Pleiotropic action of renal cell carcinoma-dysregulated miRNAs on hypoxia-related signaling pathways

The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene is lost in ≈ 70% of all renal cell carcinomas (RCCs); however, increasing evidence supports the involvement of alternative mechanisms in the regulation of VHL expression, including suppression by microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs are small, noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression through binding to target mRNAs. In this study, we found that miRNAs, which are dysregulated in cases of RCC, can target multiple members of RCC-related signaling pathways. Importantly, both VHL and the hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α gene are experimentally validated and are likely direct targets of miR-17-5p and miR-224, as shown by both luciferase assay and Western blot analysis. We found a negative correlation between miR-17-5p and its two predicted targets, VEGF-A and EGLN3, and between miR-224 and its targets SMAD4 and SMAD5 in RCC specimens, suggesting that downstream signaling pathways are also modulated by clear cell RCC-dysregulated miRs. Results from our bioinformatics analysis show that a single miRNA molecule can target multiple components of the same pathway and that multiple miRNAs can target the same molecule. Our results also indicate that miRNAs represent a mechanism for the inactivation of VHL in cases of RCC and can elucidate a new dimension in cancer pathogenesis. As such, miRNAs exemplify new potential therapeutic targets with a significant effect on both tumor growth and metastatic potential.     

The noncoding RNA, miR-126, suppresses the growth of neoplastic cells by targeting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling and is frequently lost in colon cancers

MicroRNAs (miRNA/miR) are a class of small noncoding RNAs implicated in the pathogenesis of various malignancies. In the current study, using micro(RNA) arrays, we found a ubiquitous loss of miR-126 expression in colon cancer lines when compared to normal human colon epithelia. Reconstitution of miR-126 in colon cancer cells resulted in a significant growth reduction as evidenced in clonogenic assays. A search for miR-126 gene targets revealed p85beta, a regulatory subunit involved in stabilizing and propagating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signal, as one of the potential substrates. Restoration of miR-126 in cancer cells induced a > or =3-fold reduction in p85beta protein levels, with no concomitant change in p85alpha, a gene that is functionally related to p85beta but not a supposed target of miR-126. Additionally, using reporter constructs, we show that the p85beta-3' untranslated region is directly targeted by miR-126. Furthermore, this miR-126 mediated reduction of p85beta was accompanied by a substantial reduction in phosphorylated AKT levels in the cancer cells, suggesting an impairment in PI3K signaling. Finally, in a panel of matched normal colon and primary colon tumors, each of the tumors demonstrated miR-126 down-regulation together with an increase in the p85beta protein level. Taken together, we propose that miR-126 regulates PI3K signaling partly by targeting p85beta, and that the loss of miR-126 may provide a selective growth advantage during colon carcinogenesis.     

肠道病毒71型感染人神经母细胞瘤细胞(SH-SY5Y)的miRNA表达谱

目的 研究肠道病毒71型(EV71)感染神经细胞的miRNA表达谱,探讨miRNA在病毒感染神经细胞中的可能作用.方法 建立EV71感染人神经母细胞瘤细胞(SH-SY5Y)模型,收集感染后48 h细胞.以Taqman低密度芯片检测miRNA表达谱,使用实时RT-PCR对芯片结果进行验证并在TargetScan和miRanda网站预测靶基因,采用GO和KEGG分析靶基因功能.结果 成功建立EV71感染SH-SY5Y细胞模型,通过低密度芯片筛选出215种显著升高的miRNA和25种显著下调的miRNA.经过RT-PCR验证,3种miRNA(MiR-10a*、miR-15b*和miR-195)显著下调,7种miRNA(miR-10a、miR-342-5p、miR-483-5p、Let-7b、miR-99a、miR-140-5p和miR-21)显著上调,与芯片结果相符.GO分析显示发展进程和信号调节条目最富集靶基因.KEGG路径分析显示靶基因在肿瘤路径、蛋白水解、Wnt信号传导、黑素形成、粘附连接、MAPK信号通道最富集.结论 EV71感染神经细胞48 h后miRNA表达谱发生改变,10种变化的miRNA靶基因预测在发展进程、信号传导及凋亡中起着重要的作用,可为后期机制研究提供参考.     

