Let-7a inhibits growth and migration of breast cancer cells by targeting HMGA1

Ultrasensitive Method Enables Liquid Biopsy for the Precise Detection of Circulating MicroRNAs

Due to invasive and serial examinations of bioactive molecules, liquid biopsy (LB) has emerged as a rapid and reliable solution for early disease detection and monitoring. Developing portable devices with high specificity and sensitivity for LB is highly valuable. To realize a generalized approach to increase the sensitivity of LB, we developed an ultrasensitive diagnostic biochip based on the amplification of miRNA by recombinase polymerase amplification and the significant enhancement of fluorescence signals by photonic crystal (PC) materials. The PCs-RPA biochip has a detection limit as low as 0.24 aM, a wide linear range of 8 orders of magnitude, and excellent specificity. Such advantages realize the accurate detection of circulating miRNAs with very low content in clinical serum samples for the precise diagnosis of nonsmall cell lung cancer.

All-trans-retinoic acid modulates glycolysis via H19 and telomerase: the role of mir-let-7a in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Treatment approaches that differ between estrogen-positive (ER+) and triple-negative BC cells (TNBCs) and may subsequently affect cancer biomarkers, such as H19 and telomerase, are an emanating delight in BC research. For instance, all-trans-Retinoic acid (ATRA) could represent a potent regulator of these oncogenes, regulating microRNAs, mostly let-7a microRNA (miR-let-7a), which targets the glycolysis pathway, mainly pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) enzymes. Here, we investigated the potential role of ATRA in H19, telomerase, miR-let-7a, and glycolytic enzymes modulation in ER + and TNBC cells.

METHODS

MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with 5 µM ATRA and/or 100 nM fulvestrant. Then, ATRA-treated or control MCF-7 cells were transfected with either H19 or hTERT siRNA. Afterward, ATRA-treated or untreated MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with estrogen receptor alpha ER(α) or beta ER(β) expression plasmids. RNA expression was evaluated by RT‒qPCR, and proteins were assessed by Western blot. PKM2 activity was measured using an NADH/LDH coupled enzymatic assay, and telomerase activity was evaluated with a quantitative telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. Student's t-test or one-way ANOVA was used to analyze data from replicates.

RESULTS

Our results showed that MCF-7 cells were more responsive to ATRA than MDA-MB-231 cells. In MCF-7 cells, ATRA and/or fulvestrant decreased ER(α), H19, telomerase, PKM2, and LDHA, whereas ER(β) and miR-let-7a increased. H19 or hTERT knockdown with or without ATRA treatment showed similar results to those obtained after ATRA treatment, and a potential interconnection between H19 and hTERT was found. However, in MDA-MB-231 cells, RNA expression of the aforementioned genes was modulated after ATRA and/or fulvestrant, with no significant effect on protein and activity levels. Overexpression of ER(α) or ER(β) in MDA-MB-231 cells induced telomerase activity, PKM2 and LDHA expression, in which ATRA treatment combined with plasmid transfection decreased glycolytic enzyme expression.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to elucidate a new potential interaction between the estrogen receptor and glycolytic enzymes in ER + BC cells through miR-let-7a.

Let-7a-3p overexpression increases chemosensitivity to carmustine and synergistically promotes autophagy and suppresses cell survival in U87MG glioblastoma cancer cells

In terms of primary brain tumors, glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and common brain tumors. The high resistance of glioblastoma to chemotherapy has made it vital to find alternative treatments and biological mechanisms to reduce the survival of cancer cells. Given that, the objective of the present research was to explore the potential of let-7a-3p when used in combination with carmustine in human glioblastoma cancer cells. Based on previous studies, the expression of let-7a is downregulated in the U87MG cell line. Let-7a-3p transfected into U87MG glioblastoma cells. Cell viability of the cells was assessed by MTT assay. The apoptotic induction in U87MG cancerous cells was determined through the utilization of DAPI and Annexin V/PI staining techniques. Moreover, the induction of autophagy and cell cycle arrest was evaluated by flow cytometry. Furthermore, cell migration was evaluated by the wound healing assay while colony formation assay was conducted to evaluate colony formation. Also, the expression of the relevant genes was evaluated using qRT-PCR. Transfection of let-7a-3p mimic in U87MG cells increased the expression of the miRNA and also increased the sensitivity of U87MG cells to carmustine. Let-7a-3p and carmustine induced sub-G1 and S phase cell cycle arrest, respectively. Combination treatment of let-7a-3p and carmustine synergistically increased arrested cells and induced apoptosis through regulating involved genes including P53, caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax. Combined treatment with let-7a-3p and carmustine also induced autophagy and increased the expression of the ATG5 and Beclin 1 (ATG6). Furthermore, let-7a-3p combined with carmustine inhibited cell migration via decreasing the expression of MMP-2. Moreover, the combination therapy decreased the ability of U87MG to form colonies through downregulating CD-44. In conclusion, our work suggests that combining let-7a-3p replacement therapy with carmustine treatment could be considered a promising strategy in treatment and can increase efficiency of glioblastoma chemotherapy.

The role of high mobility group AT-hook 1 in viral infections: Implications for cancer pathogenesis

The crucial role of high mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) proteins in nuclear processes such as gene transcription, DNA replication, and chromatin remodeling is undeniable. Elevated levels of HMGA1 have been associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes and adverse differentiation status across various cancer types. HMGA1 regulates a diverse array of biological pathways, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha/nuclear factor-kappa B (TNF-α/NF-κB), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Hippo, Rat sarcoma/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Ras/ERK), protein kinase B (Akt), wingless-related integration site/beta-catenin (Wnt/beta-catenin), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3-K/Akt). While researchers have extensively investigated tumors in the reproductive, digestive, urinary, and hematopoietic systems, mounting evidence suggests that HMGA1 plays a critical role as a tumorigenic factor in tumors across all functional systems. Given its broad interaction network, HMGA1 is an attractive target for viral manipulation. Some viruses, including herpes simplex virus type 1, human herpesvirus 8, human papillomavirus, JC virus, hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus type 1, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2, and influenza viruses, utilize HMGA1 influence for infection. This interaction, particularly in oncogenesis, is crucial. Apart from the direct oncogenic effect of some of the mentioned viruses, the hit-and-run theory postulates that viruses can instigate cancer even before being completely eradicated from the host cell, implying a potentially greater impact of viruses on cancer development than previously assumed. This review explores the interplay between HMGA1, viruses, and host cellular machinery, aiming to contribute to a deeper understanding of viral-induced oncogenesis, paving the way for innovative strategies in cancer research and treatment.

Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 3/insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins 3/high-mobility group A1 axis promotes renal cancer growth and metastasis

Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 3 (PTBP3) plays an important role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, including mRNA splicing, translation, and stability. Increasing evidence has shown that PTBP3 promotes cancer progression in several tumor types. However, the molecular mechanisms of PTBP3 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain unknown. Here, tissue microarrays (TMAs) suggested that PTBP3 expression was increased in human RCC and that high PTBP3 expression was correlated with poor five-year overall survival and disease-free survival. We also showed that PTBP3 binds with HMGA1 mRNA in the 3'UTR region and let-7 miRNAs. PTBP3 interacted with IGF2BP3, and the PTBP3/IGF2BP3 axis prevented let-7 mediated HMGA1 mRNA silencing. PTBP3 promotes renal cancer cell growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our findings indicate PTBP3 serves as a regulator of HMGA1 and suggest its potential as a therapeutic agent for RCC.

