脑梗死患者血清miR-181c、miR-128b表达水平及其与90天预后的相关性

目的探讨脑梗死患者血清微小RNA(miRNA)miR-181c、miR-128b表达水平及其与90天预后的相关性,为miRNA在脑梗死诊断和治疗上提供参考意义。方法选取128例脑梗死患者以及同期108例健康体检者作为研究对象,分别作为研究组和对照组。比较两组研究对象的miR-181c和miR-128b表达水平,并分析miR-181c、miR-128b表达水平与疾病严重程度的相关性以及脑梗死相关危险因素;根据90天随访的预后情况分为预后良好组和预后不良组,并对影响90天预后的相关因素进行单因素和Logistic回归分析,探讨影响疾病发生及预后的独立影响因素。结果研究组吸烟、高血脂、高血压、糖尿病以及心房颤动比例明显高于对照组(P0.05),研究组患者miR-181c、miR-128b表达水平显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),Logistic回归分析结果显示糖尿病、miR-181c、miR-128b表达水平是脑梗死的独立危险因素(P0.05);Spearman相关性分析显示急性脑梗死患者病情严重程度与血清miR-181c和miR-128b水平呈正相关(r=0.867,P=0.005;r=0.885,P=0.002);预后不良组患者发生高血压、糖尿病、心房颤动的比例和入院时NIHSS评分以及血清miR-181c、miR-128b水平均显著高于预后良好组(P0.05),Logistic回归分析结果显示入院时NIHSS评分及血清miR-181c、miR-128b水平均与脑梗死患者90天预后存在密切相关性(P0.05)。结论脑梗死患者血清miR-181c、miR-128b表达水平显著高于健康人群,糖尿病、miR-181c、miR-128b表达水平是脑梗死的危险因素(P0.05),miR-181c、miR-128b表达水平与患者脑梗死严重程度存在显著正相关,且两者表达水平以及NIHSS评分均与急性脑梗死患者90天预后存在密切联系。     

miR-197 Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Hepatitis B Virus-Infected Patients

Background/Aims

This study aimed to investigate the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients with different clinical manifestations and to analyze the function of miR-197.

Methods

PBMC miRNA expression profiles in 51 healthy controls, 70 chronic asymptomatic carriers, 107 chronic hepatitis B patients, and 76 HBV-related acute on chronic liver failure patients were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). miR-197 mimic and inhibitor were transfected in THP-1 cells. qRT-PCR and ELISA for interleukin (IL)-18 mRNA and protein levels were performed, respectively.

Results

The microarray analysis revealed that 17 PBMC miRNA expression profiles (12 miRNAs downregulated and five miRNAs upregulated) differed significantly in HBV-induced liver disease patients presenting with various symptoms. The qRT-PCR results suggested that the PBMC miR-197 levels regularly decreased as the severity of liver disease symptoms became aggravated. IL-18, a key regulator in inflammation and immunity, was inversely correlated with miR-197 levels. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that IL-18 was a target of miR-197. Exogenous expression of miR-197 could significantly repress IL-18 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in THP-1 cells.

Conclusions

We concluded that multiple PBMC miRNAs had differential expression profiles during HBV infection and that miR-197 may play an important role in the reactivation of liver inflammation by targeting IL-18.     

miR-422a is an independent prognostic factor and functions as a potential tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer

AIM: To determine the expression of miR-422a in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and to further explore the prognostic value and function of miR-422a in CRC carcinogenesis.METHODS: miR-422a expression was analyzed in 102 CRC tissues and paired normal mucosa adjacent to carcinoma by quantitative real-time PCR. The relationship of miR-422a expression with clinicopathological parameters was also analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox multivariate analysis were performed to estimate the potential role of miR-422a. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were used for in vitro functional analysis of miR-422a.RESULTS: The levels of miR-422a were dramatically reduced in CRC tissues compared with normal mucosa (P < 0.05), and significantly correlated with local invasion (P = 0.004) and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression multivariate analyses revealed that miR-422a expression (HR = 0.568, P = 0.015) and clinical TNM stage (HR = 2.942, P = 0.003) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival in CRC patients. Furthermore, in vitro experiments showed that overexpression of miR-422a inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of SW480 and HT-29 cells.CONCLUSION: Down-regulation of miR-422a may serve as an independent prognosis factor in CRC. MiR-422a functions as a tumor suppressor and regulates progression of CRC.     

