miR-328-3p Affects Axial Length Via Multiple Routes and Anti-miR-328-3p Possesses a Potential to Control Myopia Progression.

Purpose: We previously reported miR-328-3p as a novel risk factor for myopia through a genetic association study of the PAX6 gene. In the present study, we first explored the effects of miR-328-3p on other myopia-related genes, and then tested whether anti-miR-328-3p may be used for myopia control.

Methods: The luciferase report assay and transient transfection were used to confirm miR-328-3p target genes.

The association of genetic polymorphisms in interleukin-1 receptors type 1 and type 2 with sudden sensorineural hearing loss in a Taiwanese population: a case control study.

Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a disease with an unknown etiology; damage to the auditory nerve from inflammation due to viral infection or vascular incidents has been implicated. According to several studies, cytokines, including interleukins, are associated with SSNHL in terms of serum expression and genetic polymorphisms. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays a key role in inflammation and may be associated with SSNHL.

Reduced camptothecin sensitivity of estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer cells following exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is associated with DNA methylation changes.

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) has been considered as an estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) agonist due to its ability to interact with ERα and promote the cell proliferation of ERα-positive breast cancer cells. The impact of DEHP on the chemical therapy in breast cancer is little known. Two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 (ERα-dependent) and MDA-MB-231 (ERα-independent) were examined.

Correction: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulates histone deacetylase 8 expression to repress tumor suppressive activity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9841.

Genome-wide DNA hypermethylation and homocysteine increase a risk for myopia.

Aim: To test for the association between genome-wide methylation and myopia in human and mice.

Methods: methylation levels were used to surrogate genome-wide methylation level. We first tested for the association between high myopia (<-6 D) and methylation in leukocytes in 220 cases and 220 control subjects.

Let-7g suppresses both canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways in macrophages leading to anti-atherosclerosis.

Transformation of macrophages to foam cells contributes to atherosclerosis. Here, we report that let-7g reduces macrophage transformation and alleviates foam cell apoptosis by suppressing both canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways. In the canonical pathway, let-7g inhibits phosphorylation of IKKβ and IκB, down-regulates SREBF2 and miR-33a, and up-regulates ABCA1.

Intestine-Specific Homeobox Gene Integrates IL6 Signaling, Tryptophan Catabolism, and Immune Suppression.

The intestine-specific homeobox transcription factor intestine-specific homeobox (ISX) is an IL6-inducible proto-oncogene implicated in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, but its mechanistic contributions to this process are undefined. In this study, we provide evidence that ISX mediates a positive feedback loop integrating inflammation, tryptophan catabolism, and immune suppression. We found that ISX-mediated IL6-induced expression of the tryptophan catabolic enzymes Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, resulting in an ISX-dependent increase in the tryptophan catabolite kynurenine and its receptor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR).

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor promotes hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis by targeting intestine-specific homeobox expression.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a major chemical sensor, is thought to play a role in various biological contexts, including cell cycle regulation and tumorigenesis. However, its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. We propose herein a novel mechanism through which AHR promotes tumorigenesis by targeting expression of the oncogene intestine-specific homeobox (ISX) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Identification of IGF-1-enhanced cytokine expressions targeted by miR-181d in glioblastomas via an integrative miRNA/mRNA regulatory network analysis.

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 signaling is relevant in regulating cell growth and cytokine secretions by glioblastomas. MicroRNAs determine the cell fate in glioblastomas. However, relationships between IGF-1 signaling and miRNAs in glioblastoma pathogenesis are still unclear.

Methylation in the matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene is associated with cerebral ischemic stroke.

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is involved in the pathophysiology of stroke. Previous studies have shown that MMP-2 activity is increased in stroke; however, evidence of epigenetic regulation of the MMP-2 in stroke is still limited. We examined methylation of the MMP-2 promoter in patients with ischemic stroke.

MicroRNA let-7g possesses a therapeutic potential for peripheral artery disease.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis and conveys a significant health burden globally. Critical limb ischaemia encompasses the most severe consequence of PAD. Our previous studies indicate that microRNA let-7g prevents atherosclerosis and improves endothelial functions.

Dynamics of PBMC gene expression in hepatitis C virus genotype 1-infected patients during combined peginterferon/ribavirin therapy.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can replicate in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which can produce interferon to defend against virus infection. We hypothesized that dynamic gene expression in PBMCs might impact the treatment efficacy of peginterferon/ribavirin in HCV patients. PBMCs were collected at baseline, 1st week and 4th week of treatment from 27 chronic HCV-1 patients with 48-week peginterferon/ribavirin therapy (screening dataset n = 7; validation dataset n = 20).

