LINC-PINT suppresses breast cancer cell proliferation and migration via MEIS2/PPP3CC/NF-κB pathway by sponging miR-576-5p

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BCa) is the most frequent malignant tumor in women. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been acknowledged to exert critical regulating functions in various cancers. Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA, p53 induced transcript (LINC-PINT) has been reported to be a chemosensitizer and a tumor suppressor in BCa. However, its downstream molecular mechanism contributing to its tumor-suppressing role remains to be explored in BCa.

METHODS

LINC-PINT expression in BCa tissues and cells was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The proliferation of transfected BCa cells was examined by counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and EdU assay. The migrating ability of indicate BCa cells was assessed by wound healing assays. Bioinformatics analysis and mechanism experiments such as RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), RNA pull down assay, and luciferase reporter assay, were applied to demonstrate the downstream targets of LINC-PINT.

RESULTS

LINC-PINT was downregulated in BCa tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of LINC-PINT suppressed BCa cell proliferation and migration. LINC-PINT could interact with miR-576-5p to upregulate Meis homeobox 2 (MEIS2) that positively regulated protein phosphatase 3 catalytic subunit gamma (PPP3CC) by inactivating the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings elucidated the anti-tumor role of LINC-PINT in BCa via the miR-576-5p/MEIS2/PPP3CC/NF-κB axis, which suggested that LINC-PINT might serve as a potential therapeutic target for BCa.

Circ_0088212 Targeting miR-576-5p/FKBP1A Axis Inhibits Osteosarcoma Progression

OBJECTIVE

Circular RNAs (circRNA) have been proven to be critical regulators of gene expression and biological functions. Nevertheless, there remains a need to elaborate on how circRNAs operate in osteosarcoma (OS). In this study, we investigated the function of circ_0088212 in OS.

METHODS

The circ_0088212, miR-576-5p, and FKBP1A levels in OS cell lines and tissues were estimated by qRT-PCR. Changes in cell function were examined using CCK-8, transwell migration, and xenograft tumor experiments. The protein expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) in OS cells was estimated using western blotting. Dual-luciferase reporter gene and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were performed to verify the relationship among circ_0088212, miR-576-5p, and FKBP1A expression.

RESULTS

OS cells and tissues exhibited downregulated circ_0088212 expression. Moreover, circ_0088212 overexpression impaired the proliferation and migration of OS cells and boosted their apoptosis. In vivo, circ_0088212 overexpression suppresses tumor growth. The miR-576-5p/FKBP1A axis is downstream of circ_0088212. Furthermore, this axis may regulate the effects of circ_0088212 in OS cells.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that circ_0088212 impedes OS progression by regulating the miR-576-5p/FKBP1A axis. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of circ_0088212 in OS tumorigenesis.

Hsa_circ_0001445 works as a cancer suppressor via miR-576-5p/SFRP1 axis regulation in ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer (OC) has high mortality and morbidity. Circular RNA (circRNA) can deeply impact the tumor occurrence and growth. The pathogenic activity of one particular circRNA, hsa_circ_0001445 (hcR1445), in OC remains unclear and was therefore analyzed in this study.

METHODS

Human OC tissue specimens and cell lines (SKOV3, HO8910, and OVCAR8) were used to examine the levels of hcR1445 and the microRNA miR-576-5p using polymerase chain reaction. The 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, flow cytometry, cellular scratch test, CCK-8, and Transwell migration assays were used to examine the biological activities of hcR1445 and miR-576-5p on cell apoptosis, invasion, migration, and proliferation in OC cells. Protein expression of WNT/β-catenin and secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) were tested using Western blot analysis. The potential interactions of miR-576-5p/SFRP1 and hcR1445/miR-576-5p were evaluated using a dual-luciferase report assay. The effect of hcR1445 on OC growth and metastasis was further determined using an OC tumor xenograft model in vivo.

RESULTS

hcR1445 level was declined in OC cells and tissues. hcR1445 reduced cellular invasion, proliferation, and migration by blocking the ability of miR-576-5p to upregulate SFRP1 expression and consequently prohibit WNT/β-catenin signal transduction. hcR1445 upregulation suppressed OC growth, development, and intraperitoneal metastasis in vivo.

