The SMAD2/miR-4256/HDAC5/p16^(INK4a) signaling axis contributes to gastric cancer progression

The dysregulation of exosomal microRNAs(miRNAs)plays a crucial role in the development and progression of cancer.This study investigated the role of a newly identified serum exosomal miRNA miR-4256 in gastric cancer(GC)and the underlying mechanisms.The differentially expressed miRNAs were firstly identified in serum exosomes of GC patients and healthy individuals using next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics.Next,the expression of serum exosomal miR-4256 was analyzed in GC cells and GC tissues,and the role of miR-4256 in GC was investigated by in vitro and in vivo experiments.Then,the effect of miR-4256 on its downstream target genes HDAC5/p16^(INK4a) was studied in GC cells,and the underlying mechanisms were evaluated using dual luciferase reporter assay and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation(ChIP).Additionally,the role of the miR-4256/HDAC5/p16^(INK4a) axis in GC was studied using in vitro and in vivo experiments.Finally,the upstream regulators SMAD2/p300 that regulate miR-4256 expression and their role in GC were explored using in vitro experiments.miR-4256 was the most significantly upregulated miRNA and was overexpressed in GC cell lines and GC tissues;in vitro and in vivo results showed that miR-4256 promoted GC growth and progression.Mechanistically,miR-4256 enhanced HDAC5 expression by targeting the promoter of the HDAC5 gene in GC cells,and then restrained the expression of p16^(INK4a) through the epigenetic modulation of HDAC5 at the p16INK4a promoter.Furthermore,miR-4256 overexpression was positively regulated by the SMAD2/p300 complex in GC cells.Our data indicate that miR-4256 functions as an oncogene in GC via the SMAD2/miR-4256/HDAC5/p16^(INK4a) axis,which participates in GC progression and provides novel therapeutic and prognostic biomarkers for GC.