scholarly journals A reciprocal feedback of miR-548ac/YB-1/Snail induces EndMT of HUVECs during acidity microenvironment

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingyuan Chen ◽  
Shengbo Han ◽  
Jinhuang Chen ◽  
Ping Hu ◽  
Zhu Zeng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Researches indicated the process of Endothelial-Mesenchymal-Transition (EndMT) of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) was critically involved in the progression of tumor. ECs demonstrated functional and phenotypic heterogeneity when located under different microenvironments. The extracellular pH of tumor tissues was acidic compared to that of normal tissues. However, there was still unclear whether the acidic microenvironment affected the EndMT of vascular ECs. Methods Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell (HUVECs) was cultured under the normal or acidic medium to evaluate the alteration of morphology, migration, permeability, and EndMT markers. Microarray assay was adopted to analyze the differential expression of miRNAs in the acidity-treated HUVECs. Gain- and loss- of function experiments were performed to evaluate the functional role of miRNA-548ac on acidity-induced EndMT of HUVECs. Luciferase reporter and Chromatin-immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to assess the downstream pathway of miRNA-548ac in acidity-induced EndMT of HUVECs. Results Our results showed that HUVECs demonstrated mesenchymal transition under acidic conditions with the increase of migration, permeability, and expression of α-SMA and Vimentin, but the expression of vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) and CD31 were reduced. In addition, the acidity-treated HUVECs remarkably facilitated the transmigration of pancreatic cancer cells. The expression of miRNA-548ac was significantly decreased in the acidity-treated HUVECs. Moreover, overexpression of miR-548ac inhibited the EndMT of HUVECs and consequently impeded the transmigration of pancreatic cancer cells. The miR-548ac inhibited the expression of YB-1 by binding to the 3’UTR of its mRNA, and YB-1 promoted the translation of Snail which was a critical regulator of EndMT. What’s more, Snail transcriptionally inhibited the expression of miR-548ac through binding to the promoter of its host gene. Conclusions Our data implicated that the acidic microenvironment promoted the EndMT of HUVECs by the miR-548ac/YB-1/Snail axis, which could contribute to the metastasis of pancreatic cancer.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Xu ◽  
Nanbin Liu ◽  
Yuhua Wei ◽  
Deren Zhou ◽  
Rui Lin ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective This study aims to explore the roles of miR-124 in pancreatic tumor and potential vehicles. Methods The expression of miR-124 and EZH2 was determined in both pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. miR-124 or EZH2 was overexpressed in AsPC-1 and PANC1 cells. Then, the effects on cell viability. apoptosis, invasion, migration and epithelial mesenchymal transition were evaluated. Afterwards, the roles of miR-124 on the expression and function of EZH2 in pancreatic tumors were determined by dual luciferase reporter assay. Subsequently, miR-124 was transfected to bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs), and the BM-MSCs derived exosomes were isolated and co-cultured with AsPC-1 and PANC1 cells, or injected into pancreatic cancer tumor-bearing mice. Results The miR-124 expression levels decreased in pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissues and cancer cell lines AsPC-1, PANC1, BxPC-3 and SW1990. Furthermore, the elevated expression of miR-124 in AsPC-1 and PANC1 via miR-124 mimic transfection-induced apoptosis, metastasis and epithelial mesenchymal transition was suppressed, and the EZH2 overexpression partly reversed the protective effects of miR-124 against pancreatic tumors. In addition, the expression of miR-124 was detected in exosomes extracted from miR-124-transfected BM-MSCs, and these exosomes delivered miR-124 into pancreatic cancer cells, and presented the anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion MiR-124-carried BM-MSC-derived exosomes have potential applications for the treatment of pancreatic tumors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 153303381989872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning An ◽  
Bo Zheng

