miR-1290 Contributes to Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation by Targeting INPP4B

The miR-1290/OGN axis in ovarian cancer-associated fibroblasts modulates cancer cell proliferation and invasion

Despite receiving first-line treatment, ovarian cancer patients continue to experience a high rate of recurrence; nearly all women with ovarian cancer develop chemoresistance and succumb to the disease. In this study, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and normal fibroblasts (NFs) were isolated from tumor-containing and normal omenta, respectively, and the downregulation of osteoglycin (OGN) in CAFs was observed. OGN overexpression in CAFs significantly inhibited ovarian cancer cell viability, DNA synthesis, and cell invasion. OGN overexpression also changed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and promoted mTOR and Akt phosphorylation in ovarian cancer cells. miR-1290 targeted OGN and inhibited OGN expression. miR-1290 overexpression in CAFs significantly promoted ovarian cancer cell viability, DNA synthesis, and cell invasion. Moreover, miR-1290 overexpression in CAFs also changed EMT markers and promoted mTOR and Akt phosphorylation within ovarian carcinoma cells. Finally, when ovarian cancer cells in a conditioned medium derived from CAFs co-transduced with miR-1290 mimics and OGN-OE were cultured, the effects of miR-1290 overexpression were partially reversed by OGN overexpression. In nude mouse xenograft tumor models, OGN overexpression in CAFs suppressed tumor growth, whereas miR-1290 overexpression in CAFs increased tumor growth. In conclusion, a miRNA/mRNA axis in ovarian cancer CAFs modulating the proliferative and invasive abilities of ovarian cancer cells, possibly via the Akt/mTOR pathway, was demonstrated.

Role of inositol polyphosphate-4-phosphatase type II in oncogenesis of digestive system tumors

Inositol polyphosphate-4-phosphatase type II (INPP4B) is a newly discovered PI(3,4,5)P3 phosphatase. Many studies have revealed that INPP4B is upregulated or downregulated in tumors of the digestive system, and the abnormal expression of INPP4B may be attributed to the occurrence, development, and prognosis of tumors of the digestive system. This paper reviews studies on the correlations between INPP4B and digestive system tumors and the roles of INPP4B in the development of different tumors to provide a theoretical basis for further research on its molecular mechanism and clinical application. "INPP4B" and "tumor" were searched as key words in PubMed and in the CNKI series full text database retrieval system from January 2000 to August 2023. A total of 153 English-language studies and 30 Chinese-language studies were retrieved. The following enrollment criteria were applied: (1) Studies contained information on the biological structure and functions of INPP4B; (2) studies covered the influence of abnormal expression of INPP4B in digestive system tumors; and (3) studies covered the role of INPP4B in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of digestive system tumors. After excluding the literature irrelevant to this study, 61 papers were finally included in the analysis. INPP4B expression is low in gastric cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer but it has high expression in esophageal cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and gallbladder cancer. INPP4B is involved in the occurrence and development of digestive system tumors through the regulation of gene expression and signal transduction. The abnormal expression of INPP4B plays an important role in the development of digestive system tumors. Studies on INPP4B provide new molecular insights for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis evaluation of digestive system tumors.

Hsa_circ_0026344 suppresses gastric cancer progression via modulating the miR-1290/FBP2 axis

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel type of noncoding RNAs and play important roles in tumorigenesis, including gastric cancer (GC). However, the functions of most circRNAs remain poorly understood. In our study, we mainly learn the influence of hsa_circ_0026344 (circ_0026344) in GC progression.

METHODS

Circ_0026344, miR-1290 and Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 2 (FBP2) expression was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected by colony formation, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and transwell assays, respectively. The interaction between circ_0026344 and miR-1290 complex was evaluated by RNA pull-down assay. The interaction of miR-1290 with circ_0026344 or FBP2 was detected using dual-luciferase reporter assay. A xenograft model was established to determine the effect of circ_0026344 on GC tumor growth in vivo.

RESULTS

Circ_0026344 expression was dramatically decreased in GC cells and tissues. Circ_0026344 overexpression inhibited GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. MiR-1290 was predicted as a target of circ_0026344 and miR-1290 overexpression attenuated the anti-tumor effect of circ_0026344 on GC cells. Furthermore, we predicted FBP2 as the target of miR-1290. FBP2 knockdown reversed the effects of circ_0026344 knockdown on GC cell malignant behaviors. Functional analysis showed that circ_0026344 upregulated FBP2 expression via miR-1290. Additionally, in vivo studies demonstrated that circ_0026344 suppressed GC tumor progression.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, circ_0026344 inhibited GC cell proliferation via the miR-1290/FBP2 axis, which might provide a new therapeutic target for GC patients.

Circulating liver cancer stem cells and their stemness-associated MicroRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for viral hepatitis-induced liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) are a subpopulation of tumor cells that can drive cancer initiation and relapses. Because of their significance, researchers are looking for biomarkers that characterize or regulate LCSCs so that they can be used as targets for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methodology

Six groups of patients having hepatitis C virus (HCV), HCV + cirrhosis, HCV + HCC, hepatitis B virus (HBV), HBV + cirrhosis, or HBV + HCC, in addition to a control group, were subjected to the measurement of LCSCs levels and analysis of miR-1290 and miR-1825 expression.

