Tumor Suppressive Effects of miR-124 and Its Function in Neuronal Development

MicroRNA-124-3p targets Sp1 transcription factor to regulate glioma progression in rats

Gliomas are the most prevalent malignancies of the central nervous system (CNS). Downregulation of microRNA‑124 (miR‑124) has been identified in glioma; however, its biological functions in glioma are not yet fully understood. Specificity protein 1 (SP1) is a type of transcription factor that is involved in cancer progression. In this study, we examined the targeting of Sp1 mRNA by miR-124-3p in a rat glioma model. After confirming and selecting the binding of Sp1 to miR-124 with the help of bioinformatics methods, adult male Wistar rats were used to induce glioma by microinjection of 1 × 106 C6 cells into the striatum area of brain. The rats were divided into 3 groups; intact, sham and glioma groups. The presence of glioma was confirmed 21 days after implantation through histological analysis. The expression levels of miR-124 and SP1 genes in the experimental groups were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Our data showed that the expression of miR-124 was significantly downregulated in glioma group compared to the sham and intact group, while the expression of SP1 was significantly upregulated. We found that the expression levels of miR-124 and Sp1 were decreased and increased in C6 cell line compared to the normal brain tissue cell line, respectively. The results indicated that Sp1 was identified as a direct target of miR‑124 through luciferase reporter assays. In summary, this study demonstrated for the first time that miR-124 expression is downregulated and Sp1 expression is upregulated in an animal model of glioma, which, in turn, may be involved in the development of glioma brain cancer.

Non-Coding RNAs in Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Unraveling the Hidden Players in Disease Pathogenesis

Neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders pose substantial challenges to public health, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying their pathogenesis. In recent years, the focus has shifted toward the intricate world of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), a class of RNA molecules that do not encode proteins but play pivotal roles in gene regulation and cellular processes. This review explores the emerging significance of ncRNAs in the context of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, shedding light on their diverse functions and regulatory mechanisms. The dysregulation of various ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), has been implicated in the pathophysiology of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and mood disorders. This review delves into the specific roles these ncRNAs play in modulating key cellular processes, including synaptic plasticity, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis, providing a nuanced understanding of their impact on disease progression. Furthermore, it discusses the potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications of targeting ncRNAs in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. The identification of specific ncRNA signatures holds promise for the development of novel biomarkers for early disease detection, while the manipulation of ncRNA expression offers innovative therapeutic avenues. Challenges and future directions in the field are also considered, highlighting the need for continued research to unravel the complexities of ncRNA-mediated regulatory networks in the context of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge and stimulate further exploration into the fascinating realm of ncRNAs in the brain's intricate landscape.

miR-124-3p and miR-194-5p regulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway via ROR2 in medulloblastoma progression

Medulloblastoma (MB), a prevalent pediatric central nervous system tumor, is influenced by microRNAs (miRNAs) that impact tumor initiation and progression. However, the specific involvement of miRNAs in MB tumorigenesis remains unclear. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified ROR2 expression in normal human fetal cerebellum. Subsequent analyses, including immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and Western blot, assessed ROR2 expression in MB tissues and cell lines. We investigated miR-124-3p and miR-194-5p and their regulatory role in ROR2 expression through the dual-luciferase reporter, qRT-PCR, and western blot assays. Mechanistic insights were gained through functional assays exploring the impact of miR-124-3p, miR-194-5p, and ROR2 on MB growth in vitro and in vivo. We observed significantly reduced miR-124-3p and miR-194-5p expression and elevated ROR2 expression in MB tissues and cell lines. High ROR2 expression inversely correlated with overall survival in WNT and SHH subgroups of MB patients. Functionally, overexpressing miR-124-3p and miR-194-5p and inhibiting ROR2 suppressed in vitro malignant transformation and in vivo tumorigenicity. Mechanistically, miR-124-3p and miR-194-5p synergistically regulated the ROR2/PI3K/Akt pathway, influencing MB progression. Our findings indicate that miR-124-3p and miR-194-5p function as tumor suppressors, inhibiting MB progression via the ROR2/PI3K/Akt axis, suggesting a key mechanism and therapeutic targets for MB patients.

