MicroRNA-21 promotes the proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in Eca109 via activating ERK1/2/MAPK pathway

The aim of this study was to investigate how miR-21 promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). MTT, wound healing assay and cell cycle showed that proliferation and migration of ESCC cell line Eca109 cells were increased in miR-21 mimics group, and decreased in anti-miR-21 Oligonucleotide (AMO) group after transfection into Eca109 cells with miR-21 mimics, AMO and scramble sequence, respectively. Cell apoptosis assay indicated that cell apoptosis can be obviously inhibited by overexpression of miR-21 and promoted by downregulation of miR-21. Meanwhile, western-blot results showed that p-ERK1/2 expression was elevated in miR-21 mimics group, whereas decreased in AMO group. Furthermore, the ERK1/2, a key component of MAPK signaling pathway, was knocked down, and overexpressed successfully using shRNA-ERK1/2 and overexpressing plasmids containing full length cDNA of ERK1/2, respectively. It was observed that shRNA-ERK1/2 can significantly decreased the level of miR-21 expression, while overexpression of ERK1/2 can up-regulate expression of miR-21. As further confirmation, Eca109 cells were treated with gradient concentration of U0126, a kind of MEK inhibitor, and expression of miR-21 was subsequently examined. It was found that U0126 can significantly decreased endogenous expression of miR-21. In parallel, U0126 decreased cell proliferation, migration and increased the apoptosis in Eca109 cells, with the expression of miR-21 being reduced significantly in U0126 group as compared with control groups. Our findings indicated that miR-21 promoted the proliferation, migration and inhibited apoptosis of Eca109 cells through activating ERK1/2/MAPK pathway, and that targeting miR-21 could be a promising therapeutic strategy in ESCC.     

MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) expression promotes growth, metastasis, and chemo- or radioresistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells by targeting PTEN

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression by binding to target sites and initiating translational repression and/or mRNA degradation. In our previous study, we have shown that expression of serum microRNA (miR)-21 is correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis and might be an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC patients. However, the roles of miR-21 overexpression in NSCLC development are still unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of miR-21 and determine whether miR-21 can be a therapeutic target for human NSCLC. Taqman real-time quantitative RT-PCR assay was performed to detect miR-21 expression in NSCLC cell lines and tissues. Next, the effects of miR-21 expression on NSCLC cell characteristics including growth, invasion, and chemo- or radioresistance were also determined. Results showed that miR-21 is commonly upregulated in NSCLC cell lines and tissues with important functional consequences. In addition, we found that anti-miR-21 could significantly inhibit growth, migration and invasion, and reverse chemo- or radioresistance of NSCLC cells, while miR-21 mimics could increase growth, promote migration and invasion, and enhance chemo- or radioresistance of NSCLC cells. Meanwhile, miR-21 mimics could inhibit expression of PTEN mRNA and protein and the luciferase activity of a PTEN 3??-untranslated region (UTR)-based reporter construct in A549 cells, while anti-miR-21 could increase expression of PTEN mRNA and protein and the luciferase activity of a PTEN 3??-UTR-based reporter construct in A549 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of PTEN could mimic the same effects of anti-miR-21 in NSCLC cells, and siRNA-mediated downregulation of PTEN could rescue the effects on NSCLC cells induced by anti-miR-21. Taken together, these results provide evidence to show the promotion role of miR-21 in NSCLC development through modulation of the PTEN signaling pathway.     

miR-155 通过p53/p21 调控前列腺癌细胞周期

目的:探讨miR-155对前列腺癌细胞周期的影响及其分子机制。方法:通过转染anti-miR-155抑制前列腺癌DU145和PC-3细胞中miR-155水平后,采用流式细胞术观察细胞周期的变化,western blot和RT-PCR观察p53和p21蛋白及CDK2和cyclin蛋白和m RNA表达的变化。结果:与对照组相比,DU145和PC-3细胞转染anti-miR-155后,G2/M期细胞阻滞,S期细胞数比例显著增加(P0.05),p53和p21蛋白和m RNA表达水平显著增加(P0.01),CDK2和cyclin E蛋白和m RNA表达均显著降低(P0.01)。结论:miR-155可影响人前列腺癌细胞的周期,可能与其调节p53、p21及其下游的CDK2和cyclin E的表达相关。     