Results

The percentages of the CD133/EpCAM-expressing LCSCs were increased in viral hepatitis and cirrhosis groups, compared to the control group. HCC patients had the highest percentages of LCSCs. CD133/EpCAM-expressing cells showed significant correlations with stemness-associated miRNAs; miR-1290 and miR-1825. Also, the miR-1290 and miR-1825 were significantly up-regulated in viral hepatitis-associated cirrhosis and HCC groups. Moreover, in HCV + HCC, miR-1290 and miR-1825 expression was significantly positively correlated with tumor size and number. However, only miR-1825 could distinguish between HCV- and HBV-associated HCC groups. MiR-1290 exhibited the highest sensitivity and specificity for detecting HCC, followed by miR-1825 and CD133/EpCAM-expressing LCSCs.

Conclusions

These findings indicate the relevance of CD133/EpCAM-expressing cells in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis and HCC developed as a consequence of either chronic HCV or HBV infection. Accordingly, CD133/EpCAM-expressing cells, miR-1290, and miR-1825, could serve as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets in patients suffering from liver cirrhosis or HCC.

Cancer associated fibroblasts secreted exosomal miR-1290 contributes to prostate cancer cell growth and metastasis via targeting GSK3β

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play crucial roles in mediating tumor growth and metastasis via transferring exosomes to neighboring cells, whereas the mechanisms by which CAFs regulate the tumorgenesis of prostate cancer (PC) remain largely unknown. In this study, CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) were isolated from PC tissues and adjacent normal tissues, respectively. Exosomes (NFs-Exo and CAFs-Exo) were then isolated from the supernatant of NFs and CAFs. Next, the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) between NFs-Exo and CAFs-Exo were identified using RNA-sequencing. Cell viability, migration and invasion were detected with CCK-8 and Transwell assays. Protein expression was measured with western blot. We found that CAFs-Exo remarkably enhanced PC cell migration, invasion, stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. Significantly, miR-1290 level was upregulated in CAFs-Exo compared to NFs-Exo. In addition, CAFs could transfer exosomes to PC cells, resulting in a marked increase of miR-1290 level in cells. Moreover, exosomal miR-1290 could inhibit GSK3β/β-catenin signaling by binding with the downstream target GSK3β mRNA. Meanwhile, miR-1290 antagomir notably reversed the effects of CAFs-Exo on PC cells through activating GSK3β/β-catenin signaling. Collectively, exosomal miR-1290 from CAFs could promote PC cell growth and metastasis via inhibiting GSK3β/β-catenin signaling, suggesting that miR-1290 may serve as potential therapeutic target for the treatment of PC.

Breast cancer extracellular vesicles-derived miR-1290 activates astrocytes in the brain metastatic microenvironment via the FOXA2→CNTF axis to promote progression of brain metastases

Mechanisms underlying breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) are still unclear. In this study, we observed that extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from breast cancer cells with increased expression of tGLI1, a BCBM-promoting transcription factor, strongly activated astrocytes. EV-derived microRNA/miRNA microarray revealed tGLI1-positive breast cancer cells highly secreted miR-1290 and miR-1246 encapsulated in EVs. Genetic knockin/knockout studies established a direct link between tGLI1 and both miRNAs. Datamining and analysis of patient samples revealed that BCBM patients had more circulating EV-miRs-1290/1246 than those without metastasis. Ectopic expression of miR-1290 or miR-1246 strongly activated astrocytes whereas their inhibitors abrogated the effect. Conditioned media from miR-1290- or miR-1246-overexpressing astrocytes promoted mammospheres. Furthermore, miRs-1290/1246 suppressed expression of FOXA2 transcription repressor, leading to CNTF cytokine secretion and subsequent activation of astrocytes. Finally, we conducted a mouse study to demonstrate that astrocytes overexpressing miR-1290, but not miR-1246, enhanced intracranial colonization and growth of breast cancer cells. Collectively, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that breast cancer EV-derived miR-1290 and miR-1246 activate astrocytes in the brain metastatic microenvironment and that EV-derived miR-1290 promotes progression of brain metastases through the novel EV-miR-1290→FOXA2→CNTF signaling axis.

Construction of a miRNA-mRNA Network Related to Exosomes in Colon Cancer

Background

The competing endogenous RNA (CeRNA) network plays important roles in the occurrence and development of colon cancer. This research is aimed at constructing a miRNA-mRNA network associated with exosomes in colon cancer.

Methods

We explored the GEO database and then analyzed the RNAs of 722 samples to obtain differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and mRNAs (DEGs) alongside the progress of colon cancer. Next, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of DEM target genes and DEGs were performed. In addition, a miRNA-mRNA network related to exosomes in colon cancer was constructed based on DEMs and DEGs. Finally, the expression of miRNA and mRNA in the network was verified by GEPIA2 on the base of TCGA database.

Results

Through our analysis, 19 DEMs (17 up and 2 down) and 1672 DEGs (954 up and 718 down) were screened. The GO and KEGG results show that these DEGs were mainly enriched in ribonucleoprotein complex biogenesis, noncoding RNA metabolic process, cell-substrate junction, cadherin binding, transcription coregulator activity, and regulation of the human T-cell leukemia virus 1 infection-related pathway. Besides, a miRNA-mRNA network, including 4 miRNAs (hsa-miR-623, hsa-miR-320c, hsa-miR-486-5p, and hsa-miR-1290) and 7 mRNAs (GNAI1, CADM1, PGRMC2, etc.), was constructed. Three of these seven mRNAs were downregulated in colon cancer. Ultimately, the GNAI1, CADM1, and PGRMC2 expression levels were verified by TCGA database.

