PFKL/miR-128 axis regulates glycolysis by inhibiting AKT phosphorylation and predicts poor survival in lung cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) affect cancer cell glucose metabolism by targeting mRNAs of diverse enzymes that have been implicated in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and glycolytic pathways. However, the mechanisms that underlie miRNA-mediated regulation of phosphofructokinase (PFK), a key rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis, remain largely unknown. Here, we show that miR-128 directly targets PFK liver type (PFKL) in lung cancer cells and regulates endogenous expression of PFKL at both the mRNA and protein levels.

MircoRNA-33a inhibits epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis and could be a prognostic marker in non-small cell lung cancer.

Understanding the molecular mechanism by which epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)-mediated cancer metastasis and how microRNA (miRNA) regulates lung cancer progression via Twist1-activated EMT may provide potential therapeutic targets for cancer therapy. Here we found that miR-33a, an intronic miRNA located within the sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2) gene, is expressed at low levels in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and is inversely correlated with Twist1 expression. Conversely, miR-33a knockdown induces EMT and miR-33a overexpression blocks EMT by regulating of Twist1 expression in NSCLC cells.

[The biological functions and regulations of competing endogenous RNA].

Recent studies demonstrate that RNA species could regulate each other by competing for shared microRNA response elements (MREs). This regulatory model is called competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA). Currently, the identified ceRNAs cover coding and non-coding RNAs.

Circular RNAs in cancer: novel insights into origins, properties, functions and implications.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a large class of RNAs that, unlike linear RNAs, form covalently closed continuous loops and have recently shown huge capabilities as gene regulators in mammals. These circRNAs mainly arise from exons or introns, and are differentially generated by back splicing or lariat introns. Interestingly, they are found to be enormously abundant, evolutionally conserved and relatively stable in cytoplasm.

MicroRNAs affect tumor metastasis through regulating epithelial- mesenchymal transition.

Distant metastasis of tumor cell is a series of continuous, selectable cascades of events regulated by multiple factors and genes. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical step during cancer metastasis. However, the mechanism of EMT in tumor is not yet fully elucidated.

Elevated CpG island methylation of GCK gene predicts the risk of type 2 diabetes in Chinese males.

Background: The GCK gene encodes hexokinase 4, which catalyzes the first step in most glucose metabolism pathways. The purpose of our study is to assess the contribution of GCK methylation to type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods And Results: GCK methylation was evaluated in 48 T2D cases and 48 age- and gender-matched controls using the bisulphite pyrosequencing technology.

GCK gene-body hypomethylation is associated with the risk of coronary heart disease.

Objectives: Glucokinase encoded by GCK is a key enzyme that facilitates phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. Variants of GCK gene were shown to be associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and coronary heart disease (CHD). The goal of this study was to investigate the contribution of GCK gene-body methylation to the risk of CHD.

Novel insights into the role of microRNA in lung cancer resistance to treatment and targeted therapy.

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors and is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. However, drug resistance induced by chemotherapeutants to lung cancer cells is the primary issue during the chemotherapy of lung cancer. Many mechanisms such as the changes of drug metabolism related genes and signal pathways are involved in chemoresistance.

Apolipoprotein A5 gene variants and the risk of coronary heart disease: a case‑control study and meta‑analysis.

Previous studies have shown that apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) gene variants are genetic determinants of the concentration of triglycerides, which are a known risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Using the standardized coronary angiography method, 290 CHD patients and 198 non‑CHD controls were recruited from Ningbo Lihuili Hospital. In addition, 331 unrelated healthy volunteers were recruited as healthy controls from Ningbo Ximen Community residents.

No association between IRS‑1 promoter methylation and type 2 diabetes.

As a candidate gene for type 2 diabetes (T2D), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS‑1) gene variations were found to be associated with the risk of T2D. The aim of our study was to investigate the contribution of promoter DNA methylation of the IRS‑1 gene to the risk of T2D. Using bisulphite pyrosequencing technology, the DNA methylation levels of 3 CpG dinucleotides within the IRS‑1 gene promoter were measured in 48 T2D patients and 48 age‑ and gender‑matched healthy controls.

Meta-analyses of HFE variants in coronary heart disease.

Aim: HFE gene variants can cause hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) that often comes along with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The goal of our study is to assess the contribution of four HFE gene variants to the risk of CHD.

Methods And Results: We conducted four meta-analyses of the studies examining the association between four HFE gene variants and the risk of CHD.

Lower ADD1 gene promoter DNA methylation increases the risk of essential hypertension.

The goal of our study is to investigate the contribution of promoter DNA methylation of α-adducin (ADD1) gene to the risk of essential hypertension (EH). Using the bisulphite pyrosequencing technology, DNA methylation levels of five CpG dinucleotides on ADD1 promoter were measured among 33 EH cases and 28 healthy controls. Significantly higher ADD1 DNA methylation levels were observed in the females than in the males (CpG1: P = 0.

