miR-182-5p Promotes Growth in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Inhibiting CAMK2N1.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Emerging evidence suggests that the propagation of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is influenced by the abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs). This study aimed to characterize the involvement of miR-182-5p in OSCC by targeting the calcium/ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor CAMK2N1. METHODS: miR-182-5p expression was quantified in OSCC tissues and cell lines with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell colony formation, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), Ki-67, and nude mouse xenograft assays were used to characterize the role of miR-182-5p in the proliferation of OSCC. A miR-182-5p target gene was identified with western blotting, RT-PCR, and luciferase activity assays. OSCC patient survival based on CAMK2N1 expression was also analyzed. RESULTS: miR-182-5p was up-regulated in in vitro cell lines and in vivo clinical OSCC samples. CCK-8, colony formation, and Ki-67 assays revealed that miR-182-5p promoted the growth and proliferation of OSCC cells. miR-182-5p directly targeted CAMK2N1, as evidenced by luciferase assays and target prediction algorithms. CAMK2N1 operated as a tumor suppressor gene in patients with OSCC. Down-regulating miR-182-5p expression in the CAL-27 cell line restored CAMK2N1-mediated OSCC cell proliferation. miR-182-5p expression inhibited the activation of AKT, ERK1/2, and NF-κB. Mice injected with CAL-27 cells transfected with miR-182-5p-inhibitor demonstrated a significant increase in tumor size and weight and increased CAMK2N1 mRNA and protein expression compared with the miR-negative control group. CONCLUSION: The miR-182-5p-CAMK2N1 pathway can be potentially targeted to regulate the proliferation of OSCC cells.

Lnc-NTF3-5 promotes osteogenic differentiation of maxillary sinus membrane stem cells via sponging miR-93-3p.

BACKGROUND: The function and the mechanism of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) on the osteogenic differentiation of maxillary sinus membrane stem cells (MSMSCs) remain largely unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of lnc-NTF3-5 and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), Osterix (OSX), and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) was examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in MSMSCs during the process osteogenic differentiation. Then the function of lnc-NTF3-5 was evaluated by loss- and gain-of-function techniques, as well as qRT-PCR, western blot, and Alizarin Red staining. In addition, the microRNAs (miRNAs) sponge potential of lnc-NTF3-5 was assessed through RNA immunoprecipitation, dual luciferase reporter assay, and in vivo ectopic bone formation. RESULTS: Lnc-NTF3-5, RUNX2, OSX, and ALP increased alone with the differentiation. Inhibition of lnc-NTF3-5 decreased the expression of RUNX2, OSX, and ALP both at mRNA and protein levels. Alizarin red staining showed similar trend. In contrast, overexpression of lnc-NTF3-5 presented totally opposite effects. Besides, overexpression of lnc-NTF3-5 could decrease the expression of microRNA-93-3p (miR-93-3p). Enhance miR-93-3p could also inhibit the expression level of lnc-NTF3-5. RNA immunoprecipitation demonstrated that lnc-NTF3-5 is directly bound to miR-93-3p and dual luciferase reporter assay proved that miR-93-3p targets 3' UTR of RUNX2 to regulate its expression. Ultimately, in vivo bone formation study showed that lnc-NTF3-5 and miR-93-3p inhibitor co-transfection group displayed the strongest bone formation. CONCLUSIONS: The novel pathway lnc-NTF3-5/miR-93-3p/RUNX2 could regulate osteogenic differentiation of MSMSCs and might serve as a therapeutic target for bone regeneration in the posterior maxilla.