Mesenchymal stem cell infusion for enhancing hematopoietic recovery and addressing cytopenias in CAR-T cell therapy

BACKGROUND

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for hematologic malignancies. However, cytopenia remains one of the most frequent and challenging adverse effects of this therapy.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 26 patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma who received CAR-T therapy at our center. Subsequently, to investigate measures to address cytopenias following CAR-T therapy, we isolated and generated murine CAR-T cells and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), establishing a murine syngeneic CAR-T therapy model. We assessed the impact of MSC infusion on hematopoietic recovery post-CAR-T therapy by evaluating complete blood count, bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells and their subpopulations, bone marrow histomorphology, and hematopoiesis-related genes.

RESULTS

All patients experienced cytopenias to varying degrees, with complete lineage involvement in half of the patients. Grade ≥ 3 cytopenias were observed in 88.46% of the patients. CAR-T therapy was associated with a higher incidence of biphasic, late-onset, or prolonged cytopenias. Survival analysis indicated that neutropenia and lymphopenia tended to be associated with better prognosis, whereas thrombocytopenia tended to be related to poorer outcomes. Through animal experiments, we discovered that MSCs infusion boosted HSCs and their long-term subpopulations, enhancing hematopoietic recovery, particularly in the megakaryocyte lineage, and mitigating bone marrow damage. Importantly, both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that MSCs did not compromise the activity or antitumor efficacy of CAR-T cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings propose MSCs infusion as a promising strategy to address cytopenias, particularly thrombocytopenia, after CAR-T therapy. This approach could help overcome certain limitations of cellular immunotherapy by enhancing hematopoietic recovery without compromising the efficacy of CAR-T cells.

HIGHLIGHTS

1 Cytopenia is a frequently observed adverse effect following CAR-T therapy, and it is often characterized by biphasic and prolonged patterns. 2 MSCs play a critical role in promoting hematopoietic recovery and mitigating bone marrow damage in a murine model of CAR-T therapy 3 The activity and antitumor efficacy of CAR-T cells were not impaired by MSCs.

Clinical relevance of long non-coding RNA in acute myeloid leukemia: A systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may function as prognostic biomarkers in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). However, it is still unknown exactly how significant lncRNAs are for the prognosis of AML. With a focus on their prognostic and therapeutic potential, the study aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the role of lncRNAs in AML.

METHOD

Pub Med, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Science Direct, Web of science, Scopus, and Google scholar were searched until November, 2023. Original publications of any type exploring the prognostic and therapeutic potential of lncRNAs in AML patients were included. Heterogeneity and publication bias were examined using the I2 test and a funnel plot, respectively. To quantify the relationship between various lncRNA expression in AML patient survival, odds ratios (ORs) or hazards ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled. Quality of studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Checklists for Studies created by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI).

RESULTS

Twenty-seven studies including 5665 subjects were selected for the final analysis. In patients with AML, abnormal lncRNA expression has been associated with significant worse overall survival (pooled HR = 2.05, 95 % CI = 1.79-2.30, P <0.001), shorter disease-free survival (pooled HR = 2.17, 95 % CI = 1.13-3.22, P< 0.001), and lower complete remission rate (pooled HR = 0.27, 95 % CI = 0.11-0.43, P< 0.001). Poor prognoses have been attributed to increased expression of HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR), Promoter Of CDKN1A Antisense DNA Damage Activated RNA (PANDAR), Metastasis Associated Lung Adenocarcinoma Transcript 1 (MALAT1), RP11-222K16.2, Taurine Upregulated Gene 1 (TUG1), Small Nucleolar RNA Host Gene 5 (SNHG5), Growth Arrest Specific 5 (GAS5), and H19 and decreased expression of IGF1R Antisense Imprinted Non-Protein Coding RNA (IRAIN).

CONCLUSION

The prognoses of AML patients are significantly associated with abnormally expressed lncRNAs, which may be used as prognostic indicators for predicting the patient outcomes.

The role of long noncoding RNAs in the diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic biomarkers of acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the abnormal proliferation of immature myeloid blast cells in the bone marrow. Currently, there are no universally recognized biomarkers for the early diagnosis, prognosis and effective treatment of AML to improve the overall survival of patients. Recent studies, however, have demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are promising targets for the early diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of AML. A critical review of available data would be important to identify study gaps and provide perspectives. In this review, we explored comprehensive information on the potential use of lncRNAs as targets for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of AML. LncRNAs are nonprotein-coding RNAs that are approximately 200 nucleotides long and play important roles in the regulation, metabolism and differentiation of tissues. In addition, they play important roles in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of different cancers, including AML. LncRNAs play multifaceted roles as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Recently, deregulated lncRNAs were identified as novel players in the development of AML, making them promising prognostic indicators. Given that lncRNAs could have potential diagnostic marker roles, the lack of sufficient evidence identifying specific lncRNAs expressed in specific cancers hampers the use of lncRNAs as diagnostic markers of AML. The complex roles of lncRNAs in the pathophysiology of AML require further scrutiny to identify specific lncRNAs. This review, despite the lack of sufficient literature, discusses the therapeutic, diagnostic and prognostic roles of lncRNAs in AML and provides future insights that will contribute to studies targeting lncRNAs in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of AML.

Surveillance and management of hepatocellular carcinoma after treatment of hepatitis C with direct-acting antiviral drugs

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) belongs to the Flaviviridae family, and is a single-stranded RNA virus with positive polarity. It is the primary cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. The treatment of HCV has entered a new era with the advent of direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) and is associated with cure rates of more than 95%, making HCV the only curable viral disease. The successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C has greatly reduced, but not eliminated, the risk of HCC. Certain individuals, especially those with cirrhosis already present, remain vulnerable to HCC after achieving a sustained virological response (SVR). This article systematically reviews the recent studies on the risk and mechanisms of HCC development after HCV viral cure, the screening and predictive value of biological markers, and patient surveillance. Factors such as older age, diabetes, hepatic fat accumulation, alcohol use, and lack of fibrosis reversal are linked to increased HCC risk after HCV cure. The mechanism of HCC development after DAAs treatment remains unclear, but the possible mechanisms include immune cell dysfunction during HCV infection, cytokine network imbalance, epigenetic alterations, and host factors. Several biological markers and risk prediction models have been used to monitor the risk of HCC in CHC patients who have achieved SVR, but most still require validation and standardization. The implementation of risk-stratified surveillance programs is becoming urgent from a cost-effective point of view, but the availability of validated biomarkers to predict HCC in cured patients remains an unmet clinical need. Additionally, managing CHC patients who achieve SVR is becoming a growing challenge as an increasing number of HCV patients are cured.

microRNA-106b-5p and Rab10: Potential Markers of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

