MicroRNA-21 Regulates the Proliferation, Differentiation, and Apoptosis of Human Renal Cell Carcinoma Cells by the mTOR-STAT3 Signaling Pathway

MicroRNA-21 in urologic cancers: from molecular mechanisms to clinical implications

The three most common kinds of urologic malignancies are prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer, which typically cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Early detection and effective treatment are essential due to their high fatality rates. As a result, there is an urgent need for innovative research to improve the clinical management of patients with urologic cancers. A type of small noncoding RNAs of 22 nucleotides, microRNAs (miRNAs) are well-known for their important roles in a variety of developmental processes. Among these, microRNA-21 (miR-21) stands out as a commonly studied miRNA with implications in tumorigenesis and cancer development, particularly in urological tumors. Recent research has shed light on the dysregulation of miR-21 in urological tumors, offering insights into its potential as a prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic tool. This review delves into the pathogenesis of miR-21 in prostate, bladder, and renal cancers, its utility as a cancer biomarker, and the therapeutic possibilities of targeting miR-21.

BMP9 induces osteogenic differentiation through up-regulating LGR4 via the mTORC1/Stat3 pathway in mesenchymal stem cells

Bone defects and non-union are prevalent in clinical orthopedy, and the outcomes of current treatments are often suboptimal. Bone tissue engineering offers a promising approach to treating these conditions effectively. Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) can commit mesenchymal stem cells to osteogenic lineage, and a knowledge of the underlying mechanisms may help advance the field of bone tissue engineering. Leucine-rich repeats containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4), a member of G protein-coupled receptors, is essential for modulating bone development. This study is aimed at investigating the impact of LGR4 on BMP9-induced osteogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells as well as the underlying mechanisms. Bone marrow stromal cells from BMP9-knockout mice exhibited diminished LGR4 expression, and exogenous LGR4 clearly restored the impaired osteogenic potency of the bone marrow stromal cells. Furthermore, LGR4 expression was increased by BMP9 in C3H10T1/2 cells. LGR4 augmented the benefits of BMP9-induced osteogenic markers and bone formation, whereas LGR4 inhibition restricted these effects. Meanwhile, the BMP9-induced lipogenic markers were increased by LGR4 inhibition. The protein levels of Raptor and p-Stat3 were elevated by BMP9. Raptor knockdown or p-Stat3 suppression attenuated the osteoblastic markers and LGR4 expression brought on by BMP9. LGR4 significantly reversed the blocking effect of Raptor knockdown or p-Stat3 suppression on the BMP9-induced osteoblastic markers. Raptor interacts with p-Stat3, and p-Stat3 activates the LGR4 promoter activity. In conclusion, LGR4 boosts BMP9 osteoblastic potency in mesenchymal stem cells, and BMP9 may up-regulate LGR4 via the mTORC1/Stat3 signal activation.

Modulation of AKT Pathway-Targeting miRNAs for Cancer Cell Treatment with Natural Products

Many miRNAs are known to target the AKT serine-threonine kinase (AKT) pathway, which is critical for the regulation of several cell functions in cancer cell development. Many natural products exhibiting anticancer effects have been reported, but their connections to the AKT pathway (AKT and its effectors) and miRNAs have rarely been investigated. This review aimed to demarcate the relationship between miRNAs and the AKT pathway during the regulation of cancer cell functions by natural products. Identifying the connections between miRNAs and the AKT pathway and between miRNAs and natural products made it possible to establish an miRNA/AKT/natural product axis to facilitate a better understanding of their anticancer mechanisms. Moreover, the miRNA database (miRDB) was used to retrieve more AKT pathway-related target candidates for miRNAs. By evaluating the reported facts, the cell functions of these database-generated candidates were connected to natural products. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the natural product/miRNA/AKT pathway in the modulation of cancer cell development.