自发性高血压大鼠延髓microRNA差异表达分析

目的　探讨自发性高血压大鼠延髓microRNA（miRNA）差异表达谱及其靶基因生物信息学分析。 方法　采用自发性高血压大鼠模型（SHR组）,同周龄SD大鼠为对照组（Control组）。利用miRNA芯片检测大鼠延髓中miRNAs差异表达谱。 结果　与对照组比较,SHR组尾动脉收缩压显著升高（P＜0.0001）;SHR组延髓组织miRNAs有显著差异表达谱,16个miRNAs表达上调和7个miRNAs表达下调（1.5-fold change cutoff, P<0.05）。qRT-PCR验证结果显示,与对照组比较,SHR组延髓miR-153、miR-193及miR-301a表达显著下降,与芯片结果一致。生物信息学分析显示,差异表达miRNAs可能调控2775个靶基因（target score≥83）。这些靶基因主要富集在12个信号通路,包括磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶（Phosphatidylinositide3-kinase,PI3K）通路等。 结论　自发性高血压大鼠延髓组织中miR-153、miR-193及miR-301a明显下调,且生物信息学分析提示PI3K通路介导神经炎症可能作为高血压中枢相关差异表达miRNAs调控靶基因介导的主要致病通路。     

miR-130b-3p有望作为人膀胱癌的标志物

目的进一步了解miRNA在膀胱癌中的潜在机制。方法芯片分析4对人膀胱癌组织和相邻正常组织中的miRNA的表达。并用RT-q PCR来验证两个最上调的miRNA及其靶基因的表达是否符合miRNA/mRNA芯片结果。通过相关性分析和双荧光素酶报告实验推断并验证miR-130b-3p可以靶向PTEN。应用CCK8、EDU、流式细胞术、划痕、Transwell和细胞骨架等实验证明miR-130b可以影响膀胱癌细胞的增殖、凋亡、迁移和侵袭。用Western blot检测PI3K/AKT和整合素β1/FAK信号通路的关键靶蛋白。结果人膀胱癌中miR-130b-3p表达高于癌旁且与PTEN表达呈负相关。miR-130b-3p可下调PTEN表达,导致PI3K/AKT和整合素β1/FAK信号通路的激活,且与膀胱癌EJ细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭相关。细胞转染miR-130b-3p抑制剂时,可以重排细胞骨架。结论本结果揭示miR-130b/PTEN有望用于人膀胱癌诊断和治疗的标志物。     

MicroRNA Microarray Expression Profiling in Human Myocardial Infarction

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNA molecules, are negative regulators of gene expression. Recent studies have indicated their role in various forms of cardiovascular disease. In spite of the number of miRNA microarray analyses performed, little is known about the genome-wide miRNA expression pattern in human myocardial infarction (MI). Using miRNA microarrays and bioinformatic analysis, miRNA expression was analyzed on human MI and foetal hearts compared to healthy adult hearts, to determine whether there is any similar expression pattern between MI and foetal hearts, and to identified miRNAs that have not previously been described as dysregulated in cardiovascular diseases. Of 719 miRNAs analyzed, ∼ 50% were expressed in human hearts, 77 miRNAs were absent from all tested tissues and 57 were confidently dysregulated in at least one tested group. Some expression patterns appeared to be similar in MI and foetal hearts. Bioinformatic analysis revealed 10 miRNAs as dysregulated in MI not yet related to cardiovascular disease, and 5 miRNAs previously described only in animal models of cardiovascular diseases. Finally, qRT-PCR analysis confirmed dysregulation of 7 miRNAs, miR-150, miR-186, miR-210, miR-451, and muscle-specific, miR-1 and miR-133a/b; all of these are believed to be involved in various physiological and pathological processes.     