CONCLUSION

hcR1445 acts an antioncogene by targeting the miR-576-5p/SFRP1 axis and blocking OC progression and development. Thus, hcR1445 may be employed as an indicator or a possible therapeutic target in OC patients.

Circ_0000029 Interacts with the miR-576-5p/KCNA1 Axis to Hamper the Development of Pediatric Asthma in an Asthma-Like in vitro Assessment

OBJECTIVE

Numerous circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been verified to execute crucial roles in "asthma-like" progression of the airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). The present study aimed to scrutinize the function and mechanism of circ_0000029 in pediatric asthma etiology in vitro.

METHODS

A cell model of asthma was developed using ASMCs induced by platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB). Western blotting and qRT-PCR were performed to determine the expression levels of circ_0000029, miR-576-5p, and KCNA1 in PDGF-BB-treated ASMCs. Dual-luciferase reporter, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down experiments were conducted to validate targeting relationships. CCK-8 and Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the proliferative and migratory potential of ASMCs. The rate of apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Pronounced circ_0000029 and KCNA1 downregulation and high levels of miR-576-5p were observed in PDGF-BB-treated ASMCs. Circ_0000029 targets miR-576-5p to regulate KCNA1 expression. The loss of KCNA1 and upregulation of miR-576-5p dramatically impeded apoptosis but promoted ASMC migration and proliferation. Ectopic expression of circ_0000029 manifested the opposite outcome among ASMCs. Furthermore, KCNA1 deficiency and miR-576-5p upregulation counteracted the effects of circ_0000029 overexpression on ASMCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Circ_0000029 represses the abnormal migration and growth of ASMCs by mediating miR-576-5p and KCNA1 expression levels. This suggests that the regulatory axis circ_0000029/miR-576-5p/KCNA1 is a potential target for pediatric asthma treatment.

miRNA-576-5p promotes endometrial cancer cell growth and metastasis by targeting ZBTB4

PURPOSE

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have already been shown to have a strong correlation with the invasion and metastasis capacity of tumor cells. The present research examined the function of miRNA-576-5p (miR-576-5p) in the development of endometrial cancer (EC).

METHODS

miR-576-5p and ZBTB4 expression in EC and benign endometrial tissues was measured using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot. To evaluate the proliferation ability of tumor cells in vitro, 2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assays were carried out. The effect of miR-576-5p on the proliferation ability of EC cells in vivo was measured by the tumor formation in nude mice. The migration and invasion ability of tumor cells was determined using the transwell assay. To confirm the association between expressions of miR-576-5p and zinc finger and BTB domain containing four (ZBTB4), western blot, qRT-PCR, and luciferase assay were carried out.

RESULTS

miR-576-5p expression increased significantly in EC samples than in benign endometrial tissues. The level of miR-576-5p was significantly higher in the polymerase ε (POLE) ultramutated subgroup compared to the other three subgroups. High levels of miR-576-5p expression were linked to a shorter progression-free interval time in the copy number high subgroup. Furthermore, upregulated miR-576-5p facilitated EC cell invasion and migration in vitro and promoted the proliferation of EC tumor cell lines both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, this study showed that the expression of ZBTB4 decreased in patients with EC, and the dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-576-5p binds directly to the 3'-UTR of ZBTB4 and inhibits the expression of ZBTB4. An increase in miR-576-5p expression leads to a decrease in the mRNA and protein expression level of ZBTB4. The effects of miR-576-5p can be reversed by overexpression of ZBTB4.

CONCLUSION

miR-576-5p promoted proliferation and metastasis capacity of EC cells by inhibiting ZBTB4 expression. We hypothesized that miR-576-5p could be a prospective therapeutic target for EC.

Identification of the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network associated with radiosensitivity in esophageal cancer based on integrative analysis of the TCGA and GEO data

BACKGROUND

The current study set out to identify the miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks that influence the radiosensitivity in esophageal cancer based on the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases.