The presence of Estrogen Receptor β modulates the response of breast cancer cells to therapeutic agents

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death for women. The estrogen receptors (ERs) ratio is important in the maintenance of mitochondrial redox status, and higher levels of ERβ increases mitochondrial functionality, decreasing ROS production. Our aim was to determine the interaction between the ERα/ERβ ratio and the response to cytotoxic treatments such as cisplatin (CDDP), paclitaxel (PTX) and tamoxifen (TAM). Cell viability, apoptosis, autophagy, ROS production, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial mass and mitochondrial functionality were analyzed in MCF-7 (high ERα/ERβ ratio) and T47D (low ERα/ERβ ratio) breast cancer cell lines. Cell viability decreased more in MCF-7 when treated with CDDP and PTX. Apoptosis was less activated after cytotoxic treatments in T47D than in MCF-7 cells. Nevertheless, autophagy was increased more in CDDP-treated MCF-7, but less in TAM-treated cells than in T47D. CDDP treatment produced a raise in mitochondrial mass in MCF-7, as well as the citochrome c oxidase (COX) and ATP synthase protein levels, however significantly reduced COX activity. In CDDP-treated cells, the overexpression of ERβ in MCF-7 caused a reduction in apoptosis, autophagy and ROS production, leading to higher cell survival; and the silencing of ERβ in T47D cells promoted the opposite effects. In TAM-treated cells, ERβ-overexpression led to less cell viability by an increment in autophagy; and the partial knockdown of ERβ in T47D triggered an increase in ROS production and apoptosis, leading to cell death. In conclusion, ERβ expression plays an important role in the response of cancer cells to cytotoxic agents, especially for cisplatin treatment.     

miR-21 targets the tumor suppressor RhoB and regulates proliferation, invasion and apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells

It has become increasingly clear that microRNAs play an important role in many human diseases including cancer. Here, we show that expression of miR-21 in HEK293 and several colorectal cancer cells was found inversely correlated with ras homolog gene family, member B (RhoB) expression. miR-21 expression significantly suppressed RhoB 3' UTR luciferase-reporter activity, but the inhibitory effect was lost when the putative target sites were mutated. Exogenous miR-21 over-expression mimicked the effect of RhoB knockdown in promoting proliferation and invasion and inhibiting apoptosis, whereas anti-miR-21 or RhoB expression yielded opposite effects, in colorectal cancer cells. These results suggest that miR-21 is a regulator of RhoB expression and RhoB could be a useful target in exploring the potential therapeutic benefits of miR-21 mediated tumor cell behaviors in colorectal cancer.     

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of silibinin induces cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis on HeLa cells

Silibinin, an effective anti-cancer and chemopreventive agent in various epithelial cancer models, has been reported to inhibit cancer cell growth through mitogenic signalling pathways including cervical cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms are still not well elucidated. Here, we assessed the effect of silibinin on human cervical carcinoma cell cycle modulation, apoptosis induction and associated molecular alterations by employing HeLa cell line. Silibinin treatment of HeLa cells resulted in a G2 arrest and induced a decrease in cyclin-dependent kinases involved in both G1 and G2 progression. In addition, silibinin showed a dose-dependent and a time-dependent apoptotic death in HeLa cells in both the mitochondrial pathway and the death receptor-mediated pathway, providing a strong rationale for future studies evaluating preventive and/or intervention strategies for silibinin in cervical cancer pre-clinical models.     

