MiR-93 enhances angiogenesis and metastasis by targeting LATS2

Interaction of noncoding RNAs with hippo signaling pathway in cancer cells and cancer stem cells

The Hippo signaling pathway has a regulatory function in the organogenesis process and cellular homeostasis, switching the cascade reactions of crucial kinases acts to turn off/on the Hippo pathway, altering the downstream gene expression and thereby regulating proliferation, apoptosis, or stemness. Disruption of this pathway can lead to the occurrence of various disorders and different types of cancer. Recent findings highlight the importance of ncRNAs, such as microRNA, circular RNA, and lncRNAs, in modulating the Hippo pathway. Defects in ncRNAs can disrupt Hippo pathway balance, increasing tumor cells, tumorigenesis, and chemotherapeutic resistance. This review summarizes ncRNAs' inhibitory or stimulatory role in - Hippo pathway regulation in cancer and stem cells. Identifying the relation between ncRNAs and the components of this pathway could pave the way for developing new biomarkers in the treatment and diagnosis of cancers.

Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling in breast cancer: Reciprocal regulation of microRNAs and implications in precision medicine

Breast cancer is a molecularly heterogeneous disease and the most common female malignancy. In recent years, therapy approaches have evolved to accommodate molecular diversity, with a focus on more biologically based therapies to minimize negative consequences. To regulate cell fate in human breast cells, the Hippo signaling pathway has been associated with the alpha subtype of estrogen receptors. This pathway regulates tissue size, regeneration, and healing, as well as the survival of tissue-specific stem cells, proliferation, and apoptosis in a variety of organs, allowing for cell differentiation. Hippo signaling is mediated by the kinases MST1, MST2, LATS1, and LATS2, as well as the adaptor proteins SAV1 and MOB. These kinases phosphorylate the downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, yes-associated protein (YAP), and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), suppressing the expression of their downstream target genes. The Hippo signaling pathway kinase cascade plays a significant role in all cancers. Understanding the principles of this kinase cascade would prevent the occurrence of breast cancer. In recent years, small noncoding RNAs, or microRNAs, have been implicated in the development of several malignancies, including breast cancer. The interconnections between miRNAs and Hippo signaling pathway core proteins in the breast, on the other hand, remain poorly understood. In this review, we focused on highlighting the Hippo signaling system, its key parts, its importance in breast cancer, and its regulation by miRNAs and other related pathways.

Non-coding RNAs and angiogenesis in cardiovascular diseases: a comprehensive review

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have key roles in the etiology of many illnesses, including heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, and in physiological processes like angiogenesis. In transcriptional regulatory circuits that control heart growth, signaling, and stress response, as well as remodeling in cardiac disease, ncRNAs have become important players. Studies on ncRNAs and cardiovascular disease have made great progress recently. Here, we go through the functions of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) like circular RNAs (circRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs) as well as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in modulating cardiovascular disorders.

Characterization of a miRNA Signature with Enhanced Diagnostic and Prognostic Power for Patients with Bladder Carcinoma

Bladder carcinoma is globally among the most prevalent cancers and is associated with a high mortality rate at advanced stages. Its detection relies on invasive diagnostic methods that are unpleasant for the patient. Non-invasive molecular biomarkers, such as miRNAs, could serve as alternatives for early detection and prognosis of this malignancy. We designed a computational approach that combines transcriptome profiling, survival analyses, and calculation of diagnostic power in order to isolate miRNA signatures with high diagnostic and prognostic utility. Our analysis of TCGA-BLCA data from 429 patients yielded one miRNA signature, consisting of five upregulated and three downregulated miRNAs with cumulative diagnostic power that outperforms current diagnostic methods. The same miRNAs have a strong prognostic significance since their expression is associated with the overall survival of bladder cancer patients. We evaluated the expression of this signature in 19 solid cancer types, supporting its unique diagnostic utility for bladder carcinoma. We provide computational evidence regarding the functional implications of this miRNA signature in cell cycle regulation, demonstrating its abundance in body fluids, including peripheral blood and urine. Our study characterized a novel miRNA signature with the potential to serve as a non-invasive method for bladder cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

MicroRNAs as the critical regulators of tumor angiogenesis in liver cancer

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignancies in human digestive system. Despite the recent therapeutic methods, there is a high rate of mortality among liver cancer patients. Late diagnosis in the advanced tumor stages can be one of the main reasons for the poor prognosis in these patients. Therefore, investigating the molecular mechanisms of liver cancer can be helpful for the early stage tumor detection and treatment. Vascular expansion in liver tumors can be one of the important reasons for poor prognosis and aggressiveness. Therefore, anti-angiogenic drugs are widely used in liver cancer patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have key roles in the regulation of angiogenesis in liver tumors. Due to the high stability of miRNAs in body fluids, these factors are widely used as the non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic markers in cancer patients. Regarding, the importance of angiogenesis during liver tumor growth and invasion, in the present review, we discussed the role of miRNAs in regulation of angiogenesis in these tumors. It has been reported that miRNAs mainly exert an anti-angiogenic function by regulation of tumor microenvironment, transcription factors, and signaling pathways in liver tumors. This review can be an effective step to suggest the miRNAs for the non-invasive early detection of malignant and invasive liver tumors.

MicroRNAs: The key players regulating the crosstalk between Hippo and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in breast cancer

Breast Cancer has the highest burden in females worldwide and is predicted to increase by many folds with increasing lifestyle related risk factors, genetic mutations, and an aging population. The Hippo signalling and Wnt signalling pathways were identified as important signal transducers involved in maintaining organ development, tissue homeostasis, cell proliferation and apoptosis. microRNAs are short nucleotide sequences which act as regulatory components driving signal transductions in most cancers and can serve as both diagnostic and prognostic markers. Several reports have implicated that deregulated Hippo as well as Wnt signalling mediated by miRNAs together drive tumorigenesis, metastases and chemoresistance in breast cancer. Recent evidences on a crosstalk between Hippo and Wnt components elucidated how these pathways might be synchronized to have overlapping functions to promote tumorigenesis. Since miRNAs are demonstrated to target most of the components in both the pathways, in this review, we talk about the crosstalk between Hippo and Wnt signalling pathways and the potential microRNAs that might regulate the interplay between the two pathways in breast cancer, which has not been explored earlier.

The effect of encomir-93 mimic transfection on the expression of miR-93 and PSA and androgen receptor in prostate cancer LNcap cell line

OBJECTIVES

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers in men with high mortality rate which is a major concern for men's health. However, the molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. miR-93 is an important oncogene which may have important function in prostate cancer.So, this study aimed to predict that encomir-93 mimic transfection on the expression of miR-93 and PSA and AR in prostate cancer LNcap cell line.

METHODS

Lymph node carcinoma of the prostate (LNCaP) was cultured and then miR-93 mimics was designed, synthesized and the transfected to LNCaP. The expression level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and androgen receptor (AR) was determined via Real-time PCR after treated with 15 pmol of miR-93 mimics.