Clinical importance of serum miRNA levels in breast cancer patients

There is limited data on the relationship of miRNAs with parameters that may affect surgical management or reflect tumour prognosis. It was aimed to evaluate serum miRNA levels in breast carcinoma cases and reveal the relationship between these levels and prognosis-related factors such as the histological type of the tumour, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Ki-67 index, HER-2neu, E-cadherin, tumour size, CK5/6, CA15.3 levels, number of tumour foci, number of metastatic lymph nodes, and status of receiving neoadjuvant therapy. Thirty-five patients with a histopathologically confirmed breast carcinoma diagnosis in the case group and 35 healthy individuals in the control group were examined. miR-206, miR-17-5p, miR-125a, miR-125b, miR-200a, Let-7a, miR-34a, miR-31, miR-21, miR-155, miR-10b, miR-373, miR-520c, miR-210, miR-145, miR-139-5p, miR-195, miR-99a, miR-497 and miR-205 expression levels in the serum of participants were determined using the Polymerase Chain Reaction method. While serum miR-125b and Let-7a expression levels were significantly higher in breast cancer patients, miR-17-5p, miR-125a, miR-200a, miR-34a, miR-21, miR-99a and miR-497 levels were significantly lower in them. The Let-7a expression level had a statistically significant relationship with breast cancer histological type and HER-2neu parameters, miR-17-5p, miR-125b, Let-7a, miR-34a, miR-21 and miR-99a levels with E-cadherin, miR-34a, miR-99a and miR-497 with CA15.3, miR-125b, miR-200a and miR-34a with the number of metastatic lymph nodes, miR-125a with the number of tumour foci and miR-200a with the status of having the neoadjuvant therapy. Serum miR-17-5p, miR-125a, miR-125b, miR-200a, Let-7a, miR-34a, miR-21, miR-99a and miR-497 expression levels were determined to have predictive and prognostic importance in breast cancer.

Let-7a-5p abrogates progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma cells by decreasing nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group a member 1-mediated lipogenesis

Increasing evidence shows that microRNAs (miRNAs) contribute vital roles in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) carcinogenesis, proliferation, invasion, and so on. As the most common endocrine malignancy, there still have largely unknown molecular events. First, our analysis and open access database information indicates that the downregulation of let-7a-5p accelerates PTC progression. Next, lentivirus mediates the overexpression of let-7a-5p PTC cells, and found let-7a-5p suppressed cancer cells proliferation and invasion. Interestingly, bioinformatics analysis hints NR6A1 is the potential target gene of let-7a-5p. The regulation was validated by luciferase and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in PTC tissue and the clinic tumors. Moreover, let-7a-5p regulated NR6A1 involved in PTC cells lipogensis in vitro and in vivo. Finally, let-7a-5p abrogates PCT xenograft tumors growth, NR6A1 expression and lipogenesis. Taken together, our data indicates that let-7a-5p suppresses PCT progression through decreased lipogenesis, the related let-7a-5p/NR6A1axis might be promising candidate targets for PTC treatment.

Plasma microRNA ratios associated with breast cancer detection in a nested case-control study from a mammography screening cohort

Mammographic breast cancer screening is effective in reducing breast cancer mortality. Nevertheless, several limitations are known. Therefore, developing an alternative or complementary non-invasive tool capable of increasing the accuracy of the screening process is highly desirable. The objective of this study was to identify circulating microRNA (miRs) ratios associated with BC in women attending mammography screening. A nested case-control study was conducted within the ANDROMEDA cohort (women of age 46-67 attending BC screening). Pre-diagnostic plasma samples, information on life-styles and common BC risk factors were collected. Small-RNA sequencing was carried out on plasma samples from 65 cases and 66 controls. miR ratios associated with BC were selected by two-sample Wilcoxon test and lasso logistic regression. Subsequent assessment by RT-qPCR of the miRs contained in the selected miR ratios was carried out as a platform validation. To identify the most promising biomarkers, penalised logistic regression was further applied to candidate miR ratios alone, or in combination with non-molecular factors. Small-RNA sequencing yielded 20 candidate miR ratios associated with BC, which were further assessed by RT-qPCR. In the resulting model, penalised logistic regression selected seven miR ratios (miR-199a-3p_let-7a-5p, miR-26b-5p_miR-142-5p, let-7b-5p_miR-19b-3p, miR-101-3p_miR-19b-3p, miR-93-5p_miR-19b-3p, let-7a-5p_miR-22-3p and miR-21-5p_miR-23a-3p), together with body mass index (BMI), menopausal status (MS), the interaction term BMI * MS, life-style score and breast density. The ROC AUC of the model was 0.79 with a sensitivity and specificity of 71.9% and 76.6%, respectively. We identified biomarkers potentially useful for BC screening measured through a widespread and low-cost technique. This is the first study reporting circulating miRs for BC detection in a screening setting. Validation in a wider sample is warranted.Trial registration: The Andromeda prospective cohort study protocol was retrospectively registered on 27-11-2015 (NCT02618538).

The Role of miR-375-3p, miR-210-3p and Let-7e-5p in the Pathological Response of Breast Cancer Patients to Neoadjuvant Therapy

Background and Objectives: Prediction of response to therapy remains a continuing challenge in treating breast cancer, especially for identifying molecular tissue markers that best characterize resistant tumours. Microribonucleic acids (miRNA), known as master modulators of tumour phenotype, could be helpful candidates for predicting drug resistance. We aimed to assess the association of miR-375-3p, miR-210-3p and let-7e-5p in breast cancer tissues with pathological response to neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and clinicopathological data. Material and methods: Sixty female patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at The Oncology Institute “Ion Chiricuță”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (IOCN) were included in this study. Before patients received any treatment, fresh breast tissue biopsies were collected through core biopsy under echographic guidance and processed for total RNA extraction and miRNA quantification. The Cancer Genome Atlas Breast Invasive Carcinoma (TCGA-BRCA) database was used as an independent external validation cohort. Results: miR-375-3p expression was associated with more differentiated tumours, hormone receptor presence and lymphatic invasion. According to the Miller–Payne system, a higher miR-375-3p expression was calculated for patients that presented with intermediate versus (vs.) no pathological response. Higher miR-210-3p expression was associated with an improved response to NAT in both Miller–Payne and RCB evaluation systems. Several druggable mRNA targets were correlated with miR-375-3p and miR-210-3p expression, with upstream analysis using the IPA knowledge base revealing a list of possible chemical and biological targeting drugs. Regarding let-7e-5p, no significant association was noticed with any of the analysed clinicopathological data. Conclusions: Our results suggest that tumours with higher levels of miR-375-3p are more sensitive to neoadjuvant therapy compared to resistant tumours and that higher miR-210-3p expression in responsive tumours could indicate an excellent pathological response.

Role of epigallocatechin-3- gallate in the regulation of known and novel microRNAs in breast carcinoma cells

Breast cancer comprises 30% of all cancer cases among the world’s women population. MicroRNAs are small, endogenous, non-coding RNAs that regulate cell proliferating and apoptotic pathways by modulating expressions of related genes. Phytochemicals like epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) are known to have a chemotherapeutic effect on cancer often through the regulation of microRNAs. The aim is to find out the key known and novel miRNAs, which are controlled by EGCG in breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealed 1,258 known and 330 novel miRNAs from untreated and 83 μM EGCG (IC50 value of EGCG) treated cells. EGCG modulated 873 known and 47 novel miRNAs in the control vs. treated sample. The hypothesis of EGCG being a great modulator of miRNAs that significantly control important cancer-causing pathways has been established by analyzing with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Protein Analysis Through Evolutionary Relationships (PANTHER) database. Validation of known and novel miRNA expression differences in untreated vs. treated cells was done using qPCR. From this study, a few notable miRNAs were distinguished that can be used as diagnostics as well as prognostic markers for breast cancer.

