Circ_0004015 silencing represses cisplatin chemoresistance and tumor progression by reducing KLF8 in a miR-198-dependent manner in non-small cell lung cancer

Circular RNA (circRNA) plays vital roles in diverse cancer progression, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Herein, the role of circ_0004015 in regulating the sensitivity of NSCLC to cisplatin (DDP) is revealed. The RNA expression of circ_0004015, microRNA-198 (miR-198) and kruppel like factor 8 (KLF8) was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression was checked by western blot. The half maximal inhibitory concentration of DDP and cell proliferation were determined by cell counting kit-8 assay. Cell colony formation ability, migration, invasion and apoptosis were investigated by colony-forming assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The effect of circ_0004015 knockdown on DDP sensitivity in vivo was demonstrated by mouse model assay. The interactions among circ_0004015, miR-198 and KLF8 were predicted by bioinformatics methods, and identified by mechanism assays. The expression of circ_0004015 and KLF8 was apparently upregulated, while miR-198 expression was downregulated in DDP-resistant NSCLC tissues and cells compared with control groups. Additionally, circ_0004015 silencing repressed DDP resistance, cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but induced cell apoptosis in DDP-resistant NSCLC cells. Circ_0004015 knockdown promoted the effect of DDP on tumor formation in vivo. Also, miR-198 inhibitors attenuated circ_0004015 depletion-mediated action though associating with circ_0004015. MiR-198 regulated DDP sensitivity and NSCLC progression by targeting KLF8. Furthermore, circ_0004015 modulated KLF8 expression through interaction with miR-198. Circ_0004015 conferred DDP resistance and promoted NSCLC progression by miR-198/KLF8 pathway, proving a potential target for studying DDP-mediated treatment of NSCLC.     

LncRNA CRNDE promotes the progression and angiogenesis of pancreatic cancer via miR-451a/CDKN2D axis

BackgroundThe lncRNA colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (lncRNA CRNDE) has been reported to play a pivotal role in various cancers. However, the expression and function of CRNDE in pancreatic cancer remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of CRNDE on pancreatic cancer and the underlying mechanisms.MethodsThe expression of CRNDE in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines was determined by RT-qPCR. Proliferation and angiogenesis were detected by MTT, colony formation, transwell and tube formation assays in vitro and in vivo. ELISA assay was used to detect the secretion of VEGFA. IHC was performed to test the expression levels of Ki67 and CD31. The binding sites between CRNDE, CDKN2D and miR-451a were predicted by bioinformatics analysis. Dual luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to confirm the interaction with each other.ResultsThe results showed that CRNDE was significantly up-regulated in pancreatic cancer tissues as well as cell lines. CRNDE overexpression promoted the progression and angiogenesis of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we identified that CRNDE functioned as a sponge for miR-451a and CRNDE overexpression inhibited the expression of miR-451a. Furthermore, we confirmed that miR-451a directly interacted with CDKN2D and negatively regulated CDKN2D expression. In addition, CRNDE was found to positively regulate CDKN2D expression and mediate pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis through miR-451a/CDKN2D axis.ConclusionCRNDE modulates cell proliferation and angiogenesis via miR-451a/CDKN2D axis in pancreatic cancer, which provides a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer treatment.     

Estrogen receptor beta promotes lung cancer invasion via increasing CXCR4 expression

Lung cancer is one of the most lethal malignant tumors in the world. The high recurrence and mortality rate make it urgent for scientists and clinicians to find new targets for better treatment of lung cancer. Early studies indicated that estrogen receptor β (ERβ) might impact the progression of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the detailed mechanisms, especially its linkage to the CXCR4-mediated cell invasion, remain unclear. Here we found that ERβ could promote NSCLC cell invasion via increasing the circular RNA (circRNA), circ-TMX4, expression via directly binding to the 5′ promoter region of its host gene TMX4. ERβ-promoted circ-TMX4 could then sponge and inhibit the micro RNA (miRNA, miR), miR-622, expression, which can then result in increasing the CXCR4 messenger RNA translation via a reduced miRNA binding to its 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR). The preclinical study using an in vivo mouse model with orthotopic xenografts of NSCLC cells confirmed the in vitro data, and the human NSCLC database analysis and tissue staining also confirmed the linkage of ERβ/miR-622/CXCR4 signaling to the NSCLC progression. Together, our findings suggest that ERβ can promote NSCLC cell invasion via altering the ERβ/circ-TMX4/miR-622/CXCR4 signaling, and targeting this newly circ-TMX4/miR-622/CXCR4 signaling may help us find new treatment strategies to better suppress NSCLC progression.Subject terms: Non-small-cell lung cancer, Metastasis     

