Silencing of long noncoding RNA MYLK-AS1 suppresses nephroblastoma via down-regulation of CCNE1 through transcription factor TCF7L2

LncRNA MYLK antisense RNA 1 activates cell division cycle 42/Neutal Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein pathway via microRNA-101-5p to accelerate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of colon cancer cells

Long noncoding RNA MYLK antisense RNA 1 (MYLK-AS1) is the crux in multiple diseases. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible mechanism of MYLK-AS1. A total of 62 colon cancer (CC) specimens and paired adjacent normal tissues were collected, and the expression of MYLK-AS1, microRNA (miR)-101-5p/cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) was detected. CC cell lines were transfected with MYLK-AS1, miR-101-5p, CDC42-related plasmids, and the biological functions and markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were analyzed. The binding relationship between MYLK-AS1, miR-101-5p, and CDC42 was evaluated. In CC tissues and cell lines, MYLK-AS1 and CDC42 were highly expressed, and miR-101-5p was lowly expressed. Inhibition of MYLK-AS1 or upregulation of miR-101-5p can inhibit CC cell growth and EMT. miR-101-5p inhibited CDC42/N-wasp axis activation in CC cells by targeting CDC42. Knockdown of CDC42 or upregulation of miR-101-5p partially reversed the effects caused by upregulation of MYLK-AS1. MYLK-AS1, which is significantly upregulated in CC, may be a molecular sponge for miR-101-5p, and MYLK-AS1 promotes the activation of the CDC42/N-wasp axis in CC cells by targeting CDC42 through miR-101-5p, which in turn promotes tumor development. MYLK-AS1 may be a potential biomarker and target for CC therapy.

Novel Long Noncoding RNAs, LINC01093 and MYLK-AS1, Serve as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers or Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most fatal human malignancies worldwide. In this research, we aimed to identify long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) as biomarkers for HCC diagnosis and prognosis. lncRNA expression profiles were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. The differentially expressed lncRNAs between HCC and adjacent tissues were analyzed with bioinformatic tools. Four lncRNAs with area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve >0.9 were selected from both datasets. Univariate and Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed to obtain LINC01093, MYLK-AS1, and MCM3AP-AS1 as the optimal diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Finally, qPCR confirmed that LINC01093 and MYLK-AS1 were significantly differentially expressed in HCC and adjacent normal tissues. In general, we demonstrated that novel lncRNAs, LINC01093 and MYLK-AS1, could be used as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for HCC.

Dysregulation of non-coding RNAs in Wilms tumor

Wilms tumor (WT) as the most frequent pediatric tumor of kidney has been shown to be associated with dysregulation of non-coding RNAs. miR-200c, miR-155-5p, miR-1180, miR-22-3p, miR-483-5p, miR-140-5p, miR-92a-3p, miR-483-3p, miR-572, miR-539 and miR-613 are among dysregulated miRNAs in this tumor. Moreover, a number of long non-coding RNAs such as CRNDE, XIST, SNHG6, MEG3, LINC00667, MEG8, DLGAP1-AS2 and SOX21-AS1 have been shown to be dysregulated in WT. Finally, distinct studies have reported down-regulation of circCDYL and up-regulation of circ0093740 and circSLC7A6 in this tumor. Dysregulation of these transcripts represents a new avenue for identification of the pathetiology of this pediatric tumor as well as design of targeted therapies.

CCNE1 is a predictive and immunotherapeutic indicator in various cancers including UCEC: a pan-cancer analysis

BACKGROUND

CCNE1 plays an important oncogenic role in several tumors, especially high-stage serous ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. Nevertheless, the fundamental function of CCNE1 has not been explored in multiple cancers. Therefore, bioinformatics analyses of pan-cancer datasets were carried out to explore how CCNE1 regulates tumorigenesis.

METHODS

A variety of online tools and cancer databases, including GEPIA2, SangerBox, LinkedOmics and cBioPortal, were applied to investigate the expression of CCNE1 across cancers. The pan-cancer datasets were used to search for links between CCNE1 expression and prognosis, DNA methylation, m6A level, genetic alterations, CCNE1-related genes, and tumor immunity. We verified that CCNE1 has biological functions in UCEC cell lines using CCK-8, EdU, and Transwell assays.

