1. |
- Li, Chen, et al.
(author)
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Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma-derived extracellular vesicles exert an oncogenic role by activating cancer-associated fibroblasts
- 2023
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In: Cell Death Discovery. - : Springer Nature. - 2058-7716. ; 9:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a fast-increasing cancer with metastatic potential. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membrane-bound vesicles that play important roles in intercellular communication, particularly in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here we report that cSCC cells secrete an increased number of EVs relative to normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) and that interfering with the capacity of cSCC to secrete EVs inhibits tumor growth in vivo in a xenograft model of human cSCC. Transcriptome analysis of tumor xenografts by RNA-sequencing enabling the simultaneous quantification of both the human and the mouse transcripts revealed that impaired EV-production of cSCC cells prominently altered the phenotype of stromal cells, in particular genes related to extracellular matrix (ECM)-formation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In line with these results, co-culturing of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) with cSCC cells, but not with normal keratinocytes in vitro resulted in acquisition of cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) phenotype. Interestingly, EVs derived from metastatic cSCC cells, but not primary cSCCs or NHEKs, were efficient in converting HDFs to CAFs. Multiplex bead-based flow cytometry assay and mass-spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic analyses revealed the heterogenous cargo of cSCC-derived EVs and that especially EVs derived from metastatic cSCCs carry proteins associated with EV-biogenesis, EMT, and cell migration. Mechanistically, EVs from metastatic cSCC cells result in the activation of TGFβ signaling in HDFs. Altogether, our study suggests that cSCC-derived EVs mediate cancer-stroma communication, in particular the conversion of fibroblasts to CAFs, which eventually contribute to cSCC progression.
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2. |
- Li, Dongqing, et al.
(author)
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miR-19a/b and miR-20a promote wound healing by regulating the inflammatory response of keratinocytes
- 2021
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In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology. - : Elsevier. - 0022-202X .- 1523-1747. ; 141:3, s. 659-671
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Persistent and impaired inflammation impedes tissue healing and is characteristic of chronic wounds. A better understanding of the mechanisms controlling wound inflammation is needed. Here we show that in human wound-edge keratinocytes, the expression of miR-17, miR-18a, miR-19a, miR-19b, and miR-20a, which all belong to the miR-17∼92 cluster, is upregulated during wound repair. However, their levels are lower in chronic ulcers than acute wounds at the proliferative phase. Conditional knockout of miR-17∼92 in keratinocytes as well as injection of miR-19a/b and miR-20a antisense inhibitors into wound-edges enhanced inflammation and delayed wound closure in mice. In contrast, conditional overexpression of the miR-17∼92 cluster or miR-19b alone in mice keratinocytes accelerated wound closure in vivo. Mechanistically, miR-19a/b and miR-20a decreased TLR3-mediated NF-κB activation by targeting SHCBP1 and SEMA7A, respectively, reducing the production of inflammatory chemokines/cytokines by keratinocytes. Thus, as crucial regulators of wound inflammation, lack of miR-19a/b and miR-20a may contribute to sustained inflammation and impaired healing in chronic wounds. In line with this, we show that a combinatory treatment with miR-19b and miR-20a improved wound healing in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes.
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3. |
- Li, Xi, et al.
(author)
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MicroRNA-132 with Therapeutic Potential in Chronic Wounds.
- 2017
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In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-202X .- 1523-1747. ; 137:12, s. 2630-2638
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chronic wounds represent a major and rising health and economic burden worldwide. There is a continued search toward more effective wound therapy. We found significantly reduced microRNA-132 (miR-132) expression in human diabetic ulcers compared with normal skin wounds and also in skin wounds of leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) diabetic mice compared with wild-type mice. Local replenishment of miR-132 in the wounds of db/db mice accelerated wound closure effectively, which was accompanied by increased proliferation of wound edge keratinocytes and reduced inflammation. The pro-healing effect of miR-132 was further supported by global transcriptome analysis, which showed that several inflammation-related signaling pathways (e.g., NF-κB, NOD-like receptor, toll-like receptor, and tumor necrosis factor signaling pathways) were the top ones regulated by miR-132 in vivo. Moreover, we topically applied liposome-formulated miR-132 mimics mixed with pluronic F-127 gel on human ex vivo skin wounds, which promoted re-epithelialization. Together, our study showed the therapeutic potential of miR-132 in chronic wounds, which warrants further evaluation in controlled clinical trials.
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4. |
- Lohcharoenkal, Warangkana, et al.
