miR-20a通过靶向抑制PTEN诱导肝癌细胞放射抵抗

目的 探讨miR-20a在肝癌放射敏感性中的作用及机制。方法 荧光定量PCR检测肝癌细胞系和组织标本中miR-20a的表达;构建稳定过表达miR-20a肝癌细胞系,通过克隆实验探讨miR-20a对肝癌细胞放射敏感性影响;蛋白印记法检测Bcl-2、Caspase-3以及γ-H2AX的表达;生物信息学预测miR-20a下游调控的靶基因,双荧光素酶报告系统、荧光定量PCR及蛋白印记法进一步验证;在稳定过表达miR-20a的肝癌细胞系中转染pCDNA3.0-PTEN探讨细胞放射敏感性的变化,明确PTEN是否为miR-20a诱导肝癌放射抵抗的一个功能性靶基因。结果 miR-20a在肝癌细胞系和组织标本中表达上调(P<0.05);经过同等条件的放射处理后,与空白及对照组(WT组、LV-con组)相比,过表达miR-20a组(LV-miR-20a组)细胞存活分数升高,放射抵抗增强(P<0.05),Bcl-2表达上调,Caspase-3及γ-H2AX表达下调;过表达PTEN能够逆转miR-20a引起的放射抵抗。结论 miR-20a在肝癌细胞系及组织标本中表达上调;过表达miR-20a可以促进肝癌细胞放射抵抗,PTEN是miR-20a诱导肝癌放射抵抗的一个功能性靶基因,预示着miR-20a/PTEN位点可能是是肝癌临床放疗相关的有效分子靶点。     

miR-449a对胰腺癌细胞放射敏感性影响

目的 研究miR-449a对胰腺癌SW1990细胞放射敏感性的影响方法 qRT-PCR检测放疗前后胰腺癌SW1990细胞系中miR-449a的表达变化,利用Lipofectamine 2000转染试剂盒将miR-449a mimics及miR-NC转染到SW1990细胞中,流式细胞术、克隆形成实验检测放射处理后细胞放射敏感性变化。使用TargetScan预测及双荧光素酶报告基因实验证明miR-449a与Cyclin D1的靶向作用,免疫组织化学法观察Cyclin D1在胰腺癌组织和胰腺癌旁5 cm的正常胰腺组织的分布,基因敲除Cyclin D1验证其对胰腺癌细胞放射敏感性的影响。结果 经放射处理后,miR-449a在胰腺癌细胞中的表达量明显降低;过表达miR-449a增加了放射后胰腺癌细胞的凋亡率,并使胰腺癌细胞克隆形成率也明显降低;TargetScan预测及双荧光素酶报告基因实验证实了Cyclin D1是miR-449a的靶标;Cyclin D1蛋白在胰腺癌患者组织中的阳性染色率(70%,35/50)明显高于正常胰腺组织(20%,2/10),Cyclin D1增加了胰腺癌细胞的放射敏感性。结论 miR-449a通过靶向干扰Cyclin D1的表达,促进胰腺癌细胞的放射敏感性。     

抑制LINC00958表达调控miR-422a促进结直肠癌细胞凋亡及放射敏感性的机制

目的 探讨lncRNA LINC00958对结直肠癌细胞凋亡及放射敏感性的影响以及其作用机制。方法 将pcDNA、pcDNA-LINC00958、si-NC、si-LINC00958、miR-NC和miR-422a质粒分别转染到SW480细胞中,并分别记为pcDNA组、pcDNA-LINC00958组、si-NC组、si-LINC00958组、miR-NC组和miR-422a组;将anti-miR-NC和anti-miR-422a质粒分别与si-LINC00958共转染到SW480细胞中,并分别记为si-LINC00958+anti-miR-NC组和si-LINC00958+anti-miR-422a组;分别将miR-NC和miR-422a分别转染到WT-LINC00958和MUT-LINC00958组细胞中,检测荧光活性;转染均用脂质体法。采用qRT-PCR检测miR-422a和LINC00958的表达;Western blot检测蛋白表达;流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡;细胞克隆形成实验检测对结直肠癌细胞放射敏感性的影响;双荧光素酶报告基因检测实验检测荧光活性。结果 结直肠癌细胞中LINC00958高表达,miR-422a低表达;抑制LINC00958表达和过表达miR-422a,可促进结直肠癌细胞凋亡,并增加细胞放射敏感性。LINC00958可靶向调节miR-422a表达;抑制miR-422a,逆转了抑制LINC00958表达对结直肠癌细胞的放射增敏和细胞凋亡促进的作用。结论 抑制LINC00958表达,增加结直肠癌细胞的放射敏感性,并促细胞凋亡,其机制可能与调控miR-422a有关,将为结直肠癌治疗提供新靶点和新思路。     