Objective: The aim of the present research is to study the roles of miR-203a-3p on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer. Methods: Transcription profiles were acquired from Gene Expression Omnibus database, which was used to screen out the differentially expressed microRNAs and messenger RNAs in pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer tissues were used to verify the bioinformatics results by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The relationship between miR-203a-3p and SLUG was examined by TargetScan software, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation. The Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing, and transwell assays were conducted to investigate the proliferation, migration, and invasion capability of pancreatic cancer cells, respectively. The expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition–related proteins was determined by the Western blot assay. Xenograft assay was performed to verify findings from in vitro assays. Results: Bioinformatic analysis found that a total of 113 microRNAs and 1749 messenger RNAs expressed differentially in pancreatic cancer tissues. Among these microRNAs, the expression of miR-203a-3p was significantly decreased in both pancreatic cancer tissues and cells. On the other hand, the SLUG expression was remarkably upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues and cells in comparison with normal tissues and cells. Moreover, TargetScan software, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation revealed that SLUG was a target of miR-203a-3p. The upregulation of miR-203a-3p expression inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of pancreatic cancer cells by suppressing the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process via sponging SLUG. Conclusion: These findings indicate that downregulation of miR-203a-3p in pancreatic cancer cells leads to high expression of SLUG, which promotes epithelial–mesenchymal transition process and induces cancer progression.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Xu ◽  
Yuhua Wei ◽  
Nanbin Liu ◽  
Deren Zhou ◽  
Rui Lin ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: This study aims to explore the roles of miR-124 in pancreatic tumor and potential vehicles. Methods: The expression of miR-124 and EZH2 was determined in both pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. miR-124 or EZH2 was overexpressed in AsPC-1 and PANC1 cells. Then, the effects on cell viability. apoptosis, invasion, migration and epithelial mesenchymal transition were evaluated. Afterwards, the roles of miR-124 on the expression and function of EZH2 in pancreatic tumors were determined by dual luciferase reporter assay. Subsequently, miR-124 was transfected to bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs), and the BM-MSCs derived exosomes were isolated and co-cultured with AsPC-1 and PANC1 cells, or injected into pancreatic cancer tumor-bearing mice. Results: The miR-124 expression levels decreased in pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissues and cancer cell lines AsPC-1, PANC1, BxPC-3 and SW1990. Furthermore, the elevated expression of miR-124 in AsPC-1 and PANC1 via miR-124 mimic transfection-induced apoptosis, metastasis and epithelial mesenchymal transition was suppressed, and the EZH2 overexpression partly reversed the protective effects of miR-124 against pancreatic tumors. In addition, the expression of miR-124 was detected in exosomes extracted from miR-124-transfected BM-MSCs, and these exosomes delivered miR-124 into pancreatic cancer cells, and presented the anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: MiR-124-carried BM-MSC-derived exosomes have potential applications for the treatment of pancreatic tumors.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuzheng Xue ◽  
Tielong Wu ◽  
Yingyue Sheng ◽  
Yao zhong ◽  
Benshun Hu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to be involved in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer (PAC). The expression level and role of miR-1252-5p in PAC remain unclear. Methods: qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization were used to detect miR-1252-5p expression in PAC cells and tissues. Associations between miR-1252-5p expression and clinical characteristics or overall survival (OS) were assessed based on 102 patients with PAC who underwent surgical resection. Gain and loss of function of miR-1252-5p was studied in the PAC cell lines, Panc-1 and BxPC 3 in vitro and in vivo. The direct targets of miR-1252-5p were analyzed using public databases and a dual-luciferase reporter assay.Results: The expression levels of miR-1252-5p are downregulated in PAC cell lines and tissue samples compared to control, and its expression is negatively associated with adverse clinical features and poor prognosis. In vitro and in vivo experiments show that miR-1252-5p overexpression inhibits the proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of PAC cells, whereas miR-1252-5p knockdown enhances these biological behaviors. In addition, miR-1252-5p negatively regulates neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated 9 (NEDD9) by directly binding its 3'-UTR. NEDD9 restoration at least partially abolishes this effect of miR-1252-5p in PAC cells. Further mechanistic study revealed that the SRC/STAT3 pathway is involved in miR-1252-5p/NEDD9 mediation of biological behaviors in PAC. We also verified that Myb inhibited miR-1252-5p by directly binding at its promoter.Conclusion: MiR-1252-5p may act as a tumor-suppressing miRNA in PAC and may be a potential therapeutic target for PAC patients.