This study focuses on acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a condition with a 5-year survival rate below 30% despite various treatment options. Recent strides in targeted therapies have shown promise, leading to better outcomes with minimal toxicity. These advances underscore the importance of discovering new diagnostic and prognostic targets for AML. In this context, the authors investigated the expression of microRNA-106b-5p (miR-106b-5p), Rab10 mRNA, and Rab10 proteins in peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM) samples from both healthy individuals and AML patients at different stages of the disease (initial diagnosis, recurrence, and complete remission). This examination aimed to identify potential biomarkers for AML diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. From June 2021 to December 2022, they collected 100 BM and peripheral blood samples. The relative expression of miR-106b-5p and Rab10 mRNA in the BM of AML patients was measured using Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), while the relative expression of Rab10 protein in serum was determined using the ELISA method. The chromosomal karyotype of initially diagnosed patients was analyzed using the R tape. The qRT-PCR results revealed that the expression of miR-106b-5p and Rab10 mRNA were significantly higher in patients at initial diagnosis and recurrence compared with healthy individuals and those in complete remission (p < 0.001). They observed a significant reduction in the expression of miR-106b-5p, Rab10 mRNA, and Rab10 protein in the BM and peripheral blood of patients during complete remission (p < 0.05), as demonstrated by dynamic monitoring of five patients in the initial group. Furthermore, they found a close association between the expression of miR-106b-5p and the number of white blood cells at the initial diagnosis in AML patients (p < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation among miR-106b-5p, Rab10 mRNA, and Rab10 proteins (p < 0.05). The diagnostic potential of miR-106b-5p and Rab10 proteins was underscored by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, which demonstrated their high accuracy in AML diagnosis (AUC: 0.944 and 0.853, respectively; p < 0.0001). Additionally, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested that lower expression of these markers was associated with better prognoses (p < 0.05). In summary, their findings propose miR-106b-5p and Rab10 proteins as promising biomarkers for AML, offering insights for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Carvacrol inhibits the progression of oral submucous fibrosis via downregulation of PVT1/miR-20a-5p-mediated pyroptosis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a precancerous condition in the oral cavity, which is closely related to the myofibroblast conversion of buccal mucosal fibroblasts (BMFs) after chronic consumption of areca nut. Emerging evidence suggests pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death that is mediated by inflammasome, is implicated in persistent myofibroblast activation and fibrosis. Besides, numerous studies have demonstrated the effects of non-coding RNAs on pyroptosis and myofibroblast activities. Herein, we aimed to target key long non-coding RNA PVT1 with natural compound, carvacrol, to alleviate pyroptosis and myofibroblast activation in OSF. We first identified PVT1 was downregulated in the carvacrol-treated fBMFs and then demonstrated that myofibroblast features and expression of pyroptosis makers were all reduced in response to carvacrol treatment. Subsequently, we analysed the expression of PVT1 and found that PVT1 was aberrantly upregulated in OSF specimens and positively correlated with several fibrosis markers. After revealing the suppressive effects of carvacrol on myofibroblast characterisitcs and pyroptosis were mediated by repression of PVT1, we then explored the potential mechanisms. Our data showed that PVT1 may serve as a sponge of microRNA(miR)-20a to mitigate the myofibroblast activation and pyroptosis. Altogether, these findings indicated that the anti-fibrosis effects of carvacrol merit consideration and may be due to the attenuation of pyroptosis and myofibroblast activation by targeting the PVT1/miR-20a axis.

Value of the HOTAIR expression assay in predicting therapy target in hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis and bioinformatics analysis

BACKGROUND

Several studies show that the long non-coding RNA HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) was upregulated in human cancer, which was associated with several clinical features and may have the potential to be prognostic markers. However, the significance of HOTAIR in hepatocellular carcinoma remains unclear. We performed a meta-analysis and bioanalysis to further investigate the association between HOTAIR and hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

Eligible literature was systematically retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. The pooled hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to evaluate to the effect. Raw data on HOTAIR expression were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas data portals. All bioinformatics analyses were performed using R software (version 4.3.1).

RESULTS

We identified eight studies in this meta-analysis with a total of 399 patients. High-level HOTAIR expression was found to be significantly related to advanced tumor node metastasis stage, distant metastasis, poor tumor differentiation, and patients with hepatitis. Correspondingly, HOTAIR was also associated with poor overall survival and relapse-free survival. Subsequently, in bioanalysis, HOTAIR expression was higher in hepatocellular carcinoma as well as poor overall survival. High HOTAIR expression was strongly correlated with tumor node metastasis stage. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes related to HOTAIR may be involved in the cancer-associated signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

HOTAIR may be a potential biomarker for HCC prediction and is expected to become a new choice for clinical HCC prediction..

Advances in CRISPR-Cas systems for blood cancer

CRISPR-Cas systems have revolutionised precision medicine by enabling personalised treatments tailored to an individual's genetic profile. Various CRISPR technologies have been developed to target specific disease-causing genes in blood cancers, and some have advanced to clinical trials. Although some studies have explored the in vivo applications of CRISPR-Cas systems, several challenges continue to impede their widespread use. Furthermore, CRISPR-Cas technology has shown promise in improving the response of immunotherapies to blood cancers. The emergence of CAR-T cell therapy has shown considerable success in the targeting and correcting of disease-causing genes in blood cancers. Despite the promising potential of CRISPR-Cas in the treatment of blood cancers, issues related to safety, ethics, and regulatory approval remain significant hurdles. This comprehensive review highlights the transformative potential of CRISPR-Cas technology to revolutionise blood cancer therapy.

Temporal trends in prevalence of liver cancer and etiology-specific liver cancer from 1990 to 2019

BACKGROUND

Liver cancer (LC) remains a major cause of cancer death worldwide. Grasping prevalence trends is key to informing strategies for control and prevention. We analyzed the global, regional and national trends in LC prevalence and its major causes from 1990 to 2019.

METHODS

We obtained LC age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) estimates from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019 and assessed trends using Joinpoint regression. LC cases were categorized into those due to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcohol use, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and other causes.

RESULTS

While the ASPR of LC has shown a global decrease, there are specific regions where an increase in ASPR has been observed, with the highest rates in America. HBV remained the leading cause of LC (41.45 %) but significant increases occurred for HCV, alcohol use and NASH. Prevalence correlated with socioeconomic development. High-income countries had higher LC rates from HCV and alcohol but lower HBV-related LC. In high-income nations, LC prevalence climbs; the converse holds in middle- and low-income countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a global ASPR decrease, LC due to HCV, NASH, and alcohol is rising. Prevention strategies must prioritize HBV vaccination, HCV treatment, and alcohol regulation.

IMPACT

The study informs targeted LC control policies and emphasizes the importance of continued monitoring and regional cooperation to combat LC.

Identification of circulating microRNA-126-3p as a new biomarker for coronary artery calcification

Objective

Several circulating microRNAs, including microRNA-126-3p, have been identified as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of cardiovascular disease. However, whether microRNA-126-3p is an independent risk predictor for coronary artery calcification is unclear.

Methods

In this prospective single-center study, we collected blood samples from coronary artery atherosclerosis patients (n = 54), patients with coronary artery calcification (n = 33) and controls (n = 56). Total RNA was extracted from plasma and blood cells with TRIzol reagents. The microRNA-126-3p level was determined via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results

MicroRNA-126-3p levels were significantly increased in patients with coronary artery calcification than in coronary artery atherosclerosis patients or controls. The highest expression of microRNA-126-3p was observed in patients with moderate calcification who were diagnosed with Grade 2 calcification by coronary angiography. Age, microRNA-126-3p expression in veins, hypertension and diabetes significantly influence the occurrence of coronary artery calcification, among which diabetes and venous microRNA-126-3p expression were found to be independent risk factors for coronary artery calcification.

