Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42509749›Full record

ArticleBiomolecules2026

Targeting the hsa-miR-155-5p-BACH1-MMP-9 Signaling Hub in Lung Cancer: A Novel Anticancer Mechanism of Thymoquinone.

Yusuf Saleem Khan, Aisha Farhana, Alfatih Mohamed Ahmed Alnajib, Azharuddin Sajid Syed Khaja, Hatim Adam Nagi, Tarig Ginawi, Abuzar Abdulwahab Osman, Ayman Ali Mohammed Alameen, Emad Manni, Zafar Rasheed

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biomolecules, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yusuf Saleem KhanDepartment of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il 55476, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0001-8765-1428
Aisha FarhanaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0002-4631-2769
Alfatih Mohamed Ahmed AlnajibDepartment of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il 55476, Saudi Arabia.
Azharuddin Sajid Syed KhajaDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il 55476, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0003-1594-1826
Hatim Adam NagiDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il 55476, Saudi Arabia.
Tarig GinawiDepartment of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il 55476, Saudi Arabia.
Abuzar Abdulwahab OsmanDepartment of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il 55476, Saudi Arabia.
Ayman Ali Mohammed AlameenDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0002-8467-9692
Emad ManniDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia.
Zafar RasheedLTT-LabTech Training Centre, 28 Russell St, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8651-4218

Funding

University of Ha'il RG-25 012
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveLung cancer (LC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Thymoquinone (TQ), a bioactive compound derived from

methodsWe employed an integrated approach combining bioinformatic predictions with rigorous experimental validation in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells and SHP-77 human small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cells. Bioinformatic analyses predicted miRNA targets, and experimental techniques included dual-luciferase reporter assays, miRNA inhibition, TaqMan RT-qPCR, cell-based ELISA, and Western blotting to dissect the molecular pathway.

resultsWe identified the transcription factor BACH1 as a direct and novel target of hsa-miR-155-5p. TQ potently suppressed interferon-γ-induced expression of both hsa-miR-155-5p and its target, BACH1. This TQ-mediated suppression led to subsequent downregulation of the key metastasis-promoter Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Genetic inhibition of miR-155-5p or direct BACH1 inhibition phenocopied the effects of TQ, confirming the functional significance of this axis. Thus, we define a novel oncogenic signaling cascade-the hsa-miR-155-5p/BACH1/MMP-9 axis that is effectively disrupted by TQ.

conclusionsThis represents the first evidence that TQ exerts its anti-cancer effects in LC through the modulation of the critical signaling cascade (hsa-miR-155-5p → BACH1 → MMP-9). Our findings establish TQ as a multi-targeted agent capable of simultaneously inhibiting miRNA-mediated oncogenic signaling and protein-level effectors. The dual therapeutic action of TQ represents a novel therapeutic strategy and underscores its potential for synergistic combination therapies.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsBasic-Leucine Zipper Transcription FactorsBenzoquinonesLung NeoplasmsMatrix Metalloproteinase 9MicroRNAsA549 CellsCell Line, TumorGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansSignal TransductionAntineoplastic AgentsBACH1 protein, humanBasic-Leucine Zipper Transcription FactorsBenzoquinonesMatrix Metalloproteinase 9MicroRNAsMIRN155 microRNA, humanMMP9 protein, humanthymoquinoneBACH1inflammation mediatorslung neoplasmmicroRNA-155MMP-9natural compounds in cancer therapyneoplasm metastasisthymoquinone

Identifiers

PMID42509749
PMCPMC13406729

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.