Protective Effect of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on Periodontal Injury in Rats by Inhibiting Collagenase-1 and Alkaline Phosphatase Expression

This study intends to assess whether iron oxide nanoparticles affect periodontal injury and collagenase-1 (COL-1), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in rats. In this study, the ALP activity and Col-1 concentration in rats with periodontal injury were determined.We detected the periodontal histopathological changes and expression of periodontal pocket depth (PD) and attachment loss (AL) by Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.We also detected Col-1 and ALP proteins in periodontal tissues by Western blot. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detected Col-1 and ALP mRNA level in periodontal tissues of rats in each group, while ALP activity and Col-1 concentration in gingival crevicular fluid in model group increased compared to sham group (P < 0.05). After intervention by iron oxide nanoparticles, ALP activity and Col-1 concentration in the gingival crevicular fluid of model rats decreased greatly (P < 0.05). The gingival atrophy was more serious in model group, and many inflammatory cells infiltrated into the tissue and destroyed the alveolar tissue. Meanwhile, the periodontal tissue from rats in intervention group was greatly improved, and the degree of alveolar bone destruction was also significantly reduced, while the PD and AL periodontal indexes were significantly inhibited (P < 0.05). The protein and relative expression showed that the protein and mRNA expressions of ALP and Col-1 in periodontal tissue from model group were lower than those in sham group (P < 0.05). After intervention by iron oxide nanoparticles, the protein and mRNA expressions of ALP and Col-1 in the periodontal tissues in intervention group increased (P < 0.05). Iron oxide nanoparticles can thus inhibit the expression of ALP and COL-1 in periodontal injury rats, and improve the periodontal injury tissue.

MicroRNA as a Biomarker for Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Purpose in Urinary Tract Cancer

The incidence of urologic cancers, including kidney, upper tract urothelial, and bladder malignancies, is increasing globally, with a high percentage of cases showing metastasis upon diagnosis and low five-year survival rates. MicroRNA (miRNA), a small non-coding RNA, was found to regulate the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in several tumors, including cancers of the urinary system. In the current review, we comprehensively discuss the recently reported up-or down-regulated miRNAs as well as their possible targets and regulated pathways involved in the development, progression, and metastasis of urinary tract cancers. These miRNAs represent potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers that may help in efficient and early diagnosis in addition to better treatment outcomes.

LINC00671 inhibits renal cell cancer progression via regulating miR-221-5p/SOCS1 axis

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has gradually received widespread attention due to its role in regulating tumor progression. However, in renal cell cancer (RCC), the exact function of lncRNA LINC00671 remains uncertain.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized for detecting LINC00671 and miR-221-5p expressions in RCC tissues and cell lines. Western blotting technique was utilized for detecting the expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated proteins (E-cadherin and N-cadherin) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1). The correlation between clinicopathological features and LINC00671 expression was also evaluated. RCC cell multiplication, migration and invasion were measured by CCK-8, EdU and Transwell assays, respectively. The targeted relationships between LINC00671 as well as the SOCS1 3'UTR and miR-221-5p were verified by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and luciferase reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

LINC00671 expression in RCC tissues and cells was significantly reduced. Patients with low LINC00671 expression had relatively shorter disease-free survival and overall survival. Moreover, LINC00671 expression was linked to lymph node metastasis, tumor stage, and tumor size. In Caki-1 and 769-P cell lines, LINC00671 overexpression restrained the multiplication, migration, invasion, as well as the EMT process of RCC cells in vitro. In terms of mechanism, miR-221-5p was identified as a target of LINC00671, and LINC00671 could up-regulate SOCS1 by repressing miR-221-5p.

CONCLUSION

LINC00671 regulates the miR-221-5p/SOCS1 axis as a tumor suppressor in RCC.

MiR-4269 suppresses the tumorigenesis and development of pancreatic cancer by targeting ZEB1/OTX1 pathway

As one of the most prevalent malignant tumors, pancreatic cancer (PC) is a leading fatal cancer worldwide. Surging evidence has unraveled that miRNAs are involved in the occurrence and progression of multiple cancers, including PC. The tumor suppressor effects of miR-4269 have been certified in gastric carcinoma. However, the potential function of miR-4269 remains largely unclear, which drives us to identify the role of miR-4269 in PC development. In the present study, we determined the expression pattern of miR-4269 in PC cells and normal cells. Results of RT-qPCR analysis illuminated that miR-4269 expression level in PC cells was lower than that in normal cells. Functional assays demonstrated that up-regulation of miR-4269 obviously inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of PC cells. In order to elucidate the mechanism governing miR-4269 in PC, we carried out bioinformatics analysis and further experimental investigations. Our results validated that ZEB1 was a direct target of miR-4269. Additionally, ZEB1 activated the transcription of OXT1. More importantly, miR-4269 attenuated the expression level of OXT1 via targeting ZEB1. Ultimately, our findings confirmed that miR-4269 served as a cancer suppressor in PC through regulation of ZEB1/OTX1 pathway, which suggested that miR-4269 might represent a promising target for the clinical treatment of PC.