Conclusions

Taken together, the data in this study suggest that circulating microRNA-126-3p may be a novel noninvasive biomarker for coronary artery calcification. Regulating microRNA-126-3p expression may be an effective and promising strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery calcification.

β-sitosterol alleviates atherosclerosis by regulating catalase

The aim of this study is to investigate the main active components of Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) on atherosclerosis and its mechanism of action. Bioinformatics analysis showed that β-sitosterol was the most likely active ingredient to mediate the anti-atherosclerotic effects. In vivo experiments showed that β-sitosterol inhibited plaque formation and platelet activation, and decreased serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels. In vitro experiments showed that β-sitosterol can inhibit lipid deposition and phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, knocking down catalase (CAT), the direct target of β-sitosterol, not only promoted lipid deposition and phenotypic transformation of VSMCs, but also activated the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and the mTOR inhibitor (ink-128) can eliminate the effect of CAT knockdown, suggesting that β-sitosterol may inhibit lipid deposition and phenotypic transformation of VSMCs by activating CAT and silencing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby alleviating atherosclerosis.

miR-223-5p serves as a diagnostic biomarker for acute coronary syndrome and its predictive value for the clinical outcome after PCI

BACKGROUND

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a serious cardiovascular disease that severely affects the quality of life and longevity of patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in the progression of ACS with significant clinical value. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical value of miR-223-5p in ACS and on the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

The plasma expression of miR-223-5p was detected by RT-qPCR. The correlation of miR-223-5p and cTnI or Gensini score was shown by the Pearson method. Risk factors for the development of ACS were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. The efficacy of miR-223-5p in identifying patients with ACS was shown by ROC curve. The predictive value of miR-223-5p for MACE development in ACS patients within 6 months after PCI was assessed by Kaplan-Meier curve and multivariate Cox regression.

RESULTS

miR-223-5p levels were markedly elevated in ACS patients. miR-223-5p was found to be positively related to cTnI or Gensini score. miR-223-5p was a risk factor for ACS and significantly identified patients with ACS. MACE was more likely to occur after PCI in patients with high miR-223-5p levels, and miR-223-5p was an independent prognostic indicator of MACE.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-223-5p had diagnostic value for ACS and predicted MACE after PCI.

Genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screening in stem cells: theories, applications and challenges

Due to the rapid development of stem cell technology, there have been tremendous advances in molecular biological and pathological research, cell therapy as well as organoid technologies over the past decades. Advances in genome editing technology, particularly the discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-related protein 9 (Cas9), have further facilitated the rapid development of stem cell researches. The CRISPR-Cas9 technology now goes beyond creating single gene editing to enable the inhibition or activation of endogenous gene loci by fusing inhibitory (CRISPRi) or activating (CRISPRa) domains with deactivated Cas9 proteins (dCas9). These tools have been utilized in genome-scale CRISPRi/a screen to recognize hereditary modifiers that are synergistic or opposing to malady mutations in an orderly and fair manner, thereby identifying illness mechanisms and discovering novel restorative targets to accelerate medicinal discovery investigation. However, the application of this technique is still relatively rare in stem cell research. There are numerous specialized challenges in applying large-scale useful genomics approaches to differentiated stem cell populations. Here, we present the first comprehensive review on CRISPR-based functional genomics screening in the field of stem cells, as well as practical considerations implemented in a range of scenarios, and exploration of the insights of CRISPR-based screen into cell fates, disease mechanisms and cell treatments in stem cell models. This review will broadly benefit scientists, engineers and medical practitioners in the areas of stem cell research.

Mapping the landscape: a bibliometric study of global chimeric antigen receptor T cell immunotherapy research

The rise of immunotherapy provided new approaches to cancer treatment. We aimed to describe the contribution of chimeric antigen receptor T cell immunotherapy to future prospects. We analyzed 8035 articles from the Web of Science Core Collection with CiteSpace that covered with various aspects with countries, institutions, authors, co-cited authors, journals, keywords, and references. The USA was the most prolific country, with the University of Pennsylvania being the most published institution. Among individual authors, June Carl H published the most articles, while Maude SL was the most frequently co-cited author. "Blood" emerged as the most cited journal. Keyword clustering revealed six core themes: "Expression," "Chimeric Antigen Receptor," "Tumor Microenvironment," "Blinatumomab," "Multiple Myeloma," and "Cytokine Release Syndrome." In the process of researching the timeline chart of keywords and references, "Large B-cell lymphoma" was located on the right side of the timeline. In the keyword prominence analysis, we found that the keywords "biomarkers," "pd-1," "antibody drug conjugate," "BCMA," and "chimeric antigen" had high explosive intensity in the recent past. We found that in terms of related diseases, "large B-cell lymphoma" and "cytokine release syndrome" are still difficult problems in the future. In the study of therapeutic methods, "BCMA," "PD-1," "chimeric antigen," and "antibody drug conjugate" deserve more attention from researchers in the future.

Identification of two key biomarkers CD93 and FGL2 associated with survival of acute myeloid leukaemia by weighted gene co-expression network analysis

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a biologically heterogeneous haematological malignancy. This study was performed to identify the potential biomarkers for the prognosis and treatment of AML. We applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify key modules and hub genes related to the prognosis of AML using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). In total, 1581 differentially expressed genes (1096 upregulated and 485 downregulated) were identified between AML patients and healthy controls, with the blue module being the most significant among 14 modules associated with AML morphology. Through functional enrichment analysis, we identified 217 genes in the blue module significantly enriched in 'neutrophil degranulation' and 'neutrophil activation involved in immune response' pathways. The survival analysis revealed six genes (S100A9, S100A8, HK3, CD93, CXCR2 and FGL2) located in the significantly enriched pathway that were notably related to AML survival. We validated the expression of these six genes at gene and single-cell levels and identified methylation loci of each gene, except for S100A8. Finally, in vitro experiments were performed to demonstrate whether the identified hub genes were associated with AML survival. After knockdown of CD93 and FGL2, cell proliferation was significantly reduced in U937 cell line over 5 days. In summary, we identified CD93 and FGL2 as key hub genes related to AML survival, with FGL2 being a novel biomarker for the prognosis and treatment of AML.

Modulating the Expression of Exercise-induced lncRNAs: Implications for Cardiovascular Disease Progression

Recent research shows exercise is good for heart health, emphasizing the importance of physical activity. Sedentary behavior increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, while exercise can help prevent and treat it. Additionally, physical exercise can modulate the expression of lncRNAs, influencing cardiovascular disease progression. Therefore, understanding this relationship could help identify prospective biomarkers and therapeutic targets pertaining to cardiovascular ailments. This review has underscored recent advancements concerning the potential biomarkers of lncRNAs in cardiovascular diseases, while also summarizing existing knowledge regarding dysregulated lncRNAs and their plausible molecular mechanisms. Additionally, we have contributed novel perspectives on the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs, which hold promise as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cardiovascular conditions. The knowledge imparted in this review may prove valuable in guiding the design of future investigations and furthering the understanding of lncRNAs as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases.

