Long non-coding RNA H19 regulates glioma angiogenesis and the biological behavior of glioma-associated endothelial cells by inhibiting microRNA-29a

Long non-coding RNA H19 in atherosclerosis: what role?

Atherosclerosis (AS) is widely accepted to be a multistep pathophysiological process associated with several other processes such as angiogenesis and inflammatory response. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-protein coding RNAs (more than 200 nucleotides in length) and can regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Recent studies suggest that lncRNA-H19 plays important roles in the regulation of angiogenesis, adipocyte differentiation, lipid metabolism, inflammatory response, cellular proliferation and apoptosis. In this review, we primarily discuss the roles of lncRNA-H19 in atherosclerosis-related pathophysiological processes and the potential mechanisms by which lncRNA-H19 regulates the development of atherosclerosis, to help provide a better understanding of the biological functions of lncRNA-H19 in atherosclerosis.

Coding of Glioblastoma Progression and Therapy Resistance through Long Noncoding RNAs

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and lethal primary brain malignancy, with an average patient survival from diagnosis of 14 months. Glioblastoma also usually progresses as a more invasive phenotype after initial treatment. A major step forward in our understanding of the nature of glioblastoma was achieved with large-scale expression analysis. However, due to genomic complexity and heterogeneity, transcriptomics alone is not enough to define the glioblastoma “fingerprint”, so epigenetic mechanisms are being examined, including the noncoding genome. On the basis of their tissue specificity, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are being explored as new diagnostic and therapeutic targets. In addition, growing evidence indicates that lncRNAs have various roles in resistance to glioblastoma therapies (e.g., MALAT1, H19) and in glioblastoma progression (e.g., CRNDE, HOTAIRM1, ASLNC22381, ASLNC20819). Investigations have also focused on the prognostic value of lncRNAs, as well as the definition of the molecular signatures of glioma, to provide more precise tumor classification. This review discusses the potential that lncRNAs hold for the development of novel diagnostic and, hopefully, therapeutic targets that can contribute to prolonged survival and improved quality of life for patients with glioblastoma.

Lnc00462717 regulates the permeability of the blood-brain tumor barrier through interaction with PTBP1 to inhibit the miR-186-5p/Occludin signaling pathway

Blood-brain tumor barrier (BTB) severely restricts the efficient delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs into brain tumor tissue, which is a critical obstacle for glioma treatment. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have shown as regulation factors of numerous biological processes. In this study, we identified that Lnc00462717 was upregulated in glioma endothelial cells (GECs), and that knockdown of Lnc00462717 significantly increased the BTB permeability. Both bioinformatics and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) results revealed that Lnc00462717 interacts with polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTBP1). Moreover, overexpression of PTBP1 significantly reversed the increase in BTB permeability caused by siLnc00462717. Furthermore, the binding sites between miR-186 and PTBP1 as well as between miR-186 and 3'UTR of Occludin mRNA were confirmed by RIP and luciferase assays, respectively. And the interaction of Lnc00462717 and PTBP1 significantly facilitated the binding of PTBP1 to 3'UTR of Occludin mRNA and then blocked the miR-186-5p-induced downregulation of Occludin. In addition, we identified that knockdown of Lnc00462717 or overexpression of miR-186-5p increased the accumulation of doxorubicin (Dox) in brain glioma via the ultrafast liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system (UFLC-MS/MS system) and decreased the intracranial glioma volume in BALB/c nude mice. Taken together, these results show a novel molecular pathway in BTB that may provide a potential innovative strategy for glioma therapy.

Emerging role of long non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of periodontitis

Periodontitis is a bacteria-related chronic immune-associated condition that destructs bone and connective tissues around teeth. With a high incidence rate, it is regarded as a condition that impose substantial health burden. About half of the variance in the severity of periodontitis is attributed to genetic factors. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have crucial roles in the development of several disorders such as periodontitis. A number of studies have reported dysregulation of lncRNAs such as UCA1, ANRIL, FGD5-AS1, NEAT1, FAS-AS1, Linc-RAM and NKILA in gingival tissues or blood samples of patients with periodontitis in comparison with healthy subjects. Moreover, several single nucleotide polymorphisms within lncRNAs have been associated with the susceptibility to this disorder. In the current review, we discuss the most recent articles about the role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.

Current advances of long non-coding RNAs mediated by wnt signaling in glioma

Glioma is the most common and aggressive brain tumor in the central nervous system (CNS), in which Wnt signaling pathway has been verified to play a pivotal role in regulating the initiation and progression. Currently, numerous studies have indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have critical functions across biological processes including cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion and apoptosis via Wnt signaling pathway in glioma. This review depicts canonical and non-canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway properties and relative processing mechanisms in gliomas, and summarizes the function and regulation of lncRNAs mediated by Wnt signaling pathway in the development and progression of glioma. Ultimately, we hope to seek out promising biomarkers and reliable therapeutic targets for glioma.

Emerging Roles of Long non-coding RNAs in The Tumor Microenvironment

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a diverse class of longer than 200 nucleotides RNA transcripts that have limited protein coding capacity. LncRNAs display diverse cellular functions and widely participate in both physiological and pathophysiological processes. Aberrant expressions of lncRNAs are correlated with tumor progression, providing sound rationale for their targeting as attractive anti-tumor therapeutic strategies. Emerging evidences support that lncRNAs participate in tumor-stroma crosstalk and stimulate a distinctive and suitable tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME comprises several stromal cells such as cancer stem cells (CSCs), cancer-associated endothelial cells (CAEs), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and infiltrated immune cells, all of which are involved in the complicated crosstalk with tumor cells to affect tumor progression. In this review, we summarize the essential properties and functional roles of known lncRNAs in related to the TME to validate lncRNAs as potential biomarkers and promising anti-cancer targets.

Role of ANKHD1/LINC00346/ZNF655 Feedback Loop in Regulating the Glioma Angiogenesis via Staufen1-Mediated mRNA Decay

Accumulating evidence shows that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) dysregulation plays a critical role in tumor angiogenesis. Glioma is characterized by abundant angiogenesis. Herein, we investigated the expression and function of LINC00346 in the regulation of glioma angiogenesis. The present study first demonstrated that ANKHD1 (ankyrin repeat and KH domain-containing protein 1) and LINC00346 were significantly increased in glioma-associated endothelial cells (GECs), whereas ZNF655 (zinc finger protein 655) was decreased in GECs. Meanwhile, ANKHD1 inhibition, LINC00346 inhibition, or ZNF655 overexpression impeded angiogenesis of GECs. Moreover, ANKHD1 targeted LINC00346 and enhanced the stability of LINC00346. In addition, LINC00346 bound to ZNF655 mRNA through their Alu elements so that LINC00346 facilitated the degradation of ZNF655 mRNA via a STAU1 (Staufen1)-mediated mRNA decay (SMD) mechanism. Futhermore, ZNF655 targeted the promoter region of ANKHD1 and formed an ANKHD1/LINC00346/ZNF655 feedback loop that regulated glioma angiogenesis. Finally, knockdown of ANKHD1 and LINC00346, combined with overexpression of ZNF655, resulted in a significant decrease in new vessels and hemoglobin content in vivo. The results identified an ANKHD1/LINC00346/ZNF655 feedback loop in the regulation of glioma angiogenesis that may provide new targets and strategies for targeted therapy against glioma.