RESULTS

miR-93 mimic transfection led to significant increase in PSA and AR expression in comparison with control group (p≤0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The miR-93 and its target genes has important role in PCa progression via enhancement in PSA and AR expression. Further research on the function of the miR-93 and its target genes in tumorgenesis and progression PCa could be helpful for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Extracellular vesicles derived from cervical cancer cells carrying MCM3AP-AS1 promote angiogenesis and tumor growth in cervical cancer via the miR-93/p21 axis

Tumor cells can promote angiogenesis by secreting extracellular vesicles (EVs). Meanwhile, tumor-derived EVs can carry long non-coding RNAs to activate pro-angiogenic signaling in endothelial cells. Here, we investigated the role of long non-coding RNA MCM3AP-AS1 carried by cervical cancer (CC) cell-derived EVs in the angiogenesis and the resultant tumor growth in CC, as well as the potential molecular mechanisms. LncRNAs significantly expressed in CC cell-derived EVs and CC were screened, followed by prediction of downstream target genes. EVs were isolated from HcerEpic and CaSki cell supernatants, followed by identification. The expression of MCM3AP-AS1 in CC was analyzed and its interaction with miR-93-p21 was confirmed. Following co-culture system, the role of MCM3AP-AS1 carried by EVs in HUVEC angiogenic ability, CC cell invasion and migration in vitro along with angiogenesis and tumorigenicity in vivo was assayed. MCM3AP-AS1 was overexpressed in CC cell-derived EVs as well as in CC tissues and cell lines. Cervical cancer cell-derived EVs could transfer MCM3AP-AS1 into HUVECs where MCM3AP-AS1 competitively bound to miR-93 and upregulate the expression of the miR-93 target p21 gene. Thus, MCM3AP-AS1 promoted angiogenesis of HUVECs. In the similar manner, MCM3AP-AS1 enhanced CC cell malignant properties. In nude mice, EVs-MCM3AP-AS1 induced angiogenesis and tumor growth. Overall, this study reveals that CC cell-derived EVs may transport MCM3AP-AS1 to promote angiogenesis and tumor growth in CC.

MiRNA-93: a novel signature in human disorders and drug resistance

miRNA-93 is a member of the miR-106b-25 family and is encoded by a gene on chromosome 7q22.1. They play a role in the etiology of various diseases, including cancer, Parkinson's disease, hepatic injury, osteoarthritis, acute myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic kidney disease. Different studies have found that this miRNA has opposing roles in the context of cancer. Recently, miRNA-93 has been downregulated in breast cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, and renal cancer. However, miRNA-93 is up-regulated in a wide variety of malignancies, such as lung, colorectal, glioma, prostate, osteosarcoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of the current review is to provide an overview of miRNA-93's function in cancer disorder progression and non-cancer disorders, with a focus on dysregulated signaling pathways. We also give an overview of this miRNA's function as a biomarker of prognosis in cancer and emphasize how it contributes to drug resistance based on in vivo, in vitro, and human studies. Video Abstract.

The various role of microRNAs in breast cancer angiogenesis, with a special focus on novel miRNA-based delivery strategies

After skin malignancy, breast cancer is the most widely recognized cancer detected in women in the United States. Breast cancer (BCa) can happen in all kinds of people, but it's much more common in women. One in four cases of cancer and one in six deaths due to cancer are related to breast cancer. Angiogenesis is an essential factor in the growth of tumors and metastases in various malignancies. An expanded level of angiogenesis is related to diminished endurance in BCa patients. This function assumes a fundamental part inside the human body, from the beginning phases of life to dangerous malignancy. Various factors, referred to as angiogenic factors, work to make a new capillary. Expanding proof demonstrates that angiogenesis is managed by microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small non-coding RNA with 19-25 nucleotides. MiRNA is a post-transcriptional regulator of gene expression that controls many critical biological processes. Endothelial miRNAs, referred to as angiomiRs, are probably concerned with tumor improvement and angiogenesis via regulation of pro-and anti-angiogenic factors. In this article, we reviewed therapeutic functions of miRNAs in BCa angiogenesis, several novel delivery carriers for miRNA-based therapeutics, as well as CRISPR/Cas9 as a targeted therapy in breast cancer.

MiRNAs Overexpression and Their Role in Breast Cancer: Implications for Cancer Therapeutics

MicroRNAs have a plethora of roles in various biological processes in the cells and most human cancers have been shown to be associated with dysregulation of the expression of miRNA genes. MiRNA biogenesis involves two alternative pathways, the canonical pathway which requires the successful cooperation of various proteins forming the miRNA-inducing silencing complex (miRISC), and the non-canonical pathway, such as the mirtrons, simtrons, or agotrons pathway, which bypasses and deviates from specific steps in the canonical pathway. Mature miRNAs are secreted from cells and circulated in the body bound to argonaute 2 (AGO2) and miRISC or transported in vesicles. These miRNAs may regulate their downstream target genes via positive or negative regulation through different molecular mechanisms. This review focuses on the role and mechanisms of miRNAs in different stages of breast cancer progression, including breast cancer stem cell formation, breast cancer initiation, invasion, and metastasis as well as angiogenesis. The design, chemical modifications, and therapeutic applications of synthetic anti-sense miRNA oligonucleotides and RNA mimics are also discussed in detail. The strategies for systemic delivery and local targeted delivery of the antisense miRNAs encompass the use of polymeric and liposomal nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles, as well as viral vectors and viruslike particles (VLPs). Although several miRNAs have been identified as good candidates for the design of antisense and other synthetic modified oligonucleotides in targeting breast cancer, further efforts are still needed to study the most optimal delivery method in order to drive the research beyond preclinical studies.

Hsa_circ_0000520 Promotes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Progression through the miR-1258/AKT3 Axis

Background

There are several previous studies suggesting that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nevertheless, the role of circRNA_0000520 (circ_0000520) in this disease has not yet been studied.

Methods

circ_0000520, microRNA (miR)-1258, and AKT serine/threonine kinase 3 (AKT3) mRNA expression levels were detected by qPCR. CCK-8, EdU, and Transwell assays were utilized to detect NSCLC cells' malignant biological behaviors. The targeted relationship between miR-1258 and AKT3 3'-UTR or circ_0000520 was verified through the dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Western blotting was utilized to measure the AKT3 expression after circ_0000520 and miR-1258 were selectively regulated.

Results

circ_0000520 was upregulated in NSCLC. Highly expressed circ_0000520 is linked to the NSCLC patient's advanced TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. circ_0000520 overexpression facilitated NSCLC cell growth, migration, and invasion. miR-1258 was identified as the downstream target of circ_0000520. miR-1258 overexpression weakened the effect of circ_0000520 overexpression on NSCLC cells. miR-1258 targeted and inhibited AKT3. circ_0000520 positively regulated the AKT3 expression in NSCLC cells by sponging miR-1258.

Conclusion

circ_0000520 upregulates AKT3 by competitively binding with miR-1258 to facilitate NSCLC progression.