非小细胞肺癌组织CENPF、KLF4表达与上皮-间质转化和预后的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）组织中着丝粒蛋白F（CENPF）、Krüppel样因子4（KLF4）表达与上皮-间质转化（EMT）和预后的关系。方法：选取2017年1月至2019年12月期间于泰州市第四人民医院行手术切除的120例NSCLC患者的癌组织和距癌组织5cm癌旁组织标本,采用免疫组织化学法和免疫印迹法检测癌组织和癌旁组织中CENPF、KLF4及ETM相关标志物[E-钙粘蛋白（E-cadherin）、波形蛋白（Vimentin）]的阳性表达率和表达量。采用Pearson检验分析CENPF、KLF4与EMT相关标志物的相关性,并分析CENPF、KLF4表达与NSCLC患者预后的关系。结果：NSCLC癌组织中CENPF、Vimentin的阳性表达率显著高于癌旁组织（均P<0.05）,而KLF4、E-cadherin的阳性表达率均显著低于癌旁组织（均P<0.05）。NSCLC癌组织中CENPF与E-cadherin呈负相关,与Vimentin呈正相关（P<0.05）;而KLF4与E-cadherin呈正相关,与Vimentin呈负相关（P<0.05）。NSCLC癌组织中CENPF、KLF4的阳性表达率与TNM分期和淋巴结转移有关（均P<0.05）。入组患者3年无病生存率（DFS）为60.00%。CENPF阳性表达的NSCLC患者3年DFS显著低于CENPF阴性表达患者（56.25% vs 75.00%,P=0.014）,KLF4阳性表达的NSCLC患者3年DFS显著高于KLF4阴性表达患者（68.75% vs 54.17%, P=0.048）。结论：CENPF的高表达及KLF4的低表达可促进NSCLC的EMT发生、进展,并导致患者预后不良,CENPF和KLF4可辅助预测NSCLC患者的预后。     

miR-182靶向抑制FBXW7表达影响非小细胞肺癌细胞增殖研究

目的:研究microRNA-182(miR-182)在非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)组织中的表达,并探讨其对NSCLC细胞增殖的影响及作用机制。方法:采用实时荧光定量PCR (qRT-PCR)检测miR-182在11例NSCLC及相应癌旁组织中的表达情况;Western blot检测FBXW7,c-Jun,c-Myc及cyclin D蛋白的表达;将miR-182模拟物,抑制物及相应空白对照瞬时转染H460细胞后,以细胞增殖与活性检测和克隆形成实验检测细胞系的增殖情况;流式细胞术检测细胞周期和凋亡变化;荧光素酶报告基因实验证实miR-182对FBXW7的靶向性作用。结果:NSCLC组织中miR-182的相对表达水平显著高于癌旁组织(P0.05)。转染组与对照组相比,H460细胞生长、克隆形成能力显著增强,细胞周期进程加快,细胞凋亡受到抑制(P0.05)。在NSCLC组织中,FBXW7蛋白的表达水平明显低于癌旁组织(P0.05)。miR-182 mimics显著降低野生型FBXW7质粒荧光素酶的活性,然而将结合位点突变后,miR-182 mimics则不再影响荧光素酶的活性。结论:miR-182在NSCLC组织中高表达,与FBXW7之间存在靶向关系,通过下调FBXW7蛋白表达促进NSCLC细胞的增殖,参与肿瘤的发生发展,预示其可能成为一种潜在的生物标志和治疗靶点。     

MicroRNA-10b Promotes Migration and Invasion through KLF4 in Human Esophageal Cancer Cell Lines

Recently, microRNAs have emerged as regulators of cancer metastasis through acting on multiple signaling pathways involved in metastasis. In this study, we have analyzed the level of miR-10b and cell motility and invasiveness in several human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Our results reveal a significant correlation of miR-10b level with cell motility and invasiveness. Overexpression of miR-10b in KYSE140 cells increased cell motility and invasiveness, whereas inhibition of miR-10b in EC9706 cells reduced cell invasiveness, although it did not alter cell motility. Additionally, we identified KLF4, a known tumor suppressor gene that has been reported to suppress esophageal cancer cell migration and invasion, as a direct target of miR-10b. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-10b in KYSE140 and KYSE450 cells led to a reduction of endogenous KLF4 protein, whereas silencing of miR-10b in EC9706 cells caused up-regulation of KLF4 protein. Coexpression of miR-10b and KLF4 in KYSE140 cells and coexpression of small interfering RNA for KLF4 mRNA and miR-10b-AS in EC9706 cells partially abrogated the effect of miR-10b on cell migration and invasion. Finally, analyses of the miR-10b level in 40 human esophageal cancer samples and their paired normal adjacent tissues revealed an elevated expression of miR-10b in 95% (38 of 40) of cancer tissues, although no significant correlation of the miR-10b level with clinical metastasis status was observed in these samples.     

