miR-15a-5p和miR-16-5p在骨肉瘤组织中的表达分析

目的:使用microRNAs基因芯片及实时定量PCR法测定骨肉瘤组织中miR-15a-5p和miR-16-5p的相对表达含量,并与瘤旁组织对比,分析骨肉瘤细胞内miR-15a-5p和miR-16-5p的表达变化。方法:选取34例骨肉瘤组织蜡块样本,使用microRNAs基因芯片观察miR-15a-5p和miR-16-5p在骨肉瘤和瘤旁组织内的表达差异;实时定量PCR法测定骨肉瘤组织和瘤旁组织中miR-15a-5p和miR-16-5p的相对表达含量,并将两种结果对比分析。结果:microRNAs基因芯片结果显示,在骨肉瘤组织中,miR-15a-5p在肿瘤中的表达较瘤旁组织低1.79倍,miR-16-5p较瘤旁组织低1.62倍。实时定量PCR实验结果表明,miR-15a-5p和miR-16-5p表达较瘤旁组织降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。经过统计学计算,miR-15a-5p在肿瘤中的表达较瘤旁组织低3.14倍,miR-16-5p较瘤旁组织低5.65倍。结论:在骨肉瘤中,miR-15a-5p和miR-16-5p表达含量降低,提示这两种microRNAs在骨肉瘤中可能做为抑癌因子存在。     

MiR-517a-3p accelerates lung cancer cell proliferation and invasion through inhibiting FOXJ3 expression

Aims

Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) results in alterations of various biological processes (e.g., cell cycle, cell differentiation, and apoptosis) and cell transformation. Altered miRNAs expression was associated with lung carcinogenesis and tumor progression. This study aimed to investigate the function and underlying molecular events of miR-517a-3p on regulation of lung cancer cell proliferation and invasion.

Main methods

Transfected miR-517a-3p mimics or inhibitors into 95D and 95C cells respectively, the effects of miR-517a-3p on lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected. Bioinformatics software forecasted potential target genes of miR-517a-3p and dual luciferase reporter gene system and western blot verified whether miR-517a-3p regulates FOXJ3 expression directly.

Key findings

MiR-517a-3p was differentially expressed in lung cancer 95D and 95C cell lines that have different metastatic potential. Manipulation of miR-517a-3p expression changed lung cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion capacity. MiR-517a-3p directly regulated FOXJ3 expression by binding to FOXJ3 promoter.

Significance

This study demonstrated that miR-517a-3p promoted lung cancer cell proliferation and invasion by targeting of FOXJ3 expression.     

Induction of growth arrest by miR-542-3p that targets survivin

Survivin is a protein which functions as a mitotic regulator as well as apoptosis inhibitor. In this study, we show that introduction of synthetic miR-542-3p mimetic reduced both mRNA and protein levels of survivin. In A549 cells, luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-542-3p targeted predicted binding sites in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of survivin. We also demonstrate that ectopic expression of miR-542-3p inhibited cell proliferation by inducing Gap 1 (G1) and Gap 2/Mitosis (G2/M) cell cycle arrest. Collectively, these results suggest that survivin is a direct target of miR-542-3p and growth inhibition by miR-542-3p may have a potential utility as an anti-cancer therapy.     

microRNA-16-5p enhances radiosensitivity through modulating Cyclin D1/E1–pRb–E2F1 pathway in prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer (CaP) is the second most common cancer in men worldwide in 2012, and radiation therapy is one of the most common definitive treatment options for localized CaP. However, radioresistance is a major challenge for the current radiotherapy, accumulating evidences suggest microRNAs (miRNAs), as an important regulator in cellular ionizing radiation (IR) responses, are closely correlated with radiosensitivity in many cancers. Here, we identified microRNA-16-5p(miR-16-5p) is significantly upregulated in CaP LNCaP cells following IR and can enhance radiosensitivity through modulating Cyclin D1/E1–pRb–E2F1 pathway. To identify the expression profile of miRNAs in CaP cells exposed to IR, we performed human miRNA probe hybridization chip analysis and miR-16-5p was found to be significantly overexpressed in all treatment groups that irradiated with different doses of X-rays and heavy ions (¹²C⁶⁺). Furthermore, overexpression of miR-16-5p suppressed cell proliferation, reduced cell viability, and induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase, resulting in enhanced radiosensitivity in LNCaP cells. Additionally, miR-16-5p specifically targeted the Cyclin D1/E1–3′-UTR in LNCaP cells and affected the expression of Cyclin D1/E1 in both mRNA and protein levels. Taken together, miR-16-5p enhanced radiosensitivity of CaP cells, the mechanism may be through modulating Cyclin D1/Cyclin E1/pRb/E2F1 pathway to cause cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. These findings provided new insight into the correlation between miR-16-5p, cell cycle arrest, and radiosensitivity in CaP, revealed a previously unrecognized function of miR-16-5p–Cyclin D1/E1–pRb–E2F1 regulation in response to IR and may offer an alternative therapy to improve the efficiency of conventional radiotherapy.     