Decreased expression of miR-133a correlates with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients

AIM: To investigate microRNA-133a (miR-133a) expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its relationship with tumorigenesis and disease prognosis.METHODS: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure levels of miR-133a in tumor samples and adjacent non-cancerous tissues from 169 patients undergoing radical resection for CRC. The associations between miR-133a expression and patient age, sex, as well as clinicopathologic parameters, such as tumor size, differentiation, location, invasion depth, metastasis, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and overall patient survival, were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to estimate the prognostic factors for patient survival prediction.RESULTS: The expression of miR-133a was significantly downregulated in CRC tissues compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues (P < 0.05). This reduction was associated with the depth of the local invasion, poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis and advanced disease (P < 0.05). Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with low miR-133a expression had poorer overall survival (OS) than those with high miR-133a expression (P < 0.001). Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant correlations between OS and miR-133a level, tumor local invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P < 0.001). Furthermore, miR-133a levels and TNM stage were independently associated with OS (HR = 0.590, 95%CI: 0.350-0.995, P < 0.05; and HR = 6.111, 95%CI: 1.029-36.278, P < 0.05, respectively).CONCLUSION: The downregulation of miR-133a may play an important role in the progression of CRC and can be used as an independent factor to determine CRC prognosis.     

miR-29a up-regulation in AR42J cells contributes to apoptosis via targeting TNFRSF1A gene

AIM: To investigate the expression of mi R-29 a in rat acute pancreatitis and its functional role in AR42 J cell apoptosis.METHODS: Twelve SD rats were divided into a control group and an acute edematous pancreatitis(AEP) group randomly. AEP was induced by intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine(150 mg/kg) in the AEP group and equal volume of 0.9% Na Cl was injected in the control group. The apoptosis of acinar cells in pancreatic tissue was determined by TUNEL assay. mi RNA chip assay was performed to examine the expression of mi RNAs in two groups. Besides, to further explore the role of mi R-29 a in apoptosis in vitro, recombinant rat TNF-α(50 ng/m L) was administered to treat the rat pancreatic acinar cell line AR42 J for inducing AR42 J cell apoptosis. Quantitative real-time PCR(q RT-PCR) was adopted to measure mi R-29 a expression. Then, mi RNA mimic, mi RNA antisense oligonucleotide(AMO) and control vector were used to transfect AR42 J cells. The expression of mi R-29 a was confirmed by q RT-PCR andthe apoptosis rate of AR42 J cells was detected by flow cytometry analysis. Western blot was used to detect the expression of activated caspase3. Moreover, we used bioinformatics software and luciferase assay to test whether TNFRSF1 A was the target gene of mi R-29 a. After transfection, q RT-PCR and Western blot was used to detect the expression of TNFRSF1 A in AR42 J cells after transfection.RESULTS: The expression of mi R-29 a was much higher in the AEP group compared with the control group as displayed by the mi RNA chip assay. After inducing apoptosis of AR42 J cells in vitro, the expression of mi R-29 a was significantly increased by 1.49 ± 0.04 times in comparison with the control group. As revealed by q RT-PCR assay, the expression of mi R-29 a was 2.68 ± 0.56 times higher in the mi R-29 a mimic group relative to the control vector group, accompanied with an obviously increased acinar cell apoptosis rate(42.83 ± 1.25 vs 24.97 ± 0.15, P 0.05). Moreover, the expression of mi R-29 a in the mi RNA AMO group was 0.46 ± 0.05 times lower than the control vector group, and the cell apoptosis rate was much lower accordingly(17.27 ± 1.36 vs 24.97 ± 0.15, P 0.05). The results of bioinformatics software and luciferase assay showed that TNFRSF1 A might be a target gene of mi R-29 a. TNFRSF1 A expression was up-regulated in the mi R-29 a mimic group, while the mi R-29 a AMO group showed the reverse trend.CONCLUSION: mi R-29 a might promote the apoptosis of AR42 J cells via up-regulating the expression of its target gene TNFRSF1 A.     

miR-320c Regulates SERPINA1 Expression and Is Induced in Patients With Pulmonary Disease

IntroductionAlpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic condition resulting in lung and liver disease with a great clinical variability. MicroRNAs have been identified as disease modifiers; therefore miRNA deregulation could play an important role in disease heterogeneity. Members of miR-320 family are involved in regulating of multiple processes including inflammation, and have potential specific binding sites in the 3′UTR region of SERPINA1 gene. In this study we explore the involvement of miR-320c, a member of this family, in this disease.MethodsFirstly in vitro studies were carried out to demonstrate regulation of SERPINA1 gene by miR-320. Furthermore, the expression of miR-320c was analyzed in the blood of 98 individuals with different AAT serum levels by using quantitative PCR and expression was correlated to clinical parameters of the patients. Finally, HL60 cells were used to analyze induction of miR-320c in inflammatory conditions.ResultsOverexpression of miR-320 members in human HepG2 cells led to inhibition of SERPINA1 expression. Analysis of miR-320c expression in patient's samples revealed significantly increased expression of miR-320c in individuals with pulmonary disease. Additionally, HL60 cells treated with the pro-inflammatory factor lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed increase in miR-320c expression, suggesting that miR-320c responds to inflammation.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate that miR-320c inhibits SERPINA1 expression in a hepatic cell line and its levels in blood are associated with lung disease in a cohort of patients with different AAT serum levels. These results suggest that miR-320c can play a role in AAT regulation and could be a biomarker of inflammatory processes in pulmonary diseases.     

