CircNUP98 Suppresses the Maturation of miR-519a-3p in Glioblastoma

Circular RNA (circNUP98) has been reported to promote renal cancer; however, its role in other cancers is unknown. The function of circNUP98 in glioblastoma (GB) cancer was explored in this study. A total of 58 GB tissue samples were collected to study the expression of circNUP98 and miR-519a-3p [both the mature and pre-mature microRNA (miRNA)] by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and heatmap analysis. The subcellular location that expresses circNUP98 was analyzed by nuclear fractionation assay. RNA pull-down assay was performed to evaluate the interaction between circNUP98 and pre-mature miR-519a-3p. Overexpression assays were performed to investigate the role of circNUP98 in the regulation of both the mature and pre-mature miR-519a-3p. The role of circNUP98 and miR-519a-3p in GB cell proliferation was explored by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assay and was assessed in mouse xenograft model. Heatmap analysis showed that circNUP98 and pre-mature miR-519a-3p were upregulated in GB, while mature miR-519a-3p was downregulated in GB. Across the cancer tissues, circNUP98 was inversely correlated with mature miR-519a-3p, but positively correlated with pre-mature miR-519a-3p. In GB cells, circNUP98 was localized to both the nucleus and cytoplasm and it interacted with pre-mature miR-519a-3p. In GB cells, circNUP98 increased the expression levels of pre-mature miR-519a-3p and decreased the expression levels of mature miR-519a-3p. BrdU and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) assays illustrated that overexpression of circNUP98 reduced the inhibitory effects of miR-519a-3p on cell proliferation. CircNUP98 contributed to larger tumors, which resulted in significantly reduced mice survival. CircNUP98 suppresses the maturation of miR-519a-3p to promote GB cell proliferation.

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LncRNA TMPO-AS1 suppresses the maturation of miR-335-5p to participate in polycystic ovary syndrome

Journal of Ovarian Research ◽

10.1186/s13048-021-00848-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Fang Hou ◽

Jie Li ◽

Jie Peng ◽

Zhenghua Teng ◽

Jun Feng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ◽

Follicular Fluid ◽

Polycystic Ovary ◽

Subcellular Location ◽

Ovary Syndrome ◽

Brdu Assay ◽

Transfection Assay

Abstract Background TMPO-AS1 is a recently characterized oncogenic lncRNA in ovarian cancer. Its role in other ovary diseases is unknown. This study explored its role in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods Follicular fluid was extracted from both PCOS patients and controls. The levels of TMPO-AS1 and mature and premature miR-335-5p were analyzed by RT-qPCR. The role of TMPO-AS1 in regulating miR-355-5p maturation in granulosa-like tumor (KGN) cells was analyzed by overexpression experiments. The interaction between TMPO-AS1 and premature miR-335-5p was analyzed by RNA pull-down assay. The subcellular location of TMPO-AS1 in KGN cells was analyzed by nuclear fractionation assay. The role of TMPO-AS1 and miR-335-5p in KGN cell proliferation was analyzed by BrdU assay. Results TMPO-AS1 was increased in PCOS, while mature miR-355-5p was decreased in PCOS. TMPO-AS1 overexpression decreased mature miR-355-5p level but increased premature miR-355-5p. TMPO-AS1 was localized in both nucleus and cytoplasm. TMPO-AS1 directly interacted with premature miR-355-5p in KGN cells. TMPO-AS1 increased KGN cell proliferation while miR-355-5p decreased cell proliferation. The co-transfection assay showed that TMPO-AS1 reduced the suppressive effects of miR-355-5p on cell proliferation. Conclusions TMPO-AS1 might suppress miR-335-5p maturation to participate in PCOS.