miR-15a 和miR-16-1 模拟物对人骨肉瘤细胞系SOSP-9607 凋亡 和增殖的影响

目的:探讨miR-15a和miR-16-1模拟物对于人骨肉瘤细胞系SOSP-9607凋亡和增殖的影响。方法:将SOSP-9607细胞分为实验组和对照组。实验组分为miR-15a组、miR-16-1组、miR-15a+miR-16-1组。以miR-15a组为例,采用miR-15a模拟物(hsa-miR-15a mimics)上调SOSP-9607细胞内的miR-15a表达量。对照组分为阴性对照组和空白对照组。采用流式细胞仪测定细胞凋亡率,四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)法测定细胞增殖,并计算细胞增殖效率。结果:通过统计学分析,实验组凋亡率与阴性对照组凋亡率相比明显增高(P<0.05);实验组的细胞增殖率明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:上调SOSP-9607细胞内miR-15a和miR-16-1的表达量可促进SOSP-9607细胞的凋亡并抑制其增殖。     

miR-300 regulates cellular radiosensitivity through targeting p53 and apaf1 in human lung cancer cells

microRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in mediation of the cellular sensitivity to ionizing radiation (IR). Previous studies revealed that miR-300 was involved in the cellular response to IR or chemotherapy drug. However, whether miR-300 could regulate the DNA damage responses induced by extrinsic genotoxic stress in human lung cancer and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. In this study, the expression of miR-300 was examined in lung cancer cells treated with IR, and the effects of miR-300 on DNA damage repair, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and senescence induced by IR were investigated. It was found that IR induced upregulation of endogenous miR-300, and ectopic expression of miR-300 by transfected with miR-300 mimics not only greatly enhanced the cellular DNA damage repair ability but also substantially abrogated the G2 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by IR. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that p53 and apaf1 were potential targets of miR-300, and the luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-300 significantly suppressed the luciferase activity through binding to the 3′-UTR of p53 or apaf1 mRNA. In addition, overexpression of miR-300 significantly reduced p53/apaf1 and/or IR-induced p53/apaf1 protein expression levels. Flow cytomertry analysis and colony formation assay showed that miR-300 desensitized lung cancer cells to IR by suppressing p53-dependent G2 cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and senescence. These data demonstrate that miR-300 regulates the cellular sensitivity to IR through targeting p53 and apaf1 in lung cancer cells.     

MicroRNA-181a suppresses salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma metastasis by targeting MAPK–Snai2 pathway

Background

To date microRNAs and their contribution to the onset and propagation of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) are limited. The objective of this study was to identify miR-181a and its mechanism in the metastasis of SACC.

Methods

At first microarray and quantitative RT-PCR were used to investigate microRNA profiles and miR-181a in paired SACC cell lines with different metastatic potential. Then the effect of miR-181a on metastatic potential of SACC was investigated. MiR-181a target genes and Snai2 promoter activity were investigated using luciferase reporter gene assays. Western blot was used to detect MAPK–Snai2 pathway-related protein level.