Identification of a novel immune-related microRNA prognostic model in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Background

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a type of kidney cancer, and one of the most common malignant tumors. Many studies have shown that certain microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the occurrence and development of ccRCC. Nevertheless, the prognosis of ccRCC patients is very rarely based on these “immuno-miRs”. Our aim was thus to determine the relationship between immune-related miRNA signatures and ccRCC.

Methods

We downloaded the miRNA expression data from 521 KIRC and 71 normal tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We used “limma” package and univariate Cox regression analysis to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) that related to overall survival (OS). We applied lasso and multivariate Cox regression analyses to construct a prognostic model based on immuno-miRs. We evaluated the performance of model by using the Kaplan-Meier method. Furthermore, Cox regression analysis was used to determine independent prognostic signatures in ccRCC.

Results

A total of 59 significant immuno-miRs were identified. We use univariate Cox regression analysis to acquire 18 immune-related miRNAs which were markedly related to OS of ccRCC patients in the training set. We then constructed the 9-immune-related-miRNA prognostic model (miR-21, miR-342, miR-149, miR-130b, miR-223, miR-365a, miR-9-1, and miR-146b) by using lasso and multivariate Cox regression. Further analysis suggested that the immune-related prognostic model could be an independent prognostic indicator for patients with ccRCC. The prognostic performance of the 9-immune-related-miRNA prognostic model was further validated successfully in the testing set.

Conclusions

We established a novel immune-based prognostic model of ccRCC based on potential prognostic immune-related miRNAs. Our results indicated that the 9-miRNA signature could be a practical and reliable prognostic tool for ccRCC.

Rapid self-disassembly of DNA diblock copolymer micelles via target induced hydrophilic-hydrophobic regulation for sensitive MiRNA detection

In this work, a novel DNA nanostructure with a shorter assembly time and larger loading capacity was constructed using amphiphilic DNA-alkane group (Spacer C12)₁₀ conjugates encapsulating plentiful fat-soluble fluorescent dyes into the hydrophobic core to form the DNA micelles, which could be rapidly self-disassembled via target induced hydrophilic-hydrophobic regulation to release fluorescent dyes from micelles to the organic phase, realizing the fast and sensitive detection of microRNA.

Long non-coding RNA SNHG5 affects the invasion and apoptosis of renal cell carcinoma by regulating the miR-363-3p-Twist1 interaction

Non-coding RNA dysregulation is associated with many human diseases, including cancer. This study explored the effects of lncRNA SNHG5 on clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). We found that lncRNA SNHG5 is upregulated in human ccRCC tissues and that lncRNA SNHG5 inhibition reduced ccRCC cell invasion and promoted apoptosis in vitro. Bioinformatics database searching revealed that lncRNA SNHG5 is predicted to regulate the interaction between miR-363-3p and Twist1. We further verified a ccRCC biomarker panel, which consists of lncRNA SNHG5, miR-363-3p, and Twist1 in ccRCC tissue samples. The direct SNHG5-miR-363-3p and Twist1-miR-363-3p interactions were confirmed via dual-luciferase reporter assays. Additionally, functional assays demonstrated that SNHG5 promotes cell invasion and inhibits apoptosis, while miR-363-3p inhibits cell invasion and promotes apoptosis via an interaction with Twist1. Furthermore, we found that Twist1 promotes tumor metastasis by regulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9 levels. Together, these results suggest that lncRNA SNHG5 may predict ccRCC patient clinical outcome and serve as a novel anti-ccRCC therapeutic target.