METHODS

Firstly, esophageal cancer-related miRNA-seq and mRNA-seq data were retrieved from the TCGA database, and the mRNA dataset of esophageal cancer radiotherapy was downloaded from the GEO database to analyze the differential expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) and mRNAs (DEmRNAs) in radiosensitive and radioresistant samples, followed by the construction of the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network and Gene Ontology and KEGG enrichment analysis. Additionally, a prognostic risk model was constructed, and its accuracy was evaluated by means of receiver operating characteristic analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 125 DEmiRNAs and 42 DEmRNAs were closely related to the radiosensitivity in patients with esophageal cancer. Based on 47 miRNA-mRNA interactions, including 21 miRNAs and 21 mRNAs, the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed. The prognostic risk model based on 2 miRNAs (miR-132-3p and miR-576-5p) and 4 mRNAs (CAND1, ZDHHC23, AHR, and MTMR4) could accurately predict the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients. Finally, it was verified that miR-132-3p/CAND1/ZDHHC23 and miR-576-5p/AHR could affect the radiosensitivity in esophageal cancer.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that miR-132-3p/CAND1/ZDHHC23 and miR-576-5p/AHR were critical molecular pathways related to the radiosensitivity of esophageal cancer.

Circ_0037078 promotes trophoblast cell proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis by miR-576-5p/IL1RAP axis

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia (PE) is a common hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Recent studies have suggested that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a pathological role in PE. Herein, this study aimed to investigate the action and mechanism of circ_0037078 in PE process.

METHODS

The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to determine the expression levels of RNAs and genes. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis were evaluated by using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, transwell, and tube formation assays, respectively. The target relation between miR-576-5p and IL1RAP (Interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein) and circ_0037078 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays.

RESULTS

Circ_0037078 expression was higher in placental tissues of patients with PE than that of normal control. Knockdown of circ_0037078 led to an enhancement of the proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in trophoblast cells. Mechanistically, circ_0037078 acted as a sponge for miR-576-5p, thus elevating the expression of IL1RAP, which was targeted by IL1RAP. Further rescue experiments suggested that miR-576-5p inhibition reversed the effects of circ_0037078 knockdown on above behaviors of trophoblast cells. Moreover, miR-576-5p overexpression enhanced the proliferative, migratory, invasive, angiogenic phenotypes of trophoblast cells, which were attenuated by IL1RAP up-regulation.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0037078 knockdown promotes trophoblast cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in vitro by miR-576-5p/IL1RAP axis, providing a novel insight into the etiology of PE.

Hsa_circ_0001666 suppresses the progression of colorectal cancer through the miR-576-5p/PCDH10 axis

BACKGROUND

Though circular RNAs, new non-coding RNA classes have demonstrated that they have an essential role in the initiation as well as development of CRC (colorectal cancer), whereas in CRC the function and mechanism of hsa_circ_0001666 are less known.

METHODS

Hsa_circ_0001666 was identified by bioinformatics analysis of a circRNA microarray from the GEO database, and its expression in both CRC cell lines and tissues was analysed. A series of in vitro along with in vivo experiments were carried out for exploring the hsa_circ_0001666 functions, including transwell, wound healing, flow cytometry, colony formation, Edu, CCK-8, soft agar colony formation, tumor xenografts and lung/liver metastasis in mice. RNA pull-down, RIP (RNA immunoprecipitation), luciferase reporter assay, FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) and rescue experiments were used for determining the correlation among hsa_circ_0001666, miR-576-5p and PCDH10.

RESULTS

Hsa_circ_0001666 was downregulated in both CRC cell lines along with tumour tissues. A higher expression level of hsa_circ_0001666 indicated a better clinical prognosis in patients with CRC. Hsa_circ_0001666 knockdown significantly supported CRC cell proliferation along with invasion and inhibited cell apoptosis in vitro. Hsa_circ_0001666 knockdown accelerated the CRC growth and metastasis in vivo. Moreover, the mechanistic study showed that hsa_circ_0001666, acting as 'ceRNA' of miR-576-5p, prevented PCDH10 downregulation, as well as suppressed EMT and stemness of CRC cells, and the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway. Inhibiting miR-576-5p or overexpressing PCDH10 could reverse phenotypic changes caused by knocking down of hsa_circ_0001666.

CONCLUSIONS

Hsa_circ_0001666 suppresses CRC progression through the miR-576-5p/PCDH10 axis and may provide a new insight for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.

