents a global health challenge, contributing to about 7% of all cancer-related deaths. Late-stage diagnosis and high heterogeneity are the biggest hurdles in treating pancreatic cancer. Thus, there is a pressing need to discover novel biomarkers that could help in early detection as well as improve therapeutic strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of short non-coding RNA, have emerged as promising candidates with regard to both diagnostics and therapeutics. Dysregulated miRNAs play pivotal roles in accelerating tumor growth and metastasis, orchestrating tumor microenvironment, and conferring chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer. The differential expression profiles of miRNAs in pancreatic cancer could be utilized to explore novel therapeutic strategies. In this review, we also covered studies on recent advancements in various miRNA-based therapeutics such as restoring miRNAs with a tumor-suppressive function, suppressing miRNA with an oncogenic function, and combination with chemotherapeutic drugs. Despite several challenges in terms of specificity and targeted delivery, miRNA-based therapies hold the potential to revolutionize the treatment of pancreatic cancer by simultaneously targeting multiple signaling pathways.

MiR-221-3p/222-3p Cluster Expression in Human Adipose Tissue Is Related to Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

The progression of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is intricately linked with adipose tissue (AT) angiogenesis. Despite an established network of microRNAs (miRNAs) regulating AT function, the specific role of angiogenic miRNAs remains less understood. The miR-221/222 cluster has recently emerged as being associated with antiangiogenic activity. However, no studies have explored its role in human AT amidst the concurrent development of obesity and T2D. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association between the miR-221-3p/222-3p cluster in human AT and its regulatory network with obesity and T2D. MiR-221-3p/222-3p and their target gene (TG) expression levels were quantified through qPCR in visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) AT from patients (n = 33) categorized based on BMI as normoweight (NW) and obese (OB) and by glycemic status as normoglycemic (NG) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) subjects. In silico analyses of miR-221-3p/222-3p and their TGs were conducted to identify pertinent signaling pathways. The results of a multivariate analysis, considering the simultaneous expression of miR-221-3p and miR-222-3p as dependent variables, revealed statistically significant distinctions when accounting for variables such as tissue depot, obesity, sex, and T2D as independent factors. Furthermore, both miRNAs and their TGs exhibited differential expression patterns based on obesity severity, glycemic status, sex, and type of AT depot. Our in silico analysis indicated that miR-221-3p/222-3p cluster TGs predominantly participate in angiogenesis, WNT signaling, and apoptosis pathways. In conclusion, these findings underscore a promising avenue for future research, emphasizing the miR-221-3p/222-3p cluster and its associated regulatory networks as potential targets for addressing obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Protumorigenic role of the atypical cadherin FAT1 by the suppression of PDCD10 via RelA/miR221-3p/222-3p axis in glioblastoma

The atypical cadherin FAT1 function either as a pro or antitumorigenic in tumors of different tissue origins. Our group previously demonstrated the protumorigenic nature of FAT1 signaling in glioblastoma (GBM). In this study, we investigated how FAT1 influences the expression of clustered oncomiRs (miR-221-3p/miR-222-3p) and their downstream effects in GBM. Through several experiments involving the measurement of specific gene/microRNA expression, gene knockdowns, protein and cellular assays, we have demonstrated a novel oncogenic signaling pathway mediated by FAT1 in glioma. These results have been verified using antimiRs and miR-mimic assays. Initially, in glioma-derived cell lines (U87MG and LN229), we observed FAT1 as a novel up-regulator of the transcription factor NFκB-RelA. RelA then promotes the expression of the clustered-oncomiRs, miR-221-3p/miR-222-3p, which in turn suppresses the expression of the tumor suppressor gene (TSG), PDCD10 (Programmed cell death protein10). The suppression of PDCD10, and other known TSG targets (PTEN/PUMA), by miR-221-3p/miR-222-3p, leads to increased clonogenicity, migration, and invasion of glioma cells. Consistent with our in-vitro findings, we observed a positive expression correlation of FAT1 and miR-221-3p, and an inverse correlation of FAT1 and the miR-targets (PDCD10/PTEN/PUMA), in GBM tissue-samples. These findings were also supported by publicly available GBM databases (The Cancer Genome Atlas [TCGA] and The Repository of Molecular Brain Neoplasia Data [Rembrandt]). Patients with tumors displaying high levels of FAT1 and miR-221-3p expression (50% and 65% respectively) experienced shorter overall survival. Similar results were observed in the TCGA-GBM database. Thus, our findings show a novel FAT1/RelA/miR-221/miR-222 oncogenic-effector pathway that downregulates the TSG, PDCD10, in GBM, which could be targeted therapeutically in a specific manner.

Extracellular vesicle biomarkers for prostate cancer diagnosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Extracellular vesicle (EV) biomarkers have promising diagnostic and screening capabilities for several cancers, and growing evidence indicates that EV biomarkers can be used as diagnostic markers for prostate cancer (CaP). However, data on the diagnostic accuracy of EV biomarkers for CaP diagnosis are conflicting. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, aimed to summarize the diagnostic performance of EV biomarkers for CaP. We systematically searched PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science from inception to 12 September 2022 for studies that assessed the diagnostic accuracy of EV biomarkers for CaP. We summarized the pooled sensitivity and specificity calculated using a random-effects model. We identified 19 studies involving 976 CaP patients and 676 noncancerous controls; one study conducted independent validation tests. Ten studies emphasized EV RNAs, 6 on EV proteins, and 9 on biomarker panels. MiR-141, miR-221, and PSMA were the most frequently reported RNAs and proteins for CaP diagnosis. For individual RNAs and proteins, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 70% (95% CI: 68%-71%), 79% (95% CI: 77%-80%), 85% (95% CI: 81%-87%), and 83% (95% CI: 80%-86%), respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the EV panels were 84% (95% CI: 82%-86%) and 86% (95% CI: 84%-88%), respectively. The studies may have been somewhat limited by the EV isolation and detection techniques. EV biomarkers showed promising diagnostic capability for CaP. Addressing deficiencies in EV isolation and detection techniques has important implications for the application of these novel noninvasive biomarkers in clinical practice.

HHV-6A Infection of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Cells Induces Several Effects Related to Cancer Progression

Recent studies have shown that thyrocytes are permissive to HHV-6A infection and that the virus may contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroiditis. Thyroid autoimmune diseases increase the risk of papillary cancer, which is not surprising considering that chronic inflammation activates pathways that are also pro-oncogenic. Moreover, in this condition, cell proliferation is stimulated as an attempt to repair tissue damage caused by the inflammatory process. Interestingly, it has been reported that the well-differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the less aggressive form of thyroid tumor, may progress to the more aggressive follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and eventually to the anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), and that to such progression contributes the presence of an inflammatory/immune suppressive tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated whether papillary tumor cells (BCPAP) could be infected by human herpes virus-6A (HHV-6A), and if viral infection could induce effects related to cancer progression. We found that the virus dysregulated the expression of several microRNAs, such as miR-155, miR-9, and the miR-221/222 cluster, which are involved in different steps of carcinogenesis, and increased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-6, which may also sustain thyroid tumor cell growth and promote cancer progression. Genomic instability and the expression of PTEN, reported to act as an oncogene in mutp53-carrying cells such as BCPAP, also increased following HHV-6A-infection. These findings suggest that a ubiquitous herpesvirus such as HHV-6A, which displays a marked tropism for thyrocytes, could be involved in the progression of PTC towards more aggressive forms of thyroid tumor.