LncRNA NKILA inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of CSCC cells by downregulating miRNA-21

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) NKILA has been well studied in several types of human tumors as a tumor suppressor, while its involvement in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) remains unclear. In our studies, we found that serum NKILA was at lower levels and serum microRNA-21 (miRNA-21) was at higher levels in patients with early stage CSCC than in the healthy female. Altered expression of NKILA and miRNA-21 can effectively separate patients with CSCC at an early stage from healthy controls. Serum levels of NKILA were significantly and negatively correlated with miRNA-21 in patients with CSCC but not in normal controls. Overexpression of NKILA mediated the inhibited expression of miRNA-21 in CSCC cells, but mimic transfection of miRNA-21 did not significantly change the expression level of NKILA. Overexpression of NKILA repressed the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of CSCC cells, while miRNA-21 showed opposite functions. In addition, miRNA-21 mimic transfection reduced the effects of NKILA on CSCC cells. Collectively, lncRNA NKILA could repress the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of CSCC cells by downregulating miRNA-21.

LINC00461 affects the survival of patients with renal cell carcinoma by acting as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA‑942

The present study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms of human miR‑942 in the sunitinib‑resistance of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A sunitinib‑resistant OS‑RC‑2 cell line was established by continuous exposure to increasing concentrations of sunitinib for ~12 weeks. The expression levels of four miRNAs were determined by reverse transcription‑quantitative (RT‑q)PCR. miR‑942 mimics were transfected into OS‑RC‑2 cells and RNA sequencing was performed on the miR‑942‑ and negative control‑transfected cells. Downregulated genes, including those of long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs, were identified. The target genes of miR‑942 were predicted, followed by protein‑protein interaction network construction and functional enrichment analyses of miR‑942 target genes. In addition, RCC RNA‑seq and miRNA‑seq data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The contributions of lncRNA and/or mRNAs to survival prediction were assessed and a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network consisting of miR‑942, lncRNA and mRNAs was constructed. The expression levels of LINC00461, miR‑942, spalt‑like transcription factor 1 (SALL1), methionyl aminopeptidase 1 (METAP1) and DDB1 and CUL4 associated factor 1 (DCAF11) were verified using RT‑qPCR. The role of LINC00461 in cell viability was detected by MTT assay. The expression level of miR‑942 was significantly increased in sunitinib‑resistant cells. A total of seven lncRNAs and 155 mRNAs were predicted as target genes of miR‑942 in the miR‑942 mimic‑treated samples, compared with the mimic control‑treated group. These potential target genes were significantly associated with 'protein binding', 'TNF‑β signaling pathway', 'negative transcriptional regulation' and 'RNA binding'. Through the integrated analysis of RNA‑sequencing and TCGA data, an miR‑942‑related ceRNA network, which was predicted to significantly affect the survival of patients with RCC, was constructed. The expression levels of lncRNA LINC00461 and the genes SALL1, METAP1, and DCAF11 were further verified. The viability of OS‑RC‑2 cells was decreased following co‑transfection with miR‑942 mimics and LINC00641 siRNA, and was comparable to that of wild type OS‑RC‑2 cells (P>0.05). Therefore, lncRNA LINC00461 may act as an miR‑942 ceRNA, and affect the survival of patients with RCC by regulating the expression of SALL1, METAP1 and DCAF11.

Overexpression of miR-671-5p indicates a poor prognosis in colon cancer and accelerates proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer cells

Purpose

Colon cancer is one of the common malignancies worldwide, and many genes, including microRNAs (miRNAs), have been demonstrated that associated with progression of various diseases, including cancers. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential role of miR-671-5p in colon cancer.

Patients and methods

Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression levels of miR-671-5p in 115 paired colon cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues, as well as in colon cancer cells. Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression analyses were used to estimate the prognostic significance of miR-671-5p in colon cancer. CCK-8 assay, colony-formation assay, Transwell migration and invasion assays were used to evaluate the effects of miR-671-5p on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in colon cancer.

Results

We found that miR-671-5p expression was increased in colon cancer tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-671-5p was found associated with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and poor overall survival of patients with colon cancer. By exploiting miR-671-5p mimics and inhibitors, miR-671-5p overexpression significantly increased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while downregulation of miR-671-5p inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer cells.