Cyclic Strain Promotes H19 Expression and Vascular Tube Formation in iPSC-Derived Endothelial Cells

Introduction

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived endothelial cells (ECs) have the potential for therapeutic application in several cardiovascular diseases. Mechanical strain is known to regulate EC behavior and stem cell differentiation and may play a role in directing EC differentiation of iPSCs. H19, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), is known to affect ECs in several mechanically relevant pathologies and may play a role in this process as well. Therefore, we investigated expression changes of H19 resulting from mechanical stimulation during EC differentiation, as well as functional effects on EC tube formation.

Methods

iPSCs were subjected to 5% cyclic mechanical strain during EC differentiation. RT-PCR and flow cytometry were used to assess changes in mesoderm differentiation and gene expression in the final ECs as a result of strain. Functional outcomes of mechanically differentiated ECs were assessed with a tube formation assay and changes in H19. H19 was also overexpressed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to assess its role in non-H19-expressing ECs.

Results

Mechanical strain promoted mesoderm differentiation, marked by increased expression of brachyury 24 h after initiation of differentiation. Strain also increased expression of H19, CD31, VE-cadherin, and VEGFR2 in differentiated ECs. Strain-differentiated ECs formed tube networks with higher junction and endpoint density than statically-differentiated ECs. Overexpression of H19 in HUVECs resulted in similar patterns of tube formation.

Conclusions

H19 expression is increased by mechanical strain and promotes tube branching in iPSC-derived ECs.

Analysis of Long Noncoding RNAs in Choroid Neovascularization

Purpose: Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the major pathological features of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Long noncoding RNAs play great roles in numerous biological processes. The purpose of the study was to investigate the expression profile and possible functions of the lncRNAs in CNV. Methods: In this study, the mice CNV model were conducted by laser photocoagulation. The expression profiles of lncRNAs were accessed by microarray analysis. Selected altered lncRNAs of mice CNV and wet AMD patients were validated by RT-PCR. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and lncRNA-mRNA coexpression network were conducted to reveal the biological functions. Results: The results revealed that 128 lncRNAs were significantly altered in RPE-choroid-sclera complexes of CNV mice (P < .05, fold change > 2.0). GO analysis revealed that the altered target genes of the selected lncRNAs most enriched in angiogenesis. KEGG pathway analysis demonstrated that altered target genes of lncRNAs most enriched in focal adhesion signaling pathway. H19 was significantly increased in the aqueous humor of wet AMD patients. Moreover, Inhibition of lncRNA H19 could suppresses M2 macrophage gene expression of laser-induced CNV mice. Conclusions: Our study identified differential expressions of lncRNAs in CNV, and lncRNA H19 might be novel potential target for the prevention and treatment of CNV.

Recent Trends of microRNA Significance in Pediatric Population Glioblastoma and Current Knowledge of Micro RNA Function in Glioblastoma Multiforme

Central nervous system tumors are a significant problem for modern medicine because of their location. The explanation of the importance of microRNA (miRNA) in the development of cancerous changes plays an important role in this respect. The first papers describing the presence of miRNA were published in the 1990s. The role of miRNA has been pointed out in many medical conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorder, arthritis and cancer. There are several miRNAs responsible for invasiveness, apoptosis, resistance to treatment, angiogenesis, proliferation and immunology, and many others. The research conducted in recent years analyzing this group of tumors has shown the important role of miRNA in the course of gliomagenesis. These particles seem to participate in many stages of the development of cancer processes, such as proliferation, angiogenesis, regulation of apoptosis or cell resistance to cytostatics.

Role of noncoding RNAs in cholangiocarcinoma (Review)

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignant tumour originating from biliary epithelial cells, and is increasing in incidence. Radical surgery is the main treatment. However, the pathogenesis of CCA is unclear. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are non‑protein‑coding RNAs produced by genomic transcription that include microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). They play important roles in gene expression, epigenetic modification, cell proliferation, differentiation and reproduction. ncRNAs also serve key roles in cancer development. Numerous studies have been carried out on ncRNAs, and associated publications have shown that ncRNAs are closely associated with the physiological and pathological mechanisms of CCA. The findings of these studies can provide new insights into the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of CCA. The present review summarizes the pathophysiological mechanisms of different types of ncRNAs, including miRNAs, circRNAs and lncRNAs in CCA, and their applications in the diagnosis and treatment of CCA.

Roles of lncRNAs in cancer: Focusing on angiogenesis

Approximately 98% of the human genome consists of non-coding sequences that are classified into two classes by size: small non-coding RNAs (≤200 nucleotides) and long non-coding RNAs (≥200 nucleotides). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in various cellular events and act as guides, signals, decoys, and dynamic scaffolds. Due to their oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles, lncRNAs are important in cancer development and growth. LncRNAs play their roles by modulating cancer hallmarks, including DNA damage, metastasis, immune escape, cell stemness, drug resistance, metabolic reprogramming, and angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is vital for solid tumors which guarantees their growth beyond 2 mm³. Tumor angiogenesis is a complex process and is regulated through interaction between pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors within the tumor microenvironment. There are accumulating evidence that different lncRNAs regulate tumor angiogenesis. In this paper, we described the functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs in tumor angiogenesis.

LncRNA CCAT2 promotes angiogenesis in glioma through activation of VEGFA signalling by sponging miR-424

Glioma is characterized by high morbidity, high mortality and poor prognosis. Recent studies exhibited that lncRNA CCAT2 is overexpressed in glioma and promotes glioma progression, but the specific molecular biological mechanism remains to be determined. We performed qRT-PCR to evaluate the expression of related genes, Western blotting analysis to measure protein levels, colony formation assay to detect the proliferative ability of glioma cells, flow cytometry to measure cell apoptosis, bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase assay to verify the binding sites and the targeted regulatory relationship in A172 and U251 cell lines and tube formation assay to determine endothelial angiogenesis. LncRNA CCAT2 and VEGFA were highly expressed, while miR-424 was expressed at low levels in NHA cells. Furthermore, knockdown of lncRNA CCAT2 decreased cell proliferation, increased cell apoptosis and inhibited endothelial angiogenesis in glioma. Moreover, lncRNA CCAT2 shared a complementary sequence with miR-424 which in turn directly bound to the 3'-UTR of VEGFA. Further investigation indicated that lncRNA CCAT2 promoted cell proliferation and endothelial angiogenesis by inducing the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in glioma. The oncogenic lncRNA CCAT2 is highly associated with the development of glioma and exerts its function by upregulating VEGFA via miR-424.