The potential value of miR-1 and miR-374b as biomarkers for colorectal cancer

The mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) is growing due to the unsatisfactory specificity and sensitivity of the existing screening methods. Previous studies have focused on the role of miRNAs as CRC biomarkers. However, few studies have examined the miRNA profiles at each stage. The objective of this study was to identify miRNAs that distinguish CRC patients from normal people to prevent the misdiagnosis of patients with certain stages of CRC. We performed miRNA profiling of 1547 human miRNAs by qRT-PCR in CRC patients with stage II and stage III disease. The statistical analyses showed that there were 96 miRNAs that were significantly dysregulated in CRC relative to normal tissues (P<0.05). There were 28 dysregulated miRNAs associated with separate or combined stages II and III disease. There were 25 downregulated miRNAs, including the following: miR-1, -145, -145*, -137, -363, -143, -4770, -490-5p, -9, -144*, -99a, -99b, -23b, -143*, -100, -768-3p, -24-1*, -125a-5p, -30e*, -574-3p, -126, let-7b, miR-1979, -374b, and -140-3p. We found an upregulation of miR-203, 182, and 96. Our results demonstrated that the expression of miR-1 and miR-374b was significantly decreased in each stage and may function as a biomarker of CRC. Furthermore, 20 miRNAs were dysregulated both in stage II disease without lymph node or distant metastasis and in stage II-III tumors but not in stage III tumors. Only miR-4794 was involved exclusively with stage II tumors, and there were 19 miRNAs that were dysregulated only in stage III disease with lymph node metastasis and in stage II-III disease. There were only 6 miRNAs that were uniquely dysregulated in stage III. Our results indicate that miRNA expression may be valuable in the clinic. However, large prospective studies are required to confirm the role of miRNAs. This study provides a new model for analyzing novel CRC biomarkers by considering more clinical factors.     

MicroRNA-126 acts as a tumor suppressor in glioma cells by targeting insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1)

MicroRNA (miR-126) was reported to be downregulated and to act as a tumor suppressor in cancers of the lung, cervix, bladder, breast, liver and prostate. However, the precise roles and underling mechanisms of miR-126 in glioma remain largely unknown. This study is aimed to study the role of miR-126 in the progression of glioma and to elucidate underlying miR-126-mediated mechanisms in glioma. Our results revealed that miR-126 was downregulated in the collected glioma specimen, compared with non-cancerous brain tissues. Restored miR-126 expression inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, and induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and cell apoptosis of U-87 MG glioma cells. Overexpression of miR-126 was also able to suppress the growth of U-87 MG glioma xenografts in mice. Furthermore, insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) were identified as a target of miR-126, and showed that it was negatively regulated by miR-126 in glioma cells. We also demonstrated that overexpression of miR-126 suppressed PI3K and AKT activation, which contribute to suppress tumor growth of glioma. Taken together, these findings showed that miR-126 functions as a tumor suppressor in glioma cells by targeting IRS-1 expression via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, suggesting that miR-126 might be a novel target for therapeutic strategies in glioma.     

介导GDNF促进DA能神经细胞存活与分化的信号路径的研究

胶质细胞系源性神经营养因子(GDNF)可以通过跨膜的酪氨酸蛋白激酶受体RET激活细胞内两条信号通路,即磷脂酰肌醇3激酶(PI3K)信号通路和Ras/Raf/MEK/Erk信号通路。为探讨在GDNF促进中脑多巴胺(DA)能神经细胞存活和分化过程中,上述两条信号通路所发挥的作用,本研究在建立GDNF促进中脑DA能神经细胞存活和分化的细胞培养模型的基础上,以PI3K信号通路中PI3K的特异性抑制剂Wortmannin和Ras/Raf/MEK/Erk信号通路中MEK的特异性抑制剂PD98059分别阻断上述两条信号通路;结合免疫细胞化学染色技术,以DA合成的限速酶酪氨酸羟化酶(TH)的染色情况为指标来观察上述两条信号通路对DA能神经细胞存活和分化的影响。结果显示,Wortmannin可以阻断GDNF促进TH阳性神经细胞数目及其突起增加的作用;而PD98059对GDNF的生物学效应没有影响。结果提示PI3K而非Ras/Raf/MEK/Erk信号通路介导了GDNF对中脑DA能神经细胞存活和分化的促进作用。     

