miRNA-335基因启动子区甲基化与胃癌细胞不良生物学行为的关系

目的:探讨miR-335基因启动子区异常甲基化状态对胃癌细胞系中miR-335表达水平的影响,以及miR-335基因启动子区甲基化状态对胃癌细胞侵袭,迁移,以及增殖能力的影响。方法:1株永生化胃黏膜上皮细胞系(GES-1)和4株胃癌细胞系(SGC-7901,MKN-45,BGC-823和AGS)。实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)检测胃癌细胞株miR-335及CRKL的表达水平。甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)方法检测胃癌细胞株miR-335的基因启动子区甲基化状态。应用MTT方法检测恢复miR-335表达对胃癌细胞增殖能力的影响,Transwell侵袭迁移实验及划痕愈合实验分析恢复miR-335表达对胃癌细胞系侵袭及迁移能力的影响。结果:MSP实验结果表明,MKN-45、SGC-7901和BGC-823细胞系均存在基因启动子区异常的高甲基化状态,AGS细胞系基因启动子区亦呈部分高甲基化状态。去甲基药物5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine处理后胃癌细胞miR-335的表达水平可升高2~3倍。Transwell侵袭迁移实验及划痕愈合实验表明miR-335表达水平恢复后SGC-7901细胞的侵袭和迁移能力明显降低。MTT实验结果表明5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine处理后的SGC-7901细胞系与对照组相比,增殖能力显著降低。结论:miR-335启动子区的异常高甲基化状态抑制了miR-335在胃癌细胞系中的表达,恢复miR-335的表达水平可以抑制胃癌细胞的增殖,迁移和侵袭能力。miR-335为胃癌的肿瘤抑制因子。     

Down-regulation of miR-212 expression by DNA hypermethylation in human gastric cancer cells

There has been few report discussing the expression and function of miR-212 in gastric cancer (GC). The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the expression of miR-212 in both gastric cancer tissues and gastric cancer cells and further explores the possible reasons for this change and the impact on the development of gastric cancer. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-212 in primary GC tissues, adjacent normal tissues, gastric cancer cell lines BGC-823, SGC-7901, MKN-45, and normal gastric mucosa cell line GES. The expression of miR-212 was evaluated before and after treatment with methylation inhibitor-5-Aza-2'-deoxycitidine (5-Aza-dC), finally anti-miRNA and dual luciferase reporter assay were used to prove that MYC is a target gene of miR-212. The results showed that a significant reduction of miR-212 expression in GC tissues was observed compared to that in normal tissues (P = 0.002). At the same time, miR-212 expression level in normal gastric mucosa cell line GES was higher than that of in gastric cancer cell lines BGC-823, SGC-7901, and MKN-45 (P = 0.015, 0.008, 0.044, respectively). Computer sequence analysis showed the hypermethylation of CpG islands(CPI) in the promoter regions of miR-212 led to the lower expression of miR-212 in gastric cell strains (BGC-823 and SGC-7901). MiR-212 expression was significantly recovered after treatment with methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-dC (P = 0.016, 0.000, 0.015, respectively). Then, the results of AMOs transfection and dual luciferase reporter assay showed that Myc is a target of miR-212, which will be helpful to verify the function of miR-212 in carcinogenesis. The conclusion could be deduced from the study that decreased expression of miR-212 may be due to hypermethylation of CPI in gastric cancer cells, and miR-212 might act on the progression of gastric cancer through the potential target gene Myc.     

MicroRNA-212 functions as an epigenetic-silenced tumor suppressor involving in tumor metastasis and invasion of gastric cancer through down-regulating PXN expression

