MiR-18a-5p promotes proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting CPEB3

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianxing Zheng ◽  
Dongyang Wu ◽  
Libing Wang ◽  
Fengzhi Qu ◽  
Daming Cheng ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The study aims to explore the mechanism of miR-18a-5p targeting CPEB3 gene in regulating the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Differential and survival analyses were conducted on HCC expression profiles from TCGA database to screen out target miRNAs on which targeted prediction was conducted. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of miR-18a-5p and CPEB3. MTT assay examined the proliferation activity, wound healing assay analyzed the migration ability and Transwell assay detected the invasion ability of HCC cells after overexpressing miR-18a-5p.Dual luciferase assay verified the targeting relationship between miR-18a-5p and CPEB3. Meanwhile, MTT, wound healing and Transwellassays determined whether the overexpression of CPEB3 reversed the promoting effect of miR-18a-5p on HCC cells. Results Bioinformatic analysis showed that miR-18a-5p was significantly highly expressed in HCC tissues and its target binding site was found in CPEB3 genewith low expression.The qRT-PCR found that high miR-18a-5p expression was observed in HCC cells, and the expression of CPEB3 was significantly low. Overexpression of miR-18a-5p promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Dual luciferase assay observed that miR-18a-5p inhibited the expression of CPEB3 while overexpression of CPEB3 reversed the promoting effect of miR-18a-5p on the growth of HCCcells. Conclusion miR-18a-5p promoted the proliferation and migration of HCC cells by inhibiting the expression of CPEB3. The role of miR-18a-5p /CPEB3 in HCCfound in this study provided a new potential target for the prognostic treatment of HCC patients.

Epigenomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 513-530
Author(s):  
Xi Zeng ◽  
Chao Tan ◽  
Meile Mo ◽  
Xiaoling Qin ◽  
Xiaoyun Ma ◽  
...  

Aim: To explore the expression profiles and functions of circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials & methods: We obtained circRNA expression profiles through RNA sequencing. Expression levels of circRNAs were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. The effects on HCC progression were determined using Cell Counting Kit 8, clone formation and transwell assays. Results: We identified 114 upregulated and 144 downregulated circRNAs in HCC tissues. The results of quantitative real-time PCR showed that circGNAO1, circRNF180 and circMERTK were significantly downregulated in HCC tissues, whereas circSNX6 was significantly upregulated. CircRNF180 was associated with microvascular invasion. Overexpression of circRNF180 inhibits the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Conclusion: CircRNF180 may function as a tumor suppressor and could serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in HCC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing-fang Wang ◽  
Qing-lin Wang ◽  
Ming-bo Cao

Background: Long non-coding RNAs are critical to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developments. LncRNA PITPNA antisense RNA 1 (PITPNA-AS1) is a new regulator in several tumors. However, the mechanism by which PITPNA-AS1 mediates the tumorigenesis of HCC remains unclear.Methods: RT-qPCR was used to detect the level of PITPNA-AS1 in HCC specimens and cells. The biological functions of PITPNA-AS1 were explored by several functional experiments in vivo and in vitro. The binding relationship among PITPNA-AS1, miR-448 and ROCK1 were studied by Luciferase assay and pull-down assays.Results: We found that PITPNA-AS1 expressions were distinctly upregulated in both HCC specimens and cell lines. High PITPNA-AS1 levels were an unfavorable biomarker for patients with HCC. Functionally, knockdown of PITPNA-AS1 suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Mechanistically, PITPNA-AS1 functioned as competing endogenous RNA to increase ROCK1 expressions via sponging miR-448.Conclusion: The newly identified PITPNA-AS/miR-448/ROCK1 axis promoted the oncogenicity of HCC cells. This novel axis is likely to be a promising HCC therapeutic aim.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 718-724
Author(s):  
Jiuwu Zhuo ◽  
Yishan Zheng ◽  
Wanying Hu ◽  
Guoping Yin

Sufentanil is a powerful analgesic that acts on μ-receptors, but there are few studies on sufentanil in cancer. The biological function and underlying mechanisms of sufentanil on the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells were explored in the present study. HCC cells were first treated with different concentrations of sufentanil and the most optimum concentration of sufentanil was determined. The expression of miR-204 in HCC cells was changed by transfected with miR-204 inhibitor and the transfection efficiency was assessed by qRT-PCR. CCK-8, wound-healing and Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells, respectively. The level of AKT and PI3K phosphorylation (p-AKT and p-PI3K) were assessed by western blot analysis. Our results demonstrated that sufentanil effectively inhibited cell proliferation,migration and invasion in both Huh7 and Hep3B cells, and significantly decreased the expression of p-AKT and p-PI3K. In addition, miR-204 was upregulated in Huh7 and Hep3B cells treated with sufentanil, and low expression of miR-204 attenuated the damage of sufentanil on the viability of Huh7 and Hep3B cells. Taken together, sufentanil suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells via inhibiting AKT/PI3K signaling pathway by targeting miR-204.


