MiR-122 Induces Radiosensitization in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Line

miR-122 and miR-21 are Stable Components of miRNA Signatures of Early Lung Cancer after Validation in Three Independent Cohorts

Several panels of circulating miRNAs have been reported as potential biomarkers of early lung cancer, yet the overlap of components between different panels is limited, and the universality of proposed biomarkers has been minimal across proposed panels. To assess the stability of the diagnostic potential of plasma miRNA signature of early lung cancer among different cohorts, a panel of 24 miRNAs tested in the frame of one lung cancer screening study (MOLTEST-2013, Poland) was validated with material collected in the frame of two other screening studies (MOLTEST-BIS, Poland; and SMAC, Italy) using the same standardized analytical platform (the miRCURY LNA miRNA PCR assay). On analysis of selected miRNAs, two associated with lung cancer development, miR-122 and miR-21, repetitively differentiated healthy participants from individuals with lung cancer. Additionally, miR-144 differentiated controls from cases specifically in subcohorts with adenocarcinoma. Other tested miRNAs did not overlap in the three cohorts. Classification models based on neither a single miRNA nor multicomponent miRNA panels (24-mer and 7-mer) showed classification performance sufficient for a standalone diagnostic biomarker (AUC, 75%, 71%, and 53% in MOLTEST-2013, SMAC, and MOLTEST-BIS, respectively, in the 7-mer model). The performance of classification in the MOLTEST-BIS cohort with the lowest contribution of adenocarcinomas was increased when only this cancer type was considered (AUC, 60% in 7-mer model).

The role and mechanism of action of microRNA-122 in cancer: Focusing on the liver

microRNA-122 (miR-122) is a highly conserved microRNA that is predominantly expressed in the liver and plays a critical role in the regulation of liver metabolism. Recent studies have shown that miR-122 is involved in the pathogenesis of various types of cancer, particularly liver cancer. In this sense, The current findings highlighted the potential role of miR-122 in regulating many vital processes in cancer pathophysiology, including apoptosis, signaling pathway, cell metabolism, immune system response, migration, and invasion. These results imply that miR-122, which has been extensively studied for its biological functions and potential therapeutic applications, acts as a tumor suppressor or oncogene in cancer development. We first provide an overview and summary of the physiological function and mode of action of miR-122 in liver cancer. We will examine the various signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms through which miR-122 exerts its effects on cancer cells, including the regulation of oncogenic and tumor suppressor genes, the modulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis, and the regulation of metastasis. Most importantly, we will also discuss the potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications of miR-122 in cancer, including the development of miRNA-based biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and the potential use of miR-122 as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

The role of microRNA-induced apoptosis in diverse radioresistant cancers

Resistance to cancer radiotherapy is one of the biggest concerns for success in treating and preventing recurrent disease. Malignant tumors may develop when they block genetic mutations associated with apoptosis or abnormal expression of apoptosis; Tumor treatment may induce the expression of apoptosis-related genes to promote tumor cell apoptosis. MicroRNAs have been shown to contribute to forecasting prognosis, distinguishing between cancer subtypes, and affecting treatment outcomes in cancer. Constraining these miRNAs may be an attractive treatment strategy to help overcome radiation resistance. The delivery of these future treatments is still challenging due to the excess downstream targets that each miRNA can control. Understanding the role of miRNAs brings us one step closer to attaining patient treatment and improving patient outcomes. This review summarized the current information on the role of microRNA-induced apoptosis in determining the radiosensitivity of various cancers.

MicroRNA-122 in human cancers: from mechanistic to clinical perspectives

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous short non-coding RNAs that can regulate the expression of target genes post-transcriptionally and interact with mRNA-coding genes. MiRNAs play vital roles in many biological functions, and abnormal miRNA expression has been linked to various illnesses, including cancer. Among the miRNAs, miR-122, miR-206, miR-21, miR-210, miR-223, and miR-424 have been extensively studied in various cancers. Although research in miRNAs has grown considerably over the last decade, much is yet to be discovered, especially regarding their role in cancer therapies. Several kinds of cancer have been linked to dysregulation and abnormal expression of miR-122, indicating that miR-122 may serve as a diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarker for human cancer. Consequently, in this review literature, miR-122 has been analyzed in numerous cancer types to sort out the function of cancer cells miR-122 and enhance patient response to standard therapy.

miR-140-3p enhances the sensitivity of LUAD cells to antitumor agents by targeting the ADAM10/Notch pathway

Background: The Notch pathway, which is related to the drug-resistance of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, is activated by cleavage of Notch proteins mediated by ADAMs, ADAM10 or ADAM17. Methods: In the present study, our results demonstrated that of these two ADAMs, the expression of ADAM10 in clinical samples of the LUAD type of NSCLC was much higher than that of ADAM17, while miR-140-3p - an miRNA that could target ADAM10 - was identified by an online tool: miRDB (miRNA database). The detail function and mechanism of miR-140-3p in regulating the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to antitumor drugs was systematically explored in vitro and in vivo. Results: In A549, a typical NSCLC LUAD cell line, miR-140-3p decreased ADAM10 expression and repressed activation of the Notch pathway by repressing cleavage of Notch proteins. The expression of miR-140-3p was negatively related to ADAM10 in clinical specimens. Nucleocytoplasmic separation/subfraction assays showed that miR-140-3p was able to inhibit the cleavage of Notch protein, and led to the accumulation of Notch intracellular domains (NICD) in the nucleus. Overexpression of miR-140-3p enhanced the sensitivity of A549 cells to antitumor agents by targeting the 3'UTR region of ADAM10 mRNA in both cultured cells and in vivo models. Conclusion: ADAM10 plays a major role in LUAD, and miR-140-3p acts on ADAM10 and inhibits its expression and the cleavage of Notch protein, leading to the inhibition the activity of the Notch pathway, and ultimately upregulating LUAD cell sensitivity to anti- tumor drugs.

