scholarly journals The Dual Regulatory Role of MiR-181a in Breast Cancer

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 843-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun Yang ◽  
Seyed Nasrollah Tabatabaei ◽  
Xiangyan Ruan ◽  
Pierre Hardy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of highly conserved noncoding single˗stranded RNA molecules of 21 to 25 nucleotides. miRNAs silence their cognate target genes at the post-transcriptional level and have been shown to have important roles in oncogenesis, invasion, and metastasis via epigenetic post-transcriptional gene regulation. Recent evidence indicates that the expression of miR-181a is altered in breast tumor tissue and in the serum of patients with breast cancer. However, there are several contradicting findings that challenge the biological significance of miR-181a in tumor development and metastasis. In fact, some studies have implicated miR-181a in regulating breast cancer gene expression. Here we summarize the current literature demonstrating established links between miR-181a and human breast cancer with a focus on recently identified mechanisms of action. This review also aims to explore the potential of miR-181a as a diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarker for breast cancer and to discuss the contradicting data regarding its targeting therapeutics and the associated challenges.

Endocrinology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (5) ◽  
pp. 1701-1710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran Rostoker ◽  
Keren Bitton-Worms ◽  
Avishay Caspi ◽  
Zila Shen-Orr ◽  
Derek LeRoith

Abstract Epidemiological and experimental studies have identified hyperinsulinemia as an important risk factor for breast cancer induction and for the poor prognosis in breast cancer patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Recently it was demonstrated that both the insulin receptor (IR) and the IGF-IR mediate hyperinsulinemia's mitogenic effect in several breast cancer models. Although IGF-IR has been intensively investigated, and anti-IGF-IR therapies are now in advanced clinical trials, the role of the IR in mediating hyperinsulinemia's mitogenic effect remains to be clarified. Here we aimed to explore the potential of IR inhibition compared to dual IR/IGF-IR blockade on breast tumor growth. To initiate breast tumors, we inoculated the mammary carcinoma Mvt-1 cell line into the inguinal mammary fat pad of the hyperinsulinemic MKR female mice, and to study the role of IR, we treated the mice bearing tumors with the recently reported high-affinity IR antagonist-S961, in addition to the well-documented IGF-IR inhibitor picropodophyllin (PPP). Although reducing IR activation, with resultant severe hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, S961-treated mice had significantly larger tumors compared to the vehicle-treated group. This effect maybe secondary to the severe hyperinsulinemia mediated via the IGF-1 receptor. In contrast, PPP by partially inhibiting both IR and IGF-IR activity reduced tumor growth rate with only mild metabolic consequences. We conclude that targeting (even partially) both IR and IGF-IRs impairs hyperinsulinemia's effects in breast tumor development while simultaneously sparing the metabolic abnormalities observed when targeting IR alone with virtual complete inhibition.


Reproduction ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 148 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fulu Dong ◽  
Yuan Zhang ◽  
Fei Xia ◽  
Yi Yang ◽  
Sidong Xiong ◽  
...  