MicroRNA-576-5p enhances the invasion ability of trophoblast cells in preeclampsia by targeting TFAP2A

Background

Preeclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy‐related syndrome characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, and a major cause of maternal mortality. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify early biomarkers of PE. The aim of the present study was to identify the functions of miR‐576‐5p in PE.

Methods

Effects of miR‐576‐5p and transcription factor AP‐2α (TFAP2A) on invasion of human trophoblast HTR8/SVneo cells were investigated. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and western blotting were used to assess the expression of miR‐576‐5p, TFAP2A, E‐cad, and Vimentin in PE tissues and cells. Additionally, immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of TFAP2A in PE trophoblastic tissue. Subsequently, constructed miR‐576‐5p mimics, miR‐576‐5p inhibitor, and siRNA‐TFAP2A plasmids were transfected into HTR8/SVneo cells for further experiments, including a CCK‐8 assay for cell proliferation, Transwell assay for cell invasion and the luciferase reporter gene system was employed for target verification.

Results

A lower expression of miR‐576‐5p and a higher expression of TFAP2A were identified in PE rats. E‐cadherin was highly expressed while Vimentin was downregulated. Further statistical analysis indicated that cell proliferation of HTR8/SVneo cells decreased in the miR‐576‐5p inhibitor group and increased in the miR‐576‐5p mimics and siRNA‐TFAP2A groups. miR‐576‐5p inhibitor suppressed cell invasion, and miR‐576‐5p mimics and siRNA‐TFAP2A improved cell invasion. The analysis of luciferase reporter demonstrated a decreased luciferase activity in miR‐576‐5p mimics group compared with control group, which indicates that TFAP2A may be a target of miR‐576‐5p. Interference of TFAP2A could downregulate E‐cadherin and upregulate Vimentin expression.

Conclusion

Overexpression of miR‐576‐5p and knockdown of TFAP2A may elevate cell proliferation and invasion of human trophoblast cells in vitro. Therefore, miR‐576‐5p may be used as a notable biomarker for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of PE. miR‐576‐5p targeting TFAP2A deserve further investigation in order to explore their potential role in PE.

Linc-PINT acted as a tumor suppressor by sponging miR-543 and miR-576-5p in esophageal cancer

This manuscript aimed to investigate linc-PINT's role as a tumor suppressor and its downstream microRNAs (miRNAs) in esophageal cancer. Log-rank, Cox, and nomogram were used for survival analysis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the expression. Cell counting kit-8 was used for proliferation tests. As for in vivo experiments, low expression of linc-PINT was associated with better prognosis; besides, the nomogram indicated that linc-PINT, miR-543, and miR-576-5p served well in predicting the survival rate. As for the in vitro experiments, linc-PINT could directly regulate miR-543 and miR-576-5p to inhibit the proliferation of Eca-109 cell line. In conclusion, linc-PINT-miR-543/miR-576-5p pathway could predict the prognosis and provide novel therapeutic targets for esophageal cancer.

Epigenetic downregulated ITGBL1 promotes non-small cell lung cancer cell invasion through Wnt/PCP signaling

Integrin, beta-like 1 (ITGBL1), is a β-integrin-related extracellular matrix protein which contains ten EGF-like repeats domain. Surprisingly, we screen Oncomine Database and found that ITGBL1 is more commonly downregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues, and the result reminds us to explore its significance in NSCLC. Thus, we retrieved DRUGSURV Database and found that downregulated ITGBL1 predicts a poor prognosis of patients. These results provided us the clues that ITGBL1 might be a tumor suppressor in NSCLC. However, the biological functions of ITGBL1 have not been reported to date. In the current study, we surprisingly found that knockdown of ITGBL1 in NSCLC cell lines could promote cancer cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, recombinant ITGBL1 protein-treated cancer cell could inhibit cell migration and invasion. These results suggested that ITGBL1 plays a suppressive role in NSCLC progression. We further found that the downregulation of ITGBL1 might result from highly expressed miR-576-5p in NSCLC tissues, and the activity of Wnt/PCP signaling was enhanced when the level of ITGBL1 was inhibited. In conclusion, our results suggest that ITGBL1 is a novel tumor suppressor in NSCLC progression.