RESULTS

In patients with different tumor types, a high mRNA expression level of CCNE1 was related to a poor prognosis. Genes related to CCNE1 were connected to the cell cycle, metabolism, and DNA damage repair, according to GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. Genetic alterations of CCNE1, including duplications and deep mutations, have been observed in various cancers. Immune analysis revealed that CCNE1 had a strong correlation with TMB, MSI, neoantigen, and ICP in a variety of tumor types, and this correlation may have an impact on the sensitivity of various cancers to immunotherapy. CCK-8, EdU and Transwell assays suggested that CCNE1 knockdown can suppress UCEC cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that CCNE1 is upregulated in multiple cancers in the TCGA database and may be a promising predictive biomarker for the immunotherapy response in some types of cancers. Moreover, CCNE1 knockdown can suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion of UCEC cells.

Long non-coding RNA DLX6-AS1 is the key mediator of glomerular podocyte injury and albuminuria in diabetic nephropathy by targeting the miR-346/GSK-3β signaling pathway

Progressive albuminuria is the primary clinical symptom of diabetic nephropathy (DN), leading to a gradual decline in kidney function. DLX6-AS1 was the first reported long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) to participate in organogenesis and play crucial roles in the brain or neural cell development. Herein, we investigated the DLX6-AS1 (Dlx6-os1 in mice) role in DN pathogenesis. We found that DLX6-AS1 expression in DN patients correlated with the extent of albuminuria. Dlx6-os1 overexpression induced cellular damage and inflammatory responses in cultured podocytes through miR-346-mediated regulation of the GSK-3β pathway. In various established diabetic and newly developed knockout mouse models, Dlx6-os1 knockdown/knockout significantly reduced podocyte injury and albuminuria. The Dlx6-os1 effects were remarkably modulated by miR-346 mimics or mutants and significantly diminished in podocyte-specific GSK-3β-knockout mice. Thus, DLX6-AS1 (Dlx6-os1) promotes DN development by accelerating podocyte injury and inflammation through the upregulation of the GSK-3β pathway, providing a novel molecular target for DN therapy.

A novel cuproptosis-related LncRNA signature: Prognostic and therapeutic value for low grade glioma

Background

As a common primary intracranial tumor, the diagnosis and therapy of low-grade glioma (LGG) remains a pivotal barrier. Cuproptosis, a new way induces cell death, has attracted worldwide attention. However, the relationship between cuproptosis and LGG remains unknown. Our study is all about finding out if there are any genes related to coproptosis that can be used to predict the outcome of LGG.

Methods

RNA data and clinical information were selected from Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets and the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), 5 lncRNAs (GAS5.AS1, MYLK.AS1, AC142472.1, AC011346.1, AL359643.3) were identified by Cox univariate and multivariate regression, as well as LASSO Cox regression. In the training and test sets, a dual validation of the predictive signature comprised of these 5 lncRNAs was undertaken. The findings demonstrate that the risk model is able to predict the survival regression of LGG patients and has a good performance in either the KM curve approach or the ROC curve. GO, GSEA and KEGG were carried out to explore the possible molecular processes that affecting the prognosis of LGG. The characteristics of immune microenvironment were investigated by using CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE and ssGSEA.

Results

We identified five lncRNAs related with cuproptosis that were closely associated with the prognosis of LGG and used these five lncRNAs to develop a risk model. Using this risk model, LGG patients were then divided into high-risk and low-risk groups. The two patient groups had significantly distinct survival characteristics. Analyses of Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed that the differential genes of the two patient groups were primarily concentrated in neural active ligand-receptor interaction and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. The ssGSEA score determined the information related to immune infiltration, and the two groups were differentially expressed in immune subpopulations such as T cells and B cells as well.

Conclusion

Our study discovered 5 cuproptosis-related lncRNAs which contribute to predicting patients' survival of LGG and provide ideas for the exploration of new targets for LGG in the future.

Roles of lncRNAs in childhood cancer: Current landscape and future perspectives

According to World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the leading cause of death for children and adolescents. Leukemias, brain cancers, lymphomas and solid tumors, such as neuroblastoma, ostesarcoma and Wilms tumors are the most common types of childhood cancers. Approximately 400,000 children and adolescents between the ages of 0 and 19 are diagnosed with cancer each year worldwide. The cancer incidence rates have been rising for the past few decades. Generally, the prognosis of childhood cancers is favorable, but the survival rate for many unresectable or recurring cancers is substantially worse. Although random genetic mutations, persistent infections, and environmental factors may serve as contributing factors for many pediatric malignancies, the underlying mechanisms are yet unknown. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of transcripts with longer than 200 nucleotides that lack the coding capacity. However, increasing evidence indicates that lncRNAs play vital regulatory roles in cancer initiation and development in both adults and children. In particular, many lncRNAs are stable in cancer patients' body fluids such as blood and urine, suggesting that they could be used as novel biomarkers. In support of this notion, lncRNAs have been identified in liquid biopsy samples from pediatric cancer patients. In this review, we look at the regulatory functions and underlying processes of lncRNAs in the initiation and progression of children cancer and discuss the potential of lncRNAs as biomarkers for early detection. We hope that this article will help researchers explore lncRNA functions and clinical applications in pediatric cancers.