Circulating miRNAs as Noninvasive Biomarkers for PDAC Diagnosis and Prognosis in Mexico

Among malignant neoplasms, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the highest fatality rates due to its late detection. Therefore, it is essential to discover a noninvasive, early, specific, and sensitive diagnostic method. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are attractive biomarkers because they are accessible, highly specific, and sensitive. It is crucial to find miRNAs that could be used as possible biomarkers because PDAC is the eighth most common cause of cancer death in Mexico. With the help of microRNA microarrays, differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were found in PDAC tissues. The presence of these DEmiRNAs in the plasma of Mexican patients with PDAC was determined using RT-qPCR. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic capacity of these DEmiRNAs. Gene Expression Omnibus datasets (GEO) were employed to verify our results. The Prisma V8 statistical analysis program was used. Four DEmiRNAs in plasma from PDAC patients and microarray tissues were found. Serum samples from patients with PDAC were used to validate their overexpression in GEO databases. We discovered a new panel of the two miRNAs miR-222-3p and miR-221-3p that could be used to diagnose PDAC, and when miR-221-3p and miR-222-3p were overexpressed, survival rates decreased. Therefore, miR-222-3p and miR-221-3p might be employed as noninvasive indicators for the diagnosis and survival of PDAC in Mexican patients.

Recent advances in novel miRNA mediated approaches for targeting breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is considered one of the most frequent cancers among woman worldwide. While conventional therapy has been successful in treating many cases of breast cancer, drug resistance, heterogenicity, tumour features and recurrence, invasion, metastasis and the presence of breast cancer stem cells can hinder the effect of treatments, and can reduce the quality of life of patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in the development and progression of breast cancer. Several studies have reported that aberrant expression of specific miRNAs is associated with the pathogenesis of breast cancer. However, miRNAs are emerging as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for breast cancer. Understanding their role in breast cancer biology could help develop more effective treatments for this disease. The present study discusses the biogenesis and function of miRNAs, as well as miRNA therapy approaches for targeting and treating breast cancer cells.

Circulating miR-221/222 expression as microRNA biomarker predicting tamoxifen treatment outcome: a case-control study

The high mortality rate in breast cancer (BC) patients is generally due to metastases resistant to systemic therapy. Two causes of systemic therapy resistance in BC patients are circulating miRNAs-221 and miR-222, leading to improved BC cell proliferation, survival, and reduced cell apoptosis. This study investigated the miRNA expression changes associated with cancer cell resistance to tamoxifen therapy and is expected to be clinically meaningful before providing endocrine therapy to luminal-type BC patients who express them.

Methods

This case-control research included individuals with the luminal subtype of BC who had received tamoxifen medication for around one year. Furthermore, the case group contained 15 individuals with local recurrence or metastases, while the control group comprised 19 patients without local recurrence or metastases. Plasma miR-221/222 quantification was performed with real-time PCR using transcript-specific primers.

Results

A significant difference was found in circulating miR-221 expression between cases and controls (P=0.005) but not in miR-222 expression (P=0.070). There were no significant differences between miR-221/222 expression, progesterone receptor, Ki67 protein levels, lymphovascular invasion, and stage. However, receiver operator characteristic curve analyses showed miR-221/222 expressions predictive of tamoxifen resistance (P=0.030) with a sensitivity of 60.00 and a specificity of 83.33%.

Conclusion

The use of circulating miR-221/222 expression can predict relapse as well as resistance to tamoxifen treatment in BC patients, and their testing is recommended for luminal subtype BC patients who will undergo tamoxifen therapy to determine their risk of tamoxifen resistance early, increasing treatment effectiveness.

Decoding the role of miRNAs in multiple myeloma pathogenesis: A focus on signaling pathways

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of plasma cells that has been extensively studied in recent years, with researchers increasingly focusing on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating gene expression in MM. Several non-coding RNAs have been demonstrated to regulate MM pathogenesis signaling pathways. These pathways might regulate MM development, apoptosis, progression, and therapeutic outcomes. They are Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, P53 and KRAS. This review highlights the impending role of miRNAs in MM signaling and their relationship with MM therapeutic interventions.

The predictive value of MiR-221 in cancer chemoresistance: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Many studies have reported that microRNA-221 (miR-221) is abnormally expressed in various cancers, and there has not been a study to systematically analyze the association between miR-221 and chemoresistance in different cancers.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid, and Cochrane for relevant studies. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate.

RESULTS

A total of 30 studies with 1670 patients were enrolled in our study. Thirteen cancer types have been studied, and traditional chemotherapy, targeted drugs, endocrine therapy, chemoradiotherapy, and other treatments were used. High miR-221 expression was associated with poor chemotherapy response in most studies, and the meta-analysis confirmed this result (OR = 3.64, 95%CI: 1.73-7.62, p = 0.001). Besides, the higher level of miR-221 was related to shorter overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.16, 95%CI: 1.47-3.16, p < 0.001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 1.81, 95%CI: 1.51-2.16, p < 0.001) in patients after chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Our results highlight that high miR-221 expression has possible associations with chemoresistance and poor prognosis in multiple cancers. Further studies are needed to discover the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations to provide a solid evidence base for it being used as biomarkers of response to chemotherapeutic interventions in cancer.

Target Landscape of Conserved Plant MicroRNAs and the Complexities of Their Ancient MicroRNA-Binding Sites

In plants, microRNA (miRNA)-target interactions (MTIs) require high complementarity, a feature from which bioinformatic programs have predicted numerous and diverse targets for any given miRNA, promoting the idea of complex miRNA networks. Opposing this is a hypothesis of constrained miRNA specificity, in which functional MTIs are restricted to the few targets whose required expression output is compatible with the expression of the miRNA. To explore these opposing views, the bioinformatic pipeline Targets Ranked Using Experimental Evidence was applied to strongly conserved miRNAs to identity their high-evidence (HE) targets across species. For each miRNA family, HE targets predominantly consisted of homologs from one conserved target gene family (primary family). These primary families corresponded to the known canonical miRNA-target families, validating the approach. Very few additional HE target families were identified (secondary family), and if so, they were likely functionally related to the primary family. Many primary target families contained highly conserved nucleotide sequences flanking their miRNA-binding sites that were enriched in HE homologs across species. A number of these flanking sequences are predicted to form conserved RNA secondary structures that preferentially base pair with the miRNA-binding site, implying that these sites are highly structured. Our findings support a target landscape view that is dominated by the conserved primary target families, with a minority of either secondary target families or non-conserved targets. This is consistent with the constrained hypothesis of functional miRNA specificity, which potentially in part is being facilitated by features beyond complementarity.