Tumor Suppressor MicroRNAs in Clinical and Preclinical Trials for Neurological Disorders

Cancers and neurological disorders are two major types of diseases in humans. We developed the concept called the "Aberrant Cell Cycle Disease (ACCD)" due to the accumulating evidence that shows that two different diseases share the common mechanism of aberrant cell cycle re-entry. The aberrant cell cycle re-entry is manifested as kinase/oncoprotein activation and tumor suppressor (TS) inactivation, which are associated with both tumor growth in cancers and neuronal death in neurological disorders. Therefore, some cancer therapies (e.g., kinase/oncogene inhibition and TS elevation) can be leveraged for neurological treatments. MicroRNA (miR/miRNA) provides a new style of drug-target binding. For example, a single tumor suppressor miRNA (TS-miR/miRNA) can bind to and decrease tens of target kinases/oncogenes, producing much more robust efficacy to block cell cycle re-entry than inhibiting a single kinase/oncogene. In this review, we summarize the miRNAs that are altered in both cancers and neurological disorders, with an emphasis on miRNA drugs that have entered into clinical trials for neurological treatment.

The biomarkers associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human keloids

INTRODUCTION

A keloid is a type of benign fibrotic disease with similar features to malignancies, including anti-apoptosis, over-proliferation, and invasion. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial mechanism that regulates the metastatic behavior of tumors. Thus, identifying EMT biomarkers is paramount in comprehensively understanding keloid pathogenesis.

METHODS

To identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) GSE92566 dataset, with 3 normal skin and 4 keloid tissues, was downloaded from GEO databases to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Further, EMT-related genes were downloaded from dbEMT 2.0 databases and intersected with GSE92566 DEGs to identify EMT-related-DEGs (ERDEGs). Subsequently, the ERDEGs were used for GO, KEGG, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), protein-protein interaction (PPI), and miRNAs-mRNAs network analysis. To predict small molecules for EMT inhibition, the ERDEGs were imported to cMAP databases, whereas hub genes were imported to DGidb databases. Finally, we carried out qRT-PCR and in vitro experiments to validate our findings.

RESULTS

A total of 122 ERDEGs were identified, including 59 upregulated and 63 down-regulated genes. Moreover, enrichment analysis revealed that focal adhesion, AMPK signal pathway, Wnt signal pathway, and EMT biological process were significantly enriched. STRING databases and Cytoscape software were used to construct the PPI network and EMT-related hub genes. Further, 3 modules were explored from the PPI network using the Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) plugin. In the Cytohubba plugin, 10 hub genes were explored, including FN1, EGF, SOX9, CDH2, PROM1, EPCAM, KRT19, ITGB1, CD24, and KRT18. These genes were then enriched for the focal adhesion pathway. We constructed a microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA network, which predicted hsa-miR-155-5p (8 edges), hsa-miR-124-3p (7 edges), hsa-miR-145-5p (5 edges), hsa-miR-20a-5p (5 edges) and hsa-let-7b-5p (4 edges) as the most connected miRNAs regulating EMT. Based on the ERDEGs and 10 hub genes mentioned above, ribavirin demonstrated high drug-targeting relevance. Subsequently, qRT-PCR confirmed that the expression of FN1, ITGB1, CDH2, and EPCAM corroborated with previous findings. qRT-PCR also showed that the expression levels of hsa-miR-124-3p and hsa-miR-145-5p were significantly lower in keloids and hsa-miR-155-5p was upregulated in keloids. Finally, by treating human keloid fibroblasts (HKFs) with ribavirin in vitro, we confirmed that ribavirin could inhibit HKFs proliferation and EMT.

CONCLUSION

In summary, this work provides novel EMT biomarkers in keloids and predicts new small target molecules for keloid therapy. Our findings improve the understanding of keloid pathogenesis, providing new treatment options.

MicroRNA-124 negatively regulates STAT3 to alleviate hypoxic-ischemic brain damage by inhibiting oxidative stress

MicroRNA-124 (miR-124) is implicated in various neurological diseases; however, its significance in hypoxic-ischaemic brain damage (HIBD) remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of miR-124 in HIBD. In our study performed on oxygen-glucose deprivation followed by reperfusion (OGD)/R-induced primary cortical neurons, a substantial reduction in miR-124 was observed. Furthermore, the upregulation of miR-124 significantly mitigated oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial impairment. We demonstrated that miR-124 interacts with the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) to exert its biological function using the dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. As the duration of OGD increased, miR-124 exhibited a negative correlation with STAT3. STAT3 overexpression notably attenuated the protective effects of miR-124 mimics, while knockdown of STAT3 reversed the adverse effects of the miR-124 inhibitor. Subsequently, we conducted an HIBD model in rats. In vivo experiments, miR-124 overexpression attenuated cerebral infarction volume, cerebral edema, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and improved neurological function recovery in HIBD rats. In summary, the neuroprotective effects of the miR-124/STAT3 axis were confirmed in the HIBD model. MiR-124 may serve as a potential biomarker with significant therapeutic implications for HIBD.