Conclusions

This study reveals the network relationship between colon cancer exosome-derived miRNA and targeted mRNA. It deepens our understanding of new molecular mechanisms and pathways that may play a role in the occurrence and metastasis of colon cancer.

miR-1290 contributes to oncogenesis and angiogenesis via targeting of THBS1, DKK3 and, SCAI

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world with high mortality, hence, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the tumor progression are important for CRC diagnosis and treatment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key gene expression regulators that can function as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in tumor cells, and modulate angiogenesis as a critical process in tumor metastasis. MiR-1290 has been demonstrated as an onco-miRNA in various types of cancer, however, the role of miR-1290 in CRC is not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the oncogenic and angiogenic potential of miR-1290 in CRC. Methods: Lenti-miR-1290 was transduced into HCT116, SW480, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). By bioinformatics analysis, we identified thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) as a novel predicted target for miR-1290. Quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, and luciferase reporter assay were used to demonstrate suppression of miR-1290 target genes including THBS1, Dickkopf Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor 3 (DKK3), and suppressor of cancer cell invasion (SCAI) in HCT116 and HUVECs. Cell cycle analysis, proliferation, migration and, tube formation were determined by flow cytometry, MTT, wound healing, and tube formation assays, respectively. Results: MiR-1290 significantly decreased the expression of THBS1, DKK3, and SCAI. We demonstrated that miR-1290 enhanced proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis partially through suppression of THBS1, DKK3, and SCAI in CRC. Conclusion: These results suggest a novel function of miR-1290 which may contribute to tumorigenesis and angiogenesis in CRC.

Hsa_circ_0008726 regulates the proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells in preeclampsia through modulating the miR-1290-LHX6 signaling pathway

Background

Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious complication of pregnancy, with a global incidence of about 2%–8%. It is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality among the pregnant women and perinatal infants. Circular RNA (circRNA) has been confirmed to play an important regulatory role in PE. This study aimed to evaluate the role of hsa_circ_0008726 in the occurrence and development of PE.

Methods

The expression of hsa_circ_0008726 in PE placental tissue and blood was detected by qRT‐PCR. CCK‐8, wound closure, and Transwell assay were used to measure cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Bioinformatics prediction, Western blotting, and dual‐luciferase reporter gene detection were used to explore the mechanism of hsa_circ_0008726 in HTR8/SVneo cells.

Results

The expression level of circ_0008726 in the placental tissue and blood samples of PE patients was significantly higher than that of normal controls. The overexpression of circ_0008726 can significantly inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of HTR‐8/SVneo cells. While the silence of circ_0008726 showed an opposite effect. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0008726 can modulate the expression of LHX6 by adsorbing miR‐1290.

Conclusion

Hsa_circ_000872 can regulate LHX6 by adsorbing miR‐1290 to inhibit PE progression, thus establishing hsa_circ_000872 as a potential target for predicting and treating PE.

Circular_0086414 induces SPARC like 1 (SPARCL1) production to inhibit esophageal cancer cell proliferation, invasion and glycolysis and induce cell apoptosis by sponging miR-1290

Circular RNA (circRNA) plays an important role in cancer progression. Here, we investigated the function of circ_0086414 in the malignant progression of esophageal cancer (EC). RNA expression of circ_0086414, microRNA-1290 (miR-1290), and SPARC like 1 (SPARCL1) was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The protein levels of N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and SPARCL1 were checked by Western blotting analysis. Cell proliferation was investigated by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), 5-Ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine (EdU), and cell colony formation assays. Cell invasion and apoptosis were analyzed by transwell invasion assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Glycolysis was evaluated by analyzing glucose consumption and lactate production. In an xenograft mouse model, the effect of circ_0086414 on tumor tumorigenesis was investigated. The interactions among circ_0086414, miR-1290, and SPARCL1 were identified by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. Results showed that circ_0086414 and SPARCL1 expression were significantly downregulated, while miR-1290 was upregulated in EC tissues and cells. EC patients with low circ_0086414 expression had a poor prognosis. Increasing circ_0086414 expression led to decreased EC cell proliferation, invasion and glycolysis and increased cell apoptosis, accompanied by a decrease of N-cadherin expression and an increase of E-cadherin expression. Also, the enforced expression of circ_0086414 delayed tumor tumorigenesis. Besides, circ_0086414 acted as a miR-1290 sponge and regulated EC cell processes by binding to the miRNA. MiR-1290 also participated in EC malignant progression through SPARCL1. Further, circ_0086414 stimulated SPARCL1 production by negatively regulating miR-1290. Thus, circ_0086414 inhibited EC cell malignancy through the miR-1290/SPARCL1 pathway, providing a reliable target for the therapy of EC.

A Novel Blood-Based microRNA Diagnostic Model with High Accuracy for Multi-Cancer Early Detection

Early detection is critical to reduce cancer deaths as treating early stage cancers is more likely to be successful. However, patients with early stage diseases are often asymptomatic and thus less likely to be diagnosed. Here, we utilized four microarray datasets with a standardized platform to investigate comprehensive microRNA expression profiles from 7536 serum samples. A 4-miRNA diagnostic model was developed from the lung cancer training set (n = 416, 208 lung cancer patients and 208 non-cancer participants). The model showed 99% sensitivity and specificity in the lung cancer validation set (n = 3328, 1358 cancer patients and 1970 non-cancer participants); and the sensitivity remained to be >99% for patients with stage 1 disease. When applied to the additional combined dataset of 3792 participants including 2038 cancer patients across 12 different cancer types and 1754 independent non-cancer controls, the model demonstrated high sensitivities ranging from 83.2 to 100% for biliary tract, bladder, colorectal, esophageal, gastric, glioma, liver, pancreatic, and prostate cancers, and showed reasonable sensitivities of 68.2 and 72.0% for ovarian cancer and sarcoma, respectively, while maintaining 99.3% specificity. Our study provided a proof-of-concept data in demonstrating that the 4-miRNA model has the potential to be developed into a simple, inexpensive and noninvasive blood test for early detection of multiple cancers with high accuracy.

