H19 lncRNA mediates 17β-estradiol-induced cell proliferation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Cancer subtypes classification using long non-coding RNA

Inter-tumor heterogeneity might explain divergent clinical evolution of cancers bearing similar pathological features. In the last decade, genomic has highly improved tumor subtypes classification through the identification of oncogenic or tumor suppressor drivers. In addition, epigenetics and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as new fields for investigation, which might also account for tumor heterogeneity. There is growing evidence that modifications of lncRNA expression profiles are involved in cancer progression through epigenetic regulation, activation of pro-oncogenic pathways and crosstalks with other RNA subtypes. Consequently, the study of lncRNA expression profile will be a key factor in the future for charting cancer subtype classifications as well as defining prognostic and progression biomarkers. Herein we discuss the interest of lncRNA as potent prognostic and predictive biomarkers, and provide a glimpse on the impact of emerging cancer subtypes classification based on lncRNAs.

Insights into the Regulatory Role of Non-coding RNAs in Cancer Metabolism

Cancer represents a complex disease originated from alterations in several genes leading to disturbances in important signaling pathways in tumor biology, favoring heterogeneity that promotes adaptability and pharmacological resistance of tumor cells. Metabolic reprogramming has emerged as an important hallmark of cancer characterized by the presence of aerobic glycolysis, increased glutaminolysis and fatty acid biosynthesis, as well as an altered mitochondrial energy production. The metabolic switches that support energetic requirements of cancer cells are closely related to either activation of oncogenes or down-modulation of tumor-suppressor genes, finally leading to dysregulation of cell proliferation, metastasis and drug resistance signals. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as one important kind of molecules that can regulate altered genes contributing, to the establishment of metabolic reprogramming. Moreover, diverse metabolic signals can regulate ncRNA expression and activity at genetic, transcriptional, or epigenetic levels. The regulatory landscape of ncRNAs may provide a new approach for understanding and treatment of different types of malignancies. In this review we discuss the regulatory role exerted by ncRNAs on metabolic enzymes and pathways involved in glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism. We also review how metabolic stress conditions and tumoral microenvironment influence ncRNA expression and activity. Furthermore, we comment on the therapeutic potential of metabolism-related ncRNAs in cancer.

Long Noncoding RNAs as Targets and Regulators of Nuclear Receptors

Intensive research has been directed at the discovery, biogenesis, and expression patterns of long noncoding RNAs , yet their biochemical functions have remained elusive for the most part. Nuclear receptors that interpret signaling mediated by small molecule hormones play a role in regulating the expression of some long noncoding RNAs. More importantly, these RNAs have also been shown to effect hormone-affected gene transcription regulated by the nuclear receptors. In this chapter, we summarize the current knowledge that has been acquired on hormonal signaling inducing expression of long noncoding RNAs and how they then may act in trans or in cis to modulate gene transcription. We highlight a few of these noncoding RNA molecules in terms of how they may impact hormone-driven cancers. Future directions critical for moving this field forward are presented, with a clear emphasis on the need for better biochemical approaches to address the mechanism of action of these exciting RNAs.

Long noncoding RNA H19 controls DUSP5/ERK1/2 axis in cardiac fibroblast proliferation and fibrosis

Down-regulation of DUSP5 has been shown to increase cell proliferation. DUSP5 expression is regulated through epigenetic events involving LncRNA H19 human choriocarcinoma cell line. However, the molecular mechanisms of H19 modulating the DUSP5 expression in cardiac fibrosis remain largely unknown. Here, we identify H19 negatively regulation of DUSP5 gene expression in cardiac fibroblast and fibrosis tissues. In vivo, the expression levels of H19, DUSP5, α-SMA, p-ERK1/2, and ERK1/2 in cardiac fibrosis tissue were estimated by Western blotting, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. In vitro stimulation of freshly isolated rat cardiac fibroblasts with recombinant marine TGF-β1 was performed, followed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting to detect changes in H19, DUSP5, p-ERK1/2, and ERK1/2 levels. Cardiac fibroblasts were transfected with pEX-3-H19 overexpressing, H19-RNAi down-regulating, or pEGFP-C1-DUSP5 overexpressing. Finally, cell proliferation was assessed by the MTT assay and cell cycle. H19 endogenous expression is overexpressed in cardiac fibroblast and fibrosis tissues, and an opposite pattern is observed for DUSP5. H19 ectopic overexpression reduces DUSP5 abundance and increases the proliferation of cardiac fibroblast, whereas H19 silencing causes the opposite effects. In a broader perspective, these results demonstrated that LncRNA H19 contributes to cardiac fibroblast proliferation and fibrosis, which act in part through repression of DUSP5/ERK1/2.

Long Noncoding RNAs Regulate Cell Growth, Proliferation, and Apoptosis

The revolutionary findings in nonprotein-coding part of human genome analysis have revealed a large number of RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that lack coding protein function, termed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Recently, accumulating shreds of evidence suggest that lncRNAs are widely distributed in human genome and deeply involved in cellular activities such as cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. Generally, lncRNAs regulate cell behaviors by targeting cell cycle-associated cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), and/or CDK inhibitors. Specifically, lncRNAs serve as scaffolds or guides for chromatin-modifying complexes and act as signals in response to DNA damage. In addition, lncRNAs function as protein decoys and microRNA decoys, as well as interveners in cell division by modulating oncogenes and/or tumor suppressors. In this review, we mainly focus on the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms, how lncRNAs influence cellular processes and cancer progression. Finally, we also prospect the limitations of lncRNAs in cell behaviors and the novel roles of lncRNAs in epigenetic regulations.

Long noncoding RNAs related to the odontogenic potential of dental mesenchymal cells in mice

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to identify the lncRNAs that are associated with the odontogenic potential in mouse dental mesenchymal cells.