High Mobility Group A1 (HMGA1): Structure, Biological Function, and Therapeutic Potential

High mobility group A1 (HMGA1) is a nonhistone chromatin structural protein characterized by no transcriptional activity. It mainly plays a regulatory role by modifying the structure of DNA. A large number of studies have confirmed that HMGA1 regulates genes related to tumours in the reproductive system, digestive system, urinary system and haematopoietic system. HMGA1 is rare in adult cells and increases in highly proliferative cells such as embryos. After being stimulated by external factors, it will produce effects through the Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, Hippo and MEK/ERK pathways. In addition, HMGA1 also affects the ageing, apoptosis, autophagy and chemotherapy resistance of cancer cells, which are linked to tumorigenesis. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of HMGA1 in cancer progression and discuss the potential clinical application of targeted HMGA1 therapy, indicating that targeted HMGA1 is of great significance in the diagnosis and treatment of malignancy.

Smartly responsive DNA-miRNA hybrids packaged in exosomes for synergistic enhancement of cancer cell apoptosis

Endogenous and exogenous tumor-related microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered promising tumor biomarkers and tumor therapeutic agents. In this work, we propose a miRNA self-responsive drug delivery system (miR-SR DDS), which enables the association between endogenous and exogenous miRNAs, so as to achieve a smart responsive and synergistic drug delivery. The miR-SR DDS consists of DNA-miRNA hybrids of let-7a and the complementary DNA of miR-155, which was packaged in exosomes. In response to the overexpressed miR-155 in breast cancer cells, the hybrids disintegrate and release let-7a and the complementary DNA of miR-155 to inhibit the expression of HMGA1 and relieve the inhibition of SOX1, respectively. Under the dual-targeted gene regulation, results show that the growth, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells can be synergistically inhibited through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The concept and successful practice of the miR-SR DDS can be used as a reference for the development of miRNA drugs.

Photocaged amplified FRET nanoflares: spatiotemporal controllable of mRNA-powered nanomachines for precise and sensitive microRNA imaging in live cells

There is considerable interest in creating a precise and sensitive strategy for in situ visualizing and profiling intracellular miRNA. Present here is a novel photocaged amplified FRET nanoflare (PAFN), which spatiotemporal controls of mRNA-powered nanomachine for precise and sensitive miRNA imaging in live cells. The PAFN could be activated remotely by light, be triggered by specific low-abundance miRNA and fueled by high-abundance mRNA. It offers high spatiotemporal control over the initial activity of nanomachine at desirable time and site, and a ‘one-to-more’ ratiometric signal amplification model. The PAFN, an unprecedented design, is quiescent during the delivery process. However, upon reaching the interest tumor site, it can be selectively activated by light, and then be triggered by specific miRNA, avoiding undesirable early activation and reducing nonspecific signals, allowing precise and sensitive detection of specific miRNA in live cells. This strategy may open new avenues for creating spatiotemporally controllable and endogenous molecule-powered nanomachine, facilitating application at biological and medical imaging.

Engineering entropy-driven based multiple signal amplification strategy for visualized assay of miRNA by naked eye

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are currently recognized as novel biomarkers for cancer early diagnosis, therapy selection, and progression monitoring. Herein, we developed an ultrasensitive and label-free homogeneous colorimetric strategy for miRNA detection based on engineering entropy-driven amplification (EDA) coupled with nicking enzyme-assisted AuNP aggregation. In our design, the target miRNA could specifically trigger the EDA recycling process. One of the EDA products could open the hairpin probe and form a dual strand containing a nicking endonuclease (Nb.BbvCl) cleavage region. After adding nicking endonuclease in the sensing solution, the product DNA fragments could act as two linkers, inducing the aggregation of ssDNA-modified AuNPs. Simultaneously, the liberating complementary strands continued to cyclic hybridization with the hairpin probe. This multiple signal amplification colorimetric strategy showed a wide linear range from 10 fM to 100 pM with a much lower detection limit of 3.13 fM for miRNA let-7a, which also performed well in a complex sample matrix. Most importantly, the naked eye could clearly distinguish the 10 fM color change caused by let-7a to be measured. Moreover, this approach could easily extend to multiple miRNAs with target-specific sequence substitutions. Therefore, this ultrasensitive visual strategy for miRNA demonstrated attractive potentials for promising applications in clinical diagnosis.

Resistin Induces LIN28A-Mediated Let-7a Repression in Breast Cancer Cells Leading to IL-6 and STAT3 Upregulation

Simple Summary

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women in the United States and exhibits significant racial disparities in clinical outcomes. Earlier, we reported that the levels of resistin and IL-6 were significantly more elevated in the serum of African American women with breast cancer than in their Caucasian American counterparts. Here, we uncover its mechanistic significance by characterizing a novel resistin/LIN28A/Let-7a/IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis supporting the growth and stemness of breast cancer cells.

Abstract

Downregulation of the Let-7 family of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been reported in several cancers, including breast malignancy; however, underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Resistin is an important component of the tumor microenvironment, having a functional impact on the tumor cell phenotypes. Here, we examined the role of resistin in the regulation of Let-7 miRNAs and studied its downstream consequences. We found that resistin treatment led to the reduced expression of Let-7 family miRNAs in breast cancer (BC) cells, with the highest downregulation reported for Let-7a. Furthermore, resistin induced the expression of LIN28A, and its silencing abrogated resistin-mediated Let-7a suppression. Let-7a restoration or LIN28A silencing abolished the resistin-induced growth, clonogenicity, and sphere-forming ability of BC cells. Restoration of Let-7a also suppressed the resistin-induced expression of genes associated with growth, survival, and stemness. Pathway analysis suggested STAT3 as a putative central node associated with Let-7a-mediated gene regulation. In silico analysis identified STAT3 and its upstream modifier, IL-6, as putative Let-7a gene targets, which were later confirmed by 3′UTR-reporter assays. Together, our findings demonstrate a novel resistin/LIN28A/Let-7a/IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis supporting the growth and stemness of BC cells.

circBANP promotes colorectal cancer growth and metastasis via sponging let-7d-5p to modulate HMGA1/Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and deadly cancers, and the incidence of CRC is on the rise. Due to the lack of early diagnosis method and high metastasis of the disease, the prognosis of CRC remains very poor. Exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms of CRC is very necessary for effective therapy. In this study, we investigated the function of circBANP in CRC. The results showed that circBANP was elevated in both CRC tissues and cells and its level positively correlated with the stage of CRC. Knockdown of circBANP greatly suppressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, knockdown of circBANP inhibited CRC tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Further, circBANP directly bound to let-7d-5p and regulated CRC development via acting as a let-7d-5p sponge. Let-7d-5p directly targeted HMGA1 and thus circBANP/let-7d-5p regulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling via HMGA1. Collectively, circBANP promotes CRC development and metastasis via acting as a let-7d-5p sponge to regulate HMGA1/Wnt/β-catenin signaling, providing a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for the management of CRC.

Small extracellular vesicle-encapsulated miR-181b-5p, miR-222-3p and let-7a-5p: Next generation plasma biopsy-based diagnostic biomarkers for inflammatory breast cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare, but aggressive entity of breast carcinoma with rapid dermal lymphatic invasion in young females. It is either poorly or misdiagnosed as mastitis because of the absence of a distinct lump. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) circulating in liquid biopsies are a novel class of minimally invasive diagnostic alternative to invasive tissue biopsies. They modulate cancer progression via shuttling their encapsulated cargo including microRNAs (miRNAs) into recipient cells to either trigger signaling or induce malignant transformation of targeted cells. Plasma sEVs < 200 nm were isolated using a modified cost-effective polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based precipitation method and compared to standard methods, namely ultracentrifugation and a commercial kit, where the successful isolation was verified by different approaches. We evaluated the expression levels of selected sEV-derived miR-181b-5p, miR-222-3p and let-7a-5p using quantitative real PCR (qPCR). Relative to non-IBC, our qPCR data showed that sEV-derived miR-181b-5p and miR-222-3p were significantly upregulated, whereas let-7a-5p was downregulated in IBC patients. Interestingly, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis revealed that diagnostic accuracy of let-7a-5p alone was the highest for IBC with an area under curve (AUC) value of 0.9188, and when combined with miR-222-3p the AUC was improved to 0.973. Further, 38 hub genes were identified using bioinformatics analysis. Together, circulating sEV-derived miR-181b-5p, miR-222-3p and let-7a-5p serve as promising non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for IBC.