Expression and prognostic value of long non-coding RNA H19 in glioma via integrated bioinformatics analyses

Numerous discoveries have elucidated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in cancer malignant progression. However, their potential involvement in gliomas remains to be explored. Herein, the expression level of lncRNA H19 in glioma tissues, and its relevance with clinical characteristics were analyzed through Oncomine. The results showed that H19 was highly expressed in glioma tissues and its expression increased with the increase of malignancy. Next, GTEx and TCGA data were downloaded for differently expressed genes (DEGs) identification, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses, and the correlation analyses between H19 expression and clinic features. Radiation therapy had a good effect on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), but didn't have a good effect on low grade glioma (LGG). Meanwhile, the expression level of H19 could act as an indicator molecule indicating the effect of radiotherapy. Finally, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and immune infiltration analysis were conducted. It was found that H19 could affect the immune infiltration level of glioma through copy number variations, thus affecting the prognosis of glioma patients. Collectively, H19 may be involved in the occurrence and development of glioma, and has potential reference value for the relief and immunotherapy of glioma.

Overexpression of long non-coding RNA Rian attenuates cell apoptosis from cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via Rian/miR-144-3p/GATA3 signaling

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury nowadays. Herein, we uncovered the function and underlying mechanism of the lncRNA Rian in cerebral I/R injury. The oxygen-glucose deprivation model in N2a cells was offered to mimic cerebral I/R injury in vitro. Trypan blue staining, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and caspase-3 activity were used to evaluate cell apoptosis. Then, middle cerebral artery occlusion was conducted to evaluate the function of lncRNA Rian in mice. Real-time PCR and western blotting were performed to determine the expression of lncRNA Rian, miR-144-3p, GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3), caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2. The results showed that both Rian and GATA3 were downregulated, and miR-144-3p was upregulated in cerebral I/R injury in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of Rian could inhibit the cell apoptosis induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation. Furthermore, overexpression of Rian distinctly reduced the infarct size, and it also improved the neurological score. Overexpression of Rian could abolish miR-144-3p-mediated I/R injury in vitro and in vivo. Besides, GATA3 was the target of miR-144-3p and GATA3 could be regulated co-operatively by miR-144-3p and Rian. Consequently, these findings showed that the Rian/miR-144-3p/GATA3 axis is an essential signaling in cerebral I/R injury. The lncRNA Rian may serve as a potential target for novel treatment in patients with ischemic stroke.

Identification of Novel lncRNA Markers in Glioblastoma Multiforme and Their Clinical Significance: A Study Based on Multiple Sequencing Data

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been verified to have a vital role in the progression of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Our research was about to identify the potential lncRNAs which was closely associated with the pathogenesis and prognosis of glioblastoma multiforme.

Methods

All RNA sequence profiling data from patients with GBM were obtained from The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Differently expressed genes identified from GBM and control samples were used to construct competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network and perform corresponding functional enrichment analysis. Univariate Cox regression followed by lasso regression and multivariate Cox was used to validate independent lncRNA factors and construct a risk prediction model. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed to verify the expression levels of potential lncRNA biomarkers in human GBM clinical specimens. A gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was subsequently conducted to explore potential signaling pathways in which critical lncRNAs may be involved. Moreover, nomogram plot was applied based on our prediction model and significant clinical covariates to visualize the prognosis of GBM patients.

Results

A total of 2023 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including 56 lncRNAs, 1587 message RNAs (mRNAs) and 380 other RNAs were included. Based on predictive databases, 16lncRNAs, 32 microRNAs (miRNAs) and 99 mRNAs were used to construct a ceRNA network. Moreover, we performed a novel risk prediction model with 5 potential prognostic lncRNAs, in which 4 of them were newly identified in GBM, to predict the prognosis of GBM patients. Finally, a nomogram plot was constructed to illustrate the potential relationship between the prognosis of GBM and our risk prediction model and significant clinical covariates.

Conclusion

In this study, we identified 4 novel potential lncRNA biomarkers and constructed a prediction model of GBM prognosis. A simple-to-use nomogram was provided for further clinical application.

The influence of long non-coding RNAs on the response to chemotherapy in ovarian cancer

With 240,000 new cases and 152,000 deaths per year, ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies. Late diagnosis because of asymptomatic development in early stages and resistance to existing treatments are the major causes of therapeutic failure in ovarian cancer. The recent discovery of tens of thousands of long non-coding RNAs and their action as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in pathways matching all the hallmarks of cancer in most - if not all - malignancies have attracted attention of the scientific community. A growing number of studies have implicated lncRNAs in diverse aspects of ovarian carcinoma biology. We present lncRNAs which have been involved in response to the different drugs currently used for the treatment of ovarian cancers, from first-line platinum salts and taxanes to the newly available PARP inhibitors. The data already available supports the potential use of several lncRNAs, alone or in combination with other molecules, as potential biomarkers for the prediction of response to treatment. Understanding the determinants of their action might reveal new potential therapeutic targets.

miR-503 Inhibits Proliferation, Migration, And Angiogenesis Of Glioma By Acting On VEGFA Through Targeting LRIG2

Background

Glioma is a common malignant tumor of the human central nervous system, and the pathological characteristics include invasive growth, angiogenesis, and so on. Ectopic expression of miR-503 works as a critical factor in cancer cell proliferation, migration, and capillary-like tube formation. The potential mechanisms of miR-503 in angiogenesis of glioma cells are still not reported.

Methods

The expression levels of miR-503, LRIG2, and VEGFA mRNA and protein were performed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR or Western blot assay. Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay was used to determine the interaction between miR-503 and LRIG2. The concentration of VEGFA was measured using the ELISA method. The cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of cocultured HCMEC/D3 cells were analyzed by MTT assay, transwell detection, and tube formation assay, respectively.

Results

The expression levels of LRIG2 and VEGFA were reduced in glioma cells with miR-503 overexpression and enhanced with miR-503 inhibition. Moreover, cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of cocultured HCMEC/D3 cells were alleviated with miR-503 mimics transfection. VEGFA and miR-503 inhibitor promoted cell proliferation, cell migration, and angiogenesis. Luciferase reporter gene assay revealed that miR-503 could directly target LRIG2. Furthermore, knockdown of LRIG2 or addition of VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab could abrogate the effect of miR-503 inhibitor on VEGFA expression, as well as the promotion of cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis.

