Approximately 10% of infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common vascular tumors affecting children and are characterized by rapid growth, and can have destructive, disfiguring and even life-threatening consequences. Currently, propranolol is considered to be a safe and effective treatment option for problematic proliferating IHs. Recent studies have also revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) play important roles in the regulation of angiogenesis. In this study, XPTS‑1 cells were used as a hemangioma-derived endothelial cell line constructed in our laboratory. Through a series of experiments, we discovered that miR‑382 is a novel miRNA associated with IHs, which was overexpressed in XPTS‑1 cells and was conversely downregulated by treatment with propranolol. In addition, we found that miR‑382 contributes to the progression of IHs. Our results revealed that propranolol inhibited XPTS‑1 cell migration and proliferation, and promoted apoptosis, and these effects were reversed by the restoration of miR‑382 expression by transfection of the cells with an miR‑382 overexpression vector. Further experiments revealed that the above-mentioned effects were associated with the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-mediated AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. The expression of PTEN was upregulated, while that of p-AKT, p-mTOR and p-p70S6K was downregulated by propranolol; these effects were partly reversed by the overexpression of miR‑382. On the whole, our study identified that the downregulation of miR‑382 by propranolol inhibits the progression of IHs via the PTEN-mediated AKT/mTOR pathway.

Wilms tumor is a rare kidney malignancy primarily developed in children. Treatment for Wilms tumor includes surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in regulating Wilms tumor development. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the expression and function of miR-378c in Wilms tumor. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results showed that miR-378c was downregulated in Wilms tumor tissues and cell lines. Functionally, further CCK-8, would healing, and transwell assays revealed that overexpression of miR-378c impaired Wilms tumor cell growth and metastasis in vitro. In addition, xenograft assay showed that miR-378c overexpression inhibited Wilms tumor development in vivo. Mechanistically, luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-378c directly targets CAMKK2 in Wilms tumor. qRT-PCR and western blot assays demonstrated that CAMKK2 was highly expressed in Wilms tumor tissues and cell lines. Rescue experiments were performed to further evaluate the functional relationship between miR-378c and CAMKK2. Overexpression of miR-378c suppressed Wilms tumor cell metastasis via negatively regulating CAMKK2 expression. Consistently, inhibition of miR-378c enhanced Wilms tumor cell malignancy behavior via augmenting CAMKK2 expression, which could be abrogated by CAMKK2 knockdown. In summary, our findings suggest that miR-378c inhibits the development and metastasis of Wilms tumor via negatively regulating CAMKK2 expression, which could be utilized to develop new therapy strategy.

Wilms’ tumor is the most common type of renal tumor in children. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that play crucial regulatory roles in tumorigenesis. We aimed to study the expression profile and function of miR-27a-5p in Wilms’ tumor. miR-27a-5p expression was downregulated in human Wilms’ tumor tissues.

Wilms tumor is the most common type of renal tumor in children. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small non-coding RNAs that play crucial regulatory roles in tumorigenesis. We aimed to study the expression profile and function of miR-27a-5p in Wilms tumor. MiR-27a-5p expression was downregulated in human Wilms tumor tissues. Functionally, overexpression of miR-27a-5p promoted cell apoptosis of Wilms tumor cells. Furthermore, upregulated miR-27a-5p delayed xenograft Wilms tumor tumorigenesis in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis predicted miR-27-5p directly targeted to the 3’-untranslated region (UTR) of PBOV1 and luciferase reporter assay confirmed the interaction between miR-27a-5p and PBOV1. The function of PBOV1 in Wilms tumor was evaluated in vitro and knockdown of PBOV1 dampened cell migration. In addition, overexpression of PBOV1 antagonized the tumor-suppressive effect of miR-27a-5p in Wilms tumor cells. Collectively, our findings reveal the regulatory axis of miR-27-5p/PBOV1 in Wilms tumor and miR-27a-5p might serve as a novel therapeutic target in Wilms tumor.