A Single Nucleotide Mixture Enhances the Antitumor Activity of Molecular-Targeted Drugs Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma

New strategies for molecular-targeted drug therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ignore the contribution of the nutritional status of patients and nutritional support to improve physical status and immunity. We aimed to elucidate the role of a single nucleotide mixture (SNM) in the anti-tumor therapy of HCC, and to explore the importance of a SNM as adjuvant therapy for HCC. Compared with a lipid emulsion (commonly used nutritional supplement for HCC patients), the SNM could not induce metabolic abnormalities in HCC cells (Warburg effect), and did not affect expression of metabolic abnormality-related factors in HCC cells. The SNM could also attenuate the lymphocyte injury induced by antitumor drugs in vitro and in vivo, and promote the recruitment and survival of lymphocytes in HCC tissues. Using HCC models in SCID (server combined immune-deficiency) mice or BalB/c mice, the SNM had anti-tumor activity, and could significantly upregulate the antitumor activity of molecular-targeted drugs (tyrosine-kinase inhibitors [TKI] and immune-checkpoint inhibitors [ICI]) against HCC. We employed research models in vivo and in vitro to reveal the anti-tumor activity of the SNM on HCC. Our findings expand understanding of the SNM and contribute to HCC (especially nutritional support) therapy.

Bioinformatics Analysis for Identifying Differentially Expressed MicroRNAs Derived from Plasma Exosomes Associated with Radiotherapy Resistance in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Objective

To explore the differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRs) derived from plasma exosomes related to radiotherapy resistance and their corresponding pathways in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Plasma samples from NSCLC patients were retrieved and analyzed. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on the tumor regression grade criteria, assessed by radiological imaging after radiotherapy. TRG1 referred to tumor shrinkage of ≤30% after radiotherapy, TRG2 as 30% < TRG < 50%, and TRG3 as TRG ≥ 50%. High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were used to compare the DEmiRs between the three groups. The miRanda, PITA, and RNAhybrid software were used to identify potential target genes of the DEmiRs. GO function enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the target gene set.

Results

There were 24 DEmiRs (12 were upregulated and 12 downregulated) between the TRG1 and TRG2 groups, 11 between the TRG1 and TRG3 groups (6 upregulated and 5 downregulated), and 35 between the TRG2 and TRG3 groups. The common DEmiRs between the three groups were miR-92a-3p. GO analysis showed that the target genes of the DEmiRs were mainly enriched in unicellular organism processes, cell transformation, cell localization, and their establishment. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that target genes were significantly enriched in the Ras signaling pathway and associated with endocytosis. Among the 135 identified target genes of miR-92a-3p, 4 were involved in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway (the downstream pathway of the Ras gene) and 3 in the cAMP signaling pathway (the upstream pathway of the Ras gene). Further, 2 other target genes were involved in the Rap1 signaling pathway (the upstream pathway of PI3K-Akt).

Conclusion

By assessing the expression and functional profile of DEmiRs in the plasma exosomes of NSCLC patients after radiotherapy, miR-92a-3p was identified as a promising target affecting radiotherapy outcomes through the Ras signaling pathway.

MiRNA-122 Promotes Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury after Lung Transplantation via the Toll-like Receptor Signaling Pathway

OBJECTIVE

MiRNAs have been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. This study aimed to investigate the miRNA expression profiles in the early stages after lung transplantation (LT) and to study the involvement of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway in lung IR injury following LT.

METHODS

We established the left LT model in mice and selected the miRNA-122 as a research target. The mice were injected with a miRNA-122-specific inhibitor, following which pathological changes in the lung tissue were studied using different lung injury indicators. In addition, we performed deep sequencing of transplanted lung tissues to identify differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs and their target genes. These target genes were used to further perform gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 12 DE miRNAs were selected, and 2476 target genes were identified. The GO enrichment analysis predicted 6063 terms, and the KEGG analysis predicted 1554 biological pathways. Compared with the control group, inhibiting the expression of miRNA-122 significantly reduced the lung injury and lung wet/dry ratio (P<0.05). In addition, the activity of myeloperoxidase and the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and TLR2/4 were decreased (P<0.05); whereas the expression of interleukin-10 was increased (P<0.05). Furthermore, the inhibition of miRNA-122 suppressed the IR injury-induced activation of the TLR signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our findings showed the differential expression of several miRNAs in the early inflammatory response following LT. Of these, miRNA-122 promoted IR injury following LT, whereas its inhibition prevented IR injury in a TLR-dependent manner.

Systematic Review of Potential Anticancerous Activities of Erythrina senegalensis DC (Fabaceae)

The objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review of the substances isolated from the African medicinal plant Erythrina senegalensis, focusing on compounds harboring activities against cancer models detailed in depth herein at both in vitro and in vivo preclinical levels. The review was conducted through Pubmed and Google Scholar. Nineteen out of the forty-two secondary metabolites isolated to date from E. senegalensis displayed interesting in vitro and/or in vivo antitumor activities. They belonged to alkaloid (Erysodine), triterpenes (Erythrodiol, maniladiol, oleanolic acid), prenylated isoflavonoids (senegalensin, erysenegalensein E, erysenegalensein M, alpinumisoflavone, derrone, warangalone), flavonoids (erythrisenegalone, senegalensein, lupinifolin, carpachromene) and pterocarpans (erybraedine A, erybraedine C, phaseollin). Among the isoflavonoids called "erysenegalensein", only erysenealenseins E and M have been tested for their anticancerous properties and turned out to be cytotoxic. Although the stem bark is the most frequently used part of the plant, all pterocarpans were isolated from roots and all alkaloids from seeds. The mechanisms of action of its metabolites include apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy and mitophagy via the modulation of cytoplasmic proteins, miRNA and enzymes involved in critical pathways deregulated in cancer. Alpinumisoflavone and oleanolic acid were studied in a broad spectrum of cancer models both in vitro and in preclinical models in vivo with promising results. Other metabolites, including carpachromen, phaseollin, erybraedin A, erysenegalensein M and maniladiol need to be further investigated, as they display potent in vitro effects.

