MiR‐139‐5p,miR‐940 and miR‐193a‐5p inhibit the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting SPOCK1

The study was aimed to screen out miRNAs with differential expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to explore the influence of the expressions of these miRNAs and their target gene on HCC cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis. MiRNAs with differential expression in HCC were screened out by microarray analysis. The common target gene of these miRNAs (miR‐139‐5p, miR‐940 and miR‐193a‐5p) was screened out by analysing the target genes profile (acquired from Targetscan) of the three miRNAs. Expression levels of miRNAs and SPOCK1 were determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). The target relationships were verified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA pull‐down assay. Through 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2‐H‐tetrazolium bromide,thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and transwell assays and flow cytometry, HCC cell viability, invasion and apoptosis were determined. In vivo experiment was conducted in nude mice to investigate the influence of three miRNAs on tumour growth. Down‐regulation of miR‐139‐5p, miR‐940 and miR‐193a‐5p was found in HCC. Overexpression of these miRNAs suppressed HCC cell viability and invasion, promoted apoptosis and inhibited tumour growth. SPOCK1, the common target gene of miR‐139‐5p, miR‐940 and miR‐193a‐5p, was overexpressed in HCC. SPOCK1 overexpression promoted proliferation and invasion, and restrained apoptosis of HCC cells. MiR‐139‐5p, miR‐940 and miR‐193a‐5p inhibited HCC development through targeting SPOCK1.     

LncRNA HOXA11‐AS promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by repressing miR‐214‐3p

Accumulating studies supported that lncRNAs played important roles in tumorigenesis. LncRNA HOXA11‐AS was a novel lncRNA that has been proved to involved in several tumours. However, the role of HOXA11‐AS in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be explained. In our study, we showed that HOXA11‐AS expression was up‐regulated in the HCC tissues, and the higher expression of HOXA11‐AS was associated with the advanced stage in the HCC samples. In addition, we indicated that the expression of HOXA11‐AS was up‐regulated in HCC cell lines (Hep3B, SMMC‐7721, MHCC97‐H and BEL‐7402) compared with normal liver cell lines (HL‐7702). Overexpression of HOXA11‐AS promoted HCC proliferation and invasion and induced the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and knockdown of HOXA11‐AS suppressed the HCC cell proliferation and invasion. However, we showed that miR‐214‐3p expression was down‐regulated in the HCC tissues and cell lines. Ectopic expression of miR‐214‐3p suppressed HCC cell proliferation and invasion. Furthermore, we indicated that overexpression of HOXA11‐AS decreased the miR‐214‐3p expression and the expression of miR‐214‐3p was negatively related with the HOXA11‐AS expression in HCC samples. Ectopic expression of HOXA11‐AS increased HCC proliferation and invasion and induced EMT through inhibiting miR‐214‐3p expression. These data suggested that HOXA11‐AS/miR‐214‐3p axis was responsible for development of HCC.     

MicroRNA-450b-3p inhibits cell growth by targeting phosphoglycerate kinase 1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Dysregulation of microRNAs frequently contributes to the occurrence and progression of human diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, the role of miR-450b-3p in HCC was investigated. Gene Expression Omnibus database and HCC specimens were used to evaluate the expression level of miR-450b-3p and the patient's prognosis. Cell functional analyses and tumor xenograft model were used to assess the role of miR-450b-3p in HCC. Bioinformatics was used to predict the downstream target gene of miR-450b-3p, which was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. MiR-450b-3p was found to be downregulated in HCC cell lines and tissues, compared with nontransformed immortal hepatic cells and adjacent normal liver tissues, respectively. Lower expression of miR-450b-3p was associated with poor overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with HCC. Ectopic expression of miR-450b-3p inhibited HCC cell viability, colony formation, and cell-cycle progression in vitro, and suppressed the growth of HCC xenograft tumors in vivo. Interestingly, a negative correlation between miR-450b-3p and phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) protein was observed among HCC specimens. Additionally, miR-450b-3p inhibited PGK1 expression and phosphorylation of protein kinase B in HCC cell lines. Further experiments confirmed that PGK1 was a direct target of miR-450b-3p. Moreover, restoration of PGK1 abrogated the inhibitory effect of miR-450b-3p on HCC proliferation and cell division. In conclusion, miR-450b-3p is downregulated in human HCC and exerts tumor suppressive effects at least in part by inhibiting PGK1.     

