Curcumin relieved the rheumatoid arthritis progression via modulating the linc00052/miR-126-5p/PIAS2 axis

Curcumin, with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties, is widely used in the treatment of bone disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated the effects of curcumin on fibroblast-like synoviocytes in RA and its underlying mechanism. mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) expression levels were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cellular functions were detected using cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, Transwell, and flow cytometric assays. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure the cytokine release. Western blotting was used to determine the protein expression levels. An in vivo assay was performed to verify the role of linc00052 in RA. Curcumin promoted apoptosis and inhibited the growth, migration, and invasion of RA fibroblast-like synovial (RAFLS) cells. Curcumin treatment suppressed the inflammatory response of RAFLS cells. Moreover, curcumin increased linc00052 levels, and linc00052 knockdown reversed the effects of curcumin. Additionally, linc00052 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA to upregulate the expression of the protein inhibitor of activated STAT 2 (PIAS2) by sponging miR-126-5p. Curcumin inhibited the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. In vivo assays showed that curcumin decreased the arthritis score and improved inflammatory infiltration and synovial cell proliferation. These results reveal that curcumin protects against RA by regulating the inc00052/miR-126-5p/PIAS2 axis through JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Changes in the transcriptome profile of breast cancer cells grown as spheroids

BACKGROUND

Multicellular tumor spheroids mimic the functional organization of tumors in vivo, providing biological readouts that predict the behavior of cancer cells more accurately. The current study aimed to evaluate the transcriptome (mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs) of multicellular tumor spheroids from breast cancer cells.

METHODS

MCF-7 cell spheroids were used; the transcriptome was analyzed using RNAseq and RNA microarrays; the secretion of macrophage migration inhibitor (MIF), a cytokine exported by the cholesterol efflux regulatory protein, was measured by ELISA. Linc00052 was inhibited using short-hairpin RNAs (shRNAs).

RESULTS

We found several differentially regulated mRNAs and lncRNAs in MCF-7 cell spheroids. We also found significant enrichment of the Wnt/B-catenin death receptor and the cholesterol metabolic processes. Interestingly, we also found an increased concentration of MIF. Further, at 12 and 20 days of 3D culture we found 221 and 1146 dysregulated lncRNAs, respectively; including linc00052 (long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 52), which has been involved in breast cancer. Linc00052 knock-down experiments suggest that it could be a key regulator of cholesterol pathways in breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data shows that tumor spheroids can induce changes in the transcriptome of the cultured cells, including both mRNAs and ncRNA. One of the major changes included the deregulation of cholesterol pathways, of which linc00052 is apparently a key regulator.