Altered expression of paxillin (PXN) is closely linked to the pathogenesis progression, metastasis and prognosis of different malignancies including gastric cancer (GC). Epigenetic silencing of tumor-suppressive microRNAs (miRNAs) is a crucial component of the mechanism underlying activation of oncogenes in tumor. To screen for epigenetically silenced miRNAs which target PXN in GC, we performed bioinformatics algorithms and real-time PCR analysis, and identified miR-212 as the optimum candidate gene. A luciferase reporter gene assay validated that miR-212 directly targets the 3’UTR region of PXN. Importantly, miR-212 levels were inversely correlated with PXN expression in GC cell lines and clinical tumor tissues. The use of miR-212 minics decrease PXN mRNA and protein level in GC cell lines. Moreover, low expression of miR-212 and its promoter hypermethylation were causally related and were associated with aggressive tumor phenotype and adverse prognosis in GC. Restoring mir-212 expression by exogenous mirprecursor molecules transfection or reexpression of endogenous miR-212 treated by 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine (5-aza) can exert similar effect that reduce GC cells invasion and metastasis abilities in vitro by interacting PXN gene. In addition, 5-aza-induced PXN reduction could be partically blocked by miR-212 inhibitor, resulting in a reversal of weankening cell migration and invasion ability of 5-aza. A rescue experiment and a loss-of-function experiment in vitro and vivo showed that PXN restoration rescues migration and invasion phenotype in miR-212 overexpressed GC cell lines and PXN knockdown blocks GC cells migration and invasion in the presence miR-212 inhibitors. Taken together, our results clearly show that overexpression of PXN induced by methylationsuppressed miR-212 promotes tumor metastasis and invasion, and regulation of miR-212 expression may be a novel therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer.     

Down-regulation of miR-212 expression by DNA hypermethylation in human gastric cancer cells

There has been few report discussing the expression and function of miR-212 in gastric cancer (GC). The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the expression of miR-212 in both gastric cancer tissues and gastric cancer cells and further explores the possible reasons for this change and the impact on the development of gastric cancer. qRT–PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-212 in primary GC tissues, adjacent normal tissues, gastric cancer cell lines BGC-823, SGC-7901, MKN-45, and normal gastric mucosa cell line GES. The expression of miR-212 was evaluated before and after treatment with methylation inhibitor-5-Aza-2′-deoxycitidine (5-Aza-dC), finally anti-miRNA and dual luciferase reporter assay were used to prove that MYC is a target gene of miR-212. The results showed that a significant reduction of miR-212 expression in GC tissues was observed compared to that in normal tissues (P = 0.002). At the same time, miR-212 expression level in normal gastric mucosa cell line GES was higher than that of in gastric cancer cell lines BGC-823, SGC-7901, and MKN-45 (P = 0.015, 0.008, 0.044, respectively). Computer sequence analysis showed the hypermethylation of CpG islands(CPI) in the promoter regions of miR-212 led to the lower expression of miR-212 in gastric cell strains (BGC-823 and SGC-7901). MiR-212 expression was significantly recovered after treatment with methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-dC (P = 0.016, 0.000, 0.015, respectively). Then, the results of AMOs transfection and dual luciferase reporter assay showed that Myc is a target of miR-212, which will be helpful to verify the function of miR-212 in carcinogenesis. The conclusion could be deduced from the study that decreased expression of miR-212 may be due to hypermethylation of CPI in gastric cancer cells, and miR-212 might act on the progression of gastric cancer through the potential target gene Myc.

     

MicroRNA-335的表遗传学调控机制及其与胃癌患者临床病理特征的关系

目的:探索miR-335基因启动子区甲基化状态对胃癌组织及细胞系中miR-335表达水平的影响,以及miR-335基因启动子区甲基化状态与胃癌患者临床病理特征以及预后的关系。方法:收集2012年7月1日-2014年7月1日中国医科大学附属第四医院就诊经病理诊断为原发性胃癌并行根治性手术的108例新鲜胃癌组织及配对癌旁组织,1株永生化的胃黏膜上皮细胞系(GES-1)和4株胃癌细胞系(SGC-7901、MKN-45、BGC-823和AGS)。实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)检测胃癌细胞株及108例胃癌患者肿瘤组织中miR-335的表达水平。甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)方法检测胃癌细胞系及胃癌患者肿瘤组织中miR-335的基因启动子区甲基化状态。分析miR-335基因启动子区甲基化状态对胃癌患者临床病理特征的影响。结果:qRT-PCR检测结果显示,miR-335在胃癌细胞株中的表达水平显著低于正常胃黏膜上皮细胞株GES-1［MKN-45,0.154±0.016-fold(P＜0.01);SGC-7901,0.138±0.013-fold(P＜0.01);BGC-823,0.432±0.076-fold(P＜0.01);AGS,0.749±0.072-fold(P=0.01)］。miR-335在108例胃癌组织中的表达水平较癌旁组织存在明显下降,差异显著（P＜0.001）。MSP的实验结果表明,MKN-45、SGC-7901、AGS和BGC-823细胞株均存在基因启动子区异常高甲基化状态。miR-335基因启动子区的高甲基化状态与肿瘤大小(P=0.004)、淋巴结转移(P=0.046)、淋巴管浸润(P=0.001) 和miR-335 低表达 (P<0.001) 显著相关。结论:miR-335启动子区的高甲基化状态抑制了miR-335在胃癌细胞中的表达,miR-335的基因启动子区异常高甲基化状态与胃癌患者的肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移以及淋巴管浸润显著相关。     