An Insight into miR-1290: An Oncogenic miRNA with Diagnostic Potential

For more than two decades, the view of the roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has been radically changing. These RNA molecules that are transcribed from our genome do not have the capacity to encode proteins, but are critical regulators of gene expression at different levels. Our knowledge is constantly enriched by new reports revealing the role of these new molecular players in the development of many pathological conditions, including cancer. One of the ncRNA classes includes short RNA molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs), which are involved in the post-transcriptional control of gene expression affecting various cellular processes. The aberrant expression of miRNAs with oncogenic and tumor-suppressive function is associated with cancer initiation, promotion, malignant transformation, progression and metastasis. Oncogenic miRNAs, also known as oncomirs, mediate the downregulation of tumor-suppressor genes and their expression is upregulated in cancer. Nowadays, miRNAs show promising application in diagnosis, prediction, disease monitoring and therapy response. Our review presents a current view of the oncogenic role of miR-1290 with emphasis on its properties as a cancer biomarker in clinical medicine.

Expression of the microRNA-30 family in pulmonary arterial hypertension and the role of microRNA-30d-5p in the regulation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell toxicity and apoptosis

The biological processes of pulmonary artery vascular smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs) and pulmonary artery endothelial cells in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are generally abnormal, with increased levels of proliferation and reduced levels of apoptosis. Although microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) participate in a number of biological processes in a variety of diseases, such as tumors and infections, studies on the association between miRNAs and PAH are limited. In the present study, blood samples were collected from 6 patients with patent ductus arteriosus. The experimental group included 3 patients with severe PAH, while the control group included 3 patients without PAH. Microarray technology was used to detect the presence of any associated miRNAs. Moreover, a rat PAH model was established via left lung resection followed by monocrotaline injection, involving a total of 8 rats in the PAH group and 8 untreated rat in the control group. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was performed to verify the expression levels of the miR-30 family in the animal model. miR-30d-5p mimics and anti-miR-30d-5p were transfected into primary cultured PA-SMCs. Levels of cytotoxicity and cell apoptosis were examined, and Notch-3 expression levels were studied using western blotting. The results of the present study demonstrated that miR-30d-5p expression was downregulated in both patient blood and animal models of the PAH group compared with control groups. In primary cultured PA-SMCs, overexpression of miR-30d-5p attenuated the platelet-derived growth factor-induced toxicity of PA-SMCs, while knockdown of miR-30d-5p resulted in the increased toxicity of PA-SMCs compared with control group. The apoptosis rate of PA-SMCs increased with the overexpression of miR-30d-5p compared with control group. Moreover, the expression levels of Notch-3 in the miR-30d-5p group were significantly reduced compared with the anti-miR-30d-5p and miR-NC groups. In total, 10 circulating miRNAs that may be associated with PAH were discovered in the present study. Moreover, the expression of the miR-30 family was verified in animal models in vivo, and seven miRNAs in this family were discovered that may be associated with PAH. Additionally, miR-30d-5p was downregulated in both patients with PAH and animal models compared with control groups. Thus, the results of the present study demonstrated that the regulatory mechanism underlying PA-SMCs may be via the Notch-3 signaling pathway.

The potential role of miR-1290 in cancer progression, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment: An oncomiR or onco-suppressor microRNA?

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in humans because of the lack of early diagnosis, distant metastases, and the resistance to adjuvant therapies, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In addition to playing an essential role in tumor progression and development, microRNAs (miRNAs) can be used as a robust biomarker in the early detection of cancer. MiR-1290 was discovered for the first time in human embryonic stem cells, and under typical physiological situations, plays an essential role in neuronal differentiation and neural stem cell proliferation. Its coding sequence is located at the 1p36.13 regions in the first intron of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 4 gene member A1. miR-1290 is out of control in many cancers such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and plays a vital role in their development. Therefore, it is suggested that miR-1290 can be considered as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in many cancers. In addition to the importance of miR-1290 in the noninvasive diagnosis of various cancers, this systematic review study discussed the role of miR-1290 in altering the expression of different genes involved in cancer development and chemo-radiation resistance. Moreover, it considered the regulatory effect of natural products on miR-1290 expression and the interaction of lncRNAs by miR-1290.