Conclusion

Taken together, miR-671-5p may act as an oncogene in colon cancer and promote proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer cells by targeting TRIM67. And it may be a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic application for colon cancer treatment.

miR‑342‑3p suppresses cell migration and invasion in preeclampsia by targeting platelet‑derived growth factor receptor α

miR-342-3p expression was increased in the placentas of women with preeclampsia (PE) according to previous examinations; the mechanism underlying the development and progression of PE requires further investigation. The present study aimed to explore the mechanism and functionality of microRNA (miR)-342-3p in trophoblastic cells. The expression of miR-342-3p and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRA) in the placentas of 30 patients with PE and 30 normal controls was detected. In addition, HTR8/SVneo cells were transfected with miR-342-3p mimics, small interfering RNA (siR)-PDGFRA or their corresponding negative controls; then the proliferation, migration, invasion and the distribution of the cell cycle of these cells were analyzed. Additionally, a dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed. According to these analyses, the expression of miR-342-3p was significantly increased, while that of PDGFRA was significantly lower in the PE group compared with the normal group. Transfection with miR-342-3p mimics led to a significant decrease in cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and also affected the cell cycle. Furthermore, miR-342-3p mimics reduced the expression of PDGFRA; miR-342-3p overexpression also reduced the mRNA and protein levels of BCL-2 and Caspase-3. In addition, transfection of siR-PDGFRA exhibited similar effects to those of miR-342-3p mimics. Finally, PDGFRA was reported to be a direct target of miR-342-3p. In conclusion, miR-342-3p was proposed to inhibit the proliferation, migration, invasion and G1/S phase transition of HTR8/SVneo cells by suppressing PDGFRA. Our findings suggest that miR-342-3p may be a novel clinical indicator or prognostic marker for PE.

Crosstalk of mTOR/PKM2 and STAT3/c-Myc signaling pathways regulate the energy metabolism and acidic microenvironment of gastric cancer

Cancer cells consume large amounts of glucose to produce lactate, even in the presence of ample oxygen. This phenomenon is called the Warburg effect. c-Myc is an important member of the Myc gene family and is involved in the development of various tumors. It plays an important role in the regulation of tumor energy metabolism, which can regulate glycolysis to promote the Warburg effect in a tumor. Our study aimed to improve the malignant biological behavior by controlling the energy metabolism of gastric cancer through the mTOR/PKM2 and signal transduction and activator 3 (STAT3)/c-Myc signaling pathways through a series of in vitro experiments. Human gastric cancer AGS and HGC-27 cells were treated with PKM2 and c-Myc lentivirus, and the effects of the knockdown of PKM2 and/or c-Myc were analyzed on cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, the ability of cell migration, and the growth signaling pathway in vitro. The expressions of PKM2, c-Myc, LDHA, STAT3, P-STAT3, GLUT-1 gene were identified by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Lactate and glucose levels were tested by the corresponding kit. Our findings showed that PKM2 and c-Myc were upregulated in human gastric cancer. Knockdown of c-Myc in gastric cancer cells suppressed cell proliferation capacity and glycolysis level, and the inhibitory effects on gastric cancer cells upon co-knockdown of PKM2 and c-Myc were more obvious compared with knockout of PKM2 or c-Myc alone. And there was a correlation between the mTOR/PKM2 and the STAT3/c-Myc signaling pathways. Our results suggested that c-Myc might be considered a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer and PKM2 combined with c-Myc could better inhibit the malignant biological behaviors of gastric cancer.

MiR-378a-5p acts as a tumor suppressor in renal cell carcinoma and is associated with the good prognosis of patients

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common cancer that accounts for about 1.6% of all malignancies. Accumulating evidence has shown that miRNAs may play important roles in the development of cancers and that these same miRNAs may serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. The role of the miRNA miR-378a-5p in RCC, however, has been largely unexplored. In our study, we have demonstrated that miR-378a-5p expression was decreased in renal tissues and in RCC cell lines compared with corresponding expression levels in normal renal tissues and in the 293-T cell line. Functional studies in two RCC cell lines (ACHN and 786-O) have indicated that miR-378a-5p overexpression attenuated cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting cell apoptosis. Inhibition of miR-378a-5p expression, on the other hand, promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while reducing cell apoptosis. Additionally, in 42 cases of renal cancer formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens, patients with higher expression levels of miR-378a-5p had significantly longer overall survival rates (P<0.05) than patients with lower miR-378a-5p expression levels. Thus, in this study, we have shown that miR-378a-5p can serve as a tumor suppressor and a potential prognostic biomarker in RCC.