The microRNA-211-5p/P2RX7/ERK/GPX4 axis regulates epilepsy-associated neuronal ferroptosis and oxidative stress

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death mechanism involving the accumulation of lipid peroxides. As a critical regulator, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) has been demonstrated to be downregulated in epilepsy. However, the mechanism of ferroptosis in epilepsy remains unclear. In this study, bioinformatics analysis, analysis of epilepsy patient blood samples and cell and mouse experiments revealed strong associations among epilepsy, ferroptosis, microRNA-211-5p and purinergic receptor P2X 7 (P2RX7). P2RX7 is a nonselective ligand-gated homotrimeric cation channel, and its activation mainly increases neuronal activity during epileptic seizures. In our study, the upregulation of P2RX7 in epilepsy was attributed to the downregulation of microRNA (miR)-211-5p. Furthermore, P2RX7 has been found to regulate GPX4/HO-1 by alleviating lipid peroxidation induced by suppression of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in murine models. The dynamic decrease in miR-211-5p expression induces hypersynchronization and both nonconvulsive and convulsive seizures, and forebrain miR-211-5p suppression exacerbates long-lasting pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures. Additionally, in this study, induction of miR-211-5p expression or genetic-silencing of P2RX7 significantly reduced the seizure score and duration in murine models through the abovementioned pathways. These results suggest that the miR-211-5p/P2RX7 axis is a novel target for suppressing both ferroptosis and epilepsy.

Helicobacter pylori promotes gastric fibroblast proliferation and migration by expulsing exosomal miR-124-3p

Gastric fibroblasts (GFs) are direct targets of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). GFs infected with H. pylori exhibit marked changes in their morphology and biological behavior. However, the molecular mechanisms by which H. pylori regulates GFs remain unknown. In this study, we cocultured GFs with H. pylori for 48 h. As a result, GFs exhibited an elongated and spindle-shaped morphology. Further, cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) biomarkers were increased, and related behaviors were significantly enhanced in H. pylori-activated GFs. The number of extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by H. pylori-activated GFs remarkably increased. The miR-124-3p level was increased in secreted EVs but decreased in the cytoplasm of H. pylori-activated GFs. Overexpression of miRNA-124-3p in the original GFs significantly suppressed their proliferation and migration. In addition, the migration-promoting effects of H. pylori-activated GFs were suppressed by miR-124-3p and GW4869, which blocked EV generation. Finally, pull-down and luciferase assays revealed that SNAI2 is a target of miR-124-3p. The migration-inhibitory effects of GFs treated with miR-124-3p were eliminated by the overexpression of SNAI2, and the upregulation of SNAI2 in H. pylori-activated GFs was partially alleviated by miR-124-3p or GW4869. Overall, H. pylori infection promotes the proliferation and migration of GFs by accelerating the expulsion of EVs carrying miRNA-124-3p, a SNAI2 inhibitor.

Sequencing Reveals miRNAs Enriched in the Developing Mouse Enteric Nervous System

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is an essential network of neurons and glia in the bowel wall. Defects in ENS development can result in Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), a life-threatening condition characterized by severe constipation, abdominal distention, bilious vomiting, and failure to thrive. A growing body of literature connects HSCR to alterations in miRNA expression, but there are limited data on the normal miRNA landscape in the developing ENS. We sequenced small RNAs (smRNA-seq) and messenger RNAs (mRNA-seq) from ENS precursor cells of mid-gestation Ednrb-EGFP mice and compared them to aggregated RNA from all other cells in the developing bowel. Our smRNA-seq results identified 73 miRNAs that were significantly enriched and highly expressed in the developing ENS, with miR-9, miR-27b, miR-124, miR-137, and miR-488 as our top 5 miRNAs that are conserved in humans. However, contrary to prior reports, our follow-up analyses of miR-137 showed that loss of Mir137 in Nestin-cre, Wnt1-cre, Sox10-cre, or Baf53b-cre lineage cells had no effect on mouse survival or ENS development. Our data provide important context for future studies of miRNAs in HSCR and other ENS diseases and highlight open questions about facility-specific factors in development.