miR-203a-3p靶向AKT2增强骨肉瘤细胞的放射敏感性

目的:研究miR-203a-3p对骨肉瘤MG-63细胞凋亡和放射敏感性的影响及潜在作用机制.方法:qRT-PCR检测AKT2 mRNA的表达水平及不同放射剂量(0、2、4、6、8 Gy)照射后MG-63细胞中miR-203a-3p的表达水平,克隆形成实验检测不同放射剂量处理后细胞存活分数,流式细胞术测定MG-63细胞凋...     

lncRNA MEG3通过调控miR-21表达增加肺癌细胞放射敏感性

目的 探讨长链非编码RNA (lncRNA) MEG3对肺癌细胞H1299的放射敏感性调控机制。方法 运用qRT-PCR法检测具有放射抗性的H1299细胞中MEG3、miR-21-5p的表达。将过表达对照组(转染pcDNA3.1)、过表达MEG3组(转染pcDNA3.1-MEG3)、抑制miR-NC组(转染anti-miR-NC)、抑制miR-21-5p组(转染anti-miR-21-5p)、过表达MEG3+过表达miR-NC组(转染pcDNA3.1-MEG3和miR-NC)、过表达MEG3+过表达miR-21-5p组(转染pcDNA3.1-MEG3和miR-21-5p mimics)均用脂质体法转染。克隆形成实验检测细胞存活分数,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡,双荧光素酶报告基因检测实验检测细胞中MEG3与miR-21-5p的结合力。结果 与正常肺上皮细胞相比,H1299细胞中MEG3表达明显降低,miR-21-5p表达明显升高;过表达MEG3或抑制miR-21-5p均可促进H1299细胞凋亡,增强放射敏感性;MEG3可靶向调控miR-21-5p的表达。过表达miR-21-5p可逆转MEG3对H1299细胞放射增强作用。结论 lncRNA MEG3可增强H1299细胞放射敏感性,其机制也许可能与靶向miR-21-5p有关。     

沉默lncRNA HOTTIP通过上调miR-663a表达增加非小细胞肺癌细胞系放射敏感性

目的 探讨lncRNA HOTTIP通过调控miR-663a表达对4个非小细胞肺癌细胞系放射敏感性影响。方法 用0、2、4、6、8 Gy分别照射H838、H157、A549、H1299细胞系,采用克隆形成实验检测细胞存活情况。qRT-PCR检测细胞中HOTTIP和miR-663a表达水平。以A549、H1299细胞为研究对象,沉默HOTTIP表达、过表达miR-663a后用克隆形成实验检测细胞存活情况。流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡情况,Western blot检测Cleaved caspase-3、Cleaved PARP和γ-H2AX表达。双荧光素酶报告基因实验和qRT-PCR检测验证HOTTIP和miR-663a的靶向关系。结果 HOTTIP在放射耐受的H157、A549、H1299细胞中表达上调,miR-663a表达下调。沉默HOTTIP或过表达miR-663a均可抑制A549、H1299细胞存活(放射增敏比分别为1.562、1.507),促进Cleaved caspase-3、Cleaved PARP和γ-H2AX表达,促进放射照射诱导细胞凋亡。miR-663a是HOTTIP的靶基因,HOTTIP可负性调控miR-663a的表达。抑制miR-663a表达可逆转沉默HOTTIP对肺癌细胞系放射敏感性的影响。结论 沉默HOTTIP通过上调miR-663a表达,抑制肺癌细胞系存活,促进其凋亡,从而提高肺癌细胞系的放射敏感性。     