Methylation-associated silencing of microRNA-34b/c in gastric cancer and its involvement in an epigenetic field defect

Altered expression of microRNA (miRNA) is strongly implicated in cancer, and recent studies have shown that the silencing of some miRNAs is associated with CpG island hypermethylation. To identify epigenetically silenced miRNAs in gastric cancer (GC), we screened for miRNAs induced by treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and 4-phenylbutyrate. We found that miR-34b and miR-34c are epigenetically silenced in GC and that their downregulation is associated with hypermethylation of the neighboring CpG island. Methylation of the miR-34b/c CpG island was frequently observed in GC cell lines (13/13, 100%) but not in normal gastric mucosa from Helicobacter pylori-negative healthy individuals. Transfection of a precursor of miR-34b and miR-34c into GC cells induced growth suppression and dramatically changed the gene expression profile. Methylation of miR-34b/c was found in a majority of primary GC specimens (83/118, 70%). Notably, analysis of non-cancerous gastric mucosae from GC patients (n = 109) and healthy individuals (n = 85) revealed that methylation levels are higher in gastric mucosae from patients with multiple GC than in mucosae from patients with single GC (27.3 versus 20.8%; P < 0.001) or mucosae from H. pylori-positive healthy individuals (27.3 versus 20.7%; P < 0.001). These results suggest that miR-34b and miR-34c are novel tumor suppressors frequently silenced by DNA methylation in GC, that methylation of miR-34b/c is involved in an epigenetic field defect and that the methylation might be a predictive marker of GC risk.     

Epigenetic regulation of miR-34b and miR-129 expression in gastric cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that play fundamental roles in diverse biological and pathological processes by targeting the expression of specific genes. Here, we identified 38 methylation-associated miRNAs, the expression of which could be epigenetically restored by cotreatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A. Among these 38 miRNAs, we further analyzed miR-34b, miR-127-3p, miR-129-3p and miR-409 because CpG islands are predicted adjacent to them. The methylation-silenced expression of these miRNAs could be reactivated in gastric cancer cells by treatment with demethylating drugs in a time-dependent manner. Analysis of the methylation status of these miRNAs showed that the upstream CpG-rich regions of mir-34b and mir-129-2 are frequently methylated in gastric cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues, and their methylation status correlated inversely with their expression patterns. The expression of miR-34b and miR-129-3p was downregulated by DNA hypermethylation in primary gastric cancers, and the low expression was associated with poor clinicopathological features. In summary, our study shows that tumor-specific methylation silences miR-34b and miR-129 in gastric cancer cells.     

miR-495 and miR-551a inhibit the migration and invasion of human gastric cancer cells by directly interacting with PRL-3

The phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3) gene is associated with metastasis in gastric cancer, and is believed to play a causative role by promoting tumor cell motility, invasion, and metastasis, but little is known of the mechanisms involved. We previously reported that PRL-3 expression is significantly higher in the tissues of primary gastric carcinomas with peritoneal metastasis. In the present study, we found that two microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-495 and miR-551a, predicted to target PRL-3, are downregulated in gastric carcinoma samples. The validation of this interaction between those two miRNAs and PRL-3 was confirmed by western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) in GC cell lines transfected with miR-495 and miR-551a mimics. Furthermore, the migration and invasion of GC cells were significantly inhibited by transfection with miR-495 or -551a mimics, and the mRNA and protein levels of PRL-3 were reduced in cells overexpressing miR-495 or -551a. Collectively, our findings suggest that miR-495 and miR-551a both act as tumor suppressors by targeting the PRL-3 oncogene and inhibiting gastric cancer cell migration and invasion. The findings of this study contribute to current understanding of the functions of miRNA mimics in GC gene therapy.     