MiR-122 radiosensitize hepatocellular carcinoma cells by suppressing cyclin G1

PURPOSE

Emerging evidence has shown that radiotherapy is an effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Micro(mi)RNAs are involved in regulating radiosensitivity in many cancers. MiR-122 accounts for approximately 70% of all cloned miRNAs in the liver, but there are few reports about whether it is involved in regulating of radiosensitivity in HCC cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HCC cells (HepG2 and Huh7) overexpressing miR-122 were constructed by transfecting them with lentiviral-miR-122. Then, their proliferation ability was analyzed by the MTT, and colony formation assays and a xenograft tumor model was used to detect their radiosensitivity. The expression of cyclin G1 mRNA and protein was detected by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively.

RESULTS

Overexpression of miR-122 inhibited the proliferation of, and radiosensitized HCC cells. Cyclin G1 mRNA and protein level were suppressed in HepG2 tumors overexpression miR-122.

CONCLUSION

MiR-122 may be useful as a potential radiosensitizer for HCC, and its mechanism is related to the regulation of cyclin G1.

TPX2 Enhanced the Activation of the HGF/ETS-1 Pathway and Increased the Invasion of Endocrine-Independent Prostate Carcinoma Cells

The prognosis for endocrine-independent prostate carcinoma is still poor due to its highly metastatic feature. In the present work, TPX2 (the targeting protein for Xklp2), which is known as a micro-tubulin interacted protein, was identified as a novel coactivator of ETS-1, a transcription factor that plays a central role in mediating the metastasis of human malignancies. TPX2 enhanced the transcription factor activation of ETS-1 and increased the expression of ETS-1's downstream metastasis-related genes, such as mmp3 or mmp9, induced by HGF (hepatocyte growth factor), a typical agonist of the HGF/c-MET/ETS-1 pathway. The protein-interaction between TPX2 and ETS-1 was examined using immunoprecipitation (IP). TPX2 enhanced the accumulation of ETS-1 in the nuclear and the recruitment of its binding element (EST binding site, EBS) located in the promoter region of its downstream gene, mmp9. Moreover, TPX2 enhanced the in vitro or in vivo invasion of a typical endocrine-independent prostate carcinoma cell line, PC-3. Therefore, TPX2 enhanced the activation of the HGF/ETS-1 pathway to enhance the invasion of endocrine-independent prostate carcinoma cells and thus it would be a promising target for prostate carcinoma treatment.

Expression of inflammatory interleukins and selected miRNAs in non-small cell lung cancer

Tumours are characterised by an ability to avoid immune destruction and the presence of cancer-associated inflammation. Better understanding of the link between lung cancer and such inflammation is vital for early detection and personalized treatment. Thus, we examined the mRNA expression of interleukins IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17 and miR-9, miR-122 as potential useful biomarkers of NSCLC. Tumour tissues, non-cancerous tissue and blood samples were collected from 39 patients with primary NSCLC undergoing surgical treatment. The selected RNA was isolated from tissue samples and selected miRNAs from peripheral blood exosomes. This RNA was transcribed to cDNA and quantified using RT-qPCR. Significantly higher expression of the selected interleukins was observed in non-cancerous than tumour tissue, and IL-6 was significantly higher in the tumour tissue of patients with a history of ≤ 40 pack-years (PYs) (2.197, IQR: 0.821-4.415) than in those with > 40 PYs (0.461, IQR: 0.372-0.741; p = 0.037). It is clear that inflammatory processes play a role in NSCLC, as indicated by the upregulation of IL-1β and IL-6 in tumour and adjacent tissue, and that smoking has a strong influence on inflammation in tumourigenesis, demonstrated by the upregulation of IL-6 in tumour samples among patients with ≤ 40 PYs compared to > 40 PYs.

Emerging role of non-coding RNAs in response of cancer cells to radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is an effective method for treatment of a large proportion of human cancers. Yet, the efficacy of this method is precluded by the induction of radioresistance in tumor cells and the radiation-associated injury of normal cells surrounding the field of radiation. These restrictions necessitate the introduction of modalities for either radiosensitization of cancer cells or protection of normal cells against adverse effects of radiation. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have essential roles in the determination of radiosensitivity. Moreover, ncRNAs can modulate radiation-induced side effects in normal cells. Several microRNAs (miRNAs) such as miR-620, miR-21 and miR-96-5p confer radioresistance, while other miRNAs including miR-340/ 429 confer radiosensitivity. The expression levels of a number of miRNAs are associated with radiation-induced complications such as lung fibrosis or oral mucositis. The expression patterns of several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) such as MALAT1, LINC00630, HOTAIR, UCA1 and TINCR are associated with response to radiotherapy. Taken together, lncRNAs and miRNAs contribute both in modulation of response of cancer cells to radiotherapy and in protection of normal cells from the associated side effects. The current review provides an overview of the roles of these transcripts in these aspects.

Advances of exosome isolation techniques in lung cancer

Lung cancer (LC) is among the leading causes of death all over the world and it is often diagnosed at advanced or metastatic stages. Exosomes, derived from circulating vesicles that are released from the multivesicular body, can be utilized for diagnosis and also the prognosis of LC at early stages. Exosomal proteins, RNAs, and DNAs can help to better discern the prognostic and diagnostic features of LC. To our knowledge, there are various reviews on LC and the contribution of exosomes, but none of them are about the exome techniques and also their efficiency in LC. To fill this gap, in this review, we summarize the recent investigations regarding isolation and also the characterization of exosomes of LC cells. Furthermore, we discuss the noncoding RNAs as biomarkers and their applications in the diagnosis and prognosis of LC. Finally, we compare the efficacy of exosome isolation methods to better fi + 6 + guring out feasible techniques.