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulates histone deacetylase 8 expression to repress tumor suppressive activity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8), a unique member of class I histone deacetylases, shows remarkable correlation with advanced disease stage and multiple malignant tumors However, little is known about the contribution of HDAC8 to the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study investigated the expression of HDAC8 regulated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in HCC cell lines and tissues, and the roles of HDAC8 overexpression in cell proliferation, including potentially underlying mechanisms. We assessed the correlation between the clinic-pathological parameters and the expression of AHR and HDAC8.

Intestine-specific homeobox (ISX) upregulates E2F1 expression and related oncogenic activities in HCC.

Intestine-specific homeobox (ISX), a newly identified proto-oncogene, is involved in cell proliferation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the underlying mechanisms linking gene expression and tumor formation remain unclear. In this study, we found that ISX transcriptionally activated E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) and associated oncogenic activity by directly binding to the E2 site of its promoter.

Onco-proteogenomics identifies urinary S100A9 and GRN as potential combinatorial biomarkers for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the major type of liver cancer, is among the most lethal cancers owing to its aggressive nature and frequently late detection. Therefore, the possibility to identify early diagnostic markers could be of significant benefit. Urine has especially become one of the most attractive body fluids in biomarker discovery as it can be obtained non-invasively in large quantities and is stable as compared with other body fluids.

Phosphodiesterase 4D gene polymorphisms in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

The phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) gene has been reported as a risk gene for ischemic stroke. The vascular factors are between the hypothesized etiologies of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), and this genetic effect might be attributed for its role in SSNHL. We hypothesized that genetic variants of the PDE4D gene are associated with susceptibility to SSNHL.

MicroRNA let-7g cooperates with interferon/ribavirin to repress hepatitis C virus replication.

MicroRNAs (miRNA) have been implicated in HCV infection. The present study analyzed the effects of let-7g on HCV infection in vitro, in clinical tissue and serum samples. Here, we show that the expression of let-7g in serum and liver tissue is significantly higher in patients with sustained virologic response (SVR).

Demethylation of Circulating Estrogen Receptor Alpha Gene in Cerebral Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Estrogen is involved in neuron plasticity and can promote neuronal survival in stroke. Its actions are mostly exerted via estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). Previous animal studies have shown that ERα is upregulated by DNA demethylation following ischemic injury.

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Differentially Expressed Protein Profiles Involved in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed proteins among various stages of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by shotgun proteomics using nano-liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry and stable isotope dimethyl labeling.

Methods: Differentially expressed proteins were identified and compared based on the mass spectral differences of their isotope-labeled peptide fragments generated from protease digestion.

Results: Our quantitative proteomic analysis of the differentially expressed proteins with stable isotope (deuterium/hydrogen ratio, ≥ 2) identified a total of 353 proteins, with at least 5 protein biomarker proteins that were significantly differentially expressed between cancer and normal mice by at least a 2-fold alteration.

MicroRNA-765 influences arterial stiffness through modulating apelin expression.

The present study aims to discover single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the apelin gene (APLN) in relation to arterial stiffness, and to explore its molecular mechanisms. A two-step genetic association study was conducted using 799 and 937 subjects in the screening and validation data, respectively. Four tagging SNPs of APLN were tested.

Metabolic Syndrome Increases the Risk of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Taiwan: A Case-Control Study.

Objective: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss has been reported to be associated with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia in previous studies. The aim of this study was to examine whether metabolic syndrome increases the risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in Taiwan.

Study Design: A case-control study.

The Associations of Novel Vitamin D3 Metabolic Gene CYP27A1 Polymorphism, Adiponectin/Leptin Ratio, and Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged Taiwanese Males.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) confers increased risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Both vitamin D3 and adipocytokines (especially adiponectin and leptin) have a great impact on CVD and MetS. In vitamin D3 metabolism, the vitamin D3 25-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) are two key enzymes.

Overexpression of autophagy-related 16-like 1 in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Dyregulation of autophagy has been reported in various human cancers including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The objective of this study was to link expression of autophagy-related 16-like 1 (ATG16L1), a protein essential for autophagosome formation, to clinical outcome in a cohort of 90 OSCC patients. Expression level of ATG16L1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry and an immunoreactivity score (IRS), ranging from 0 to 9, was assigned to each case.

Computational analysis of mRNA expression profiles identifies the ITG family and PIK3R3 as crucial genes for regulating triple negative breast cancer cell migration.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive type of breast cancer that does not express estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor (Her2/neu). TNBC has worse clinical outcomes than other breast cancer subtypes. However, the key molecules and mechanisms of TNBC migration remain unclear.

Interval between intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy and surgery for locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma: impacts on effectiveness of chemotherapy and on overall survival.

Background: The interval between intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy (IAIC) and surgery was investigated in terms of its effects on survival in patients with locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 126 patients who had completed treatment modalities for stage IV OSCC. All patients were followed up for 3 years.