Clinical Significance of MicroRNAs, Long Non-Coding RNAs, and CircRNAs in Cardiovascular Diseases

Based on recent research, the non-coding genome is essential for controlling genes and genetic programming during development, as well as for health and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The microRNAs (miRNAs), lncRNAs (long ncRNAs), and circRNAs (circular RNAs) with significant regulatory and structural roles make up approximately 99% of the human genome, which does not contain proteins. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) have been discovered to be essential novel regulators of cardiovascular risk factors and cellular processes, making them significant prospects for advanced diagnostics and prognosis evaluation. Cases of CVDs are rising due to limitations in the current therapeutic approach; most of the treatment options are based on the coding transcripts that encode proteins. Recently, various investigations have shown the role of nc-RNA in the early diagnosis and treatment of CVDs. Furthermore, the development of novel diagnoses and treatments based on miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs could be more helpful in the clinical management of patients with CVDs. CVDs are classified into various types of heart diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy (CH), heart failure (HF), rheumatic heart disease (RHD), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), myocardial infarction (MI), atherosclerosis (AS), myocardial fibrosis (MF), arrhythmia (ARR), and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Here, we discuss the biological and clinical importance of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs and their expression profiles and manipulation of non-coding transcripts in CVDs, which will deliver an in-depth knowledge of the role of ncRNAs in CVDs for progressing new clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Possible therapeutic targets for NLRP3 inflammasome-induced breast cancer

Inflammation plays a major role in the development and progression of breast cancer(BC). Proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis are all linked to inflammation and tumorigenesis. Furthermore, tumor microenvironment (TME) inflammation-mediated cytokine releases play a critical role in these processes. By recruiting caspase-1 through an adaptor apoptosis-related spot protein, inflammatory caspases are activated by the triggering of pattern recognition receptors on the surface of immune cells. Toll-like receptors, NOD-like receptors, and melanoma-like receptors are not triggered. It activates the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 and is involved in different biological processes that exert their effects. The Nod-Like Receptor Protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome regulates inflammation by mediating the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and interacting with other cellular compartments through the inflammasome's central role in innate immunity. NLRP3 inflammasome activation mechanisms have received much attention in recent years. Inflammatory diseases including enteritis, tumors, gout, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and obesity are associated with abnormal activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Different cancer diseases have been linked to NLRP3 and its role in tumorigenesis may be the opposite. Tumors can be suppressed by it, as has been seen primarily in the context of colorectal cancer associated with colitis. However, cancers such as gastric and skin can also be promoted by it. The inflammasome NLRP3 is associated with breast cancer, but there are few specific reviews. This review focuses on the structure, biological characteristics and mechanism of inflammasome, the relationship between NLRP3 in breast cancer Non-Coding RNAs, MicroRNAs and breast cancer microenvironment, especially the role of NLRP3 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). And the potential strategies of using NLRP3 inflammasome to target breast cancer, such as NLRP3-based nanoparticle technology and gene target therapy, are reviewed.

The Underlying Mechanism of Duanteng Yimu Decoction in Inhibiting Synovial Hyperplasia in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our previous studies confirmed that Duanteng Yimu decoction (DTYMT) effectively inhibits RA fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) proliferation. In this study, we investigated the influence of DTYMT on miR-221 in RA individuals. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to assess histopathological alterations in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. The expression of miR-221-3p and TLR4 in PBMC, FLS, and cartilage was measured by RT-qPCR. In the in vitro experiments, DTYMT-containing serum was incubated with FLS-transfected miR-221 mimic or inhibitor. CCK-8 was performed to determine FLS proliferation, and the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α was quantified by ELISA assay. In addition, the regulation of miR-221 expression on FLS apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry. Finally, western blot was employed to reflect TLR4/MyD88 protein levels. HE results showed that DTYMT effectively reduced synovial hyperplasia in the joints of CIA mice. RT-qPCR assay of FLS and cartilage of the model group showed that miR-221-3p and TLR4 significantly increased compared with those in the normal group. All outcomes were improved by DTYMT. The miR-221 mimic reversed the inhibitory effect of DTYMT-containing serum on FLS proliferation, the release of IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, and TNF-α, and FLS apoptosis, as well as TLR4/MyD88 protein levels. The results showed that miR-221 promotes the activity of RA-FLS by activating TLR4/MyD88 signaling, and DTYMT treats RA by reducing miR-221 in CIA mice.

Sex-biased expression of selected chromosome x-linked microRNAs with potent regulatory effect on the inflammatory response in children with cystic fibrosis: A preliminary pilot investigation

Previous studies have reported sex disparity in cystic fibrosis (CF) disease, with females experiencing more pulmonary exacerbations and frequent microbial infections resulting in shorter survival expectancy. This concerns both pubertal and prepubertal females, which is in support to the prominent role of gene dosage rather than the hormonal status. The underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. The X chromosome codes for a large number of micro-RNAs (miRNAs) that play a crucial role in the post-transcriptional regulation of several genes involved in various biological processes, including inflammation. However, their level of expression in CF males and females has not been sufficiently explored. In this study, we compared in male and female CF patients the expression of selected X-linked miRNAs involved in inflammatory processes. Cytokine and chemokine profiles were also evaluated at both protein and transcript levels and cross-analyzed with the miRNA expression levels. We observed increased expression of miR-223-3p, miR-106a-5p, miR-221-3p and miR-502-5p in CF patients compared to healthy controls. Interestingly, the overexpression of miR-221-3p was found to be significantly higher in CF girls than in CF boys and this correlates positively with IL-1β. Moreover, we found a trend toward lower expression in CF girls than in CF boys of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) and the ubiquitin-editing enzyme PDLIM2, two mRNA targets of miR-221-3p that are known to inhibit the NF-κB pathway. Collectively, this clinical study highlights a sex-bias in X-linked miR-221-3p expression in blood cells and its potential contribution to sustaining a higher inflammatory response in CF girls.

The various role of microRNAs in breast cancer angiogenesis, with a special focus on novel miRNA-based delivery strategies

After skin malignancy, breast cancer is the most widely recognized cancer detected in women in the United States. Breast cancer (BCa) can happen in all kinds of people, but it's much more common in women. One in four cases of cancer and one in six deaths due to cancer are related to breast cancer. Angiogenesis is an essential factor in the growth of tumors and metastases in various malignancies. An expanded level of angiogenesis is related to diminished endurance in BCa patients. This function assumes a fundamental part inside the human body, from the beginning phases of life to dangerous malignancy. Various factors, referred to as angiogenic factors, work to make a new capillary. Expanding proof demonstrates that angiogenesis is managed by microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small non-coding RNA with 19-25 nucleotides. MiRNA is a post-transcriptional regulator of gene expression that controls many critical biological processes. Endothelial miRNAs, referred to as angiomiRs, are probably concerned with tumor improvement and angiogenesis via regulation of pro-and anti-angiogenic factors. In this article, we reviewed therapeutic functions of miRNAs in BCa angiogenesis, several novel delivery carriers for miRNA-based therapeutics, as well as CRISPR/Cas9 as a targeted therapy in breast cancer.