Extracellular Vesicles in Modifying the Effects of Ionizing Radiation

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-coated nanovesicles actively secreted by almost all cell types. EVs can travel long distances within the body, being finally taken up by the target cells, transferring information from one cell to another, thus influencing their behavior. The cargo of EVs comprises of nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins derived from the cell of origin, thereby it is cell-type specific; moreover, it differs between diseased and normal cells. Several studies have shown that EVs have a role in tumor formation and prognosis. It was also demonstrated that ionizing radiation can alter the cargo of EVs. EVs, in turn can modulate radiation responses and they play a role in radiation-induced bystander effects. Due to their biocompatibility and selective targeting, EVs are suitable nanocarrier candidates of drugs in various diseases, including cancer. Furthermore, the cargo of EVs can be engineered, and in this way they can be designed to carry certain genes or even drugs, similar to synthetic nanoparticles. In this review, we describe the biological characteristics of EVs, focusing on the recent efforts to use EVs as nanocarriers in oncology, the effects of EVs in radiation therapy, highlighting the possibilities to use EVs as nanocarriers to modulate radiation effects in clinical applications.

miR-122-5p modulates the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells by regulating cell division cycle 25A (CDC25A)

Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies globally, Unfortunately, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are not effective at treating some cases of this disease, and the 5‐year survival rate is only 40–50%. Cell division cycle 25A (CDC25A) has been shown to induce radioresistance in a variety of tumor cells, but the role of CDC25A in the radioresistance of cervical cancer has not been fully elucidated. Here, we report that CDC25A is highly expressed and miR‐122‐5p lowly expressed in cervical cancer tissues and cells. The TargetScan database was used to predict CDC25A as a target of miR‐122‐5p, and the interactions between miR‐122‐5p and CDC25A were further confirmed by western blot, real‐time PCR and dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Under X‐ray irradiation, up‐regulation of CDC25A can promote the radiation resistance of cervical cancer cells, whereas overexpression of miR‐122‐5p or knockdown of CDC25A inhibits the survival and induces apoptosis of cervical cancer colonies. In conclusion, our data suggest that miR‐122‐5p enhances the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells by targeting CDC25A.

MicroRNA-6077 enhances the sensitivity of patients-derived lung adenocarcinoma cells to anlotinib by repressing the activation of glucose transporter 1 pathway

Anlotinib is a novel molecular targeted agent targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, which differs from the other currently available non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) molecular targeted drugs targeting this receptor. Although the application of anlotinib may bring new hope for patients with advanced NSCLC, the cost of treatment is high. The results of this study showed that microRNA-6077 (miR-6077) represses the expression of GLUT1 (glucose transporter 1) and enhances the sensitivity of patient-derived lung adenocarcinoma (AC) cells to anlotinib. The miR-6077, which potentially binds to the 3'untranslated region of GLUT1, was identified and screened by miRDB, an online tool; sequences of miR-6077 were prepared as lentivirus particles. A549 cells (a lung adenocarcinoma cell line) and five patient-derived AC cell lines were infected with control miRNA or miR-6077, and subsequently treated with the indicated concentration of anlotinib. The expression of proteins, such as GLUT1, was determined by western blotting. The antitumor effect of anlotinib was identified through in-vitro (e.g., MTT) or in-vivo methods (e.g., subcutaneous tumor model). Overexpression of miR-6077 repressed the expression of GLUT1 and decreased the glucose uptake, lactate production, or ATP generation in AC cells. In addition, MiR-6077 may enhance the antitumor effect of anlotinib on A549 or patient-derived AC cell lines. Therefore, our results indicated that miR-6077 represses the expression of GLUT1 and enhances the sensitivity of patients-derived lung AC cells to anlotinib.

Tissue-specific and exosomal miRNAs in lung cancer radiotherapy: from regulatory mechanisms to clinical implications

Lung cancer is the most prevalent and deadly malignancy. Radiotherapy is a major treatment modality for lung cancer. Nevertheless, radioresistance poses a daunting challenge that largely limits the efficacy of radiotherapy. There is a pressing need for deciphering molecular mechanisms underlying radioresistance and elucidating novel therapeutic targets for individualized radiotherapy. MicroRNAs are categorized as small noncoding RNAs that modulate target-gene expression posttranscriptionally and are implicated in carcinogenesis and cancer resistance to treatment. Overwhelming evidence has unraveled that tissue-specific miRNAs are essential for regulation of the radiosensitivity in lung cancer cells through a complex interaction with multiple biological processes and radiation-induced pathways. Moreover, exosome-derived miRNAs are a novel horizon in lung cancer treatment in which exosomal miRNAs act as potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of radiotherapy. In the present review, we discuss the mediation of key biological processes and signaling pathways by tissue-specific miRNAs in lung cancer radiotherapy. Additionally, we provide new insight into the potential significance of exosomal miRNAs in radiation response. Lastly, we highlight miRNAs as promising predictors and therapeutic targets to tailor personalized lung cancer radiotherapy.

New insights into radioresistance in breast cancer identify a dual function of miR-122 as a tumor suppressor and oncomiR

Radioresistance of tumor cells gives rise to local recurrence and disease progression in many patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are master regulators of gene expression that control oncogenic pathways to modulate the radiotherapy response of cells. In the present study, differential expression profiling assays identified 16 deregulated miRNAs in acquired radioresistant breast cancer cells, of which miR-122 was observed to be up-regulated. Functional analysis revealed that miR-122 has a role as a tumor suppressor in parental cells by decreasing survival and promoting radiosensitivity. However, in radioresistant cells, miR-122 functions as an oncomiR by promoting survival. The transcriptomic landscape resulting from knockdown of miR-122 in radioresistant cells showed modulation of the ZNF611, ZNF304, RIPK1, HRAS, DUSP8 and TNFRSF21 genes. Moreover, miR-122 and the set of affected genes were prognostic factors in breast cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Our data indicate that up-regulation of miR-122 promotes cell survival in acquired radioresistant breast cancer and also suggest that miR-122 differentially controls the response to radiotherapy by a dual function as a tumor suppressor an and oncomiR dependent on cell phenotype.