Inducible downregulation of miR-93 feedback promotes innate responses against RNA virus by amplifying interferon signaling

Type I interferons (IFN) and their downstream effector signaling pathways play critical roles in the innate antiviral response. The underlying mechanisms that regulate IFN production and their effector signaling, especially by microRNAs, are well understood. We found that the expression of miR-93 was significantly downregulated by RNA virus infection in innate cells. miR-93 expression was also downregulated in influenza virus-infected patients. Furthermore, we showed that JAK1 is targeted by miR-93 to inhibit type I IFN's antiviral activity. Functionally, antagomir of miR-93 markedly reduced influenza virus replication in mice in vivo and prevented their death. Therefore, hosts recognize the invading RNA virus infection and activate RIG-I/JNK pathways to decrease miR-93 expression. The reduction of miR-93 feedback enhances the antiviral innate immune response by activating the IFN-JAK-STAT effectors type I, indicating miR-93 as a possible therapeutic target for infection with RNA viruses.

Potential utility of miRNAs for liquid biopsy in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) remains the most prevalent malignancy due to its incidence rate, recurrence, and metastasis in women. Conventional strategies of cancer detection– mammography and tissue biopsy lack the capacity to detect the complete cancer genomic landscape. Besides, they often give false- positive or negative results. The presence of this and other disadvantages such as invasiveness, high-cost, and side effects necessitates developing new strategies to overcome the BC burden. Liquid biopsy (LB) has been brought to the fore owing to its early detection, screening, prognosis, simplicity of the technique, and efficient monitoring. Remarkably, microRNAs (miRNAs)– gene expression regulators seem to play a major role as biomarkers detected in the samples of LB. Particularly, miR-21 and miR-155 among other possible candidates seem to serve as favorable biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of BC. Hence, this review will assess the potential utility of miRNAs as biomarkers and will highlight certain promising candidates for the LB approach in the diagnosis and management of BC that may optimize the patient outcome.

MicroRNAs as therapeutic targets in breast cancer metastasis

Breast cancer is a complex disease with multiple risk factors involved in its pathogenesis. Among these factors, microRNAs are considered for playing a fundamental role in the development and progression of malignant breast tumors. In recent years, various studies have demonstrated that several microRNAs exhibit increased or decreased expression in metastatic breast cancer, acting as indicators of metastatic potential in body fluids and tissue samples. The identification of these microRNA expression patterns could prove instrumental for the development of novel therapeutic molecules that either mimic or inhibit microRNA action. Additionally, an efficient delivery system mediated by viral vectors, nonviral carriers, or scaffold biomaterials is a prerequisite for implementing microRNA-based therapies; therefore, this review attempts to highlight essential microRNA molecules involved in the metastatic process of breast cancer and discuss recent advances in microRNA-based therapeutic approaches with potential future applications to the treatment sequence of breast cancer.

RNA-targeting Therapy: A Promising Approach to Reach Non-Druggable Targets

The term "non-druggable" refers to a protein that cannot be targeted pharmacologically; recently, significant efforts have been made to convert these proteins into targets that are reachable or "druggable." Pharmacologically targeting these difficult proteins has emerged as a major challenge in modern drug development, necessitating the innovation and development of new technologies. The idea of using RNA-targeting therapeutics as a platform to reach unreachable targets is very appealing. Antisense oligonucleotides, nucleic acid or aptamers, RNA interference therapeutics, microRNA, and synthetic RNA are examples of RNA-targeting therapeutics. Many of these agents were FDA-approved for the treatment of rare or genetic diseases, as well as molecular markers for disease diagnosis. As a promising type of therapeutic, many studies are being conducted in order for more and more of them to be approved and used in different disease treatments and to shift them from treating rare diseases only to being used as more specific targeting agents in the treatment of various common diseases. This article will look at some of the most recent technological and pharmaceutical advances that have contributed to the erosion of the concept of undruggability.

Hypoxia-Inducible Exosomes Facilitate Liver-Tropic Premetastatic Niche in Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Liver metastasis is a frequent occurrence in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), with 15%-25% of CRC patients having liver metastases at the time of initial diagnosis. Specifically, some regional-stage patients with mild symptoms (stage 1 or 2) will also advance to liver metastases rapidly, even if the CRC lesion in situ is resected in time. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism of liver metastasis is still unclear.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

Fresh tumor tissues from patients with CRC, adjacent noncancerous tissues, and colorectal adenoma tissues were subjected to microarray analysis to identify differentially expressed microRNA. Exosomes from human serum and cell culture medium were separated, quantitated, and verified by transmission electronic microscopy and Zetasizer Nano. Luciferase reporter assay, real-time quantitative PCR, western blot, immunoprecipitation, chromatin and re-chromatin immunoprecipitation, migration and invasion assay, PDX mouse model, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining were employed to explore the regulation among CRC liver metastases, immunosuppression, and cell adhesion. In this study, we demonstrated that the hypoxic microenvironment in primary CRC lesions boosted exosome release, selectively initiated favorable premetastatic niche formation in the liver but not in other organs. Mechanistically, Kupffer cells (KCs) can phagocytose exosomes containing highly expressed miR-135a-5p from the blood circulation into the liver. Exosomal miR-135a-5p initiated the large tumor suppressor kinase 2-yes-associated protein-matrix metalloproteinase 7 axis to promote the occurrence of CRC liver metastasis, and cluster of differentiation 30-TNF receptor-associated factor 2-p65-mediated immunosuppression signaling also contributed to this process.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypoxia-induced exosomal miR-135a-5p correlates with the development, clinical severity, and prognosis of CRC liver metastases through the premetastatic niche; and our findings revealed that miR-135a-5p might be a promising target in halting CRC liver metastases.

MicroRNAs: Important Players in Breast Cancer Angiogenesis and Therapeutic Targets

The high incidence of breast cancer (BC) is linked to metastasis, facilitated by tumor angiogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that have an essential role in gene expression and are significantly linked to the tumor development and angiogenesis process in different types of cancer, including BC. There's increasing evidence showed that various miRNAs play a significant role in disease processes; specifically, they are observed and over-expressed in a wide range of diseases linked to the angiogenesis process. However, more studies are required to reach the best findings and identify the link among miRNA expression, angiogenic pathways, and immune response-related genes to find new therapeutic targets. Here, we summarized the recent updates on miRNA signatures and their cellular targets in the development of breast tumor angiogenetic and discussed the strategies associated with miRNA-based therapeutic targets as anti-angiogenic response.

Non-coding RNAs in Regulating Tumor Angiogenesis

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are RNAs that do not encode proteins, but perform biological functions in various physiological and pathological processes, including cancer formation, inflammation, and neurological diseases. Tumor blood vessels are a key target for cancer management. A number of factors regulate the angiogenesis of malignant tumors. NcRNAs participate in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis. Abnormal expression of ncRNAs act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes to affect the development of tumors. In this review we summarized the biological functions of ncRNAs, and discussed its regulatory mechanisms in tumor angiogenesis. This article will provide new insights for the research of ncRNAs in tumor angiogenesis.

