miR-552 promotes tumor growth and metastasis in colorectal cancer. However, the function of miR-552 in osteosarcoma remains unclear. The current study investigated the role and mechanism of miR-552-5p in the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. miR-552-5p was significantly upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines compared with adjacent normal tissues and normal osteoblast cells. Knockdown of miR-552-5p significantly reduced the proliferation of MG63 and U2OS cells, and inhibited cell migration and invasion. Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1) was the direct target gene of miR-552-5p in osteosarcoma cells. Overexpression of miR-552-5p markedly decreased the expression of WIF1 in MG63 and U2OS cells. A negative association was identified between the expression levels of miR-552-5p and WIF1 in osteosarcoma tissues. Furthermore, the expression of WIF1 was downregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines. Finally, knockdown of WIF1 in MG63 and U2OS cells treated with miR-552-5p inhibitors rescued their ability to proliferate, migrate and invade. Overall, the results indicated that miR-552-5p promoted osteosarcoma development and progression by inhibiting WIF1. Therefore, miR-552-5p may serve as a new therapeutic target for treatment of patients with osteosarcoma.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of Artemisia argyi on the production performance and intestinal barrier of rabbits. Weaned Hyla rabbits (30 d, n = 160) of similar body weight were divided into 4 groups (40 rabbits per treatment), and they were fed a control diet or fed an experimental diet supplemented with 3%, 6%, or 9% A. argyi. The results showed that the dietary supplementation with A. argyi did not affect the rabbits' food intake and body weight gain regardless of the inclusion level but decreased the diarrhea rate and diarrhea index (P < 0.05). Dietary addition of A. argyi increased the small intestine length and villus height/crypt depth, regardless of the inclusion level (P < 0.05). Compared with the control, the A. argyi supplementation increased the gene expression of zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) and claudin 1 in all segments of the small intestine and regardless of the level of A. argyi (P < 0.05). In the duodenum, a dietary supplementation with 6% and 9% A. argyi increased the immunoglobulins A (IgA) content (P < 0.05). In the jejunum, the A. argyi supplementation decreased interleukin 2 (IL2) and IL6 content regardless of the inclusion level (P < 0.05). In the ileum, a 3% A. argyi addition decreased IL2 content, whereas a 6% A. argyi addition decreased IL6 content (P < 0.05). Furthermore, 6%-9% A. argyi supplementation increased the IgA content in the ileum (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary addition of A. argyi reduces diarrhea and modulates the gut immune function without affecting growth performances of rabbits.

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MiR-542-3p and its target gene integrin linked kinase (ILK) in human osteosarcoma together with the differentially expressed genes from osteosarcoma tissues was analyzed through bioinformatics analysis in this study. Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot showed that the miR-542-3p expression decreased while the ILK expression increased in the osteosarcoma tissues. The overexpressed miR-542-3p or silenced ILK restrained cell invasion, proliferation and migration and arrested cell cycle, facilitated cell apoptosis in U-2OS and 143B cells. The dual-luciferase assay confirmed the targeting relationship between miR-542-3p and ILK. MiR-542-3p overexpression inhibited osteosarcoma growth in vivo. In conclusion, miR-542-3p overexpression down-regulated its target gene ILK, promoted osteosarcoma cells apoptosis and inhibited their proliferation, migration and invasion.

Recently, microRNA (miR)‑590‑5p has been shown to inhibit tumorigenesis in colorectal and breast cancer; however, its function in osteosarcoma (OS) requires further investigation. In the present study miR‑590‑5p expression was poorly expressed in OS samples and cell lines when compared with that observed in normal cells. In addition, overexpression of miR‑590‑5p significantly reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion of SAOS2 and U2OS cells in vitro, as well as inhibiting tumor sizes in vivo. The results revealed that miR‑590‑5p directly targeted Kruppel‑like factor 5 (KLF5) in SAOS2 and U2OS cells. Their expression was inversely correlated with OS tissues. Finally, it was demonstrated that overexpression of KLF5 rescued the inhibitory effects of miR‑590‑5p on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Overall, the results of the present study suggested that the miR‑590‑5p/KLF5 axis may regulate OS progression and thus, may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with OS.

Introduction Lnc712 has been characterized as an oncogenic lncRNA in breast cancer. This study aimed to investigate the role of Lnc712 in osteosarcoma (OS). Methods OS and paired non-tumor tissues were collected from 58 OS patients. Expression of Lnc712 and miR-129-5p in paired tissue samples was determined by RT-qPCR. Lnc712 and miR-129-5p expression was achieved in OS cells to study the interaction between them. Cell proliferation was analyzed by CCK-8 assay. Results Lnc712 was upregulated in OS and was inversely correlated with miR-129-5p. In OS cells, Lnc712 overexpression failed to significantly affect miR-129-5p, while miR-129-5p overexpression led to downregulated Lnc712. Cell proliferation showed that Lnc712 overexpression resulted in increased cell proliferation rate. MiR-129-5p overexpression played an opposite role and reversed the effect of Lnc712 overexpression. Discussion MiR-129-5p may suppress cell proliferation of OS by down-regulating Lnc712.

The relationship between immune response of grass carp (Ctenopharygodon idellus) and water temperature was investigated according to changes in antiserum neutralization titer (ANT) and percent relative protection (PRP) of fish immunized with killed cell-cultured vaccine against Fish Reovirus (Vaccine CFRV). Experimental results showed that: 1) the water temperature of 10°C is the critical point in the immunization of grass carp with Vaccine CFRV; 2) the immune response was inhibited below 10°C and enhanced with in­crease in water temperature up to 32°C, after which it decreased; and 3) water tempera­ture at the inductive phase was one of the key factors that determined the occurrence and strength of the immune response.

This research was conducted in order to investigate the role of miR-19b-3p in the development of osteoporosis (OP) in rats and the associated mechanisms. This study measured the expression levels of miR-19b-3p and IGF-1 in clinical OP patients and ovariectomy-induced OP rats by qRT-PCR. The osteoprotegerin levels in OP patients were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The binding site of miR-19b-3p to IGF-1 was predicted by three prediction sites: Target Scan, miRDB and starbase. Experiments were conducted in vitro and in vivo using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and OP rats, respectively, to verify the regulatory relationship between miR-19b-3p and IGF-1 and explore the role of miR-19b-3p in the development of OP. Results showed that the expression of miR-19b-3p was elevated in OP patients and rats, while IGF-1 expression was decreased (***p<0.001). The ELISA assay found that osteoprotegerin levels were inversely correlated with miR-19b-3p and positively correlated with IGF-1. The predictive analysis identified binding sites for miR-19b-3p to IGF-1. The potential regulatory relationship between miR-19b-3p and IGF-1 was validated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Moreover, the important role of miR-19b-3p in the regulation of OP was further demonstrated. It was concluded the inhibition of miR-19b-3p has a suppressive effect on the development of OP and the function of miR-19b-3p in OP is likely to be achieved by regulating the expression of the IGF-1 gene.