Knockdown of LncRNA PVT1 inhibits tumorigenesis in non-small-cell lung cancer by regulating miR-497 expression

Plasmacytoma variant translocation1 (PVT1) was reported to be upregulated in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues, serve as a promising biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of NSCLC, and promoted NSCLC cell proliferation. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of PVT1 involved in the pathogenesis and development of NSCLC remains largely unknown. In this study, the expression levels of PVT1 and miR-497 in NSCLC cells were determined by qRT-PCR. Cell viability, invasion and apoptosis were detected by MTT assay, cell invasion assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and luciferase reporter assay were performed to confirm whether PVT1 directly interacts with miR-497. A xenograft mouse model was established to confirm the effect of PVT1 on tumor growth in vivo and the underlying molecular mechanism. Our findings indicated that PVT1 was significantly upregulated and miR-497 was markedly downregulated in NSCLC cell lines. si-PVT1 effectively decreased the expression of PVT1 and increased the expression of miR-497. PVT1 knockdown remarkably inhibited cell viability, invasion and promoted apoptosis in NSCLC cells. RIP and luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that PVT1 could directly interact with miR-497. Moreover, PVT1 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-497 on cell viability, invasion and promotion effect on apoptosis of NSCLC cells. Furthermore, in vivo experiment showed that knockdown of PVT1 inhibited tumor growth in vivo and promoted miR-497 expression. In conclusion, knockdown of PVT1 inhibited cell viability, invasion and induced apoptosis in NSCLC by regulating miR-497 expression, elucidating the molecular mechanism of the oncogenic role of PVT1 in NSCLC and providing an lncRNA-directed target for NSCLC.     

miR-204通过抑制OGT的表达调控非小细胞肺癌细胞的增殖和迁移

目的:探究miR-204和O-连接N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶(O link N-acetylglucosamine transferase,OGT)对非小细胞肺癌(Non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)细胞增殖和转移的影响,并深入分析其可能机制。方法:采用Oncomine及KM-Ploter数据库分析OGT在肺癌组织中的表达及与肺癌患者预后的关系;采用慢病毒转染人非小细胞肺癌A549及永生化人肺支气管上皮细胞BEAS-2B,分别构建OGT稳定下调和过表达的细胞系,利用CCK-8、平板克隆和裸鼠皮下成瘤实验检测细胞增殖的情况,划痕实验、Transwell实验和裸鼠尾静脉注射肺转移模型检测细胞转移的情况。利用数据库分析可能参与OGT调控的microRNA,并用双荧光素酶报告基因验证。利用TCGA数据库分析miR-204在肺癌中的表达情况,并在30例肺癌组织及其对应癌旁组织中分析miR-204与OGT之间的相关性。结果:OGT在肺癌组织中呈高表达,且与患者的不良预后相关(HR=1.22,P 0.01);OGT的表达上调肺癌细胞的增殖和转移;miR-204可以负向调控OGT的表达,且miR-204在肺癌组织中表达水平显著低于癌旁组织,在肺癌组织中miR-204的水平与OGT的表达水平呈负相关(R~2=-0.4729,P 0.01)。结论:在非小细胞肺癌中,miR-204的降低通过上调OGT的表达促进肺癌的增殖和转移。     

