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Wu HH, Leng S, Sergi C, Leng R. How MicroRNAs Command the Battle against Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5865. [PMID: 38892054 PMCID: PMC11172831 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that regulate more than 30% of genes in humans. Recent studies have revealed that miRNAs play a crucial role in tumorigenesis. Large sets of miRNAs in human tumors are under-expressed compared to normal tissues. Furthermore, experiments have shown that interference with miRNA processing enhances tumorigenesis. Multiple studies have documented the causal role of miRNAs in cancer, and miRNA-based anticancer therapies are currently being developed. This review primarily focuses on two key points: (1) miRNAs and their role in human cancer and (2) the regulation of tumor suppressors by miRNAs. The review discusses (a) the regulation of the tumor suppressor p53 by miRNA, (b) the critical role of the miR-144/451 cluster in regulating the Itch-p63-Ago2 pathway, and (c) the regulation of PTEN by miRNAs. Future research and the perspectives of miRNA in cancer are also discussed. Understanding these pathways will open avenues for therapeutic interventions targeting miRNA regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Helena Wu
- 370 Heritage Medical Research Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2S2, Canada;
| | - Sarah Leng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (5B4. 09), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada (C.S.)
| | - Consolato Sergi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (5B4. 09), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada (C.S.)
- Division of Anatomical Pathology, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), University of Ottawa, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Roger Leng
- 370 Heritage Medical Research Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2S2, Canada;
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2
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Chen Z, Liao Z, Liu M, Lin F, Chen S, Wang G, Zheng Z, Liu B, Li C, Wang Z, Chen T, Huang H, Liao Q, Cui W. Nucleus Pulposus-Targeting Nanocarriers Facilitate Mirna-Based Therapeutics for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2301337. [PMID: 37625164 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common cause of low back pain. Understanding its molecular mechanisms is the basis for developing specific treatment. To demonstrate that miR-22-3p is critical in the regulation of IDD, miRNA microarray analyses are conducted in conjunction with in vivo and in vitro experiments. The miR-22-3p knockout (KO) mice show a marked decrease in the histological scores. Bioinformatic analysis reveals that miR-22-3p plays a mechanistic role in the development of IDD by targeting SIRT1, which in turn activates the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway. This is confirmed by a luciferase reporter assay and western blot analysis. Therapeutically, the delivery of miR-22-3p inhibitors and mimics through the synthesized nanoparticles in the IDD model alleviates and aggravates IDD, respectively. The nanocarriers enhance transportation of miR-22-3p to nucleus pulposus cells, thus enabling the in vivo inhibition of miR-22-3p for therapeutic purposes and consequently promoting the development of miRNA-specific drugs for IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghui Chen
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430000, China
| | - Zhong Liao
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Fengfei Lin
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Shunyou Chen
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Geng Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Pharmacology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Zhong Zheng
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Boling Liu
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Chaoxiong Li
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Zheqiang Wang
- Department of Sport's Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Traditional Chinese Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Tianlai Chen
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Hongzhe Huang
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
| | - Qi Liao
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430000, China
| | - Weiliang Cui
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350000, China
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3
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de Souza Carneiro VC, Leon LAA, de Paula VS. miRNAs: Targets to Investigate Herpesvirus Infection Associated with Neurological Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15876. [PMID: 37958855 PMCID: PMC10650863 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Herpesvirus is associated with various neurological disorders and a specific diagnosis is associated with a better prognosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of neurological diseases triggered by herpetic infection. In this review, we discuss miRNAs that have been associated with neurological disorders related to the action of herpesviruses. Human miRNAs and herpesvirus-encoded miRNAs were listed and discussed. This review article will be valuable in stimulating the search for new diagnostic and prognosis alternatives and understanding the role of these miRNAs in neurological diseases triggered by herpesviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Cristine de Souza Carneiro
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Parasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (V.C.d.S.C.); (V.S.d.P.)
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Luciane Almeida Amado Leon
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Salete de Paula
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Parasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (V.C.d.S.C.); (V.S.d.P.)