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MicroRNA-224 Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration by Targeting the TXNIP-Mediated HIF1α Pathway

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1159/000492309 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 1735-1746 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Guanghui Zhu ◽

Lianming Zhou ◽

Haijun Liu ◽

Yuanzhou Shan ◽

Xueli Zhang

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Nuclear Export ◽

Xenograft Model ◽

Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Mouse Xenograft Model ◽

And Migration ◽

Proliferation And Migration

Background/Aims: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to participate in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by modulating multiple cellular processes. Increased miR-224 expression enhances proliferation and metastasis in human cancers. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-224 and its underlying mechanism of action in PDAC. Methods: BrdU, MTT, and cell migration assays were performed to determine cell proliferation, viability, and migration, respectively. The binding sites of miR-224 were identified using a luciferase reporter system, whereas protein expression of target genes was determined by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence analyses. A BALB/c nude mouse xenograft model was used to evaluate the role of miR-224 in vivo. Results: We demonstrated that miR-224 expression was enhanced in PDAC cells and tissues, and was related to migration and proliferation. Noticeably, miR-224 overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration, and metastasis of Panc1 cells, while miR-224 inhibition had the reverse effect on PDAC cells. Moreover, we found that thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is a target of miR-224. The results also indicated that miR-224 inversely regulated TXNIP by binding directly to its 3′-untranslated region, which resulted in the activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α). Further, either TXNIP re-expression or HIF1α depletion abolished the effects of miR-224 on the proliferation and migration of PDAC cells in vitro and in vivo. Regarding the relationship of TXNIP and HIF1α, we found that TXNIP mediated the nuclear export of HIF1α and its degradation by forming a complex with HIF1α. Conclusion: The miR-224-TXNIP-HIF1α axis may be useful in developing novel therapies for PDAC.

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CircFOXM1 promotes the proliferation, migration, invasion, and glutaminolysis of glioblastoma by regulating the miR-577/E2F5 axis

Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences ◽

10.17305/bjbms.2021.6028 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xuhui Fan ◽

Meng Liu ◽

Li Fei ◽

Zhihui Huang ◽

Yufeng Yan

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Xenograft Model ◽

Circular Rna ◽

Suppressive Effect ◽

Cell Counting ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

In Vivo Experiments

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a key regulator of tumor progression. However, the role of circFOXM1 in glioblastoma (GBM) progression is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of circFOXM1 in GBM progression. The expression levels of circFOXM1, miR-577 and E2F transcription factor 5 (E2F5) were examined by real-time quantitative PCR. Cell counting kit 8 assay, EdU staining and transwell assay were used to detect cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The levels of glutamine, glutamate and α-ketoglutarate were determined to evaluate the glutaminolysis ability of cells. Protein expression was tested by western blot analysis. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were employed to verify the interaction between miR-577 and circFOXM1 or E2F5. Mice xenograft model for GBM was constructed to perform in vivo experiments. Our results showed that circFOXM1 was highly expressed in GBM tumor tissues and cells. Silencing of circFOXM1 inhibited GBM cell proliferation, migration, invasion, glutaminolysis, as well as tumor growth. MiR-577 could be sponged by circFOXM1, and its inhibitor could reverse the suppressive effect of circFOXM1 downregulation on GBM progression. E2F5 was a target of miR-577, and the effect of its knockdown on GBM progression was consistent with that of circFOXM1 silencing. CircFOXM1 positively regulated E2F5 expression, while miR-577 negatively regulated E2F5 expression. In conclusion, our data confirmed that circFOXM1 could serve as a sponge of miR-577 to enhance the progression of GBM by targeting E2F5, which revealed that circFOXM1 might be a biomarker for GBM treatment.

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Inhibitory role of ATF3 in gastric cancer progression through regulating cell EMT and stemness

Cancer Cell International ◽

10.1186/s12935-021-01828-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chuanqian Huang ◽

Renli Chen ◽

Fangjing Zheng ◽

Yirong Tang ◽

Xiukang Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastric Cancer ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Cell Migration ◽

Colony Formation ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Xenograft Model ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Mouse Xenograft ◽