(author)
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Advances in Nanotechnology-Based Biosensing of Immunoregulatory Cytokines
- 2021
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In: Biosensors. - : MDPI AG. - 0956-5663 .- 2079-6374. ; 11:10
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cytokines are a large group of small proteins secreted by immune and non-immune cells in response to external stimuli. Much attention has been given to the application of cytokines’ detection in early disease diagnosis/monitoring and therapeutic response assessment. To date, a wide range of assays are available for cytokines detection. However, in specific applications, multiplexed or continuous measurements of cytokines with wearable biosensing devices are highly desirable. For such efforts, various nanomaterials have been extensively investigated due to their extraordinary properties, such as high surface area and controllable particle size and shape, which leads to their tunable optical emission, electrical, and magnetic properties. Different types of nanomaterials such as noble metal, metal oxide, and carbon nanoparticles have been explored for various biosensing applications. Advances in nanomaterial synthesis and device development have led to significant progress in pushing the limit of cytokine detection. This article reviews currently used methods for cytokines detection and new nanotechnology-based biosensors for ultrasensitive cytokine detection
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5. |
- Lohcharoenkal, Warangkana, et al.
(author)
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Genome-Wide Screen for MicroRNAs Reveals a Role for miR-203 in Melanoma Metastasis.
- 2018
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In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-202X .- 1523-1747. ; 138:4, s. 882-892
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Melanoma is one of the deadliest human cancers with limited therapeutic options. MicroRNAs are a class of short noncoding RNAs regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. To identify important miRNAs in melanoma, we compared the miRNome of primary and metastatic melanomas in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset and found lower miR-203 abundance in metastatic melanoma. Lower level of miR-203 was associated with poor overall survival in metastatic disease. We found that the methylation levels of several CpGs in the MIR203 promoter negatively correlated with miR-203 expression and that treatment with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine induced miR-203 expression, which was associated with demethylation of the promoter CpGs, in melanoma cell lines. In vitro, there was a decreased expression of miR-203 in melanoma cell lines in comparison with primary melanocytes. Ectopic overexpression of miR-203 suppressed cell motility, colony formation, and sphere formation as well as the angiogenesis-inducing capacity of melanoma cells. In vivo, miR-203 inhibited xenograft tumor growth and reduced lymph node and lung metastasis. SLUG was shown as a target of miR-203, and knockdown of SLUG recapitulated the effects of miR-203, whereas its restoration was able to reverse the miR-203-mediated suppression of cell motility. These results establish a role for miR-203 as a tumor suppressor in melanoma which suppresses both early and late steps of metastasis. Hence, restoration of miR-203 has therapeutic potential in melanoma.
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6. |
- Lohcharoenkal, Warangkana, et al.
(author)
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MicroRNA-203 Inversely Correlates with Differentiation Grade, Targets c-MYC, and Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in cSCC.
- 2016
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In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-202X .- 1523-1747. ; 136:12, s. 2485-2494
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common cancer and a leading cause of cancer mortality among solid organ transplant recipients. MicroRNAs (miR) are short RNAs that regulate gene expression and cellular functions. Here, we show a negative correlation between miR-203 expression and the differentiation grade of cSCC. Functionally, miR-203 suppressed cell proliferation, cell motility, and the angiogenesis-inducing capacity of cSCC cells in vitro and reduced xenograft tumor volume and angiogenesis in vivo. Transcriptomic analysis of cSCC cells with ectopic overexpression of miR-203 showed dramatic changes in gene networks related to cell cycle and proliferation. Transcription factor enrichment analysis identified c-MYC as a hub of miR-203-induced transcriptomic changes in squamous cell carcinoma. We identified c-MYC as a direct target of miR-203. Overexpression of c-MYC in rescue experiments reversed miR-203-induced growth arrest in cSCC, which highlights the importance of c-MYC within the miR-203-regulated gene network. Together, miR-203 acts as a tumor suppressor in cSCC, and its low expression can be a marker for poorly differentiated tumors. Restoration of miR-203 expression may provide a therapeutic benefit, particularly in poorly differentiated cSCC.
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7. |
- Lohcharoenkal, Warangkana, et al.
