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It has been reported that lncRNA NBR2 regulates cancer metabolism. We investigated the role of NBR2 in colorectal cancer. We found that NBR2 was downregulated in colorectal cancer tissues than in adjacent healthy tissues. Decreased expression levels of NBR2 in tumor tissues were observed with the increase of clinical stages. MiRNA-21 was upregulated in colorectal cancer tissues than in adjacent healthy tissues, and was significantly and inversely correlated with NBR2. NBR2 overexpression downregulated miRNA-21 in colorectal cancer cells, while miRNA-21 overexpression failed to significantly affect NBR2 expression. NBR2 overexpression suppressed migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells. MiRNA-21 overexpression played an opposite role and attenuated the effects of NBR2 overexpression. NBR2 overexpression did not significantly alter cancer cell proliferation. Therefore, lncRNA NBR2 inhibited colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion possibly by downregulating miRNA-21.

IntroductionRecent studies have proved the diverse roles of miRs in different cancer-related processes. This study was undertaken to determine the therapeutic implications of miR-325-3p in breast cancer.Material and methodsExpression analysis was carried out by qRT-PCR. Transfections were performed by Lipofectamine 2000 reagent. MTT assay was used for cell viability. Transwell assays were used for cell migration and invasion. Western blot analysis was used for protein expression analysis.ResultsGene expression analysis revealed miR-325 to be significantly suppressed in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. Nonetheless, ectopic expression of miR-325 resulted in suppression of the growth and colony development potential of the SK-BR-3 and CAMA-1 cells. Transwell assays showed that miR-325 overexpression also resulted in the decline of the migration and invasion of the SK-BR-3 and CAMA-1 cells. Bioinformatic analysis showed that miR-325 targets lipocalin 15 (LNC15) in breast cancer cells. LNC15 was also overexpressed in the breast cancer tissues and cell lines. However, overexpression of miR-325 caused a significant decline in the LNC15 expression in SK-BR-3 cells. Additionally, silencing of LNC15 resulted in inhibition of the growth, migration and invasion of the SK-BR-3 cells. Rescue assay showed that overexpression of LNC15 could promote the growth, migration and invasion of the miR-325 overexpressing effects.ConclusionsTaken together, the evidence shows that miR-325 acts as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer and may be used in the treatment of breast cancer.

// Rui Zhang 1 , Jian Xu 1 , Jian Zhao 1 and Jinghui Bai 2 1 Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Insititute, Shenyang 110042, China 2 Department of Internal Medicine, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Insititute, Shenyang 110042, China Correspondence to: Jinghui Bai, email: lnjinghuibai@sohu.com Keywords: colorectal cancer stem cells, miR-27a, TRAIL, Apaf-1, caspase-9 Received: March 06, 2017 Accepted: March 22, 2017 Published: April 01, 2017 ABSTRACT MicroRNAs have been proved to participate in multiple biological processes in cancers. For developing resistance to cytotoxic drug, cancer cells, especially the cancer stem cells, usually change their microRNA expression profile to survive in hostile environments. In the present study, we found that expression of microRNA-27a was increased in colorectal cancer stem cells. High level of microRNA-27a was indicated to induce the resistance to TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Knockdown of microRNA-27a resensitized colorectal cancer stem cells to TRAIL-induced cell death. Mechanically, the gene of Apaf-1, which is associated with the mitochondrial apoptosis, was demonstrated to be the target of microRNA-27a in colorectal cancer stem cells. Knockdown of microRNA-27a increased the expression level of Apaf-1, thus enhancing the formation of Apaf-1-caspase-9 complex and subsequently promoting the TRAIL-induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer stem cells. These findings suggested that knockdown of microRNA-27a in colorectal cancer stem cells by the specific antioligonucleotides was potential to reverse the chemoresistance to TRAIL. It may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for treating the colorectal cancer more effectively.

Our study was intended to provide evidence for whether long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) SNHG1 would accelerate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) course intrinsic in colorectal cancer (CRC) by sponging downstream miR-497-5p and miR-195-5p. We altogether collected 338 pairs of CRC and noncancerous tissues, and meanwhile purchased five CRC cell lines (i.e., SW480, HCT116, Lovo, CaCO-2, and HT29) and human embryo intestinal mucosal tissue-sourced cell line (i.e., CCC-HIE-2). The CRC cells as mentioned above were appraised regarding their potencies in proliferation, migration, and invasion, after being transfected with pcDNA3.1-SNHG1, si-SNHG1, miR-195-5p mimic/inhibitor, and miR-497-5p mimic/inhibitor. Eventually, we depended on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to assess SNHG1, miR-497-5p, and miR-195-5p expressions, and the protein levels of EMT-specific molecules were determined on the strength of western blotting. It seemed that there was a high potential for highly expressed SNHG1 and lowly expressed miR-497/miR-195 to symbolize CRC patients' unfavorable prognosis (p < .05). Concurrently, CRC cells were detected with higher SNHG1 expression and lower miR-497/miR-195 expression than CCC-HIE-2 cells (p < .05). In addition, the EMT process of CRC cells was facilitated markedly against the contexts of overexpressed SNHG1 and underexpressed miR-497-5p/miR-195-5p. Intriguingly, the strength of miR-195-5p collaborating with miR-497-5p in affecting the activity of CRC cells seemed to overweigh that of miR-497/miR-195-5p alone. Besides, both miR-195-5p and miR-497-5p were subjected to in vivo and in vitro modification of SNHG1 (p < .05). Conclusively, application of lncRNA SNHG1 for treating CRC might be promising, given its dual modulation of miR-497 and miR-195 underlying CRC pathogenesis.

