MicroRNA-153 suppresses cell invasion by targeting SNAI1 and predicts patient prognosis in glioma

MicroRNA‑153 may act as a potential biomarker and prognostic indicator of patients with gastric cancer

MicroRNA (miR/miRNA)-153, as a novel tumor-related miRNA, has been found to be aberrantly expressed in different types of cancer; however, to the best of our knowledge, the role of miR-153 in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. The present study demonstrated that miR-153 expression was markedly decreased in GC, including GC cell lines and culture medium, GC tissues, and serum samples, based on reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, and this was further confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Transfection with miR-153 mimics inhibited proliferation and migration, and promoted apoptosis in GC cells. The serum expression levels of miR-153 were decreased in 59 patients with GC compared with those of 9 healthy controls, and more decreased in advanced GC compared with early-stage GC, suggesting that miR-153 was associated with tumor progression. Furthermore, serum miR-153 was expressed at significantly lower levels in patients with GC with larger tumor size (≥4 cm; P=0.013), poor differentiation and signet histology (P=0.013), lymph node metastasis (P=0.025) and advanced tumor stage (TNM stage III and IV; P=0.048) compared with patients with a smaller tumor size (<4 cm), well and moderate differentiation, no lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage I and II, respectively. In conclusion, the present study revealed that low miR-153 expression was associated with poor prognosis in GC and miR-153 may potentially act as a tumor biomarker and therapeutic target in GC.

The potential of miR-153 as aggressive prostate cancer biomarker

INTRODUCTION

Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in males. MiR-153, as a member of the microRNA (miRNA) family, plays an important role in PC. This study aims to explore the expression and possible molecular mechanisms of the miR-153 action.

METHODS

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues were collected from prostatectomy specimens of 29 metastatic and 32 initial stage PC patients. Expression levels of miR-153 were measured using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). 2-ΔΔCT method was used for quantitative gene expression assessment. The candidate target genes for miR-153 were predicted by TargetScan. Mutations in target genes of miR-153 were identified using exome sequencing. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms of miR-153 in PC.

RESULTS

MiR-153 was significantly up-regulated in PC tissues compared to non-cancerous tissues. The analysis of correlation between the expression level of miR-153 and clinicopathological factors revealed a statistically significant correlation with the stage of the tumor process according to tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging system (p = 0.0256). ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive ability of miR-153 for metastasis development and it revealed miR-153 as a potential prognostic marker (AUC = 0.85; 95%CI 0.75-0.95; sensitivity = 0.72, specificity = 0.86)). According to logistic regression model the high expression of miR-153 increased the risk of metastasis development (odds ratios = 3.14, 95% CI 1.62-8.49; p-value = 0.006). Whole exome sequencing revealed nonsynonymous somatic mutations in collagen type IV alpha 1 (COL4A1), collagen type IV alpha 3 (COL4A3), forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1), 2-hydroxyacyl-CoA lyase 1 (HACL1), hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1A), and nidogen 2 (NID2) genes. Moreover, KEGG analysis revealed that the extracellular matrix-receptor (ECM-receptor) interaction pathway is mainly involved in PC.

CONCLUSION

MiR-153 is up-regulated in PC tissues and may play an important role in aggressive PC by targeting potential target genes.

LncRNA RP11-84E24.3 drives tumorigenesis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of glioma cells by promoting TFAP2C-mediated activation of SNAI1

PURPOSE

Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are essential epigenetic regulators with critical roles in tumor initiation and malignant progression; however, the mechanism by which aberrantly expressed lncRNA RP11-84E24.3 regulates the pathogenesis of glioma is not fully understood. Here, we investigate the function of lncRNA RP11-84E24.3 in glioma onset and progression as well as identify a molecular pathway regulated by this lncRNA.

METHODS

Differentially expressed lncRNAs related to glioma were identified. The aberrant expression of lncRNA RP11-84E24.3 was verified in samples from patients with glioma as well as glioma cell lines. The role of lncRNA RP11-8424.3 in proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion was assessed using gain- and loss-of function approaches, EdU incorporation, flow cytometry, wound healing and Transwell invasion assays. Western blot analysis was utilized to examine the expression of proteins associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The interaction between lncRNA RP11-84E24.3, TFAP2C and SNAI1 was confirmed using RNA pull-down, ChIP and luciferase reporter assays.