(author)
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MiR-130a Acts as a Tumor Suppressor MicroRNA in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Regulates the Activity of the BMP/SMAD Pathway by Suppressing ACVR1
- 2021
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In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology. - : Elsevier. - 0022-202X .- 1523-1747. ; 141:8, s. 1922-1931
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) is a malignant neoplasm of the skin resulting from the accumulation of somatic mutations due to solar radiation. It is one of the fastest increasing malignancies and it represents a particular problem among immunosuppressed individuals. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of protein-coding genes at the posttranscriptional level. Here we identify miR-130a to be downregulated in cSCC compared with healthy skin and with precancerous lesions (actinic keratosis) and demonstrate that it is regulated at the transcriptional level by HRAS and MAPK-signaling. We report that miR-130a suppresses the growth of cSCC xenografts in mice. We demonstrate that overexpression of miR-130a suppresses long-term capacity of growth, cell motility and invasion ability in human cSCC cell lines. Mechanistically, miR-130a directly targets Activin A receptor, type I (ACVR1/ALK2) and changes in miR-130a levels result in the diminished activity of BMP/SMAD1 pathway via ACVR1. These data reveal a link between activated MAPK-signaling and decreased expression of miR-130a, which acts as a tumor suppressor miRNA in cSCC and contributes to a better understanding of molecular processes in malignant transformation of epidermal keratinocytes.
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8. |
- Srivastava, Ankit, et al.
(author)
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Cross-talk between IFN-γ and TWEAK through miR-149 amplifies skin inflammation in psoriasis
- 2021
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In: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Elsevier. - 0091-6749 .- 1097-6825. ; 147:6, s. 2225-2235
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with disturbed interplay between immune cells and keratinocytes. A strong IFN-γ signature is characteristic for psoriasis skin, but the role of IFN-γ has been elusive. MicroRNAs are short RNAs regulating gene expression.OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the role of miR-149 in psoriasis and in the inflammatory responses of keratinocytes.METHODS: miR-149 expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR in keratinocytes isolated from healthy skin and lesional and nonlesional psoriasis skin. Synthetic miR-149 was injected intradermally into the back skin of mice, and imiquimod was applied to induce psoriasis-like skin inflammation, which was then evaluated at the morphologic, histologic, and molecular levels. miR-149 was transiently overexpressed or inhibited in keratinocytes in combination with IFN-γ- and/or TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)-treatment.RESULTS: Here we report a microRNA-mediated mechanism by which IFN-γ primes keratinocytes to inflammatory stimuli. Treatment with IFN-γ results in a rapid and long-lasting suppression of miR-149 in keratinocytes. Depletion of miR-149 in keratinocytes leads to widespread transcriptomic changes and induction of inflammatory mediators with enrichment of the TWEAK pathway. We show that IFN-γ-mediated suppression of miR-149 leads to amplified inflammatory responses to TWEAK. TWEAK receptor (TWEAKR/Fn14) is identified as a novel direct target of miR-149. The in vivo relevance of this pathway is supported by decreased miR-149 expression in psoriasis keratinocytes, as well as by the protective effect of synthetic miR-149 in the imiquimod-induced mouse model of psoriasis.CONCLUSION: Our data define a new mechanism, in which IFN-γ primes keratinocytes for TWEAK-induced inflammatory responses through suppression of miR-149, promoting skin inflammation.
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9. |
- Srivastava, Ankit, et al.
(author)
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MicroRNA-146a suppresses IL-17-mediated skin inflammation and is genetically associated with psoriasis.
- 2017
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In: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0091-6749 .- 1097-6825. ; 139:2, s. 550-561
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease with a strong genetic background in which activation of IL-17 signaling is central in the pathogenesis. Little has been known about the role of noncoding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), in predisposition to the disease.OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the genetic association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in microRNA-146a (miR-146a) to psoriasis and to explore its function in the initiation and resolution of the disease.METHODS: mice in conjunction with the imiquimod-induced mouse model of psoriasis. The severity of psoriasis-like skin inflammation was evaluated at morphologic, histologic, and molecular levels. miR-146a was ectopically overexpressed and inhibited in keratinocytes treated with IL-17. Synthetic miR-146a was injected intradermally into mice.RESULTS: Here we report protective association of a functional polymorphism in the miR-146a precursor (rs2910164). Genetic deficiency in miR-146a leads to earlier onset and exacerbated pathology of skin inflammation, with increased expression of IL-17-induced keratinocyte-derived inflammatory mediators, epidermal hyperproliferation, and increased neutrophil infiltration. Moreover, miR-146a-deficient mice do not resolve inflammation after discontinuation of imiquimod challenge. The overexpression of miR-146a suppressed, whereas its inhibition enhanced, IL-17-driven inflammation in keratinocytes. Functionally, miR-146a impairs the neutrophil chemoattractant capacity of keratinocytes. Finally, delivery of miR-146a mimics into the skin leads to amelioration of psoriasiform skin inflammation, decreased epidermal proliferation, and neutrophil infiltration.CONCLUSIONS: Our results define a crucial role for miR-146a in modulating IL-17-driven inflammation in the skin.