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4
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Mead EA, Wang Y, Patel S, Thekkumthala AP, Kepich R, Benn-Hirsch E, Lee V, Basaly A, Bergeson S, Siegelmann HT, Pietrzykowski AZ. miR-9 utilizes precursor pathways in adaptation to alcohol in mouse striatal neurons. ADVANCES IN DRUG AND ALCOHOL RESEARCH 2023; 3:11323. [PMID: 38116240 PMCID: PMC10730111 DOI: 10.3389/adar.2023.11323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
microRNA-9 (miR-9) is one of the most abundant microRNAs in the mammalian brain, essential for its development and normal function. In neurons, it regulates the expression of several key molecules, ranging from ion channels to enzymes, to transcription factors broadly affecting the expression of many genes. The neuronal effects of alcohol, one of the most abused drugs in the world, seem to be at least partially dependent on regulating the expression of miR-9. We previously observed that molecular mechanisms of the development of alcohol tolerance are miR-9 dependent. Since a critical feature of alcohol action is temporal exposure to the drug, we decided to better understand the time dependence of alcohol regulation of miR-9 biogenesis and expression. We measured the effect of intoxicating concentration of alcohol (20 mM ethanol) on the expression of all major elements of miR-9 biogenesis: three pri-precursors (pri-mir-9-1, pri-mir-9-2, pri-mir-9-3), three pre-precursors (pre-mir-9-1, pre-mir-9-2, pre-mir-9-3), and two mature microRNAs: miR-9-5p and miR-9-3p, using digital PCR and RT-qPCR, and murine primary medium spiny neurons (MSN) cultures. We subjected the neurons to alcohol based on an exposure/withdrawal matrix of different exposure times (from 15 min to 24 h) followed by different withdrawal times (from 0 h to 24 h). We observed that a short exposure increased mature miR-9-5p expression, which was followed by a gradual decrease and subsequent increase of the expression, returning to pre-exposure levels within 24 h. Temporal changes of miR-9-3p expression were complementing miR-9-5p changes. Interestingly, an extended, continuous presence of the drug caused a similar pattern. These results suggest the presence of the adaptive mechanisms of miR-9 expression in the presence and absence of alcohol. Measurement of miR-9 pre- and pri-precursors showed further that the primary effect of alcohol on miR-9 is through the mir-9-2 precursor pathway with a smaller contribution of mir-9-1 and mir-9-3 precursors. Our results provide new insight into the adaptive mechanisms of neurons to alcohol exposure. It would be of interest to determine next which microRNA-based mechanisms are involved in a transition from the acute, intoxicating effects of alcohol to the chronic, addictive effects of the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Andrew Mead
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Yongping Wang
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Sunali Patel
- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Austin, TX, United States
| | - Austin P. Thekkumthala
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Rebecca Kepich
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Elizabeth Benn-Hirsch
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Victoria Lee
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Azra Basaly
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Susan Bergeson
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Hava T. Siegelmann
- Department of Machine Learning, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Biologically Inspired Neural & Dynamical Systems Laboratory, The Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Andrzej Zbigniew Pietrzykowski
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
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5
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The distance distribution of human microRNAs in MirGeneDB database. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17696. [PMID: 36271017 PMCID: PMC9587017 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22253-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small single-stranded non-coding RNAs around 22 nucleotide lengths found in organisms, playing an important role in cell differentiation, development, gene regulation, and apoptosis. The distance of disease miRNA biomarkers has been used to explore the association between various diseases as well as the association between virus and disease in the literature. To date, there have been no studies on deriving the distribution of the pairwise distance of human miRNAs. As the pairwise distance of miRNA biomarkers might be a useful tool in studying the disease association, in this paper, the distance distributions of human miRNAs were derived such that they could be used to measure the closeness between miRNAs. Two distance models were used to calculate the pairwise distances of 567 Homo sapiens miRNA genes accessed from the MirGeneDB database. These miRNA pairwise distances were fitted by the normal distribution, gamma distribution, empirical cumulative distribution, and the kernel density estimation method. This is the first study to provide the distance distribution of human miRNAs. The similarity of miRNA biomarkers for several diseases was examined using the derived distributions.