Regulation of Inflammasome by microRNAs in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: New Opportunities for Therapy

During the past decade, researchers have investigated the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer initiation and progression, especially triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), in order to identify specific biomarkers that could serve as feasible targets for innovative therapeutic strategies development. TNBC is characterized by a dynamic and aggressive nature, due to the absence of estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor 2 receptors. TNBC progression is associated with the dysregulation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, followed by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and caspase-1 dependent cell death, termed pyroptosis. The heterogeneity of the breast tumor microenvironment triggers the interest of non-coding RNAs' involvement in NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, TNBC progression and metastasis. Non-coding RNAs are paramount regulators of carcinogenesis and inflammasome pathways, which could help in the development of efficient treatments. This review aims to highlight the contribution of non-coding RNAs that support inflammasome activation and TNBC progression, pointing up their potential for clinical applications as biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy.

MicroRNA and Messenger RNA Expression Profiles in Canine Mammary Gland Tumor

Canine mammary gland tumor (CMT) is the most frequently diagnosed neoplasm in intact female dogs. As prognosis depends on the malignancy of tumors and metastasis levels, early and accurate diagnosis are crucial for prolongation of life expectancy. The genetic similarity of dogs with humans in addition to environmental and physiological similarities make them ideal models for the study of cancer. In this study, we analyzed differentially expressed microRNAs followed by RNA-Seq to investigate the alterations in mRNA levels based on the malignancy (benign, malignant) and the biopsy locations (tumors, surrounding normal tissues). We identified multiple breast cancer-related genes regardless of malignancy. We found cfa-miR-503 to be the only miRNA that showed altered expression in response to malignancy in CMTs. Although further validation is needed, cfa-miR-503 could be used as a potential diagnostic biomarker as well as a potential RNA-based anti-tumor drug in malignant CMTs.

Breast cancer tumor microenvironment affects Treg/IL-17-producing Treg/Th17 cell axis: Molecular and therapeutic perspectives

The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises a variety of immune cells, among which T cells exert a prominent axial role in tumor development or anti-tumor responses in patients with breast cancer (BC). High or low levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as transforming growth factor β, in the absence or presence of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), delineate the fate of T cells toward either regulatory T (Treg) or T helper 17 (Th17) cells, respectively. The transitional state of RORγt⁺Foxp3⁺ Treg (IL-17-producing Treg) resides in the middle of this reciprocal polarization, which is known as Treg/IL-17-producing Treg/Th17 cell axis. TME secretome, including microRNAs, cytokines, and extracellular vesicles, can significantly affect this axis. Furthermore, immune checkpoint inhibitors may be used to reconstruct immune cells; however, some of these novel therapies may favor tumor development. Therefore, understanding secretory and cell-associated factors involved in their differentiation or polarization and functions may be targeted for BC management. This review discusses microRNAs, cytokines, and extracellular vesicles (as secretome), as well as transcription factors and immune checkpoints (as cell-associated factors), which influence the Treg/IL-17-producing Treg/Th17 cell axis in BC. Furthermore, approved or ongoing clinical trials related to the modulation of this axis in the TME of BC are described to broaden new horizons of promising therapeutic approaches.

The role of circulating miRNAs in mechanism of action and prediction of therapeutic responses of metformin in polycystic ovarian syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To study the involvement of microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of chronic anovulation and mechanism of metformin treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN

Case-control and prospective validation cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary university hospital.

PATIENT(S)

A total of 146 patients with PCOS and chronic anovulation and 20 non-PCOS controls were enrolled. Patients who resumed ovulation after metformin treatment (MET-OV) and remained anovulatory after metformin treatment (MET-AO) were assigned to MET-OV and MET-AO groups, respectively.

INTERVENTION(S)

All patients with PCOS received metformin treatment for 6 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Baseline and chronological changes in the plasma levels of 14 miRNAs (miR-21, 93, 132, 193b, 221, 222, 223, 27a, 125b, 200b, 212, 320a, 429, and 483) selected by literature review, anthropometric data, and hormonal as well as metabolic profiles were measured. Predictive modeling based on baseline circulatory miRNA levels and clinical parameters was performed to predict ovulation recovery after metformin treatment.

RESULT(S)

No significant differences were observed in the baseline hormonal and metabolic profiles between the MET-OV and MET-AO groups. However, the expression of miR-27a, miR-93, and miR-222 was significantly higher in the MET-OV group than that for the MET-AO and control groups. After 6 months of metformin treatment, the levels of insulin, luteinizing hormone, and 6 circulating miRNAs (miR-21, 27a, 93, 221, 222, and 223) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance decreased significantly in the MET-OV group, but remained unchanged in the MET-AO group. The area under curve, sensitivity, and specificity of the adjusted prediction model, based on miRNA levels and clinical parameters using logistic regression analysis for predicting ovulatory response after metformin treatment, were 0.807, 0.892, and 0.632, respectively.

CONCLUSION(S)

The present study demonstrated a distinct pattern of baseline expression and chronological changes in the levels of several circulatory miRNAs between the MET-OV and MET-AO groups, suggesting that aberrantly overexpressed diabetogenic miRNAs are involved in the pathophysiology of chronic anovulation in PCOS, and their down-regulation might contribute toward the therapeutic effects of metformin. This could provide new insights into the mechanism of action and applicability of individualized metformin therapy in women with PCOS.

Adipose and Plasma microRNAs miR-221 and 222 Associate with Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and New Onset Diabetes after Peritoneal Dialysis

BACKGROUND

The correlation between microRNA, obesity, and glycemic intolerance in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) is unknown. We aimed to measure the adipose and plasma miR-221 and -222 levels, and to evaluate their association with adiposity, glucose intolerance, and new onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) after the commencement of PD.

METHODS

We prospectively recruited incident adult PD patients. miR-221 and -222 were measured from adipose tissue and plasma obtained during PD catheter insertion. These patients were followed for 24 months, and the outcomes were changes in adiposity, insulin resistance, and NODM after PD.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty-five patients were recruited. Patients with pre-existing DM had higher adipose miR-221 (1.1 ± 1.2 vs. 0.7 ± 0.9-fold, p = 0.02) and -222 (1.9 ± 2.0 vs. 1.2 ± 1.3-fold, p = 0.01). High adipose miR-221 and -222 levels were associated with a greater increase in waist circumference (miR-221: beta 1.82, 95% CI 0.57-3.07, p = 0.005; miR-222: beta 1.35, 95% CI 0.08-2.63, p = 0.038), Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA) index (miR-221: beta 8.16, 95% CI 2.80-13.53, p = 0.003; miR-222: beta 6.59, 95% CI 1.13-12.05, p = 0.018), and insulin requirements (miR-221: beta 0.05, 95% CI 0.006-0.09, p = 0.02; miR-222: beta 0.06, 95% CI 0.02-0.11, p = 0.002) after PD. The plasma miR-222 level predicted the onset of NODM (OR 8.25, 95% CI 1.35-50.5, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

miR-221 and -222 are associated with the progression of obesity, insulin resistance, and NODM after PD.