miR-203a-3p通过靶向PRMT5抑制胃癌细胞增殖

目的:探讨miR-203a-3p在胃癌中的表达及其对胃癌细胞增殖的影响.方法:收集胃癌组织标本44例,采用Real-time PCR方法检测胃癌组织标本中miR-203a-3p的表达,并分析其表达水平与临床病理参数的关系;生物信息学预测miR-203a-3p的靶基因,并采用荧光素酶报告基因实验进行验证;免疫组化检测胃癌组织标本中PRMT5的表达情况,分析其表达水平与miR-203a-3p表达的相关性;利用脂质体介导的瞬时转染方法过表达miR-203a-3p或同时过表达miR-203a-3p和PRMT5,并通过CCK-8实验检测胃癌细胞的增殖情况.结果:胃癌组织中miR-203a-3p的表达水平与正常组织对照相比显著降低(P<0.01),并且miR-203a-3p的表达水平与肿瘤细胞的分化程度显著相关;荧光素酶报告基因实验证实miR-203a-3p可以直接结合在PRMT5 3'-UTR上,即PRMT5是miR-203a-3p的直接靶基因;在胃癌组织标本中,PRMT5表达水平显著高于正常组织对照(P<0.01),并且其表达水平与miR-203a-3p表达呈显著负相关(r=-0.4124,P<0.01);过表达miR-203a-3p后,胃癌BGC823细胞的增殖能力显著低于miR-NC对照组(P<0.01),并且,"挽救"实验表明在过表达miR-203a-3p的细胞中同时过表达PRMT5后会部分恢复miR-203a-3p对细胞增殖的抑制(P<0.01).结论:miR-203a-3p可通过下调靶基因PRMT5的表达,进而抑制胃癌细胞增殖.因此,miR-203a-3p可作为胃癌疾病临床治疗的潜在靶点.     

miR-133b靶向HER-2对结肠癌细胞放射敏感性影响

目的 研究miR-133b对结肠癌细胞(SW620细胞)凋亡及放射敏感性影响并探讨其机制。方法 采用脂质体法转染miR-con组(转染miR-con)、miR-133b组(转染miR-133b mimics)、si-con组(转染si-con)和si-HER-2组(转染si-HER-2) SW620细胞,然后进行0、2、4、6、8 Gy照射。使用qRT-PCR、Western blot、流式细胞术、克隆形成实验和双荧光素酶报告基因实验分别检测各组细胞中miR-133b表达、HER-2蛋白表达、细胞凋亡、细胞存活分数和细胞荧光活性。结果 与照射前相比,照后SW620细胞中miR-133b表达降低(P<0.05),HER-2表达升高(P<0.05)。过表达miR-133b、敲减HER-2均可降低SW620细胞存活分数(P<0.05),促进细胞凋亡(P<0.05)。miR-133b可抑制野生型HER-2细胞荧光活性(P<0.05),且可负向调控HER-2蛋白表达。结论 miR-133b可抑制SW620细胞存活,促进细胞凋亡,增强放射敏感性,其机制可能与靶向HER-2有关。     

miR-324-5p通过靶向调控DAPK1降低胰腺癌细胞的放射敏感性

目的:探讨死亡相关蛋白激酶1（death-associated protein kinase 1,DAPK1）在胰腺癌（pancreatic cancer,PaC）细胞放射敏感性中的作用,验证miR-324-5p通过靶向调控DAPK1影响胰腺癌细胞放射敏感性的机制。方法:通过生物信息学预测靶向DAPK1的miRNAs,并利用双荧光素酶报告基因检测miR-324-5p对DAPK1的调控作用。在PANC-1和MIA PaCa-2细胞中过表达miR-324-5p和DAPK1或抑制miR-324-5p后,对各细胞株进行放射诱导,检测细胞增殖和凋亡情况,以及凋亡相关分子的表达情况。结果:GEO数据集结果显示,胰腺癌组织中miR-324-5p的表达水平高于正常组织。与正常胰腺导管上皮细胞系（HPDE6-C7）相比,胰腺癌细胞系(Capan-1、Bxpc-3、PANC-1和MIA PaCa-2)中miR-324-5p表达水平更高（P均<0.001）。双荧光素报告基因检测结果表明,miR-324-5p靶向DAPK1的3' UTR,并且可下调DAPK1的表达。细胞实验结果证实,过表达miR-324-5p通过靶向调控DAPK1降低放射诱导的细胞凋亡和DNA的损伤,进而降低了胰腺癌细胞的放射敏感性。结论:miR-324-5p通过负调控DAPK1降低胰腺癌细胞对放射的敏感性,从而影响DNA修复和细胞凋亡。miR-324-5p/DAPK1途径可能为胰腺癌的靶向治疗提供了潜在的治疗靶点。     