Altered glucose metabolism has been found in a variety of malignant diseases and recognized as one of the hallmarks of cancer. However, the molecular mechanism behind it is far from well understood. In current study, we found silencer of death domains (SODD) regulates glucose uptake of colorectal cancer cells. When cultured under low level of glucose, SODD overexpressing RKO and SW1417 cells generated more colonies, compared with control cells, in clonogenic assay. SODD upregulation enhanced RKO and SW1417 cells viability. Furthermore, SODD induced more GLUT1 (Glucose transporter 1) expression and enhanced glucose uptake. AKT phosphorylation was upregulated in SODD overexpression cells. Moreover, inhibition of GLUT1 or AKT could reverse SODD induced glucose uptake enhancement. In conclusion, our findings indicate that SODD positively regulates glucose uptake and may be a potential therapeutic target of colorectal cancer.

MiR-30 family plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of human cancers. The aim of the study is to investigate the role of miR-30d in human colon cancer cell lines and explore the molecular mechanism in the proliferation of colon cancer cells. The expression of miR-30d was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction assay in colon cancer cell lines (HCT15, HCT116, HT-29, DLD-1, and SW480) and the results demonstrated that miR-30d level was significantly decreased in human colon cancer cell lines, compared with normal colon epithelial cell line. Transfection with miR-30d mimics inhibited cell proliferation, and transfection with miR-30d inhibitors significantly promoted cell viability of colon cancer cells. Furthermore, TargetScan analysis predicted that miR-30d interacted with messenger RNA on its 3' untranslated region of ATG5, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and Beclin1 to negatively regulate cell autophagy in colon cancer cells. Moreover, transfection with miR-30d induced cell arrest at G2/M phase of HT-29 cells. Overexpression of miR-30d mimics inhibited cell viability probably due to the inhibition of cell autophagy and promotion of cell apoptosis. Thus, MiR-30d inhibited cell autophagy by directly targeting messenger RNA of ATG5, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and Beclin1 and promoted cell apoptosis of human colon cancer cells. It is helpful to clarify the function of miR-30d in tumorigenesis of human cancers.

Altered glucose metabolism has been found in a variety of malignant diseases and recognized as one of the hallmarks of cancer. However, the molecular mechanism behind it is far from well understood. In current study, we found silencer of death domains (SODD) regulates glucose uptake of colorectal cancer cells. When cultured under low level of glucose, SODD overexpressing RKO and SW1417 cells generated more colonies, compared with control cells, in clonogenic assay. SODD upregulation enhanced RKO and SW1417 cells viability. Furthermore, SODD induced more GLUT1 (Glucose transporter 1) expression and enhanced glucose uptake. AKT phosphorylation was upregulated in SODD overexpression cells. Moreover, inhibition of GLUT1 or AKT could reverse SODD induced glucose uptake enhancement. In conclusion, our findings indicate that SODD positively regulates glucose uptake and may be a potential therapeutic target of colorectal cancer.

