Project description:We performed RNAseq to identify miRNAs that were specifically down regulated in neutrophils, and RNAseq for identification of mRNA targets of miRNA-31, miRNA-190 and miRNA-375 in neutrophils
Project description:We performed RNAseq to identify miRNAs that were specifically down regulated in neutrophils, and RNAseq for identification of mRNA targets of miRNA-99 in neutrophils
Project description:Tumor-associated neutrophils are found in many types of cancer and are often reported to contribute to negative outcomes. Several studies have shown that the presence of TGF-β in the tumor microenvironment contributes to the skewing of neutrophils to have a more pro-tumor phenotype. However, the direct effects of TGF-β on neutrophil signaling and migration are unclear. We sought to characterize TGF-β signaling in both primary human neutrophils and the neutrophil-like cell line HL-60 and determine whether TGF-β directly induces neutrophil migration. We found that TGF-β1 does not induce neutrophil migration in either a transwell or an underagarose migration assay. However, TGF-β1 does activate signals canonically through SMAD3 and noncanonically through ERK1/2 in neutrophils in a time and dose-dependent manner. Additionally, TGF-β1 present in the tumor-conditioned media (TCM) is responsible for SMAD3 activation. Moreover, we discovered that TCM from aggressive breast cancer cells induces neutrophils to secrete leukotriene B4 (LTB4), which is a lipid mediator important for amplifying neutrophil recruitment. However, we found that TGF-β1 alone does not induce secretion of LTB4. We next performed RNA-sequencing to evaluate the effects of TGF-β1 and TCM on the neutrophil transcriptome. We found that TGF-β1 and TCM result in changes in gene transcription in HL-60 cells, specifically of two pro-tumor genes OSM and VEGFA. Together, our findings characterize the effects of TGF-β1 on neutrophil signaling, migration, and gene expression that can be applied to understanding the changes in neutrophils that occur in the tumor microenvironment.
Project description:Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one kind of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the world. Recent evidence indicates that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in tissue development, gene transcription, signal regulation and tumorigenesis. However, whether circRNAs are involved in HCC progression and encode functional proteins remains largely unknown. Methods: circRNAs microarrays were performed using pathologically diagnosed HCC samples and paired adjacent normal liver tissues. Cell invasion, migration, cycle, and apoptosis post circRNA overexpression were measured using a transwell culture system, a wound healing assay, and flow cytometry. Full-length, mutated, and truncated sequences of circEPS15 with a FLAG tag were inserted into a circular expression vector. Western blotting was used to confirm circEPS15 expression and the requirement of internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) elements within the circRNA. The miRNA and mRNA expression profiles were obtained by analyzing data retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We then constructed a ceRNA network ofcircEPS15, miRNAs, and mRNAs. Results: The expression of circEPS15 was downregulated in HCC tissues, and the survival curves showed that low circEPS15 levels were associated with poor overall survival in HCC patients. Overexpression of circEPS15 suppressed tumor invasion and migration by inhibiting the TJP1/CDH2/VIM signaling pathway and retarded cell cycle progression, yet had no effect on cell apoptosis. ceRNA analysis and qRT-PCR results suggest a possible circRNA (circEPS15)-miRNA-mRNA network in HCC. The spanning junction open reading frame in circEPS15 driven by IRES encoded a novel protein. Conclusions: Endogenous circEPS15 plays a novel role in repressing HCC through the ceRNA network and encoding a functional protein.