Analysis of monosomy‐3 in immunomagnetically isolated circulating melanoma cells in uveal melanoma patients

Monosomy‐3 in primary uveal melanoma (UM) is associated with a high risk of metastasis and mortality. Although circulating melanoma cells (CMC) can be found in most UM patients, only approximately 50% of the patients develop metastases. We utilized a novel immuno‐FISH assay to detect chromosome‐3 in intact CMC isolated by dual immunomagnetic enrichment. Circulating melanoma cells were detected in 91% of the patients (n = 44) with primary non‐metastatic UM, of which 58% were positive for monosomy‐3. The monosomy‐3 status of CMC corresponded to the monosomy‐3 status of the primary tumor in 10 of the 11 patients where this could be tested. Monosomy‐3 in the CMC was associated with an advanced tumor stage (P = 0.046) and was detected in all four patients who developed metastasis within the follow‐up period of 4 yr. This non‐invasive technique may enable the identification of UM patients at risk for metastasis particularly when a primary tumor specimen is unavailable.     

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.     

Role of long non‐coding RNA MIAT in proliferation,apoptosis and migration of lens epithelial cells: a clinical and in vitro study

Age‐related cataract is among the most common chronic disorders of ageing and is the world's leading blinding disorder. Long non‐coding RNAs play important roles in several biological processes and complicated diseases. However, the role of lncRNAs in the setting of cataract is still unknown. Here, we extracted total RNAs from the transparent and age‐matched cataractous human lenses, and determined lncRNA expression profiles using microarray analysis. We found that 38 lncRNAs were differentially expressed between transparent and cataractous lenses. 17 of 20 differentially expressed lncRNAs were further verified by quantitative RT‐PCRs. One top abundant lncRNA, MIAT, was specifically up‐regulated both in the plasma fraction of whole blood and aqueous humor of cataract patients. MIAT knockdown could affect the proliferation, apoptosis and migration of Human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) upon oxidative stress. Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a common complication of cataract surgery, which is associated with abnormal production of inflammatory factors. MIAT knockdown could repress tumour necrosis factor‐α‐induced abnormal proliferation and migration of HLECs, suggesting a potential role of MIAT in PCO‐related pathological process. Moreover, we found that MIAT acted as a ceRNA, and formed a feedback loop with Akt and miR‐150‐5p to regulate HLEC function. Collectively, this study provides a novel insight into the pathogenesis of age‐related cataract.     

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。     

Circulating miRNA‐375 as a potential novel biomarker for active Kaposi’s sarcoma in AIDS patients

The aim of this study was to identify circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) that could be used as biomarkers in patients at risk for or affected by AIDS‐Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Screening of 377 miRNAs was performed using low‐density arrays in pooled plasma samples of 10 HIV/human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8)‐infected asymptomatic and 10 AIDS‐KS patients before and after successful combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). MiR‐375 was identified as a potential marker of active KS, being the most down‐regulated in AIDS‐KS patients after cART and the most up‐regulated in naïve AIDS‐KS patients compared to naïve asymptomatic subjects. Validation on individual plasma samples confirmed that miR‐375 levels were higher in AIDS‐KS compared to asymptomatic patients, decreased after cART‐induced remission in most AIDS‐KS patients and increased in patients with active KS. In asymptomatic patients miR‐375 was up‐regulated after cART in both screening and validation. Statistical analyses revealed an association between miR‐375 changes and CD4 cell counts, which could explain the discordant cases and the opposite trend between asymptomatic and AIDS‐KS patients. These data suggest that circulating miR‐375 might be a good indicator of active AIDS‐KS. Moreover, changes in miR‐375 levels may have a prognostic value in HIV/HHV8‐infected patients undergoing treatment. Further large‐scale validation is needed.     

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。     

Hsa_circ_0002577 promotes endometrial carcinoma progression via regulating miR-197/CTNND1 axis and activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Circular RNA (circRNA) is involved in a wide range of life processes including tumorigenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms of circRNA in endometrial carcinoma (EC) carcinogenesis remain unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential modulation of hsa_circ_0002577 on EC progression. Here, we showed that hsa_circ_0002577 expression was significantly upregulated in EC tissues, and high hsa_circ_0002577 expression was associated with advanced FIGO stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor overall survival rate of EC patients. In function assays, we demonstrated that hsa_circ_0002577 knockdown significantly reduced EC cells proliferation, migration, invasion ability in vitro and decreased tumor growth in vivo. In mechanism study, we revealed that hsa_circ_0002577 might act as a sponge for miR-197, and CTNND1 was revealed to be a target gene of miR-197. In addition, we revealed that the oncogenic effects of hsa_circ_0002577 were attributed to the regulation of miR-197/CTNND1/Wnt/β-catenin axis. Taken together, we indicated that hsa_circ_0002577 could play critical functions by hsa_circ_0002577/miR-197/CTNND1/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which served as a novel therapeutic application for EC treatment.