MicroRNA‐301b‐3p contributes to tumour growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma by repressing vestigial like family member 4

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators in the tumour growth and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Increasing evidence suggests that miR‐301b‐3p functions as a driver in various types of human cancer. However, the expression pattern of miR‐301b‐3p and its functional role as well as underlying molecular mechanism in HCC remain poorly known. Our study found that miR‐301b‐3p expression was significantly up‐regulated in HCC tissues compared to adjacent non‐tumour tissues. Clinical association analysis revealed that the high level of miR‐301b‐3p closely correlated with large tumour size and advanced tumour‐node‐metastasis stages. Importantly, the high miR‐301b‐3p level predicted a prominent poorer overall survival of HCC patients. Knockdown of miR‐301b‐3p suppressed cell proliferation, led to cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and induced apoptosis of Huh7 and Hep3B cells. Furthermore, miR‐301b‐3p knockdown suppressed tumour growth of HCC in mice. Mechanistically, miR‐301b‐3p directly bond to 3′UTR of vestigial like family member 4 (VGLL4) and negatively regulated its expression. The expression of VGLL4 mRNA was down‐regulated and inversely correlated with miR‐301b‐3p level in HCC tissues. Notably, VGLL4 knockdown markedly repressed cell proliferation, resulted in G2/M phase arrest and promoted apoptosis of HCC cells. Accordingly, VGLL4 silencing rescued miR‐301b‐3p knockdown attenuated HCC cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and apoptosis resistance. Collectively, our results suggest that miR‐301b‐3p is highly expressed in HCC. miR‐301b‐3p facilitates cell proliferation, promotes cell cycle progression and inhibits apoptosis of HCC cells by repressing VGLL4.     

MiR‐128‐1‐5p regulates tight junction induced by selenium deficiency via targeting cell adhesion molecule 1 in broilers vein endothelial cells

Vein endothelial cells (VECs) constitute an important barrier for macromolecules and circulating cells from the blood to the tissues, stabilizing the colloid osmotic pressure of the blood, regulating the vascular tone, and rapidly changing the intercellular connection, and maintaining normal physiological function. Tight junction has been discovered as an important structural basis of intercellular connection and may play a key role in intercellular connection injuries or vascular diseases and selenium (Se) deficiency symptoms. Hence, we replicated the Se‐deficient broilers model and detected the specific microRNA in response to Se‐deficient vein by using quantitative real time‐PCR (qRT‐PCR) analysis. Also, we selected miR‐128‐1‐5p based on differential expression in vein tissue and confirmed its target gene cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1) by the dual luciferase reporter assay and qRT‐PCR in VECs. We made the ectopic miR‐128‐1‐5p expression for the purpose of validating its function on tight junction. The result showed that miR‐128‐1‐5p and CADM1 were involved in the ZO‐1‐mediated tight junction, increased paracellular permeability, and arrested cell cycle. We presumed that miR‐128‐1‐5p and Se deficiency might trigger tight junction. Interestingly, miR‐128‐1‐5p inhibitor and fasudil in part hinder the destruction of the intercellular structure caused by Se deficiency. The miR‐128‐1‐5p/CADM1/tight junction axis provides a new avenue toward understanding the mechanism of Se deficiency, revealing a novel regulation model of tight junction injury in vascular diseases.     

Up‐regulation of miR‐10b‐3p promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via targeting CMTM5

In this study, we investigated how miR‐10b‐3p regulated the proliferation, migration, invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at both in vitro and in vivo levels. CMTM5 was among the differentially expressed genes (data from TCGA). The expression of miR‐10b‐3p and CMTM5 was detected by qRT‐PCR and Western blot (WB). TargetScan was used to acquire the binding sites. Dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the direct target relationship between miR‐10b‐3p and CMTM5. WB analysis proved that miR‐10b‐3p suppressed CMTM5 expression. Furthermore, proliferation, invasion and migration of HCC cells were measured by MTT assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay and wound‐healing assay, respectively. Kaplan‐Meier plotter valued the overall survival of CMTM5. Finally, xenograft assay was also conducted to verify the effects of miR‐10b‐3p/CMTM5 axis in vivo. Up‐regulation of miR‐10b‐3p and down‐regulation of CMTM5 were detected in HCC tissues and cell lines. CMTM5 was verified as a target gene of miR‐10b‐3p. The overexpression of CMTM5 contributed to the suppression of the proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities of HCC cells. Moreover, the up‐regulation of miR‐10b‐3p and down‐regulation of CMTM5 were observed to be associated with worse overall survival. Lastly, we have confirmed the carcinogenesis‐related roles of miR‐10b‐3p and CMTM5 in vivo. We concluded that the up‐regulation of miR‐10b‐3p promoted the progression of HCC cells via targeting CMTM5.     