Vitamin D and Non-coding RNAs: New Insights into the Regulation of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer, a life-threatening serious disease with a high incident rate among women, is responsible for thousands of cancer-associated death worldwide. Numerous investigations have evaluated the possible mechanisms related to this malignancy. Among them, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), i.e., microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs have recently attracted attention of researchers. In addition to recent studies for evaluating the role of ncRNAs in breast cancer etiology, some investigations have revealed that vitamin D has regulatory and therapeutic roles in breast cancer. Moreover, an important link between vitamin D and ncRNAs in cancer therapy has been highlighted. Herein, the aim of this study was to discuss the available data on the mentioned link in breast cancer.

Combinatorial Effect of DCA and Let-7a on Triple-Negative MDA-MB-231 Cells: A Metabolic Approach of Treatment

Dichloroacetate (DCA) is a metabolic modulator that inhibits pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and promotes the influx of pyruvate into the tricarboxylic acid cycle for complete oxidation of glucose. DCA stimulates oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) more than glycolysis by altering the morphology of the mitochondria and supports mitochondrial apoptosis. As a consequence, DCA induces apoptosis in cancer cells and inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells. Recently, the role of miRNAs has been reported in regulating gene expression at the transcriptional level and also in reprogramming energy metabolism. In this article, we indicate that DCA treatment leads to the upregulation of let-7a expression, but DCA-induced cancer cell death is independent of let-7a. We observed that the combined effect of DCA and let-7a induces apoptosis, reduces reactive oxygen species generation and autophagy, and stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis. This was later accompanied by stimulation of OXPHOS in combined treatment and was thus involved in metabolic reprogramming of MDA-MB-231 cells.

Seq-SymRF: a random forest model predicts potential miRNA-disease associations based on information of sequences and clinical symptoms

Increasing evidence indicates that miRNAs play a vital role in biological processes and are closely related to various human diseases. Research on miRNA-disease associations is helpful not only for disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment, but also for new drug identification and lead compound discovery. A novel sequence- and symptom-based random forest algorithm model (Seq-SymRF) was developed to identify potential associations between miRNA and disease. Features derived from sequence information and clinical symptoms were utilized to characterize miRNA and disease, respectively. Moreover, the clustering method by calculating the Euclidean distance was adopted to construct reliable negative samples. Based on the fivefold cross-validation, Seq-SymRF achieved the accuracy of 98.00%, specificity of 99.43%, sensitivity of 96.58%, precision of 99.40% and Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.9604, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve and precision recall curve were 0.9967 and 0.9975, respectively. Additionally, case studies were implemented with leukemia, breast neoplasms and hsa-mir-21. Most of the top-25 predicted disease-related miRNAs (19/25 for leukemia; 20/25 for breast neoplasms) and 15 of top-25 predicted miRNA-related diseases were verified by literature and dbDEMC database. It is anticipated that Seq-SymRF could be regarded as a powerful high-throughput virtual screening tool for drug research and development. All source codes can be downloaded from https://github.com/LeeKamlong/Seq-SymRF.

The crucial choice of reference genes: identification of miR-191-5p for normalization of miRNAs expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell and HS27a/HS5 cell lines

Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) have a critical role in tissue regeneration and in the hematopoietic niche due to their differentiation and self-renewal capacities. These mechanisms are finely tuned partly by small non-coding microRNA implicated in post-transcriptional regulation. The easiest way to quantify them is RT-qPCR followed by normalization on validated reference genes (RGs). This study identified appropriate RG for normalization of miRNA expression in BM-MSCs and HS27a and HS5 cell lines in various conditions including normoxia, hypoxia, co-culture, as model for the hematopoietic niche and after induced differentiation as model for regenerative medicine. Six candidates, namely miR-16-5p, miR-34b-3p, miR-103a-3p, miR-191-5p, let-7a-5p and RNU6A were selected and their expression verified by RT-qPCR. Next, a ranking on stability of the RG candidates were performed with two algorithms geNorm and RefFinder and the optimal number of RGs needed to normalize was determined. Our results indicate miR-191-5p as the most stable miRNA in all conditions but also that RNU6a, usually used as RG is the less stable gene. This study demonstrates the interest of rigorously evaluating candidate miRNAs as reference genes and the importance of the normalization process to study the expression of miRNAs in BM-MSCs or derived cell lines.

Mutually distinguishing microRNA signatures of breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers in vitro

Early diagnosis and therapy in the first stages of a malignant disease is the most crucial factor for successful cancer treatment and recovery. Currently, there is a high demand for novel diagnostic tools that indicate neoplasms in the first or pre‑malignant stages. MicroRNAs (miRNA or miR) are small non‑coding RNAs that may act as oncogenes and downregulate tumor‑suppressor genes. The detection and mutual discrimination of the three common female malignant neoplasia types breast (BC), ovarian (OC) and endometrial cancer (EC) could be enabled by identification of tumor entity‑specific miRNA expression differences. In the present study, the relative expression levels of 25 BC, EC and OC‑related miRNAs were assessed by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and determined using the 2‑ΔΔCq method for normalization against the mean of four housekeeping genes. Expression levels of all miRNAs were analyzed by regression against cell line as a factor. An expression level‑based discrimination between BC and OC cell types was obtained for a subgroup of ten different miRNA types. miR‑30 family genes, as well as three other miRNAs, were found to be uniformly upregulated in OC cells compared with BC cells. BC and EC cells could be distinguished by the expression profiles of six specific miRNAs. In addition, four miRNAs were differentially expressed between EC and OC cells. In conclusion, miRNAs were identified as a potential novel tool to detect and mutually discriminate between BC, OC and EC. Based on a subset of 25 clinically relevant human miRNA types, the present study could significantly discriminate between these three female cancer types by means of their expression levels. For further verification and validation of miRNA‑based biomarker expression signatures that enable valuable tumor detection and characterization in routine screening or potential therapy monitoring, additional and extended in vitro analyses, followed by translational studies utilizing patients' tissue and liquid biopsy materials, are required.

Targeting the intrinsically disordered architectural High Mobility Group A (HMGA) oncoproteins in breast cancer: learning from the past to design future strategies

INTRODUCTION

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most difficult breast cancer subtype to treat because of its heterogeneity and lack of specific therapeutic targets. High Mobility Group A (HMGA) proteins are chromatin architectural factors that have multiple oncogenic functions in breast cancer, and they represent promising molecular therapeutic targets for this disease.

AREAS COVERED

We offer an overview of the strategies that have been exploited to counteract HMGA oncoprotein activities at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. We also present the possibility of targeting cancer-associated factors that lie downstream of HMGA proteins and discuss the contribution of HMGA proteins to chemoresistance.

EXPERT OPINION

Different strategies have been exploited to counteract HMGA protein activities; these involve interfering with their nucleic acid binding properties and the blocking of HMGA expression. Some approaches have provided promising results. However, some unique characteristics of the HMGA proteins have not been exploited; these include their extensive protein-protein interaction network and their intrinsically disordered status that present the possibility that HMGA proteins could be involved in the formation of proteinaceous membrane-less organelles (PMLO) by liquid-liquid phase separation. These unexplored characteristics could open new pharmacological avenues to counteract the oncogenic contributions of HMGA proteins.

