Tumor-Promoting Effects of Microrna-421/4-Aminobutyrate Aminotransferase Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

MicroRNA-421 (miR-421) has been implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its potential mechanism in HCC remains unclear.

Objectives

The study aimed to study the potential mechanism of miR-421 in HCC which is necessary.

Methods

The downstream target genes of miR-421 were screened in HCC tissues and cells using miDIP, Targetscan, and starBase databases. Differential analysis, survival analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis were performed between miR-421 and its downstream target genes. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to assay RNA and protein levels of 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase (ABAT) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins. Cell-based assays, including CCK-8, wound healing, transwell, flow cytometry, and metabolic measurements, were implemented to assess proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle, and apoptosis of HCC cells with different treatments. Dual-luciferase assay was utilized to detect the targeting relationship between miR-421 and ABAT.

Results

miR-421 level was elevated in HCC tissues and cells, and low miR-421 expression hindered phenotype progression of HCC cells. ABAT was identified as a direct target of miR-421 in HCC cells, and miR-421 could inhibit ABAT expression. Rescue assay revealed that miR-421 promoted HCC cell tumorigenesis progress and affected cell metabolic remodeling through down-regulating ABAT.

Conclusion

The miR-421/ABAT regulatory axis promoted HCC cell tumorigenesis progress, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for HCC.

[Corrigendum] Role of 4‑aminobutyrate aminotransferase (ABAT) and the lncRNA co‑expression network in the development of myelodysplastic syndrome

Subsequently to the publication of the above article, and a Corrigendum that has already been published with the intention of showing corrected versions of Figs. 1 and 8 (DOI: 10.3892/or.2022.8348; published online on June 14, 2022), the authors have belatedly realized that the revisions made to Fig. 8 necessitated changes that should have been introduced into Fig. 9, although these were not attended to in the first corrigendum. Essentially, Fig. 8 was revised as the cell apoptosis and cell proliferation assays therein were poorly presented, which made the interpretation of the data difficult; Fig. 9 showed the fractions of apoptotic cells in the SKM‑1 and THP‑1 cell lines with lncENST00000444102 overexpression as this pertained to Fig. 8. A revised version of Fig. 9, presenting the analysis of the data shown in the revised version of Fig. 8, is shown opposite. In addition to the revision of Fig. 9, the sentence starting on p. 517, left‑hand column, line 12 ["The flow cytometric apoptosis assay revealed that lncENST00000444102 overexpression promoted tumor cells to undergo apoptosis compared to control cells (P<0.001, Fig. 9)"] should be replaced with the following text, to reflect the change in the level of statistical significance: 'The flow cytometric apoptosis assay revealed that lncENST00000444102 overexpression promoted tumor cells to undergo apoptosis compared to control cells (P<0.01, Fig. 9)". Note that the revisions made to Figs. 8 and 9 in this paper have not had a major impact on the reported results, and do not affect the overall conclusions reported in the study. All the authors agree to the publication of this corrigendum. The authors are grateful to the Editor of Oncology Reports for allowing them the opportunity to publish this additional Corrigendum; furthermore, they apologize for any inconvenience caused to the readership of the Journal. [Oncology Reports 42: 509‑520, 2019; DOI: 10.3892/or.2019.7175].

Effects of antiepileptic drugs on mitochondrial functions, morphology, kinetics, biogenesis, and survival

OBJECTIVES

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) exhibit adverse and beneficial effects on mitochondria, which have a strong impact on the treatment of patients with a mitochondrial disorder (MID) with epilepsy (mitochondrial epilepsy). This review aims at summarizing and discussing recent findings concerning the effect of AEDs on mitochondrial functions and the clinical consequences with regard to therapy of mitochondrial epilepsy and of MIDs in general.

METHODS

Literature review.

RESULTS

AEDs may interfere with the respiratory chain, with non-respiratory chain enzymes, carrier proteins, or mitochondrial biogenesis, with carrier proteins, membrane-bound channels or receptors and the membrane potential, with anti-oxidative defense mechanisms, with morphology, dynamics and survival of mitochondria, and with the mtDNA. There are AEDs of which adverse effects outweigh beneficial effects, such as valproic acid, carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital and there are AEDs in which beneficial effects dominate over mitochondrial toxic effects, such as lamotrigine, levetiracetam, gabapentin, or zonisamide. However, from most AEDs only little is known about their interference with mitochondria.

CONCLUSIONS

Mitochondrial epilepsy might be initially treated with AEDs with low mitochondrial toxic potential. Only in case mitochondrial epilepsy is refractory to these AEDs, AEDs with higher mitochondrial toxic potential might be tried. In patients carrying POLG1 mutations AEDs with high mitochondrial toxic potential are contraindicated.