The effect of a gene associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality 19 (GRIM-19) on STAT3-induced gene expression in renal carcinoma

This study aimed to investigate the exact regulatory mechanisms of retinoid-interferon-induced mortality 19 (GRIM-19) in renal carcinoma. Tumour tissue samples from patients with renal carcinoma (n = 30, there were seven cases of Stage I, eight cases of Stage II, eight cases of Stage III, seven cases of Stage IV) and control subjects were selected from adjacent normal tissue (n = 10). Real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to assess the level of GRIM-19, signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) and its downstream molecules. CD31 was detected by immunohistochemistry. The MTT assay was used to measure cell proliferation. The amount of apoptosis cells was analysed by Flow cytometry. The results showed that expression of GRIM-19 was decreased in renal carcinoma. However, in tumour tissue, STAT3 and its downstream signalling molecules showed the higher expression compared with control. Overexpression of GRIM-19, inhibited tumour growth apoptosis by mediating activators of STAT3 signal. In addition, interferon-β and all-trans-retinoic acid inhibited the renal carcinoma cell growth and induced apoptosis, and effect of drug combinations was particularly evident. In conclusion, GRIM-19 expression is associated with hyperactivation of STAT3-induced gene expression in renal carcinoma.

miRNA-21 and miRNA-223 expression signature as a predictor for lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and survival in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma

Purpose: The aim of this study was to generate a novel miRNA expression signature to effectively assess nodal metastasis, distant metastasis and predict prognosis for patients with kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) and explore its potential mechanism of affecting the prognosis. Method: Using expression profiles downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas database, we identified multiple miRNAs with differential expression between KIRC and paired normal tissues. The diagnostic values of the differentially expressed miRNAs for nodal metastasis and distant metastasis were evaluated by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Then, we evaluated the impact of miRNAs on overall survival (OS) by univariate and multivariate COX regression analyzes. This analysis was ultimately used to construct a miRNA signature that effectively assessed nodal metastasis, distant metastasis and predicted prognosis. The functional enrichment analysis of the miRNAs included in the signatures was used to explore its potential molecular mechanism in KIRC. Results: Based on our cutoff criteria (P < 0.05 and |log2FC| > 1.0), we identified 104 differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs), including 43 that were up-regulated in KIRC tissues and 61 that were down-regulated. We found 12 miRNAs were potentially diagnostic biomarkers of nodal metastasis and distant metastasis by ROC curve analysis. Two miRNAs (miRNA-21 and miRNA-223) were significant miRNAs independently associated with OS based on Cox univariate and multivariate analysis. We generated a signature index based on expression of these two miRNAs, and the two-miRNA signature is promising as a biomarker for diagnosing nodal metastasis, distant metastasis and predicting 5-year survival rate of KIRC with areas under the curve (AUC)=0.738, 0.659 and 0.731, respectively. Patients were stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups, according to median of the signature prognosis indexes. Patients in the high-risk group had significantly shorter survival times than those in the low-risk group (P = 0.000). The functional enrichment analysis suggested that the target genes of two miRNAs may be involved in various pathways related to cancer, p53 signaling pathway, apoptosis, and MAPK signaling pathway. Conclusion: The two-miRNA signature could assess nodal metastasis, distant metastasis and predict survival of KIRC. As a promising prediction tool, the mechanism of the two miRNAs in KIRC deserves further study.

Tumor suppressor microRNA-136-5p regulates the cellular function of renal cell carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRs) are involved in diverse physiological and developmental processes at the post-transcriptional level in cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that miR-136-5p is involved in certain types of cancer. However, the function of miR-136-5p in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains to be fully elucidated. In present study, miR-136-5p expression levels were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and MTT assays, CCK-8 assays, Transwell assays, wound healing assays and flow cytometry were performed to investigate the function of miR-136-5p in RCC. RT-qPCR revealed that the expression of miR-136 was significantly lower in RCC tissues and cells compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues and cells in vitro. miR-136-5pwas also demonstrated to be associated with RCC cell proliferation, viability, migration, invasion and apoptosis. miR-136-5p may therefore function as a tumor suppressor in RCC. Further studies are required to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways underlying these functions of miR-136-5p, to investigate the potential function of miR-136-5p as a biomarker for the early detection and prognosis of RCC, and its potential as a therapeutic target for the treatment of RCC.