The Potential of MicroRNAs as Clinical Biomarkers to Aid Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Ovarian cancer is a commonly diagnosed malignancy in women. When diagnosed at an early stage, survival outcomes are favourable for the vast majority, with up to 90% of ovarian cancer patients being free of disease at 5 years follow-up. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage due to the majority of patients remaining asymptomatic until the cancer has metastasised, resulting in poor outcomes for the majority. While the molecular era has facilitated the subclassification of the disease into distinct clinical subtypes, ovarian cancer remains managed and treated as a single disease entity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small (19-25 nucleotides), endogenous molecules which are integral to regulating gene expression. Aberrant miRNA expression profiles have been described in several cancers, and have been implicated to be useful biomarkers which may aid cancer diagnostics and treatment. Several preliminary studies have identified candidate tumour suppressor and oncogenic miRNAs which may be involved in the development and progression of ovarian cancer, highlighting their candidacy as oncological biomarkers; understanding the mechanisms by which these miRNAs regulate the key processes involved in oncogenesis can improve our overall understanding of cancer development and identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This review highlights the potential role of miRNAs which may be utilised to aid diagnosis, estimate prognosis and enhance therapeutic strategies in the management of primary ovarian cancer.

Decreased expression of miR-23b is associated with poor survival of endometrial cancer patients

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common types of cancer of the female reproductive system. EC is classified into two types (EC1 and EC2). MiRNAs are single-stranded RNA molecules that regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally. They have aberrant expression profiles in cancer, including EC. This study aimed to assess the level of expression of a panel of 16 miRNAs in both types of EC and healthy endometrium (HE). A total of 45 patients were enrolled into the study, 18 patients diagnosed with EC1, 12 diagnosed with EC2, and 15 HE controls. Tumor tissues or healthy endometrial tissues were dissected from archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) using laser capture microdissection (LCM). RNA was isolated from collected material and the expression of selected miRNAs was determined using the real-time qPCR. We found that miR-23b, miR-125b-5p, miR-199a-3p, miR-221-3p, and miR-451a were downregulated in EC in comparison to HE. Moreover, the expression of miR-34a-5p and miR-146-5p was higher in EC1 compared to EC2. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database confirmed decreased levels of miR-23b, miR-125b-5p, and miR-199a-3p in EC. Decreased miR-23b expression was associated with worse survival of EC patients.

Hsa-miR-221-3p promotes proliferation and migration in HER2-positive breast cancer cells by targeting LASS2 and MBD2

BACKGROUND

Human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-positive breast cancers account for nearly 20% of all breast cancer cases and microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in disease progression. The study was aimed to explore the role of miR-221-3p in HER2-positive breast cancer.

METHODS

Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified by high-throughput sequencing. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate mRNA levels of corresponding genes. CKK8 and transwell assays were performed to evaluate cell viability and migration. The translation binding was assessed by luciferase assay.

RESULTS

Hsa-miR-221-3p was highly upregulated in HER2-positive breast cancer samples, particularly in patients with advanced or metastatic disease, as compared to healthy controls. miR-221-3p upregulation using mimics promoted cell proliferation and migration in HER2-positive cell lines, whereas miR-221-3p suppression had the opposite effect. Additionally, miR-221-3p mimics reduced the expression levels of LASS2 and MBD2 in HER2-positive breast cancer cells; conversely, miR-221-3p inhibition upregulated LASS2 and MBD2. miR-221-3p inhibited the translation of LASS2 and MBD2 by directly binding to their 3'-untranslated regions. Forced expression of LASS2 and MBD2 significantly attenuated the ability of miR-221-3p mimics to enhance cell growth and migration in HER2-positive but not in HER2-negative breast cancer cells. In HER-2-positive breast cancer patients, the levels of miR-221-3p were negatively correlated with the mRNA levels of LASS2 and MBD2.

CONCLUSIONS

Upregulation of hsa-miR-221-3 in HER2-positive breast cancer contributes to cancer cell proliferation and migration by directly targeting the tumor suppressors LASS2 and MBD2. Therefore, the hsa-miR-221-3 may serve as a promising and actionable therapeutic target in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Identification of neoplasm-specific signatures of miRNA interactions by employing a systems biology approach

MicroRNAs represent major regulatory components of the disease epigenome and they constitute powerful biomarkers for the accurate diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases, including cancers. The advent of high-throughput technologies facilitated the generation of a vast amount of miRNA-cancer association data. Computational approaches have been utilized widely to effectively analyze and interpret these data towards the identification of miRNA signatures for diverse types of cancers. Herein, a novel computational workflow was applied to discover core sets of miRNA interactions for the major groups of neoplastic diseases by employing network-based methods. To this end, miRNA-cancer association data from four comprehensive publicly available resources were utilized for constructing miRNA-centered networks for each major group of neoplasms. The corresponding miRNA-miRNA interactions were inferred based on shared functionally related target genes. The topological attributes of the generated networks were investigated in order to detect clusters of highly interconnected miRNAs that form core modules in each network. Those modules that exhibited the highest degree of mutual exclusivity were selected from each graph. In this way, neoplasm-specific miRNA modules were identified that could represent potential signatures for the corresponding diseases.

Moderate Endurance Training and MitoQ Improve Cardiovascular Function, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Hypertensive Individuals: The Role of miR-21 and miR-222: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

Hypertension (HTN) is among the leading causes of myocardial infarction, stroke, and kidney disease. The MitoQ supplement is a mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant that attenuates the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). miRNAs play an essential role in the pathophysiology of HTN. Regular aerobic exercise is recommended to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to evaluate the effects of MitoQ supplementation and moderate endurance training (ET), alone and in combination, on cardiac function, blood pressure, the circulatory levels of miRNA-21 and miRNA-222, and oxidative status in individuals with HTN.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a double-blind, randomized clinical trial (except for ET group), 52 male hypertensive subjects (40-55 years old) were randomly divided into four groups (n=13): Placebo, MitoQ (20 mg/day, oral), ET (Cycle ergometer, moderate intensity, 40-60% VO2 peak, three sessions/week for six weeks), and MitoQ+ET. Cardiac echocardiography indices, serum oxidative and inflammation status, and miRNAs 21 and 222 were assessed before and after interventions.