MicroRNA‑93 knockdown inhibits acute myeloid leukemia cell growth via inactivating the PI3K/AKT pathway by upregulating DAB2

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with a poor prognosis in elderly adults and currently lacks optimal treatment strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) have increasingly been reported to be associated with AML progression; however, the mechanisms of action of miR-93 in AML with the involvement of disabled 2 (DAB2) are currently unknown. In the present study, miR-93 expression was assessed in patients with AML and in AML cell lines. The association between miR-93 expression and the pathological characteristics of patients with AML was analyzed. AML cells were then transfected to knockdown or overexpress miR-93 in order to elucidate its function in AML progression. The target gene of miR-93 was assessed using a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The expression levels of miR-93, DAB2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway-related proteins were measured and in vivo experiments were conducted to confirm the results. It was observed that miR-93 was highly expressed in patients with AML and in AML cells. The knockdown of miR-93 in HL-60 cells inhibited AML cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis, while the overexpression of miR-93 in THP-1 cells led to contrasting results. Moreover, miR-93 targeted DAB2 to inactivate the PI3K/AKT pathway, and the overexpression of DAB2 reversed the effects of miR-93 on THP-1 cell growth. Tumor volume, tumor weight, and the positive expression of Ki67, survivin and p53 were increased in THP-1 cells overexpressing miR-93. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that miR-93 is highly expressed in AML cells, and that the suppression of miR-93 inhibits AML cell growth by targeting DAB2 and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Vasculogenic Mimicry in Breast Cancer: Clinical Relevance and Drivers

In solid tumors, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is the formation of vascular structures by cancer cells, allowing to generate a channel-network able to transport blood and tumor cells. While angiogenesis is undertaken by endothelial cells, VM is assumed by cancer cells. Besides the participation of VM in tumor neovascularization, the clinical relevance of this process resides in its ability to favor metastasis and to drive resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. VM occurs in many tumor types, including breast cancer, where it has been associated with a more malignant phenotype, such as triple-negative and HER2-positive tumors. The latter may be explained by known drivers of VM, like hypoxia, TGFB, TWIST1, EPHA2, VEGF, matrix metalloproteinases, and other tumor microenvironment-derived factors, which altogether induce the transformation of tumor cells to a mesenchymal phenotype with a high expression rate of stemness markers. This review analyzes the current literature in the field, including the participation of some microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in VM-regulation and tumorigenesis of breast cancer. Considering the clinical relevance of VM and its association with the tumor phenotype and clinicopathological parameters, further studies are granted to target VM in the clinic.

Comprehensive Analysis of lncRNA and miRNA Regulatory Network Reveals Potential Prognostic Non-coding RNA Involved in Breast Cancer Progression

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women. The tumorigenesis and progression of breast cancer are not well understood. The existing researches have indicated that non-coding RNAs, which mainly include long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and microRNA (miRNA), have gradually become important regulators of breast cancer. We aimed to screen the differential expression of miRNA and lncRNA in the different breast cancer stages and identify the key non-coding RNA using TCGA data. Based on series test of cluster (STC) analysis, bioinformatics analysis, and negatively correlated relationships, 122 lncRNAs, 67 miRNAs, and 119 mRNAs were selected to construct the regulatory network of lncRNA and miRNA. It was shown that the miR-93/20b/106a/106b family was at the center of the regulatory network. Furthermore, 6 miRNAs, 10 lncRNAs, and 15 mRNAs were significantly associated with the overall survival (OS, log-rank P < 0.05) of patients with breast cancer. Overexpressed miR-93 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells was associated with suppressed expression of multiple lncRNAs, and these downregulated lncRNAs (MESTIT1, LOC100128164, and DNMBP-AS1) were significantly associated with poor overall survival in breast cancer patients. Therefore, the miR-93/20b/106a/106b family at the core of the regulatory network discovered by our analysis above may be extremely important for the regulation of lncRNA expression and the progression of breast cancer. The identified key miRNA and lncRNA will enhance the understanding of molecular mechanisms of breast cancer progression. Targeting these key non-coding RNA may provide new therapeutic strategies for breast cancer treatment and may prevent the progression of breast cancer from an early stage to an advanced stage.

Utilizing the Hippo pathway as a therapeutic target for combating endocrine-resistant breast cancer

Drug resistance is always a great obstacle in any endocrine therapy of breast cancer. Although the combination of endocrine therapy and targeted therapy has been shown to significantly improve prognosis, refractory endocrine resistance is still common. Dysregulation of the Hippo pathway is often related to the occurrence and the development of many tumors. Targeted therapies of this pathway have played important roles in the study of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Targeting the Hippo pathway in combination with chemotherapy or other targeted therapies has been shown to significantly improve specific antitumor effects and reduce cancer antidrug resistance. Further exploration has shown that the Hippo pathway is closely related to endocrine resistance, and it plays a "co-correlation point" role in numerous pathways involving endocrine resistance, including related pathways in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Agents and miRNAs targeting the components of the Hippo pathway are expected to significantly enhance the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to endocrine therapy. This review initially explains the possible mechanism of the Hippo pathway in combating endocrine resistance, and it concludes by recommending endocrine therapy in combination with therapies targeting the Hippo pathway in the study of endocrine-resistant breast cancers.

Angioregulatory microRNAs in breast cancer: Molecular mechanistic basis and implications for therapeutic strategies

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Cancer-associated angiogenesis is a fundamental process in tumor growth and metastasis.

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Angioregulatory miRNA–target gene interaction is not only involved in sprouting vessels of breast tumors but also, trans-differentiation of breast cancer cells to endothelial cells in a process termed vasculogenic mimicry.

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Successful targeting of tumor angiogenesis is still a missing link in the treatment of Breast cancer (BC) due to the low effectiveness of anti-angiogenic therapies in this cancer.

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Response to anti-angiogenic therapeutics are controlled by a miRNAs, so the identification of interaction networks of miRNAs–targets can be applicable in determining anti-angiogeneic therapy and new biomarkers in BC.

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Angioregulatory miRNAs in breast cancer cells and their microenvironment have therapeutic potential in cancer treatment.

Background

Cancer-associated angiogenesis is a fundamental process in tumor growth and metastasis. A variety of signaling regulators and pathways contribute to establish neovascularization, among them as small endogenous non-coding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) play prominent dual regulatory function in breast cancer (BC) angiogenesis.

Aim of Review

This review aims at describing the current state-of-the-art in BC angiogenesis-mediated by angioregulatory miRNAs, and an overview of miRNAs dysregulation association with the anti-angiogenic response in addition to potential clinical application of miRNAs-based therapeutics.

Key Scientific Concepts of Review

Angioregulatory miRNA–target gene interaction is not only involved in sprouting vessels of breast tumors but also, trans-differentiation of BC cells to endothelial cells (ECs) in a process termed vasculogenic mimicry. Using canonical and non-canonical angiogenesis pathways, the tumor cell employs the oncogenic characteristics such as miRNAs dysregulation to increase survival, proliferation, oxygen and nutrient supply, and treatment resistance. Angioregulatory miRNAs in BC cells and their microenvironment have therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. Although, miRNAs dysregulation can serve as tumor biomarker nevertheless, due to the association of miRNAs dysregulation with anti-angiogenic resistant phenotype, clinical benefits of anti-angiogenic therapy might be challenging in BC. Hence, unveiling the molecular mechanism underlying angioregulatory miRNAs sparked a booming interest in finding new treatment strategies such as miRNA-based therapies in BC.