MiR‐139‐5p inhibits the tumorigenesis and progression of oral squamous carcinoma cells by targeting HOXA9

Our study sought to clarify the effects of microRNA‐139‐5p (miR‐139‐5p) in the tumorigenesis and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by regulating HOXA9. MiR‐139‐5p and HOXA9 expression in OSCC tissues, tumour adjacent tissues, OSCC cells and normal cells were tested by qRT‐PCR. SAS and CAL‐27 cell lines were selected in among four OSCC cell lines and then transfected with miR‐139‐5p mimics, pEGFP‐HOXA9 and cotransfected with miR‐139‐5p mimics + pEGFP‐HOXA9. We used MTT, colony formation, transwell and wound healing assays to analyse cell viability, proliferation, invasion and migration. The target relationship between miR‐139‐5p and HOXA9 was verified by luciferase reporter assay and Western blot, respectively. MiR‐139‐5p was down‐regulated, whereas HOXA9 was up‐regulated in OSCC tissues and cells. The proliferation, invasion and migration ability of SAS and CAL‐27 cells in miR‐139‐5p mimics group were significantly weaker than those in the control group and the miR‐NC group (P < 0.01). MiR‐139‐5p can negatively regulate HOXA9. The proliferation, invasion and migration of SAS and CAL‐27 cells in the miR‐139‐5p mimics + pEGFP‐HOXA9 group were not significantly different from those in the blank control and negative control groups (P > 0.05). Our results indicated that miR‐139‐5p could directly inhibit HOXA9, which might be a potential mechanism in inhibiting the proliferation, invasiveness and migration of OSCC cells.     

LncRNA NR2F1‐AS1 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma oxaliplatin resistance by targeting ABCC1 via miR‐363

Emerging evidence has validated the vital role of long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) in the chemoresistance of cancer treatment. In the present study, we investigate the function of lncRNA NR2F1‐AS1 on oxaliplatin (OXA) resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and discover the underlying molecular mechanism. Results revealed that lncRNA NR2F1‐AS1 was up‐regulated in oxaliplatin‐resistant HCC tissue and cells using microarray analysis and RT‐PCR. Meanwhile, ABCC1 protein was overexpressed in OXA‐resistant HCC cells (Huh7/OXA and HepG2/OXA). In vitro, NR2F1‐AS1 knockdown reduced the invasion, migration, drug‐resistant gene (MDR1, MRP5, LRP1) and IC50 value in Huh7/OXA and HepG2/OXA cells. In vivo, NR2F1‐AS1 knockdown decreased the tumour weight of HCC cells. Bioinformatics tools and luciferase reporter assay confirmed miR‐363 targeted the 3′‐UTR of NR2F1‐AS1 and ABCC1 mRNA, presenting that NR2F1‐AS1 promoted ABCC1 expression through endogenous sponging miR‐363. In summary, results conclude that NR2F1‐AS1 regulates HCC OXA resistance through targeting miR‐363‐ABCC1 pathway, providing a vital theoretic mechanism and therapeutic target for HCC chemoresistance.     

MiR‐590‐3p regulates proliferation,migration and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblast by targeting ZEB1

Previous studies have implicated the attractive and promising role of miR‐590‐3p to restore the cardiac function following myocardial infarction (MI). However, the molecular mechanisms for how miR‐590‐3p involves in cardiac fibrosis remain largely unexplored. Using human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) as the cellular model, luciferase report assay, mutation, EdU assay and transwell migration assay were applied to investigate the biological effects of miR‐590‐3p on the proliferation, differentiation, migration and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts. We found that miR‐590‐3p significantly suppressed cell proliferation and migration of HCFs. The mRNA and protein expression levels of α‐SMA, Col1A1 and Col3A were significantly decreased by miR‐590‐3p. Moreover, miR‐590‐3p directly targeted at the 3’UTR of ZEB1 to repress the translation of ZEB1. Interfering with the expression of ZEB1 significantly decreased the cell proliferation, migration activity, mRNA and protein expressions of α‐SMA, Col1A1 and Col3A. Furthermore, the expressions of miR‐590‐3p and ZEB1 were identified in infarct area of MI model in pigs. Collectively, miR‐590‐3p suppresses the cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts by targeting ZEB1. These works will provide useful biological information for future studies on potential roles of miR‐590‐3p as the therapeutic target to recover cardiac function following MI.     

MiR‐671‐5p plays a promising role in restraining osteosarcoma cell characteristics through targeting TUFT1

The aim of our study was to explore the roles of miR‐671‐5p in mediating biological processes of osteosarcoma (OS) cells and clinical implications. On the basis of the OS samples acquired from the GEO database, the expression difference and overall survival analyses of miR‐671‐5p and TUFT1 were determined. The expression of MiR‐671‐5p was verified using OS cell lines. 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide, wound‐healing, and Transwell assays were respectively carried out to probe whether miR‐671‐5p regulated OS cell vitality, migration, and invasion. The expression of miR‐671‐5p was downregulated in OS tissues and cell lines. High expression of MiR‐671‐5p blocked OS cell growth, migration, and invasion. TUFT1 was predicted and validated as the target of miR‐671‐5p in OS cells using in silico analysis and luciferase reporter assays. Forced expression of TUFT1 reversed the suppressive influence of miR‐671‐5p on cell viability, migration, and invasion of OS cells. Moreover, the low expression of miR‐671‐5p and the high expression of TUFT1 led to poor prognosis. Taken together, targeting miR‐671‐5p/TUFT1 may be a promising strategy for treating OS.