RESULTS

Left ventricular mass [effect size (ES): -6.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): -11.2 to -1.4] and end-systolic/ diastolic diameters significantly improved in the intervention groups (ES: -0.05, 95% CI: -0.11 to 0.00 and -0.09, 95% CI: -0.16 to -0.02). Total serum antioxidant capacity (TAC) increased (ES: 36.0, 95% CI: 26.1 to 45.8), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (ES: -0.43, 95% CI: -0.53 to -0.32), IL-6 (ES: -1.6, 95% CI: -1.98 to -1.25), miR-21 (ES: -0.48, 95% CI: -0.61 to -0.35), and miR-222 (ES: -0.31, 95% CI: -0.44 to -0.18) significantly decreased in response to ET, MitoQ, and their combination.

CONCLUSION

MitoQ and ET, individually and more pronouncedly in combination, can improve cardiovascular health in people with high blood pressure (BP) by reducing inflammation and increasing antioxidant defense, in association with reduction in circulatory miR-21 and miR-222 levels (registration number: IRCT20190228042870N1).

Mechanisms underlying microRNA-222-3p modulation of methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference in the nucleus accumbens in mice

RATIONALE

MicroRNA (miRNA) control of post-transcription gene expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) has been implicated in methamphetamine (METH) dependence. Conditioned place preference (CPP) is a classical animal procedure that reflects the rewarding effects of addictive drugs. miR-222-3p has been reported to play a key role in various neurological diseases and is strongly associated with alcohol dependence. Nevertheless, the role of miR-222-3p in METH dependence remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of miR-222-3p in the NAc in METH-induced CPP.

METHODS

miR-222-3p expression in the NAc of METH-induced CPP mice was detected by quantitative real-time (qPCR). Following adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated overexpression or knockdown of miR-222-3p in the NAc, mice were subjected to CPP to investigate the effects of miR-222-3p on METH-induced CPP. Target genes of mir-222-3p were predicted using bioinformatics analysis. Candidate target genes for METH-induced CPP were validated by qPCR.

RESULTS

miR-222-3p expression in the NAc was decreased in CPP mice. Overexpression of miR-222-3p in the NAc blunted METH-induced CPP. Ppp3r1, Cdkn1c, Fmr1, and PPARGC1A were identified as target gene transcripts potentially mediating the effects of miR-222-3p on METH-induced CPP.

CONCLUSION

Our results highlight miR-222-3p as a key epigenetic regulator in METH-induced CPP and suggest a potential role for miR-222-3p in the regulation of METH-induced reward-related changes in the brain.

Expression of miR-221 and miR-18a in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical significance

Purpose

Recently, microRNA (miRNA) has been evaluated to provide a new diagnostic and therapeutic modality hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other tumors. They are small non-coding RNA molecules that function as transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression by silencing target genes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of microRNA-18a, 221 (miR-18a, miR-221) expression in HCC formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue.

Methods

miR-18a and miR-221 expressions were assessed by reverse transcription and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 50 pairs of FFPE HCC and the adjacent noncancerous liver tissues. And we evaluated the expression level in HCC tissues as compared with their adjacent noncancerous counterparts. And the relationship between miR-18a, miR-221 level and clinicopathological data and survival rates were analyzed.

Results

miR-221 and miR-18a were overexpressed in HCC tissue as compared with their adjacent noncancerous liver tissue (P<0.001). miR-221 expression was found to be correlated with larger tumor size (P=0.048). miR-18a expression was correlated with modified Union for International Cancer Control stage (P=0.05). The overall survival (P=0.02) of HCC patients with high miR-221 expression was significantly poorer compared to those patients with low expression. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that miR-221 may be a poor prognostic factor of HCC patients.

Conclusion

High expression of miR-221 in FFPE tissues could provide significance for prognosis of HCC patients. Although, miR-18a expression was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues, they are not correlated with prognosis. Further large prospective studies are needed to determine their clinical significance.

miR-145-5p affects autophagy by targeting CaMKIIδ in atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic progressive inflammatory disease involving many cells. miR-145-5p mediates the biological phenotypes of human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HAVSMCs) and influences the progression of AS, but the potential mechanism needs further study.

METHODS

Total RNA was extracted from patient plasma and arteries to determine the expression of miR-145-5p. The CaMKIIδ pathway and genes were predicted as the target of miR-145-5p by bioinformatics approaches. The interaction between miR-145-5p and CaMKIIδ was confirmed by RT-qPCR and Dual Luciferase Reporter Assay System. Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and protein tracing on HAVSMCs transduced with mCherry-GFP-LC3 lentiviral vectors to determine the mechanism by which miR-145-5p affects the atherosclerotic disease process.

RESULTS

The expression of miR-145-5p was downregulated in blood and arteries specimens of patients with coronary stenosis. Correspondingly, CaMKIIδ was upregulated and miR-145-5p was downregulated in hypoxic HAVSMCs. CaMKIIδ was predicted and confirmed as a downstream target of miR-145-5p. In addition, CaMKIIδ induced the upregulation of autophagy-related proteins by activating the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signalling pathway. Moreover, we confirmed that miR-145-5p inhibits CaMKIIδ expression by binding to a specific sequence in the CaMKIIδ 3' UTR and affects autophagy. Crucially, CaMKIIδ was promoted by the downregulation of miR-145-5p and then activating autophagy in HAVSMCs through the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signalling pathway to affect the AS progress.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-145-5p regulates CaMKIIδ, leading to altered autophagy in HAVSMCs. This alteration plays an important role in AS progression.

Identification of an interactome network between lncRNAs and miRNAs in thyroid cancer reveals SPTY2D1-AS1 as a new tumor suppressor

Thyroid cancer is the most common primary endocrine malignancy in adults and its incidence is rapidly increasing. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), generally defined as RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides with no protein-encoding capacity, are highly tissue-specific molecules that serve important roles in gene regulation through a variety of different mechanisms, including acting as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) that ‘sponge’ microRNAs (miRNAs). In the present study, using an integrated approach through RNA-sequencing of paired thyroid tumor and non-tumor samples, we have identified an interactome network between lncRNAs and miRNAs and examined the functional consequences in vitro and in vivo of one of such interactions. We have identified a likely operative post-transcriptional regulatory network in which the downregulated lncRNA, SPTY2D1-AS1, is predicted to target the most abundant and upregulated miRNAs in thyroid cancer, particularly miR-221, a well-known oncomiRNA in cancer. Indeed, SPTY2D1-AS1 functions as a potent tumor suppressor in vitro and in vivo, it is downregulated in the most advanced stages of human thyroid cancer, and it seems to block the processing of the primary form of miR-221. Overall, our results link SPTY2D1-AS1 to thyroid cancer progression and highlight the potential use of this lncRNA as a therapeutic target of thyroid cancer.

