Weiqi Sheng

Bio: Weiqi Sheng is an academic researcher from Fudan University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cancer & Colorectal cancer. The author has an hindex of 29, co-authored 78 publications receiving 3209 citations. Previous affiliations of Weiqi Sheng include Fudan University Shanghai Medical College.

Plasma microRNAs are promising novel biomarkers for early detection of colorectal cancer.

Abstract: MicroRNA (miRNA) opens up a new field for molecular diagnosis of cancer. However, the role of circulating miRNAs in plasma/serum in cancer diagnosis is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma miRNAs can be used as biomarkers for the early detection of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). We measured the levels of 12 miRNAs (miR-134, -146a, -17-3p, -181d, -191, -221, -222, -223, -25, -29a, -320a and -92a) in plasma samples from patients with advanced colorectal neoplasia (carcinomas and advanced adenomas) and healthy controls using real-time RT-PCR. We found that plasma miR-29a and miR-92a have significant diagnostic value for advanced neoplasia. MiR-29a yielded an AUC (the areas under the ROC curve) of 0.844 and miR-92a yielded an AUC of 0.838 in discriminating CRC from controls. More importantly, these 2 miRNAs also could discriminate advanced adenomas from controls and yielded an AUC of 0.769 for miR-29a and 0.749 for miR-92a. Combined ROC analyses using these 2 miRNAs revealed an elevated AUC of 0.883 with 83.0% sensitivity and 84.7% specificity in discriminating CRC, and AUC of 0.773 with 73.0% sensitivity and 79.7% specificity in discriminating advanced adenomas. Collectively, these data suggest that plasma miR-29a and miR-92a have strong potential as novel noninvasive biomarkers for early detection of CRC.

Plasma miR-601 and miR-760 are novel biomarkers for the early detection of colorectal cancer.

Abstract: Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of death worldwide. Sensitive, non-invasive diagnostic screen methods are urgently needed to improve its survival rates. Stable circulating microRNA offers unique opportunities for the early diagnosis of several diseases, including cancers. Our aim has been to find new plasma miRNAs that can be used as biomarkers for the detection of CRC. Methodology/Principal Findings According to the results of miRNA profiling performed on pooling plasma samples form 10 CRC patients or 10 healthy controls, a panel of miRNAs (hsa-miR-10a, -19a, -22*, -24, -92a, 125a-5p, -141, -150, -188-3p, -192, -210, -221, -224*, -376a, -425*, -495, -572, -601, -720, -760 and hsa-let-7a, -7e) were deregulated in CRC plasma with fold changes >5. After large scale validation by qRT-PCR performed on another 191 independent individuals (90 CRC, 43 advanced adenoma and 58 healthy participants), we found that the levels of plasma miR-601 and miR-760 were significantly decreased in colorectal neoplasia (carcinomas and advanced adenomas) compared with healthy controls. ROC curve analysis showed that plasma miR-601 and miR-760 were of significant diagnostic value for advanced neoplasia. These two miRNAs together yield an AUC of 0.792 with 83.3% sensitivity and 69.1% specificity for separating CRC from normal controls, and yield an AUC of 0.683 with 72.1% sensitivity and 62.1% specificity in discriminating advanced adenomas from normal controls. Conclusions/Significance Plasma miR-601 and miR-760 can potentially serve as promising non-invasive biomarkers for the early detection of CRC.

A Positive Feedback Loop of lncRNA-PVT1 and FOXM1 Facilitates Gastric Cancer Growth and Invasion.

Abstract: Purpose: The long, noncoding RNA (lncRNA) PVT1 is an important epigenetic regulator with a critical role in human tumors. Here, we aimed to investigate the clinical application and the potential molecular mechanisms of PVT1 in gastric cancer tumorigenesis and progression.Experimental Design: The expression level of PVT1 was determined by RT-qPCR analysis in 190 pairs of gastric cancer tissues and adjacent normal gastric mucosa tissues (ANT). The biologic functions of PVT1 were assessed by in vitro and in vivo functional experiments. RNA protein pull-down assays and LS/MS mass spectrometry analysis were performed to detect and identify the PVT1- interacting protein FOXM1. Protein-RNA immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to examine the interaction of FOXM1 and PVT1 Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase analyses were utilized to identify the binding site of FOXM1 on the PVT1 promoter.Results: The lncRNA PVT1 was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared with ANTs. High expression of PVT1 predicted poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer. PVT1 enhanced gastric cancer cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and in vivoPVT1 directly bound FOXM1 protein and increased FOXM1 posttranslationally. Moreover, PVT1 is also a FOXM1-responsive lncRNA, and FOXM1 directly binds to the PVT1 promoter to activate its transcription. Finally, PVT1 fulfilled its oncogenic functions in a FOXM1-mediated manner.Conclusions: Our study suggests that PVT1 promotes tumor progression by interacting with FOXM1. PVT1 may be a valuable prognostic predictor for gastric cancer, and the positive feedback loop of PVT1-FOXM1 could be a therapeutic target in pharmacologic strategies. Clin Cancer Res; 23(8); 2071-80. ©2016 AACR.