The involvement of circulating miR-146a and miR-27a in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease after SARS-CoV-2 infection

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a group of clinical diseases based on pathology of atherosclerosis that is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. There is a bidirectional interaction between ASCVD and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Alterations in circulating miRNAs levels are involved in the development of ASCVD in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, however, the correlation between ASCVD co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 and alterations of cardiac-specific miRNAs is not well understood.

HYPOTHESIS

The circulating miR-146a and miR-27a are involved in bidirectional interactions between ASCVD and SARS-CoV-2 infections.

METHODS

Circulating miR-146a and miR-27a levels were measured in serum and PBMCs deriving from ASCVD patients and controls after SARS-CoV-2 infection by qRT-PCR analysis. The levels of neutralizing antibodies-resistant SARS-CoV-2 in human serum was determined by competitive magnetic particle chemiluminescence method. Interleukin (IL)-6 levels were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer using electrochemiluminescence.

RESULTS

Significant downregulation of circulating miR-146a and upregulation of miR-27a in ASCVD patients after infection with SARS-CoV-2 compared with controls were observed, among which the alterations were more evident in ASCVD patients comorbid with hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus. Consistently, correlation analysis revealed that serum miR-146a and miR-27a levels were associated with the levels of lipids and glucose, inflammatory response, and immune function in ASCVD patients. Remarkably, SARS-CoV-2 S protein RBD stimulation of PBMCs derived from both ASCVD and controls significantly downregulated miR-146a, upregulated miR-27a expression levels, and promoted IL-6 release in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

The circulating miR-146a and miR-27a are involved in metabolism, inflammation, and immune levels in patients with ASCVD after SARS-CoV-2 infection, laying the foundation for the development of strategies to prevent the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in ASCVD patients.

CRISPR-Cas9 system: a novel and promising era of genotherapy for beta-hemoglobinopathies, hematological malignancy, and hemophilia

Gene therapy represents a significant potential to revolutionize the field of hematology with applications in correcting genetic mutations, generating cell lines and animal models, and improving the feasibility and efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Compared to different genetic engineering tools, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) emerged as an effective and versatile genetic editor with the ability to precisely modify the genome. The applications of genetic engineering in various hematological disorders have shown encouraging results. Monogenic hematological disorders can conceivably be corrected with single gene modification. Through the use of CRISPR-CAS9, restoration of functional red blood cells and hemostasis factors were successfully attained in sickle cell anemia, beta-thalassemia, and hemophilia disorders. Our understanding of hemato-oncology has been advanced via CRIPSR-CAS9 technology. CRISPR-CAS9 aided to build a platform of mutated genes responsible for cell survival and proliferation in leukemia. Therapeutic application of CRISPR-CAS9 when combined with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in multiple myeloma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia was feasible with attenuation of CAR T cell therapy pitfalls. Our review outlines the latest literature on the utilization of CRISPR-Cas9 in the treatment of beta-hemoglobinopathies and hemophilia disorders. We present the strategies that were employed and the findings of preclinical and clinical trials. Also, the review will discuss gene engineering in the field of hemato-oncology as a proper tool to facilitate and overcome the drawbacks of chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T).

Non-Coding Ribonucleic Acids as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets in Cardiac Fibrosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cardiac fibrosis is a crucial juncture following cardiac injury and a precursor for many clinical heart disease manifestations. Epigenetic modulators, particularly non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are gaining prominence as diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

RECENT FINDINGS

miRNAs are short linear RNA molecules involved in post-transcriptional regulation; lncRNAs and circRNAs are RNA sequences greater than 200 nucleotides that also play roles in regulating gene expression through a variety of mechanisms including miRNA sponging, direct interaction with mRNA, providing protein scaffolding, and encoding their own products. NcRNAs have the capacity to regulate one another and form sophisticated regulatory networks. The individual roles and disease relevance of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs to cardiac fibrosis have been increasingly well described, though the complexity of their interrelationships, regulatory dynamics, and context-specific roles needs further elucidation. This review provides an overview of select ncRNAs relevant in cardiac fibrosis as a surrogate for many cardiac disease states with a focus on crosstalk and regulatory networks, variable actions among different disease states, and the clinical implications thereof. Further, the clinical feasibility of diagnostic and therapeutic applications as well as the strategies underway to advance ncRNA theranostics is explored.

Long noncoding RNA TUG1 promotes cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer via upregulation of DNA polymerase eta

Chemoresistance is a major cause of high mortality and poor survival in patients with ovarian cancer (OVCA). Understanding the mechanisms of chemoresistance is urgently required to develop effective therapeutic approaches to OVCA. Here, we show that expression of the long noncoding RNA, taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1), is markedly upregulated in samples from OVCA patients who developed resistance to primary platinum-based therapy. Depletion of TUG1 increased sensitivity to cisplatin in the OVCA cell lines, SKOV3 and KURAMOCHI. Combination therapy of cisplatin with antisense oligonucleotides targeting TUG1 coupled with a drug delivery system effectively relieved the tumor burden in xenograft mouse models. Mechanistically, TUG1 acts as a competing endogenous RNA by downregulating miR-4687-3p and miR-6088, both of which target DNA polymerase eta (POLH), an enzyme required for translesion DNA synthesis. Overexpression of POLH reversed the effect of TUG1 depletion on cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity. Our data suggest that TUG1 upregulation allows OVCA to tolerate DNA damage via upregulation of POLH; this provides a strong rationale for targeting TUG1 to overcome cisplatin resistance in OVCA.

Long noncoding RNAs and their possible roles in tumorigenesis and drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy

Cancer is still one of the most important diseases that have a high mortality rate around the world. The management of cancer involves many procedures, which include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy is considered one of the most important problems in clinical oncology. A good understanding of the tumorigenesis process and the mechanisms of developing chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells will help achieve significant advances in cancer treatment protocols. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). LncRNAs are no longer just a transcriptional noise, and many investigations proved their possible roles in regulating mandatory cellular functions. A lot of newly published studies confirmed the implication of lncRNAs in the tumor formation process and the multiple drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy. The main aim of this review is to focus on the lncRNAs' functions in the cell, their possible roles in the tumor formation process, and their roles in the development of chemotherapy resistance in different cancer cells.

Long noncoding RNA expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A systematic review

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), as gene expression modulators, are potential players in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) pathogenesis. We systematically explored current literature on lncRNA expression in ALL to identify lncRNAs consistently reported as differentially expressed (DE) either in ALL versus controls or between ALL subtypes. By comparing articles that provided global expression data for DE lncRNAs in the ETV6::RUNX1-positive ALL subtype, we identified four DE lncRNAs in three independent studies (two versus other subtypes and one versus controls), showing concordant expression of LINC01013, CRNDE and lnc-KLF7-1. Additionally, LINC01503 was consistently downregulated on ALL versus controls. Within RT-qPCR studies, twelve lncRNA were DE in more than one source. Thus, several lncRNAs were supported as DE in ALL by multiple sources, highlighting their potential role as candidate biomarkers or therapeutic targets. Finally, as lncRNA annotation is rapidly expanding, standardization of reporting and nomenclature is urgently needed to improve data verifiability and compilation.