Conclusion

MiR-503 mediated LRIG2 suppression and regulated the expression of VEGFA, thereby reducing cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of glioma cells. These results provide new insight into the action mechanism of miR-503-modulated signaling pathway in angiogenesis of glioma cells.

Exosomal circHIPK3 Released from Hypoxia-Pretreated Cardiomyocytes Regulates Oxidative Damage in Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cells via the miR-29a/IGF-1 Pathway

Background/Aims

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of endogenous noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression in eukaryotes. Recently, exosomes from cardiomyocytes (CMs) have been found to facilitate cell proliferation and survival by transporting various bioactive molecules, including circRNA. However, the functions of exosomal circRNAs are not clear. The present research is aimed at determining whether circHIPK3 released from hypoxia-pretreated CMs is transferred into cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMVECs) by exosomes and becomes functionally active in the CMVECs under oxidative stress conditions.

Methods

Quantitative polymerase chain reactions were conducted to detect the expression pattern of circHIPK3 in CMVECs under oxidative stress. Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining assays, TUNEL assays, ROS assays, and Western blot analysis were conducted to detect the role of exosomal circHIPK3 in CMVEC function in vitro. Luciferase activity assays and RNA immunoprecipitation studies were conducted in vitro to reveal the mechanism of circHIPK3-mediated CMVEC function.

Results

circHIPK3 expression was significantly upregulated in hypoxic exosomes (HPC-exos) compared with normoxic exosomes (Nor-exos). Moreover, HPC-exos induced stronger antioxidant effects than Nor-exos. The silencing or overexpression of circHIPK3 changed CMVEC survival under oxidative conditions in vitro. Furthermore, circHIPK3 silencing in HPC-exos abrogated the protective effects of HPC-exos in CMVECs, as shown by increased levels of apoptosis, ROS, MDA, and proapoptotic proteins. circHIPK3 acted as an endogenous miR-29a sponge to sequester and inhibit miR-29a activity, which led to increased IGF-1 expression. The ectopic expression of miR-29a mimicked the effect of circHIPK3 silencing in CMVECs in vitro.

Conclusions

circHIPK3 in HPC-exos plays a role in CMVECs under oxidative conditions through miR-29a-mediated IGF-1 expression, leading to a decrease in oxidative stress-induced CMVECs dysfunction. These data suggest that the exosomal circRNA in CMs is a potential target to control CMVECs dysfunction under oxidative conditions.

Assessment of the Diagnostic Potential of miR-29a-3p and miR-92a-3p as Circulatory Biomarkers in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Background:

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a set of Myeloproliferative neoplasms that are identified by excessive growth of myeloid blasts and production of abnormal blood cells. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia that occurs in adults. In addition, AML progresses rapidly and is considered a fatal disease. Thus, there is an urgent need to find new targets for molecularly designed therapies. In This study, we evaluated the circulatory levels of microRNA-29a-3p (miR-29a-3p) and miR-92a-3p beside exploring the expression pattern of their target gene myeloid cell leukemia sequence1 (MCL1) to investigate the role of these molecules in AML pathophysiology and to assess their ability to diagnose AML patients.

Methods:

40 adult AML patients along with 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Plasma were separated from venous blood samples, collected on EDTA, of all individuals were used to assess circulating miRNAs’ levels. In the meantime, total RNA was extracted from isolated leukocytes and was used to quantify target mRNA transcript levels.

Results:

Our data revealed that the circulating levels of miR-29a-3p and miR-92a-3p exhibited significant reduction in 90% and 100% of AML patients, respectively, when compared to the control group (p<0.001). On the other hand, the transcript level of the target gene of these miRNAs, MCL1, showed a sharp increase in 77.5% (p<0.001) of AML patients, along with a negative correlation with its regulatory miRNAs, miR-29a-3p and miR-92a-3p.

Conclusion:

Our data validates the negative regulatory role of miR-29a-3p and miR-92a-3p to the expression levels of MCL1 in peripheral blood and indicates that these miRNAs can be used as non-invasive diagnostic markers. Furthermore, our study highlights the therapeutic potential of miR-29a-3p and miR-92a-3p to target and downregulate a very important gene (MCL1), which is highly implicated in the pathogenesis of AML.

The long non-coding RNA H19: an active player with multiple facets to sustain the hallmarks of cancer

Cancer cells exhibit hallmarks in terms of proliferation, resistance to cell death, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and genomic instability. Despite the progress in cancer research and the comprehension of tumorigenesis mechanisms, cancer remains a major issue in public health. A better understanding of the molecular factors associated with the appearance or progression of cancer may allow the development of therapeutic alternatives. Increasing data highlight the role of long non-coding RNAs in many diseases, including cancer. The long non-coding RNA H19 was the first discovered riboregulator, and it has been shown to be involved at multiple steps of tumorigenesis. Indeed, this lncRNA exert its action at various molecular scales. Understanding the role of H19 in cancer progression may allow to set up therapeutic strategies to prevent tumor expansion and metastatic dissemination. In this review, we will summarize the overexpression of the long non-coding RNA H19 in several types of cancer and the multiple implications of the long non-coding RNA H19 in the different hallmarks that define human cancer.

Silencing of long non-coding RNA H19 downregulates CTCF to protect against atherosclerosis by upregulating PKD1 expression in ApoE knockout mice

This study aimed to explore the interactions among long non-coding RNA H19, transcriptional factor CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) and polycystic kidney disease 1 (PKD1), and to investigate its potentially regulatory effect on vulnerable plaque formation and angiogenesis of atherosclerosis. We established an atherosclerosis mouse model in ApoE knockout mice, followed by gain- and loss-of-function approaches. H19 was upregulated in aortic tissues of atherosclerosis mice, but silencing of H19 significantly inhibited atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque formation and intraplaque angiogenesis, accompanied by a downregulated expression of MMP-2, VEGF, and p53 and an upregulated expression of TIMP-1. Moreover, opposite results were found in the aortic tissues of atherosclerosis mice treated with H19 or CTCF overexpression. H19 was capable of recruiting CTCF to suppress PKD1, thus promoting atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque formation and intraplaque angiogenesis in atherosclerosis mice. The present study provides evidence that H19 recruits CTCF to downregulate the expression of PKD1, thereby promoting vulnerable plaque formation and intraplaque angiogenesis in mice with atherosclerosis.