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10. |
- Sun, Chengxi, et al.
(author)
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MicroRNA-23b Plays a Tumor-Suppressive Role in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Targets Ras-Related Protein RRAS2
- 2023
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In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology. - : Elsevier. - 0022-202X .- 1523-1747. ; 143:12, s. 2386-2396
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common types of cancer with metastatic potential. MicroRNAs regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. In this study, we report that miR23b is downregulated in cSCCs and in actinic keratosis and that its expression is regulated by the MAPK signaling pathway. We show that miR-23b suppresses the expression of a gene network associated with key oncogenic pathways and that the miR-23b-gene signature is enriched in human cSCCs. miR-23b decreased the expression of FGF2 both at mRNA and protein levels and impaired the angiogenesis-inducing ability of cSCC cells. miR23b overexpression suppressed the capacity of cSCC cells to form colonies and spheroids, whereas the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of MIR23B resulted in increased colony and tumor sphere formation in vitro. In accordance with this, miR-23b-overexpressing cSCC cells formed significantly smaller tumors upon injection into immunocompromised mice with decreased cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Mechanistically, we verify RRAS2 as a direct target of miR-23b in cSCC. We show that RRAS2 is overexpressed in cSCC and that interference with its expression impairs angiogenesis and colony and tumorsphere formation. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-23b acts in a tumor-suppressive manner in cSCC, and its expression is decreased during squamous carcinogenesis.
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11. |
- Svedman, Fernanda Costa, et al.
(author)
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Extracellular microvesicle microRNAs as predictive biomarkers for targeted therapy in metastastic cutaneous malignant melanoma.
- 2018
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 13:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Mitogen activated-protein kinase pathway inhibitors (MAPKis) improve treatment outcome in patients with disseminated BRAFV600 mutant cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) but responses are of limited duration due to emerging resistance. Although extensive research in mechanisms of resistance is being performed, predictive biomarkers for durable responses are still lacking. We used miRNA qPCR to investigate if different levels of extracellular microvesicle microRNA (EV miRNA) in matched plasma samples collected from patients with metastatic IV BRAFV600 mutated CMM before, during and after therapy with MAPKis could serve as predictive biomarkers.MATERIALS AND METHODS: EV miRNAs were extracted from plasma samples from 28 patients collected before and during therapy, measured by quantitative PCR-array and correlated to therapy outcome.RESULTS: Increased levels of EV let-7g-5p during treatment compared to before treatment (EV let-7g-5p_delta) were associated with better disease control with MAPKis (odds ratio 8568.4, 95% CI = 4.8-1.5e+07, P = 0.000036). Elevated levels of EV miR-497-5p during therapy were associated with prolonged progression free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.13-0.52, P <0.000061).CONCLUSIONS: EV miRNAs let-7g-5p and miR-497-5p were identified as putative novel predictive biomarkers of MAPKi treatment benefit in metastatic CMM patients highlighting the potential relevance of assessing EV miRNA during and after treatment to unravel novel mechanisms of resistance.
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12. |
- Wang, Aoxue, et al.
(author)
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MicroRNA-31 is overexpressed in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and regulates cell motility and colony formation ability of tumor cells.
- 2014
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 134, s. S22-S22
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a malignancy of epidermal keratinocytes that is responsible for approximately 20% of skin cancer-related death yearly. We have previously compared the microRNA (miRNA) expression profile of cSCC to healthy skin and found the dysregulation of miRNAs in human cSCC. In this study we show that miR-31 is overexpressed in cSCC (n = 68) compared to healthy skin (n = 34) and precancerous skin lesions (actinic keratosis, n = 12). LNA in situ hybridization revealed that miR-31 was specifically up-regulated in tumor cells. Mechanistic studies of inhibition of endogenous miR-31 in human metastatic cSCC cells revealed suppressed migration, invasion and colony forming ability, whereas overexpression of miR-31 induced these phenotypes. These results indicate that miR-31 regulates cancer-associated phenotypes of cSCC and identify miR-31 as a potential target for cSCC treatment.
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