miR-620通过靶向ING4调控乳腺癌MCF-7细胞放射敏感性

目的：探讨miR-620对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞放射敏感性的影响及其机制。方法：收集2017年3月至2018年3月在海南省儋州市人民医院手术切除的21例乳腺癌患者的癌及癌旁组织标本,以及乳腺癌细胞MCF-7、BCaP-37和乳腺上皮细胞HBL-100,采用qPCR法检测癌组织和细胞中miR-620和生长抑制因子4(ING4)mRNA的表达。利用脂质体转染技术,分别将miR-620抑制剂（anti-miR-620）和抑制剂阴性对照（anti-miR-NC）、anti-miR-620和ING4小干扰RNA(si-ING4)、anti-miR-620和小干扰RNA阴性对照序列（si-NC）转染至MCF-7细胞,经放射处理后（依次记为IR+anti-miR-620组、IR+anti-miR-NC组、IR+antimiR-620+si-ING4组、IR+anti-miR-620+si-NC组）,利用克隆形成实验、MTT法和FCM分别检测细胞放射敏感性、细胞增殖活力、细胞周期分布和凋亡率。双荧光素酶报告基因实验和WB法验证miR-620和ING4的靶向关系。结果：与癌旁组织和HBL-100细胞比较,...     

miR-21靶向抑制RECK对宫颈癌Hela细胞增殖、侵袭和放射敏感性作用

目的:探究miR-21对宫颈癌Hela细胞增殖、凋亡、侵袭以及放射敏感性的影响和潜在作用机制。方法:利用RT-qPCR方法检测宫颈癌组织和相邻非肿瘤组织、正常宫颈上皮细胞(H8)以及宫颈癌细胞系(HeLa、SiHa、ME180)中miR-21表达水平。通过CCK-8检测、Caspase3/7活细胞凋亡检测、伤口愈合试验...     

Inhibiting lncRNA LINC00958 expression promotes apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells and increases the radiosensitivity throuth targeting miR-422a

Objective To investigate the effect of lncRNA LINC00958 on the apoptosis and radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells and its underlying mechanism. Methods The pcDNA, pcDNA-LINC00958, si-NC, si-LINC00958, miR-NC, and miR-422a plasmids were transfected into SW480 cells and assigned into the pcDNA group, pcDNA-LINC00958 group, si-NC group, si-LINC00958 group, miR-NC group, miR-422a group, respectively. Anti-miR-NC and anti-miR-422a plasmids were co-transfected into SW480 cells with si-LINC00958, and assigned into the si-LINC00958+anti-miR-NC group and si-LINC00958+anti-miR-422a group. miR-NC and miR-422a were transfected into the WT-LINC00958 and MUT-LINC00958 cells, respectively. The fluorescence activity was detected. Cell transfection was performed by liposome method. The expression levels of miR-422a and LINC00958 were measured by qRT-PCR. The expression levels of proteins were detected by Western Blot. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. The radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells was evaluated by cell clone formation assay. The fluorescence activity was detected by dual luciferase reporter assay. Results High expression of LINC00958 and low expression of miR-422a were observed in colorectal cancer cells. Inhibition of LINC00958 expression and overexpression of miR-422a could promote cell apoptosis and increase cell radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells. LINC00958 could target the regulation of miR-422a expression. Inhibition of miR-422a reversed the effect of inhibiting the expression of LINC00958 on increasing the radiosensitization and promoting cell apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells. Conclusions Inhibition of LINC00958 expression increases the radiosensitivity and promotes the apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of miR-422a, which will provide new targets and new ideas for the treatment of colorectal cancer.     