Extracellular Vesicles Contribute to Viral-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Understanding Their Involvement in Viral Hepatitis and Their Potential as Biomarkers for Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma Detection

The high global prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C and the poor prognosis of hepatitis B and hepatitis C-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), necessitates the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Recent studies show that cell-to-cell communication via extracellular vesicles (EVs) is involved in the HCC progression. The objective of the following study was to explore the role of EVs in the progression of viral-induced HCC and investigate their potential for the early diagnosis of cancer. First, the mRNA derived from EVs of HCC patients was compared to the mRNA derived from EVs from the healthy controls. Expression analysis of ANGPTL3, SH3BGRL3, and IFITM3 genes from the EVs was done. Afterward, to confirm whether hepatocytes can uptake EVs, HuH7 cells were exposed to EVs, and the expression analysis of downstream target genes (AKT, TNF-α, and MMP-9) in Huh7 cells was done. Transcriptional analysis showed that in the EVs from HCC patients, the expression levels of ANGPTL3, SH3BGRL3, and IFITM3 were significantly increased by 2.62-, 4.3-, and 9.03-folds, respectively. The downstream targets, AKT, TNF-α, and MMP-9, also showed a considerable change of 4.1-, 1.46-, and 5.05-folds, respectively, in Huh7 cells exposed to HCC EVs. In conclusion, the following study corroborates the role of EVs in HCC progression. Furthermore, the significant alteration in mRNA levels of the selected genes demonstrates their potential to be used as possible biomarkers for the early diagnosis of HCC.

Intelligent structure prediction and visualization analysis of non-coding RNA in osteosarcoma research

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common bone malignant tumor in children and adolescents. Recent research indicates that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been associated with OS occurrence and development, with significant progress made in this field. However, there is no intelligent structure prediction and literature visualization analysis in this research field. From the perspective of intelligent knowledge structure construction and bibliometrics, this study will comprehensively review the role of countries, institutions, journals, authors, literature citation relationships and subject keywords in the field of ncRNAs in OS. Based on this analysis, we will systematically analyze the characteristics of the knowledge structure of ncRNAs in OS disease research and identify the current research hotspots and trends.

Methods

The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database was searched for articles on ncRNAs in OS between 2001 and 2023. This bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewers, CiteSpace, and Pajek.

Results

This study involved 15,631 authors from 2,631 institutions across 57 countries/regions, with a total of 3,642 papers published in 553 academic journals. China has the highest number of published papers in this research field. The main research institutions include Nanjing Medical University (n = 129, 3.54%), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (n = 128, 3.51%), Zhengzhou University (n = 110, 3.02%), and China Medical University (n = 109, 2.99%). Oncology Letters (n =139, 3.82%), European Review for Medical Pharmacological Sciences (120, 3.31%), and Molecular Medicine Reports (n = 95, 2.61%) are the most popular journals in this field, with Oncotarget being the most co-cited journal (Co-Citation = 4,268). Wei Wang, Wei Liu, and Zhenfeng Duan published the most papers, with Wang Y being the most co-cited author. "miRNA", "lncRNA" and "circRNA" are the main focuses of ncRNAs in OS studies. Key themes include "migration and invasion", "apoptosis and proliferation", "prognosis", "biomarkers" and "chemoresistance". Since 2020, hotspots and trends in ncRNA research in OS include "tumor microenvironment", "immune" and "exosome".

Conclusion

This study represents the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the knowledge structure and development of ncRNAs in OS. These findings highlight current research hotspots and frontier directions, offering valuable insights for future studies on the role of ncRNAs in OS.

Molecular Insights of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Pathogenesis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now the most prevalent chronic liver disease. Many hepatic abnormalities are associated with NAFLD such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. Moreover, the pathogenesis of NAFLD has numerous etiologies and can be explained due to the existence of several of stimulus that act simultaneously on genetically susceptible patients. These stimuli include obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance. In addition, identifying the role of gut microbiota on NAFLD progression has been illustrated. In this review, we clarified the several factors that lead to the development of NAFLD and identify those who are most at risk of developing liver end-stage disease. Highlighting the noninvasive diagnostic NAFLD markers could be helpful in the disease prevention and treatment approaches.

Novel lncRNAs LINC01221, RP11-472G21.2 and CRNDE are markers of differential expression in pediatric patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

INTRODUCTION

Pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) poses significant challenges due to its aggressive nature and resistance to standard treatments. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in leukemia. This study aims to characterize the lncRNA landscape in pediatric T-ALL, identify specific lncRNAs signatures, and assess their clinical relevance.

METHODS

RNA sequencing was performed on T-ALL patient and control samples. Differential expression analysis identified dysregulated lncRNAs and mRNAs. Functional enrichment analysis revealed potential roles of these lncRNAs in cancer pathogenesis. Validation of candidate lncRNAs was conducted using real-time PCR. Clinical correlations were assessed, including associations with patients' clinical characteristics and survival outcomes.

RESULTS

Analysis identified 674 dysregulated lncRNAs in pediatric T-ALL, with LINC01221 and CRNDE showing the most interactions in cancer progression pathways. Functional enrichment indicated involvement in apoptosis, survival, proliferation, and metastasis. Top 10 lncRNAs based on adjusted p value < 0.05 and Fold Change > 2 were selected for validation. Seven lncRNAs LINC01221, PCAT18, LINC00977, RP11-620J15.3, RP11-472G21.2, CTD-2291D10.4, and CRNDE showed correlation with RNA sequencing data. RP11-472G21.2 and CTD-2291D10.4 were highly expressed in T-ALL patients, with RP11-620J15.3 correlating significantly with better overall survival (p = 0.0007) at a median follow up of 32 months. The identified lncRNAs were further analysed in B-ALL patients. Distinct lncRNAs signatures were noted, distinguishing T-ALL from B-ALL and healthy controls, with lineage-specific overexpression of LINC01221 (p < 0.0001), RP11-472G21.2 (p < 0.001) and CRNDE (p = 0.04) in T-ALL.

CONCLUSION

This study provides insights into the lncRNA landscape of pediatric T-ALL, offering potential diagnostic and prognostic markers. RP11-620J15.3 emerges as a promising prognostic marker, and distinct lncRNAs signatures may aid in the differentiation of T-ALL subtypes. Further research with larger cohorts is warranted to validate these findings and advance personalized treatment strategies for pediatric T-ALL patients.

Pharmacogenetic study of phosphatase and tensin homolog polymorphism (rs701848) in childhood epilepsy: relation to circulating Wnt signaling

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed at evaluating the potential contribution of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN) and its gene polymorphism (PTEN rs701848 T/C) in relation to Wingless/integrase-1 (Wnt) signaling in childhood epilepsy and the impact of antiepileptic medications on their serum levels.

METHODS

This study included 100 children with epilepsy (50 pharmacoresistant and 50 pharmacoresponsive) and 50 matched controls. All subjects had their genotypes for the PTEN rs701848T/C polymorphism assessed using TaqManTM assays and real-time PCR. By using the sandwich ELISA technique, the blood concentrations of PTEN and Wnt3a were measured.