Long non-coding RNA H19 and cancer: A competing endogenous RNA

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a class of non-coding RNA with a length of more than 200 nucleotides, which has become a hotspot in the research of tumorigenesis and development in recent years. Accumulating studies have indicated that H19 is abnormally expressed in human malignant tumors, and regulates cell proliferation, migration, invasion, anti-apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition through various mechanisms, thus playing a carcinogenic or anti-cancer role. H19 has been found to act as a microRNA sponge to indirectly regulate the expression of microRNA downstream target genes thus mediating cancer progression in several cancer types. Even in the same cancer, H19 also sponges various microRNAs to mediate diverse regulatory mechanisms. Tissue-specific expression of H19 suggests that it may be an early diagnostic marker or prognostic indicator of cancers. In this review, we summarize the latest original researches, mainly focusing on the role of H19 sponging microRNAs in cancers. We hope this article can facilitate readers obtain the molecular mechanisms of H19 sponging miRNAs in cancers and provide a broad perspective for further research on cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Overexpression of Limb-Bud and Heart (LBH) promotes angiogenesis in human glioma via VEGFA-mediated ERK signalling under hypoxia

Background

Glioma is the most common primary malignant tumor in the central nervous system with frequent hypoxia and angiogenesis. Limb-Bud and Heart (LBH) is a highly conserved transcription cofactor that participates in embryonic development and tumorigenesis.

Methods

The conditioned media from LBH regulated human glioma cell lines and patient-derived glioma stem cells (GSCs) were used to treat the human brain microvessel endothelial cells (hBMECs). The function of LBH on angiogenesis were examined through methods of MTS assay, Edu assay, TUNEL assay, western blotting analysis, qPCR analysis, luciferase reporter assay and xenograft experiment.

Findings

Our study found for the first time that LBH was overexpressed in gliomas and was associated with a poor prognosis. LBH overexpression participated in the angiogenesis of gliomas via the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA)-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling pathway in human brain microvessel endothelial cells (hBMECs). Rapid proliferation of gliomas can lead to tissue hypoxia and hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) activation, while HIF-1 can directly transcriptionally regulate the expression of LBH and result in a self-reinforcing cycle.

Interpretation

LBH may be a possible treatment target to break the vicious cycle in glioma treatment.

 

 

Functional Roles of Long Non-Coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in Glioma Stem Cells

Glioma, the most common and aggressive type of brain tumor, has a poor prognosis. Glioma stem cells (GSCs) are thought to be responsible for glioma genesis, proliferation, resistance to chemoradiotherapy, and recurrence. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been viewed as a prospective novel target in glioma therapy in recent years due to their functional roles in GSC biological processes. However, how lncRNAs interact with GSCs and the underlining mechanisms associated with these interactions are not yet clear. In this review, we briefly illustrate recent advancements in the functional roles of lncRNA and their potential mechanisms in GSCs.

A Brief Overview of lncRNAs in Endothelial Dysfunction-Associated Diseases: From Discovery to Characterization

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a novel class of regulatory RNA molecules and they are involved in many biological processes and disease developments. Several unique features of lncRNAs have been identified, such as tissue-and/or cell-specific expression pattern, which suggest that they could be potential candidates for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. More recently, the scope of lncRNA studies has been extended to endothelial biology research. Many of lncRNAs were found to be critically involved in the regulation of endothelial function and its associated disease progression. An improved understanding of endothelial biology can thus facilitate the discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for endothelial dysfunction-associated diseases, such as abnormal angiogenesis, hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism of lncRNA remains undefined in previous published studies. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to discuss the current methodologies for discovering and investigating the functions of lncRNAs and, in particular, to address the functions of selected lncRNAs in endothelial dysfunction-associated diseases.

LncRNA SNHG3 promotes clear cell renal cell carcinoma proliferation and migration by upregulating TOP2A

LncRNA plays a vital role in many diseases, and abnormal expression of LncRNA has been reported in many types of tumors. In this study, we analyzed the available public TCGA and GEO databases, and found that the expression of SNHG3 was increased in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), which was positively correlated with many clinicopathological parameters, and the higher expression of SNHG3 predicted worse clinical prognosis. Functional experiments indicated that knockdown of SNHG3 could significantly inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of ccRCC in vitro and in vivo. Subsequently, through luciferase reporter assays, qPCR and rescue experiments, it was found that SNHG3 could bind to miR-139-5p, thereby up-regulating the expression of its target gene TOP2A, and play a role in promoting tumor progression in ccRCC. The correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the expression of SNHG3 and TOP2A, and both of them were significantly negative correlated with the expression of miR-139-5p. Our work suggested that the SNHG3/miR-139-5p/TOP2A axis plays an important role in the proliferation and metastasis of ccRCC, and was expected to be a new biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis and a target for treatment of ccRCC.

Long Non-coding RNAs as Communicators and Mediators Between the Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer Cells

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of more than 200 nucleotides RNA transcripts which have limited protein coding capacity. They regulate numerous biological processes in cancers through diverse molecular mechanisms. Aberrant expression of lncRNAs has been frequently associated with human cancer. Furthermore, the tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of different cells such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells and infiltrated immune cells, and all of which participate in communication with tumor cells affecting the progression of tumor. LncRNAs are directly and indirectly involved in the crosstalk between stromal cells and tumor cells and dysregulated lncRNAs expression in these cells could drive tumorigenesis. In this review, we explore the influence of aberrantly expressed lncRNAs in tumor progression, clarify the critical roles of lncRNAs in the TME, summarize findings on crosstalk between infiltrated immune cells, CAFs, endothelial cells, and tumor cells via lncRNAs, and discuss the promise of lncRNAs as tumor diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.

Crosstalk Between Long Non-coding RNAs, Micro-RNAs and mRNAs: Deciphering Molecular Mechanisms of Master Regulators in Cancer

Cancer is a complex disease, and its study requires deep understanding of several biological processes and their regulation. It is an accepted fact that non-coding RNAs are vital components of the regulation and cross-talk among cancer-related signaling pathways that favor tumor aggressiveness and metastasis, such as neovascularization, angiogenesis, and vasculogenic mimicry. Both long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and micro-RNAs (miRNAs) have been described as master regulators of cancer on their own; yet there is accumulating evidence that, besides regulating mRNA expression through independent mechanisms, these classes of non-coding RNAs interact with each other directly, fine-tuning the effects of their regulation. While still relatively scant, research on the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis regulation is growing at a fast rate, it is only in the last 5 years, that lncRNA-miRNA interactions have been identified in tumor-related vascular processes. In this review, we summarize the current progress of research on the cross-talk between lncRNAs and miRNAs in the regulation of neovascularization, angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry.