MiR-206与ANXA2的3′UTR靶向结合抑制乳腺癌侵袭

膜联蛋白A2（annexin A2,ANXA2）可促进人结直肠癌的侵袭和迁移。然而,ANXA2在乳腺癌中的作用以及调节机制尚缺乏系统的研究。本研究旨在探讨微小RNA-206（microRNA-206,miR-206）如何调节ANXA2基因的表达,进而影响乳腺癌的侵袭。通过基因预测软件TargetScan (TargetScan V5.2)找到与ANXA2的3′UTR区互补结合的miR-206。运用实时定量 PCR（qRT-PCR）检测不同乳腺癌细胞系中miR-206的表达水平,发现低侵袭性乳腺癌MCF-7细胞株miR-206 表达量明显高于高侵袭性乳腺癌细胞株MDA-231、MDA-435和T47D。运用转染技术将 miR-206 质粒及miR-206 抑制剂转入乳腺癌细胞系MDA-231后,qRT-PCR检测转染后各组细胞中miR-206的表达情况,结果显示转染成功。用Western印迹法检测各组细胞中ANXA2的表达情况,结果显示,miR-206负向调控ANXA2蛋白的表达。 qRT-PCR显示,过表达乳腺癌细胞内miR-206 后,ANXA2 mRNA基本没有变化。结果显示,miR-206是在翻译水平上影响ANXA2蛋白的表达。荧光素酶实验显示：miR-206能特异性地与ANXA2 mRNA的3′UTR结合,抑制其荧光素酶活性。Transwell侵袭实验检测各组细胞的侵袭能力。结果显示,过表达miR-206后,乳腺癌细胞体外侵袭能力明显减弱。综上所述,miR-206 通过靶向结合癌基因ANXA2 mRNA的3′UTR区,抑制ANXA2蛋白翻译,从而抑制了乳腺癌细胞的侵袭。因此,miR-206有望成为抑制乳腺癌侵袭与治疗乳腺癌的新靶点和生物学标记物。     

MicroRNA-221/222 negatively regulates estrogen receptor alpha and is associated with tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer

A search for regulators of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) expression has yielded a set of microRNAs (miRNAs) for which expression is specifically elevated in ERalpha-negative breast cancer. Here we show distinct expression of a panel of miRNAs between ERalpha-positive and ERalpha-negative breast cancer cell lines and primary tumors. Of the elevated miRNAs in ERalpha-negative cells, miR-221 and miR-222 directly interact with the 3'-untranslated region of ERalpha. Ectopic expression of miR-221 and miR-222 in MCF-7 and T47D cells resulted in a decrease in expression of ERalpha protein but not mRNA, whereas knockdown of miR-221 and miR-222 partially restored ERalpha in ERalpha protein-negative/mRNA-positive cells. Notably, miR-221- and/or miR-222-transfected MCF-7 and T47D cells became resistant to tamoxifen compared with vector-treated cells. Furthermore, knockdown of miR-221 and/or miR-222 sensitized MDA-MB-468 cells to tamoxifen-induced cell growth arrest and apoptosis. These findings indicate that miR-221 and miR-222 play a significant role in the regulation of ERalpha expression at the protein level and could be potential targets for restoring ERalpha expression and responding to antiestrogen therapy in a subset of breast cancers.     