Roles of microRNA-124 in traumatic brain injury: a comprehensive review

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a prominent global cause of mortality due to the limited availability of effective prevention and treatment strategies for this disorder. An effective molecular biomarker may contribute to determining the prognosis and promoting the therapeutic efficiency of TBI. MicroRNA-124 (miR-124) is most abundantly expressed in the brain and exerts different biological effects in a variety of diseases by regulating pathological processes of apoptosis and proliferation. Recently, increasing evidence has demonstrated the association between miR-124 and TBI, but there is still a lack of relevant literature to summarize the current evidence on this topic. Based on this review, we found that miR-124 was involved as a regulatory factor in cell apoptosis and proliferation, and was also strongly related with the pathophysiological development of TBI. MiR-124 played an essential role in TBI by interacting with multiple biomolecules and signaling pathways, such as JNK, VAMP-3, Rela/ApoE, PDE4B/mTOR, MDK/TLR4/NF-κB, DAPK1/NR2B, JAK/STAT3, PI3K/AKT, Ras/MEK/Erk. The potential benefits of upregulating miR-124 in facilitating TBI recovery have been identified. The advancement of miRNA nanocarrier system technology presents an opportunity for miR-124 to emerge as a novel therapeutic target for TBI. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the role of miR-124 in TBI necessitate further investigation. Additionally, comprehensive large-scale studies are required to evaluate the clinical significance of miR-124 as a therapeutic target for TBI.

Role of Non-Receptor-Type Tyrosine Phosphatases in Brain-Related Diseases

The non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase is a class of enzymes that catalyze the dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosines in protein molecules. They are involved in cellular signaling by regulating the phosphorylation status of a variety of receptors and signaling molecules within the cell, thereby influencing cellular physiological and pathological processes. In this article, we detail multiple non-receptor tyrosine phosphatase and non-receptor tyrosine phosphatase genes involved in the pathological process of brain disease. These include PTPN6, PTPN11, and PTPN13, which are involved in glioma signaling; PTPN1, PTPN5, and PTPN13, which are involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease Tau protein lesions, PTPN23, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of Epilepsy and PTPN1, which is involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The role of mitochondrial tyrosine phosphatase in brain diseases was also discussed. Non-receptor tyrosine phosphatases have great potential for targeted therapies in brain diseases and are highly promising research areas.

The coexistence of aflatoxin M1 and ochratoxin A induced intestinal barrier disruption via the regulation of key differentially expressed microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs in BALB/c mice

Food safety can be seriously threatened by the existence of both aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in milk and corresponding products. The importance of intestine integrity in preserving human health is widely understood in vitro, but the fundamental processes by which AFM1 and OTA cause disruption of the intestinal barrier are as yet unknown, especially in vivo. Based on the analysis of the whole transcriptome of BALB/c mice, the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulation network was obtained in the current study. Each of 12 mice were separated into five treatments: saline solution treatment, 1.0% DMSO vehicle control treatment, 3.0 mg/kg b.w. individual AFM1 treatment (AFM1), 3.0 mg/kg b.w. individual OTA treatment (OTA), and combined mycotoxins treatment (AFM1 +OTA). The study period lasted 28 days. The jejunum tissue was collected for the histological assessment and whole transcriptome analysis, and the whole blood was collected, and determination of serum biochemical indicators. The phenotypic results demonstrated that AFM1 and OTA caused intestinal barrier disruption via an increased apoptosis level and decreased expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins. The ceRNA network demonstrated that AFM1 and OTA induced cell apoptosis through activating the expression of DUSP9 and suppressing the expression of PLA2G2D, which were regulated by differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) (miR-124-y, miR-194-z, miR-224-x, and miR-452-x) and differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (DElncRNAs) (FUT8 and GPR31C). And AFM1 and OTA decreased TJ proteins via inhibiting the expression of PAK6, which was regulated by several important DEmiRNAs and DElncRNAs. These DE RNAs in intestinal integrity were involved in MAPK and Ras signaling pathway. Overall, our findings expand the current knowledge regarding the potential mechanisms of intestinal integrity disruption brought on by AFM1 and OTA in vivo.

Unveiling nature's potential weapon: Magnolol's role in combating bladder cancer by upregulating the miR-124 and inactivating PKC-δ/ERK axis

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BC) is a challenging disease to manage. Researchers have been investigating the potential of magnolol, a compound derived from Magnolia officinalis, as an anti-cancer agent. However, the exact regulatory mechanism of magnolol and its impact on the NF-κB signaling pathway in BC remain unclear.

MATERIALS

To comprehensively evaluate its therapeutic potential, the researchers conducted a series of experiments using BC cell lines (TSGH8301, T24, and MB49) and in vivo animal models.