RESULTS

LncRNA RP11-84E24.3 was up-regulated in both glioma tissues and cell lines. LncRNA RP11-84E24.3 overexpression enhanced the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells while reducing apoptosis. This was associated with a decrease in E-cadherin expression and an increase in N-cadherin and Vimentin expression. LncRNA RP11-84E24.3 directly targeted TFAP2C protein, resulting in increased SNAI1 expression. Knockdown of TFAP2C or SNAI1 reversed the effects of lncRNA RP11-84E24.3 overexpression, while silencing lncRNA RP11-84E24.3 inhibited tumor formation of glioma cells in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

LncRNA RP11-84E24.3 increased SNAI1 expression by forming a complex with TFAP2C protein, promoting EMT in glioma cells and tumor formation.

MicroRNA-769-3p inhibits tumor progression in glioma by suppressing ZEB2 and inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Accumulating evidence suggests the crucial role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in human cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical and functional roles of miR-769-3p in glioma, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to determine the expression levels of miR-769-3p in glioma tissues and cells. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to calculate the diagnostic value of miR-769-3p. The 5-year survival rate of patients was calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis. Cell experiments were used to investigate the functional role of miR-769-3p in glioma. The gene target of miR-769-3p was predicted by TargetScan. Changes in the levels of Wnt signaling-related proteins were measured by western blotting. miR-769-3p was significantly downregulated in glioma tissues and serum, as well as in glioma cell lines (P<0.001). miR-769-3p expression was significantly associated with the World Health Organization grade and Karnofsky performance score. The ROC curves demonstrated that serum miR-769-3p level reliably distinguished patients with glioma from healthy individuals. High tissue miR-769-3p expression predicted poor overall survival in patients with glioma (log-rank P=0.001) and was identified as an independent prognostic factor. In addition, zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) was demonstrated to be a direct target of miR-769-3p in glioma cells using a luciferase assay. miR-769-3p upregulation suppressed the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in glioma cells. In conclusion, miR-769-3p may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in patients with glioma and target ZEB2 to inhibit tumor progression via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. miR-769-3p may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of glioma.

Upregulation Of miR-153 Inhibits Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Progression By Targeting ZEB2-Mediated EMT And Contributes To Better Prognosis

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant type of breast cancer. MicroRNAs (miRs) and their corresponding molecular targets are associated with the occurrence and development of various human malignancies. However, the roles of the microRNA-153 (miR-153) and zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2)-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in TNBC and predictive effect of miR-153 on the prognosis of TNBC have not been fully elucidated.

Materials and methods

Relative miR-153 expression level was examined by RT-qPCR assay in TNBC tissues of 60 patients and TNBC cell lines (SKBR3, BT-549 and MDA-MB-231). Cell proliferation ability, invasion ability and migration ability were measured by CCK8 assay, Transwell invasion assay and wound healing assay, respectively. Luciferase reporting experiment was used to confirm that there was a miR-153-binding site in ZEB2 3ʹ-UTR. The expression of ZEB2 in tissues and its relationship with miR-153 were analyzed with immunohistochemistry method. Relative ZEB2, E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin mRNA and protein expression levels were observed with RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Based on risk factors, a prognostic model was established according to the Cox proportional risk model, and the prognostic risk factors of TNBC patients were predicted and analyzed.

Results

The expression of miR-153 in TNBC tissues and cells was declined (all P<0.01), and upregulation of miR-153 inhibited proliferation, invasion and migration of TNBC cells (all P<0.01). In addition, miR-153 regulated ZEB2/EMT link in TNBC, and ZEB2 overexpression reversed the tumor-suppressive effect of miR-153 in TNBC. Moreover, miR-153 was an independent predictive factor that was associated with excellent prognosis in TNBC patients.

Conclusion

miR-153 may inhibit TNBC proliferation, invasion and migration by regulating ZEB2/EMT link. Therefore, miR-153 is expected to be a molecular target and prognostic marker for TNBC.