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Jianjun Jia,1 Suiqun Guo,2 Dong Zhang,1 Xiaohui Tian,3 Xingmei Xie1 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province 510632, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jianjun JiaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, No. 613, West Huangpu Avenue, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province 510632, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-20-38688357Email jiajianjun615@sohu.comPurpose: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may act as oncogenes in several cancers, including endometrial carcinoma (EC). The purpose of the current study is to investigate the regulatory mechanism of exosomal-lncRNA deleted in lymphocytic leukemia1 (DLEU1) on EC.Methods: The expression levels of lncRNA DLEU1, microRNA-381-3p and E2F Transcription Factor 3 (E2F3) in EC tissues or cells were detected using quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We then analysed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of EC cells by performing the MTT assay, wound healing assay, and transwell invasion assay, respectively. Identification of exosomes was detected using Western blot assay. The uptake of exosomes was detected by a confocal microscope. The effects of exosomes on EC cells were investigated by construction of cell co-culture system. The interactions among DLEU1, miR-381-3p and E2F3 were confirmed using the dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assay.Results: LncRNA DLEU1 expression was highly up-regulated in EC tissues and cells. Knockdown of DLEU1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of EC cells. Exosomes could be uptaken by the ambient EC cells. MiR-381-3p was a target of DLEU1 and was negatively modulated by DLEU1. Overexpression of miR-381-3p suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of EC cells. Additionally, E2F3 was the target gene of miR-381-3p and was negatively modulated by miR-381-3p. Upregulation of miR-381-3p and down-regulation of E2F3 reversed the promoting effect of exosomal DLEU1 on EC cells.Conclusion: Exosomal DLEU1 accelerates the development of EC by regulating the miR-381-3p/E2F3 axis, thus DLEU1 may act as a possible therapeutic target for treating EC.Keywords: endometrial carcinoma, exosomes, lncRNA DLEU1, miR-381-3p, E2F3

Jianjun Jia,1 Xiaomao Li,2 Suiqun Guo,3 Xingmei Xie1 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510632, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510632, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jianjun JiaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/ Fax +86-020-38688359Email jiajianjun615@sohu.comBackground: Dendritic cells (DCs) are reported to play an important role in activating the anti-tumor immune responses. p38 MAPK14 signaling plays an important role in controlling their activity. Here, we identified that miR-155 suppressed the translation of p38 and impaired the functioning of dendritic cells in endometrial cancer.Methods: HEC1A endometrial cancer cell lines were used for the study which was transfected in the C57BL/6 mice. Murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were isolated from the mice. Target prediction was done by TargetScan which was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. The protein expression was carried by Western blot analysis. Levels of IL-12 were evaluated by ELISA. Mice injected with HEC1A cells were subjected to tumor challenge study.Results: On screening the binding sites of p38 MAPK14 gene, miR-155 was found to bind the 3ʹUTR directly and blocked its translation. The levels of miR-155 were upregulated in dendritic cells and RAW264.7 cells, miR-155 showed inhibitory effect on expression levels of p38. In dendritic cells, miR-155 was found to regulate the expression of IL-12, also miR-155 inhibitor stimulated the differentiation of Th1 cells in mice induced with endometrial cancer. In dendritic cells, miR-155 inhibited the expression of p38 gene and decreased their ability to interfere in tumor growth.Conclusion: The study concludes suppressive role of miR-155 in the process of dendritic cells mediated anti-tumor immunity, also inhibiting miR-155 provides a novel strategy for countering endometrial cancer.Keywords: miR-155, dendritic cells, p38, IL-12, RAW264.7 cells

Ying Liu, Peiwen Huang, Xuefeng Hou, Fei Yan, Zifei Jiang, Jiangpei Shi, Xingmei Xie, Junyi Shen, Qiangyuan Fan, Zhi Wang, Nianping FengSchool of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, People’s Republic of ChinaBackground: Oral route of administration is preferred for treating breast cancer, especially when continued disease management with good tolerability is required; however, orally administered chemotherapeutics combined with near-infrared (NIR) dyes are hindered by the low bioavailability, insufficient for the desired therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we developed a hybrid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system for co-loading curcumin–phospholipid complex and NIR dye IR780 (CUR/IR780@SMEDDS), to achieve combined phototherapeutic and chemotherapeutic effects against lung metastasis of breast cancer.Methods: CUR/IR780@SMEDDS were characterized. The efficacy against breast cancer metastasis was evaluated by photothermal and photodynamic assessment, cytotoxicity, invasion, and migration in metastatic 4T1 breast cancer cells in vitro, and in vivo oral bioavailability study in rats and pharmacodynamics studies in tumor-bearing nude mice.Results: CUR/IR780@SMEDDS improved oral bioavailability of curcumin and IR780 in rats compared with curcumin and IR780 suspensions. CUR/IR780@SMEDDS exhibited remarkable photothermal and photodynamic effects in vitro. In metastatic 4T1 breast cancer cells, CUR/IR780@SMEDDS combined with localized NIR laser irradiation induced significant cytotoxicity and inhibited invasion and migration of 4T1 cells, an outcome attributable to cumulative effects of IR780-induced hyperthermia and pharmacological effects of curcumin. In orthotopic 4T1 tumor-bearing nude mice, combination of oral administration of CUR/IR780@SMEDDS with local NIR laser irradiation inhibited tumor progression and suppressed lung metastasis.Keywords: curcumin, IR780, oral drug delivery, lung metastasis of breast cancer, photo/chemotherapy