RESULTS

Serum Wnt3a levels in epileptic patients were significantly higher than in the control group, p < 0.001. Children with epilepsy who received oxcarbazepine had considerably lower serum Wnt3a levels than those who didn't, p < 0.001.With an AUC of 0.71, the cutoff value for diagnosing epilepsy as serum Wnt3a > 6.2 ng/mL has a sensitivity of 55% and a specificity of 80%. When compared to controls, epileptic children had considerably more (TT) genotype and less (TC and CC) genotypes, p < 0.05 for all. Epileptic children had significantly higher (T) allele frequency than controls, p = 0.006 with OR (95%CI) = 1.962(1.206-3.192). Pharmacoresistant epileptic children had significantly higher (TT) genotype compared to pharmacoresponsive type (p = 0.020).

CONCLUSION

We originally found a strong association between PTEN rs701848 T/C and childhood epilepsy, in particular pharmacoresistant type. Serum Wnt3a levels increased in epilepsy, but were not significantly different between different alleles of PTEN. In pharmaco-responsive children Wnt3a levels differed significantly between the different PTEN genotypes. Antiepileptics may affect Wnt3a levels.

The Role of Long Noncoding RNAs in Progression of Leukemia: Based on Chromosomal Location

Long non-coding RNA [LncRNA] dysregulation has been seen in many human cancers, including several kinds of leukemia, which is still a fatal disease with a poor prognosis. LncRNAs have been demonstrated to function as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in leukemia. This study covers current research findings on the role of lncRNAs in the prognosis and diagnosis of leukemia. Based on recent results, several lncRNAs are emerging as biomarkers for the prognosis, diagnosis, and even treatment outcome prediction of leukemia and have been shown to play critical roles in controlling leukemia cell activities, such as proliferation, cell death, metastasis, and drug resistance. As a result, lncRNA profiles may have superior predictive and diagnostic potential in leukemia. Accordingly, this review concentrates on the significance of lncRNAs in leukemia progression based on their chromosomal position.

Long Non-Coding RNAs: Bridging Cancer-Associated Thrombosis and Clinical Outcome of Ovarian Cancer Patients

Ovarian cancer (OC) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) have a close relationship, in which tumour cells surpass the haemostatic system to drive cancer progression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in VTE pathogenesis, yet their roles in cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) and their prognostic value are unexplored. Understanding how these lncRNAs influence venous thrombogenesis and ovarian tumorigenesis may lead to the identification of valuable biomarkers for VTE and OC management. Thus, this study evaluated the impact of five lncRNAs, namely MALAT1, TUG1, NEAT1, XIST and MEG8, on a cohort of 40 OC patients. Patients who developed VTE after OC diagnosis had worse overall survival compared to their counterparts (log-rank test, p = 0.028). Elevated pre-chemotherapy MEG8 levels in peripheral blood cells (PBCs) predicted VTE after OC diagnosis (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.037; Χ2 test, p = 0.033). In opposition, its low levels were linked to a higher risk of OC progression (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 3.00; p = 0.039). Furthermore, low pre-chemotherapy NEAT1 levels in PBCs were associated with a higher risk of death (aHR = 6.25; p = 0.008). As for the remaining lncRNAs, no significant association with VTE incidence, OC progression or related mortality was observed. Future investigation with external validation in larger cohorts is needed to dissect the implications of the evaluated lncRNAs in OC patients.

MicroRNA-specific therapeutic targets and biomarkers of apoptosis following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

MicroRNAs are single-stranded non-coding RNAs that participate in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, it is involved in the regulation of apoptosis after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. For example, the alteration of mitochondrial structure is facilitated by MicroRNA-1 through the regulation of apoptosis-related proteins, such as Bax and Bcl-2, thereby mitigating cardiomyocyte apoptosis. MicroRNA-21 not only modulates the expression of NF-κB to suppress inflammatory signals but also activates the PI3K/AKT pathway to mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury. Overexpression of MicroRNA-133 attenuates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and suppressed the oxidative stress response, thereby mitigating cellular apoptosis. MicroRNA-139 modulates the extrinsic death signal of Fas, while MicroRNA-145 regulates endoplasmic reticulum calcium overload, both of which exert regulatory effects on cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Therefore, the article categorizes the molecular mechanisms based on the three classical pathways and multiple signaling pathways of apoptosis. It summarizes the targets and pathways of MicroRNA therapy for ischemia-reperfusion injury and analyzes future research directions.

Knockdown of Mmu-circ-0001380 Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via Modulating miR-106b-5p/Phlpp2 Axis

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury induces myocardial damage and dysfunction. Increasing evidence has confirmed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating MI/R. Mmu-circ-0001380 has identified to be highly expressed in myocardium of MI/R mouse model. However, its biological function and molecular mechanism in MI/R injury are still unclear. Here, we demonstrated that knockdown of cric-0001380 attenuated myocardial injury of MI/R mice. In vitro, silence of circ-0001380 significantly enhanced viability, and inhibited apoptosis and oxidative stress in HL-1 cells under oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). Mmu-miR-106b-5p interacted with circ-0001380, and suppressed the expression of pleckstrin homology domain and leucine rich repeat protein phosphatase 2 (Phlpp2). The miR-106b-5p/Phlpp2 axis mediated the effect of circ-0001380 on OGD/R-induced apoptosis through regulating the phosphorylation of p38, and further involved in regulating the viability and oxidative stress of HL-1 cells. In conclusion, circ-0001380 downregulation relieves MI/R injury via regulating the miR-106b-5p/Phlpp2 axis. The present study indicates that mmu-circ-0001380 exacerbates the myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through modulating the miR-106b-5p/Phlpp2 axis in vitro and in vivo.

PARP-1 inhibits DNMT1-mediated promoter methylation and promotes linc01132 expression in benzene-exposed workers and hydroquinone-induced malignant transformed cells

Hydroquinone (HQ), one of the main active metabolites of benzene, can induce the abnormal expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). Studies have shown that lncRNA plays an important role in the occurrence of hematologic tumors induced by benzene or HQ. However, the molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase 1 (PARP-1) interacts with DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) to regulate promoter methylation mediated linc01132 expression in HQ-induced TK6 malignant transformed cells (HQ-MT). The results revealed that the expression of linc01132 was increased in benzene-exposed workers and HQ-MT cells. The methylation of linc01132 promoter region was inhibited. Furthermore, in HQ-MT cells treated with 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AzaC) (DNA methyltransferase inhibitor) or trichostatin A (TSA) (histone deacetylation inhibitor), the expression of linc01132 was increased due to the regulation of DNA promoter methylation level by inhibiting DNMT1 expression. The methylation level of linc01132 promoter was correlated negatively with the expression of linc01132 in benzene-exposed workers, indicating that DNA methylation may contribute the expression of linc01132. Knockout of DNMT1, not DNMT3b, increased the expression of linc01132 as well as the demethylation of linc01132 promoter in HQ-MT cells. It was found that by knockdown PARP-1, the expression of DNMT1 in the nucleus was increased by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, leading to the inhibition of hypermethylation in the promoter region of linc01132. Therefore, PARP-1 inhibits DNA methyltransferase (DNMT)-mediated promoter methylation and plays a role in linc01132 expression in benzene-exposed workers or HQ-MT cells, and is associated with benzene or HQ induced leukemia progression.

Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis Confirms the Diagnostic Value of Nourin-Dependent miR-137 and miR-106b in Unstable Angina Patients

The challenge of rapidly diagnosing myocardial ischemia in unstable angina (UA) patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) is due to a lack of sensitive blood biomarkers. This has prompted an investigation into microRNAs (miRNAs) related to cardiac-derived Nourin for potential diagnostic application. The Nourin protein is rapidly expressed in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (UA and acute myocardial infarction (AMI)). MicroRNAs regulate gene expression through mRNA binding and, thus, may represent potential biomarkers. We initially identified miR-137 and miR-106b and conducted a clinical validation, which demonstrated that they were highly upregulated in ACS patients, but not in healthy subjects and non-ACS controls. Using integrated comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, the present study confirms that the Nourin protein targets miR-137 and miR-106b, which are linked to myocardial ischemia and inflammation associated with ACS. Molecular docking demonstrated robust interactions between the Nourin protein and miR137/hsa-miR-106b, involving hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, with -10 kcal/mol binding energy. I-TASSER generated Nourin analogs, with the top 10 chosen for structural insights. Antigenic regions and MHCII epitopes within the Nourin SPGADGNGGEAMPGG sequence showed strong binding to HLA-DR/DQ alleles. The Cytoscape network revealed interactions of -miR137/hsa-miR--106b and Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in myocardial ischemia. RNA Composer predicted the secondary structure of miR-106b. Schrödinger software identified key Nourin-RNA interactions critical for complex stability. The study identifies miR-137 and miR-106b as potential ACS diagnostic and therapeutic targets. This research underscores the potential of miRNAs targeting Nourin for precision ACS intervention. The analysis leverages RNA Composer, Schrödinger, and I-TASSER tools to explore interactions and structural insights. Robust Nourin-miRNA interactions are established, bolstering the case for miRNA-based interventions in ischemic injury. In conclusion, the study contributes to UA and AMI diagnosis strategies through bioinformatics-guided exploration of Nourin-targeting miRNAs. Supported by comprehensive molecular analysis, the hypoxia-induced miR-137 for cell apoptosis (a marker of cell damage) and the inflammation-induced miR-106b (a marker of inflammation) confirmed their potential clinical use as diagnostic biomarkers. This research reinforces the growing role of miR-137/hsa-miR-106b in the early diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in unstable angina patients.

Exploring CAR-T Cell Therapy Side Effects: Mechanisms and Management Strategies

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of malignancies, especially hematological tumors, but toxicities have tempered its success. The main impediments to the development of CAR-T cell therapies are the following: cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune-effector-cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), and on-target/off-tumor toxicity (OTOT). This review summarizes these side effects' underlying mechanisms and manifestations over time. It provides potential prevention and treatment according to the consensus grading, stressing the significance of establishing strategies that anticipate, reduce, and navigate the beginning of these side effects. It is essential to fully comprehend the mechanisms underlying these toxicities to create efficient treatment and preventive approaches.

Emerging insights into mechanisms of trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive cancers

HER2 is an established therapeutic target in breast, gastric, and gastroesophageal junction carcinomas with HER2 overexpression or genomic alterations. The humanized monoclonal antibody trastuzumab targeting HER2 has substantially improved the clinical outcomes of HER2-positive patients, yet the inevitable intrinsic or acquired resistance to trastuzumab limits its clinical benefit, necessitating the elucidation of resistance mechanisms to develop alternate therapeutic strategies. This review presents an overview of trastuzumab resistance mechanisms involving signaling pathways, cellular metabolism, cell plasticity, and tumor microenvironment, particularly discussing the prospects of developing rational combinations to improve patient outcomes.

Long Non-Coding RNA Signatures in Lymphopoiesis and Lymphoid Malignancies

Lymphoid cells play a critical role in the immune system, which includes three subgroups of T, B, and NK cells. Recognition of the complexity of the human genetics transcriptome in lymphopoiesis has revolutionized our understanding of the regulatory potential of RNA in normal lymphopoiesis and lymphoid malignancies. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules greater than 200 nucleotides in length. LncRNAs have recently attracted much attention due to their critical roles in various biological processes, including gene regulation, chromatin organization, and cell cycle control. LncRNAs can also be used for cell differentiation and cell fate, as their expression patterns are often specific to particular cell types or developmental stages. Additionally, lncRNAs have been implicated in lymphoid differentiation, such as regulating T-cell and B-cell development, and their expression has been linked to immune-associated diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma. In addition, lncRNAs have been investigated as potential biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic response to disease management. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge about the regulatory role of lncRNAs in physiopathology processes during normal lymphopoiesis and lymphoid leukemia.

Making Sense of Antisense lncRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Transcriptome complexity is emerging as an unprecedented and fascinating domain, especially by high-throughput sequencing technologies that have unveiled a plethora of new non-coding RNA biotypes. This review covers antisense long non-coding RNAs, i.e., lncRNAs transcribed from the opposite strand of other known genes, and their role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several sense-antisense transcript pairs have been recently annotated, especially from mammalian genomes, and an understanding of their evolutionary sense and functional role for human health and diseases is only beginning. Antisense lncRNAs dysregulation is significantly involved in hepatocarcinogenesis, where they can act as oncogenes or oncosuppressors, thus playing a key role in tumor onset, progression, and chemoradiotherapy response, as deduced from many studies discussed here. Mechanistically, antisense lncRNAs regulate gene expression by exploiting various molecular mechanisms shared with other ncRNA molecules, and exploit special mechanisms on their corresponding sense gene due to sequence complementarity, thus exerting epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational controls. The next challenges will be piecing together the complex RNA regulatory networks driven by antisense lncRNAs and, ultimately, assigning them a function in physiological and pathological contexts, in addition to defining prospective novel therapeutic targets and innovative diagnostic tools.

miRNA Dysregulation in Cardiovascular Diseases: Current Opinion and Future Perspectives

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small noncoding RNAs, are post-transcriptional gene regulators that can promote the degradation or decay of coding mRNAs, regulating protein synthesis. Many experimental studies have contributed to clarifying the functions of several miRNAs involved in regulatory processes at the cardiac level, playing a pivotal role in cardiovascular disease (CVD). This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview, with a focus on the past 5 years, of experimental studies on human samples to present a clear background of the latest advances to summarize the current knowledge and future perspectives. SCOPUS and Web of Science were searched using the following keywords: (miRNA or microRNA) AND (cardiovascular diseases); AND (myocardial infarction); AND (heart damage); AND (heart failure), including studies published from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2022. After an accurate evaluation, 59 articles were included in the present systematic review. While it is clear that miRNAs are powerful gene regulators, all the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The need for up-to-date data always justifies the enormous amount of scientific work to increasingly highlight their pathways. Given the importance of CVDs, miRNAs could be important both as diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) tools. In this context, the discovery of “TheranoMIRNAs” could be decisive in the near future. The definition of well-setout studies is necessary to provide further evidence in this challenging field.