Epigenetics: The master control of endothelial cell fate in cancer

The development of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature is called angiogenesis. The growth of tumors depends on a network of supplying vessels that provide them with oxygen and nutrients. Pro-angiogenic factors that are secreted by tumors will trigger the sprouting of nearby existing blood vessels towards themselves and therefore researchers have developed targeted therapy towards these pro-angiogenic proteins to inhibit angiogenesis. However, certain pro-angiogenic proteins tend to bypass the inhibition. Thus, instead of targeting these expressed proteins, research towards angiogenesis inhibition had been focused on a deeper scale, epigenetic modifications. Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms are a heritable change in a sequence of stable but reversible gene function modification yet do not affect the DNA primary sequence directly. Methylation of DNA, modification of histone and silencing of micro-RNA (miRNA)-associated gene are currently considered to initiate and sustain epigenetic changes. Recent findings on the subject matter have provided an insight into the mechanism of epigenetic modifications, thus this review aims to present an update on the latest studies.

High glucose regulates ERp29 in hepatocellular carcinoma by LncRNA MEG3-miRNA 483-3p pathway

AIMS

Blood glucose dysregulation is an adverse factor in the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is thought to be crucial component in the development of cancer and diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of poor outcomes in HCC patients with diabetes.

MAIN METHODS

ER protein 29 (ERp29) was predicted by proteomics, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and cell scratch test were used to identify the expression and biological effects of ERp29 under high glucose (HG) in HCC cells. Bioinformatics found a competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) regulatory network between microRNA-483-3p (miR-483-3p) and Long noncoding RNA (LncRNA MEG3), the above methods also were used to identify their expression, biological effects and their roles of HG on regulation of REp29 in HCC cells, Dual-luciferase reporter assay was carried out to study the interaction of ERp29 with miR-483-3p and miR-483-3p with MEG3.

KEY FINDINGS

HG upregulated miR-483-3p expression in HCC cells and miR-483-3p overexpression suppressed ERp29 expression and also increased HCC cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, we found that MEG3 was decreased in HCC cells incubated in medium with high glucose and knockdown of MEG3 downregulated ERp29 expression. Bioinformatics analysis found that MEG3 mediated its protective effects via binding to miR-483-3p.

SIGNIFICANCE

Overall, our study established a novel regulatory network of LncRNA MEG3/miR483-3p/ERp29 in HCC which may be helpful in better understanding the effect of high glucose on poor prognosis of HCC and in exploring new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for managing HCC in patients with diabetes.

Long non-coding RNA UASR1 promotes proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells through the AKT/mTOR pathway

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-coding RNAs longer than 200 nucleotides that function as regulatory factors in many human diseases, including cancer. However, majority of lncRNAs remain to be characterized. In this study, we characterized a novel lncRNA transcript, named UNC5B antisense RNA1 (UASR1). UASR1 is 647bp in length consisting of two exons. This lncRNA is an antisense of intron 1 of unc-5 netrin receptor B (UNC5B) gene. In breast cancer tissues, UASR1 was upregulated. Ectopic expression of UASR1 promoted proliferation and clonogenic growth of breast cancer cells MCF7 and MDA-MB-231. The migration of these cells also increased as demonstrated by wound healing and transwell assays. In contrast, silencing of UASR1 suppressed cell proliferation and migration. Further studies showed that UASR1 activated AKT and AKT-mediated mTOR signaling pathway to stimulate cell proliferation and growth. In these cells, active pAKT, pTSC2, p4EBP1 and pp70S6K were increased. Taken together, our data suggest that UASR1 plays an oncogenic role in breast cancer cells through activation of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, being a novel RNA oncogene.

Long non-coding RNA H19 promotes corneal neovascularization by targeting microRNA-29c

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 has been implicated in tumor angiogenesis. However, whether H19 regulates the progression of corneal neovascularization (CNV) is unclear. The present study aimed to determine the function of H19 in CNV and its possible molecular mechanism. Here, we found that the H19 levels were remarkably increased in vascularized corneas and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In vitro, H19 up-regulation promoted proliferation, migration, tube formation and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression in HUVECs, and it was found to down-regulate microRNA-29c (miR-29c) expression. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that H19 mediated the above effects by binding directly to miR-29c. In addition, miR-29c expression was markedly reduced in vascularized corneas and its expression also decreased in bFGF-treated HUVECs in vitro. MiR-29c targeted the 3′ untranslated region (3′-UTR) of VEGFA and decreased its expression. These data suggest that H19 can enhance CNV progression by inhibiting miR-29c, which negatively regulates VEGFA. This novel regulatory axis may serve as a potential therapeutic target for CNV.

Oligonucleotide Therapeutics as a New Class of Drugs for Malignant Brain Tumors: Targeting mRNAs, Regulatory RNAs, Mutations, Combinations, and Beyond

Malignant brain tumors are rapidly progressive and often fatal owing to resistance to therapies and based on their complex biology, heterogeneity, and isolation from systemic circulation. Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumor, has high mortality, and affects both children and adults. Despite significant advances in understanding the pathology, multiple clinical trials employing various treatment strategies have failed. With much expanded knowledge of the GBM genome, epigenome, and transcriptome, the field of neuro-oncology is getting closer to achieve breakthrough-targeted molecular therapies. Current developments of oligonucleotide chemistries for CNS applications make this new class of drugs very attractive for targeting molecular pathways dysregulated in brain tumors and are anticipated to vastly expand the spectrum of currently targetable molecules. In this chapter, we will overview the molecular landscape of malignant gliomas and explore the most prominent molecular targets (mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and genomic mutations) that provide opportunities for the development of oligonucleotide therapeutics for this class of neurologic diseases. Because malignant brain tumors focally disrupt the blood-brain barrier, this class of diseases might be also more susceptible to systemic treatments with oligonucleotides than other neurologic disorders and, thus, present an entry point for the oligonucleotide therapeutics to the CNS. Nevertheless, delivery of oligonucleotides remains a crucial part of the treatment strategy. Finally, synthetic gRNAs guiding CRISPR-Cas9 editing technologies have a tremendous potential to further expand the applications of oligonucleotide therapeutics and take them beyond RNA targeting.

Targeting epigenetics and non-coding RNAs in atherosclerosis: from mechanisms to therapeutics

Atherosclerosis, the principal cause of cardiovascular death worldwide, is a pathological disease characterized by fibro-proliferation, chronic inflammation, lipid accumulation, and immune disorder in the vessel wall. As the atheromatous plaques develop into advanced stage, the vulnerable plaques are prone to rupture, which causes acute cardiovascular events, including ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction. Emerging evidence has suggested that atherosclerosis is also an epigenetic disease with the interplay of multiple epigenetic mechanisms. The epigenetic basis of atherosclerosis has transformed our knowledge of epigenetics from an important biological phenomenon to a burgeoning field in cardiovascular research. Here, we provide a systematic and up-to-date overview of the current knowledge of three distinct but interrelated epigenetic processes (including DNA methylation, histone methylation/acetylation, and non-coding RNAs), in atherosclerotic plaque development and instability. Mechanistic and conceptual advances in understanding the biological roles of various epigenetic modifiers in regulating gene expression and functions of endothelial cells (vascular homeostasis, leukocyte adhesion, endothelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and mechanotransduction), smooth muscle cells (proliferation, migration, inflammation, hypertrophy, and phenotypic switch), and macrophages (differentiation, inflammation, foam cell formation, and polarization) are discussed. The inherently dynamic nature and reversibility of epigenetic regulation, enables the possibility of epigenetic therapy by targeting epigenetic "writers", "readers", and "erasers". Several Food Drug Administration-approved small-molecule epigenetic drugs show promise in pre-clinical studies for the treatment of atherosclerosis. Finally, we discuss potential therapeutic implications and challenges for future research involving cardiovascular epigenetics, with an aim to provide a translational perspective for identifying novel biomarkers of atherosclerosis, and transforming precision cardiovascular research and disease therapy in modern era of epigenetics.