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules of about 22 nucleotides that involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Evidence indicates that miRNAs play essential roles in endometriosis, pre-eclampsia, infertility and other reproductive system diseases. However, whether miRNAs are involved in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is unclear. In this work, we analysed the miRNA expression profiles in six pairs of villus or decidua from RSA patients and normal pregnancy (NP) women using a human miRNA microarray. Some of the chip results were confirmed by RT-qPCR. In the villi of RSA patients, expression of hsa-miR-184, hsa-miR-187 and hsa-miR-125b-2 was significantly higher, while expression of hsa-miR-520f, hsa-miR-3175 and hsa-miR-4672 was significantly lower, comparing with those of NP control. As well, a total of five miRNAs (hsa-miR-517c, hsa-miR-519a-1, hsa-miR-522, hsa-miR-520h and hsa-miR-184) were upregulated in the decidua of RSA patients. The target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted by miRWalk, and we speculate a network of miRNA regulating RSA by target genes function on adhesion, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Our study may help clarify the molecular mechanisms which are involved in the progression of RSA, and provide a reference for future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Fei Liu ◽  
Jing-Wei Li ◽  
Hong-Zhi Chen ◽  
Zi-Yuan Sun ◽  
Guang-Xi Shi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Yanghe Huayan Decoction (YHD), a traditional Chinese medicine, is one of the most common complementary medicine currently used in the treatment of breast cancer (BC). It has been recently linked to suppress precancerous lesion and tumor development. The current study sought to explore the role of YHD on trans-endothelium and angiogenesis of BC. Methods: HER2+ BC cells were treated with YHD, Trastuzumab, or the combination in vitro and in vivo to compare the effects of them on trans-endothelium and angiogenesis features. The present study also investigated the potential molecular mechanism of YHD in inhibiting angiogenesis of BC. Results: YHD significantly suppressed the invasion and angiogenesis of BC cells via elevated pAkt signaling. Administration of YHD in vivo also strikingly repressed angiogenesis in tumor grafts. Conclusion: YHD could partially inhibit and reverse tumorigenesis of BC. It also could inhibit Akt activation and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Its effect was superior to trastuzumab. Thus it was suitable for prevention and treatment of BC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongli Li ◽  
Qingjie Mu ◽  
Guoxin Zhang ◽  
Zhixin Shen ◽  
Yuanyuan Zhang ◽  
...  

AbstractIncreasing lines of evidence indicate the role of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in gene regulation and tumor development. Hence, it is important to elucidate the mechanisms of LncRNAs underlying the proliferation, metastasis, and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). We employed microarrays to screen LncRNAs in LUAD tissues with and without lymph node metastasis and revealed their effects on LUAD. Among them, Linc00426 was selected for further exploration in its expression, the biological significance, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Linc00426 exhibits ectopic expression in LUAD tissues and cells. The ectopic expression has been clinically linked to tumor size, lymphatic metastasis, and tumor differentiation of patients with LUAD. The deregulation of Linc00426 contributes to a notable impairment in proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the deregulation of Linc00426 could reduce cytoskeleton rearrangement and matrix metalloproteinase expression. Meanwhile, decreasing the level of Linc00426 or increasing miR-455-5p could down-regulate the level of UBE2V1. Thus, Linc00426 may act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to abate miR-455-5p-dependent UBE2V1 reduction. We conclude that Linc00426 accelerates LUAD progression by acting as a molecular sponge to regulate miR-455-5p, and may be a potential novel tumor marker for LUAD.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Ortega ◽  
Oscar Fraile-Martínez ◽  
Luis G. Guijarro ◽  
Carlos Casanova ◽  
Santiago Coca ◽  
...  

Breast cancer is the most prevalent and incident female neoplasm worldwide. Although survival rates have considerably improved, it is still the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate the posttranscriptional expression of a wide variety of genes. Although it is usually located in the cytoplasm, several studies have detected a regulatory role of microRNAs in other cell compartments such as the nucleus or mitochondrion, known as “mitomiRs”. MitomiRs are essential modulators of mitochondrion tasks and their abnormal expression has been linked to the aetiology of several human diseases related to mitochondrial dysfunction, including breast cancer. This review aims to examine basic knowledge of the role of mitomiRs in breast cancer and discusses their prospects as biomarkers or therapeutic targets.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 4068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annamaria Salvati ◽  
Valerio Gigantino ◽  
Giovanni Nassa ◽  
Valeria Mirici Cappa ◽  
Giovanna Maria Ventola ◽  
...  

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by different biopathological features, differential response to therapy and substantial variability in long-term-survival. BC heterogeneity recapitulates genetic and epigenetic alterations affecting transformed cell behavior. The estrogen receptor alpha positive (ERα+) is the most common BC subtype, generally associated with a better prognosis and improved long-term survival, when compared to ERα-tumors. This is mainly due to the efficacy of endocrine therapy, that interfering with estrogen biosynthesis and actions blocks ER-mediated cell proliferation and tumor spread. Acquired resistance to endocrine therapy, however, represents a great challenge in the clinical management of ERα+ BC, causing tumor growth and recurrence irrespective of estrogen blockade. Improving overall survival in such cases requires new and effective anticancer drugs, allowing adjuvant treatments able to overcome resistance to first-line endocrine therapy. To date, several studies focus on the application of loss-of-function genome-wide screenings to identify key (hub) “fitness” genes essential for BC progression and representing candidate drug targets to overcome lack of response, or acquired resistance, to current therapies. Here, we review the biological significance of essential genes and relative functional pathways affected in ERα+ BC, most of which are strictly interconnected with each other and represent potential effective targets for novel molecular therapies.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Linde ◽  
Björn Olsson ◽  
Zelmina Lubovac