Circular RNA circUBE2J2 acts as the sponge of microRNA-370-5P to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Accumulating evidences indicate that circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, play important roles in tumorigenesis. However, the function of circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma is largely unknown. CircRNA microarray was performed to identify abnormally expressed circRNAs in HCC tissue samples. We conducted Kaplan–Meier survival analysis to explore the significance of circUBE2J2 in clinical prognosis. Then, we examined the functions of circUBE2J2 in HCC by cell proliferation, migration, and mouse xenograft assay. We identified miR-370-5P as a circUBE2J2-related microRNA by using biotin-labeled circUBE2J2 probe to perform RNA antisense purification (RAP) assay in HCC cells. The dual luciferase reporter assay and RNA pulldown assays were employed to verify the relationships among circUBE2J2, miRNA-370-5P, and KLF7. Microarray analysis and qRT-PCR verified a circRNA termed circUBE2J2 that was downregulated in HCC. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that downregulated circUBE2J2 was correlated with poorer survival. CircUBE2J2 expression in HCC cells was selectively regulated via luciferase reporter assays; circUBE2J2 and KLF7 were observed to directly bind to miR-370-5P. Furthermore, knockdown of circUBE2J2 in HCC could downregulate KLF7, the target of miR-370-5P, thus promoting the proliferation and migration of HCC cells. Then the related experiment suggested that circUBE2J2 could regulate the expression of KLF7 by sponging miR-370-5p. In summary, we infer that circUBE2J2 may act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to regulate KLF7 expression through sponging miR-370-5P and play a regulatory functions in HCC. CircUBE2J2 may be a diagnostic biomarker and potential target for HCC therapy.Subject terms: Tumour biomarkers, Small RNAs     

miR-137 impairs the proliferative and migratory capacity of human non-small cell lung cancer cells by targeting paxillin

Human lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer motility worldwide, with nearly 1.4 million deaths each year, among which non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for almost 85 % of this disease. The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) provides a new avenue for NSCLC diagnostic and treatment regiments. Currently, a large number of miRNAs have been reported to be associated with the progression of NSCLC, among which serum miR-137 has been examined to be down-regulated in NSCLC patients. However, the function of miR-137 on NSCLC cells migration and invasion and the relative mechanisms were less known. Here, we found that ectopic expression of miR-137 could inhibit cell proliferation, induce cell apoptosis, and suppress cell migration and invasion in NSCLC cell line A549. Moreover, we found that paxillin (PXN) was a target gene of miR-137 in NSCLC cells and restored expression of PXN abolished the miR-137-mediated suppression of cell migration and invasion. Taken together, our results showed that miR-137 acted as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC by targeting PXN, and it may provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic options for human NSCLC clinical operation in future.     

Gluconeogenic signals regulate hepcidin gene expression via a CRBN-KLF15 axis

Hepcidin (HAMP) is synthesized in the liver. It is a key iron-regulatory hormone that controls systemic iron homeostasis. Cereblon (CRBN) and Kruppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) are known to regulate diverse physiological functions. In this study, we investigated the role of CRBN on hepatic hepcidin gene expression and production under gluconeogenic stimuli. Fasted mice as well as forskolin (FSK)- and glucagon (GLU)-treated mice had reduced serum iron levels but increased expression levels of hepatic Crbn and Klf15 and hepcidin secretion. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression analysis of fasted and Ad-Crbn-infected mice revealed significant reduction of microRNA-639 (miR-639). Hepatic overexpression of Crbn elevated hepcidin expression and production along with Klf15 gene expression, whereas knockdown of Crbn and Klf15 markedly decreased FSK- and fasting-mediated induction of hepcidin gene expression and its biosynthesis in mouse livers and primary hepatocytes. Moreover, expression of KLF15 significantly increased the activity of hepcidin reporter gene. It was exclusively dependent on the KLF15-binding site identified within the hepcidin gene promoter. Overall, this study demonstrates that CRBN and KLF15 are novel mediators of gluconeogenic signal-induced hepcidin gene expression and production. Thus, CRBN and KLF15 might be novel potential therapeutic targets to intervene metabolic dysfunction.     

Circular RNA circFBXO11 modulates hepatocellular carcinoma progress and oxaliplatin resistance through miR‐605/FOXO3/ABCB1 axis

Increasing findings suggest the critical role of circular RNA (circRNA) in human cancer, and chemotherapy resistance is a poor prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The function of circRNA in the HCC oxaliplatin (OXA) resistance remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that circRNA circFBXO11 was significantly up‐regulated in HCC tissues, and the circFBXO11 overexpression was associated with poor prognosis. CircFBXO11 was found to promote the HCC proliferation, cycle progress and OXA resistance. Mechanistically, circFBXO11 was predominantly localized in the cytoplasm and harboured the miR‐605, thereby targeting FOXO3 protein. Furthermore, FOXO3 targeted the promoter region of ABCB1 to accelerate its expression. In conclusion, this research reveals the role of circFBXO11/miR‐605/FOXO3/ABCB1 axis in the HCC OXA resistance, providing new insight for circRNA‐based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.     

