CPEB1, a histone-modified hypomethylated gene,is regulated by miR-101 and involved in cell senescence in glioma

Epigenetic mechanisms have important roles in carcinogenesis. We certified that the mRNA translation-related gene cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 1 (CPEB1) is hypomethylated and overexpressed in glioma cells and tissues. The knockdown of CPEB1 reduced cell senescence by regulating the expression or distribution of p53 in glioma cells. CPEB1 is also regulated directly by the tumor suppressor miR-101, a potential marker of glioma. It is known that the histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and embryonic ectoderm development (EED) are direct targets of miR-101. We demonstrated that miR-101 downregulated the expression of CPEB1 through reversing the methylation status of the CPEB1 promoter by regulating the presence on the promoter of the methylation-related histones H3K4me2, H3K27me3, H3K9me3 and H4K20me3. The epigenetic regulation of H3K27me3 on CPEB1 promoter is mediated by EZH2 and EED. EZH2 has a role in the regulation of H3K4me2. Furthermore, the downregulation of CPEB1 induced senescence in a p53-dependent manner.     

The WEE1 regulators CPEB1 and miR-15b switch from inhibitor to activators at G2/M

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in the AGO-containing RISC complex control messenger RNA (mRNA) translation by binding to mRNA 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR). The relationship between miRNAs and other regulatory factors that also bind to mRNA 3′UTR, such as CPEB1 (cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein), remains elusive. We found that both CPEB1 and miR-15b control the expression of WEE1, a key mammalian cell cycle regulator. Together, they repress WEE1 protein expression during G1 and S-phase. Interestingly, the 2 factors lose their inhibitory activity at the G2/M transition, at the time of the cell cycle when WEE1 expression is maximal, and, moreover, rather activate WEE1 translation in a synergistic manner. Our data show that translational regulation by RISC and CPEB1 is essential in cell cycle control and, most importantly, is coordinated, and can be switched from inhibition to activation during the cell cycle.     

Overexpression of miR-26b-5p regulates the cell cycle by targeting CCND2 in GC-2 cells under exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields

The increasing prevalence of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) exposure has raised considerable public concern regarding the potential hazardous effects of ELF-EMFs on male reproductive function. Increasing evidence indicates that miRNAs are necessary for spermatogenesis and male fertility. However, the regulation of miRNA expression and the roles of miRNAs in response to ELF-EMFs remain unclear. In our study, mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2 cells were intermittently exposed to a 50 Hz ELF-EMF for 72 h (5 min on/10 min off) at magnetic field intensities of 1 mT, 2 mT and 3 mT. MiR-26b-5p was differentially expressed in response to different magnetic field intensities of ELF-EMFs. The host gene CTDSP1 showed an unmethylation status in GC-2 cells at different magnetic field intensities of ELF-EMF exposure. MiR-26b-5p had no significant, obvious influence on the cell viability, apoptosis or cell cycle of GC-2 cells. However, the overexpression of miR-26b-5p significantly decreased the percentage of G0/G1 phase cells and slightly increased the percentage of S phase cells compared to the sham group that was exposed to a 50 Hz ELF-EMF. Computational algorithms identified Cyclin D2 (CCND2) as a direct target of miR-26b-5p. MiR-26b-5p and a 50 Hz ELF-EMF altered the expression of CCND2 at both the mRNA and protein levels. Overexpressed miR-26b-5p in GC-2 cells can change the mRNA expression of CCND2 following 50 Hz ELF-EMF at 3 mT. These findings demonstrate that miR-26b-5p could serve as a potential biomarker following 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure, and miR-26b-5p-CCND2-mediated cell cycle regulation might play a pivotal role in the biological effects of ELF-EMFs.     

MiR-137 affects melanin synthesis in mouse melanocyte by repressing the expression of c-Kit and Tyrp2 in SCF/c-Kit signaling pathway

Previously, we created miR-137 overexpressing transgenic mice that produced lighten color phenotypes including gray mice phenotype. However, the miR-137 functional role in coat color regulation is still not well understood. In this study, the quantity of melanin granule and the relative expression of TYRP2 in gray miR-137 overexpression transgenic mouse skin were significantly lower than that in C57BL/6J black mouse skin. The mRNA and protein expression level of c-Kit and c-Kit downstream gene Tyrp2 in miR-137 expression plasmid-transfected melanocytes were significantly down-regulated comparing with that of the control melanocytes. In melanocytes, miR-137 overexpression could decrease the enhanced expression of c-Kit and Tyrp2 and the increased melanin production caused by UV treatment. The target relationship of miR-137 and c-Kit was identified by luciferase assay. The results suggest that miR-137 could inhibit melanogenesis in mouse skin melanocytes by repressing the expression of c-Kit and Tyrp2 in SCF/c-Kit signaling pathway.     