Tiny miRNAs Play a Big Role in the Treatment of Breast Cancer Metastasis

Simple Summary

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of tumour progression and metastasis in breast cancer. Through a review of multiple studies, this paper has identified the key regulatory roles of oncogenic miRNAs in breast cancer metastasis including the potentiation of angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the Warburg effect, and the tumour microenvironment. Several approaches have been studied for selective targeting of breast tumours by miRNAs, ranging from delivery systems such as extracellular vesicles and liposomes to the use of prodrugs and functionally modified vehicle-free miRNAs. While promising, these miRNA-based therapies face challenges including toxicity and immunogenicity, and greater research on their safety profiles must be performed before progressing to clinical trials.

Abstract

Distant organ metastases accounts for the majority of breast cancer deaths. Given the prevalence of breast cancer in women, it is imperative to understand the underlying mechanisms of its metastatic progression and identify potential targets for therapy. Since their discovery in 1993, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of tumour progression and metastasis in various cancers, playing either oncogenic or tumour suppressor roles. In the following review, we discuss the roles of miRNAs that potentiate four key areas of breast cancer metastasis—angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the Warburg effect and the tumour microenvironment. We then evaluate the recent developments in miRNA-based therapies in breast cancer, which have shown substantial promise in controlling tumour progression and metastasis. Yet, certain challenges must be overcome before these strategies can be implemented in clinical trials.

Targeting Akt-associated microRNAs for cancer therapeutics

The uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells because of activating protooncogenes and/or inactivating tumor suppressor genes are the hallmarks of cancer. The PI3K/Akt signaling is one of the most frequently activated pathways in cancer cells responsible for the regulation of cell survival and proliferation in stress and hypoxic conditions during oncogenesis. Non-coding RNAs are a large family of RNAs that are not involved in protein-coding, and microRNAs (miRNAs) are a sub-set of non-coding RNAs with a single strand of 18-25 nucleotides. miRNAs are extensively involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and play an extensive role in the regulatory mechanisms including cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. The impact of cancer on mRNA stability and translation efficiency is extensive and therefore, cancerous tissues exhibit drastic alterations in the expression of miRNAs. miRNAs can be modulated by utilizing techniques such as miRNA mimics, miRNA antagonists, or CRISPR/Cas9. In addition to their capacity as potential targets in cancer therapy, they can be used as reliable biomarkers to diagnose the disease at the earliest stage. Recent evidence indicates that microRNA-mediated gene regulation intersects with the Akt pathway, forming an Akt-microRNA regulatory network. miRNAs and Akt in this network operate together to exert their cellular tasks. In the current review, we discuss the Akt-associated miRNAs in several cancers, their molecular regulation, and how this newly emerging knowledge may contribute greatly to revolutionize cancer therapy.

Effects of miR‑93 on epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition and vasculogenic mimicry in triple‑negative breast cancer cells

Triple‑negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by strong invasiveness, frequent local recurrence and distant metastasis, with poor prognosis. According to tumor angiogenesis theory, tumor cells can obtain blood supply not only by fusing with host blood vessels, but also by constructing a new vascular system through angiogenesis, so as to continuously obtain nutrients and oxygen supply; this is called vasculogenic mimicry (VM). In our previous study, differential expression profiles of miRNAs were examined with gene chip in TNBC and corresponding paracancer tissues, which demonstrated significant up‑regulation of microRNA (miR)‑93. Bioinformatics found that the target genes of miR‑93 were associated with cell proliferation, invasion and migration. The present study investigated the association between miR‑93, epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) and VM formation in TNBC cell lines. The results indicated that miR‑93 depletion suppressed MDA‑MB‑231 cell viability, invasion and migration (P<0.001). In addition, knockdown of miR‑93 significantly upregulated the expression levels of EMT‑associated genes such as E‑cadherin and occludin, but downregulated the expression levels of vimentin and N‑cadherin in MDA‑MB‑231 cells. VM formation assay showed a significant decrease in microtubule‑forming ability of cells following miR‑93 knockdown, which was associated with the occurrence of EMT, suggesting that miR‑93 may promote the formation of VM via EMT and may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of TNBC.

MicroRNAs: As Critical Regulators of Tumor- Associated Macrophages

Emerging shreds of evidence suggest that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) modulate various hallmarks of cancer during tumor progression. Tumor microenvironment (TME) prime TAMs to execute important roles in cancer development and progression, including angiogenesis, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) secretion, and extracellular matrix (ECM) disruption. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical epigenetic regulators, which modulate various functions in diverse types of cells, including macrophages associated with TME. In this review article, we provide an update on miRNAs regulating differentiation, maturation, activation, polarization, and recruitment of macrophages in the TME. Furthermore, extracellular miRNAs are secreted from cancerous cells, which control macrophages phenotypic plasticity to support tumor growth. In return, TAMs also secrete various miRNAs that regulate tumor growth. Herein, we also describe the recent updates on the molecular connection between tumor cells and macrophages. A better understanding of the interaction between miRNAs and TAMs will provide new pharmacological targets to combat cancer.

The emerging role of miRNA clusters in breast cancer progression

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that are essential for regulation of gene expression of the target genes. Large number of miRNAs are organized into defined units known as miRNA clusters (MCs). The MCs consist of two or more than two miRNA encoding genes driven by a single promoter, transcribed together in the same orientation, that are not separated from each other by a transcription unit. Aberrant miRNA clusters expression is reported in breast cancer (BC), exhibiting both pro-tumorogenic and anti-tumorigenic role. Altered MCs expression facilitates to breast carcinogenesis by promoting the breast cells to acquire the various hallmarks of the cancer. Since miRNA clusters contain multiple miRNA encoding genes, targeting cluster may be more attractive than targeting individual miRNAs. Besides targeting dysregulated miRNA clusters in BC, studies have focused on the mechanism of action, and its contribution to the progression of the BC. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of dysregulated miRNA clusters and its role in the acquisition of cancer hallmarks in BC. More specifically, we have presented the regulation, differential expression, classification, targets, mechanism of action, and signaling pathways of miRNA clusters in BC. Additionally, we have also discussed the potential utility of the miRNA cluster as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator in BC.

Interaction of non-coding RNAs and Hippo signaling: Implications for tumorigenesis

Hippo signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that controls organ size by regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and stem cell self-renewal by "turning off" or "turning on" the kinase cascade chain reaction to manipulate the expression of downstream genes. Dysregulation of the Hippo pathway contributes to cancer development and metastasis. Emerging evidence has revealed new insights into tumorigenesis through the interplay between the Hippo pathway and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially microRNA, long non-coding RNA and circular RNA. Here, we reviewed the interactions between the Hippo pathway and ncRNAs and their implication for a variety of tumor-promoting or tumor-repressing effects. These interactions have the potential to serve as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets in clinical applications.