The CXCR4-Dependent LASP1-Ago2 Interaction in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

The CXCR4-LASP1 axis is an emerging target in the field of breast cancer metastasis. C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) mediates directed cell migration when activated by its cognate ligand CXCL12. LIM and SH3 Protein 1 (LASP1) is a critical node in the CXCR4 signaling pathway, as its deficiency blocks CXCR4-dependent Matrigel invasion. The mechanism by which LASP1 facilitates this invasive ability of tumor cells when CXCR4 is activated is unknown. Our previous proteomics work had revealed several components of the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery as being potential LASP1 interacting proteins. Here we report that argonaute 2 (Ago2), a protein with central involvement in RNAi, associates with LASP1 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. We demonstrate that LASP1 co-immunoprecipitates with Ago2 endogenously in a CXCL12-dependent manner, with further confirmation of this interaction by proximity ligation assay. Furthermore, this association is specific to CXCR4 as it can be abrogated by the CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3465. By GST-pulldown approach, we identify that LASP1 directly binds to Ago2 through its LIM and SH3 domains, and that this binding is dictated by the S146 and Y171 phosphorylation sites of LASP1. Additionally, the phosphorylation status of LASP1 affected tumor suppressor microRNA (miRNA) Let-7a-guided Ago2 activity. Levels of several endogenous targets of Let-7a were found to be altered including C-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CCR7), which is another critical chemokine receptor involved in metastasis to lymph nodes. Our results suggest a novel role for the LASP1-Ago2 module in shaping the RNAi landscape, functionally impacting the invasive ability of cancer cells.

MicroRNAs in breast cancer: New maestros defining the melody

MicroRNAs, short non-coding single-stranded RNAs, are important regulators and gatekeepers of the coding genes in the human genome. MicroRNAs are highly conserved among species and expressed in different tissues and cell types. They are involved in almost all the biological processes as apoptosis, proliferation, cell cycle arrest and differentiation. Playing all these roles, it is not surprising that the deregulation of the microRNA profile causes a number of diseases including cancer. Breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in women, accounts for the highest cancer-related deaths worldwide. Different microRNAs were shown to be up or down regulated in breast cancer. MicroRNAs can function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors according to their targets. In this review, the most common microRNAs implicated in breast cancer are fully illustrated with their targets. Besides, the review highlights the effect of exosomal microRNA on breast cancer and the effect of microRNAs on drug and therapies resistance as well as the miRNA-based therapeutic strategies used until today.

Machine Learning-Based Ensemble Recursive Feature Selection of Circulating miRNAs for Cancer Tumor Classification

Circulating microRNAs (miRNA) are small noncoding RNA molecules that can be detected in bodily fluids without the need for major invasive procedures on patients. miRNAs have shown great promise as biomarkers for tumors to both assess their presence and to predict their type and subtype. Recently, thanks to the availability of miRNAs datasets, machine learning techniques have been successfully applied to tumor classification. The results, however, are difficult to assess and interpret by medical experts because the algorithms exploit information from thousands of miRNAs. In this work, we propose a novel technique that aims at reducing the necessary information to the smallest possible set of circulating miRNAs. The dimensionality reduction achieved reflects a very important first step in a potential, clinically actionable, circulating miRNA-based precision medicine pipeline. While it is currently under discussion whether this first step can be taken, we demonstrate here that it is possible to perform classification tasks by exploiting a recursive feature elimination procedure that integrates a heterogeneous ensemble of high-quality, state-of-the-art classifiers on circulating miRNAs. Heterogeneous ensembles can compensate inherent biases of classifiers by using different classification algorithms. Selecting features then further eliminates biases emerging from using data from different studies or batches, yielding more robust and reliable outcomes. The proposed approach is first tested on a tumor classification problem in order to separate 10 different types of cancer, with samples collected over 10 different clinical trials, and later is assessed on a cancer subtype classification task, with the aim to distinguish triple negative breast cancer from other subtypes of breast cancer. Overall, the presented methodology proves to be effective and compares favorably to other state-of-the-art feature selection methods.

HMGA1-Regulating microRNAs Let-7a and miR-26a are Downregulated in Human Seminomas

Background: Recent studies have underlined HMGA protein’s key role in the onset of testicular germ cell tumors, where HMGA1 is differently expressed with respect to the state of differentiation, suggesting its fine regulation as master regulator in testicular tumorigenesis. Several studies have highlighted that the HMGA1 transcript is strictly regulated by a set of inhibitory microRNAs. Thus, the aim of this study is to test whether HMGA1 overexpression in human seminomas may be induced by the deregulation of miR-26a and Let-7a—two HMGA1-targeting microRNAs. Methods: HMGA1 mRNA and Let-7a and miR-26a levels were measured in a seminoma dataset available in the Cancer Genome Atlas database and confirmed in a subset of seminomas by qRT-PCR and western blot. A TCam-2 seminoma cell line was then transfected with Let-7a and miR-26a and tested for proliferation and motility abilities. Results: an inverse correlation was found between the expression of miR-26a and Let-7a and HMGA1 expression levels in seminomas samples, suggesting a critical role of these microRNAs in HMGA1 levels regulation. Accordingly, functional studies showed that miR-26a and Let-7a inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion capabilities of the human seminoma derived cell line TCam-2. Conclusions: these data strongly support that the upregulation of HMGA1 levels occurring in seminoma is—at least in part—due to the downregulation of HMGA1-targeting microRNAs.

microRNA cluster MC-let-7a-1~let-7d promotes autophagy and apoptosis of glioma cells by down-regulating STAT3

Background

Accumulating evidence has highlighted the correlation between microRNAs (miRNAs) and the progression of glioma. However, the role of miR cluster MC‐let‐7a‐1 ~ let‐7d in glioma remains elusive. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of miR cluster MC‐let‐7a‐1 ~ let‐7d on glioma progression.

Methods and Results

Microarray data analysis provided data indicating the involvement of miR cluster MC‐let‐7a‐1 ~ let‐7d in glioma via STAT3. The expression of let‐7a‐1, let‐7d, let‐7f‐1, and miR cluster MC‐let‐7a‐1 ~ let‐7d was diminished in the glioma tissues and the cell lines. Additionally, our results revealed that STAT3 was a target gene of let‐7d, let‐7a‐1, and let‐7f‐1, which was further verified by the dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay. Moreover, STAT3 expression was negatively mediated by let‐7a‐1, let‐7d, and let‐7f‐1. Up‐regulated miR cluster MC‐let‐7a‐1 ~ let‐7d or silenced STAT3 suppressed cell proliferation but accelerated cell apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, restrained tumor growth was identified in the nude mice treated with miR cluster MC‐let‐7a‐1 ~ let‐7d mimics or STAT3 siRNA.

Conclusion

Taken together, the miR cluster MC‐let‐7a‐1 ~ let‐7d promotes glioma cell autophagy and apoptosis by repressing STAT3. The current study highlights the potential of the miR cluster MC‐let‐7a‐1 ~ let‐7d as biomarkers and promising treatment strategies for glioma.

Circulating non‑coding RNA‑biomarker potential in neoadjuvant chemotherapy of triple negative breast cancer?