Circulating Long RNAs in Serum Extracellular Vesicles: Their Characterization and Potential Application as Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer

Abstract: Background:Long non-coding RNA and mRNAs are long RNAs ({greater than or equal to} 200 nucleotides) compared to microRNAs. In blood, long RNAs may be protected by serum extracellular vesicles, such as apoptotic bodies (ABs), microvesicles (MVs), and exosomes (EXOs). They are potential biomarker for identifying cancer. Methods:Sera from 76 pre-operative CRC patients, 76 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects and 20 colorectal adenoma (CA) patients without CRC were collected. We investigate the distribution of long RNAs the three vesicles. Seventy-nine cancer-related long RNA were chosen and detected using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results: OThe quantity of long RNA have varying distribution among three subtypes of extracellular vesicles in serum. Most mRNAs and lncRNAs genes had higher quantity in EXOs than that in ABs and MVs, while MVs contain lowest quantity. We investigated 79 long RNAs chosen from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the LncRNADisease database in the sera of healthy patients, and those with colorectal cancer (CRC). In the training and test sets, the areas under the curves (AUC) were 0.936 and 0.877 respectively. The AUC of total serum RNA was lower (0.857) than that of exosomal RNA in the same samples (0.936). Conclusions:The present study shows that exosomal mRNAs and lncRNAs in serum could be used as biomarkers to detect CRC. Impact:Among three types of vesicles in sera, EXOs were the richest reservoir for almost all measured long RNAs. the combination of 2 mRNAs, KRTAP5-4, MAGEA3, and 1 lncRNA, BCAR4 could be potential candidates to detect colorectal cancer.

MicroRNA-95 promotes cell proliferation and targets sorting Nexin 1 in human colorectal carcinoma.

Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are strongly implicated in cancer but their specific roles and functions in the major cancers have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, we defined the oncogenic significance and function of miR-95, which we found to be elevated in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues by microarray analysis. Evaluation of an expanded CRC cohort revealed that miR-95 expression was up-regulated in nearly half of the tumors examined (42/87) compared with the corresponding noncancerous tissues. Ectopic overexpression of miR-95 in human CRC cell lines promoted cell growth in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo, whereas RNAi-mediated silencing of miR-95 decreased cell growth ratio. Mechanistic studies revealed that miR-95 repressed the expression of reporter gene coupled to the 3'-untranslated region of sorting nexin 1 (SNX1), whereas miR-95 silencing up-regulated SNX1 expression. Moreover, miR-95 expression levels correlated inversely with SNX1 protein levels in human CRC tissues. RNAi-mediated knockdown of SNX1 phenocopied the proliferation-promoting effect of miR-95, whereas overexpression of SNX1 blocked miR-95-induced proliferation of CRC cells. Taken together, these results demonstrated that miR-95 increases proliferation by directly targeting SNX1, defining miR-95 as a new oncogenic miRNA in CRC.

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

The MicroRNA Spectrum in 12 Body Fluids

Abstract: BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that play an important role in regulating various biological processes through their interaction with cellular messenger RNAs. Extracellular miRNAs in serum, plasma, saliva, and urine have recently been shown to be associated with various pathological conditions including cancer. METHODS: With the goal of assessing the distribution of miRNAs and demonstrating the potential use of miRNAs as biomarkers, we examined the presence of miRNAs in 12 human body fluids and urine samples from women in different stages of pregnancy or patients with different urothelial cancers. Using quantitativePCR,weconductedaglobalsurveyofthemiRNA distribution in these fluids. RESULTS: miRNAs were present in all fluids tested and showed distinct compositions in different fluid types. Several of the highly abundant miRNAs in these fluids werecommonamongmultiplefluidtypes,andsomeof the miRNAs were enriched in specific fluids. We also observeddistinctmiRNApatternsintheurinesamples obtained from individuals with different physiopathological conditions. CONCLUSIONS: MicroRNAs are ubiquitous in all the body fluid types tested. Fluid type–specific miRNAs may have functional roles associated with the surrounding tissues. In addition, the changes in miRNA spectra observed in the urine samples from patients with different urothelial conditions demonstrates the potential for using concentrations of specific miRNAs in body fluids as biomarkers for detecting and monitoring various physiopathological conditions. © 2010 American Association for Clinical Chemistry

SF-010-4 Distant metastasis occurs late during the genetic evolution of pancreatic cancer

Abstract: Metastasis, the dissemination and growth of neoplastic cells in an organ distinct from that in which they originated, is the most common cause of death in cancer patients. This is particularly true for pancreatic cancers, where most patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease and few show a sustained response to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Whether the dismal prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer compared to patients with other types of cancer is a result of late diagnosis or early dissemination of disease to distant organs is not known. Here we rely on data generated by sequencing the genomes of seven pancreatic cancer metastases to evaluate the clonal relationships among primary and metastatic cancers. We find that clonal populations that give rise to distant metastases are represented within the primary carcinoma, but these clones are genetically evolved from the original parental, non-metastatic clone. Thus, genetic heterogeneity of metastases reflects that within the primary carcinoma. A quantitative analysis of the timing of the genetic evolution of pancreatic cancer was performed, indicating at least a decade between the occurrence of the initiating mutation and the birth of the parental, non-metastatic founder cell. At least five more years are required for the acquisition of metastatic ability and patients die an average of two years thereafter. These data provide novel insights into the genetic features underlying pancreatic cancer progression and define a broad time window of opportunity for early detection to prevent deaths from metastatic disease.

A Large Intergenic Noncoding RNA Induced by p53 Mediates Global Gene Repression in the p53 Response

Abstract: Recently, more than 1000 large intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) have been reported. These RNAs are evolutionarily conserved in mammalian genomes and thus presumably function in diverse biological processes. Here, we report the identification of lincRNAs that are regulated by p53. One of these lincRNAs (lincRNA-p21) serves as a repressor in p53-dependent transcriptional responses. Inhibition of lincRNA-p21 affects the expression of hundreds of gene targets enriched for genes normally repressed by p53. The observed transcriptional repression by lincRNA-p21 is mediated through the physical association with hnRNP-K. This interaction is required for proper genomic localization of hnRNP-K at repressed genes and regulation of p53 mediates apoptosis. We propose a model whereby transcription factors activate lincRNAs that serve as key repressors by physically associating with repressive complexes and modulate their localization to sets of previously active genes.