MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous ∼23 nt RNAs that play important gene-regulatory roles in animals and plants by pairing to the mRNAs of protein-coding genes to direct their posttranscriptional repression. This review outlines the current understanding of miRNA target recognition in animals and discusses the widespread impact of miRNAs on both the expression and evolution of protein-coding genes.

MicroRNAs: Target Recognition and Regulatory Functions

Long non-coding SNHG1 in cancer.

Forkhead box transcription factor, FOXM1 is implicated in several cellular processes such as proliferation, cell cycle progression, cell differentiation, DNA damage repair, tissue homeostasis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and redox signaling. In addition to being a boon for the normal functioning of a cell, FOXM1 turns out to be a bane by manifesting in several disease scenarios including cancer. It has been given an oncogenic status based on several evidences indicating its role in tumor development and progression. FOXM1 is highly expressed in several cancers and has also been implicated in poor prognosis. A comprehensive understanding of various aspects of this molecule has revealed its role in angiogenesis, invasion, migration, self- renewal and drug resistance. In this review, we attempt to understand various mechanisms underlying FOXM1 gene and protein regulation in cancer including the different signaling pathways, post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications. Identifying crucial molecules associated with these processes can aid in the development of potential pharmacological approaches to curb FOXM1 mediated tumorigenesis.

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FOXM1 and Cancer: Faulty Cellular Signaling Derails Homeostasis.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the third most common urological cancer, and it has the highest mortality rate. The increasing drug resistance of metastatic ccRCC has resulted in the search for new biomarkers. Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, such as genome-wide DNA methylation and inhibition of protein translation by interaction of microRNA (miRNA) with its target messenger RNA (mRNA), are deeply involved in the pathogenesis of human cancers, including ccRCC, and may be used in its diagnosis and prognosis. Here, we review oncogenic and oncosuppressive miRNAs, their putative target genes, and the crucial pathways they are involved in. The contradictory behavior of a number of miRNAs, such as suppressive and anti-metastatic miRNAs with oncogenic potential (for example, miR-99a, miR-106a, miR-125b, miR-144, miR-203, miR-378), is examined. miRNAs that contribute mostly to important pathways and processes in ccRCC, for instance, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Wnt-β, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling, are discussed in detail. We also separately consider their participation in crucial oncogenic processes, such as hypoxia and angiogenesis, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The review also considers the interactions of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and miRNAs of significance in ccRCC. Recent advances in the understanding of the role of hypermethylated miRNA genes in ccRCC and their usefulness as biomarkers are reviewed based on our own data and those available in the literature. Finally, new data and perspectives concerning the clinical applications of miRNAs in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of ccRCC are discussed.

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Molecular Mechanisms in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Role of miRNAs and Hypermethylated miRNA Genes in Crucial Oncogenic Pathways and Processes.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs); roles in tumorigenesis and potentials as biomarkers in cancer diagnosis.

BACKGROUND Data on the expression of RCC tissues from the GEO database and patient survival data from TCGA were used to explore the prognostic significance of long noncoding RNA SNHG1. SNHG1 has been reported to participate in the development of several cancers, but, the underlying mechanism of SNHG1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been reported. The purpose of our study was to investigate the potential function of SNHG1 in RCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS The expression of SNHG1 in 40 cases of RCC and adjacent normal tissues and 5 cell lines was detected by qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation, Transwell assay, and Western blotting assay were carried out to investigate the biological function of SNHG1. A rescue experiment was performed to verify that miR-137 can partly impede the effect of SNHG1 on renal cancer cells. RESULTS SNHG1 was identified to be overexpressed in RCC tissues and RCC cell lines. High levels of SNHG1 were correlated with poor prognosis of RCC patients. Knockdown of SNHG1 suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and EMT capacity in RCC. Moreover, miR-137 abrogated the effect of SNHG1 on RCC. CONCLUSIONS SNHG1 is significantly upregulated in RCC and renal cancer cell lines. Overexpression of SNHG1 participates in RCC tumorigenesis by regulating miR-137.

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Long Noncoding RNA Small Nucleolar RNA Host Gene 1 (SNHG1) Promotes Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression and Metastasis by Negatively Regulating miR-137.

An increasing body of evidence has indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) may play an important role in tumourigenesis and tumour progression. Recent studies have demonstrated that miR-320a is aberrantly expressed in a variety of different types of human cancer. The results of the present study confirmed that the expression of miR-320a was decreased in clinical specimens and cell lines. Expression of miR-320a inhibited the growth and invasive ability of ACHN and Caki-1 cells. Bioinformatics analysis and a luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that forkhead box protein M1 (FoxM1) was directly regulated by miR-320a. Rescue experiments in vitro revealed that the upregulation of FoxM1 antagonized the miR-320a-mediated malignant phenotype in renal cancer. Furthermore, experiments employing a xenograft mouse model revealed that the upregulation of miR-320a inhibited the proliferation of renal cancer cells in nude mice when FoxM1 protein expression was reduced. Collectively, the present study demonstrated a novel molecular interaction regulated by miR-320a, which may provide a novel insight into the treatments for renal cancer.

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MicroRNA‑320a suppresses tumour cell proliferation and invasion of renal cancer cells by targeting FoxM1

Renal fibrosis is a common pathological feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). With the increasing incidence of CKD, it is of importance to...

FFNT25 ameliorates unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced renal fibrosis.

Aim Successful catheter implantation is highly essential for delivering effective peritoneal dialysis (PD). The aim of the present study was to describe a newly developed, minimally invasive percutaneous technique for providing safe, timely, and effective peritoneal catheter insertion and assess the long-term outcome. Materials and methods 100 PD catheters were placed in 100 consecutive patients by a nephrologist using the modified percutaneous technique with a special trocar, from August 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011. The patients were followed up until October 31, 2015. Demographic and clinical features of study subjects, duration of hospital stay, follow-up time, complications, and catheter survival were assessed in all patients. Results The patient study group included 47 men and 53 women, with a mean age of 55.3 ± 13.7 years. The mean hospitalization time was 17.1 ± 8.6 days, and the mean duration of follow-up was 44.7 ± 15.1 months. 71 patients were still on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis at the time of study completion. Peritonitis was the most common complication observed, with an incidence of 28%. None of the patients experienced surgical complications such as bleeding or incisional hernia. The mean catheter survival time was 57.0 ± 1.5 months. Conclusion Peritoneal catheter placement using our modified percutaneous technique is simple, safe, minimally invasive, and efficient. It carried less morbidity with respect to bowel perforation, catheter-related infection, and exit-site leak. .

Shiyue Zhao

Papers

Long Noncoding RNA Small Nucleolar RNA Host Gene 1 (SNHG1) Promotes Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression and Metastasis by Negatively Regulating miR-137.

MicroRNA‑320a suppresses tumour cell proliferation and invasion of renal cancer cells by targeting FoxM1

FFNT25 ameliorates unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced renal fibrosis.

A simplified percutaneous technique for inserting Tenckhoff catheters for peritoneal dialysis