Mouse Xenograft Model

Abstract Background Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers and the third leading cause of cancer related mortality worldwide. The 5-year survival rate is rather low owing to advanced unresectable and distant metastasis. The EMT has been widely implicated in the stemness, metastatic dormancy, and chemoresistance of different solid tumors. Given the fact that activating transcription factor-3 (ATF3) is a member of the ATF/CREB family of transcription factors and its role in regulation of GC recurrence and metastasis remain poorly understood, the aim of the present study was to investigate its potential impact in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell (CSC) properties and GC aggression. Methods To elucidate the potential role of ATF3 in gastric cancer, we utilized SGC-7901 and MGC-803 gastric cancer cell lines as research models and constructed stable cell lines overexpressing ATF3. We conducted a series of assays including cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration, tumorsphere formation, and invasion to investigate the functional roles of ATF3 in stemness of gastric cancer. The possible effect of ATF3 on epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) was assessed through flow cytometry and qRT-PCR. In vivo functional effect of upregulation of ATF3 on tumor growth was examined in a mouse xenograft model. Results We found that overexpression of ATF3 inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration and invasion. In addition, up-regulation of ATF3 attenuated tumorsphere formation, cell stemness, and potentially decreased expression of EMT markers. Moreover, ATF3 overexpression inhibited tumorigenesis in mouse xenograft model. Conclusion Our data suggest a suppressive role of ATF3 in gastric cancer development. Our findings will provide a potential therapeutic strategy and novel drug target for gastric cancer.

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Oncogenic lncRNA ZNF561-AS1 is essential for colorectal cancer proliferation and survival through regulation of miR-26a-3p/miR-128-5p-SRSF6 axis

Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research ◽

10.1186/s13046-021-01882-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zizhen Si ◽

Lei Yu ◽

Haoyu Jing ◽

Lun Wu ◽

Xidi Wang

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Rna Binding ◽

Xenograft Model ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Cancer Proliferation ◽

Mouse Xenograft ◽

Mouse Xenograft Model

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are reported to influence colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. Currently, the functions of the lncRNA ZNF561 antisense RNA 1 (ZNF561-AS1) in CRC are unknown. Methods ZNF561-AS1 and SRSF6 expression in CRC patient samples and CRC cell lines was evaluated through TCGA database analysis, western blot along with real-time PCR. SRSF6 expression in CRC cells was also examined upon ZNF561-AS1 depletion or overexpression. Interaction between miR-26a-3p, miR-128-5p, ZNF561-AS1, and SRSF6 was examined by dual luciferase reporter assay, as well as RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) mediated knockdown experiments were performed to assess the role of ZNF561-AS1 and SRSF6 in the proliferative actives and apoptosis rate of CRC cells. A mouse xenograft model was employed to assess tumor growth upon ZNF561-AS1 knockdown and SRSF6 rescue. Results We find that ZNF561-AS1 and SRSF6 were upregulated in CRC patient tissues. ZNF561-AS1 expression was reduced in tissues from treated CRC patients but upregulated in CRC tissues from relapsed patients. SRSF6 expression was suppressed and enhanced by ZNF561-AS1 depletion and overexpression, respectively. Mechanistically, ZNF561-AS1 regulated SRSF6 expression by sponging miR-26a-3p and miR-128-5p. ZNF561-AS1-miR-26a-3p/miR-128-5p-SRSF6 axis was required for CRC proliferation and survival. ZNF561-AS1 knockdown suppressed CRC cell proliferation and triggered apoptosis. ZNF561-AS1 depletion suppressed the growth of tumors in a model of a nude mouse xenograft. Similar observations were made upon SRSF6 depletion. SRSF6 overexpression reversed the inhibitory activities of ZNF561-AS1 in vivo, as well as in vitro. Conclusion In summary, we find that ZNF561-AS1 promotes CRC progression via the miR-26a-3p/miR-128-5p-SRSF6 axis. This study reveals new perspectives into the role of ZNF561-AS1 in CRC.

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Circular RNA hsa_circ_101555 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and migration by sponging miR-145-5p and regulating CDCA3 expression

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-021-03626-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Xiaoguang Gu ◽

Jianan Zhang ◽

Yajuan Ran ◽

Hena Pan ◽

JinHong Jia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Casein Kinase 1 ◽