To investigate the protective effect of Rosuvastatin on myocardial cells in rats with acute myocardial infarction and its possible mechanism.Rats were randomly assigned to four groups: Control group, Sham group, AMI and Rosuvastatin group. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine jubase (CK), the vitality of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by assay kits and the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 expression were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TTC/Evans blue staining was used to determine the relative myocardial infarction area, HE staining was used to detect pathologic changes and myocardial apoptosis was detected by terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL). What's more, Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bax, cleaved-Caspase-3, Rock1, Rock2, I-κB and NF-κBp65.The model of acute myocardial infarction rats was established. Compared with Sham group, the myocardial pathological changes were more severe, and the apoptosis number, the production of inflammatory factors and oxidative damage were significantly increased in AMI group. Compared with AMI group, the relative area of infarction myocardium (43% ± 4% vs 31% ± 8%, P=0.004 3) was dramatically reduced, the levels of LDH (2 545.45 ± 613.67 U/L vs 1 573.43 ± 373.72 U/L, P=0.02) and CK (7.49 ± 1.75 U/ml vs 4.42 ± 1.28 U/ml, P=0.04) in serum were significantly lower (P0.01), the myocardial pathological damage degree was relieved, the apoptosis number (41% ± 8% vs 23% ± 6%, P=0.014 7) was significantly decreased, the expression of Bax (1.17 ± 0.10 vs 0.57 ± 0.08, P=0.003) and cleaved-Caspase-3 (1.31 ± 0.07 vs 0.70 ± 0.01, P=0.004) were dramatically reduced, and the expression of Bcl-2 (0.19 ± 0.01 vs 0.32 ± 0.01, P=0.003) was enhanced in Rosuvastatin group. Furthermore, the production of inflammatory factors and oxidative damage were effectively alleviated (P0.05), the protein expression of Rock1, Rock2 and NF-κBp65 were declined in Rosuvastatin group (P0.01).Rosuvastatin can effectively alleviate the cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by acute ischemia, and its main mechanism may be the inhibition on RhoA/ROCK activation and the oxidative stress and inflammation reaction mediated by it.

To explore the protection mechanisms of telmisartan on inflammation and fibrosis after myocardial infarction in rats.The model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was established by ligating left anterior descending coronary artery. The surviving rats were divided into AMI (AMI) and telmisartan treatment (telmisartan) groups. And another sham operation group (sham) was designated (n = 8). At the end of study, total heart weight (THW), left ventricular weight (LVW) and weight index were measured; myocardial infarction and inflammatory reactions detected by hematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining; the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the levels of transforming growth factor 1 (TGFβ1), collagen I, collagen III and MMP9 mRNA in myocardial tissue by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); the expressions of TGFβ1, collagen I, collagen III, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) by Western blot.Compared with sham group, significant pathological changes of myocardium occurred in AMI group. The serum levels of CRP [(472 ± 132) vs (104 ± 28) ng/ml], TNFα [(229 ± 41) vs (18 ± 5) pg/ml], MCP-1[(558 ± 116) vs (158 ± 20) pg/ml], IL-6 [(404 ± 63) vs (21 ± 4) pg/ml] and IL-1β [(625 ± 145) vs (189 ± 34) pg/ml] increased (P0.05). RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of TGFβ1, collagen I, collagen III and MMP9 increased significantly. The results of Western blot were consistent and NF-κB was activated significantly (P0.05). Compared with AMI group, the above-mentioned indicators decreased obviously in telmisartan group (P0.05).Telmisartan may regulate inflammation and myocardial fibrosis after acute myocardial infarction by signaling pathways of NF-κB and TGFβ in rats.

Objective: This study aims to observe the protective effects of heparin on endothelial cells in sepsis and explore the involved signal pathway regulated by heparin. Methods Human vascular endothelial cells were treated by TNFα in vitro to simulate the inflammatory environment when sepsis occurred. They were intervened by heparin and the expression levels of soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) and serum activated protein C (APC) were detected by ELISA, the regulatory mechanism of heparin improving vascular endothelial cells injury induced by TNFα was detected by Western Blotting method, the methylation of histone in the gene promoter region of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) were detected using chromatin immunoprecipitation method. Results Heparin could inhibit the secretion of sTM and APC protein and the expression of MCP-1 gene which involved in NF-κB signal pathway. Conclusions Heparin could protect vascular endothelial cells from injury induced by TNFα and sepsis, the mechanisms were related with the effects of heparin on the histone methylation of promoter region and the regulation of heparin on the MAPK and NF-κB signal pathways. These results provide a theoretical basis for the application of heparin in the prevention and treatment of vascular disease related with sepsis.

A hybrid drug delivery system (DDS) composed of hyaluronan and calcium carbonate (CC) was developed. By taking advantage of the tumor-targeting ability of hyaluronan and the drug-loading property of CC, the well-formed hyaluronan–CC nanoparticles were able to serve as a DDS targeting colorectal cancer with a decent drug loading content, which is beneficial in the chemotherapy of colorectal cancer. In this study, hyaluronan–CC nanoparticles smaller than 100 nm were successfully developed to load the wide-range anti-cancer drug adriamycin (Adr) to construct hyaluronan–CC/Adr nanoparticles. On the other hand, we also found that hyaluronan–CC/Adr nanoparticles can possibly increase the uptake ratio of Adr into HT29 colorectal cancer cells when compared with hyaluronan-free nanoparticles (CC/Adr) via the CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis via competitive uptake and in vivo imaging assays. Note that both in vitro (CCK-8 assay on HT29 cells) and in vivo (anti-cancer assay on HT-29 tumor-bearing nude mice model) experiments revealed that hyaluronan–CC/Adr nanoparticles exhibited stronger anti-cancer activity than free Adr or CC/Adr nanoparticles with minimized toxic side effects and preferable cancer-suppression potential.