miR-575/RIPK4 axis modulates cell cycle progression and proliferation by inactivating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway through inhibiting RUNX1 in colon cancer.

Receptor interacting protein serine/threonine kinase 4 (RIPK4) is widely involved in human cancer development. Nevertheless, its role in colon cancer (COAD) has not been elucidated till now. Our research aimed at exploring the function and underlying molecular mechanism of RIPK4 in COAD progression. Through bioinformatic analyses and RT-qPCR, RIPK4 was discovered to be increased in COAD cells and tissues, and its high level predicted poor prognosis. Loss-of-function assays revealed that RIPK4 silencing suppressed COAD cell growth, induced cell cycle arrest, and enhanced cell apoptosis. In vivo experiments also proved that tumor growth was inhibited by silencing of RIPK4. Luciferase reporter assay validated that RIPK4 was targeted and negatively regulated by miR-575. Western blotting demonstrated that Wnt3a, phosphorylated (p)-GSK-3ß, and cytoplasmic and nuclear ß-catenin protein levels, ß-catenin nuclear translocation, and Cyclin D1, CDK4, Cyclin E, and c-Myc protein levels were reduced by RIPK4 knockdown, which however was reversed by treatment with LiCl, the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway activator. LiCl also offset the influence of RIPK4 knockdown on COAD cell growth, cell cycle process, and apoptosis. Finally, RIPK4 downregulation reduced RUNX1 level, which was upregulated in COAD and its high level predicted poor prognosis. RIPK4 is positively associated with RUNX1 in COAD. Overexpressing RUNX1 antagonized the suppression of RIPK4 knockdown on RUNX1, Wnt3a, p-GSK-3ß, cytoplasmic ß-catenin, nuclear ß-catenin, Cyclin D1, CDK4, Cyclin E, and c-Myc levels. Collectively, miR-575/RIPK4 axis repressed COAD progression via inactivating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway through downregulating RUNX1.

NNT-AS1 in CAFs-derived exosomes promotes progression and glucose metabolism through miR-889-3p/HIF-1α in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

It is metabolic and signaling crosstalk between stromal cells and tumors in the tumor microenvironment, which influences several aspects of tumor formation and drug resistance, including metabolic reprogramming. Despite considerable findings linking lncRNAs in HIF-1-related regulatory networks to cancer cell, little emphasis has been given to the role in communication between cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor cells. Previously, we observed that NNT-AS1 was substantially expressed in CAFs cells and CAFs exosomes, and subsequently investigated the influence of CAFs exosomal NNT-AS1 on glucose metabolism, proliferation, and metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine exosomes secreted by PDAC patient-derived CAFs. qRT-PCR was used to evaluate the expression of NNT-AS1, miR-889-3p, and HIF-1. The role of CAFs-derived exosomal NNT-AS1 in PDAC cell progression and metabolism have been identified. Dual luciferase reporter assays examined the binding between NNT-AS1, miR-889-3p, and HIF-1. After PDAC cells co-culture exosomes secreted by CAFs, we found that they alter glucose metabolism, proliferation, and metastasis. In PDAC cells, CAF-derived exosomal lncRNA NNT-AS1 acted as a molecular sponge for miR-889-3p. Furthermore, HIF-1 could be targeted by miR-889-3p and was controlled by NNT-AS1. This study explores the mechanism by which NNT-AS1 influences the interaction of CAFs on glycolytic remodeling, proliferation, and metastasis of tumor cells through regulating miR-889-3p/HIF-1α, which also helps discover new clinical treatment targets for PDAC.

A combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram in evaluation of degrees of liver cirrhosis predicts post-hepatectomy liver failure: a multicenter prospective study.

Background: Adequate evaluation of degrees of liver cirrhosis is essential in surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The impact of the degrees of cirrhosis on prediction of post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) remains poorly defined. This study aimed to construct and validate a combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram based on the degrees of cirrhosis in predicting PHLF in HCC patients using prospective multi-center's data. Methods: Consecutive HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy between May 18, 2019 and Dec 19, 2020 were enrolled at five tertiary hospitals. Preoperative cirrhotic severity scoring (CSS) and intra-operative direct liver stiffness measurement (DSM) were performed to correlate with the Laennec histopathological grading system. The performances of the pre-operative nomogram and combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram in predicting PHLF were compared with conventional predictive models of PHLF. Results: For 327 patients in this study, histopathological studies showed the rates of HCC patients with no, mild, moderate, and severe cirrhosis were 41.9%, 29.1%, 22.9%, and 6.1%, respectively. Either CSS or DSM was closely correlated with histopathological stages of cirrhosis. Thirty-three (10.1%) patients developed PHLF. The 30- and 90-day mortality rates were 0.9%. Multivariate regression analysis showed four pre-operative variables [HBV-DNA level, ICG-R15, prothrombin time (PT), and CSS], and one intra-operative variable (DSM) to be independent risk factors of PHLF. The pre-operative nomogram was constructed based on these four pre-operative variables together with total bilirubin. The combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram was constructed by adding the intra-operative DSM. The pre-operative nomogram was better than the conventional models in predicting PHLF. The prediction was further improved with the combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram. Conclusions: The combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram further improved prediction of PHLF when compared with the pre-operative nomogram. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04076631.