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Mead EA, Boulghassoul-Pietrzykowska N, Wang Y, Anees O, Kinstlinger NS, Lee M, Hamza S, Feng Y, Pietrzykowski AZ. Non-Invasive microRNA Profiling in Saliva can Serve as a Biomarker of Alcohol Exposure and Its Effects in Humans. Front Genet 2022; 12:804222. [PMID: 35126468 PMCID: PMC8812725 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.804222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is one of the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide. Considering the widespread occurrence of AUD, a reliable, cheap, non-invasive biomarker of alcohol consumption is desired by healthcare providers, clinicians, researchers, public health and criminal justice officials. microRNAs could serve as such biomarkers. They are easily detectable in saliva, which can be sampled from individuals in a non-invasive manner. Moreover, microRNAs expression is dynamically regulated by environmental factors, including alcohol. Since excessive alcohol consumption is a hallmark of alcohol abuse, we have profiled microRNA expression in the saliva of chronic, heavy alcohol abusers using microRNA microarrays. We observed significant changes in salivary microRNA expression caused by excessive alcohol consumption. These changes fell into three categories: downregulated microRNAs, upregulated microRNAs, and microRNAs upregulated de novo. Analysis of these combinatorial changes in microRNA expression suggests dysregulation of specific biological pathways leading to impairment of the immune system and development of several types of epithelial cancer. Moreover, some of the altered microRNAs are also modulators of inflammation, suggesting their contribution to pro-inflammatory mechanisms of alcohol actions. Establishment of the cellular source of microRNAs in saliva corroborated these results. We determined that most of the microRNAs in saliva come from two types of cells: leukocytes involved in immune responses and inflammation, and buccal cells, involved in development of epithelial, oral cancers. In summary, we propose that microRNA profiling in saliva can be a useful, non-invasive biomarker allowing the monitoring of alcohol abuse, as well as alcohol-related inflammation and early detection of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward A. Mead
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Edward A. Mead,
| | - Nadia Boulghassoul-Pietrzykowska
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
- Mayo Clinic Health System, NWWI, Barron, WI, United States
- Department of Medicine, Capital Health, Trenton, NJ, United States
- Weight and Life MD, Hamilton, NJ, United States
| | - Yongping Wang
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
- Holmdel Township School, Holmdel, NJ, United States
| | - Onaiza Anees
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University Health, CMH Behavioral Health, South Hill, VA, United States
| | - Noah S. Kinstlinger
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Maximillian Lee
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
- George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, MA, United States
| | - Shireen Hamza
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
- Department of the History of Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Yaping Feng
- Waksman Genomics Core Facility, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Bioinformatics Department, Admera Health, South Plainfield, NJ, United States
| | - Andrzej Z. Pietrzykowski
- Laboratory of Adaptation, Reward and Addiction, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
- Weight and Life MD, Hamilton, NJ, United States
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7
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RNA Modifications and RNA Metabolism in Neurological Disease Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111870. [PMID: 34769301 PMCID: PMC8584444 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The intrinsic cellular heterogeneity and molecular complexity of the mammalian nervous system relies substantially on the dynamic nature and spatiotemporal patterning of gene expression. These features of gene expression are achieved in part through mechanisms involving various epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation, post-translational histone modifications, and non-coding RNA activity, amongst others. In concert, another regulatory layer by which RNA bases and sugar residues are chemically modified enhances neuronal transcriptome complexity. Similar RNA modifications in other systems collectively constitute the cellular epitranscriptome that integrates and impacts various physiological processes. The epitranscriptome is dynamic and is reshaped constantly to regulate vital processes such as development, differentiation and stress responses. Perturbations of the epitranscriptome can lead to various pathogenic conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular abnormalities and neurological diseases. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have enabled us to identify and locate modified bases/sugars on different RNA species. These RNA modifications modulate the stability, transport and, most importantly, translation of RNA. In this review, we discuss the formation and functions of some frequently observed RNA modifications—including methylations of adenine and cytosine bases, and isomerization of uridine to pseudouridine—at various layers of RNA metabolism, together with their contributions to abnormal physiological conditions that can lead to various neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders.
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