lncRNA RPL34-AS1通过靶向调控miR-575表达对卵巢癌SKOV3细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的探究RPL34-AS1对卵巢癌细胞增殖、迁移的影响及其作用机制。 方法取对数生长期SKOV3细胞用无血清培养基同步化12 h,将pcDNA、pcDNA-RPL34-AS1、si-NC、si-RPL34-AS1、anti-miR-NC、anti-miR-575转染至SKOV3细胞中,分别记为pcDNA组、pcDNA-RPL34-AS1组、si-NC组、si-RPL34-AS1组、anti-miR-NC组、anti-miR-575组;将pcDNA-RPL34-AS1与miR-NC、miR-575分别共转染至SKOV3细胞中,记为pcDNA-RPL34-AS1+miR-NC组、pcDNA-RPL34-AS1+miR-575组。实时荧光定量PCR （RT-qPCR）检测临床组织标本及转染后各组细胞中RPL34-AS1和miR-575的表达水平;双荧光素酶报告实验检测RPL34-AS1和miR-575的靶向关系;四甲基偶氮唑盐比色法（MTT）检测细胞存活率;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡;蛋白质印迹（Western blot）法检测细胞周期蛋白D1（Cyclin D1）、细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制剂1A （p21）、B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病-2 （Bcl-2）、Bcl-2相关X蛋白（Bax）蛋白表达水平。两组间比较采用独立样本t检验,多组间比较采用单因素方差分析,组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验。 结果与癌旁组织相比,卵巢癌组织中RPL34-AS1表达水平降低（1.00±0.08比0.47±0.05）,miR-575表达水平升高（1.01±0.07比3.12±0.28）（P < 0.05）。转染si-RPL34-AS1后,细胞活性升高（48 h：0.68±0.06比0.55±0.05;72 h：0.99±0.08比0.71±0.06）,G1期细胞所占比例降低（13.42±1.38比32.15±2.11）,S期细胞所占比例升高（53.75±5.22比34.69±3.41）,细胞凋亡率降低（4.31±0.42比9.25±0.91）,CyclinD1、Bcl-2表达水平升高（0.92±0.08比0.71±0.07;0.86±0.07比0.61±0.06）,p21、Bax表达水平降低（0.13±0.02比0.29±0.03;0.19±0.02比0.31±0.03） （P均< 0.05）。RPL34-AS1靶向调控miR-575,过表达RPL34-AS1或抑制miR-575后可抑制细胞活性,阻滞细胞周期和促进细胞凋亡。miR-575过表达逆转了RPL34-AS1过表达对卵巢癌SKOV3细胞增殖抑制和凋亡促进的作用。 结论过表达RPL34-AS1可抑制卵巢癌SKOV3细胞增殖,促进细胞凋亡,其机制可能与下调miR-575有关。     

Interaction of vitamin D analogs with signaling pathways leading to active cell death in breast cancer cells

Induction of apoptosis is a feature of the anti-tumor effects of certain vitamin D analogs. The aim of this study was to identify if common effectors are involved in cell death mediated by serum starvation, vitamin D analogs and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha in 3 human breast cancer cell lines: MCF-7, T47-D and Hs578T. Incubation of cells in serum-free medium induced apoptosis as assessed by loss of cell viability and increased DNA fragmentation. Addition of IGF-I (30 ng/ml) protected against loss of cell viability in MCF-7 cells and co-treatment with two synthetic analogs (CB1093 and EB1089, 50 nM for 4 days) prevented these anti-apoptotic effects of IGF-I. Pretreatment of MCF-7 and Hs578T cells with the vitamin D analogs substantially potentiated the cytotoxic effects of TNFalpha. This cytokine was not cytotoxic for T47-D cells but co-incubation with CB1093 led to loss of cell viability. Potentiation by CB1093 of TNFalpha-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells was accompanied by increased activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and arachidonic acid release, which was partially inhibited by AACOCF3, a specific cPLA2 inhibitor. The broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk prevented TNFalpha but not CB1093 mediated cell death and activation of cPLA2. Serum starvation induced apoptosis was accompanied by cPLA2 activation, which was inhibited by IGF-I and by z-VAD-fmk. However, the ability of these agents to suppress cPLA2 activation was abrogated by co-treatment with CB1093, suggesting a role for arachidonic acid release in the caspase-independent mechanism by which vitamin D analogs prevent the protective effects of IGF-I on breast cancer cell survival.     