The tumor suppressive microRNA miR-218 targets the mTOR component Rictor and inhibits AKT phosphorylation in oral cancer

The incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is rising rapidly in developed countries, posing a growing challenge due to the poor management of this type of malignancy at present. In this study, we profiled tumor suppressive microRNAs (miRNAs) that are silenced by DNA hypermethylation in OSCC using a function-based screening approach. This approach employed a cell proliferation assay for 327 synthetic miRNAs in two OSCC cell lines. Among the 110 miRNAs identified in this set that exhibited inhibitory properties, we compared DNA methylation and expression status in a wider panel of OSCC cell lines and primary tumor tissues, resulting in the identification of miR-218 and miR-585 as functionally significant miRNA genes that are frequently silenced in OSCC by DNA hypermethylation. Ectopic expression of miR-218 and miR-585 in OSCC cells lacking endogenous expression reduced cell growth in part through caspase-mediated apoptosis. Notably, miR-218 reduced levels of the rapamycin-insensitive component of mTOR, Rictor, in a manner associated with a suppression of Akt S473 phosphorylation. Together our findings define miR-585 as a tumor suppressive function that is often epigenetically silenced in OSCC, and they identify Rictor as a novel target of miR-218, suggesting that activation of the mTOR-Akt signaling pathway induced by Rictor contributes centrally to oral carcinogenesis.     

miR-196a调控HOXA5对人胃癌细胞MGC-803侵袭转移的影响及机制研究

目的 检测miR-196a在人胃癌组织及细胞系中的表达,探讨抑制或过表达miR-196a对胃癌细胞侵袭转移能力的影响,以及其可能作用的靶基因。方法 通过实时定量PCR技术检测胃癌组织及细胞系中miR-196a的表达水平,通过转染miR-196a inhibitors或mimics抑制或上调其表达,并通过定量PCR检测转染效率。利用划痕迁移实验、Transwell侵袭实验和MTT实验检测上调或下调miR-196a水平对MGC-803细胞的迁移、侵袭和增殖能力的影响。采用生物信息学及Western blotting方法验证miR-196a对靶基因HOXA5的调控机制。结果 相对于正常胃黏膜组织及细胞,胃癌组织和细胞系中miR-196a的表达水平显著上调（上调约28倍,P＜0.01）,MGC-803细胞中转染miR-196a inhibitors或mimics能显著抑制（下降了53％,P＜0.01）或上调（上调约8倍,P＜0.01）miR-196a表达水平。抑制miR-196a表达能降低MGC-803细胞的迁移、侵袭和增殖能力,而上调其表达则相反。miR-196a能够负性调控HOXA5的表达。结论 胃癌组织及细胞系中miR-196a的表达上调可能通过抑制HOXA5的表达显著提高胃癌细胞的侵袭转移能力,促进胃癌的发生、发展。     

胃癌转移相关miRNA的差异表达谱及miR-218的生物学分析

目的 探讨胃癌转移相关微小RNA（miRNA）的差异表达情况并进行miR-218的生物学分析。方法 采用实时荧光定量PCR（qPCR）及miRNA芯片法检测低转移潜能的胃癌细胞亚系（SGC7901-NM、MKN28-NM）与高转移潜能的胃癌细胞亚系（SGC7901-M、MKN28-M）间miRNA的差异表达。提取不同转移潜能胃癌细胞系和10例胃癌冰冻组织及相应的转移淋巴结中的总RNA,利用qPCR检测miR-218在不同细胞及组织中的表达情况。结果 对不同转移潜能的胃癌细胞亚系进行芯片检测发现,与SGC7901-NM细胞比较,SGC7901-M 细胞有47个分子表达下调,15个分子表达上调。与MKN28-NM细胞比较,MKN28-M细胞有41个分子表达下调,83个分子表达上调。在SGC7901-M及MKN28-M细胞中,34个分子表达均出现下降,11个分子表达均出现上升。对不同转移潜能的胃癌细胞亚系以及人永生化正常胃黏膜细胞系GES进行检测可以发现,4种不同转移潜能的胃癌细胞亚系中miR-218的表达均低于正常胃黏膜细胞系GES,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,且在高转移潜能胃癌细胞亚系中miR-218的表达均低于低转移潜能胃癌细胞系,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。胃癌转移淋巴结中miR-218的表达水平为0.23±0.02,低于胃癌原发灶的1.09±0.05,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 胃癌转移相关miRNA会出现差异表达情况,高转移潜能胃癌细胞中的miR-218表达水平上调可能与胃癌转移存在一定关系。     