Results

A panel of deregulated microRNAs (including miR-181a) was identified in paired of SACC cell lines. Functional analysis indicated that miR-181a inhibited SACC cell migration, invasion and proliferation in vitro, and it suppressed tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo. Direct targeting of miR-181a to MAP2K1, MAPK1 and Snai2 was confirmed by luciferase reporter gene assays. MiR-181a mimic inhibited the expression of MAP2K1, MAPK1 and Snai2 in SACC cells. MAP2K1 or MAPK1 siRNA suppressed Snai2 gene promoter activity and reduced Snai2 expression and the metastatic potential of SACC cells.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that miR-181a plays an important role in the metastasis of SACC, and may serve as a novel therapeutic target for SACC. MiR-181a regulates the MAPK–Snai2 pathway both through direct cis-regulatory mechanism and through indirect trans-regulatory mechanism.

General significance

To our knowledge, this is the first study revealing that miR-181a deregulation mediated the metastasis of SACC by regulating MAPK–Snai2 pathway.     

Enhanced mesenchymal stem cell survival induced by GATA-4 overexpression is partially mediated by regulation of the miR-15 family

We reported previously that pre-programming mesenchymal stem cells with the GATA-4 gene increases significantly cell survival in an ischemic environment. In this study, we tested whether regulation of microRNAs and their target proteins was associated with the cytoprotective effects of GATA-4.Methods and resultsMesenchymal stem cells were harvested from adult rat bone marrow and transduced with GATA-4 (MSC^GATA-4) using the murine stem cell virus retroviral expression system. Cells transfected with empty vector (MSC^Null) were used as controls. Quantitative real-time PCR data showed that the expression levels of miR-15 family members (miR-15b, miR-16, and miR-195) were significantly down-regulated in MSC^GATA-4. The protein expression of Bcl-w (Bcl-2-like-2), an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein, was increased in MSC^GATA-4. Hypoxic culture (low glucose and low oxygen) induced the release of lactate dehydrogenase from mesenchymal stem cells and reduced cell survival. Compared to MSC^Null, MSC^GATA-4 showed less lactate dehydrogenase release and greater cell survival following 72 h hypoxia exposure. The mitochondrial membrane potential, detected with the dye JC-1, was well maintained, and mitochondrial membrane permeability, expressed as caspase 3 and 7 activities in response to the ischemic environment was lower in MSC^GATA-4. Moreover, transfection with miR-195 significantly down-regulated Bcl-w expression in mesenchymal stem cells through a binding site in the 3′-UTR of the Bcl-w mRNA and reduced mesenchymal stem cell resistance to ischemic injury.ConclusionsThe overexpression of GATA-4 in mesenchymal stem cells down-regulates miR-15 family members, causing increased resistance to ischemia through the up-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins in the Bcl-2 family.     

5′-Nitro-indirubinoxime induces G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in salivary gland adenocarcinoma cells through the inhibition of Notch-1 signaling

Background

5′-Nitro-indirubinoxime (5′-NIO) is a new derivative of indirubin that exhibits anti-cancer activity in a variety of human cancer cells. However, its mechanism has not been fully clarified.

Methods

Human salivary gland adenocarcinoma (SGT) cells were used in this study. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses were performed to determine cellular Notch levels. The cell cycle stage and level of apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry analysis.

Results

5′-NIO significantly inhibited the mRNA levels of Notch-1 and Notch-3 and their ligands (Delta1, 2, 3, and Jagged-2) in SGT cells. Immunocytochemistry analysis showed that 5′-NIO specifically decreased the level of Notch-1 in the nucleus. In addition, 5′-NIO induced G1 cell cycle arrest by reducing levels of CDK4 and CDK6 in SGT cells. Using flow cytometry and immunoblotting analysis, we found that 5′-NIO induces apoptosis following the secretion of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-7. Intracellular Notch-1 overexpression led to a decrease in G1 phase arrest and an inhibition of 5′-NIO-induced apoptosis.

Conclusion

These observations suggest that 5′-NIO induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by down-regulating Notch-1 signaling.

General significance

This study identifies a new mechanism of 5′-NIO-mediated anti-tumor properties. Thus, 5′-NIO could be used as a candidate for salivary gland adenocarcinoma therapeutics.     