Long non-coding RNA CTA sensitizes osteosarcoma cells to doxorubicin through inhibition of autophagy

Recently, several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in osteosarcoma (OS). However, the regulatory roles of lncRNAs in chemotherapy resistance of OS still remain unclear. This study aimed to screen a novel lncRNA that contributes to chemotherapeutic resistance of OS, and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Our data showed that lncRNA CTA was markedly downregulated in OS tissues compared to their matched non-tumor tissues, and low expression of lncRNA CTA was significantly associated with the advanced clinical stage and tumor size. In addition, OS patients with low lncRNA CTA levels showed a worse prognosis when compared with those with high expression of lncRNA CTA. Furthermore, we report that lncRNA CTA has an inverse relationship with miR-210 expression in OS tissues. LncRNA CTA could be activated by doxorubicin (DOX), and could promote OS cell apoptosis by competitively binding miR-210, while inhibit cell autophagy. On the other hand, lncRNA CTA was downregulated in DOX-resistant OS cells. Overexpression of lncRNA CTA reduced autophagy and subsequently overcame DOX resistance of OS in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, we demonstrate that lncRNA CTA is an essential regulator in DOX-induced OS cell apoptosis, and the lncRNA CTA-miR-210 axis plays an important role in reducing OS chemoresistance.

MicroRNA‑30a‑5p suppresses tumor cell proliferation of human renal cancer via the MTDH/PTEN/AKT pathway

The present study aimed to explore the effects of microRNA (miRNA)‑30a‑5p on tumor proliferation and to seek a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of human renal cancer. The results demonstrated that the expression levels of miRNA‑30a‑5p were reduced in tumor samples from patients with renal cancer compared with in normal tissue samples. Overall survival and disease‑free survival were increased in patients with renal cancer and high miRNA‑30a‑5p expression compared with in those with low miRNA‑30a‑5p. Furthermore, overexpression of miRNA‑30a‑5p suppressed cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and promoted caspase‑3/9 activities and B‑cell lymphoma 2‑associated X protein (Bax) protein expression in Caki‑2 cells. In addition, the results confirmed that overexpression of miRNA‑30a‑5p inhibited metadherin (MTDH), upregulated phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and suppressed phosphorylated (p)‑protein kinase B (AKT) protein expression levels in Caki‑2 cells. Furthermore, transfection with small interfering RNA‑MTDH, increased the effects of miRNA‑30a‑5p on the inhibition of cell proliferation, and promotion of apoptosis, caspase‑3/9 activities and Bax protein expression levels in Caki‑2 cells. Knockdown of MTDH expression also upregulated PTEN and suppressed p‑AKT protein expression in Caki‑2 cells. In conclusion, the present study is the first, to the best of our knowledge, to provide evidence suggesting that miRNA‑30a‑5p suppresses tumor human renal cancer cell proliferation via the MTDH/PTEN/AKT pathway.

miR-144 may regulate the proliferation, migration and invasion of trophoblastic cells through targeting PTEN in preeclampsia