miR-670-5p对肺癌细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭的影响

目的: 探讨miR-670-5p对肺癌细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭的影响,分析其调控WW结构域氧化还原酶基因(WWOX)的机制。方法: 收集2016年1月至2017年10月收治的28例肺癌组织和对应癌旁组织,实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测肺癌组织、癌旁组织中miR-670-5p的表达水平。将肺癌细胞A549分为anti-miR-NC组(转染anti-miR-NC)、anti-miR-670-5p组(转染anti-miR-670-5p)、anti-miR-670-5p+si-NC组(转染anti-miR-670-5p与si-NC)、anti-miR-670-5p+si-WWOX组(转染anti-miR-670-5p与si-WWOX)。转染48 h后,RT-qPCR或蛋白质印记(Western blot)检测转染效果。细胞计数试剂盒(CCK-8)检测细胞活力;Transwell实验检测细胞迁移和侵袭能力;Western blot检测P21、上皮细胞钙粘蛋白(E-cadherin)和基质金属蛋白酶2(MMP-2)蛋白的表达水平。双荧光素酶报告基因实验和Western blot验证miR-670-5p和WWOX的靶向关系。结果: 肺癌组织中miR-670-5p的表达水平较癌旁组织显著升高(P＜0.05)。抑制miR-670-5p可抑制MMP-2蛋白表达(P＜0.05),促进P21和E-cadherin表达(P＜0.05),抑制A549细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭(P＜0.05)。WWOX是miR-670-5p的靶基因,miR-670-5p负调控WWOX表达。抑制WWOX可部分逆转anti-miR-670-5p对A549细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭的影响(P＜0.05)。结论: miR-670-5p通过靶向WWOX能够促进肺癌细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭。     

miR-335靶向Rho相关卷曲螺旋形成蛋白激酶1对卵巢癌细胞增殖的影响

目的: 探讨miR-335 靶向Rho相关卷曲螺旋形成蛋白激酶1(rho associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase 1,ROCK1)对卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3增殖的调控作用。方法:(1)选取卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3及人正常卵巢上皮细胞系IOSE80,采用RT-PCR检测各组细胞中miR-335表达;采用Western blot检测各组细胞中ROCK1蛋白表达;(2)选取卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3,分别转染miR-335 mimic及mimic control,采用RT-PCR检测细胞中miR-335表达;(3)选取卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3,将SKOV3荧光素酶报告载体与miR-335 mimic共转染,采用荧光素酶活性实验验证miR-335对SKOV3的靶向作用;(4)选取卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3,分为3组,即SKOV3组(转染mimic control)、miR-335 mimic组(转染miR-335 mimic)及miR-335 mimic+ROCK1组(共转染miR-335 mimic+ROCK1),采用MTT法检测各组细胞增殖活性,采用Western blot检测各组细胞中ROCK1蛋白表达,采用RT-PCR检测细胞中Cyclin D1表达。结果: (1)RT-PCR结果显示,卵巢癌细胞SKOV3中miR-335表达显著低于人正常卵巢上皮细胞IOSE80(P < 0.05);Western blot结果显示,卵巢癌细胞SKOV3中ROCK1蛋白表达显著高于人正常卵巢上皮细胞IOSE80(P < 0.05);(2)RT-PCR结果显示,转染miR-335 mimic可使卵巢癌细胞SKOV3中miR-335表达上调,与转染mimic control相比较差异具有统计学意义(P < 0.05);(3)双荧光素酶活性检测结果显示,miR-335 mimic可显著抑制野生型ROCK1-Wt报告载体的荧光素酶活性,但对突变型ROCK1-Mut报告载体的荧光素酶活性并无显著抑制作用;(4)转染miR-335mimic后,卵巢癌细胞SKOV3增殖活性及Cyclin D1表达较阴性对照组显著降低(P < 0.05);而转染miR-335 mimic+ROCK1后,卵巢癌细胞SKOV3增殖活性及Cyclin D1表达较单纯转染miR-335 mimic组显著提高(P < 0.05),但仍显著低于阴性对照组(P < 0.05)。Western blot检测结果显示,转染miR-335mimic后,卵巢癌细胞SKOV3中ROCK1蛋白表达较阴性对照组显著降低(P < 0.05);而转染miR-335 mimic+ROCK1后,ROCK1蛋白表达较单纯转染miR-335mimic组显著增高(P < 0.05),且显著高于阴性对照组(P < 0.05)。结论: miR-335可通过靶向ROCK1抑制卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3增殖。     