The INPP4B paradox: Like PTEN, but different

Cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease marked by the dysregulation of cancer driver genes historically classified as oncogenes or tumour suppressors according to their ability to promote or inhibit tumour development and growth, respectively. Certain genes display both oncogenic and tumour suppressor functions depending on the biological context, and as such have been termed dual-role cancer driver genes. However, because of their context-dependent behaviour, the tumourigenic mechanism of many dual-role genes is elusive and remains a significant knowledge gap in our effort to understand and treat cancer. Inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase type II (INPP4B) is an emerging dual-role cancer driver gene, primarily known for its role as a negative regulator of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signalling pathway. In response to growth factor stimulation, class I PI3K generates PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃ at the plasma membrane. PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃ can be hydrolysed by inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases to generate PtdIns(3,4)P₂, which, together with PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃, facilitates the activation of AKT to promote cell proliferation, survival, migration, and metabolism. Phosphatase and tensin homology on chromosome 10 (PTEN) and INPP4B are dual-specificity phosphatases that hydrolyse PtdIns(3,4,5)P₃ and PtdIns(3,4)P₂, respectively, and thus negatively regulate PI3K/AKT signalling. PTEN is a bona fide tumour suppressor that is frequently lost in human tumours. INPP4B was initially characterised as a tumour suppressor akin to PTEN, and has been implicated as such in a number of cancers, including prostate, thyroid, and basal-like breast cancers. However, evidence has since emerged revealing INPP4B as a paradoxical oncogene in several malignancies, with increased INPP4B expression reported in AML, melanoma and colon cancers among others. Although the tumour suppressive function of INPP4B has been mostly ascribed to its ability to negatively regulate PI3K/AKT signalling, its oncogenic function remains less clear, with proposed mechanisms including promotion of PtdIns(3)P-dependent SGK3 signalling, inhibition of PTEN-dependent AKT activation, and enhancing DNA repair mechanisms to confer chemoresistance. Nevertheless, research is ongoing to identify the factors that dictate the tumourigenic output of INPP4B in different human cancers. In this review we discuss the dualistic role that INPP4B plays in the context of cancer development, progression and treatment, drawing comparisons to PTEN to explore how their similarities and, importantly, their differences may account for their diverging roles in tumourigenesis.

Sevoflurane blocks glioma malignant development by upregulating circRELN through circRELN-mediated miR-1290/RORA axis

Background

Sevoflurane (Sev) has been reported to inhibit cancer development, and sevoflurane treatment in cancers is implicated with the deregulation of specific non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sevoflurane and circular RNA reelin (circRELN) in glioma.

Methods

The expression of circRELN, microRNA-1290 (miR-1290) and RAR-related orphan receptor A (RORA) was measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Cell proliferative capacity was assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were monitored by flow cytometry assay. Cell migration was assessed by wound healing assay and transwell assay, and cell invasion was assessed by transwell assay. The protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), MMP9 and RORA were quantified by western blot. Tumor growth in vivo was assessed by Xenograft models. The binding relationship between miR-1290 and circRELN or RORA was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay.

Results

We found that circRELN expression was declined in glioma tissues and cells, while Sev treatment enhanced circRELN expression. In function, Sev notably inhibited glioma cell proliferation, migration and invasion and promoted apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, while circRELN knockdown reversed these effects. MiR-1290 served as a target of circRELN, and glioma cell malignant phenotypes recovered by circRELN knockdown were partly repressed by miR-1290 deficiency. In addition, RORA was a target of miR-1290, and glioma cell malignant phenotypes promoted by miR-1290 restoration were partly blocked by RORA overexpression. CircRELN regulated RORA expression by targeting miR-1290. In Xenograft models, Sev inhibited tumor growth by upregulating circRELN.

Conclusion

Sev blocked the progression of glioma by increasing circRELN expression, and circRELN played roles in glioma partly by regulating the miR-1290/RORA network.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12871-021-01427-1.

Circulating MiR-1290 as a potential diagnostic and disease monitoring biomarker of human gastrointestinal tumors

Background

Gastrointestinal tumors are a leading cause of mortality worldwide. As shown in our previous study, miR-1290 is overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) and promotes tumor progression. We therefore aimed to explore the potential of circulating miR-1290 as a biomarker for gastrointestinal cancer.

Methods

A serum miRNA sequencing analysis was performed. Then, circulating miRNA detection technologies were established. The expression of miR-1290 was analyzed in gastrointestinal tumor cell lines and culture supernatants. Expression levels of circulating miR-1290 in clinical samples were examined. Associations between miR-1290 expression and clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. Xenograft models were generated to assess the fluctuation in serum miR-1290 levels during disease progression.

Results

Through miRNA sequencing, we identified that miR-1290 was overexpressed in serum samples from patients with CRC. We confirmed that human gastrointestinal tumor cells express and secrete miR-1290. The circulating miR-1290 levels was up-regulated in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) (p < 0.01), CRC (p < 0.05), and gastric cancer (GC) (p < 0.01). High miR-1290 expression levels were associated with tumor size, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, distant metastasis, tumor differentiation and AJCC stage in patients with PC and CRC. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.8857 in patients with PC, with 60.9% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity. The AUC was 0.7852 in patients with CRC, with 42.0% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity. In patients with GC, the AUC was 0.6576, with 26.0% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity. The in vivo model verified that the circulating miR-1290 level was significantly increased after tumor formation and decreased after drug treatment.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that circulating miR-1290 is a potential biomarker for gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis and monitoring.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08729-0.

LINC00882 plays a tumor-promoter role in colorectal cancer by targeting miR-3619-5p to up-regulate CTNNB1

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor in gastrointestinal tract around the world. Emerging evidence has confirmed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely connected to cell progression in cancers, including CRC.

METHODS

RT-qPCR assays were applied to detect the expression of LINC00882, miR-3619-5p and CTNNB1. Western blot assays were performed to measure the protein level of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and CTNNB1. Transwell assay was conducted to test the cell migration. Immunofluorescence (IF) assay was performed to measure the connected protein of EMT process.