Pancreas ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumiaki Nozawa ◽  
Masahiko Hirota ◽  
Akihiro Okabe ◽  
Muneyuki Shibata ◽  
Takeshi Iwamura ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 805-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharleen V Menezes ◽  
Leyla Fouani ◽  
Michael L H Huang ◽  
Bekesho Geleta ◽  
Sanaz Maleki ◽  
...  

AbstractThe metastasis suppressor, N-myc downstream-regulated gene-1 (NDRG1), plays multifaceted roles in inhibiting oncogenic signaling and can suppress the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key step in metastasis. In this investigation, NDRG1 inhibited the oncogenic effects of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells, promoting expression and co-localization of E-cadherin and β-catenin at the cell membrane. A similar effect of NDRG1 at supporting E-cadherin and β-catenin co-localization at the cell membrane was also demonstrated for HT-29 colon and CFPAC-1 pancreatic cancer cells. The increase in E-cadherin in PANC-1 cells in response to NDRG1 was mediated by the reduction of three transcriptional repressors of E-cadherin, namely SNAIL, SLUG and ZEB1. To dissect the mechanisms how NDRG1 inhibits nuclear SNAIL, SLUG and ZEB1, we assessed involvement of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway, as its aberrant activation contributes to the EMT. Interestingly, NDRG1 comprehensively inhibited oncogenic NF-κB signaling at multiple sites in this pathway, suppressing NEMO, Iĸĸα and IĸBα expression, as well as reducing the activating phosphorylation of Iĸĸα/β and IĸBα. NDRG1 also reduced the levels, nuclear co-localization and DNA-binding activity of NF-κB p65. Further, Iĸĸα, which integrates NF-κB and TGF-β signaling to upregulate ZEB1, SNAIL and SLUG, was identified as an NDRG1 target. Considering this, therapies targeting NDRG1 could be a new strategy to inhibit metastasis, and as such, we examined novel anticancer agents, namely di-2-pyridylketone thiosemicarbazones, which upregulate NDRG1. These agents downregulated SNAIL, SLUG and ZEB1 in vitro and in vivo using a PANC-1 tumor xenograft model, demonstrating their marked potential.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZHU ZENG ◽  
Shengbo Han ◽  
Yang Wang ◽  
Yan Huang ◽  
Yuhang Hu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Nutrient deprivation is a distinct feature of the tumor microenvironment that plays a crucial role in various cancers. However, the contribution and regulatory mechanism of nutrient deprivation on metastasis of pancreatic cancer (PC) have not been identified. Methods: PC cells were treated with normal medium, glucose-depletion or glutamine-depletion medium to observe the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). RT-qPCR and western blot assay were applied to evaluate the alteration of mRNA and protein of zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), a crucial EMT regulator factor. Co-IP assay was utilized for evaluating the interaction between AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and ZEB1. LncRNA microarray was adopted to detect the potential lncRNA, which facilitates the association between AMPK and ZEB1. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were performed to evaluate the roles of ZNFX1 antisense RNA 1 (ZFAS1) in EMT and metastasis of PC. Results: The present study reveals that nutrient deprivation including glucose and glutamine deprivation significantly induces EMT of PC cells, which is dependent on stabilization of ZEB1. We further discover that nutrient deprivation induces upregulation of lncRNA ZFAS1, which promotes the association between AMPK and ZEB1 to phosphorylate and stabilize ZEB1 protein. Notably, ZEB1 reciprocally promotes the transcription of ZFAS1 by binding to the promoter of ZFAS1, forming feedback with ZFAS1. Consistently, depletion of ZFAS1 obviously inhibits nutrient deprivation-induced EMT of PC cells and lung metastasis of PC in nude mice. Meanwhile, clinical data displays that ZFAS1 is overexpressed in PC tissues and correlated with high expression of ZEB1 and Vimentin (VIM), low expression of E-cadherin (E-cad), as well as poor prognosis in PC patients. Conclusions: Our study implicates that glucose and glutamine deprivation promotes EMT and metastasis of PC through lncRNA-mediated stabilization of ZEB1.


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