MicroRNAs control the expression of their target genes by translational repression and transcriptional cleavage. They are involved in various biological processes including development and progression of cancer. To uncover the biological role of miRNAs it is important to identify their target genes. The small number of experimentally validated target genes makes computer prediction methods very important. However, state-of-the-art prediction tools result in a great number of putative targets with an unpredictable number of false positives. In this paper, we propose and evaluate two approaches for ranking the biological relevance of putative targets of miRNAs which are associated with breast cancer.


Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hu ◽  
Zhang

Pregnancy complications of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are major causes of maternal and perinatal/neonatal morbidity and mortality. Although their etiologies remain elusive, it is generally accepted that they are secondary to placental insufficiency conferred by both failure in spiral artery remodeling and uteroplacental vascular malfunction. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small no-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Increasing evidence suggests that miRNAs participate in virtually all biological processes and are involved in numerous human diseases. Differentially expressed miRNAs in the placenta are typical features of both preeclampsia and IUGR. Dysregulated miRNAs target genes of various signaling pathways in uteroplacental tissues, contributing to the development of both complications. In this review, we provide an overview of how aberrant miRNA expression in preeclampsia and IUGR impacts the expression of genes involved in trophoblast invasion and uteroplacental vascular adaptation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 534-534
Author(s):  
Mark J. Ratain ◽  
James Sun ◽  
Yusuke Nakamura ◽  
Nancy J Cox ◽  
Tarek Sahmoud ◽  
...  

534 Background: The role of CYP2D6 genetic variation in predicting response to tamoxifen in ER+ breast cancer is a subject of ongoing debate. There has been great variability in approaches to both genotyping and phenotyping, and in particular many investigators have extracted DNA from breast cancer samples rather than peripheral blood. We hypothesized that CYP2D6 gene copy number alterations are common in ER+ breast cancer, affecting genotype results, and used NGS to characterize CYP2D6 in patients with ER+ disease. Methods: CYP2D6 sequencing was performed as part of a comprehensive NGS profile of cancer-related genes for 261 predominantly relapsed and metastatic ER+ breast cancer FFPE specimens. Sequence data were resolved into genotypes according to the * allele nomenclature. Tumor LOH was determined at CYP2D6, and its error impact on genotyping methods was estimated. To assess biological significance, the prevalence of CYP2D6 alleles and LOH in ER+ disease was compared against a control set of 99 ER- tumors. Results: CYP2D6 allele frequencies in our full cohort (ER+, 261; ER-, 99) were consistent with prior studies; 64.4%, 16.8%, 9.0% vs. 63.1%, 17.2%, 7.0% for *1/*2, *4, and *41 respectively, and 1%-2% for the rarer alleles *9, *10, and *5. The rate of CYP2D6 LOH was higher in ER+ disease (41% vs. 26%, p<0.01), with all excess arising from copy-loss (as opposed to copy-neutral) changes (22% vs. 7%, p<0.002). The estimated impact of LOH on germline genotype assessment from tumor was considerable; an assay sensitive at >20% minor allele frequency (e.g., Sanger sequencing) can misclassify >10% of heterozygotes, leading to significant Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium (e.g., p=8.3x10-8 for *4). Interestingly, an enrichment of reduced or non-functional CYP2D6 alleles in ER+ samples was observed (61% vs. 47%, p<0.03). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the distorting effect of extensive LOH on genotype assessment of CYP2D6 in breast cancer. Therefore, tumor DNA should not be routinely used for determination of germline 2D6 genotype, although it appears possible to use NGS. The apparent association between reduced function CYP2D6 alleles and ER+ breast cancer in our dataset requires further investigation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document