RESULTS

LINC00882 was highly expressed in CRC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of LINC00882 hindered the process of CRC. Studies on gain-of-function and loss-of-function further testified that knockdown of LINC00882 or up-regulation of miR-3619-5p hindered cell migration and EMT process in CRC cells. Moreover, rescue assay proved that the inhibition of migration ability and EMT process resulted from LINC00882 silencing could be rescued when miR-3619-5p inhibitor or pcDNA3.1/CTNNB1 was transfected into CRC cells.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggested that LINC00882 promoted the progression of CRC as a ceRNA to regulate CTNNB1 via sponging miR-3619-5p. This finding would supply a novel insight for CRC therapy.

MiR-1290 promotes myoblast differentiation and protects against myotube atrophy via Akt/p70/FoxO3 pathway regulation

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenia is a common skeletal disease related to myogenic disorders and muscle atrophy. Current clinical management has limited effectiveness. We sought to investigate the role of miR-1290 in myoblast differentiation and muscle atrophy.

METHODS

By transfecting miR-1290 into C2C12 cells, we investigated whether miR-1290 regulates myogenesis and myotube atrophy via AKT/P70 signaling pathway. MHC staining was performed to assess myoblast differentiation. Differentiation-related MHC, Myod, and Myog protein levels, and atrophy-related MuRF1 and atrogin-1 were explored by western blot. An LPS-induced muscle atrophy rat model was developed. RT-PCR was conducted to analyze miR-1290 serum levels in muscle atrophy patients and normal controls (NCs).

RESULTS

The miR-1290 transfection increased MHC-positive cells and MHC, Myod, and Myog protein levels in the miR-1290 transfection group, demonstrating that miR-1290 promoted C2C12 myoblast differentiation. Myotube diameter in the miR-1290 transfection group was higher than in the TNF-α-induced model group. Western blot analysis showed decreased MuRF1 and atrogin-1 levels in the miR-1290 transfection group compared with the model group, demonstrating that miR-1290 protected against myoblast cellular atrophy. Luciferase assay and western blot analysis showed that miR-1290 regulation was likely caused by AKT/p70/FOXO3 phosphorylation activation. In the LPS-induced muscle atrophy rat model, miR-1290 mimics ameliorated gastrocnemius muscle loss and increased muscle fiber cross-sectional area. Clinically, miR-1290 serum level was significantly decreased in muscle atrophy patients.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that miR-1290 enhances myoblast differentiation and inhibits myotube atrophy through Akt/p70/FoxO3 signaling in vitro and in vivo. In addition, miR-1290 may be a potential therapeutic target for sarcopenia treatment.

Exosomal MiR-1290 Promotes Angiogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Targeting SMEK1

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer, relies on the formation of new blood vessel for growth and frequent intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis. Therefore, it is important to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis of HCC. Recently, microRNAs have been shown to modulate angiogenic processes by modulating the expression of critical angiogenic factors. However, the potential roles of tumor-derived exosomal microRNAs in regulating tumor angiogenesis remain to be elucidated. In this study, our miRNome sequencing demonstrated that miR-1290 was overexpressed in HCC patient serum-derived exosomes, and we found that delivery of miR-1290 into human endothelial cells enhanced their angiogenic ability. Our results further revealed that SMEK1 is a direct target of miR-1290 in endothelial cells. MiR-1290 exerted its proangiogenic function, at least in part, by alleviating the inhibition of VEGFR2 phosphorylation done by SMEK1. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that miR-1290 is overexpressed in HCC and promotes tumor angiogenesis via exosomal secretion, implicating its potential role as a therapeutic target for HCC.

lncRNA RAET1K Promotes the Progression of Acute Myeloid Leukemia by Targeting miR-503-5p/INPP4B Axis

Background

Although long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) RAET1K has been observed to be abnormally expressed in patients with various cancers, its role and molecular mechanism in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain unclear.

Methods

The expression of RAET1K and miR-503-5p in bone marrow tissues and cell lines was detected by qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining assay. Cell invasion and migration were detected by transwell assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. The relationship between RAET1K and miR-503-5p, as well as miR-503-5p and INPP4B, was determined by luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. In addition, the tumorigenesis of leukemia cells was evaluated by using a xenograft mouse model in vivo.

Results

RAET1K was significantly upregulated and miR-503-5p was markedly downregulated in bone marrow tissues and cell lines (HL-60 and THP-1). Silencing of RAET1K (si-RAET1K) and overexpression of miR-503-5p inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion but promoted apoptosis of HL-60 and THP-1 cells. RAET1K functioned as a sponge of miR-503-5p, and miR-503-5p inhibitor obviously attenuated the effect of si-RAET1K on AML progression in vitro. INPP4B was identified as a target of miR-503-5p, and INPP4B overexpression obviously reversed the effect of miR-503-5p mimics on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of HL-60 and THP-1 cells in vitro. Knockdown of RAET1K effectively inhibited the tumorigenesis of leukemia cells in vivo.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that RAET1K/miR-503-5p/INPP4B axis contributed to AML progression, suggesting that RAET1K might be a potential target for the treatment of AML.

Dissecting miRNA signature in colorectal cancer progression and metastasis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. Despite recent advancements in surgical and molecular targeted therapies that improved the therapeutic efficacy in CRC, the 5 years survival rate of CRC patients still remains frustratingly poor. Accumulated evidences indicate that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in the progression and metastasis of CRC. Dysregulated miRNAs are closely associated with cancerous phenotypes (e.g. enhanced proliferative and invasive ability, evasion of apoptosis, cell cycle aberration, and promotion of angiogenesis) by regulating their target genes. In this review, we provide an updated overview of tumor suppressive and oncogenic miRNAs, circulatory miRNAs, and the possible causes of dysregulated miRNAs in CRC. In addition, we discuss the important functions of miRNAs in drug resistance of CRC.