2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 770-775
Author(s):  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Jianjun Wang ◽  
Hongling Su

BackgroundIn this study, we aimed to explore the potential involvement of miR-3150b in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) carcinogenesis.MethodsThe expression of miR-3150b and Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3) was determined in HCC cell lines. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were estimated by Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing and Transwell assays. The association between miR-3150b and GOLPH3 was verified by luciferase assay.ResultsMiR-3150b was downregulated, while GOLPH3 was remarkably upregulated in HCC cells. Furthermore, miR-3150b inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. MiR-3150b directly targeted and negatively regulated GOLPH3.ConclusionMiR-3150b suppressed HCC cell proliferation, invasion and migration by targeting GOLPH3.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shichao Ding ◽  
Yanfeng Jin ◽  
Qingzhi Hao ◽  
Yanmeng Kang ◽  
Ruiping Ma

Abstracts Backgrounds LncRNA Brain Cytoplasmic RNA 1 (BCYRN1) has been certified to modulate cancer cells growth and aggressiveness in several tumors. However, research about function of BCYRN1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited. Therefore, our research intends to explore the function of BCYRN1 in HCC. Methods HepG2 and BEL-7402 cell lines were employed for later function experiments. Differently expression levels of BCYRN1, miR-490-3p, and POU class 3 homeobox 2 (POU3F2) were determined on the base of TCGA dataset including 375 HCC patients and 50 normal. 370 cases of patients, which have fairly complete clinical data, were utilized for survival analysis of BCYRN1, miR-490-3p, or POU3F2 by Kaplan–Meier method. Relative expression pattern of BCYRN1 was examined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and relative expression level of POU3F2 was assessed by qRT-PCR and western blot. Cell biological behaviors were analyzed by cell counting kit-8, cloning formation, and transwell assays. Bioinformatics software and dual luciferase assay were applied to predict and confirm the targeted relationship between BCYRN1 and miR-490-3p, as well as miR-490-3p and POU3F2. Further associations among BCYRN1, miR-490-3p, and POU3F2 were analyzed by rescue assays. Results Our results exhibited that BCYRN1 was over expressed in HCC samples, which was connected with unfavorable prognosis in HCC patients. In addition, a series of experiments exhibited that overexpression of BCYRN1 significantly expedited HCC cells growth, clone formation, and movement abilities, and vice versa. Moreover, targeted relationships between BCYRN1 and miR-490-3p, as well as miR-490-3p and POU3F2 were affirmed by dual luciferase assay. Furthermore, POU3F2 expression was negatively connected with the expression of miR-490-3p and positively associated with BCYRN1 expression. Whilst, either overexpression of miR-490-3p or knockdown of POU3F2 could remarkably inhibit the increasing trends of proliferation, clone formation, invasion, and migration abilities induced by BCYRN1 in HCC cells. Conclusions BCYRN1, served as a competing endogenous RNA, up-regulated the expression of POU3F2 to promote the development of HCC through sponging miR-490-3p, supplying novel molecular targets and underlying prognostic biomarkers for HCC therapy.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinxing Wang ◽  
Wei Sheng ◽  
Tao Xu ◽  
Jiawen Xu ◽  
Zhenhai Zhang

Abstract Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to have critical regulatory roles in tumor biology, whereas their contributions in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still remains enigmatic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in hsa_circ_0110102 in the occurrence and development of HCC. Methods: The expression levels of hsa_circ_0110102 in HCC cell lines and tissues were estimated by RT-qPCR assay. The proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells were determined by CCK-8 and transwell assay. The western blot and ELISA were employed to examine the related-protein and cytokine expression. The association between miR-580-5p and hsa_circ_0110102 or CCL2 was predicted and affirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down.Results: hsa_circ_0110102 was significantly down-regulated in HCC cell lines and tissues, low hsa_circ_0110102 expression levels were associated with poor prognosis. Knockdown hsa_circ_0110102 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In addition, luciferase assay and RNA pull-down assay indicating that hsa_circ_0110102 function as sponge for miR-580-5p. Moreover, miR-580-5p which could directly bind to the 3’-UTR of CCL2 and induce its expression, then active the COX-2/PGE2 pathway in macrophage via FoxO1 in p38 MAPK dependent manner. Furthermore, the Δ256 mutant of FoxO1 showed no activation effect. Conclusion: hsa_circ_0110102 act as a sponge for miR-580-5p and decreased CCL2 secretion in HCC cells, then inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine release from activated macrophage by regulating the COX-2/PGE2 pathway. These results indicating that hsa_circ_0110102 serves as a potential prognostic predictor or therapeutic target for HCC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 302-309
Author(s):  
Linan Yin ◽  
Tingting Sun ◽  
Ruibao Liu