Long Noncoding RNA MEG3 Inhibits Apoptosis of Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells Induced by High Glucose via the miR-93/Nrf2 Axis

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of visual impairment in developed nations. Though plasma microRNA-93 (miR-93) is associated with the risk of DR, the function and regulatory mechanism of miR-93 during DR remains unclear. Blood samples were collected from 12 DR patients and 12 healthy controls. Primary human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and ARPE-19 cells were cultured in 5 mmol/L or 33 mmol/L d-glucose medium. Long noncoding (lnc) RNA MEG3 and miR-93 expression was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The effect of MEG3 and miR-93 on high glucose (HG)-induced apoptosis was detected by MTT and flow cytometry. IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationships among MEG3, miR-93, and Nrf2 (also known as NFE2L2) were explored via dual-luciferase reporter assay. lncRNA MEG3 and Nrf2 were decreased and miR-93 was increased in blood samples of DR patients and HG-treated human RPE and ARPE-19 cells. Overexpression of miR-93 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis, whereas overexpression of Nrf2 or MEG3 promoted proliferation and suppressed apoptosis and inflammation. In addition, MEG3 targeted miR-93 and down-regulated miR-93. Moreover, miR-93 directly targeted Nrf2 and negatively regulated Nrf2. This study suggests that lncRNA MEG3 depresses HG-induced apoptosis and inflammation of RPE via miR-93/Nrf2 axis, providing a novel perspective on the genesis and development of DR.

MiR-93 is related to poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer and promotes tumor progression by targeting microtubule dynamics

Biomarkers and effective therapeutic agents to improve the dismal prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are urgently required. We aimed to analyze the prognostic value and mechanistic action of miR-93 in PDAC. Correlation of miR-93 tumor levels from 83 PDAC patients and overall survival (OS) was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier. MiR-93 depletion in PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells was achieved by CRISPR/Cas9 and miR-93 overexpression in HPDE cells by retroviral transduction. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion, cell cycle analysis, and in vivo tumor xenografts in nude mice were assessed. Proteomic analysis by mass spectrometry and western-blot was also performed. Finally, miR-93 direct binding to candidate mRNA targets was evaluated by luciferase reporter assays. High miR-93 tumor levels are significantly correlated with a worst prognosis in PDAC patients. MiR-93 abolition altered pancreatic cancer cells phenotype inducing a significant increase in cell size and a significant decrease in cell invasion and proliferation accompanied by a G2/M arrest. In vivo, lack of miR-93 significantly impaired xenograft tumor growth. Conversely, miR-93 overexpression induced a pro-tumorigenic behavior by significantly increasing cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Proteomic analysis unveiled a large group of deregulated proteins, mainly related to G2/M phase, microtubule dynamics, and cytoskeletal remodeling. CRMP2, MAPRE1, and YES1 were confirmed as direct targets of miR-93. MiR-93 exerts oncogenic functions by targeting multiple genes involved in microtubule dynamics at different levels, thus affecting the normal cell division rate. MiR-93 or its direct targets (CRMP2, MAPRE1, or YES1) are new potential therapeutic targets for PDAC.

Identification of key miRNAs and genes for mouse retinal development using a linear model

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are upstream regulators of gene expression and are involved in several biological processes. The purpose of the present study was to obtain a detailed spatiotemporal miRNA expression profile in mouse retina, to identify one or more miRNAs that are key to mouse retinal development and to investigate the roles and mechanisms of these miRNAs. The miRNA expression pattern of the developing mouse retina was acquired from Locked Nucleic Acid microarrays. Data were processed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DE‑miRNAs) using the linear model in Python 3.6. Following bioinformatics analysis and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation, 8 miRNAs (miR‑9‑5p, miR‑130a‑3p, miR‑92a‑3p, miR‑20a‑5p, miR‑93‑5p, miR‑9‑3p, miR‑709 and miR‑124) were identified as key DE‑miRNAs with low variability during mouse retinal development. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that the target genes of the DE‑miRNAs were enriched in cellular metabolic processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis demonstrated that the target genes of the DE‑miRNAs were significantly enriched in PI3K/AKT/mTOR, class O of forkhead box transcription factors, mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK), neurotrophin and transforming growth factor (TGF)‑β signaling, as well as focal adhesion and the axon guidance pathway. PI3K, AKT, PTEN, MAPK1, Son of Sevenless, sphingosine‑1‑phosphate receptor 1, BCL‑2L11, TGF‑β receptor type 1/2 and integrin α (ITGA)/ITGAB, which are key components of the aforementioned pathways and were revealed to be target genes of several of the DE‑miRNAs. The present study used a linear model to identify several DE‑miRNAs, as well as their target genes and associated pathways, which may serve crucial roles in mouse retinal development. Therefore, the results obtained in the present study may provide the groundwork for further experiments.

MicroRNA‑93 promotes angiogenesis and attenuates remodeling via inactivation of the Hippo/Yap pathway by targeting Lats2 after myocardial infarctionω

Inactivation of the Hippo pathway protects the myocardium from cardiac ischemic injury. MicroRNAs (miRs) have been reported to play pivotal roles in the progression of myocardial infarction (MI). The present study examined whether miR-93 could promote angiogenesis and attenuate remodeling after MI via inactivation of the Hippo/Yes-associated protein (Yap) pathway, by targeting large tumor suppressor kinase 2 (Lats2). It was identified that transfection of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with miR-93 mimic significantly decreased Lats2 expression and Yap phosphorylation, increased cell viability and migration, and attenuated cell apoptosis following hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. Moreover, increased expression of miR-93 resulted in an improvement of cardiac function, promotion of angiogenesis and attenuation of remodeling after MI. Additionally, miR-93 overexpression significantly decreased intracellular adhesion molecule 1 and vascular cell adhesion protein 1 expression levels, as well as attenuated the infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages into the myocardium after MI. Furthermore, it was found that miR-93 overexpression significantly suppressed Lats2 expression and decreased the levels of phosphorylated Yap in the myocardium after MI. Collectively, the present results suggested that miR-93 may exert a protective effect against MI via inactivation of the Hippo/Yap pathway by targeting Lats2.

microRNA-93, upregulated in serum of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, promotes tumor cell proliferation by targeting PDCD4

Deregulation of microRNAs (miRs) has been demonstrated to contribute to the development and malignant progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Recently, miR-93 was reported to be significantly upregulated in NPC tissues and cell lines, and promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of NPC cells in vitro, as well as tumor growth in vivo. However, whether there is any clinical value of serum miR-93 expression in NPC still remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the clinical significance of serum miR-93 expression in NPC. A total of 85 serum samples from NPC patients and 30 from healthy controls were collected. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction data demonstrated that the serum expression of miR-93 was significantly increased in NPC patients, when compared with those in healthy controls. Following receiving chemo-radiotherapy, the serum miR-93 levels were significantly decreased in NPC patients. Furthermore, the increased serum levels of miR-93 were significantly associated with advanced grade, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, as well as worse 5-year overall survival of NPC patients. Furthermore, the serum miR-93 expression was demonstrated to be an independent factor for predicating the prognosis of NPC. In vitro experiments demonstrated that knockdown of miR-93 caused a decrease in NPC cell proliferation, whereas overexpression of miR-93 promoted NPC cell proliferation. PDCD4 was then identified as a direct target of miR-93 in NPC cells. Overexpression of PDCD4 significantly eliminated the promoting effects of miR-93 overexpression on NPC cell proliferation. Taken together, these findings suggest that the serum miR-93 expression could be used as a predicator for the clinical outcome of NPC patients, and suggest that miR-93 may also become a potential therapeutic target for NPC treatment.