抑癌因子miR-10a抑制Tiam1表达对胃癌细胞凋亡和迁移的影响

目的:探讨miR-10a抑制Tiam1表达对胃癌细胞凋亡和侵袭的影响。方法:获取胃上皮组织细胞及胃癌组织细胞,利用q PCR及Western blot实验检测两种细胞中mi R-10a表达与Tiam1的m RNA及蛋白表达水平,同时检测胃癌细胞S746T及正常胃粘膜细胞RGM-1和NGEC中mi R-10a表达与Tiam1蛋白表达水平。通过将mi R-10a mimic和mi R-10a inhibitor转染HS746T细胞,利用流式细胞术检测HS746T的细胞周期和细胞凋亡,TranswellTM实验检测HS746T细胞的侵袭能力,qPCR及Western blot实验检测凋亡相关蛋白caspase3、caspase9和Bax以及周期相关蛋白P21表达水平;荧光素酶活性分析实验检测Tiam1是mi R-10a的作用靶点。已构建的Tiam1高表达的Tiam1-pcDNA3.1质粒和敲除Tiam1基因的PX458质粒分别转染HS746T细胞,通过流式细胞术及TranswellTM实验检测HS746T细胞的凋亡及侵袭能力。结果:与胃上皮组织细胞相比,早期胃癌临床组织细胞中mi R-10a表达降低,Tiam1的m RNA及蛋白表达升高;mi R-10a的表达与早期胃癌患者的肿瘤转移密切相关,与年龄、性别和肿瘤分期无关;与正常胃粘膜细胞RGM-1和NGEC相比,胃癌细胞HS746T中的mi R-10a表达降低,而Tiam1蛋白表达升高;mi R-10a可抑制HS746T细胞侵袭,促进细胞凋亡,使其停滞于G0/G1期;mi R-10a靶向作用于Tiam1基因的3'非翻译区(3'UTR),减少Tiam1的蛋白表达;Tiam1可抑制HS746T细胞凋亡,促进HS746T细胞侵袭。结论:mi R-10a靶向作用于Tiam1基因的3'UTR,抑制HS746T细胞的增殖及侵袭,促进HS746T细胞凋亡。     

Exosomes from Drug-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells Transmit Chemoresistance by a Horizontal Transfer of MicroRNAs

Adriamycin and docetaxel are two agents commonly used in treatment of breast cancer, but their efficacy is often limited by the emergence of chemoresistance. Recent studies indicate that exosomes act as vehicles for exchange of genetic cargo between heterogeneous populations of tumor cells, engendering a transmitted drug resistance for cancer development and progression. However, the specific contribution of breast cancer-derived exosomes is poorly understood. Here we reinforced other''s report that human breast cancer cell line MCF-7/S could acquire increased survival potential from its resistant variants MCF-7/Adr and MCF-7/Doc. Additionally, exosomes of the latter, A/exo and D/exo, significantly modulated the cell cycle distribution and drug-induced apoptosis with respect to S/exo. Exosomes pre-treated with RNase were unable to regulate cell cycle and apoptosis resistance, suggesting an RNA-dependent manner. Microarray and polymerase chain reaction for the miRNA expression profiles of A/exo, D/exo, and S/exo demonstrated that they loaded selective miRNA patterns. Following A/exo and D/exo transfer to recipient MCF-7/S, the same miRNAs were significantly increased in acquired cells. Target gene prediction and pathway analysis showed the involvement of miR-100, miR-222, and miR-30a in pathways implicated in cancer pathogenesis, membrane vesiculation and therapy failure. Furthermore, D/exo co-culture assays and miRNA mimics transfection experiments indicated that miR-222-rich D/exo could alter target gene expression in MCF-7/S. Our results suggest that drug-resistant breast cancer cells may spread resistance capacity to sensitive ones by releasing exosomes and that such effects could be partly attributed to the intercellular transfer of specific miRNAs.