Establishment of a Colorectal Cancer-Related MicroRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network by Microarray and Bioinformatics

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most malignant cancers with high morbidity and mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that affect biological processes by binding to mRNAs and regulating their expression, and epigenetic alterations including miRNA dysregulation are significantly involved in CRC development. Determining the effect of the miRNA-mRNA network on CRC could be helpful for developing novel therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers, and even improving survival. In this study, microarray assays were used to screen differentially expressed miRNAs (DE miRNAs) and mRNAs (DE mRNAs) in CRC and the adjacent normal tissues. Among the detected genes, 42 miRNAs and 142 mRNAs were significantly upregulated in CRC, while 23 miRNAs and 279 mRNAs were significantly downregulated. Through overlapping of predicted targets of DE miRNAs and anti-expressed DE mRNAs, networks of DE miRNAs and DE mRNAs in CRC were established. Additionally, the formation of a protein-protein interaction network of DE mRNAs possibly targeted by DE miRNAs, functional annotation and pathway analysis, stable subnetwork mining, and determination of hub genes provided the probable mechanism used by DE miRNAs and DE mRNAs to regulate CRC growth. Finally, validation of expression and prognostic potential of hub genes provided further support for the results above and indicated that CCL-28, GPR15, PNOC, NUSAP1, and their interacted miRNAs may be a potential signature for prognosis of CRC patients. In sum, we successfully established miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks based on microarray results targeting CRC, and these findings may elucidate the mechanisms used for CRC growth and identify miRNA-related signatures for prognosis and treatment of CRC.

Prognostic Role of MicroRNA 222 in Patients with Glioma: A Meta-analysis

Background

Several studies have focused on the prognostic role of microRNA 222 in glioma. But different conclusions were drawn by these studies. We aimed to systematically evaluate the role of microRNA 222 in glioma by conducting a meta-analysis.

Methods

A systematic literature search until January 2020 was conducted in Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The general characteristics and relevant data of nine articles were extracted. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied to evaluate the prognostic role of microRNA 222 in glioma. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

Results

Nine articles (11 data sets) with 1564 patients were included. We systematically evaluated the role of microRNA 222 for OS and DFS in glioma patients (HR for OS = 1.72; 95% CI, 1.31-2.26; p = 0.001; HR for DFS = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.86-1.22; p = 0.032). Subgroup analyses were performed according to the sources of patients, the types of the samples, the stages of the tumors, the methods for detecting the microRNA 222, and the sample size. No significant publication bias was found.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study provided evidence that a high expression of microRNA 222 was related to worse overall survival in glioma patients. However, given the limited study number, more high-quality studies are warranted in the future.

The Liquid Biopsy in the Management of Colorectal Cancer: An Overview

Currently, there is a crucial need for novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers with high specificity and sensitivity in patients with colorectal cancer. A "liquid biopsy" is characterized by the isolation of cancer-derived components, such as circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and proteins, from peripheral blood or other body fluids and their genomic or proteomic assessment. The liquid biopsy is a minimally invasive and repeatable technique that could play a significant role in screening and diagnosis, and predict relapse and metastasis, as well as monitoring minimal residual disease and chemotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer patients. However, there are still some practical issues that need to be addressed before liquid biopsy can be widely used in clinical practice. Potential challenges may include low amounts of circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA in samples, lack of pre-analytical and analytical consensus, clinical validation, and regulatory endorsement. The aim of this review was to summarize the current knowledge of the role of liquid biopsy in the management of colorectal cancer.

INPP4B exerts a dual function in the stemness of colorectal cancer stem-like cells through regulating Sox2 and Nanog expression

Inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase type II (INPP4B), a lipid phosphatase, was identified as a negative regulator of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling in several cancers. The expression and biological function of INPP4B in human colorectal cancer (CRC) are controversial, while the role and molecular mechanism of INPP4B in colorectal cancer stem-like cells (CR-CSLCs) remains unclear. Here, we observed that INPP4B expression was markedly decreased in primary non-metastatic CR-CSLCs and increased in highly metastatic CR-CSLCs compared with corresponding control non-CSLCs. INPP4B overexpression inhibited self-renewal, and chemoresistance of primary non-metastatic CR-CSLCs, but exerted the opposite roles in highly metastatic CR-CSLCs in vitro. Similarly, INPP4B knockdown had dual functions in the self-renewal and chemoresistance of different CR-CSLCs. In addition, we demonstrated that INPP4B overexpression suppressed the tumorigenicity of primary non-metastatic CR-CSLCs while induced the tumorigenicity of highly metastatic CR-CSLCs in nude mice. Furthermore, INPP4B was found to modulate the stemness of CR-CSLCs by regulating Sox2 and Nanog expression, which was dependent on PI3K/PTEN/Akt signaling. In conclusion, our results highlight an important role of INPP4B in the stemness of CR-CSLCs for the first time and emphasize INPP4B as a dual therapeutic target for suppressing primary cancer cell proliferation and for preventing metastasis in CRC patients.