Common and Unique microRNAs in Multiple Carcinomas Regulate Similar Network of Pathways to Mediate Cancer Progression

Cancer is a complex disease with a fatal outcome. Early detection of cancer, by monitoring appropriate molecular markers is very important for its therapeutic management. In this regard, the short non-coding RNA molecules, microRNAs (miRNAs) have shown great promise due to their availability in circulating fluids facilitating non-invasive detection of cancer. In this study, an in silico comparative analysis was performed to identify specific signature miRNAs dysregulated across multiple carcinomas and simultaneously identify unique miRNAs for each cancer type as well. The miRNA-seq data of cancer patient was obtained from GDC portal and their differential expressions along with the pathways regulated by both common and unique miRNAs were analyzed. Our studies show twelve miRNAs commonly dysregulated across seven different cancer types. Interestingly, four of those miRNAs (hsa-mir-210, hsa-mir-19a, hsa-mir-7 and hsa-mir-3662) are already reported as circulatory miRNAs (circRNAs); while, the miR-183 cluster along with hsa-mir-93 have been found to be incorporated in exosomes signifying the importance of the identified miRNAs for their use as prospective, non-invasive biomarkers. Further, the target mRNAs and pathways regulated by both common and unique miRNAs were analyzed, which interestingly had significant commonality. This suggests that miRNAs that are commonly de-regulated and specifically altered in multiple cancers might regulate similar pathways to promote cancer. Our data is of significance because we not only identify a set of common and unique miRNAs for multiple cancers but also highlight the pathways regulated by them, which might facilitate the development of future non-invasive biomarkers conducive for early detection of cancers.

Anti-Angiogenic Effects of Phytochemicals on miRNA Regulating Breast Cancer Progression

Several phytochemicals have been identified for their role in modifying miRNA regulating tumor progression. miRNAs modulate the expression of several oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes including the genes that regulate tumor angiogenesis. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) signaling is a central axis that activates oncogenic signaling and acts as a metabolic switch in endothelial cell (EC) driven tumor angiogenesis. Tumor angiogenesis driven by metabolic reprogramming of EC is crucial for tumor progression and metastasis in many different cancers, including breast cancers, and has been linked to aberrant miRNA expression profiles. In the current article, we identify different miRNAs that regulate tumor angiogenesis in the context of oncogenic signaling and metabolic reprogramming in ECs and review how selected phytochemicals could modulate miRNA levels to induce an anti-angiogenic action in breast cancer. Studies involving genistein, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and resveratrol demonstrate the regulation of miRNA-21, miRNA-221/222 and miRNA-27, which are prognostic markers in triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs). Modulating the metabolic pathway is a novel strategy for controlling tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth. Cardamonin, curcumin and resveratrol exhibit their anti-angiogenic property by targeting the miRNAs that regulate EC metabolism. Here we suggest that using phytochemicals to target miRNAs, which in turn suppresses tumor angiogenesis, should have the potential to inhibit tumor growth, progression, invasion and metastasis and may be developed into an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of many different cancers where tumor angiogenesis plays a significant role in tumor growth and progression.

Role of microRNAs in remodeling the tumor microenvironment (Review)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that are known to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNA expression is often deregulated in several human cancers, affecting the communication between tumor stroma and tumor cells, among other functions. Understanding the role of miRNAs in the tumor microenvironment is crucial for fully elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression and exploring novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The present review focused on the role of miRNAs in remodeling the tumor microenvironment, with an emphasis on their impact on tumor growth, metastasis and resistance to treatment, as well as their potential clinical applications.

FOXC1 Regulation of miR-31-5p Confers Oxaliplatin Resistance by Targeting LATS2 in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related illness worldwide and one of the most common malignancies. Therefore, colorectal cancer research and cases have gained increasing attention. Oxaliplatin (OXA) is currently used in first-line chemotherapy to treat stage III and stage IV metastatic CRC. However, patients undergoing chemotherapy often develop resistance to chemo drugs being used. Evidence has confirmed that microRNAs regulate downstream genes in cancer biology and thereby have roles related to tumor growth, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and multi-drug resistance. The aim of our study is to establish whether miR-31-5p is an oncogene in human colorectal cancers that are resistant to OXA and further confirm its malignant phenotype-associated target molecule. From the results of miRNA microarray assay, we establish that miR-31-5p expression was upregulated in oxaliplatin-resistant (OR)-LoVo cells compared with parental LoVo cells. Moreover, through in vitro and in vivo experiments, we demonstrate that miR-31-5p and large tumor suppressor kinase 2 (LATS2) were inversely related and that miR-31-5p and Forkhead box C1 (FOXC1) were positively correlated in the same LoVo or OR-LoVo cells. Importantly, we reveal a novel drug-resistance mechanism in which the transcription factor FOXC1 binds to the miR-31 promoter to increase the expression of miR31-5p and regulate LATS2 expression, resulting in cancer cell resistance to OXA. These results suggest that miR-31-5p may be a novel biomarker involved in drug resistance progression in CRC patients. Moreover, the FOXC1/miR31-5p/LATS2 drug-resistance mechanism provides new treatment strategies for CRC in clinical trials.

Large tumor suppressor 2, LATS2, activates JNK in a kinase-independent mechanism through ASK1

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is an important mediator of the cell stress response pathways. Because of its central role in regulating cell death, the activity of ASK1 is tightly regulated by protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications. Deregulation of ASK1 activity has been linked to human diseases, such as neurological disorders and cancer. Here we describe the identification and characterization of large tumor suppressor 2 (LATS2) as a novel binding partner for ASK1. LATS2 is a core kinase in the Hippo signaling pathway and is commonly downregulated in cancer. We found that LATS2 interacts with ASK1 and increases ASK1-mediated signaling to promote apoptosis and activate the JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). This change in MAPK signaling is dependent on the catalytic activity of ASK1 but does not require LATS2 kinase activity. This work identifies a novel role for LATS2 as a positive regulator of the ASK1-MKK-JNK signaling pathway and establishes a kinase-independent function of LATS2 that may be part of the intricate regulatory system for cellular response to diverse stress signals.

Genetic and molecular bases of esophageal Cancer among Iranians: an update

Abstract

Background

Esophageal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths among the Iranians. There is still a high ratio of mortality and low 5 years survival which are related to the late onset and diagnosis. Majority of patients refer for the treatment in advanced stages of tumor progression.

Main body

It is required to define an efficient local panel of diagnostic and prognostic markers for the Iranians. Indeed such efficient specific panel of markers will pave the way to decrease the mortality rate and increase the 5 years survival among the Iranian patients via the early diagnosis and targeted therapy.