LDR-Induced miR-30a and miR-30b Target the PAI-1 Pathway to Control Adverse Effects of NSCLC Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy has been a central part in curing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, it is possible that not all of the tumor cells are destroyed by radiation; therefore, it is important to effectively control residual tumor cells that could become aggressive and resistant to radiotherapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of decreased NSCLC radioresistance by low-dose radiation (LDR) pretreatment. The results indicated that miR-30a and miR-30b, which effectively inhibited plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), were overexpressed by treatment of LDR to NSCLC cells. Phosphorylation of Akt and ERK, the downstream survival signals of PAI-1, was decreased by PAI-1 inhibition. Reduced cell survival and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by PAI-1 inhibition were confirmed in NSCLC cells. Moreover, in vivo orthotopic xenograft mouse models with 7C1 nanoparticles to deliver miRNAs showed that tumor growth and aggressiveness were efficiently decreased by LDR treatment followed by radiotherapy. Taken together, the present study suggested that PAI-1, whose expression is regulated by LDR, was critical for controlling surviving tumor cells after radiotherapy.

MicroRNA-122 negatively associates with peroxiredoxin-II expression in human gefitinib-resistant lung cancer stem cells

Previously, we demonstrated that Prx II is important for survival of the gefitinib-resistant A549 (A549/GR) cell line, an NSCLC cell line derived by repeated exposure to gefitinib. Therefore, in this study, we used A549/GR cells to investigate the role of Prx II in GR NSCLC stemness. Initially, to explore the stemness characteristics and investigate the association of Prx II with those stemness characteristics, we successfully isolated a stem cell-like population from A549/GR cells. A549/GR CD133⁺ cells possessed important cancer stemness characteristics, including the abilities to undergo metastasis, angiogenesis, self-renewal, and to express stemness genes and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. However, those characteristics were abolished by knocking down Prx II expression. MicroRNA 122 (miR-122) targets Prx II in A549/GR cancer stem cells (CSCs), thereby inhibiting the stemness characteristics in vitro and in vivo. Next, we investigate whether miR-122 overexpression was associated with Prx II expression and Prx-II-induced stemness characteristics, we transfected miR-122 into A549/GR CSCs. MiR-122 inhibited A549/GR stemness by downregulating the Hedgehog, Notch, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Taken together, our data suggest that Prx II promotes A549/GR stemness, and that targeting Prx II and miR-122 is a potentially viable strategy for anti-cancer-stem cell therapy in GR NSCLCs.

LINE-1 ORF-1p enhances the transcription factor activity of pregnenolone X receptor and promotes sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Background

LINE-1 ORF-1p is encoded by the human pro-oncogene LINE-1. Our previous work showed that LINE-1 ORF-1p could enhance the resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells to antitumor agents. However, the mechanisms involved in LINE-1 ORF-1p-mediated drug resistance remain largely unknown.

Materials and methods

The endogenous mRNA level of LINE-1 ORF-1p in clinical HCC specimens was examined using quantitative PCR (qPCR). The prognosis of HCC patients was assessed using time to progression and overall survival. The transcription factor activity of pregnenolone X receptor (PXR) was examined using luciferase gene reporter assays, qPCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and cellular subfraction assays. Protein interaction between LINE-1 ORF-1p and PXR was detected by co-immunoprecipitation. The effect of LINE-1 ORF-1p on sorafenib resistance in HCC cells was studied using in vitro and in vivo models.

Results

A high level of LINE-1 ORF-1p in clinical specimens was related to poor prognosis in patients who received sorafenib treatment. LINE-1 ORF-1p increased the transcription factor activity of PXR by interacting with PXR and enhancing its cytoplasmic/nuclear translocation, and recruiting PXR to its downstream gene promoter, in turn enhancing the expression of the sorafenib resistance-related genes, CYP3A4 and mdr-1. LINE-1 ORF-1p enhanced the resistance to and clearance of sorafenib in HCC cells.

Conclusion

LINE-1 ORF-1p enhances the transcription factor activation of PXR and promotes the clearance of and resistance to sorafenib in HCC cells.

Predictive relevance of ncRNAs in non-small-cell lung cancer patients with radiotherapy: a review of the published data

Radiotherapy is one of the most commonly used methods to treat non-small-cell lung cancer. However, radiotherapy, especially thoracic radiotherapy, is always accompanied by radiation-induced complications or radioresistance. In this regard, ncRNAs, including miRNAs and lncRNAs, have received considerable interest for their predictive relevance. This review article illustrates the recent findings about the possible involvement of ncRNAs, mainly miRNAs and lncRNAs, in radioresistance and radiation-induced complications and their potential use for predicting radiation-induced complications and radiotherapy response.

Silencing the expression of copine-III enhances the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to the molecular targeted agent sorafenib

Background

The application of the oral targeted therapeutic agent sorafenib provides new hope for patients suffering from advanced stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the prognosis of such patients remains poor due to the rapid development of the multidrug resistance process in cancer pathogenesis. The present work evaluated whether copine-III, a novel cancer regulator encoded by the CPNE3 gene, would be a potential indicator of sorafenib resistance in HCC treatment.

Materials and methods

The endogenous expression of copine-III in clinical specimens was examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Copine-III siRNA was transfected into HCC cells to downregulate copine-III expression. The effect of copine-III on sorafenib’s antitumor activation was identified by in vitro and in vivo experiments (MTT, Transwell, and flow cytometry as well as a nude mice model).