miR-485-3p通过调控ATR信号通路增强MGC803细胞放射敏感性研究

目的 研究miR-485-3p对胃癌细胞MGC803放射敏感性影响及其可能作用机制。方法 将miR-485-3p mimic或ATR siRNA转染MGC803细胞后X线照射,MTT、克隆形成实验和凋亡实验观察细胞生物效应(表达检测照射6 Gy,克隆形成实验0、2、4、6、8、10 Gy)。分别用RT-PCR和蛋白印迹法检测miR-485-3p和ATR表达水平,DIANA、TargetScan和miRanda软件预测和双荧光素酶实验验证miR-485-3p对ATR靶向作用。结果 MGC803细胞放射后miR-485-3p表达下调。miR-485-3p过表达降低了细胞增殖和存活分数,增加了细胞凋亡率。经靶基因预测软件发现ATR可能是miR-485-3p靶基因,双荧光素酶实验进一步验证了ATR是miR-485-3p直接靶点。miR-485-3p负调控ATR表达,转染ATR siRNA抑制ATR信号通路后放射敏感性升高。结论 miR-485-3p可能靶向ATR,通过抑制ATR信号通路活性调节MGC803细胞放射敏感性。     

LncRAN MEG3 regulates the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells by targeting miR-181a-5p

Objective To evaluate the effect of long-chain non-coding RNA MEG3(LncRNA MEG3) on the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells, and to explore its underlying mechanism. Methods The expression of LncRNA MEG3 in cervical cancer cells was detected by qRT-PCR. In the overexpression control group (transfected with pcDNA 3.1), LncRNA MEG3 overexpression group (transfected with pcDNA 3.1-LncRNA MEG3), miR-NC inhibition group (transfected with anti-miR-NC), miR-181a-5p inhibition group (transfected with anti-miR-181a-5p), LncRNA MEG3+miR-NC overexpression group (co-transfected with pcDNA3.1-LncRNA MEG3 and anti-miR-NC), LncRNA MEG3+miR-181a-5p overexpression group (co-transfected with pcDNA 3.1-LncRNA MEG3 and anti-miR-181a-5p), all plasmids were transfected into SiHa cells by liposome method. The cell survival fraction was assessed by colony formation assay. The cell apoptosis rate was evaluated by flow cytometry. The cell fluorescence activity was assessed by dual luciferase reporter assay. The expression levels of PTEN, p-Akt and Akt proteins were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the radiosensitive group, the expression of LncRNA MEG3 was significantly down-regulated in radiation-resistant cervical cancer tissues (P<0.05), and its expression level was positively correlated with the sensitivity of cervical cancer cells. Overexpression of LncRNA MEG3 or inhibition of miR-181a-5p could significantly enhance the irradiation sensitivity and promote the apoptosis of cervical cancer cell line SiHa (both P<0.05). The fluorescence activity of wild-type LncRNA MEG3 cells was inhibited by miR-181a-5p. Overexpression of miR-181a-5p reversed the irradiation sensitization and pro-apoptosis effect of LncRNA MEG3 and the regulation of the PTEN/Akt signaling pathway on cervical cancer cell. Conclusion LncRNA MEG3 can enhance the sensitivity of cervical cancer cells to radiation exposure, probably by targeting the miR-181a-5p and regulating the PTEN/Akt signaling pathway, which will provide a new direction for improving clinical prognosis of cervical cancer patients.     

