MiRNA‐27a decreases ultraviolet B irradiation‐induced cell damage

Role of non‑coding RNAs in UV‑induced radiation effects (Review)

Ultraviolet (UV) is divided into UVA (long-wave, 320-400 nm), UVB (middle-wave, 280-320 nm) and UVC (short-wave, 100-280 nm) based on wavelength. UV radiation (UVR) from sunlight (UVA + UVB) is a major cause of skin photodamage including skin inflammation, aging and pigmentation. Accidental exposure to UVC burns the skin and induces skin cancer. In addition to the skin, UV radiation can also impair visual function. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of functional RNAs that do not have coding activity but can control cellular processes at the post-transcriptional level, including microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and circulatory RNA (circRNA). Through a review of the literature, it was determined that UVR can affect the expression of various ncRNAs, and that this regulation may be wavelength specific. Functionally, ncRNAs participate in the regulation of photodamage through various pathways and play pathogenic or protective regulatory roles. In addition, ncRNAs that are upregulated or downregulated by UVR can serve as biomarkers for UV-induced diseases, aiding in diagnosis and prognosis assessment. Therapeutic strategies targeting ncRNAs, including the use of natural drugs and their extracts, have shown protective effects against UV-induced photodamage. In the present review, an extensive summarization of previous studies was performed and the role and mechanism of ncRNAs in UV-induced radiation effects was reviewed to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of UV-related diseases.

Emerging roles of noncoding RNAs in human cancers

Studies have found that RNA encoding proteins only account for a small part of the total number, most RNA is non-coding RNA, and non-coding RNA may affect the occurrence and development of human cancers by affecting gene expression, therefore play an important role in human pathology. At present, ncRNAs studied include miRNA, circRNA, lncRNA, piRNA, and snoRNA, etc. After decades of research, the basic role of these ncRNAs in many cancers has been clear. As far as we know, the role of miRNAs in cancer is one of the hottest research directions, however, it is also found that the imbalance of ncRNAs will affect the occurrence of gastric cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, meanwhile, it may also affect the prognosis of these cancers. Therefore, the study of ncRNAs in cancers may help to find new cancer diagnostic and treatment methods. Here, we reviewed the biosynthesis and characteristics of miRNA, cricRNA, and lncRNA etc., their roles in human cancers, as well as the mechanism through which these ncRNAs affect human cancers.

Non-coding RNAs in photoaging-related mechanisms: a new paradigm in skin health

The aging of skin is a biological process affected by environmental or genetic factors. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main environmental factor causing skin aging. Cumulative UV-induced photodamage of the skin tissue is associated with premature cellular senescence, extracellular degradation, and inflammatory responses in photoaging processes. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are untranslated transcripts and master regulators of protein-coding genes. ncRNAs have a critical regulatory role in maintaining skin structure, skin barrier function, morphogenesis, and development. Altered ncRNA expression has been reported in various skin disorders such as photoaging and skin cancers. ncRNAs contribute to the suppression and promotion of photoaging by modulating signaling pathways such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and regulating inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and senescence-associated genes. Elucidation of the functions of ncRNAs will improve the identification of molecular mechanisms underlying photoaging, and can be used in the development of therapeutic approaches in skin health and prevention of sun-induced aging. This review summarized the currently described ncRNAs and their functions in photoaging.

Structural and Functional Changes and Possible Molecular Mechanisms in Aged Skin

Skin aging is a complex process influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Together, these factors affect the structure and function of the epidermis and dermis. Histologically, aging skin typically shows epidermal atrophy due to decreased cell numbers. The dermis of aged skin shows decreased numbers of mast cells and fibroblasts. Fibroblast senescence contributes to skin aging by secreting a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which decreases proliferation by impairing the release of essential growth factors and enhancing degradation of the extracellular matrix through activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Several molecular mechanisms affect skin aging including telomere shortening, oxidative stress and MMP, cytokines, autophagic control, microRNAs, and the microbiome. Accumulating evidence on the molecular mechanisms of skin aging has provided clinicians with a wide range of therapeutic targets for treating aging skin.

miR-96-5p: A potential diagnostic marker for gestational diabetes mellitus

MicroRNAs play important roles in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and this study aimed to elucidate the clinical significance of miR-96-5p in diagnosing GDM.There are 123 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM and 123 healthy pregnant women were enrolled as control participants. Placenta and plasma samples from the patients and control participants were collected, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to determine miR-96-5p expression levels. Moreover, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established to evaluate the significance of miR-96-5p in diagnosing GDM. HRT-8/SVneo trophoblasts were cultured under high glucose conditions and treated with miR-96-5p mimics, and cell viability was examined.miR-96-5p levels were significantly decreased in both the placenta and plasma samples of patients with GDM. The ROC curve indicated that miR-96-5p can serve as a diagnostic biomarker for GDM with high sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, miR-96-5p levels were markedly low under high glucose conditions, and the overexpression of miR-96-5p increased the viability, respectively, of trophoblasts in vitro.miR-96-5p may participate in the pathogenesis of GDM by exerting effects on the viability of trophoblasts.

The Role of microRNAs in Organismal and Skin Aging

The aging process starts directly after birth and lasts for the entire lifespan; it manifests itself with a decline in an organism’s ability to adapt and is linked to the development of age-related diseases that eventually lead to premature death. This review aims to explore how microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in skin functioning and aging. Recent evidence has suggested that miRNAs regulate all aspects of cutaneous biogenesis, functionality, and aging. It has been noted that some miRNAs were down-regulated in long-lived individuals, such as let-7, miR-17, and miR-34 (known as longevity-related miRNAs). They are conserved in humans and presumably promote lifespan prolongation; conversely, they are up-regulated in age-related diseases, like cancers. The analysis of the age-associated cutaneous miRNAs revealed the increased expression of miR-130, miR-138, and miR-181a/b in keratinocytes during replicative senescence. These miRNAs affected cell proliferation pathways via targeting the p63 and Sirtuin 1 mRNAs. Notably, miR-181a was also implicated in skin immunosenescence, represented by the Langerhans cells. Dermal fibroblasts also expressed increased the levels of the biomarkers of aging that affect telomere maintenance and all phases of the cellular life cycle, such as let-7, miR-23a-3p, 34a-5p, miR-125a, miR-181a-5p, and miR-221/222-3p. Among them, the miR-34 family, stimulated by ultraviolet B irradiation, deteriorates collagen in the extracellular matrix due to the activation of the matrix metalloproteinases and thereby potentiates wrinkle formation. In addition to the pro-aging effects of miRNAs, the plausible antiaging activity of miR-146a that antagonized the UVA-induced inhibition of proliferation and suppressed aging-related genes (e.g., p21WAF-1, p16, and p53) through targeting Smad4 has also been noticed. Nevertheless, the role of miRNAs in skin aging is still not fully elucidated and needs to be further discovered and explained.