Research and Therapeutic Approaches in Stem Cell Genome Editing by CRISPR Toolkit

The most widely used genome editing toolkit is CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats). It provides the possibility of replacing and modifying DNA and RNA nucleotides. Furthermore, with advancements in biological technology, inhibition and activation of the transcription of specific gene(s) has become possible. Bioinformatics tools that target the evolution of CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) turn this protein into a vehicle that is specific for a DNA or RNA region with single guide RNA (sgRNA). This toolkit could be used by researchers to investigate the function of stem cell gene(s). Here, in this review article, we cover recent developments and applications of this technique in stem cells for research and clinical purposes and discuss different CRISPR/Cas technologies for knock-out, knock-in, activation, or inhibition of gene expression. Additionally, a comparison of several deliveries and off-target detecting strategies is discussed.

A nomogram prediction model for early death in patients with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

Background

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a major lethal disorder in neonates that leads to an extremely high mortality rate. Thus, the early identification of adverse outcomes in PPHN is critical for clinical practice. This research attempted to develop a nomogram prediction system for assessing the mortality of newborns with PPHN.

Methods

Two hundred and three newborns with PPHN diagnosed from January 2015 to March 2022 were involved in the study. The clinical features of these newborns and pregnancy details were compared between newborns in the survival and lethal groups. Univariable and multivariate analyses were established in sequence to demonstrate the essential risk factors. The nomogram prediction model was built.

Results

A total of 203 newborns were included in the analysis. 136 (67.0%) newborns represented the hospital survival group. Plasma pH value (OR = 0.606, p = 0.000, 95% CI 0.45715-0.80315), septicemia (OR = 3.544, p = 0.000, 95% CI 1.85160-6.78300), and abnormal pregnancy history (OR = 3.331, p = 0.008, 95% CI 1.37550-8.06680) were identified as independent risk factors for neonatal death in newborns associated with PPHN. Finally, the nomogram predictive model was established based on multivariate analysis results, indicating the efficacies of prediction and calibration.

Conclusion

This study generated an applicable risk score formula using the plasma pH value, septicemia, and abnormal pregnancy history to recognize neonatal death in newborns with PPHN, presenting a sufficient predictive value and calibration.

A review of current evidence about lncRNA MEG3: A tumor suppressor in multiple cancers

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) is a lncRNA located at the DLK1-MEG3 site of human chromosome 14q32.3. The expression of MEG3 in various tumors is substantially lower than that in normal adjacent tissues, and deletion of MEG3 expression is involved in the occurrence of many tumors. The high expression of MEG3 could inhibit the occurrence and development of tumors through several mechanisms, which has become a research hotspot in recent years. As a member of tumor suppressor lncRNAs, MEG3 is expected to be a new target for tumor diagnosis and treatment. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms of MEG3 in different tumors and future challenges for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers through MEG3.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Leukemia

Leukemia is a heterogenous group of hematological malignancies categorized in four main types (acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Several cytogenetic and molecular markers have become a part of routine analysis for leukemia patients. These markers have been used in diagnosis, risk-stratification and targeted therapy application. Recent studies have indicated that numerous regulatory RNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), have a role in tumor initiation and progression. When it comes to leukemia, data for lncRNA involvement in its etiology, progression, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis is limited. The aim of this review is to summarize research data on lncRNAs in different types of leukemia, on their expression pattern, their role in leukemic transformation and disease progression. The usefulness of this information in the clinical setting, i.e., for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, will be emphasized. Finally, how particular lncRNAs could be used as potential targets for the application of targeted therapy will be considered.

Non-coding genome in small cell lung cancer between theoretical view and clinical applications

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive cancer of the neuroendocrine system, characterized by poor differentiation, rapid growth, and poor overall survival (OS) of patients. Despite the recent advances in the treatment of SCLC recently, the 2-year survival rate of patients with the cancer is only 14-15%, occasioned by the acquired resistance to drugs and serious off-target effects. In humans, the coding region is only 2% of the total genome, and 20% of that is associated with human diseases. Beyond the coding genome are RNAs, promoters, enhancers, and other intricate elements. The non-coding regulatory regions, mainly the non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), regulate numerous biological activities including cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. As such, they are potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers, and also potential therapeutic targets for SCLC. Therefore, understanding how non-coding elements regulate SCLC development and progression holds significant clinical implications. Herein, we summarized the recent discoveries on the relationship between the non-coding elements including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNA (circRNA), enhancers as well as promotors, and the pathogenesis of SCLC and their potential clinical applications.

lncRNA PVT1: a novel oncogene in multiple cancers

Long noncoding RNAs are involved in epigenetic gene modification, including binding to the chromatin rearrangement complex in pre-transcriptional regulation and to gene promoters in gene expression regulation, as well as acting as microRNA sponges to control messenger RNA levels in post-transcriptional regulation. An increasing number of studies have found that long noncoding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) plays an important role in cancer development. In this review of a large number of studies on PVT1, we found that PVT1 is closely related to tumor onset, proliferation, invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transformation, and apoptosis, as well as poor prognosis and radiotherapy and chemotherapy resistance in some cancers. This review comprehensively describes PVT1 expression in various cancers and presents novel approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Functional roles of lncRNA-TUG1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or hepatoma is malignant cancer that starts from the main liver cells. Although various classical methods have been used for patients with HCC, various molecular mechanisms involved in HCC progression should be invested. Previous studies demonstrated that abnormal expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) presented important roles in the pathogenesis of HCC cells. LncRNA TUG1 was found to mediate HCC cell growth, EMT, and metastasis. Therefore, targeting TUG1 and its downstream genes may be a suitable approach for patients with HCC. In this review, we summarized the potential roles of TUG1 in HCC.

HCV and tumor-initiating stem-like cells

Neoplasms contain tumor-initiating stem-like cells (TICs) that are characterized by increased drug resistance. The incidence of many cancer types have trended downward except for few cancer types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore mechanism of HCC development and therapy resistance needs to be understood. These multiple hits by hepatitis C virus (HCV) eventually promotes transformation and TIC genesis, leading to HCC development. This review article describes links between HCV-associated HCC and TICs. This review discusses 1) how HCV promotes genesis of TICs and HCC development; 2) how this process avails itself as a novel therapeutic target for HCC treatment; and 3) ten hall marks of TIC oncogenesis and HCC development as targets for novel therapeutic modalities.

Long noncoding RNAs as therapeutic targets to overcome chemoresistance in ovarian cancer

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been characterized to play an essential role in ovarian tumorigenesis via controlling a variety of cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, invasion, apoptotic death, metastasis, cell cycle, migration, metabolism, immune evasion, and chemoresistance. The one obstacle for the therapeutic efficacy is due to the development of drug resistance in ovarian cancer patients. Therefore, in this review article, we describe the role of lncRNAs in chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. Moreover, we discuss the molecular mechanism of lncRNAs-involved drug resistance in ovarian cancer. We conclude that lncRNAs could be useful targets to overcome chemoresistance and improve therapeutic outcome in ovarian cancer patients.