The Multiple Myeloma Landscape: Epigenetics and Non-Coding RNAs

Simple Summary

Recent findings in multiple myeloma have led to therapies which have improved patient life quality and expectancy. However, frequent relapse and drug resistance emphasize the need for more efficient therapeutic approaches. The discovery of non-coding RNAs as key actors in multiple myeloma has broadened the molecular landscape of this disease, together with classical epigenetic factors such as methylation and acetylation. microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs comprise the majority of the described non-coding RNAs dysregulated in multiple myeloma, while circular RNAs are recently emerging as promising molecular targets. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent knowledge on this topic and suggests new therapeutic strategies.

Abstract

Despite advances in available treatments, multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease and represents a challenge in oncohematology. New insights into epigenetic factors contributing to MM development and progression have improved the knowledge surrounding its molecular basis. Beyond classical epigenetic factors, including methylation and acetylation, recent genome analyses have unveiled the importance of non-coding RNAs in MM pathogenesis. Non-coding RNAs have become of interest, as their dysregulation opens the door to new therapeutic approaches. The discovery, in the past years, of molecular techniques, such as CRISPR-Cas, has led to innovative therapies with potential benefits to achieve a better outcome for MM patients. This review summarizes the current knowledge on epigenetics and non-coding RNAs in MM pathogenesis.

Coding and Noncoding RNA Expression Profiles of Spleen CD4+ T Lymphocytes in Mice with Echinococcosis

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a severe and neglected zoonotic disease that poses health and socioeconomic hazards. So far, the prevention and treatment of CE are far from meeting people's ideal expectations. Therefore, to gain insight into the prevention and diagnosis of CE, we explored the changes in RNA molecules and the biological processes and pathways involved in these RNA molecules as E. granulosus infects the host. Interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in peripheral blood serum of E. granulosus infected and uninfected female BALB/c mice were measured using the cytometric bead array mouse Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine kit. mRNA, microRNA (miRNA), long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA) profiles of spleen CD4+ T cells from the two groups of mice were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, and TNF-α were significantly higher in the serum of the CE mice than in control mice (P < 0.01). In total, 1,758 known mRNAs, 37 miRNAs, 175 lncRNAs, and 22 circRNAs were differentially expressed between infected and uninfected mice (|fold change| ≥ 0.585, P < 0.05). These differentially expressed molecules are involved in chromosome composition, DNA/RNA metabolism, and gene expression in cell composition, biological function, and cell function. Moreover, closely related to the JAK/STAT signaling pathways, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways, P53 signaling pathways, PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, cell cycle, and metabolic pathways. E. granulosus infection significantly increased the levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, and TNF-α in mouse peripheral blood of mice and significantly changed expression levels of various coding and noncoding RNAs. Further study of these trends and pathways may help clarify the pathogenesis of CE and provide new insights into the prevention and treatment of this disease.

Reinfection of Transplanted Livers in HCV- and HCV/HIV-Infected Patients Is Characterized by a Different MicroRNA Expression Profile

Background: After liver transplantation, HCV/HIV co-infected patients present, compared to the HCV mono-infected ones, increased HCV viral load, rapid progression to liver fibrosis and higher mortality. Liver biopsies (LB), obtained routinely 6 months after transplantation, represent a unique model to assess the early events related to graft re-infection. Here, we used miRNA sequencing of LB obtained from both HCV-and HCV/HIV-infected recipients, to identify transcriptional profiles able to explain the more severe outcome of these latter. Methods: miRNAs of 3 healthy livers, 3 HCV-LB and 3 HCV/HIV-LB were sequenced by Illumina HiSeq2500 platform. The DIANA-miRPath v3.0 webserver and DIANA-microT-CDS algorithm (v5.0) were used to characterize the functions of differentially expressed (DE-) miRNAs, querying the KEGG and Gene Ontology-Biological Process databases. Results: LB obtained from infected patients were characterized, with respect to controls, by a miRNA profile related to viral infection, immune system signaling and DNA damage in HCV-induced carcinogenesis. Instead, HCV-LB and HCV/HIV-LB differed in the expression of miRNAs involved in immunological and apoptotic processes and in extracellular matrix remodeling. Conclusions: liver reinfection processes are associated with early miRNA changes. Further studies are necessary to establish their prognostic role and possible actionability.

Biomarker Value of miR-221 and miR-222 as Potential Substrates in the Differential Diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Based on Data Synthesis and Bioinformatics Approach

Background

MicroRNA (miRNA) has been reported to play a critical regulatory role in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC). However, the role of miR-221/222 in PTC remains unclear. Here, we performed this study to explore the diagnostic potentials and mechanisms of miR-221/222 in PTC.

Methods

First, we systematically analyzed the diagnostic value of miR-221/222 in the diagnosis PTC by pooling the published studies. Afterwards, we performed comprehensive bioinformatics analysis including gene ontology analysis, pathway enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction analysis to explore the potential mechanisms of miR-221/222 involved in PTC.

Results

The overall sensitivity and specificity of miR-221/222 for PTC were 0.75 (95% CI: 0.70-0.80) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.76-0.84) respectively with the AUC of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.81-0.88). The diagnostic performance varied among different subgroups including geographical locations, sample sources and sample sizes. Meanwhile, we found that a combination of miR-221/222 and other miRNAs when used in a diagnostic panel could improve the diagnostic accuracy than individual miR-221/222. Moreover, through the bioinformatics analysis, we confirmed that miR-221/222 targets were highly related to the molecular pathogenesis of PTC. The results revealed that miR-221/222 may exert important functions in PTC through thyroid hormone signaling pathway and some other key pathways by regulating some key genes.

Conclusion

These findings indicated that miR-221/222 have the potential to serve as auxiliary tools for diagnosing PTC. Further prospective clinical trials should be performed to assess the accuracy of these findings in a larger cohort and determine the clinical uses.

microRNA-221 and tamoxifen resistance in luminal-subtype breast cancer patients: A case-control study

Background

Around 70% of breast cancers (BCs) are estrogen receptor-α (ERα)-positive. Adjuvant endocrine therapy is used to reduce estrogen levels and inhibit signal transduction through the ER. The anti-estrogen drugs that are most commonly used in endocrine therapy belong to the selective ER modulator (SERM) class and include tamoxifen. Although it has been used for three decades in cases of early-stage and ERα-positive BC, resistance to tamoxifen is a common problem. microRNAs (miRNAs) have a potential role in demonstrating BC resistance to tamoxifen therapy. Hence, there is a need to investigate the expression of miRNA-221 (miR-221) in luminal-subtype BC patients receiving tamoxifen therapy.

Methods

This case-control study investigated luminal-subtype BC patients who had undergone endocrine therapy for at least 1 year. The case group comprised patients with local or metastatic recurrence, and the control group comprised patients without local or metastatic recurrence.

Results

There was a significant difference in miR-221 expression (p = 0.005) between the case and control groups. There were no significant differences between the groups that were positive and negative for the progesterone receptor (PR) (p = 0.25), had high and low marker of proliferation Ki-67 levels (p = 0.60), were positive and negative for lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.14), and had stage 2 and stage 3 cancer (p = 0.25).