MicroRNA-575靶向抑制BLID促进非小细胞肺癌细胞的增殖和侵袭

目的:通过体外实验探讨miR-575对非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)细胞增殖与侵袭能力的影响及相关机制。方法:采用实时定量PCR法检测不同非小细胞肺癌细胞系中miR-575、BLID的表达;CCK-8法检测转染miR-575模拟物、抑制因子后不同时间A549细胞增殖情况的变化;Transwell法检测A549细胞的侵袭情况;Targetcan法及双荧光素酶检测miR-575对BLID 3'UTR端的靶向作用;Western blot法检测BLID蛋白的表达。结果:A549、SPC-A1、H1299、H1650等人非小细胞肺癌细胞系中miR-575的表达均显著高于永生化的人支气管上皮细胞系16HBE(P0.001)。MiR-575模拟物转染的A549细胞miR-575的表达明显高于对照组(P0.001),同时细胞的增殖和侵袭力增强(P0.05);反之,miR-575抑制因子转染的A549细胞miR-575的表达显著降低,且细胞的增殖和侵袭力明显降低(P0.01)。Targetscan法预测BLID可能是miR-575的下游靶基因,荧光素酶结果显示miR-575不仅能够有效抑制野生型BLID 3'UTR端的荧光素酶反应(P0.01),而且能够降低BLID的蛋白表达量(P0.01)。实时定量PCR结果显示BLID在NSCLC细胞系中均呈现显著的低表达(P0.001),且转染BLID后,NSCLC细胞的增殖和细胞侵袭被明显抑制(P0.05),而当miR-575与BLID共转染时,miR-575能够逆转BLID所抑制的细胞增殖和侵袭(P0.01)。结论:在NSCLC细胞系中,miR-575的表达上调,且能够通过直接作用于下游靶点抑癌基因BLID从而促非小细胞肺癌细胞增殖及侵袭。     

非小细胞肺癌患者血浆miR-17和miR-204水平表达的临床意义及其预测价值分析

摘要 目的：检测非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）患者血浆miR-17和miR-204表达,分析其表达与临床病理参数的关系及其对NSCLC预后的预测价值。方法：选择我院2015年6月至2017年6月期间收治的117例NSCLC患者（观察组）和同期于我院进行体检的100例健康者（对照组）作为研究对象,采用实时荧光定量PCR (qRT-PCR)检测血浆中miR-17和miR-204表达,分析血浆miR-17、 miR-204表达与NSCLC患者临床病理参数的关系。采用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血浆miR-17、 miR-204对NSCLC患者预后的预测价值。结果：观察组患者血浆miR-17表达高于对照组（P＜0.05）、miR-204表达低于对照组（P＜0.05）,miR-17表达与淋巴结转移、远处转移有关（P＜0.05）,miR-204表达与TNM分期、远处转移有关（P＜0.05）。ROC曲线分析结果显示miR-17、 miR-204预测 NSCLC患者预后的曲线下面积（AUC）分别为0.821、0.836。miR-17、miR-204两指标的联合检测对NSCLC患者预后的预测价值更高：敏感度和特异度分别为89.36%(42/47)、92.86%（65/70)。结论：NSCLC患者血浆miR-17、miR-204均存在异常表达,且与患者临床病理参数有关,可能作为NSCLC患者预后预测的潜在生物学指标。     

CircRNA fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 promotes tumor progression in non-small cell lung cancer by regulating Galectin-1-AKT/ERK1/2 signaling

The dysregulation of circular RNA (circRNA) expression is involved in the progression of several cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the role and underlying molecular mechanisms of circRNA FGFR3 (circFGFR3) in NSCLC progression remains unknown. Here, we used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to validate that circFGFR3 expression was higher in NSCLC tissues than in the paratumor tissues. Furthermore, our study indicated that the forced circFGFR3 expression promoted NSCLC cell invasion and proliferation. Mechanistically, we found that circFGFR3 promoted NSCLC cell invasion and proliferation via competitively combining with miR-22-3p to facilitate the galectin-1 (Gal-1), p-AKT, and p-ERK1/2 expressions. Clinically, we revealed that the high circFGFR3 expression correlates with the poor clinical outcomes in patients with NSCLC. Together, these data provide mechanistic insights into the circFGFR3-mediated regulation of both the AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathways by sponging miR-22-3p and increasing Gal-1 expression.