By downregulating TIAM1 expression,microRNA-329 suppresses gastric cancer invasion and growth

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Emerging evidence has shown that abnormal microRNAs (miRNAs) expression is involved in tumorigenesis. MiR-329 was previously reported to act as a tumor suppressor or oncogene in some types of cancer. However, its function in gastric cancer (GC) is unclear. Here, we found that miR-329 was down-regulated in GC compared with adjacent controls. Enforced expression of miR-329 inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells in vitro. We identified T lymphoma invasion and metastasis 1 (TIAM1) gene as potential target of miR-329. MiR-329 levels inversely correlated with TIAM1 expression in GC. Importantly, TIAM1 rescued the miR-329-mediated inhibition of cell invasion and proliferation. Finally, reintroduction of miR-329 significantly inhibited tumor formation of GC in the xenograft mice. Our findings suggest that miR-329 is a tumor suppressor and potential therapeutic target of GC     

miR-6803和PPP6R1在食管鳞状细胞癌组织和细胞中的表达及其甲基化状态与患者临床病理特征的关系

目的:探讨微小RNA-6803(miR-6803)及其宿主基因蛋白磷酸酶6调节亚单位1(protein phosphatase 6 regulation subunit 1,PPP6R1)在食管鳞状细胞癌(ESCC)中的表达和PPP6R1基因启动子区甲基化状态及其在ESCC发生及发展中的作用.方法:采用2013年至2014年间河北医科大学第四医院生物标本库的72例ESCC手术患者癌组织及对应的癌旁组织标本,用实时荧光定量PCR法检测miR-6803和PPP6R1在ESCC组织及其癌旁组织和DNA甲基化转移酶抑制剂5-氮杂-2’-脱氧胞苷(5-Aza-dC)处理前后的ESCC细胞株TE1、TE13、Eca109、T.TN、Kyse170中的表达水平.用甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)法检测ESCC细胞系和组织及其癌旁组织中PPP6R1的甲基化状态,分析其与患者临床病理特征的关系.结果:ESCC组织中miR-6803和PPP6R1的表达水平显著低于癌旁组织(0.318±0.156,0.408±0.177 vs 1.000±0.001,均P＜0.05),miR-6803表达水平与淋巴结转移、组织分化程度及TNM分期密切相关(均P＜0.05);PPP6R1表达水平与TNM分期和组织学分化程度密切相关(均P＜0.05).ESCC组织中miR-6803和PPP6R1基因的表达具有显著相关性(P＜0.05).ESCC组织中PPP6R1的启动子区甲基化率显著高于癌旁组织(56.94％ vs 36.11％,P＜0.05),并与TNM分期和组织学分化程度密切相关(均P＜0.05),miR-6803-和PPP6R1基因的低表达与PPP6R1启动子区甲基化明显相关(P＜0.05).经5-Aza-dC处理后,5种ESCC细胞中miR-6803和PPP6R1的表达均升高,并且TE1、TE13、Kyse170细胞中PPP6R1基因甲基化程度降低,非甲基化程度增加,其余2种细胞中PPP6R1基因均表现为非甲基化状态.结论:miR-6803及其宿主基因PPP6R1的低表达可能与ESCC的发生发展密切相关,其启动子区甲基化可能是miR-6803和PPP6R1表达沉默的机制之一.     

miR-488 acts as a tumor suppressor gene in gastric cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that modulate development, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. The deregulated expression of microRNAs is found in carcinogenesis including gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we showed that the expression levels of miR-488 were downregulated in GC tissues compared to in non-tumor tissues. In addition, the expression of miR-488 was also lower in GC cell lines in contrast with the gastric epithelial cell line (GES). In addition, the expression level of miR-488 was negatively correlated with the TNM stage in GC patients, and lower miR-488 expression was found in tumors with advanced TNM stage. The ectopic expression of miR-488 suppressed the GC cell proliferation, cell cycle, colony information, and migration. PAX6 was identified as a direct target gene of miR-488 in HGC-27. Moreover, we found that the expression level of PAX6 was upregulated in the GC tissues compared with the non-tumor tissues. The PAX6 expression level was correlated with the cancer TNM stage, and higher PAX6 expression was found in tumors with advanced TNM stage. Furthermore, there was an inverse correlation between PAX6 and miR-488 expression levels in GC tissues. Therefore, these studies demonstrated that miR-488 might act as a tumor suppressor miRNA in the development of GC.