Host gene and its guest: short story about relation of long-noncoding MIR31HG transcript and microRNA miR-31

Diagnostic Potential of miR-143-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-551b-5p, and miR-574-3p in Chemoresistance of Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Preliminary Study

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in the world. Although the incidence is decreasing in developed countries, the treatment results are still unsatisfactory. The standard treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) is gastrectomy with perioperative chemotherapy. The association of selected microRNAs (miRNAs) with chemoresistance was assessed using archival material of patients with LAGC. Histological material was obtained from each patient via a biopsy performed during gastroscopy and then after surgery, which was preceded by four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) according to the FLOT or FLO regimen. The expression of selected miRNAs in the tissue material was assessed, including miRNA-21-3p, miRNA-21-5p, miRNA-106a-5p, miRNA-122-3p, miRNA-122-5p, miRNA-143-3p, miRNA-143-5p, miRNA-203a-3p, miRNA-203-5p, miRNA-551b-3p, miRNA-551b-5p, and miRNA-574-3p. miRNA expression was assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The response to NAC was assessed using computed tomography of the abdomen and chest and histopathology after gastrectomy. The statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 9. The significance limit was set at p < 0.05. We showed that the expression of miR-143-3p, miR-143-5p, and miR-574-3p before surgery, and miR-143-5p and miR-574-3p after surgery, decreased in patients with GC. The expression of miR-143-3p, miR-143-5p, miR-203a-3p, and miR-551b-5p decreased in several patients who responded to NAC. The miRNA most commonly expressed in these cases was miRNA-551b-5p. Moreover, it showed expression in a patient whose response to chemotherapy was inconsistent between the histopathological results and computed tomography. The expression of miR-143-3p, miR-143-5p, miR-203a-3p, and miR-551b-5p in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPET) samples can help differentiate between the responders and non-responders to NAC in LAGC. miR-143-3p, miR-143-5p, and miR-574-3p expression may be used as a potential diagnostic tool in GC patients. The presence of miR-551b-5p may support the correct assessment of a response to NAC in GC via CT.

MiR-103-5p deficiency suppresses lipid accumulation via upregulating PLSCR4 and its host gene PANK3 in goat mammary epithelial cells

Lipids are intimately related to the unique flavor and nutritional values of goat milk. MicroRNAs (miRNA) participate in the regulation of various biological functions, including the synthesis and degradation of lipids. Several studies have shown that miR-103 is involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism, however, the molecular mechanism by which miR-103 regulates lipid metabolism in goat mammary gland is poorly understood. In this study, miR-103 was knocked out in goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs) by CRISPR/Cas9, and the accumulation of lipid droplets, triglycerides, and cholesterol in the cells was suppressed subsequently. Overexpression or knockdown of miR-103-5p and miR-103-3p in GMECs revealed that it was miR-103-5p that promoted lipid accumulation but not miR-103-3p. In addition, Pantothenate Kinase 3 (PANK3), the host gene of miR-103, and Phospholipid Scramblase 4 (PLSCR4) were identified as the target genes of miR-103-5p by dual fluorescein and miRNA pulldown. Furthermore, we identified that cellular lipid levels were negatively regulated by PANK3 and PLSCR4. Lastly, in miR-103 knockout GMECs, the knockdown of PANK and PLSCR4 rescued the lipid accumulation. These findings suggest that miR-103-5p promotes lipid accumulation by targeting PLSCR4 and the host gene PANK3 in GMECs, providing new insights for the regulation of goat milk lipids via miRNAs.

SRY-Related Transcription Factors in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas: In Silico Based Analysis

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth leading cancer and the fifth cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with a poor 5-year survival. SOX family genes play a role in the processes involved in cancer development such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the regulation of drug resistance. We analyzed the expression of SOX2-OT, SOX6, SOX8, SOX21, SOX30 and SRY genes in HNSCC patients using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, to assess their biological role and their potential utility as biomarkers. We demonstrated statistically significant differences in expression between normal and primary tumor tissues for SOX6, SOX8, SOX21 and SOX30 genes and pointed to SOX6 as the one that met the independent diagnostic markers criteria. SOX21 or SRY alone, or the panel of six SRY-related genes, could be used to estimate patient survival. SRY-related genes are positively correlated with immunological processes, as well as with keratinization and formation of the cornified envelope, and negatively correlated with DNA repair and response to stress. Moreover, except SRY, all analyzed genes were associated with a different tumor composition and immunological profiles. Based on validation results, the expression of SOX30 is higher in HPV(+) patients and is associated with patients' survival. SRY-related transcription factors have vast importance in HNSCC biology. SOX30 seems to be a potential biomarker of HPV infection and could be used as a prognostic marker, but further research is required to fully understand the role of SOX family genes in HNSCC.