Prognostic and clinicopathological significance of miR-638 in cancer patients: A meta-analysis

Introduction:MiR-638 is believed to be involved in human cancers. However, the prognostic value of miR-638 in human carcinomas is controversial and inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to investigate the association between miR-638 expression and clinical outcomes in the patients with various cancers.Methods:We searched Pubmed, Embase, Wanfang, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) up to September 1, 2020 to identify relevant studies. Hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to correlate expression of miR-638 with prognosis and clinicopathological features.Results:A total of 18 studies involving 1886 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results revealed that low miR-638 expression was significantly correlated with poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.46–2.98, P < .001), but not with disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 1.71, 95% CI: 0.31–9.56, P = .540). Subgroup analysis found that low miR-638 expression was associated with worse OS in patients with digestive system cancer (HR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.85–3.30, P < .001), the reported directly from articles group (HR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.34–3.33, P < .001), survival curves group (HR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.07–3.80, P = .029), in studies with sample size ≥100 (HR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.34–3.35, P = .001), and in studies with sample size <100 (HR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.09–3.75, P = .025). Moreover, cancer patients with low miR-638 expression were prone to tumor size (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.03–2.09, P = .035), earlier lymph node metastasis (present vs absent, OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.63–3.14, P < .001), earlier distant metastasis (present vs absent, OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.45–4.67, P < .001), TNM stage (III-IV vs I-II, OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.35–2.99, P = .001), and portal vein invasion (present vs absent, OR = 4.39, 95% CI:2.23–8.64, P < .001), but not associated with age, gender, tumor differentiation, and vascular invasion.Conclusions:MiR-638 may serve as a promising indicator in the prediction of prognosis and clinicopathological features in patients with different kinds of cancers.     

高胆红素血症新生儿血清miR-122水平与肝功能各项指标及葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶缺乏的相关性研究

目的:探讨高胆红素血症(NHB)新生儿血清miR-122表达与肝功能各项指标和葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶(G-6-PD)缺乏的相关性。方法:将2020年3月至5月于我院新生儿科足月分娩的新生儿217例,根据临床症状和血清总胆红素(TBil)检测结果分为NHB组(n=144)和非NHB组(n=73),比较两组新生儿肝功能各项指标[谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、TBil、白蛋白(Alb)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、谷氨酰转肽酶(GGT)]以及红细胞G-6-PD酶活性。采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测患儿血清miR-122相对表达量,并分析其与各指标之间的关系。结果:与非NHB组相比,NHB组新生儿血清ALT、AST、GGT、Alb、TBil、CRP水平(Z=-11.858~-2.126,均P<0.05)以及血清miR-122相对表达量(t=4.721,P<0.05)显著升高。根据血清TBil水平,将NHB患儿分为轻度、中度、重度3个亚组;与轻度亚组和中度亚组相比,重度亚组NHB新生儿血清ALT、AST、GGT、TBil、CRP、PCT水平以及血清miR-122相对表达量均升高(H=6.045~63.896,均P<0.05)。NHB患儿血清miR-122相对表达量与ALT、AST、GGT、TBil、PCT水平呈正相关性(r=0.173~0.550,均P<0.05)。22例新生儿G-6-PD缺乏,其血清miR-122相对表达量显著高于G-6-PD正常新生儿(Z=36.831,P<0.05)。结论:在NHB新生儿中,血清miR-122相对表达量普遍升高,这与AST、ALT、AST、GGT、TBil、PCT水平升高、G-6-PD酶缺乏有关,因此加强血清miR-122水平检测有助于更准确地评估NHB患儿肝损伤情况。     

miR-132 inhibits colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis via directly targeting ZEB2

