MiR-203a-5p Inhibits Multiple Myeloma Cell Proliferation and Cell Cycle Progression via Targeting JAG1 / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the biological function of miR-203a-5p and the underlying mechanism in multiple myeloma (MM).@*METHODS@#Three miRNA expression profiles (GSE16558, GSE24371 and GSE17498) were downloaded from the GEO database. The three miRNA expression profiles contained 131 MM samples and 17 normal plasmacyte samples. The robust rank aggregation (RRA) method was used to identify the differentially expressed miRNAs between MM and normal plasmacytes. In order to carry out cytological experiments, MM cell line with stable over-expression of miR-203a-5p was constructed with lentivirus. Expression levels of miR-203a-5p in MM cells were quantified by qRT-PCR. The effects of miR-203a-5p on MM cells were investigated using assays of cell viability and cell cycle. Cell proliferation was measured using the Cell Counting kit (CCK)8 assay. The percentage of cells in each cell cycle was measured with a FACSCalibur system. Xenograft tumor models were established to evaluate the role of miR-203a-5p in tumorigenesis in vivo . To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of miR-203a-5p in mediating cell proliferation inhibition and cell cycle arrest in MM, we used TargetScan and miRanda to predict the candidate targets of miR-203a-5p. The potential target of miR-203a-5p in MM cells was explored using the luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and Western blot.@*RESULTS@#An integrated analysis of three MM miRNA expression datasets showed that the levels of miR-203a-5p in MM were notably downregulated compared with those in normal plasmacytes. Accordingly, the relative expression levels of miR-203a-5p were decreased in MM cell lines. In addition, overexpression of miR-203a-5p inhibited the proliferation and cell cycle progression of RPMI8226 and U266 cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that upregulation of miR-203a-5p expression could significantly inhibit the tumorigenesis of subcutaneous myeloma xenografts in nude mice. Mechanistic investigation led to the identification of Jagged 1 (JAG1) as a novel and direct downstream target of miR-203a-5p. Interestingly, the reintroduction of JAG1 abrogated miR-203a-5p-induced MM cell growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest.@*CONCLUSION@#Our data demonstrate that miR-203a-5p inhibits cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in MM cells by targeting JAG1, supporting the utility of miR-203a-5p as a novel and potential therapeutic agent for miRNA-based MM therapy.

JAG1 promotes migration, invasion, and adhesion of triple-negative breast cancer cells by promoting angiogenesis / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of JAG1 on the malignant phenotype of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and its role in angiogenesis in breast cancer microenvironment.@*METHODS@#The expressions of Notch molecules were detected in human TNBC 231 and 231B cells using RT-qPCR. Five female nude mice were inoculated with 231 cells and another 5 with 231B cells into the mammary fat pads, and 4-6 weeks later, the tumors were collected for immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence tests. 231 cells and 231B cells were treated with recombinant JAG (rJAG) protein and DAPT, respectively, and changes in their malignant phenotypes were assessed using CCK-8 assay, Hoechst 33258 staining, wound healing assay, Transwell chamber assay and endothelial cell adhesion assay. Western blotting was used to detect the changes in the expressions of proteins related with the malignant phenotypes of 231 and 231B cells. The effects of conditioned medium (CM) derived from untreated 231 and 231 B cells, rJAG1-treated 231 cells and DAPT-treated 231B cells on proliferation and tube formation ability of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were evaluated using CCK-8 assay and tube-forming assay.@*RESULTS@#The expression of JAG1 was higher in 231B cells than in 231 cells (P < 0.05). Tumor 231B showed higher expression of VEGFA and CD31. Compared with 231-Blank group, the migration, invasion and adhesion of 231 cells in 231-rJAG1 were significantly enhanced (P < 0.05). Protein levels of Twist1 and Snail increased (P < 0.01), anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 increased (P < 0.05), while DAPT inhibited the related phenomena and indicators of 231B. The 231-rJAG1-CM increased the cell number and tubule number of HUVEC (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#JAG1 may affect the malignant phenotype of TNBC and promote angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment.

Identification of PTPRR and JAG1 as key genes in castration-resistant prostate cancer by integrated bioinformatics methods / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

To identify novel genes in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), we downloaded three microarray datasets containing CRPC and primary prostate cancer in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). R packages affy and limma were performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between primary prostate cancer and CRPC. After that, we performed functional enrichment analysis including gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway. In addition, protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis was used to search for hub genes. Finally, to validate the significance of these genes, we performed survival analysis. As a result, we identified 53 upregulated genes and 58 downregulated genes that changed in at least two datasets. Functional enrichment analysis showed significant changes in the positive regulation of osteoblast differentiation pathway and aldosterone-regulated sodium reabsorption pathway. PPI network identified hub genes like cortactin-binding protein 2 (CTTNBP2), Rho family guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) 3 (RND3), protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor-type R (PTPRR), Jagged1 (JAG1), and lumican (LUM). Based on PPI network analysis and functional enrichment analysis, we identified two genes (PTPRR and JAG1) as key genes. Further survival analysis indicated a relationship between high expression of the two genes and poor prognosis of prostate cancer. In conclusion, PTPRR and JAG1 are key genes in the CRPC, which may serve as promising biomarkers of diagnosis and prognosis of CRPC.