Due to the positive association between neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and the promising early response rates of patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), including probabilities of pathological complete response, NACT is increasingly used in TNBC management. Liquid biopsy-based biomarkers with the power to diagnose the early response to NACT may support established monitoring tools, which are to a certain extent imprecise and costly. Simple serum- or urine-based analyses of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) expression may allow for fast, minimally-invasive testing and timely adjustment of the therapy regimen. The present study investigated breast cancer-related ncRNAs [microRNA (miR)-7, -9, -15a, -17, -18a, -19b, -21, -30b, -222 and -320c, PIWI-interacting RNA-36743 and GlyCCC2] in triple positive BT-474 cells and three TNBC cell lines (BT-20, HS-578T and MDA-MB-231) treated with various chemotherapeutic agents using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Intracellular and secreted microvesicular ncRNA expression levels were analysed using a multivariable statistical regression analysis. Chemotherapy-driven effects were investigated by analysing cell cycle determinants at the mRNA and protein levels. Serum and urine specimens from 8 patients with TNBC were compared with 10 healthy females using two-sample t-tests. Samples from the patients with TNBC were compared at two time points. Chemotherapeutic treatments induced distinct changes in ncRNA expression in TNBC cell lines and the BT-474 cell line in intra- and extracellular compartments. Serum and urine-based ncRNA expression analysis was able to discriminate between patients with TNBC and controls. Time point comparisons in the urine samples of patients with TNBC revealed a general rise in the level of ncRNA. Serum data suggested a potential association between piR-36743, miR-17, -19b and -30b expression levels and an NACT-driven complete clinical response. The present study highlighted the potential of ncRNAs as liquid biopsy-based biomarkers in TNBC chemotherapy treatment. The ncRNAs tested in the present study have been previously investigated for their involvement in BC or TNBC chemotherapy responses; however, these previous studies were restricted to patient tissue or in vitro models. The data from the present study offer novel insight into ncRNA expression in liquid samples from patients with TNBC, and the study serves as an initial step in the evaluation of ncRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers in the monitoring of TNBC therapy.

HMGA1 Modulates Gene Transcription Sustaining a Tumor Signalling Pathway Acting on the Epigenetic Status of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Chromatin accessibility plays a critical factor in regulating gene expression in cancer cells. Several factors, including the High Mobility Group A (HMGA) family members, are known to participate directly in chromatin relaxation and transcriptional activation. The HMGA1 oncogene encodes an architectural chromatin transcription factor that alters DNA structure and interacts with transcription factors favouring their landing onto transcription regulatory sequences. Here, we provide evidence of an additional mechanism exploited by HMGA1 to modulate transcription. We demonstrate that, in a triple-negative breast cancer cellular model, HMGA1 sustains the action of epigenetic modifiers and in particular it positively influences both histone H3S10 phosphorylation by ribosomal protein S6 kinase alpha-3 (RSK2) and histone H2BK5 acetylation by CREB-binding protein (CBP). HMGA1, RSK2, and CBP control the expression of a set of genes involved in tumor progression and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. These results suggest that HMGA1 has an effect on the epigenetic status of cancer cells and that it could be exploited as a responsiveness predictor for epigenetic therapies in triple-negative breast cancers.

MicroRNA‑let‑7a inhibition inhibits LPS‑induced inflammatory injury of chondrocytes by targeting IL6R

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of degenerative joint disease that affects the health of the elderly. OA is characterized by articular cartilage degradation and joint inflammation. The present study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of microRNA-let-7a (Let-7a) in OA by examining its role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cartilage inflammatory injury in ATDC5 cells. ATDC5 cells were treated with various concentrations of LPS. The present results suggested that 5 and 10 µg/ml LPS significantly inhibited ATDC5 cell viability, and 5 µg/ml LPS was selected for further experiments. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) results suggested that treatment with LPS significantly induced the expression levels of multiple inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-8, and increased the expression level of Let-7a in ATDC5 cells. IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) was identified to be a direct target of Let-7a using TargetScan and a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Subsequently, Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry analyses identified that Let-7a inhibitor could significantly promote cell viability and reduce cell apoptosis in ATDC5 cells treated with LPS, and these effects could be reversed by transfection with small interfering (si)RNA-IL-6R. ELISA was used to examine the expression of inflammatory factors in ATDC5 cells following treatment with LPS. Additionally, RT-qPCR and western blotting were performed to detect the mRNA and protein expression level of IL-6R and STAT3. The present results suggested that Let-7a inhibitor significantly reduced the expression level of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 in ATDC5 cells, and this effect was reversed by transfecting siRNA-IL-6R. Moreover, RT-qPCR and western blot assay results suggested that Let-7a inhibitor significantly increased the expression level of IL-6R and phosphorylated STAT3, and these effects could be reversed by siRNA-IL-6R. Collectively, Let-7a inhibitor increased cell proliferation, reduced apoptosis and inhibited inflammatory response in ATDC5 cells treated with LPS. The present study provided a new potential therapeutic target for OA treatment.

AP-1 Signaling by Fra-1 Directly Regulates HMGA1 Oncogene Transcription in Triple-Negative Breast Cancers

The architectural chromatin protein HMGA1 and the transcription factor Fra-1 are both overexpressed in aggressive triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC), where they both favor epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and metastasis. We therefore explored the possibility that Fra-1 might be involved in enhanced transcription of the HMGA1 gene in TNBCs by exploiting cancer transcriptome datasets and resorting to functional studies combining RNA interference, mRNA and transcriptional run-on assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and chromosome conformation capture approaches in TNBC model cell lines. Our bioinformatic analysis indicated that Fra-1 and HMGA1 expressions positively correlate in primary samples of patients with TNBC. Our functional studies showed that Fra-1 regulates HMGA1 mRNA expression at the transcriptional level via binding to enhancer elements located in the last two introns of the gene. Although Fra-1 binding is required for p300/CBP recruitment at the enhancer domain, this recruitment did not appear essential for Fra-1-stimulated HMGA1 gene expression. Strikingly, Fra-1 binding is required for efficient recruitment of RNA Polymerase II at the HMGA1 promoter. This is permitted owing to chromatin interactions bringing about the intragenic Fra-1-binding enhancers and the gene promoter region. Fra-1 is, however, not instrumental for chromatin loop formation at the HMGA1 locus but rather exerts its transcriptional activity by exploiting chromatin interactions preexisting to its binding. IMPLICATIONS: We demonstrate that Fra-1 bound to an intragenic enhancer region is required for RNA Pol II recruitement at the HMGA1 promoter. Thereby, we provide novel insights into the mechanisms whereby Fra-1 exerts its prooncogenic transcriptional actions in the TNBC pathologic context.

let-7i inhibits proliferation and migration of bladder cancer cells by targeting HMGA1

Background

Let-7 is one of the earliest discovered microRNAs(miRNAs) and has been reported to be down-regulated in multiple malignant tumors. The effects and molecular mechanisms of let-7i in bladder cancer are still unclear. This study was to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of let-7i on bladder cancer cells.

Methods

Total RNA was extracted from bladder cancer cell lines. The expression levels of let-7i and HMGA1 were examined by quantitative real-time PCR. Cell viability was detected using the CCK-8 and colony formation assays, while transwell and wound healing assays were used to evaluate migration ability. Luciferase reporter assay and western blot were used to confirm the target gene of let-7i.

Results

Compared with the SV-40 immortalized human uroepithelial cell line (SV-HUC-1), bladder cancer cell lines T24 and 5637 had low levels of let-7i expression, but high levels of high mobility group protein A1 (HMGA1) expression. Transfection of cell lines T24 and 5637 with let-7i mimic suppressed cell proliferation and migration. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed HMGA1 may be one of the target genes of let-7i-5p. Protein and mRNA expression of HMGA1 was significantly downregulated in let-7i mimic transfected cell lines T24 and 5637.

Conclusions

Up-regulation of let-7i suppressed proliferation and migration of the human bladder cancer cell lines T24 and 5637 by targeting HMGA1. These findings suggest that let-7i might be considered as a novel therapeutic target for bladder cancer.