Results

High levels of copine-III in clinical specimens are related to poor prognosis of advanced HCC patients on sorafenib treatment. Infection of Ad-siCPNE3 significantly decreased the endogenous expression of copine-III and enhanced the susceptibility of MHCC97-H cells to sorafenib: the IC₅₀ value decreased from 1.15±0.11 to 0.25±0.05 μmol/L. Moreover, silencing copine-III enhanced the effect of sorafenib on apoptosis, in vitro invasion/migration, and subcutaneous or intrahepatic growth of MHCC97-H cells in nude mice.

Conclusion

Copine-III is a novel potential indicator of prognosis for patients who received sorafenib for advanced HCC treatment.

Radiosensitizing effects of miR-18a-5p on lung cancer stem-like cells via downregulating both ATM and HIF-1α

Lung cancer is one of the main causes of cancer mortality globally. Most patients received radiotherapy during the course of disease. However, radioresistance generally occurs in the majority of these patients, leading to poor curative effect, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, miR-18a-5p expression was downregulated in irradiated lung cancer cells. Overexpression of miR-18a-5p increased the radiosensitivity of lung cancer cells and inhibited the growth of A549 xenografts after radiation exposure. Dual luciferase report system and miR-18a-5p overexpression identified ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) as the targets of miR-18a-5p. The mRNA and protein expressions of ATM and HIF-1α were dramatically downregulated by miR-18a-5p in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, plasma miR-18a-5p expression was significantly higher in radiosensitive than in radioresistant group (P < .001). The cutoff value of miR-18a-5p >2.28 was obtained from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The objective response rate (ORR) was significantly higher in miR-18a-5p-high group than in miR-18a-5p-low group (P < .001). A tendency demonstrated that the median local progression-free survival (PFS) from radiotherapy was longer in miR-18a-5p-high than in miR-18a-5p-low group (P = .082). The median overall survival (OS) from radiotherapy was numerically longer in miR-18a-5p-high than in miR-18a-5p-low group (P = .281). The sensitivity and specificity of plasma miR-18a-5p to predict radiosensitivity was 87% and 95%, respectively. Collectively, these results indicate that miR-18a-5p increases the radiosensitivity in lung cancer cells and CD133+ stem-like cells via downregulating ATM and HIF-1α expressions. Plasma miR-18a-5p would be an available indicator of radiosensitivity in lung cancer patients.

Pregnane X receptor mediates sorafenib resistance in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Kinase inhibitor sorafenib is the most widely used drug for advanced HCC clinical treatment nowadays. However, sorafenib administration is only effective for a small portion of HCC patients, and the majority develop sorafenib-resistance during treatment. Thus, it is urgent to discover the endogenous mechanism and identify new pharmaceutical targets of sorafenib-resistance.

METHODS

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) was detected by immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. GST-pull down and LC-MS/MS was used to detect the interaction of PXR and Sorafenib. To test the properties of HCC tumor growth and metastasis, in vivo tumor explant model, FACS, trans-well assay, cell-survival inhibitory assay and Western blot were performed. In terms of mechanistic study, additional assays such as ChIP and luciferase reporter gene assay were applied.

RESULTS

In the present work, we found high PXR level in clinical specimens is related to the poor prognosis of Sorafenib treated patients. By the mechanistic studies, we show that sorafenib binds to PXR and activates PXR pathway, and by which HCC cells develop sorafenib-resistance via activating. Moreover, PXR overexpression helps HCC cells to persist to sorafenib treatment.

CONCLUSION

This study reports the endogenous sorafenib-resistance mechanism in HCC cells, which offers an opportunity to design new therapeutic approaches for HCC treatment.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

PXR mediates sorafenib-resistance in HCC cells and targeting PXR can be a useful approach to facilitate HCC treatment.

Characterization and selective incorporation of small non-coding RNAs in non-small cell lung cancer extracellular vesicles

Background

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play important roles in intercellular communication through the delivery of their cargoes, which include proteins, lipids, and RNAs. Increasingly, multiple studies have reported the association between EV small non-coding RNAs and cancer, due to their regulatory functions in gene expression. Hence, analysis of the features of small non-coding RNA expression and their incorporation into EVs is important for cancer research.

Results

We performed deep sequencing to investigate the expression of small RNAs in plasma EVs from lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) patients, lung squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) patients, and healthy controls. Then, eighteen differently expressed miRNAs in plasma EVs was validated by QRT-PCR. The small RNA expression profiles of plasma EVs were different among lung ADC, SQCC patients, and healthy controls. And many small RNAs, including 5′ YRNA hY4-derived fragments, miR-451a, miR-122-5p, miR-20a-5p, miR-20b-5p, miR-30b-5p, and miR-665, were significantly upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) EVs. And the cell viability assays indicated that hY4-derived fragments inhibited the proliferation of lung cancer cell A549. By comparing the cellular and EV expression levels of six miRNAs in NSCLC cells, we found that miR-451a and miR-122-5p were significantly downregulated in NSCLC cell lysates, while significantly upregulated in NSCLC EVs.