MicroRNA–mRNA interactions in colorectal cancer and their role in tumor progression

MicroRNAs (miRNA/miR) play an important role in gene regulatory networks through targeting mRNAs. They are involved in diverse biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Due to their pivotal effects on multiple genes and pathways, dysregulated miRNAs have been reported to be associated with different diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Recent evidence indicates that aberrant miRNA expression is tightly linked with the initiation and progression of CRC. To elucidate the influence of miRNA regulation in CRC, it is critical to identify dysregulated miRNAs, their target mRNA genes and their involvement in gene regulatory and signaling networks. Various experimental and computational studies have been conducted to decipher the function of miRNAs involved in CRC. Experimental studies that are used for this purpose can be classified into two categories: direct/individual and indirect/high‐throughput gene expression studies. Here we review miRNA target identification studies related to CRC with an emphasis on experimental data based on Luciferase reporter assays. Recent advances in determining the function of miRNAs and the signaling pathways they are involved in have also been summarized. The review helps bioinformaticians and biologists to find extensive information about downstream targets of dysregulated miRNAs, and their pro‐/anti‐CRC effects. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Calbindin-D28K inhibits apoptosis in dopaminergic neurons by activation of the PI3-kinase-Akt signaling pathway

Calbindin-D28k (CaBP) has a neuroprotective effect on dopaminergic (DA) neurons in several models of Parkinson's disease. We used the DA cell line MN9D to explore the mechanisms underlying CaBP-mediated protection against the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) of DA neurons. In MN9D cells that were transfected with the expression vector pcDNA3-CB containing CaBP cDNA, the expression level of CaBP was significantly increased. After treating with 6-OHDA, a significant decrease in the apoptosis rate of the transfected MN9D cells was noted, as well as an obvious increase in the expression of phosphorylation of Akt (p-Akt); however, no significant change in the expression of total Akt or phospho-p100 (p-p100) occurred after this treatment. After treatment with wortmannin, an inhibitor of the PI3-kinase-Akt (PI-3K/Akt) signal pathway, an increase in the expression level of CaBP was observed, but there were no other obvious changes of the experimental index mentioned previously in the groups transfected with pcDNA3-CB. These studies suggest that CaBP has a significant role in protecting DA cells against the apoptosis induced by 6-OHDA—through PI-3K/Akt signaling pathway—where the non-canonical nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling pathway might have no relevance.     

Insulin-like growth factor-1 induces the phosphorylation of PRAS40 via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in PC12 cells

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a polypeptide tropic factor that plays an important role in the survival and differentiation of both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Numerous studies have demonstrated that IGF-1 promotes neuronal cell survival via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa (PRAS40) is a recently discovered downstream target of Akt. However, the relationship between IGF-1 and PRAS40 is not known. In this study, we characterized the phosphorylation of PRAS40 induced by IGF-1 in PC12 cells and explored the signaling pathway responsible for the effect of IGF-1. IGF-1 induced the phosphorylation of Akt at Thr473 and PRAS40 at Thr246 in PC12 cells. The phosphorylation of Akt and PRAS40 induced by IGF-1 (100ng/ml) was inhibited by the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) specific inhibitor LY294002 (50μM), while no inhibitory effect was observed for a MAPK kinase pathway specific inhibitor PD98059 nor a p38 MAPK inhibitor PD169316, suggesting that the phosphorylation of PRAS40 induced by IGF-1 is mediated by the PI3K pathway in PC12 cells and primary cultured neurons. In further support this hypothesis, an Akt kinase specific inhibitor, Akt inhibitor VIII, attenuated IGF-1-induced phosphorylation of PRAS40 at the concentration that blocked the phosphorylation of Akt induced by IGF-1. Taken together, these data demonstrate that IGF-1 stimulates the phosphorylation of PRAS40 at Thr246 in neuronal cells and the effect of IGF-1 is mediated, at least in part, by the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.