Molecular characterization of carcinosarcomas arising in the uterus and ovaries

Gynaecological carcinosarcomas are rare biphasic tumours which are highly aggressive. We performed molecular investigations on a series of such tumours arising in the uterus (n = 16) and ovaries (n = 10) to gain more information on their mutational landscapes and the expression status of the genes HMGA1/2, FHIT, LIN28A, and MTA1, the pseudogenes HMGA1P6 and HMGA1P7, and the miRNAs known to influence expression of the above-mentioned genes. In uterine carcinosarcomas (UCS), we identified mutations in KRAS, PIK3CA, and TP53 with a frequency of 6%, 31%, and 75%, respectively, whereas in ovarian carcinosarcomas (OCS), TP53 was the only mutated gene found (30%). An inverse correlation was observed between overexpression of HMGA1/2, LIN28A, and MTA1 and downregulation of miRNAs such as let-7a, let-7d, miR26a, miR16, miR214, and miR30c in both UCS and OCS. HMGA2 was expressed in its full length in 14 UCS and 9 OCS; in the remaining tumours, it was expressed in its truncated form. Because FHIT was normally expressed while miR30c was downregulated, not both downregulated as is the case in several other carcinomas, alterations of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition through an as yet unknown mechanism seems to be a feature of carcinosarcomas.

A genetic variant rs13293512 in the promoter of let-7 is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in Chinese women

Growing evidence has demonstrated that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter of miRNA may influence individuals’ susceptibility to human diseases. We examined two SNPs rs10877887 and rs13293512 in the promoters of let-7 family to determine if the two SNPs were related to the occurrence of breast cancer (BC). Genotyping of the two SNPs was performed by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis or TaqMan assay in 301 BC patients and 310 age matched controls. We found a higher frequency of rs13293512 CC genotype and rs13293512 C allele amongst BC patients (CC vs TT: adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.14–2.80; P=0.012; C vs T: adjusted OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.06–1.67; P=0.013). Stratification analysis showed that rs13293512 CC genotype was associated with an increased risk of BC in patients with negative estrogen receptor (adjusted OR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.32–4.30; P=0.004), patients with negative progesterone receptor (adjusted OR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.11–3.33; P=0.02), patients with T1-2 stage cancer (adjusted OR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.07–2.93; P=0.03), and patients with N1-3 stage cancer (adjusted OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.13–3.17; P=0.015). These findings suggest that rs13293512 in the promoter of let-7a-1/let-7f-1/let-7d cluster may be a possible biomarker for the development of BC in Chinese women.

Therapeutic microRNAs in human cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are RNA molecules at about 22 nucleotide in length that are non-coding, which regulate gene expression in the post-transcriptional level by performing degradation or blocks translation of the target mRNA. It is known that they play roles in mechanisms such as metabolic regulation, embryogenesis, organogenesis, differentiation and growth control by providing post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. With these properties, miRNAs play important roles in the regulation of biological processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, drug resistance mechanisms in eukaryotic cells. In addition, there are miRNAs that can be used for cancer therapy. Tumor cells and tumor microenvironment have different miRNA expression profiles. Some miRNAs are known to play a role in the onset and progression of the tumor. miRNAs with oncogenic or tumor suppressive activity specific to different cancer types are still being investigated. This review summarizes the role of miRNAs in tumorigenesis, therapeutic strategies in human cancer and current studies.

Characterizing the interaction between insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IMP1) and KRAS expression

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein-1 (IMP1) has high affinity for KRAS mRNA, and it can regulate KRAS expression in cells. We first characterized the molecular interaction between IMP1 and KRAS mRNA. Using IMP1 variants with a point mutation in the GXXG motif at each KH domain, we showed that all KH domains play a critical role in the binding of KRAS RNA. We mapped the IMP1-binding sites on KRAS mRNA and show that IMP1 has the highest affinity for nts 1-185. Although it has lower affinity, IMP1 does bind to other coding regions and the 3'-UTR of KRAS mRNA. Eight antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) were designed against KRAS RNA in the nts 1-185 region, but only two, SM6 and SM7, show potent inhibition of the IMP1-KRAS RNA interaction in vitro To test the activity of these two AONs in SW480 human colon cancer cells, we used 2'-O-methyl-modified versions of SM6 and SM7 in an attempt to down-regulate KRAS expression. To our surprise, both SM6 and SM7 had no effect on KRAS mRNA and protein expression, but significantly inhibited IMP1 protein expression without altering IMP1 mRNA level. On the other hand, knockdown of IMP1 using siRNA lowered the expression of KRAS. Using Renilla luciferase as a reporter, we found that IMP1 translation is significantly reduced in SM7-treated cells with no change in let-7a levels. The present study shows that the regulation of KRAS expression by IMP1 is complex and may involve both the IMP1 protein and its mRNA transcript.

An Ultrasensitive Diagnostic Biochip Based on Biomimetic Periodic Nanostructure-Assisted Rolling Circle Amplification

Developing portable and sensitive devices for point of care detection of low abundance bioactive molecules is highly valuable in early diagnosis of disease. Herein, an ultrasensitive photonic crystals-assisted rolling circle amplification (PCs-RCA) biochip was constructed and further applied to circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) detection in serum. The biochip integrated the optical signal enhancement capability of biomimetic PCs surface with the thousand-fold signal amplification feature of RCA. The biomimetic PCs displayed periodic dielectric nanostructure and significantly enhanced the signal intensity of RCA reaction, leading to efficient improvement of detection sensitivity. A limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.7 aM was obtained on the PCs-RCA biochip, and the LOD was 7 orders of magnitude lower than that of standard RCA. Moreover, the PCs-RCA biochip could discriminate a single base variation in miRNAs. Accurate quantification of ultralow-abundance circulating miRNAs in clinical serum samples was further achieved with the PCs-RCA biochip, and patients with the nonsmall cell lung carcinoma were successfully distinguished from healthy donors. The PCs-RCA biochip can detect bioactive molecules with ultrahigh sensitivity and good specificity, making it valuable in clinical disease diagnosis and health assessment.

Cancerin: A computational pipeline to infer cancer-associated ceRNA interaction networks

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) inhibit expression of target genes by binding to their RNA transcripts. It has been recently shown that RNA transcripts targeted by the same miRNA could “compete” for the miRNA molecules and thereby indirectly regulate each other. Experimental evidence has suggested that the aberration of such miRNA-mediated interaction between RNAs—called competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) interaction—can play important roles in tumorigenesis. Given the difficulty of deciphering context-specific miRNA binding, and the existence of various gene regulatory factors such as DNA methylation and copy number alteration, inferring context-specific ceRNA interactions accurately is a computationally challenging task. Here we propose a computational method called Cancerin to identify cancer-associated ceRNA interactions. Cancerin incorporates DNA methylation, copy number alteration, gene and miRNA expression datasets to construct cancer-specific ceRNA networks. We applied Cancerin to three cancer datasets from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project. Our results indicated that ceRNAs were enriched with cancer-related genes, and ceRNA modules in the inferred ceRNA networks were involved in cancer-associated biological processes. Using LINCS-L1000 shRNA-mediated gene knockdown experiment in breast cancer cell line to assess accuracy, Cancerin was able to predict expression outcome of ceRNA genes with high accuracy.