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prominent form of presentation in liver cancer. It is also the fourth most common cause of cancer-associated deaths globally. The role of nucleus accumbens associated protein-1 (NACC-1) has been evaluated in several cancers. This protein is a transcriptional regulator that regulates a number of significant cellular processes. In the current study, we aimed to understand the role of NACC-1 in HCC. Primarily, we measured the expression of NACC-1 using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. We knocked down the expression of NACC-1 in HCC cell lines Huh7 and HepG2 by transferring a commercially synthesized small interfering RNA and explored the impact of NACC-1 knockdown on cellular growth, migration, invasion, and chemoresistance to doxorubicin. Through bioinformatic analysis, we identified NACC-1 as a potential target of miR-760. Using a dual reporter luciferase assay, we confirmed the predicted target and assessed miR-760-mediated regulation of NACC-1 and rescue of tumorigenic phenotypes. We observed increased expression of NACC-1 in HCC. Furthermore, knockdown of NACC-1 resulted in reduced cell proliferation and invasion and increased susceptibility to doxorubicin-mediated chemosensitivity. Overexpression of miR-760 in HCC cell lines rescued NACC-1-mediated migration and invasion. We revealed that miR-760 regulated NACC-1 expression in HCC. Our data indicated that both miR-760 and NACC-1 could be used as prognostic markers, and miR-760 may have therapeutic benefits for HCC and other cancers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-106
Author(s):  
Jianxing Zheng ◽  
Daming Cheng ◽  
Dongyang Wu ◽  
Libing Wang ◽  
Fengzhi Qu ◽  
...  

Objective: This study explored the potential function of miR-452-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and clarified the mechanism underlying HCC progression. Materials & methods: Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect miR-452-5p and COLEC10 mRNA expression in HCC, western blot was performed to test COLEC10 protein expression. The regulatory mechanism of miR-452-5p/COLEC10 in HCC cells was explored using CCK-8, wound healing assay, Transwell and dual-luciferase reporter assay. Results: MiR-452-5p was greatly upregulated in HCC cells, and it served as an oncogene playing an active role in HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. COLEC10 was identified as the target of miR-452-5p in HCC attenuating the promoting effect of miR-452-5p on HCC cells upon overexpression. Conclusion: MiR-452-5p can promote the progression of HCC via targeting COLEC10.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
cailin xue ◽  
xudong zhang ◽  
peng gao ◽  
weiwei yu ◽  
xiaohan cui ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors, and has an unfavorable clinical outcome. Emerging evidences have demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in the carcinogenesis and progression of HCC. However, the clinical significances, the biological roles of most lncRNAs in HCC remain poorly understood. Methods The expression levels of lncRNA loc339803 in HCC tissues and cell lines were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR) assay. The cellular sublocalization of loc339803 were determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization and nuclear & cytoplasmic RNA isolation assay. Western blot, CCK-8, Edu, colony formation, migration and invasion assays were used to investigate the roles of loc339803 in progression of HCC in vitro. A mouse model for lung metastasis was constructed to evaluate the role of loc339803 in HCC development in vivo. The correlations among loc339803, miR-30a-5p and SNAIL1 were validated by qRT-PCR and a dual- luciferase reporter assay. Results The expression of loc339803 was upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, and positively correlated with tumor size, advanced tumor stage, higher serum AFP level and poor prognosis of HCC patients. loc339803 can promote the migration and invasion of HCC cells in vivo and in vitro. Further studies demonstrated the loc339803 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by directly binding to miR-30a-5p, thus up-regulating the expression of snai1, a target gene of miR-30a-5p. Moreover, miR-30a-5p upregulation blocked the enhancement of migration and invasion of HCC cells induced by loc339803 overexpression. Conclusions Loc339803 may be oncogenic in HCC and associated with poor clinical outcomes. LncRNA loc339803 might promote the invasion and migration of HCC cells through regulating miR-30a-5p/ SNAIL1 axis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Cun-qing Kong ◽  
Xing-cai Chen ◽  
Guan-hua Qiu ◽  
Jing-chen Liang ◽  
Duo Wang ◽  
...  

Background. A growing number of studies have suggested that microRNAs exert an essential role in the development and occurrence of multiple tumours and act as crucial regulators in various biological processes. However, the expression and function of miRNA-140 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are not yet adequately identified and manifested. Methods. The expression of miRNA-140 was determined in HCC tissues and adjacent nontumour tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were performed to explore the correlation between miRNA-140 expression level and the survival rate of patients with HCC. Additionally, overexpression experiments were conducted to investigate the biological role of miRNA-140 in HCC cells. Bioinformatics was used to predict the related target genes and pathways of miRNA-140. Results. QRT-PCR results signified that the expression level of miRNA-140 in HCC was lower than that of adjacent normal tissues ( P < 0.0001 ). Compared with the control group, the SMMC-7721 HCC cells in the miRNA-140 mimic group had a decrease in proliferation, migration, and invasion ( P < 0.05 ), whereas those in the miRNA-140 inhibitor group had an increase in proliferation, migration, and invasion ( P < 0.05 ). Cell cycle arrest occurred in the G0/1 phase. Prognosis analysis showed that the expression level of miRNA-140 was not related to the prognosis of HCC. Furthermore, the Kaplan–Meier test revealed that patients with lower miRNA-140 expression levels in liver cancer tissue had significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS, P = 0.004 ) and overall survival (OS) times ( P = 0.010 ) after hepatectomy. Cox regression analysis further indicated that miRNA-140 was an independent risk factor that may affect the DFS ( P = 0.004 ) and OS times ( P = 0.014 ) of patients after hepatectomy. Our results suggested that miRNA-140 might be a crucial regulator involved in the HCC progression and is thus considered a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.


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