Mouse Xenograft Model ◽

Hcc Cells

AbstractCircular RNAs have been reported to play significant roles in regulating pathophysiological processes while also guiding clinical diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, only a few circRNAs have been identified thus far. Herein, we investigated the role of a specific closed-loop structure of hsa_circ_101555 that was generated by back-splicing of the host gene casein kinase 1 gamma 1 (CSNK1G1) in the development and proliferation of HCC. We investigated the expression of Hsa_circ_101555 in HCC and normal tissues using bioinformatics. The expression level of hsa_circ_101555 was further detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization and qRT-PCR in ten HCC patients. Transwell, migration, WST-1 assays, and colony formation assays were used to evaluate the role of hsa_circ_101555 in HCC development and proliferation. The regulatory mechanisms of hsa_circ_101555 in miR-145-5p and CDCA3 were determined by dual luciferase reporter assay. A mouse xenograft model was also used to determine the effect of hsa_circ_101555 on HCC growth in vivo. hsa_circ_101555 showed greater stability than the linear RNA; while in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that hsa_circ_101555 silencing significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. Rescue experiments further demonstrated that suppression of miR-145-5p significantly attenuated the biological effects of hsa_circ_101555 knockdown in HCC cells. We also identified a putative oncogene CDCA3 as a potential miR-145-5p target. Thus, our results demonstrated that hsa_circ_101555 might function as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-145-5p to upregulate CDCA3 expression in HCC. These findings suggest that hsa_circ_101555 may be a potential therapeutic target for patients with HCC.

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Potential prognostic value of PD-L1 and NKG2A expression in Indonesian patients with skin nodular melanoma

10.21203/rs.3.rs-322309/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ridwan Dwi Saputro ◽

Hanggoro Tri Rinonce ◽

Yayuk Iramawasita ◽

Muhammad Rasyid Ridho ◽

Maria Fransiska Pudjohartono ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Target Genes ◽

Therapy Response ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Independent Predictive Factor ◽

Clinicopathologic Characteristics ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Nodular Melanoma ◽

Expression Levels ◽

Melanoma Tissue

Abstract Objective Biomarker mRNA levels have been suggested to be predictors of patient survival and therapy response in melanoma cases. This study aimed to investigate the correlations between the mRNA expression levels of PD-L1 and NKG2A in melanoma tissue and clinicopathologic characteristics and survival in Indonesian patients with primary nodular melanoma. Results Thirty-two tissue samples were analyzed. Upregulated PD-L1 was associated with shorter overall survival (hazard ratio: 2.930; 95% confidence interval: 1.011–8.489, p = 0.048) compared with patients with normoregulated PD-L1. A significant positive correlation was found between the expression levels of PD-L1 and NKG2A (rs: 0.768, p < 0.001). However, no clinicopathologic associations with PD-L1 and NKG2A mRNA levels were statistically proven. Comparison with other studies suggested that the choice of adjuvant therapy and the presence of TILs affect the prognostic role of PD-L1 expression. NKG2A was not proven to be an independent predictive factor but may become an adjunct target for therapy. The strong correlation between PD-L1 and NKG2A suggests that anti-PD-1 and anti-NKG2A agents could be effective in patients with PD-L1 upregulation. The combination of the mRNA levels of these two target genes may provide a novel prognostic and therapeutic direction for immunotherapy.

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Circular RNA circCCDC66 Contributes to Malignant Phenotype of Osteosarcoma by Sponging miR-338-3p to Upregulate the Expression of PTP1B

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2020/4637109 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Deng Xiang ◽

Yugang Li ◽

Yanshui Lin

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Molecular Mechanism ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Circular Rna ◽

Molecular Medicine ◽

Cell Counting ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Circular Rnas ◽

Tissue Samples

In recent years, the mechanism of cancer research has become hotspots of life science and medicine, especially due to the rapid development of molecular medicine and bioinformatics research. Similarly, the molecular mechanism also has received increasing attention in osteosarcoma (OS) research. Also, a considerable amount of research confirmed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) could regulate cancer cell growth and metastasis. This study aimed to explore the effect of a circRNA, circCCDC66, on OS and reveal its potential molecular mechanism. High circCCDC66 expression level was found in OS patient-derived tissue samples and OS cell lines by qRT-PCR. The abilities cell proliferation and metastatic of U2OS and SW1353 cells were then assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 and transwell assay, respectively. The interaction between circCCDC66 and its target miRNAs were verified by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. Through functional experiments, we found that circCCDC66 knockdown promoted the inhibition of cell proliferation and metastatic of OS cell lines. From mechanistic perspective, circCCDC66 upregulated PTP1B by sponging miR-338-3p. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that circCCDC66 contributed to malignant behaviors of OS cells by miR-338-3p/PTP1B pathway, which suggested circCCDC66/miR-338-3p/PTP1B axis might be a potential therapeutic target.

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