CeRNA interaction is a post-transcriptional gene regulation that involves interactions between RNAs competing for common miRNA regulators. Dysregulation of ceRNA interactions have been implicated in multiple diseases including cancer. Here we propose a computational pipeline called Cancerin that infers genome-wide ceRNA interactions in cancer. Unlike existing ceRNA inference tools that consider miRNAs as the only factor that regulate gene expression, Cancerin considers other types of gene regulators besides miRNAs, namely transcription factors, copy number alteration, and DNA methylation. To identify miRNA regulators for each gene, Cancerin incorporates a LASSO-based variable selection procedure that leverages both sequence-based and gene expression information. Then multiple expression-based filtering conditions are employed to select ceRNA interactions. Cancerin was applied to three cancer datasets from TCGA. Functional analysis indicated that the inferred ceRNAs were enriched with cancer-related genes, and ceRNAs within ceRNA modules (densely-connected ceRNAs) were involved in cancer-associated biological processes. Survival analysis showed that compared to non-ceRNAs, ceRNAs hold better prognostic power to predict survival outcomes. Our results showed that Cancerin can be used to identify genome-wide and functionally important ceRNA interactions, which makes it a valuable tool to better understand this recently discovered gene regulation mechanism and its role in cancer biology.

Morphoregulatory functions of the RNA-binding motif protein 3 in cell spreading, polarity and migration

RNA-binding proteins are emerging as key regulators of transitions in cell morphology. The RNA-binding motif protein 3 (RBM3) is a cold-inducible RNA-binding protein with broadly relevant roles in cellular protection, and putative functions in cancer and development. Several findings suggest that RBM3 has morphoregulatory functions germane to its roles in these contexts. For example, RBM3 helps maintain the morphological integrity of cell protrusions during cell stress and disease. Moreover, it is highly expressed in migrating neurons of the developing brain and in cancer invadopodia, suggesting roles in migration. We here show that RBM3 regulates cell polarity, spreading and migration. RBM3 was present in spreading initiation centers, filopodia and blebs that formed during cell spreading in cell lines and primary myoblasts. Reducing RBM3 triggered exaggerated spreading, increased RhoA expression, and a loss of polarity that was rescued by Rho kinase inhibition and overexpression of CRMP2. High RBM3 expression enhanced the motility of cells migrating by a mesenchymal mode involving extension of long protrusions, whereas RBM3 knockdown slowed migration, greatly reducing the ability of cells to extend protrusions and impairing multiple processes that require directional migration. These data establish novel functions of RBM3 of potential significance to tissue repair, metastasis and development.

Let-7 microRNA controls invasion-promoting lysosomal changes via the oncogenic transcription factor myeloid zinc finger-1

Cancer cells utilize lysosomes for invasion and metastasis. Myeloid Zinc Finger1 (MZF1) is an ErbB2-responsive transcription factor that promotes invasion of breast cancer cells via upregulation of lysosomal cathepsins B and L. Here we identify let-7 microRNA, a well-known tumor suppressor in breast cancer, as a direct negative regulator of MZF1. Analysis of primary breast cancer tissues reveals a gradual upregulation of MZF1 from normal breast epithelium to invasive ductal carcinoma and a negative correlation between several let-7 family members and MZF1 mRNA, suggesting that the inverse regulatory relationship between let-7 and MZF1 may play a role in the development of invasive breast cancer. Furthermore, we show that MZF1 regulates lysosome trafficking in ErbB2-positive breast cancer cells. In line with this, MZF1 depletion or let-7 expression inhibits invasion-promoting anterograde trafficking of lysosomes and invasion of ErbB2-expressing MCF7 spheres. The results presented here link MZF1 and let-7 to lysosomal processes in ErbB2-positive breast cancer cells that in non-cancerous cells have primarily been connected to the transcription factor EB. Identifying MZF1 and let-7 as regulators of lysosome distribution in invasive breast cancer cells, uncouples cancer-associated, invasion-promoting lysosomal alterations from normal lysosomal functions and thus opens up new possibilities for the therapeutic targeting of cancer lysosomes.

HMGA1 Overexpression is Associated With the Malignant Status and Progression of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women, and the incidence and mortality of breast cancer has rapidly increased in recent years. Studies have indicated that high mobility group A1 (HMGA1), an important member of the HMGA family, plays a role in the pathogenesis and progression of malignant tumors, including breast cancer. This study aims to evaluate the effect of HMGA1 in breast cancer. Interestingly, we found that HMGA1 expression was significantly higher in breast cancer tissues than in adenoma tissues and closely correlated with the clinical stage and histological grade in breast cancer patients. Further study showed that HMGA1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells. Thus, the results demonstrated that HMGA1 could act as an independent prognostic indicator in breast cancer. HMGA1 expression was closely correlated with the clinical stage, histological grade, and tumor size in breast cancer patients and breast cancer progression in transgenic MMTV-PyMT mice. Anat Rec, 301:1061-1067, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

MiR-507 inhibits the migration and invasion of human breastcancer cells through Flt-1 suppression

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1/fms-related tyrosine kinase-1 (VEGFR-1/Flt-1) is a tyrosine kinase receptor that binds placental growth factor (PlGF). Flt-1 is also highly expressed in breast-cancer tissues and breast-cancer cell lines. However, the molecular mechanism by which Flt-1 promotes breast-cancer invasion and metastasis by binding to PlGF-1 is unclear. In this study, we discovered that PlGF-1 and Flt-1 played a key role in the migration and invasion of breast cancer. Flt-1 promoted the migration and chemotaxis of breast-cancer cells by binding to PlGF-1. In addition, Flt-1 was confirmed to be a direct target gene of miR-507. miR-507 up-regulation inhibited the invasion and metastasis of breast-cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Flt-1 overexpression rescued the invasion partially caused by the ectopic expression of miR-507. miR-507 expression in breast-cancer tissues and cell lines was lower than that in adjacent non-neoplastic tissues and normal cells. Clinical analysis indicated that miR-507 was negatively correlated with tumor differentiation, lymphatic metastasis, and the expression of Flt-1 in breast cancer. Furthermore, we showed that miR-507 down-regulation was due to the hypermethylation of its promotor region. Our results indicated that miR-507 represented potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer by modulating Flt-1.

Androgen receptor/let-7a signaling regulates breast tumor-initiating cells

Androgen receptor (AR) is an important transcriptional factor, which is frequently expressed in invasive breast cancer and correlates patients’ prognosis. Our previous results indicate AR activation may increase let-7a expression in breast cancer cells, while let-7, a tumor suppressor, is reported to inhibit breast tumor-initiating cells (T-IC). The study aims to explore the effects of AR/let-7a signaling on breast T-IC and its regulatory mechanism. The results revealed that the expression of AR was significantly associated with let-7a and CD44⁺/24^-/low especially in estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer tissues. The expression of AR and let-7a indicated better outcome, while patients with CD44⁺/24^-/low phenotype had worse prognosis. AR activation induced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) prevented cells proliferation, migration, invasion and self-renewal capacities in ER+ breast cancer cells, via transcriptional up-regulation of let-7a. In addition, AR could inhibit tumorigenesis and metastasis of ER+ breast cancer cells in the serial xenotranplanted animal models. Our data suggested that AR/let-7a signaling could inhibit the biological behavior of tumor-initiating cells (T-IC) in ER+AR+ breast cancers, which might become a new therapeutic target.

Arsenic trioxide inhibits cell growth and motility via up-regulation of let-7a in breast cancer cells

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been reported to exert its anti-cancer activities in human cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of ATO-triggered anti-tumor activity has not been fully elucidated. Recently, multiple studies demonstrated that ATO could regulate miRNAs in human cancers. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether ATO regulated let-7a in breast cancer cells. We found that ATO upregulated let-7a level in breast cancer cells. We also found that up-regulation of let-7a inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis and retarded cell migration and invasion. We also observed that up-regulation of let-7a enhanced cell growth inhibition and invasion suppression induced by ATO treatment. Our findings suggest that ATO suppressed cell growth, stimulated apoptosis, and retarded cell invasion partly via upregulation of let-7a in breast cancer cells. Our study provides a new anti-tumor mechanism of ATO treatment in breast cancer.