MiR-20a suppresses proliferation and facilitates apoptosis of breast cancer cells via the MTOR signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The paper aimed to explore the role of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-20a in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of miR-20a in breast cancer cells was analyzed via quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry were employed to analyze the proliferation and apoptosis of cells. Thereafter, the target proteins of miR-20a were predicted using TargetScan, a website for miRNA target gene prediction, and the interaction between miR-20a and the target genes was detected through the Luciferase reporter gene assay, qRT-PCR assay, and Western blotting. Finally, the miR-20a inhibitor and target gene expression plasmids were co-transfected for rescue experiment to study whether the target genes participate in the inhibitory effect of miR-20a on the proliferation of breast cancer cells. RESULTS: It was found that the expression of miR-20a was upregulated in breast cancer cell lines. Silencing miR-20a expression inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of breast cancer cell. Besides, it was demonstrated that late endosomal/lysosomal adaptor, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activator 3 (LAMTOR3) were a direct target of miR-20a. The knockdown of LAMTOR3 expression repressed the influence of miR-20a on the proliferation of breast cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-20a targets LAMTOR3 gene to regulate the mTOR signaling pathway, thereby suppressing the proliferation and facilitating the apoptosis of breast cancer cells. It suggests that miR-20a exerts a carcinogenic effect in breast cancer, which may be a potential target for the treatment of breast cancer.

[Literature research on khumbu].

Khumbu was first recorded in Wupu Bencao(, Wu Pu's Materia Medica) from the Wei period(220-265 A. D.), formerly known as "Lunbu" , Mingyi Bielu(, Alternative Records of Famous Physicians) began with "Kunbu" as the name of the drug, which has been used for generations. Nowadays, the original medicinal kelp is derived from Laminaria japonica Aresch. or Ecklonia kurome Okam. The kelp is mainly produced in the East China Sea region and North Korea according to early ancient herbal works. Today's kelp is mainly produced in Liaoning, Shandong, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong; Kunbu (chaese) is mainly produced in Zhejiang and Fujian. In addition to food, Khumbu has also been used as medicine for more than 2, 000 years.

LncRNA GIHCG regulates microRNA-1281 and promotes malignant progression of breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the expression characteristics of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) GIHCG in breast cancer (BCa), and further investigate its role in BCa and its relationship with clinical characteristics and prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to examine GIHCG expression in 53 pairs of BCa tumor tissues and adjacent tissues. The interaction between the level of GIHCG and the clinical indicators of BCa and the prognosis of patients was then analyzed. Lentivirus was transfected into BCa cell lines to construct the GIHCG knockdown model. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), cell cloning, and 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were performed to analyze the influence of GIHCG on the biological function of BCa cells, as well as to explore whether it could play a role via modulating microRNA-1281. RESULTS: QRT-PCR results showed that the GIHCG level was remarkably higher in the BCa tumor tissue than in adjacent ones. Compared with patients with low expression of GIHCG, patients with high expression of GIHCG had higher pathological grades and a lower overall survival. Besides, the proliferation ability of BCa cells in GIHCG knockdown group was significantly decreased compared with NC group. QRT-PCR results indicated that silencing GIHCG increased the expression of miR-1281, thereby promoting the malignant progression of BCa. Also, the silence of miR-1281 reversed the effect of GIHCG on the proliferative capacity of BCa, thus increasing the cell anti-apoptotic ability. CONCLUSIONS: GIHCG levels were remarkably increased in both BCa tissues and cells, which was related to the pathological stage and poor prognosis of BCa patients. Besides, GIHCG might promote the malignant progression of BCa by inhibiting microRNA-1281.

[Research on Dish Mustard Seed].

Studying ancient and modern literatures, we researched on Dish Mustard Seed () about its name of traditional Chinese medicine, the original plant, medicinal three aspects . Dish Mustard Seed as a drug name is contained in the Shennong Bencao Jing(Shen Nong's Herbal Classic)《》 and has been in use ever since. The original plant is the genus Thlaspi arvense L. , Dish Mustard Seed of the whole plant and seeds can be used as medicine.But the ancient herbal literatures confused the original plant with other plants, We correct this series of mistakes.

[Literature research on Changshan (Radix Dichroae)].

Originally named Hengshan, it is recorded firstly in the Shen nong ben cao jing(Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica). Its name is changed as Changshan in the Song Dynasty and still used today. Changshan is a cosmopolitan species, and the producing area expands from Sichuan, Hubei, Shaanxi and Henan during the Wei and Jin Dynasties to nowadays more than 10 provinces, such as the south of the Yangtze River, Gansu etc. Before the Tang Dynasty, Changshan's original plant is Orixa japonicaThunb., which is changed to Dichroa febrifugaLour. from the Song Dynasty as its main orthodox product.