Identification of Recurrence-Related microRNAs from Bone Marrow in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Bone Lesion-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Fuel Prometastatic Cascades in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Transferring ALKBH5-Targeting miR-3190-5p

Bone is the second leading metastatic site for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients with HCC and bone metastasis suffer poor quality of life and reduced survival time. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are widely involved in HCC formation and metastasis. However, the communication between primary HCC and bone lesions mediated by EVs remains unclear and the possible effect of bone metastasis on the progression of HCC remains largely unknown. Here, bone-metastasized HCC-derived EVs (BM-EVs) are found to localize to orthotropic HCC cells and promote HCC progression. Mechanistically, miR-3190-5p (miR-3190) is upregulated in intracellular HCC cells isolated from bone lesions as well as in their derived EVs. miR-3190 in BM-EVs is transferred into orthotopic tumor cells and enhances their metastatic capacity by downregulating AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) expression. Decreased level of ALKBH5 exacerbates the prometastatic characteristics of HCC by modulating gene expression in N6-methyladenosine-dependent and -independent ways. Finally, antagomir-miR-3190-loaded liposomes with HCC affinity successfully suppress HCC progression in mice treated with BM-EVs. These findings reveal that BM-EVs initiate prometastatic cascades in orthotopic HCC by transferring ALKBH5-targeting miR-3190 and miR-3190 is serving as a promising therapeutic target for inhibiting the progression of HCC in patients with bone metastasis.

LncRNA CRNDE regulates trophoblast cell proliferation, invasion, and migration via modulating miR-1277

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific syndrome and contributes to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, but the underlying mechanisms of PE remain indistinct. This study aims to investigate the functional role of LncRNA CRNDE in PE pathogenesis and its effects on trophoblasts. mRNA levels of CRNDE and miR-1277 in placenta tissues and HTR-8/SVneo cells were analyzed by qRT-PCR. Western blot was carried out to evaluate protein level of E-cadherin, β-Catenin, Vimentin, MMP2 and MMP9. Cell proliferation was assessed by using CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay, whereas cell migration and invasion were evaluated by wound healing assay and transwell assay, respectively. Moreover, the interrelation between CRNDE and miR-1277 was verified by dual luciferase reporter assay. The results showed that CRNDE expression was significantly downregulated, whereas miR-1277 expression was significantly upregulated in PE placental tissues. Overexpression of CRNDE facilitated HTR-8/SVneo cell proliferation, migration and invasion, promoted the EMT formation, and increased the protein expression of MMP2 and MMP9, while knockdown of CRNDE had the opposite results. In addition, we also found that miR-1277 was negatively regulated by CRNDE and was a direct target of CRNDE. Furthermore, knockdown of miR-217 promoted HTR-8/SVneo cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while knockdown of CRNDE reversed the accelerating effects of miR-1277 on HTR-8/SVneo cells. LncRNA CRNDE may suppress trophoblast cell proliferation, migration and invasion at least partly through regulating miR-1277 in trophoblast cells. CRNDE is promising to function as a new target for intervention of PE.

MicroRNA-1277 Inhibits Proliferation and Migration of Hepatocellular Carcinoma HepG2 Cells by Targeting and Suppressing BMP4 Expression and Reflects the Significant Indicative Role in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Pathology and Diagnosis After Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment

Our study aimed to investigate the roles and possible regulatory mechanism of miR-1277 in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC patients were identified from patients who were diagnosed with focal liver lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The expression levels of miR-1277 in the serum of HCC patients and HepG2 cells were measured. Then miR-1277 mimic, miR-1277 inhibitor, or scramble RNA was transfected into HepG2 cells. The effects of miR-1277 overexpression and suppression on HepG2 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were then investigated. Additionally, the expression levels of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers, including E-cadherin, β-catenin, and vimentin, were detected. Target prediction and luciferase reporter assay were performed to explore the potential target of miR-1277. miR-1277 was significantly downregulated in the serum of HCC patients and HepG2 cells. Suppression of miR-1277 promoted HepG2 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas overexpression of miR-1277 had opposite effects. In addition, after miR-1277 was suppressed, the expressions of E-cadherin and β-catenin were significantly increased, while the expressions of vimentin were markedly decreased. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) was identified as the direct target of miR-1277. Knockdown of BMP4 reversed the effects of miR-1277 suppression on HepG2 cell migration and invasion, as well as the expressions of E-cadherin, β-catenin, and vimentin. Our results indicate that downregulation of miR-1277 may promote the migration and invasion of HepG2 cells by targeting BMP4 to induce EMT. Combination of MRI and miR-1277 level will facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Circulating exosomal microRNA-203 is associated with metastasis possibly via inducing tumor-associated macrophages in colorectal cancer

A primary tumor can create a premetastatic niche in distant organs to facilitate the development of metastasis. The mechanism by which tumor cells communicate with host cells to develop premetastatic niches is unclear. We focused on the role of microRNA (miR) signaling in promoting metastasis. Here, we identified miR-203 as a signaling molecule between tumors and monocytes in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Notably, high expression of serum exosomal miR-203, a major form in circulation, was associated with distant metastasis and an independent poor prognostic factor, whereas low expression in tumor tissues was a poor prognostic factor in CRC patients. We also found that exosomes carrying miR-203 from CRC cells were incorporated into monocytes and miR-203 could promote the expression of M2 markers in vitro, suggesting miR-203 promoted the differentiation of monocytes to M2-tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). In a xenograft mouse model, miR-203-transfected CRC cells developed more liver metastasis compared to control cells. In conclusion, serum exosomal miR-203 expression is a novel biomarker for predicting metastasis, possibly via promoting the differentiation of monocytes to M2-TAMs in CRC. Furthermore, we propose the concept of site-dependent functions for miR-203 in tumor progression.

Circulating exosomal microRNA-203 is associated with metastasis possibly via inducing tumor-associated macrophages in colorectal cancer

A primary tumor can create a premetastatic niche in distant organs to facilitate the development of metastasis. The mechanism by which tumor cells communicate with host cells to develop premetastatic niches is unclear. We focused on the role of microRNA (miR) signaling in promoting metastasis. Here, we identified miR-203 as a signaling molecule between tumors and monocytes in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Notably, high expression of serum exosomal miR-203, a major form in circulation, was associated with distant metastasis and an independent poor prognostic factor, whereas low expression in tumor tissues was a poor prognostic factor in CRC patients. We also found that exosomes carrying miR-203 from CRC cells were incorporated into monocytes and miR-203 could promote the expression of M2 markers in vitro, suggesting miR-203 promoted the differentiation of monocytes to M2-tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). In a xenograft mouse model, miR-203-transfected CRC cells developed more liver metastasis compared to control cells. In conclusion, serum exosomal miR-203 expression is a novel biomarker for predicting metastasis, possibly via promoting the differentiation of monocytes to M2-TAMs in CRC. Furthermore, we propose the concept of site-dependent functions for miR-203 in tumor progression.