RESULTS

The results of the study demonstrated that magnolol exhibits cytotoxic effects on BC cells by activating both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis signaling pathways. Additionally, the expression of anti-apoptotic genes was downregulated by magnolol treatment. The researchers also uncovered the regulatory role of PKCδ/ERK and miR-124-3p in the NF-κB pathway, which may be influenced by magnolol. Treatment with magnolol led to the inactivation of PKCδ/ERK and an increase in miR-124-3p expression, effectively inhibiting NF-κB-mediated progression of BC. Importantly, the administration of magnolol did not result in significant toxicity in normal tissues, highlighting its potential as a safe adjunctive therapy with minimal adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

These findings position magnolol as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of BC. By activating apoptosis signaling pathways and inhibiting NF-κB pathway through the upregulation of miR-124-3p and downregulation of PKCδ/ERK activation, magnolol holds promise for suppressing tumor progression and improving patient outcomes in BC. Further research and clinical trials are warranted to explore the full potential of magnolol in the future.

MicroRNA (miR)-124: A Promising Therapeutic Gateway for Oncology

MicroRNA (miR) are a class of small non-coding RNA that are involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Altered expression of miR has been associated with several pathological conditions. MicroRNA-124 (miR-124) is an abundantly expressed miR in the brain as well as the thymus, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and peripheral blood mono-nuclear cells. It plays a key role in the regulation of the host immune system. Emerging studies show that dysregulated expression of miR-124 is a hallmark in several cancer types and it has been attributed to the progression of these malignancies. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of the role of miR-124 as a promising therapeutic gateway in oncology.

MicroRNA‑124: an emerging therapeutic target in central nervous system disorders

The central nervous system (CNS) consists of neuron and non-neuron cells including neural stem/precursor cells (NSPCs), neuroblasts, glia cells (mainly astrocyte, oligodendroglia and microglia), which thereby form a precise and complicated network and exert diverse functions through interactions of numerous bioactive ingredients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), with small size approximately  ~ 21nt and as well-documented post-transcriptional key regulators of gene expression, are a cluster of evolutionarily conserved endogenous non-coding RNAs. More than 2000 different miRNAs has been discovered till now. MicroRNA-124(miR-124), the most brain-rich microRNA, has been validated to possess important functions in the central nervous system, including neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation, cell fate determination, neuron migration, synapse plasticity and cognition, cell apoptosis etc. According to recent studies, herein, we provide a review of this conversant miR-124 to further understand the potential functions and therapeutic and clinical value in brain diseases.

microRNAs (miRNAs) in Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)-Recent Literature Review

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common, malignant, poorly promising primary brain tumor. GBM is characterized by an infiltrating growth nature, abundant vascularization, and a rapid and aggressive clinical course. For many years, the standard treatment of gliomas has invariably been surgical treatment supported by radio- and chemotherapy. Due to the location and significant resistance of gliomas to conventional therapies, the prognosis of glioblastoma patients is very poor and the cure rate is low. The search for new therapy targets and effective therapeutic tools for cancer treatment is a current challenge for medicine and science. microRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in many cellular processes, such as growth, differentiation, cell division, apoptosis, and cell signaling. Their discovery was a breakthrough in the diagnosis and prognosis of many diseases. Understanding the structure of miRNAs may contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of cellular regulation dependent on miRNA and the pathogenesis of diseases underlying these short non-coding RNAs, including glial brain tumors. This paper provides a detailed review of the latest reports on the relationship between changes in the expression of individual microRNAs and the formation and development of gliomas. The use of miRNAs in the treatment of this cancer is also discussed.

Astrocytes-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Hinder Glioma Growth

All cells are capable of secreting extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are not a means to eliminate unneeded cellular compounds but represent a process to exchange material (nucleic acids, lipids and proteins) between different cells. This also happens in the brain, where EVs permit the crosstalk between neuronal and non-neuronal cells, functional to homeostatic processes or cellular responses to pathological stimuli. In brain tumors, EVs are responsible for the bidirectional crosstalk between glioblastoma cells and healthy cells, and among them, astrocytes, that assume a pro-tumoral or antitumoral role depending on the stage of the tumor progression. In this work, we show that astrocyte-derived small EVs (sEVs) exert a defensive mechanism against tumor cell growth and invasion. The effect is mediated by astrocyte-derived EVs (ADEVs) through the transfer to tumor cells of factors that hinder glioma growth. We identified one of these factors, enriched in ADEVs, that is miR124. It reduced both the expression and function of the volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC), that, in turn, decreased the cell migration and invasion of murine glioma GL261 cells.

miRNAs in Serum Exosomes for Differential Diagnosis of Brain Metastases

Simple Summary

Current methods for the detection of brain malignancies often display low sensitivity and specificity. Noninvasive biomarkers can complement imaging techniques to improve the diagnosis of these tumors. The aim of this study was to identify circulating miRNAs in serum exosomes useful in all phases of the diagnostic and therapeutic path of patients with malignant brain lesions. Our data show a signature of exosomal miRNAs useful for the differential diagnosis of brain metastases and for monitoring tumor evolution over time.