MicroRNA-22-3p targeted regulating transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) constrains the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and malignant behavior in osteosarcoma

Various studies have manifested that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the modulation of the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma (OS). However, whether miR-22-3p is associated with OS growth remains unclear. In the study, the potential molecular mechanisms of miR-22-3p in OS was explored. It was affirmed that miR-22-3p was associated with distant metastasis and tumor size in OS patients, and reduced in OS tissues and cells while transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) was elevated. Elevated miR-22-3p repressed OS cell progression, and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, while elevated TCF7L2 was opposite. MiR-22-3p targeted TCF7L2 in OS. In functional rescue experiments, knockdown of miR-22-3p on OS progression and promotion of Wnt/β-catenin were reversed by simultaneous knockdown of TCF7L2. Transplantation experiments in nude mice showed that elevated miR-22-3p repressed OS tumor growth and decreased TCF7L2, Wnt and β-catenin. Shortly, this study suggest that miR-22-3p refrains the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by targeting TCF7L2 and thereby preventing OS deterioration. MiR-22-3p/TCF7L2 axis is supposed to be a candidate molecular target for future OS treatment.

Long Non-Coding RNA Myosin Light Chain Kinase Antisense 1 Plays an Oncogenic Role in Gallbladder Carcinoma by Promoting Chemoresistance and Proliferation

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play critical roles in human tumours, including gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). However, their biological functions and molecular mechanisms in tumorigenesis and progression remain largely unknown.

Methods

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to verify the expression of lncRNA myosin light chain kinase antisense RNA 1 (MYLK-AS1) in 120 pairs of GBC tissues and paired adjacent non-tumour tissues, as well as in six different GBC cell lines (NOZ, EH-GB1, OCUG-1, GBC-SD, SGC-996 and QBC-939). Cell counting kit 8 was applied to explore cell proliferation and drug sensitivity assays. The target miRNAs (miR) of MYLK-AS1 and downstream target genes were predicted using Starbase 3.0 software and confirmed by double luciferase reporting test. The expression of proteins was assessed using Western blot assay.

Results

Here, we demonstrated that MYLK-AS1 was significantly upregulated and correlated with a poor prognosis and poor clinical characteristics in GBC. Furthermore, the forced expression of MYLK-AS1 significantly promoted GBC cell proliferation and resistance to gemcitabine in vitro. Mechanistically, MYLK-AS1 functioned as an efficient miR-217 sponge, thereby releasing the inhibition of enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 (EZH2) subunit expression. MYLK-AS1 promoted GBC cell proliferation and resistance to gemcitabine by upregulating EZH2 expression, and EZH2 was confirmed as a direct target of miR-217.

Discussion

Our results confirmed that the chemoresistant driver MYLK-AS1 might be a promising candidate as a therapeutic target for the treatment of advanced GBC.

LncRNA MYLK-AS1 acts as an oncogene by epigenetically silencing large tumor suppressor 2 (LATS2) in gastric cancer

Extensive studies showed the vital function of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the pathological and physiological progression of tumors. Previous evidence has indicated that lncRNA MYLK Antisense RNA 1 (MYLK-AS1) acts as an oncogene to facilitate the progression of several tumors. Nevertheless, little is known about its biological role in gastric cancer (GC). Our report intended to probe the underlying mechanism and function of MYLK-AS1 in GC. Results revealed that MYLK-AS1 showed an upregulated level in GC. It was worth mentioning that upregulated MYLK-AS1 caused the unfavorable clinical outcome in GC patients. Functional assays indicated that MYLK-AS1 silencing retarded the proliferation, cell cycle, migration, and invasion in GC. Besides, in vivo assay validated that MYLK-AS1 deficiency also restrained tumor growth. Through in-depth mechanism exploration, MYLK-AS1 was uncovered to bind with wnhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), an epigenetic inhibitor, to inhibit the level of Large Tumor Suppressor 2 (LATS2), thereby exerting carcinogenicity. Conclusively, our research highlighted the importance of MYLK-AS1 in GC, indicating that MYLK-AS1 might be an effective biomarker for GC.