Anti-miR-197 inhibits migration in HCC cells by targeting KAI 1/CD82

Aim

To investigate the metastatic effects and mechanisms of miR-197 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods and results

The levels of miR-197 increased in HCC cells and tissues compared with a normal hepatic cell line (LO2) and adjacent nontumorous liver tissues, respectively. miR-197 expression negatively correlated with CD82 mRNA expression in these cell lines and tissues. Dual luciferase reporter assay and Western blot confirmed a direct interaction between miR-197 and CD82 3′UTR sequences. After miR-197 was silenced in HCC cells, CD82 expression increased. In the presence of human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), cells silenced for anti-miR-197 exhibited elongated cellular tails and diminished lamellipodia due to reductions in both ROCK activity and the levels of Rac 1 protein. Downregulation of miR-197 along with the upregulation of CD82 in HCC cells resulted in the inhibition of HCC migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

Taken together, these data suggest that anti-miR-197 suppresses HCC migration and invasion by targeting CD82. The regulation of the miR-197/CD82 axis could be a novel therapeutic target in future HCC effective therapy.     

miR-15b/16-2 Regulates Factors That Promote p53 Phosphorylation and Augments the DNA Damage Response following Radiation in the Lung

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regulatory RNAs frequently dysregulated in disease and following cellular stress. Investigators have described changes in miR-15b expression following exposure to several stress-inducing anticancer agents, including ionizing radiation (IR), etoposide, and hydrogen peroxide. However, the role for miR-15b as a mediator of cellular injury in organs such as the lung has yet to be explored. In this study, we examined miR-15b expression patterns as well as its potential role in DNA damage and repair in the setting of IR exposure. We showed that miR-15b is up-regulated in a dose- and time-dependent manner in human bronchial epithelial cells following IR. miR-15b expression was highest after 2 h of IR and decreased gradually. Survival rates following IR were also higher in miR-15b/16-2-overexpressing cells. Cell cycle arrest in G₂/M phase and an increased DNA repair response were observed in IR-exposed miR-15b/16-2 stable cells. We observed an up-regulation of components of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)/Chek1/p53 pathway in miR-15b/16-2-overexpressing cells after IR. Moreover, a pathway-based PCR expression array of genes demonstrated that miR-15b/16-2 overexpression significantly induced the expression of genes involved in ATM/ataxia telangiectasia and Rad-3-related (ATR) signaling, apoptosis, the cell cycle, and DNA repair pathways. Here we demonstrated a novel biological link between miR-15b and DNA damage and cellular protection in lung cells. We identified Wip1 (PPM1D) as a functional target for miR-15b and determined that miR-15b induction of the DNA damage response is partially dependent upon suppression of Wip1. Our study suggests that miR-15b/Wip1 could be a potential therapeutic target in radiation-induced lung disease.     

MicroRNA mir-16 is anti-proliferative in enterocytes and exhibits diurnal rhythmicity in intestinal crypts

Background and aims

The intestine exhibits profound diurnal rhythms in function and morphology, in part due to changes in enterocyte proliferation. The regulatory mechanisms behind these rhythms remain largely unknown. We hypothesized that microRNAs are involved in mediating these rhythms, and studied the role of microRNAs specifically in modulating intestinal proliferation.

Methods

Diurnal rhythmicity of microRNAs in rat jejunum was analyzed by microarrays and validated by qPCR. Temporal expression of diurnally rhythmic mir-16 was further quantified in intestinal crypts, villi, and smooth muscle using laser capture microdissection and qPCR. Morphological changes in rat jejunum were assessed by histology and proliferation by immunostaining for bromodeoxyuridine. In IEC-6 cells stably overexpressing mir-16, proliferation was assessed by cell counting and MTS assay, cell cycle progression and apoptosis by flow cytometry, and cell cycle gene expression by qPCR and immunoblotting.

Results

mir-16 peaked 6 hours after light onset (HALO 6) with diurnal changes restricted to crypts. Crypt depth and villus height peaked at HALO 13-14 in antiphase to mir-16. Overexpression of mir-16 in IEC-6 cells suppressed specific G1/S regulators (cyclins D1-3, cyclin E1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 6) and produced G1 arrest. Protein expression of these genes exhibited diurnal rhythmicity in rat jejunum, peaking between HALO 11 and 17 in antiphase to mir-16.

Conclusions

This is the first report of circadian rhythmicity of specific microRNAs in rat jejunum. Our data provide a link between anti-proliferative mir-16 and the intestinal proliferation rhythm and point to mir-16 as an important regulator of proliferation in jejunal crypts. This function may be essential to match proliferation and absorptive capacity with nutrient availability.