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The therapeutic promise of microRNA (miRNA) in cancer has yet to be realized. In this study, we identified and therapeutically exploited a new role for miR-10b at the metastatic site, which links its overexpression to tumor cell viability and proliferation. In the protocol developed, we combined a miR-10b-inhibitory nanodrug with low-dose anthracycline to achieve complete durable regressions of metastatic disease in a murine model of metastatic breast cancer. Mechanistic investigations suggested a potent antiproliferative, proapoptotic effect of the nanodrug in the metastatic cells, potentiated by a cell-cycle arrest produced by administration of the low-dose anthracycline. miR-10b was overexpressed specifically in cells with high metastatic potential, suggesting a role for this miRNA as a metastasis-specific therapeutic target. Taken together, our results implied the existence of pathways that regulate the viability and proliferation of tumor cells only after they have acquired the ability to grow at distant metastatic sites. As illustrated by miR-10b targeting, such metastasis-dependent apoptotic pathways would offer attractive targets for further therapeutic exploration., (©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.)

We describe a technology for the profiling of miRNA expression in intact cells. The technology is based on sensor oligonucleotides that are cleavable, completely complementary to a target miRNA, and dual-labeled with a fluorescent dye and a quencher. Upon entering the cell, the sensor oligonucleotide binds its specific miRNA target through complementary base-pairing. This triggers assembly of the endogenous RNA Induced Silencing Complex (RISC) around the miRNA-sensor duplex and cleavage of the sensor oligonucleotide, resulting in separation between the dye and quencher, and a fluorescence turn-on. In the presented feasibility studies, we focus on a specific miRNA (miR-10b) implicated in breast cancer metastasis. Using a human breast adenocarcinoma cell line, we illustrate the application of this technology for miRNA detection with nanomolar sensitivity in both a cell-free system and intact cells., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

MicroRNAs are a family of regulatory molecules involved in many physiological processes, including differentiation and activation of cells of the immune system. We found that brain-specific miR-124 is expressed in microglia but not in peripheral monocytes or macrophages. When overexpressed in macrophages, miR-124 directly inhibited the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α) and its downstream target PU.1, resulting in transformation of these cells from an activated phenotype into a quiescent CD45(low), major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II(low) phenotype resembling resting microglia. During experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), miR-124 was downregulated in activated microglia. Peripheral administration of miR-124 in EAE caused systemic deactivation of macrophages, reduced activation of myelin-specific T cells and marked suppression of disease. Conversely, knockdown of miR-124 in microglia and macrophages resulted in activation of these cells in vitro and in vivo. These findings identify miR-124 both as a key regulator of microglia quiescence in the central nervous system and as a previously unknown modulator of monocyte and macrophage activation.