LncRNA MALAT1 up-regulates VEGF-A and ANGPT2 to promote angiogenesis in brain microvascular endothelial cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation via targetting miR-145

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability around the world. Angiogenesis is supposed to protect brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) from oxidative and ischemic stress. Previous studies indicated that interaction between metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and miR-145 was involved in myocardial ischemia reperfusion, suggesting MALAT1 and miR-145 were also mediated with the progress of angiogenesis and cell migration in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced BMECs. The present study aimed to investigate the functional roles of MALAT1 in regulating miR-145 and its downstream pro-angiogenesis factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and Angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) during the progress of angiogenesis in OGD-induced BMECs. An in vitro OGD model was employed in mouse BMECs to mimic brain hypoxic and ischemic conditions; MTT was used to determine cell viability. qRT-PCR was used to determine the expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-MALAT1 and miR-145 under OGD conditions; in vitro tube formation assay was used to investigate angiogenic effect of MALAT1 and miR-145 The relationship between lncRNA-MALAT1/miR-145 and miR-145/VEGF-A/ANGPT2 was evaluated by qRT-PCR and Western blot, and direct binding was assessed using dual luciferase assay. Results showed that the levels of lncRNA-MALAT1 and miR-145 were up-regulated in OGD-induced BMECs. miR-145 functioned as an anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic factor in OGD treated BMECs via down-regulating VEGF-A and ANGPT2 directly. While lncRNA-MALAT1 enhanced the expressions of VEGF-A and ANGPT2 by targetting miR-145 to promote angiogenesis and proliferation of BMECs under OGD conditions. Our present study revealed the inhibitory functions of miR-145 on angiogenesis through direct targetting on VEGF-A and ANGPT2 for the first time and proved the protective role of lncRNA-MALAT1 for BMECs under OGD conditions through the direct regulation of miR-145.

Role of flow-sensitive microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in vascular dysfunction and atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the primary underlying cause of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and peripheral artery disease. The disease preferentially occurs in arterial regions exposed to disturbed blood flow, in part, by altering expression of flow-sensitive coding- and non-coding genes. In this review, we summarize the role of noncoding RNAs, [microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)], as regulators of gene expression and outline their relationship to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. While miRNAs are small noncoding genes that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by targeting mRNA transcripts, the lncRNAs regulate gene expression by diverse mechanisms, which are still emerging and incompletely understood. We focused on multiple flow-sensitive miRNAs such as, miR-10a, -19a, -23b, -17~92, -21, -663, -92a, -143/145, -101, -126, -712, -205, and -155 that play a critical role in endothelial function and atherosclerosis by targeting inflammation, cell cycle, proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and nitric oxide signaling. Flow-dependent regulation of lncRNAs is just emerging, and their role in vascular dysfunction and atherosclerosis is unknown. Here, we discuss the flow-sensitive lncRNA STEEL along with other lncRNAs studied in the context of vascular pathophysiology and atherosclerosis such as MALAT1, MIAT1, ANRIL, MYOSLID, MEG3, SENCR, SMILR, LISPR1, and H19. Also discussed is the use of these noncoding RNAs as potential biomarkers and therapeutics to reduce and regress atherosclerosis.

MiR-9 promotes tumorigenesis and angiogenesis and is activated by MYC and OCT4 in human glioma

BACKGROUND

Glioma, characterized by its undesirable prognosis and poor survival rate, is a serious threat to human health and lives. MicroRNA-9 (miR-9) is implicated in the regulation of multiple tumors, while the mechanisms underlying its aberrant expression and functional alterations in human glioma are still controversial.

METHODS

Expressions of miR-9 were measured in GEO database, patient specimens and glioma cell lines. Gain- and loss-of-function assays were applied to identify the effects of miR-9 on glioma cells and HUVECs in vitro and in vivo. Potential targets of miR-9 were predicted by bioinformatics and further verified via in vitro experiments. Transcriptional regulation of miR-9 by MYC and OCT4 was determined in glioma cells.

RESULTS

MiR-9 was frequently up-regulated in glioma specimens and cells, and could significantly enhance proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells. In addition, miR-9 could be secreted from glioma cells via exosomes and was then absorbed by vascular endothelial cells, leading to an increase in angiogenesis. COL18A1, THBS2, PTCH1 and PHD3 were verified as the direct targets of miR-9, which could elucidate the miR-9-induced malignant phenotypes in glioma cells. MYC and OCT4 were able to bind to the promoter region of miR-9 to trigger its transcription.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight that miR-9 is pivotal for glioma pathogenesis and can be treated as a potential therapeutic target for glioma.

Long Noncoding RNA-H19 Contributes to Atherosclerosis and Induces Ischemic Stroke via the Upregulation of Acid Phosphatase 5

Objective: Atherosclerosis is closely associated with ischemic stroke, and long noncoding RNA-H19 (lncRNA-H19) might be a potential target for treating atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to investigate the function of lncRNA-H19 in atherosclerosis and to explore a novel therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in atherosclerosis were screened by searching public database. In combination with the lncRNA-H19-knockout database, potential lncRNA-H19-mediated gene was retrieved and their relationship was identified. In order to assess the detailed regulatory mechanism of lncRNA-H19, we used a lentivirus packaging system to upregulate Acp5 (Acid phosphatase 5) expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The expression of ACP5 was determined by Western Blot, and evaluations of cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected. An ischemic stroke mouse model was established. Atherosclerosis was measured by using plaque area size. The effects H19 on the expression of ACP5 were explored by the overexpression or silence of H19. Results: H19 and ACP5 were associated with Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) subtypes of atherosclerotic patients. The target prediction program and dual-luciferase reporter confirmed ACP5 as a direct target of H19. Lentivirus-mediated H19-forced expression upregulated ACP5 protein levels, promoted cell proliferation and suppressed the apoptosis. The plaque area size was larger in ischemic models than controls. The overexpression or silence of H19 increased or reduced the plaque size. The overexpression or silence of H19 resulted in the expression or inhibition of ACP5. Conclusion: IncRNA-H19 promoting ACP5 protein expression contributed to atherosclerosis and increased the risk of ischemic stroke.