Conclusion

in present review we have reported all of the molecular markers in different signaling pathways and cellular processes which have been assessed among the Iranian esophageal cancer patients until now.

MicroRNA-744 promotes carcinogenesis in osteosarcoma through targeting LATS2

Osteosarcoma (OS) mortality rate is increasing. Various microRNAs (miRNAs) have been investigated in the pathological process of OS except for miR-744. Hence, this research was designed to explore miR-744 function in OS. RT-qPCR and western blot analysis were used to quantify miR-744 and large tumor suppressor kinase 2 (LATS2) expression levels. The function of miR-744 was investigated using MTT and Transwell assays. Target gene of miR-744 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. miR-744 expression was increased in OS, which was associated with worse clinical features and prognosis of OS patients. Importantly, miR-744 promoted cell viability and metastasis in OS. Furthermore, miR-744 induced Wnt/β-catenin pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in OS. In addition, miR-744 directly targeted LATS2 and blocked its expression in OS. Moreover, upregulation of LATS2 weakened the promotion of cell viability and metastasis induced by miR-744 in OS. In conclusion, miR-744 accelerated OS progression through restraining LATS2 and activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway and EMT.

Extracellular Nanovesicles Secreted by Human Osteosarcoma Cells Promote Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis involves a number of different players among which extracellular nanovesicles (EVs) have recently been proposed as an efficient cargo of pro-angiogenic mediators. Angiogenesis plays a key role in osteosarcoma (OS) development and progression. Acidity is a hallmark of malignancy in a variety of cancers, including sarcomas, as a result of an increased energetic metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of EVs derived from osteosarcoma cells on angiogenesis and whether extracellular acidity, generated by tumor metabolism, could influence EVs activity. For this purpose, we purified and characterized EVs from OS cells maintained at either acidic or neutral pH. The ability of EVs to induce angiogenesis was assessed in vitro by endothelial cell tube formation and in vivo using chicken chorioallantoic membrane. Our findings demonstrated that EVs derived from osteosarcoma cells maintained either in acidic or neutral conditions induced angiogenesis. The results showed that miRNA and protein content of EVs cargo are correlated with pro-angiogenic activity and this activity is increased by the acidity of tumor microenvironment. This study provides evidence that EVs released by human osteosarcoma cells act as carriers of active angiogenic stimuli that are able to promote endothelial cell functions relevant to angiogenesis.

Long noncoding RNA DDX11-AS1 epigenetically represses LATS2 by interacting with EZH2 and DNMT1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a group of transcripts without protein coding potential, have been reported to play critical roles in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the biological role of DDX11-AS1 in HCC is not clear. In this study, we found that DDX11-AS1 expression was dramatically higher in HCC tissues and cell lines. Higher DDX11-AS1 expression predicted poor overall survival of patients. Functionally, the proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, and invasion of HCC cells were inhibited by DDX11-AS1 silencing, while promoted by ectopic expression of DDX11-AS1. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays validated that DDX11-AS1 suppressed LATS2 expression by interacting with EZH2 and DNMT1 in HCC cells. Knockdown of DDX11-AS1 increased the mRNA and protein levels of LATS2. Overexpression of LATS2 abolished the promotive effect of DDX11-AS1 on cell growth and invasion. Besides, DDX11-AS1 promoted tumor formation in vivo. The mRNA levels of LATS2 were markedly decreased in tumor tissues and negatively correlated with DDX11-AS1 expression. Taken together, our data indicated that DDX11-AS1 may be a novel oncogene in hepatocarcinogenesis by repressing LATS2, providing a potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

MicroRNA‑93 regulates angiogenesis in peripheral arterial disease by targeting CDKN1A

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are considered to be critical mediators of gene expression with respect to tumor progression, although their role in ischemia-induced angiogenesis is poorly characterized, including in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Furthermore, the underlying mechanism of action of specific miRNAs in PAD remains unknown. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that microRNA-93 (miR-93) was significantly upregulated in patients with PAD and in the EA.hy926 endothelial cells in response to hypoxia. Additionally, miRNA (miR)-93 promoted angiogenesis by enhancing proliferation, migration and tube formation. Cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A), verified as a potential target gene of miR-93, was inhibited by overexpressed miR-93 at the protein and mRNA expression levels. Furthermore, a hind-limb ischemia model served to evaluate the role of miR-93 in angiogenesis in vivo, and the results demonstrated that miR-93 overexpression enhanced capillary density and perfusion recovery from hind-limb ischemia. Taken together, miR-93 was indicated to be a promising target for pharmacological regulation to promote angiogenesis, and the miR-93/CDKN1A pathway may function as a novel therapeutic approach in PAD.

Antiangiogenic Effect of Alkaloids

Alkaloids are among the natural phytochemicals contained in functional foods and nutraceuticals and have been suggested for the prevention and/or management of oxidative stress and inflammation-mediated diseases. In this review, we aimed to describe the effects of alkaloids in angiogenesis, the process playing a crucial role in tumor growth and invasion, whereby new vessels form. Antiangiogenic compounds including herbal ingredients, nonherbal alkaloids, and microRNAs can be used for the control and treatment of cancers. Several lines of evidence indicate that alkaloid-rich plants have several interesting features that effectively inhibit angiogenesis. In this review, we present valuable data on commonly used alkaloid substances as potential angiogenic inhibitors. Different herbal and nonherbal ingredients, introduced as antiangiogenesis agents, and their role in angiogenesis-dependent diseases are reviewed. Studies indicate that angiogenesis suppression is exerted through several mechanisms; however, further investigations are required to elucidate their precise molecular and cellular mechanisms, as well as potential side effects.

MicroRNA-204 deregulation in lung adenocarcinoma controls the biological behaviors of endothelial cells potentially by modulating Janus kinase 2-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in a wide range of biological processes including angiogenesis. MiR-204 was identified as a tumor suppressor in multiple cancer types, including lung adenocarcinoma. However, the function of miR-204 in lung tumor angiogenesis remains unknown. In this study, we found that the miR-204 expression was decreased in lung adenocarcinoma based on the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) analysis and gain-of-function experiment showed that miR-204 promoted cancer cell apoptosis and suppressed cell proliferation, migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Functionally, both the tube formation and migration abilities of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were suppressed by conditioned media from lung cancer A549 cells with miR-204 overexpression. Meanwhile, these conditioned media inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis in HUVECs. The key angiogenesis inducer hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) and the pro-angiogenic mediators vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor were decreased in A549 cells transfected with miR-204 mimics. Mechanistically, miR-204 could target Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and further impaired signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 both in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of JAK2 or signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activity with small chemical inhibitors in A549 cells impaired lung adenocarcinoma angiogenesis in vitro. Meanwhile, conditional media from interleukin 6-treated lung normal epithelial cells significantly promoted tube formation of HUVEC, which was disturbed by miR-204 overexpression. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that miR-204 attenuates angiogenesis in lung adenocarcinoma potentially via JAK2-STAT3 pathway. Clinically, the miR-204/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is a putative therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 70(1):81-91, 2018.