Previous studies indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) were aberrantly expressed in the placentas of patients with Preeclampsia (PE); however, the underlying mechanism still requires further investigation. The aim of this study is to investigate the roles of miR-144 in preeclampsia and the related mechanism. The expression of miR-144 and PTEN in 30 placentas of patients with PE and 30 normal placentas was compared; next, HTR8/SVneo cells were transfected with miR-144 mimics and miR-144 inhibitors and cultured for 48h, and the proliferation and apoptosis, cell migration and invasion of the cells were examined; furthermore, the expression PTEN, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 was examined; next, dual luciferase reporter assay has been performed to confirm that PTEN is a direct target of miR-144; finally, HTR-8/SVneo cells were transfected with either PTEN overexpression plasmid or PTEN RNAi to determine whether knockdown or overexpression of PTEN can mimic the effect of miR-144 We have observed that the expression of miR-144 was significantly decreased and the expression of PTEN was markedly increased in placentas of patients with PE compared with normal placentas; moreover, transfection of miR-144 mimics in trophoblastic cells induced significant increase in cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and decrease in cell apoptosis, and also affected the cell cycles; on the other hand, transfection of miR-144 inhibitors has shown the opposite effects; furthermore, transient overexpression of miR-144 induced marked decrease in the expression of PTEN, Caspase-3 and increase in expression of Bcl-2 (P<0.01), while transfection of miR-144 inhibitors showed the opposite effects; finally, PTEN has been confirmed as a direct target of miR-144; finally, transfection of PTEN overexpression plasmid or PTEN RNAi can mimic the results of miR-144 inhibitor or miR-144 mimics, respectively. In conclusion, miR-144 was down-regulated in PE, and miR-144 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of PE through targeting PTEN in trophoblastic cells. These results suggested that miR-144 has the potential to become a therapeutic target for the treatment of PE.

MicroRNA-93 inhibits apoptosis and promotes proliferation, invasion and migration of renal cell carcinoma ACHN cells via the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway by targeting RUNX3

We investigated the ability of microRNA-93 (miR-93) to influence proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosisofrenal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells via transforming growth factor-β/solvated metal atom dispersed (TGF-β/Smad) signaling by targeting runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3). RCC tissues with corresponding adjacent normal tissues were collected from 249 RCC patients. And normal renal tissues were collected from patients without RCC who received nephrectomy. The RCC cell line ACHN was treated with miR-93 mimic, mimic-negative control (NC), miR-93 inhibitor, inhibitor-NC, and miR-93 inhibitor + small interfering RNA (siRNA) against RUNX3 (si-RUNX3). Expression of miR-93, RUNX3, TGF-β, and Smad4 were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Cell proliferation was assessed by the Metallothioneins (MTS) assay, cell invasion by the wound-healing assay, cell migration by the Transwell assay, and cell cycle and apoptosis by flow cytometry. Compared with normal renal tissues, the expression of miR-93 and TGF-β were higher while that of RUNX3 and Smad4 were low in RCC and adjacent normal tissues (all P<0.05). RUNX3 was confirmed as a target of miR-93 by the dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Compared with mimic-NC group, cell proliferation, invasion, migration and cells from G0/G1 to S phase enhanced but the apoptosis decreased in the miR-93 mimic group (all P<0.05). Compared with inhibitor-NC group, proliferation, invasion, and migration reduced, while apoptosis increased, and cells at G0/G1 phase arrested in the miR-93 inhibitor group (all P<0.05). Compared with miR-93 inhibitor group, cell proliferation, invasion, and migration increased with increasing cells from G1 to S phase while the apoptosis decreased, in miR-93 inhibitor + si-RUNX3 group (all P<0.05). In conclusion, miR-93 inhibits apoptosis and promotes proliferation, invasion, and migration of RCC cells via TGF-β/Smad signaling by inhibiting RUNX3.

A three-microRNA signature as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in clear cell renal cancer: An In Silico analysis

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that some specific miRNAs were aberrantly expressed in renal clear cell carcinoma and participated in many biological processes. The aim of this study was to investigate a panel of miRNA signature for diagnosis and prognosis of renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC). Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis for miRNA expression profiles and corresponding clinical information of 516 KIRC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). In the study, a total of 63 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, of which 34 were up-regulated and 29 were down-regulated. We constructed a panel of three-miRNA that were significantly associated with KIRC diagnosis and KIRC patients' prognosis. The three-miRNA signature reached a sensitivity of 98.3% and a specificity of 97.2% in the diagnosis of KIRC. Using the three-miRNA signature, we classified the KIRC patients into high-risk group and low-risk group. The Kaplan- Meier curves showed that KIRC patients with high risk scores had significantly worsen overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) than KIRC patients with low risk scores. In the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, three-miRNA signature was an independent prognostic factor in OS. In conclusion, the three-miRNA signature could be used as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in KIRC, and therefore, may help to provide significant clinical implication for the treatment of KIRC.