LncRNA MEG3靶向miR-181a-5p调控宫颈癌细胞放射敏感性

目的 研究LncRNA MEG3对宫颈癌细胞放射敏感性的影响,并探讨其作用机制。方法 运用qRT-PCR法检测放射抗性和放射敏感性宫颈癌细胞中LncRNA MEG3的表达;将过表达对照组(转染pcDNA 3.1)、过表达LncRNA MEG3组(转染pcDNA 3.1-LncRNA MEG3)、抑制miR-NC组(转染anti-miR-NC)、抑制miR-181a-5p组(转染anti-miR-181a-5p)、过表达LncRNA MEG3+过表达miR-NC组(共转染pcDNA 3.1-LncRNA MEG3和anti-miR-NC)、过表达LncRNA MEG3+过表达miR-181a-5p组(共转染pcDNA 3.1-LncRNA MEG3和anti-miR-181a-5p),均用脂质体法转染至SiHa细胞;克隆形成实验检测细胞的存活分数;流式细胞术检测细胞的凋亡率;双荧光素酶报告基因检测实验检测细胞的荧光活性;Western blot检测细胞中PTEN、p-Akt、Akt的蛋白表达。结果 与放射敏感组相比,放射抗性宫颈癌组织中LncRNA MEG3的表达明显降低(P<0.05),其表达量与宫颈癌细胞的放射敏感性呈正相关;过表达LncRNA MEG3、抑制miR-181a-5p均可显著增强宫颈癌细胞SiHa放射敏感性,促进凋亡(P<0.05);野生型LncRNA MEG3细胞的荧光活性受miR-181a-5p的抑制。过表达miR-181a-5p逆转了LncRNA MEG3对宫颈癌细胞放射增敏和促凋亡作用及对PTEN/Akt信号通路的调控。结论 长链非编码RNA LncRNA MEG3可增强宫颈癌细胞放射敏感性,其机制可能与靶向miR-181a-5p调控PTEN/Akt 信号通路有关,可为提高宫颈癌的预后提供新方向。     

miR-203a-3p通过靶向调控GATA6抑制食管鳞癌细胞的增殖和侵袭

背景与目的：生物信息学分析提示GATA6是miR-203a-3p的潜在靶基因,明确miR-203a-3p通过靶向调控GATA6抑制食管鳞癌细胞的增殖和侵袭。方法：采用Lipofectamine ^TM RNAiMAX对培养的KYSE-70和KYSE-180细胞瞬时转染。采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应（real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction,RTFQ-PCR）检测miR-203a-3p和GATA6的表达水平。采用蛋白质印迹法（Western blot）检测GATA6蛋白的水平。质粒联合转染后检测相对萤光素酶活性。对食管鳞癌患者标本进行恶性肿瘤与异型增生组织miR-203a-3p和GATA6的表达检测。结果：RTFQ-PCR及Western blot检测结果显示,与对照组比较,GATA6基因和蛋白的表达在miR-203a-3p转染组中降低,在miR-203a-3p inhibitor组却升高,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。与对照组比较,miR-203a-3p转染组KYSE-70细胞增殖能力下降,miR-203a-3p inhibitor组中却升高,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。在KYSE-180中虽然差异无统计学意义,但其趋势却与KYSE-70一致。与对照组比较,在KYSE-70和KYSE-180细胞系中,侵袭细胞数值/视野在miR-203a-3p转染组中均明显下降（P<0.01）,在miR-203a-3p inhibitor组中却明显升高（P<0.05）。与miR-203a-3p掠夺型+GATA6野生型组和miR-203a-3p野生型+GATA6突变型组比较,相对萤光素酶活性在miR-203a-3p野生型+GATA6野生型组中降低,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。与异型增生组织相比较,100%（10/10）食管鳞癌患者miR-203a-3p在恶性肿瘤组织的表达下调,而GATA6表达水平上调。结论：miR-203a-3p通过靶向调控GATA6抑制食管鳞癌细胞的增殖和侵袭能力。     

Down-regulation of miR-203 induced by Helicobacter pylori infection promotes the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer by targeting CASK

Several microRNAs (miRNA) have been implicated in H. pylori related gastric cancer (GC). However, the molecular mechanism of miRNAs in GC has not been fully understood. In this study, we reported that miR-203 is significantly down-regulated in H. pylori positive tissues and cells and in tumor tissues with important functional consequences. Ectopic expression of miR-203 dramatically suppressed cell proliferation and invasion. We found that miR-203 strongly reduced the expression of CASK oncogene in GC cells. Similar to the restoring miR-203 expression, CASK down-regulation inhibited cell growth and invasion, whereas CASK over-expression rescued the suppressive effect of miR-203. These results can also be found in nude mice. In clinical specimens, CASK was over-expressed in tumors and H. pylori positive tissues and its mRNA levels were inversely correlated with miR-203 expression. Taken together, our results indicated that miR-203 functions as a growth-suppressive miRNA in H. pylori related GC, and that its suppressive effects are mediated mainly by repressing CASK expression.