Positive correlation between variants of lipid metabolism‑related genes and coronary heart disease.

Four gene variants related to lipid metabolism (including the rs562338 and rs503662 variants of the APOB gene, the rs7767084 variant of the LPA gene and the rs2246942 variant of the LIPA gene) have been shown to be associated with coronary heart disease (CHD). The aim of the present study was to assess their association with CHD in the Han Chinese population and to assess the contribution of these gene variants to CHD. Using the standardized coronary angiography method, we enrolled 290 CHD patients and 193 non-CHD patients as non-CHD controls from Lihuili Hospital (Ningbo, China).

Elevated PLA2G7 gene promoter methylation as a gender-specific marker of aging increases the risk of coronary heart disease in females.

PLA2G7 gene product is a secreted enzyme whose activity is associated with coronary heart disease (CHD). The goal of our study is to investigate the contribution of PLA2G7 promoter DNA methylation to the risk of CHD. Using the bisulphite pyrosequencing technology, PLA2G7 methylation was measured among 36 CHD cases and 36 well-matched controls.

Relationship between chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 gene variant (rs1746048) and coronary heart disease: case-control study and meta-analysis.

The goal of our study is to evaluate the contribution of CXCL12 rs1746048 (hg19, chr10:44775574) to the risk of CHD in Han Chinese, and to summarize its role in CHD through meta-analysis of existing studies among various ethnic groups. Significant association is observed between rs1746048-C and an increased risk of CHD in Han Chinese (χ(2)=5.41, df=1, P=0.

An association study between genetic polymorphisms related to lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) and coronary heart disease.

Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that affect lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) activity or levels in American and European individuals. A total of 290 coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, 198 non-CHD patients and 331 unrelated healthy volunteers were recruited for the present case-control study of Han Chinese. Four SNPs (rs964184 of ZNF259, rs7528419 of CELSR2 and rs7756935 and rs1805017 of PLA2G7) were shown to be significantly associated with CHD.

Association between PCSK9 and LDLR gene polymorphisms with coronary heart disease: case-control study and meta-analysis.

Objective: To explore the association of rs11206510 (PCSK9 gene) and rs1122608 (LDLR gene) polymorphisms with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Han Chinese.

Methods: A total of 813 participants (290 CHD cases, 193 non-CHD controls and 330 healthy controls) were recruited in the case-control study. DNA genotyping was performed on the SEQUENOM® Mass-ARRAY iPLEX® platform.

Gastric juice MicroRNAs as potential biomarkers for the screening of gastric cancer.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in carcinogenesis; however, it largely remains unclear whether miRNAs in gastric juice, which is specific for gastric tissues, can be used as biomarkers for gastric cancer. The objective of the current study was to investigate the feasibility of using gastric juice miRNAs as potential biomarkers to assist in screening for gastric cancer.

Methods: Gastric juice samples were collected from 141 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy examination between September 2010 and December 2011.

Meta-analyses of four eosinophil related gene variants in coronary heart disease.

The goal of our study is to assess the contribution of four eosinophil related gene variants (rs12619285, rs1420101, rs3184504 and rs4143832) to the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). We conducted four meta-analyses of studies examining the association between four eosinophil related gene variants and the risk of CHD. A systematic search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Chinese Periodical.

Gastric juice miR-129 as a potential biomarker for screening gastric cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles during the occurrence and development of gastric cancer. Conventional serological tests for screening gastric cancer have limits on sensitivity and specificity. Several miRNAs in peripheral blood have been used as biomarkers of gastric cancer.

Positive association between rs10918859 of the NOS1AP gene and coronary heart disease in male Han Chinese.

Westaway et al. have revealed a significant association between common variants of calsequestrin-2 (CASQ2) and nitric oxide synthase 1 (neuronal) adaptor protein (NOS1AP) and the risk of sudden death in patients of coronary heart disease (CHD). In light of the findings, we aim to explore the association between variants of the two genes and CHD risk in Han Chinese.

Gastric juice microRNA-421 is a new biomarker for screening gastric cancer.

MicroRNA-421 (miR-421) plays crucial roles during carcinogenesis and is a potential tumor marker in the diagnosis of several types of cancers. However, whether miR-421 in gastric juice, which is specific for gastric tissue, can be used as a biomarker for gastric cancer screening is unclear. In the present study, real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze miR-421 levels in gastric juice from patients with gastric cancer or benign gastric disease, or normal.

A case-control study provides evidence of association for a common SNP rs974819 in PDGFD to coronary heart disease and suggests a sex-dependent effect.

Introduction: Peden et al. have revealed a significant association between four new risk loci and coronary heart disease (CHD) in Europeans and South Asians. The goal of this study is to evaluate the contribution of these genetic loci to CHD risk in Han Chinese.