A basal‐enriched microRNA is required for prostate tumorigenesis in a Pten knockout mouse model

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in prostate cancer development. However, it remains unclear how individual miRNAs contribute to the initiation and progression of prostate cancer. Here we show that a basal layer‐enriched miRNA is required for prostate tumorigenesis. We identify miR‐205 as the most highly expressed miRNA and enriched in the basal cells of the prostate. Although miR‐205 is not required for normal prostate development and homeostasis, genetic deletion of miR‐205 in a Pten null tumor model significantly compromises tumor progression and does not promote metastasis. In Pten null basal cells, loss of miR‐205 attenuates pAkt levels and promotes cellular senescence. Furthermore, although overexpression of miR‐205 in prostate cancer cells with luminal phenotypes inhibits cell growth in both human and mouse, miR‐205 has a minimal effect on the growth of a normal human prostate cell line. Taken together, we have provided genetic evidence for a requirement of miR‐205 in the progression of Pten null‐induced prostate cancer.     

Exosomes from miRNA‐126‐modified endothelial progenitor cells alleviate brain injury and promote functional recovery after stroke

AimsWe previously showed that the protective effects of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs)‐released exosomes (EPC‐EXs) on endothelium in diabetes. However, whether EPC‐EXs are protective in diabetic ischemic stroke is unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of EPC‐EXs on diabetic stroke mice and tested whether miR‐126 enriched EPC‐EXs (EPC‐EXs^miR126) have enhanced efficacy.MethodsThe db/db mice subjected to ischemic stroke were intravenously administrated with EPC‐EXs 2 hours after ischemic stroke. The infarct volume, cerebral microvascular density (MVD), cerebral blood flow (CBF), neurological function, angiogenesis and neurogenesis, and levels of cleaved caspase‐3, miR‐126, and VEGFR2 were measured on day 2 and 14.ResultsWe found that (a) injected EPC‐EXs merged with brain endothelial cells, neurons, astrocytes, and microglia in the peri‐infarct area; (b) EPC‐EXs^miR126 were more effective than EPC‐EXs in decreasing infarct size and increasing CBF and MVD, and in promoting angiogenesis and neurogenesis as well as neurological functional recovery; (c) These effects were accompanied with downregulated cleaved caspase‐3 on day 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) upregulation till day 14.ConclusionOur results indicate that enrichment of miR126 enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of EPC‐EXs on diabetic ischemic stroke by attenuating acute injury and promoting neurological function recovery.     

表观遗传调控与青光眼发病机制研究进展

表观遗传学主要机制包括DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰和miRNAs等。这些机制将环境与基因相联系，在基因的特异性表达过程中发挥重要作用，影响疾病的表型。青光眼是全球第一大不可逆致盲眼病，其发病机制复杂，受遗传和环境的共同影响。本文分别对DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰和miRNAs参与青光眼发病的机制进行综述，以期为临床诊治提供参考。     

The oncogenic impact of RNF2 on cell proliferation,invasion and migration through EMT on mammary carcinoma

Mammary carcinoma (MC) is one of most common malignancy in women, and ring finger protein 2 (RNF2) possesses various roles in vast human tumors. In MC tissues as well as in cell lines RNF2 exhibited high expression, had significant association with tumor size, lymph node status, TNM stage, patients’ poor survival, and promoted cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration and invasion of MC cell lines which was mediated by downregulation of E-cadherin protein. These data reveal that RNF2 protein plays a vital role in the development of MC and may be a potential therapy target of MC.     

MicroRNAs及其在泌尿系肿瘤的研究进展

microRNAs（miRNAs）是一类分布十分广泛的内源性非编码RNA,在动物、植物、病毒中广泛存在。miRNAs与肿瘤的发生发展预后有关,并在肿瘤的增殖、分化及调亡等方面有重要的作用。结合最近相关文献,本文就miRNAs与泌尿系肿瘤方面的进展作简要概述。     

肿瘤干细胞与肿瘤靶向治疗

肿瘤干细胞(TSC)理论认为,肿瘤内部存在的一小部分具有干细胞特性的细胞,是肿瘤形成、生长、转移和复发的根源,只有靶向肿瘤干细胞的治疗才能使恶性肿瘤治愈.目前肿瘤的治疗只能杀死大部分已分化的肿瘤细胞,不能杀死肿瘤干细胞,造成了肿瘤治疗效果的不理想.扰乱维持肿瘤干细胞自我更新的信号通路和微环境;或诱导肿瘤干细胞的分化;或针对肿瘤干细胞所表达的区别于正常干细胞的表面标志的靶向治疗都是可行的策略.     

基于 TCGA 数据库筛选、 分析并验证宫颈癌生物标志物

目的 基于生物信息学筛选分析宫颈癌差异表达基因 ( differentially expressed gene, DEGs) 及差 异表达 miRNA, 并进一步对差异基因和蛋白进行验证, 以期寻找潜在的生物标志物和治疗靶点。 方法 从 肿瘤基因组图谱 (the cancer genome atlas, TCGA) 数据库获取宫颈癌相关数据, edgeR 算法筛选 DEGs 和差 异 miRNAs。 利用 Cytoscape3. 8. 2 软件构建 mRNA-miRNA 共表达网络。 利用 DAVID 软件对 DEGs 和通过 miRWalk 网站预测的差异 miRNA 的目标基因进行 GO 富集分析和 KEGG 富集分析。 利用 qPCR 和 Western 印 迹技术对 DEGs 进行进一步验证。 结果 筛选出 149 个上调的 DEGs 和 171 个下调的 DEGs, 以及 46 个上调 的差异 miRNAs 和 64 个下调的差异 miRNAs。 DEGs 和 miRNA 目标基因在细胞组成上的富集具有一致性, 都富集在胞质、 核和核质中。 但共表达网络发现 DEGs 和差异 miRNAs 之间不存在明显的调控关系。 因此, 后续实验重点放在了对 DEGs 的验证上, 对差异表达性较为显著的 TCEAL6、 CLEC3B、 LMOD1、 CNN1 进行 了验证。 qPCR 显示它们在宫颈癌中表达量均显著降低, 符合预期, 对 CNN1 进行的 Western 印迹也显示其 在宫颈癌中的低表达。 结论 TCEAL6、 CLEC3B、 LMOD1、 CNN1 在宫颈癌中均显著低表达, 有望成为宫颈 癌生物标志物。     

Emerging Themes from EBV and KSHV microRNA Targets

EBV and KSHV are both gamma-herpesviruses which express multiple viral microRNAs. Various methods have been used to investigate the functions of these microRNAs, largely through identification of microRNA target genes. Surprisingly, these related viruses do not share significant sequence homology in their microRNAs. A number of reports have described functions of EBV and KSHV microRNA targets, however only three experimentally validated target genes have been shown to be targeted by microRNAs from both viruses. More sensitive methods to identify microRNA targets have predicted approximately 60% of host targets could be shared by EBV and KSHV microRNAs, but by targeting different sequences in the host targets. In this review, we explore the similarities of microRNA functions and targets of these related viruses.