Analysis of variants located in 3'UTR regions of NOTCH1 and JAG1 genes for children with conotruncal heart defects / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective · To explore the correlation between variants located in 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR) of NOTCH1 and JAG1 genes and conotruncal heart defects (CTD). Methods · Six hundred CTD children without 22q11 deletion and three hundred healthy children were enrolled in this hospital-based case-control study. Variants located in the 3'UTR regions of NOTCH1 and JAG1 genes were detected by high-throughput sequencing. The accuracy of the variants were verified by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Online software PicTar, TargetScan and microRNA.org were used to make functional predictions. Results · One mutation and three SNPs were found in the 3'UTR of NOTCH1. Three mutations and six SNPs were found in the 3'UTR of JAG1. The genotypic distributions of two SNPs (rs3840074 and rs8708) located in JAG13'UTR between CTD group and the controls were statistically significant (both P<0.05). Results of prediction showed that all the four mutations and two meaningful SNPs could bind to microRNA. Conclusion · The variants located in 3'UTR regions of NOTCH1 and JAG1 genes may be related to the occurrence of CTD.

A case of Alagille syndrome presenting with chronic cholestasis in an adult

Alagille syndrome (AGS) is a complex multisystem disorder that involves mainly the liver, heart, eyes, face, and skeleton. The main associated clinical features are chronic cholestasis due to a paucity of intrahepatic bile ducts, congenital heart disease primarily affecting pulmonary arteries, vertebral abnormalities, ocular embryotoxon, and peculiar facies. The manifestations generally become evident at a pediatric age. AGS is caused by defects in the Notch signaling pathway due to mutations in JAG1 or NOTCH2. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern with a high degree of penetrance, but variable expressivity results in a wide range of clinical features. Here we report on a 31-year-old male patient who presented with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and was diagnosed with AGS associated with the JAG1 mutation after a comprehensive workup.

Progress in each system damage of Alagille syndrome / 国际儿科学杂志

Alagille syndrome (ALGS) is the most common cause of the phenotypic characteristics of chronic cholestasis disease.It is an infrequent multisystem autosomal dominant disorder that developmental abnormalities in several organs including the liver, heart, skeleton, eye and face, kidney, vasculature and skin.Alagille syndrome is caused by mutations in both a ligand(Jagged1 (JAG1)) and receptor(NOTCH2) that activate the Notch signaling pathway.The criteria of Alagille syndrome contains the presentation of 3/5 clinical features including anomalies of the cholestasis, heart defects, spinal deformity (butterfly vertebrae), eye abnormality (posterior embryotoxon) and prominent facial features(inverted triangular face) along with bile duct paucity on liver biopsy.In recent years, with the progress of molecular diagnostic techniques and etiology research for each system phenotype, ALGS has attracted more and more attention.This article reviews the clinical manifestations,pathogenesis and diagnosis of ALGS.

Expression of microRNA-1284 in gastric cancer and underlying mecha-nism / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To evaluate the correlation between microRNA-1284 (miR-1284) and gastric cancer, and to investigate the underlying mechanism.METHODS: The expression of miR-1284 was examined by real-time PCR in 63 gastric cancer ( GC) tissue samples and 63 non-malignant adjacent tissue samples.The correlation between miR-1284 and the clinicopathological feature of GC was analyzed.Lentiviral vector containing miR-1284 was constructed and transfected into GC SGC-7901 cells.After transfection, the expression of miR-1284 was examined by real-time PCR.The cell activity was evaluated by CCK-8 assay.The cell cycle and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry.The ability of cell migra-tion was measured by wound-healing assay.The potential target gene of miR-1284 was predicted by online bioinformatic softwares.The expression of JAG1 mRNA was examined by real-time PCR.The protein levels of JAG1, Notch1 and NF-κB were analyzed by Western blotting.RESULTS:Compared with non-malignant adjacent tissue samples, the results of real-time PCR showed significant downregulation of miR-1284 in 42 GC tissue samples ( P0.05), but significantly associated with histologic grading (P<0.05).Compared with LV-NC-GFP group and control group, after transfection of miR-1284 in LV-miR-1284 group, the expression of miR-1284 was significantly in-creased (P<0.05), the percentages of apoptotic cells and the cells in G0/G1 phase were significantly increased (P<0.05), the cells activity and ability of migration were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the expression of JAG1, Notch1 and NF-κB was significantly decreased (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The inhibitory effect of miR-1284 on gastric cancer may be associated with the regulation of its targeting gene JAG1.

Jagged1 mutation analysis in Alagille syndrome patients / 소아과

PURPOSE: Alagille syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder with developmental abnormalities affecting the liver, heart, eyes, vertebrae, and craniofacial region. The Jagged1(JAG1) gene, which encodes a ligand of Notch, has been found mutated in Alagille syndrome. The aim of the study was to investigate the mutation analysis of JAG1 gene in Korean patients with Alagille syndrome. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes of 6 patients. The 26 exons of JAG1 gene were amplified and PCR products were directly sequenced. RESULTS: Two novel frameshift mutations were found. 118delC in exon 2 was found in a patient who developed hepatocellular carcinoma at 4 years of age. 999-1000delTG was identified in exon 7. CONCLUSION: Mutations identified in this study are expected to give rise to truncated proteins.