Conclusions

The differently expressed EV small RNAs may serve as potential circulating biomarkers for the diagnosis of NSCLC. Particularly, YRNA hY4-derived fragments can serve as a novel class of biomarkers, which function as tumor suppressors in NSCLC. Additionally, miR-451a and miR-122-5p may be sorted into NSCLC EVs in a selective manner.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13578-018-0202-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A20 enhances the radiosensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to 60Co-γ ionizing radiation

The radioresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells is a critical obstacle for effectively applying radiotherapy (RT) in HCC treatment. NF-κB, an important transcription factor, can influence critical cell fate decisions by promoting cell survival or anti-apoptosis in response to cell-stress, e.g. chemotherapies or ionizing radiation (IR). A20, also named as tumor necrosis factor α induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3), is a dominant negative regulator of NF-κB pathway and its functions in HCC are largely unknown. The present work aimed to reveal the role of A20 plays in affecting the radiosensitivity of HCC cells. Higher expression of A20 was detected in hepatic non-tumor cell line or clinical specimens compared with HCC cell lines or clinical specimens. A20 decreased the expression of proteins mediating cellular stress/injury response or epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Overexpression of A20 via adenovirus enhanced the effect of ⁶⁰Co-γ ionizing radiation (IR) on HCC cells’ injury, e.g. G2/M arrest or DNA double strands break (DSB). Moreover, A20 also enhanced the in vitro or in vivo survival inhibiting of HCC cells induced by IR. These results reveal the roles of A20 in HCC radiosensitization and overexpression of A20 would be a novel strategy for HCC radiotherapy.

Unique circulating microRNAs in relation to EGFR mutation status in Japanese smoker male with lung adenocarcinoma

The incidence of lung adenocarcinoma has been increasing recently in smokers. The molecular target therapy has been developed for lung adenocarcinoma patients harboring EGFR gene mutation. However, the treatment modalities for patients without mutation are currently limited. Thus, analysis of EGFR gene mutation status at early stage is important strategy to classify the patients for improving treatments and prognosis efficiently. This study aimed to identify microRNA (miRNA) signature in relation to mutation status in EGFR gene in early stage of lung adenocarcinoma male patients with smoking history. MiRNA profiles were assessed by microarray in paired plasma and tissue pooled from 10 EGFR wild type (EGFR-wt) and 10 EGFR mutated (EGFR-mut) patients. Expressions of selected miRNAs were verified further by real-time qRT-PCR in 83 plasma samples consisting of 55 EGFR-wt patients and 28 EGFR-mut patients and their correlation with clinicopathological parameters and EGFR gene mutation status were evaluated. We found that seven miRNAs (miR-16-5p, miR-23a-3p, miR-103a-3p, miR122-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-346 and miR-451a) were differentially expressed in stage I and stage I+II. Especially, miR-23a-3p was only miRNA shown higher expression in EGFR-wt patients than EGFR-mut patients. Thus, our findings could be useful non-invasive biomarkers to differentiate mutation status in EGFR gene in smoker lung adenocarcinoma male patients.

MEIS1 inhibits clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells proliferation and in vitro invasion or migration

BACKGROUND

Myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1 (MEIS1) protein plays a synergistic causative role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, MEIS1 has also shown to be a potential tumor suppressor in some other cancers, such as non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and prostate cancer. Although multiple roles of MEIS1 in cancer development and progression have been identified, there is an urgent demand to discover more functions of this molecule for further therapeutic design.

METHODS

MEIS1 was overexpressed via adenovirus vector in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cells. Western blot and real-time qPCR (quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction) was performed to examine the protein and mRNA levels of MEIS1. Cell proliferation, survival, in vitro migration and invasion were tested by MTT, colony formation, soft-agar, transwell (in vitro invasion/migration) assays, and tumor in vivo growthwas measured on nude mice model. In addition, flow-cytometry analysis was used to detect cell cycle arrest or non-apoptotic cell death of ccRCC cells induced by MEIS1.

RESULTS

MEIS1 exhibits a decreased expression in ccRCC cell lines than that in non-tumor cell lines. MEIS1 overexpression inhibits ccRCC cells proliferation and induces G1/S arrest concomitant with marked reduction of G1/S transition regulators, Cyclin D1 and Cyclin A. Moreover, MEIS1-1 overexpression also induces non-apoptotic cell death of ccRCC cells via decreasing the levels of pro-survival regulators Survivin and BCL-2. Transwell migration assay (TMA) shows that MEIS1 attenuates in vitro invasion and migration of ccRCC cells with down-regulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Further, in nude mice model, MEIS1 inhibits the in vivo growth of Caki-1 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

By investigating the role of MEIS1 in ccRCC cells' survival, proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, cell cycle progress, apoptosis and metastasis, in the present work, we propose that MEIS1 may play an important role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) development.

Expression of microRNA-30c via lentivirus vector inhibits the proliferation and enhances the sensitivity of highly aggressive ccRCC Caki-1 cells to anticancer agents

The clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most fatal urologic tumors, and the prognosis remains very poor for advanced or metastatic ccRCC. This study reveals the roles of microRNA (miR)-30c in regulating a highly aggressive ccRCC cell line proliferation by targeting MTA-1, which is a key mediator for human cancer metastasis. Results from quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression of MTA-1, the target of miR-30c, was significantly higher in metastatic ccRCC specimens than in nonmetastatic ccRCC or nontumor specimens. Accordingly, endogenous miR-30c is at a much lower level in highly aggressive ccRCC Caki-1 cells than nontumor or ccRCC cell lines. Expression of miR-30c via lentivirus vector inhibits the proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, in vitro invasion or migration, or in vivo growth of Caki-1 cells by repressing MTA-1 protein expression. miR-30c also enhances the sensitivity of Caki-1 cells to anticancer agents, including sorafenib and paclitaxel. These data reveal the potential application of miR-30c and that its targeting gene, MTA-1, would be a potential target in metastatic ccRCC treatment.