Intricate crosstalk between MYC and non-coding RNAs regulates hallmarks of cancer

Myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (MYC) plays an important role in the regulation of many cellular processes, and its expression is tightly regulated at the level of transcription, translation, protein stability, and activity. Despite this tight regulation, MYC is overexpressed in many cancers and contributes to multiple hallmarks of cancer. In recent years, it has become clear that noncoding RNAs add a crucial additional layer to the regulation of MYC and its downstream effects. So far, twenty-five microRNAs and eighteen long noncoding RNAs that regulate MYC have been identified. Thirty-three miRNAs and nineteen lncRNAs are downstream effectors of MYC that contribute to the broad oncogenic role of MYC, including its effects on diverse hallmarks of cancer. In this review, we give an overview of this extensive, multilayered noncoding RNA network that exists around MYC. Current data clearly show explicit roles of crosstalk between MYC and ncRNAs to allow tumorigenesis.

Non-Coding RNAs in Glioma

Glioma is the most aggressive brain tumor of the central nervous system. The ability of glioma cells to migrate, rapidly diffuse and invade normal adjacent tissue, their sustained proliferation, and heterogeneity contribute to an overall survival of approximately 15 months for most patients with high grade glioma. Numerous studies indicate that non-coding RNA species have critical functions across biological processes that regulate glioma initiation and progression. Recently, new data emerged, which shows that the cross-regulation between long non-coding RNAs and small non-coding RNAs contribute to phenotypic diversity of glioblastoma subclasses. In this paper, we review data of long non-coding RNA expression, which was evaluated in human glioma tissue samples during a five-year period. Thus, this review summarizes the following: (I) the role of non-coding RNAs in glioblastoma pathogenesis, (II) the potential application of non-coding RNA species in glioma-grading, (III) crosstalk between lncRNAs and miRNAs (IV) future perspectives of non-coding RNAs as biomarkers for glioma.

Long non-coding RNAs in hematological malignancies: translating basic techniques into diagnostic and therapeutic strategies

Recent studies have revealed that non-coding regions comprise the vast majority of the human genome and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a diverse class of non-coding RNAs that has been implicated in a variety of biological processes. Abnormal expression of lncRNAs has also been linked to different human diseases including cancers, yet the regulatory mechanisms and functional effects of lncRNAs are still ambiguous, and the molecular details also need to be confirmed. Unlike protein-coding gene, it is much more challenging to unravel the roles of lncRNAs owing to their unique and complex features such as functional diversity and low conservation among species, which greatly hamper their experimental characterization. In this review, we summarize and discuss both conventional and advanced approaches for the identification and functional characterization of lncRNAs related to hematological malignancies. In particular, the utility and advancement of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas system as gene-editing tools are envisioned to facilitate the molecular dissection of lncRNAs via different knock-in/out strategies. Besides experimental considerations specific to lncRNAs, the roles of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis and progression of leukemia are also highlighted in the review. We expect that these insights may ultimately lead to clinical applications including development of biomarkers and novel therapeutic approaches targeting lncRNAs.

Autologous blood transfusion augments impaired wound healing in diabetic mice by enhancing lncRNA H19 expression via the HIF-1α signaling pathway

Background

Impaired wound healing frequently occurs in diabetes mellitus (DM) and is implicated in impaired angiogenesis. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 has been reported as being reduced in DM and played a critical role in inducing angiogenesis. Thus, we hypothesized that H19 may affect impaired wound healing in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice transfused with autologous blood preserved in standard preservative fluid or modified preservative fluid.

Methods

Fibroblasts in injured skin were isolated and cultured in vitro. After location of H19 in fibroblasts using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), RNA-pull down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), Co immunoprecipitation (COIP) and dual luciferase reporter gene assay were used to verify the binding of H19 to HIF-1α.

Results

The modified preservative fluid preserved autologous blood increased the H19 expression in fibroblasts, and maintained better oxygen-carrying and oxygen release capacities as well as coagulation function. Furthermore, H19 promoted HIF-1α histone H3K4me3 methylation and increased HIF-1α expression by recruiting EZH2. H19 promoted fibroblast activation by activating HIF-1α signaling pathway in fibroblasts and enhanced wound healing in diabetic mice.

Conclusions

Taken together, H19 accelerated fibroblast activation by recruiting EZH2-mediated histone methylation and modulating the HIF-1α signaling pathway, whereby augmenting the process of modified preservative fluid preserved autologous blood enhancing the postoperative wound healing in diabetic mice.

Long noncoding RNA AC003092.1 promotes temozolomide chemosensitivity through miR-195/TFPI-2 signaling modulation in glioblastoma

Temozolomide (TMZ) and radiation therapy combination for glioblastoma (GB) patients has been considered as the most effective therapy after surgical procedure. However, the overall clinical prognosis remains unsatisfactory due to intrinsic or developing resistance to TMZ. Recently, increasing evidence suggested that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in various biological processes of tumors, and have been implicated in resistance to various drugs. However, the role of lncRNAs in TMZ resistance is poorly understood. Here, we found that the expression of lncRNA AC003092.1 was markedly decreased in TMZ resistance (TR) of GB cells (U87TR and U251TR) compared with their parental cells (U87 and U251). In patients with glioma, low levels of lncRNA AC003092.1 were correlated with increased TMZ resistance, higher risk of relapse, and poor prognosis. Overexpression of lncRNA AC003092.1 enhances TMZ sensitivity, facilitates cell apoptosis, and inhibits cell proliferation in TMZ-resistant GB cells. In addition, we identified that lncRNA AC003092.1 regulates TMZ chemosensitivity through TFPI-2-mediated cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, further investigation revealed that lncRNA AC003092.1 regulates TFPI-2 expression through miR-195 in GB. Taken together, these data suggest that lncRNA AC003092.1 could inhibit the function of miR-195 by acting as an endogenous CeRNA, leading to increased expression of TFPI-2; this promotes TMZ-induced apoptosis, thereby making GB cells more sensitive to TMZ. Our findings indicate that overexpression of lncRNA AC003092.1 may be a potential therapy to overcome TMZ resistance in GB patients.

Targeting Long Noncoding RNA in Glioma: A Pathway Perspective

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate extensively in biological processes of various cancers. The majority of these transcripts are uniquely expressed in differentiated tissues or specific cancer types. lncRNAs are aberrantly expressed in gliomas and exert diverse functions. In this article, we provided an overview of how lncRNAs regulate cellular processes in glioma, enumerated the lncRNAs that may act as glioma biomarkers, and showed their potential clinical implications.