Conclusion

miR-221 expression was higher in tamoxifen-resistant BC cases. miR-221 is a potential biomarker of tamoxifen resistance.

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Tamoxifen is used to treat early-stage and estrogen receptor-α-positive breast cancer.

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Resistance to tamoxifen is a common problem.

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Serum microRNA-221 levels were higher in patients with local recurrence and metastasis.

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microRNA-221 is a potential serum biomarker of tamoxifen resistance.

Association between serum miR-221-3p and intravenous immunoglobulin resistance in children with Kawasaki disease

OBJECTIVES

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance was a major cause of coronary artery lesions in children with Kawasaki disease (KD). However, the cause of IVIG resistance in KD remains unknown. miR-221-3p has been confirmed involved in cardiovascular diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between miR-221-3p and IVIG resistance in children with KD.

METHODS

Fifty-five KD patients and 29 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this study. KD patients were divided into group of sensitive to IVIG (IVIG-response, n = 42) and group of resistant to IVIG (IVIG-resistance, n = 13), group of 10 KD patients with coronary artery lesions (CALs, KD-CALs) and group of 10 sex- and age-matched KD patients without CALs (KD-NCALs). Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the levels of miR-221-3p.

RESULTS

Compared with the HCs group, miR-221-3p were significantly increased in the KD group (p < 0.05), and the IVIG-resistance group had higher levels of miR-221-3p than those in the IVIG-response group (p < 0.05). CRP (C-reactive protein), PCT (procalcitonin), NLR (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio) were positively correlated with miR-221-3p in KD patients. In addition, the group of IVIG resistance had a higher level of Kobayashi Score (p < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that miR-221-3p had a better value for diagnosis IVIG resistance in children with KD than Kobayashi Score with the AUC of 0.811 (95% CI, 0.672-0.951), 0.793 (95% CI, 0.618-0.968), respectively. Additionally, miR-221-3p was elevated (p < 0.05) and showed an AUC value of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.648-1.000, p < 0.05) for the prediction of the complication of coronary artery abnormalities in the group of KD with CALs.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-221-3p might be involved in the pathogenesis of KD and IVIG resistance and miR-221-3p can be used as a new potential biomarker to predict IVIG resistance in children with KD.

Estradiol overcomes adiponectin-resistance in diabetic mice by regulating skeletal muscle adiponectin receptor 1 expression

Adiponectin and insulin resistance creates a vicious cycle that exacerbates type 2 diabetes. Earlier, we observed that female leptin receptor-deficient BLKS mice (BKS-db/db) were more sensitive to an adiponectin mimetic GTDF than males, which led us to explore if E2 plays a crucial role in modulation of adiponectin-sensitivity. Male but not female BKS-db/db mice were resistant to metabolic effects of globular adiponectin treatment. Male BKS-db/db displayed reduced skeletal muscle AdipoR1 protein expression, which was consequent to elevated polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 (PTB) and miR-221. E2 treatment in male BKS-db/db, and ovariectomized BALB/c mice rescued AdipoR1 protein expression via downregulation of PTB and miR-221, and also directly increased AdipoR1 mRNA by its classical nuclear receptors. Estrogen receptor regulation via dietary or pharmacological interventions may improve adiponectin resistance and consequently ameliorate insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes.

The NF-κB-regulated miR-221/222/syndecan-1 axis restores intestinal mucosal barrier function in radiation enteritis

PURPOSE

Radiation enteritis (RE) is the most common complication of pelvic radiotherapy, but proven therapies are lacking. Barrier function defects are closely associated with numerous inflammatory disorders. In this study, we investigated whether barrier dysfunction contributes to RE and whether syndecan-1 (Sdc1) protects intestinal barrier function in RE. The mechanism was also elucidated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood, urine, and tissue samples were collected from 21 patients with cervical cancer who experienced RE during radiotherapy and used to detect inflammatory responses and barrier function. The role of Sdc1 in barrier function was examined in cultured fetal human colon (FHC) cells exposed to radiation and an induced mouse RE model. Barrier function was determined by zonula occludens (ZO)-1 and occludin expression, transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), and FITC-dextran (FD4) flux. The role of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB-P65 pathway was detected by Western blotting and chromatin immunoprecipitation. The role of miR-221/222 was assessed by real-time PCR and luciferase reporter assays.

RESULTS

Patients with RE exhibited obvious pathological and ultra-microstructural inflammatory injury and barrier disruption in the intestinal mucosa, as well as higher serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS-binding protein, and cytokine levels and a higher urine lactulose/mannitol ratio. Sdc1 overexpression in irradiated FHC cells reversed TEER suppression, repressed FD4 flux, and upregulated ZO-1 and occludin expression. Exogenous low-molecular-weight heparin supplementation in RE mice ameliorated the activity of enteritis and barrier defects. Mechanistically, irradiation-activated P65 increased the transcription of miR-221/222 via direct binding to their promoter regions, and miR-221/222 then post-transcriptionally suppressed the Sdc1 gene by binding to its 3'-untranslated region.

CONCLUSIONS

Sdc1 protects barrier function and controls inflammation during RE under transcriptional regulation by the NF-κB pathway and miR-221/222. The network including NF-κB, miR-221/222, and Sdc1 is important in the pathogenesis of RE. Sdc1 might represent a therapeutic target for novel anti-RE strategies.

Detection of exosomal miR-18a and miR-222 levels in Egyptian patients with hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known to be the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. For improving the prognosis as well as reducing the rate of mortality, early diagnosis of HCC is a must.

AIMS

This study was conducted to assess the ability of the serum expression of exosomal miR-18a and miR-222 to differentiate and diagnose patients with HCC, patients with liver cirrhosis, and healthy controls.

METHODS

This study included 51 patients with liver cirrhosis, 51 patients with HCC on top of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and 50 healthy controls.

RESULTS

miR-18a and miR-222 were assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. MiR-18a and miR-222 levels were significantly higher in the liver cirrhosis and HCC groups than the control group (p ˂ 0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was found between patients with HCC and liver cirrhosis (p = 0.4 for miR-18a and p = 0.1 for miR-222). ROC curve analyses to evaluate the diagnostic performances of the two miRNAs as important noninvasive diagnostic markers revealed a best cutoff value of 2 for miR-18a to differentiate between liver cirrhosis, HCC, and healthy controls. And for mir-222, a cutoff value of 1.7 and 1.9 showed the highest specificity for discrimination between liver cirrhosis, HCC, and healthy controls, respectively. Moreover, logistic regression model revealed that miR-18a expression was independent predictive factor in HCC patients (p = 0.004), while miR-222 expression was independent predictive factor in liver cirrhosis patients (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

miR-18a and miR-222 were significantly discriminative markers between patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC and healthy individuals. Therefore, they have a prognostic rather than a diagnostic value. Moreover, miR-18a and miR-222 could be useful in identifying liver injuries, including fibrosis and cirrhosis.