Expression of miR-711 and mechanism of proliferation and apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma

Roles of miR-4442 in Colorectal Cancer: Predicting Early Recurrence and Regulating Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Early recurrence in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with a poor prognosis. We aimed to identify circulating microRNAs that are biomarkers of early CRC recurrence and elucidate their functions. We identified miR-4442 as a candidate biomarker by microRNA array analysis comparing preoperative and postoperative plasma levels in patients with CRC, with and without recurrence. The association between preoperative plasma miR-4442 levels, clinicopathological features, and recurrence-free survival was analyzed in 108 patients with CRC after curative surgery. Furthermore, cell-function analyses were performed, and the involvement of miR-4442 in regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was examined. Preoperatively plasma miR-4442 levels were associated with CRC recurrence and exhibited an incremental increase with earlier recurrence dates. Moreover, miR-4442 demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity as a potential biomarker for early CRC recurrence. The expression of miR-4442 in cancer tissues of patients with metastatic liver cancer from CRC was higher than in normal liver, CRC, and normal colorectal tissues. The overexpression of miR-4442 promoted the proliferative, migratory, and invasive activities of CRC cells, decreased levels of RBMS1 and E-cadherin, and increased levels of N-cadherin and Snail1. Plasma miR-4442 is a clinically useful biomarker for predicting the early recurrence of CRC. Furthermore, miR-4442 regulates EMT in CRC by directly targeting the messenger RNA of RBMS1.

A Tumor and Immune-Related Micro-RNA Signature Predicts Relapse-Free Survival of Melanoma Patients Treated with Ipilimumab

Despite the unprecedented advances in the treatment of melanoma with immunotherapy, there continues to be a major need for biomarkers of clinical benefits and immune resistance associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors; microRNA could play a vital role in these efforts. This study planned to identify differentially expressed miRNA molecules that may have prognostic value for clinical benefits. Patients with surgically operable regionally advanced melanoma were treated with neoadjuvant ipilimumab (10 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks × two doses) bracketing surgery. Tumor biospecimens were obtained at baseline and surgery, and microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling was performed on the tumor biopsies. We found that an expression profile consisting of a 4-miRNA signature was significantly associated with improved relapse-free survival (RFS). The signature consisted of biologically relevant molecules previously reported to have prognostic value in melanoma and other malignancies, including miR-34c, miR-711, miR-641, and miR-22. Functional annotation analysis of target genes for the 4-miRNA signature was significantly enriched for various cancer-related pathways, including cell proliferation regulation, apoptosis, the MAPK signaling pathway, and the positive regulation of T cell activation. Our results presented miRNAs as potential biomarkers that can guide the treatment of melanoma with immune checkpoint inhibitors. These findings warrant further investigation in relation to CTLA4 blockade and other immune checkpoint inhibitors. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00972933.

MiR-711 regulates gastric cancer progression by targeting CD44

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play an important role in tumor progression by regulating the expression of target genes.

OBJECTIVE

This study attempted to verify the role of miR-711 in gastric cancer (GC) progression by in vitro and in vivo assays.

METHODS

The expression of miR-711 in tumor tissues and cells was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Expression of MiR-711 in NCI-N87 and SNU-1 cells was detected by FISH. We transfected GC cells with miR-711 mimics or inhibitors. The effects of miR-711 on the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells were detected by CCK-8, wound healing and transwell assays. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the targeting relationship between miR-711 and CD44. Xenograft assays was used to verify the regulatory effect of miR-711 on tumor growth.

RESULTS

In GC tissues and cell lines, the expression of miR-711 was down-regulated when compare with adjacent tissues or normal epithelial cells. The results indicated that overexpressing of miR-711 could suppress the GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through targeting CD44. The knockdown of CD44 showed similar effects as miR-711 overexpression in GC cells. Moreover, we confirmed these effects in the in vivo assays. Furthermore, we found that miR-711 could play a role by influencing tumor cell stemness.

CONCLUSION

MiR-711 plays vital roles as a tumor-suppressor by targeting CD44 and may be a therapeutic target for GC treatment.

The profile analysis of circular RNAs in human placenta of preeclampsia

IMPACT STATEMENT

The abnormal expression of many regulatory factors may be involved in the development of PE. circRNAs are proved to have a series of important biological functions; however, reports about circRNA and PE are rare. In this work, we evaluated the profile analysis of circRNAs in human placenta of PE by RNA-seq and found some newly differentially expressed circRNAs which might be involved in PE. Combined with bioinformatics analysis, their possible functions were preliminarily discussed.