AIM:To investigate the biological role and underlying mechanism of miR-132 in colorectal cancer(CRC)progression and invasion.METHODS:Quantitative RT-PCR analysis was used to examine the expression levels of miR-132 in five CRC cell lines(SW480,SW620,HCT116,HT29 and LoVo)and a normal colonic cell line NCM460,as well as in tumor tissues with or without metastases.The KaplanMeier method was used to analyze the prognostic significance of miR-132 in CRC patients.The biological effects of miR-132 were assessed in CRC cell lines using the transwell assay.Quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analyses were employed to evaluate the expression of miR-132 targets.The regulation of ZEB2 by miR-132was confirmed using the luciferase activity assay.RESULTS:miR-132 was significantly down-regulated in the CRC cell lines compared with the normal colonic cell line(P<0.05),as well as in the CRC tissues withdistant metastases compared with the tissues without metastases(10.52±4.69 vs 23.11±7.84)(P<0.001).Down-regulation of miR-132 was associated with tumor size(P=0.016),distant metastasis(P=0.002),and TNM stage(P=0.020)in CRC patients.Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis indicated that patients with low expression of miR-132 tended to have worse diseasefree survival than patients with high expression of miR-132(P<0.001).Moreover,ectopic expression of miR-132 markedly inhibited cell invasion(P<0.05)and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in CRC cell lines.Further investigation revealed ZEB2,an EMT regulator,was a downstream target of miR-132.CONCLUSION:Our study indicated that miR-132 plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of CRC.     

Expression of miR-126 and miR-508-5p in endothelial progenitor cells is associated with the prognosis of chronic heart failure patients

Background

MicroRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to EPC dysfunction in patients suffering from coronary artery disease. However, it remains unclear whether miRNA expression in EPCs is associated with the prognosis of chronic heart failure (CHF) secondary to ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM).

Methods and results

One hundred six patients with CHF (55 ICM and 51 NICM) and 30 healthy controls were followed until the end of 24 months or when the end point was obtained (cardiovascular death). The miRNA expression profile was analyzed by TaqMan Human MicroRNA Array Set v2.0 in 30 randomly assigned samples (ICM = 10, NICM = 10, and healthy controls = 10). During the 24-month follow-up, 26 patients died from cardiovascular disease. Sixteen miRNAs (miR-126, miR-508-5p, miR-34a, miR-210, miR-490-3p, miR-513-5p, miR-517c, miR-518e, miR-589, miR-220c, miR-200a*, miR-186*, miR-7i*, miR-200b*, miR-595, and miR-662) were found to be differentially expressed between ICM and NICM patients. Survival analysis showed that miR-126 and miR-508-5p levels in EPCs were independent prognostic factors (P = 0.003; HR (hazard ratio): 0.19; 95% CI (confidence intervals): 0.06–0.58, P = 0.002; HR: 2.292; 95% CI: 1.37–3.84) for the outcome of ICM or NICM patients with CHF. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that the angiogenesis pathway was the most likely pathway regulated by miR-126 and miR-508-5p.

Conclusions

The miRNAs miR-126 and miR-508-5p are associated with the outcome of ICM and NICM patients with CHF. These two miRNAs could be useful in the diagnosis of CHF patients, and might provide novel targets for prevention and treatment of CHF.     

Concomitant dysregulation of microRNAs miR-151-3p and miR-126 correlates with improved survival in resected cholangiocarcinoma

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding genes which become dysregulated in cancer and may predict survival. The role of miRNAs in outcomes in cholangiocarcinoma (CC) has not been reported.

Methods

RNA was extracted from 32 resected CCs along with adjacent uninvolved bile duct epithelium. A total of 43 miRNAs were quantified using NanoString™. Clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes were captured and compared. Overall survival curves were created using the Kaplan–Meier method; factors, including miRNA expression, were compared by log-rank, chi-squared or Cox regression analyses.

Results

Absolute expression of each miRNA was compared with overall survival after excluding perioperative deaths (n= 3). One upregulated (miR-151-3p; P= 0.003) and one downregulated (miR-126; P= 0.023) miRNA in resected CC relative to adjacent normal bile duct epithelium correlated with survival on univariate analysis. Clinical factors and these miRNAs were compared. Dysregulated miR-151-3p and miR-126, respectively, were the only factors that correlated with improved overall survival [41.5 months vs. 12.3 months (P= 0.002) and 21.9 months vs. 15.1 months (P= 0.02), respectively]. In eight patients, both miRNAs were dysregulated. In the remainder, only one or neither showed dysregulation. Concomitant dysregulation correlated with the best overall survival (58.7 months vs. 15.1 months; P < 0.000; n= 8); clinicopathologic factors in these groups were otherwise similar.

Conclusions

In resected CC, the concomitant dysregulation of both miR-151-3p and miR-126 was the factor related to the greatest improvement in overall survival. Further analysis of the targets of these miRNAs may yield potential therapeutic targets or prognostic biomarkers.