The level of microRNA-205 (miR-205) is commonly deregulated in a number of cancers. Through the screening of the microRNA expression profile in bladder cancer tissue and cell lines, we found that expression of miR-205 was significantly suppressed. In addition, the levels of miR-205 expression had a negative correlation with the degree of bladder cancer malignancy. However, the biological functions of miR-205 remained unclear. In this study, we have demonstrated that miR-205 had a role in the inhibition of proliferation, migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells. Moreover, we have identified cyclin J (CCNJ) gene, which is involved in cell cycle regulation, as a novel target for miR-205. Furthermore, a long non-coding RNA HOTAIR (HOX transcript antisense RNA) was observed to participate in the silencing of miR-205 in bladder cancer cells by breaking the balance of histone modification between H3K4me3 (histone H3 at lysine 4 methylation) and H3K27me3 on miR-205 promoter. This study elucidates an important role that miR-205 had in the regulation of proliferation, migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for combating bladder cancer.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the dominant member of the gastric microbiota and has infected more than half of the human population, of whom 5–15% develop gastric diseases ranging from gastritis and metaplasia to gastric cancer. These diseases always follow inflammation induced by cell surface and intracellular receptors and subsequent signaling, such as the NF-κB pathway and inflammasomes. Some types of immune cells are recruited to enforce an antibacterial response, which could be impeded by H. pylori virulence factors with or without a specific immune cell. Following decreased inflammation, neoplasm may appear with a little immune surveillance and may inhibit antitumor immunity. Therefore, the balance between H. pylori-associated inflammation and anti-inflammation is crucial for human health and remains to be determined. Here, we discuss multiple inflammation and immunoregulatory cells in gastritis and summarize the main immune evasion strategies employed by gastric cancer.

Both sorafenib and interleukin-27 (IL-27) are antineoplastic drugs. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of these two drugs on bladder cancer cells. HTB-9 and T24 cells were stimulated with IL-27 (50 ng/mL), sorafenib (2 μM) or the synergistic action of these two drugs. The cells without treatment acted as control. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion were measured by bromodeoxyuridine assay, flow cytometry and modified Boyden chamber, respectively. Simultaneously, both modified Boyden chamber and scratch assay were used to assess cell migration. Finally, the phosphorylation levels of key kinases in the Akt/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, and expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were detected by western blot analysis. Stimulation with IL-27 or sorafenib repressed proliferation, migration and invasion but promoted apoptosis, and the effects were all enhanced by the combination of these two drugs in HTB-9 cells. The effect of the combined treatment on bladder cancer cells was verified in T24 cells. Additionally, the phosphorylation levels of AKT, mTOR and MAPK as well as the expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were all decreased by a single treatment of IL-27 or sorafenib, and further decreased by the combined treatment of these two drugs. The combination of IL-27 and sorafenib inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion and promoted apoptosis of bladder cancer cells compared with mono-drug treatment. Additionally, the AKT/mTOR/MAPK pathway might be implicated in the functional effects by down-regulations of MMP-2 and MMP-9.