MicroRNA-561 Affects Proliferation and Cell Cycle Transition Through PTEN/AKT Signaling Pathway by Targeting P-REX2a in NSCLC

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. miR-561 has been reported to be downregulated in gastric cancer and affects cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. However, the role and underlying molecular mechanism of miR-561 in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unknown and need to be further elucidated. In this study, we discovered that miR-561 expression was downregulated in human NSCLC tissues and cell lines. The overexpression of miR-561 inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation and cell cycle G₁/S transition and induced apoptosis. The inhibition of miR-561 facilitated cell proliferation and G₁/S transition and suppressed apoptosis. miR-561 expression was inversely correlated with P-REX2a expression in NSCLC tissues. P-REX2a was confirmed to be a direct target of miR-561 using a luciferase reporter assay. The overexpression of miR-561 decreased P-REX2a expression, and the suppression of miR-561 increased P-REX2a expression. Particularly, P-REX2a silencing recapitulated the cellular and molecular effects observed upon miR-561 overexpression, and P-REX2a overexpression counteracted the effects of miR-561 overexpression on NSCLC cells. Moreover, both exogenous expression of miR-561 and silencing of P-REX2a resulted in suppression of the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway. Our study demonstrates that miR-561 inhibits NSCLC cell proliferation and G₁/S transition and induces apoptosis through suppression of the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway by targeting P-REX2a. These findings indicate that miR-561 plays a significant role in NSCLC progression and serves as a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.

INPP4B promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation by activating mTORC1 signaling and cap-dependent translation

Background and objective

Inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase type II (INPP4B) is over-expressed in CRC tissues, and emerges as an oncogene. However, the mechanism by which INPP4B regulates CRC cell proliferation remains largely unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of INPP4B in CRC.

Materials and methods

The expression levels of mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR. The expression levels of protein were determined by Western blot. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays and BrdU incorporation assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation abilities. Bicistronic luciferase assays and the m7GTP pull down assay were performed to measure the cap-dependent translation in cells.

Results

INPP4B promotes CRC cell proliferation by increasing mTORC1 activity. Furthermore, it was shown that the activation of mTORC1 signaling by INPP4B led to increased cap-dependent translation, which is essential for INPP4B-mediated CRC cell proliferation. Finally, it was demonstrated that increased AKT and serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 activity contributed to the activation of cap-dependent translation induced by INPP4B.

Conclusion

Collectively, the present study reveals INPP4B promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation by activating mTORC1 signaling and cap-dependent translation.

Computational Analysis of miRNA and their Gene Targets Significantly Involved in Colorectal Cancer Progression

BACKGROUND

Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in women and the fourth most common cancer in men. Dysregulation of small non-coding miRNAs have been correlated with colon cancer progression. Since there are increasing reports of candidate miRNAs as potential biomarkers for CRC, this makes it important to explore common miRNA biomarkers for colon cancer. As computational prediction of miRNA targets is a critical initial step in identifying miRNA: mRNA target interactions for validation, we aim here to construct a potential miRNA network and its gene targets for colon cancer from previously reported candidate miRNAs, inclusive of 10 up- and 9 down-regulated miRNAs from tissues; and 10 circulatory miRNAs.

METHODS

The gene targets were predicted using DIANA-microT-CDS and TarBaseV7.0 databases. Each miRNA and its targets were analyzed further for colon cancer hotspot genes, whereupon DAVID analysis and mirPath were used for KEGG pathway analysis.

RESULTS

We have predicted 874 and 157 gene targets for tissue and serum specific miRNA candidates, respectively. The enrichment of miRNA revealed that particularly hsa-miR-424-5p, hsa-miR-96-5p, hsa-miR-1290, hsa-miR-224, hsa-miR-133a and has-miR-363-3p present possible targets for colon cancer hallmark genes, including BRAF, KRAS, EGFR, APC, amongst others. DAVID analysis of miRNA and associated gene targets revealed the KEGG pathways most related to cancer and colon cancer. Similar results were observed in mirPath analysis. A new insight gained in the colon cancer network pathway was the association of hsa-mir-133a and hsa-mir-96-5p with the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. In the present study, target prediction shows that while hsa-mir-424-5p has an association with mostly 10 colon cancer hallmark genes, only their associations with MAP2 and CCND1 have been experimentally validated.

CONCLUSION

These miRNAs and their targets require further evaluation for a better understanding of their associations, ultimately with the potential to develop novel therapeutic targets.

Circulating miR-1290 and miR-320d as Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers of Human Colorectal Cancer

Background: The lack of screening methods with high diagnostic utility leads to colorectal cancer (CRC) patients usually diagnosed in advanced stages which results in high mortality. This study aimed to identify novel circulating miRNAs as biomarkers for the early detection of CRC.

Materials and Methods: Total 205 participants were enrolled in this study. First, two dysregulated candidate miRNAs were selected after integrated analysis of four GEO datasets. Then, the expression of these two miRNAs in plasma samples were tested through qRT-PCR. Training phase and validation phase were designed to verify the diagnostic value of these two miRNAs using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis.

Results: After integrated analysis of GEO datasets, we discovered miR-1290 and miR-320d were dysregulated in colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma tissues, and circulating miR-1290 and miR-320d in CRC patients were tumor-derived. Thereafter, circulating miR-1290 and miR-320d were selected to further investigate their potential for early diagnosis of CRC. Plasma miR-1290 expression could differentiate adenoma and CRC patients from healthy controls with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78 and 0.88. Similarly, plasma miR-320d expression could discriminate adenoma and CRC patients from healthy controls with AUC of 0.74 and 0.81.

Conclusions: Circulating miR-1290 and miR-320d are novel promising biomarkers for early diagnosis of CRC.