Differential proteomics analysis of low- and high-grade of astrocytoma using iTRAQ quantification

Astrocytoma is one of the most common types of brain tumor, which is histologically and clinically classified into four grades (I–IV): I (pilocytic astrocytoma), II (diffuse astrocytoma), III (anaplastic astrocytoma), and IV (glioblastoma multiforme). A higher grade astrocytoma represents a worse prognosis and is more aggressive. In this study, we compared the differential proteome profile of astrocytoma from grades I to IV. The protein samples from clinical specimens of grades I, II, III, and IV astrocytoma were analyzed by two-dimensional liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation and quantification. A total of 2,190 proteins were identified. Compared to grade I astrocytoma, 173 (12.4%), 304 (14%), and 462 (21.2%) proteins were aberrantly expressed in grades II, III, and IV, respectively. By bioinformatics analysis, the cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis-related pathways increase from low- to high-grade of astrocytoma. Five differentially expressed proteins were validated by Western blot. Within them, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and metalloproteinase inhibitor 1 were upregulated in glioblastoma multiforme group; whereas fibulin-2 and -5 were downregulated in grade II/III/IV astrocytoma, and the negative expression was significantly associated with advanced clinical stage. Functional analysis showed that both fibulin-2 and -5 may exert an antitumor effect by inhibiting cell proliferation, in vitro migration/invasion in glioma cells. New molecular biomarkers are likely to be used for accurate classification of astrocytoma and likely to be the target for drug development.

MicroRNA-137 represses FBI-1 to inhibit proliferation and in vitro invasion and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

The pro-oncogene factor that binds to inducer of short transcripts-1 (FBI-1), which is encoded by ZBTB7A gene and belongs to POK (POZ/BTB and KrÜppel) protein family, has been shown to enhance hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells proliferation and multi-drug resistance (MDR) process. However, the possibility that FBI-1 is a therapeutic target for further HCC treatment remains poorly determined. In the current study, two microRNA (miRNA) target prediction programs (TargetScan and MiRanda) were used to identify miR-137 as a potential regulator of FBI-1. Our results showed that expression of miR-137 was downregulated, while FBI-1 was upregulated in clinical HCC specimens, compared with paired non-tumor specimens. Overexpression of miR-137 via adenoviral vector inhibited the proliferation and anchorage-independent growth of HCC cells, HepG2 and MHCC-97H. Our data also showed that miR-137 repressed endogenous expression level of FBI-1, as well as Notch-1 and Survivin. MiR-137 also inhibited in vitro invasion and migration of HCC cells and attenuated their epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Moreover, miR-137 suppressed the growth rate of HepG2 cells in nude mice model. Overexpression of miR-137 via its adenoviral vector enhanced the sensitivity of HepG2 cells to anti-tumor drugs and attenuated the MDR process of a resistance cell line HepG2/adriamycin (ADR). Thus, FBI-1 downregulation mediated by miR-137 overexpression may be a potential strategy for HCC treatment.

Transcription factor activity of estrogen receptor α activation upon nonylphenol or bisphenol A treatment enhances the in vitro proliferation, invasion, and migration of neuroblastoma cells

Many kinds of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), for example, the environmental estrogens bisphenol A and nonylphenol, may regulate the activity of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and therefore induce potential disruption of normal endocrine function. However, the involvement of EDCs in human cancers, especially in endocrine-related cancer neuroblastoma regulation, is not very clear. In this work, results showed that upon bisphenol A or nonylphenol treatment, the transcription factor activity of ERα was significantly increased in neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. Bisphenol A and nonylphenol could enhance ERα activity via recruiting it to the target gene promoter. Furthermore, treatment of bisphenol A and nonylphenol enhanced the in vitro proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of neuroblastoma cells. By investigating the role of EDC-induced ERα upregulation, our data extend the understanding of the function of EDCs and further suggest that ERα might be a potential therapeutic target in human neuroblastoma treatment.

Plasma miRNAs in predicting radiosensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Radioresistance of thoracic radiotherapy is a major bottleneck in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Until now, there have been no effective biomarkers to predict the radiosensitivity.

Purposes

Based on miRNA profile screened from NSCLC cell lines with different radiosensitivity, this study was conducted to explore the correlation between plasma miRNAs and radiotherapy response in NSCLC patients, and to identify biomarkers of the radiosensitivity in NSCLC.

Methods

Differentially expressed genes were acquired from time-series gene expression profiles of radioresistant H1299 and radiosensitive H460 lung cancer cells (GSE20549). Potential miRNAs were screened from these differentially expressed genes by combining bioinformatics with GO analysis, pathway analysis, and miRNA prediction. A clinical observational study was performed to explore the correlation between candidate miRNAs and radiotherapy response. Stage IIIa–IV NSCLC patients who received two to four cycles of previous chemotherapy and underwent thoracic radiotherapy alone were included. Total RNA was purified from peripheral blood before radiotherapy, and plasma miRNAs were detected by real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Then, tumor response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were acquired. Four miRNAs significantly different between effective and ineffective groups were further analyzed to obtain cutpoints from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the predictive value of radiosensitivity.

Results

Candidate miRNAs included 14 miRNAs screened from radioresistant genes and five from radiosensitive genes. From Jan., 2013 to Dec., 2014, 54 eligible patients were enrolled with a median follow-up of 15.3 months (range 4.6 to 31.4) by the deadline of Aug. 31, 2015. Totally, there were no case of complete response (CR), 15 of partial response (PR), 35 of stable disease (SD), and 4 of progressive disease (PD). Eight patients had no progression and 19 patients were still alive. The median PFS and OS were 6.6 months (range 2.3 to 29.3) and 15.3 months (range 4.6 to 31.4), respectively. Four miRNAs (hsa-miR-98-5p, hsa-miR-302e, hsa-miR-495-3p, and hsa-miR-613) demonstrated a higher expression in effective group (CR + PR, 15 cases) than in ineffective group (SD + PD, 39 cases). Based on each cutpoint, objective response rate (ORR) was higher in miR-high group than in miR-low group. No miRNA showed correlation with median PFS or OS.

Conclusion

Bioinformatical analysis and clinical verification reveal the correlation between plasma miRNAs and radiosensitivity in NSCLC patients. Plasma miRNAs represent novel biomarkers to predict radiotherapy response clinically.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13277-016-5052-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.