miR-155对人椎间盘退变髓核细胞凋亡的作用及机制研究

目的:探讨mi R-155对人椎间盘退变髓核细胞凋亡的影响及其作用机制。方法:首先构建慢病毒表达载体,在293T细胞中获得重组慢病毒,然后感染椎间盘退变髓核细胞得到稳定过表达细胞系,同时设置空载体和空白细胞组对照。用荧光显微镜观察慢病毒载体的标签蛋白GFP的表达,分别提取三组细胞总RNA,采用RT-q PCR方法检测mi R-155的表达;通过流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡,Western-Blot检测细胞中凋亡相关蛋白FADD、Caspase-3、Bcl-2及Bax的表达,JC-1试剂盒检测细胞线粒体膜电位的变化情况。结果:在荧光显微镜下,经慢病毒感染的过表达细胞系和空载体细胞系均出现绿色荧光,而空白细胞组未见绿色荧光;RT-qPCR结果显示构建的稳定过表达细胞系(GV369-miR-155-NP)中mi R-155的表达水平较高,且与空载体细胞系及空白细胞对照组均呈显著性差异(P0.05);与空载体组(GV369-NP)及空白细胞对照组相比,过表达组(GV369-miR-155-NP)细胞凋亡率显著降低(P0.05),FADD、Caspase-3、Bax的表达水平均明显下降,而Bcl-2表达水平显著增加(P0.05)。结论:mi R-155可能通过靶向结合Caspase-3和FADD阻止FasL-Fas途径或通过线粒体途径抑制人椎间盘退变髓核细胞凋亡。     

宫颈癌患者新辅助化疗前后miR-138的表达及与化疗敏感性的关系研究

目的:研究宫颈癌患者新辅助化疗前后微小RNA-138(mi R-138)的表达及与化疗敏感性的关系。方法:选取2016年2月至2018年7月我院收治的宫颈癌患者18例为研究对象。所有患者均给予新辅助化疗,并根据治疗后的效果分为化疗有效组与化疗无效组。采用微阵列芯片技术分别检测两组患者化疗前后的mi R-138表达水平,同时采用Western blot技术检测mi R-138基因靶蛋白γH2AX的表达情况,分析患者化疗后mi R-138表达水平与临床病理特征的关系。结果:化疗有效组化疗后mi R-138△Ct值明显低于化疗前,且明显低于化疗无效组(P0.05),而化疗无效组化疗后mi R-138△Ct值与化疗前比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。化疗后两组靶蛋白γH2AX相对表达量均明显低于化疗前(P0.05),化疗有效组靶蛋白γH2AX相对表达量的差值显著低于化疗无效组(P0.05)。宫颈癌患者新辅助化疗后组织中mi R-138△Ct差值与肿瘤分化程度、浸润深度和淋巴结转移密切相关(P0.05),与年龄、FIGO临床分期无关(P0.05)。结论:新辅助化疗可以改变宫颈癌患者的mi R-138表达水平,且mi R-138的表达水平可能与化疗药物敏感性密切相关。     

研究miR-219下调TGFBR2影响ENDMT途径抑制急性心肌梗死

目的: 主要是miR-219通过对TGFBR2调控机制,介导ENDMT途径缓解急性心肌梗死的发展。方法: qRT-PCR检测AMI患者及AMI小鼠血清中miR-219的表达量;过microRNA靶基因数据库TargetScan进行筛选预测;萤光素酶报告基因法及qRT-PCR分析TGFBR2与miR-219的调控机制;通过心脏超声心动图检测AMI小鼠心肌注射miR-219慢病毒4周后的血分数(LVEF);采用qRT-PCR检测心肌注射miR-219慢病毒的AMI小鼠中Nppa 的mRNA的表达量;通过Masson’s trichrome染色法检测小鼠4周后左心室纤维化变化;使用α平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)对小鼠左室切片进行免疫组化分析;通过Western blot检测P-smad2、P-smad3及TGFBR2缺氧诱导蛋白磷酸化的表达水平。结果: miR-219对AMI有调控作用;miR-219可抑制TGFBR2的mRNA表达,而miR-219 inhibitor可以抑制这种下调效果,miR-219对TGFBR2具有抑制调控性;miR-219可抑制急性心肌梗死的进程,促进梗死心肌功能的恢复;miR-219能促进AMI小鼠心肌组织血管的新生和成熟,最终心脏收缩能力上升,心功能恢复;miR-219能抑制TGFBR2抑制EndMT途径,导致缓解AMI的病理进程。结论: miR-219能通过抑制TGFBR2影响EndMT途径,心肌纤维化减少,促进血管的新生和成熟,心功能恢复,抑制AMI的病理发展。