Abstract

Circulating miRNAs are increasingly studied and proposed as tumor markers with the aim of investigating their role in monitoring the response to therapy as well as the natural evolution of primary or secondary brain tumors. This study aimed to evaluate the modulation of the expression of three miRNAs, miR-21, miR-222 and miR-124-3p, in the serum exosomes of patients with high-grade gliomas (HGGs) and brain metastases (BMs) to verify their usefulness in the differential diagnosis of brain masses; then, it focused on their variations following the surgical and/or radiosurgical treatment of the BMs. A total of 105 patients with BMs from primary lung or breast cancer, or melanoma underwent neurosurgery or radiosurgery treatment, and 91 patients with HGGs were enrolled, along with 30 healthy controls. A significant increase in miR-21 expression in serum exosomes was observed in both HGGs and BMs compared with healthy controls; on the other hand, miR-124-3p was significantly decreased in BMs, and it was increased in HGGs. After the surgical or radiosurgical treatment of patients with BMs, a significant reduction in miR-21 was noted with both types of treatments. This study identified a signature of exosomal miRNAs that could be useful as a noninvasive complementary analysis both in the differential diagnosis of BMs from glial tumors and in providing information on tumor evolution over time.

The Predictive Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Combined with Serum miR-124 Level in Acute Cerebral Infarction and Their Correlation with the Contrast Enhancement of Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the predictive value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with serum miR-124 level in acute cerebral infarction (ACI) and their association with the contrast enhancement of carotid atherosclerotic plaque.

METHODS

Totally 60 patients diagnosed with ACI and 60 controls were included in the study. All the subjects had carotid atherosclerotic plaques, and all of them were examined by CEUS and were tested for serum miR-124 levels.

RESULTS

Time to peak (TTP) and mean transit time (MTT) in the ACI group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (P < 0.05), but the peak intensity ratio (PIR), the area under the curve (AUC), and relative expression levels of serum miR-124 were notably greater in the ACI group (P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in TTP, MTT, PIR, AUC, and serum miR-124 expression in patients with different cerebral infarct areas in the ACI group (P < 0.05). Besides, the sensitivity and specificity of serum miR-124 levels for the prediction of ACI were 71.67% and 90.00%, respectively, with a cut-off value of 1.52, and the sensitivity was 86.67% and specificity was 93.33% of CEUS combined with serum miR-124 in the prediction of ACI. The ACI group showed a higher proportion of grades 2 and 3 (P < 0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the intraplaque contrast enhancement was negatively related to TTP and MTT but had a positive correlation with PIR, AUC, and serum miR-124 levels.

CONCLUSION

Grades 2 and 3 intraplaque contrast enhancement and serum miR-124 level of 1.52 had high sensitivity and specificity to predict ACI. Moreover, the CEUS parameters combined with serum miR-124 level could improve the performance in predicting ACI and had auxiliary value in evaluating the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaques.

Curcumin and Its Analogs as Potential Epigenetic Modulators: Prevention of Diabetes and Its Complications

BACKGROUND

The pathobiology of diabetes and associated complications has been widely researched in various countries, but effective prevention and treatment methods are still insufficient. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins caused by an absence of insulin or insulin resistance, which mediates an increase of oxidative stress, release of inflammatory factors, and macro- or micro-circulation dysfunctions, ultimately developing into diverse complications.

SUMMARY

In the last decade through pathogenesis research, epigenetics has been found to affect metabolic diseases. Particularly, DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and miRNAs promote or inhibit diabetes and complications by regulating the expression of related factors. Curcumin has a wide range of beneficial pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anticancer, anti-diabetes, anti-rheumatism, and increased immunity. Key Messages: In this review, we discuss the effects of curcumin and analogs on diabetes and associated complications through epigenetics, and we summarize the preclinical and clinical researches for curcumin and its analogs in terms of management of diabetes and associated complications, which may provide an insight into the development of targeted therapy of endocrine diseases.