MicroRNA‑28 promotes the proliferation of non‑small‑cell lung cancer cells by targeting PTEN

High-Throughput Microfluidic Extraction of Platelet-free Plasma for MicroRNA and Extracellular Vesicle Analysis

Cell-free RNAs and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are valuable biomarkers in liquid biopsies, but they are prone to preanalytical variabilities such as nonstandardized centrifugation or ex vivo blood degradation. Herein, we report a high-throughput and label-free inertial microfluidic device (ExoArc) for isolation of platelet-free plasma from blood for RNA and EV analysis. Unlike conventional inertial microfluidic devices widely used for cell sorting, a submicrometer size cutoff (500 nm) was achieved which completely removed all leukocytes, RBCs, platelets, and cellular debris based on differential lateral migration induced by Dean vortices. The single-step operation also reduced platelet-associated miRNAs (∼2-fold) compared to centrifugation. We clinically validated ExoArc for plasma miRNA profiling (39 samples) and identified a 7-miRNA panel that detects non-small cell lung cancer with ∼90% sensitivity. ExoArc was also coupled with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to isolate EVs within 50 min with ∼10-fold higher yield than ultracentrifugation. As a proof-of-concept for EV-based transcriptomics analysis, we performed miRNA analysis in healthy and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects (n = 3 per group) by coupling ExoArc and ExoArc+SEC with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay. Among 293 miRNAs detected, plasmas and EVs showed distinct differentially expressed miRNAs in T2DM subjects. We further demonstrated automated in-line EV sorting from low volume culture media for continuous EV monitoring. Overall, the developed ExoArc offers a convenient centrifugation-free workflow to automate plasma and EV isolation for point-of-care diagnostics and quality control in EV manufacturing.

A Cytoplasm-Enriched circRNA circ-MYBL2 is Downregulated in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Sponges Oncogenic miR-28 to Regulate Cancer Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis

Background

Recent studies have reported different roles of circRNA circ-MYBL2 in different cancers. However, the involvement of circ-MYBL2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. This study was carried out to explore the role of circ-MYBL2 in NSCLC.

Methods

The expression of circ-MYBL2 and miR-28 was detected by RT-qPCR. A 5-year follow-up study was performed for survival analysis. Nuclear fractionation assay was used for subcellular localization analysis. RNA pull-down assay was performed to detect the interaction between circ-MYBL2 and miR-28. The role of circ-MYBL2 and miR-28 in regulating the expression of each other was evaluated by overexpression assay. BrdU incorporation assay and cell apoptosis assay were performed to investigate the role of circ-MYBL2 and miR-28 in cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Results

NSCLC tissues exhibited significantly higher expression levels of miR-28 and lower expression levels of circ-MYBL2. Close correlations between circ-MYBL2 and miR-28 and patients’ survival were observed. Circ-MYBL2, which was found to be mainly enriched in cytoplasm, directly interacted with miR-28. Although circ-MYBL2 and miR-28 showed no regulatory role in the expression of each other, circ-MYBL2 suppressed the effects of miR-28 on cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Conclusion

Circ-MYBL2 is enriched in cytoplasm, and it sponges oncogenic miR-28 to suppress cancer cell proliferation in NSCLC and promote cell apoptosis.

Small in Size, but Large in Action: microRNAs as Potential Modulators of PTEN in Breast and Lung Cancers

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are well-known regulators of biological mechanisms with a small size of 19–24 nucleotides and a single-stranded structure. miRNA dysregulation occurs in cancer progression. miRNAs can function as tumor-suppressing or tumor-promoting factors in cancer via regulating molecular pathways. Breast and lung cancers are two malignant thoracic tumors in which the abnormal expression of miRNAs plays a significant role in their development. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a tumor-suppressor factor that is capable of suppressing the growth, viability, and metastasis of cancer cells via downregulating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling. PTEN downregulation occurs in lung and breast cancers to promote PI3K/Akt expression, leading to uncontrolled proliferation, metastasis, and their resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. miRNAs as upstream mediators of PTEN can dually induce/inhibit PTEN signaling in affecting the malignant behavior of lung and breast cancer cells. Furthermore, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs can regulate the miRNA/PTEN axis in lung and breast cancer cells. It seems that anti-tumor compounds such as baicalein, propofol, and curcumin can induce PTEN upregulation by affecting miRNAs in suppressing breast and lung cancer progression. These topics are discussed in the current review with a focus on molecular pathways.