DESIGN

The odontogenic potential of dental mesenchymal cells was found to be lost in the course of in vitro culture, so the lncRNA profiles were subsequently compared between freshly-isolated and cultured dental mesenchymal cells using RNA-sequencing. A co-expression analysis of differentially expressed lncRNAs and coding RNAs was performed to understand their potential functions. The expression of several selected lncRNAs was also examined in developing tooth germs.

RESULTS

Compared with cultured dental mesenchymal cells, 108 lncRNAs were upregulated and 36 lncRNAs were downregulated in freshly-isolated dental mesenchymal cells. Coding genes correlated with the lncRNAs were mainly associated with DNA and protein metabolic processes and cytoskeletal anchorage. Meg3, Malat1, Xist, and Dlx1as were significantly downregulated in cultured dental mesenchymal cells but were upregulated in odontogenic dental mesenchymal tissues. Moreover, the levels of Dlx1as were negatively correlated with that of Dlx1 in dental mesenchymal cells and dental mesenchymal tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

The lncRNA profiles of dental mesenchymal cells are significantly changed during culturing, and the dysregulation of lncRNAs is associated with the loss of odontogenic potential.

Long noncoding RNAs in aging and age-related diseases

Aging is the universal, intrinsic, genetically-controlled, evolutionarily-conserved and time-dependent intricate biological process characterised by the cumulative decline in the physiological functions and their coordination in an organism after the attainment of adulthood resulting in the imbalance of neurological, immunological and metabolic functions of the body. Various biological processes and mechanisms along with altered levels of mRNAs and proteins have been reported to be involved in the progression of aging. It is one of the major risk factors in the patho-physiology of various diseases and disorders. Recently, the discovery of pervasive transcription of a vast pool of heterogeneous regulatory noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including small ncRNAs (sncRNAs) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), in the mammalian genome have provided an alternative way to study and explore the missing links in the aging process, its mechanism(s) and related diseases in a whole new dimension. The involvement of small noncoding RNAs in aging and age-related diseases have been extensively studied and recently reviewed. However, lncRNAs, whose function is far less explored in relation to aging, have emerged as a class of major regulators of genomic functions. Here, we have described some examples of known as well as novel lncRNAs that have been implicated in the progression of the aging process and age-related diseases. This may further stimulate research on noncoding RNAs and the aging process.

LincRNA1230 inhibits the differentiation of mouse ES cells towards neural progenitors

In vitro, mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate into many somatic cell types, including neurons and glial cells. When cultured in serum-free medium, ES cells convert spontaneously and efficiently to a neural fate. Previous studies have shown that the neural conversion of mouse ES cells includes both the participation of neural-specific transcription factors and the regulation of epigenetic modifications. However, the intracellular mechanism underlying this intrinsic transition still remains to be further elucidated. Herein, we describe a long intergenic non-coding RNA, LincRNA1230, which participates in the regulation of the neural lineage specification of mouse ES cells. The ectopic forced expression of LincRNA1230 dramatically inhibited mouse ES cells from adopting a neural cell fate, while LincRNA1230 knockdown promoted the conversion of mouse ES cells towards neural progenitors. Mechanistic studies have shown that LincRNA1230 inhibits the activation of early neural genes, such as Pax6 and Sox1, through the modulation of bivalent modifications (tri-methylation of histone3 lysine4 and histone3 lysine27) at the promoters of these genes. The interaction of LincRNA1230 with Wdr5 blocked the localization of Wdr5 at the promoters of early neural genes, thereby inhibiting the enrichment of H3K4me3 modifications at these loci. Collectively, these findings revealed a crucial role for LincRNA1230 in the regulation of the neural differentiation of mouse ES cells.

Long noncoding RNAs in gastric cancer: functions and clinical applications

Over the last two decades, genome-wide studies have revealed that only a small fraction of the human genome encodes proteins; long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) account for 98% of the total genome. These RNA molecules, which are >200 nt in length, play important roles in diverse biological processes, including the immune response, stem cell pluripotency, cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, invasion, and metastasis by regulating gene expression at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and posttranscriptional levels. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying lncRNA function are only partially understood. Recent studies showed that many lncRNAs are aberrantly expressed in gastric cancer (GC) tissues, gastric juice, plasma, and cells, and these alterations are linked to the occurrence, progression, and outcome of GC. Here, we review the current knowledge of the biological functions and clinical aspects of lncRNAs in GC.

Genetic Polymorphisms in Long Noncoding RNA H19 Are Associated With Susceptibility to Breast Cancer in Chinese Population

H19, a maternally expressed imprinted gene transcribing a long noncoding RNA, has previously been reported to be involved in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, the association between the H19 polymorphisms and breast cancer (BC) susceptibility has remained elusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between 2 H19 haplotype tagging SNPs (rs3741219 T>C, rs217727 C>T) and the risk of breast cancer. Our study comprised 464 BC patients and 467 cancer-free controls in China. rs3741219 and rs217727 were genotyped with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and created restriction site PCR (CRS-RFLP) assays, respectively. False-positive report probability (FPRP) was calculated to test the false-positive association. On performing univariate analysis, no significant association between H19 polymorphisms (rs3741219 and rs217727) and BC was observed. However, in further stratified analyses, CT+TT genotypes of rs217727 had a significantly lower risk of breast cancer among women with number of pregnancy >2 (OR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.55-0.97). CT genotype of rs217727 was associated with ER positivity (OR = 2.19; 95 % CI = 1.07-4.45) and HER-2 positivity (OR = 1.34; 95 % CI = 1.05-2.12). It was proved that our results were less likely to be false positives according to false-positive report probability calculation. Our findings extend available data on the association of H19 polymorphisms and BC susceptibility. Further validation in large population or cohort studies is needed.