Novel insights into the role of circular RNAs in Parkinson disease: An emerging renaissance in the management of neurodegenerative diseases

Electrochemical biosensors for early detection of breast cancer

Breast cancer continues to be a significant contributor to global cancer deaths, particularly among women. This highlights the critical role of early detection and treatment in boosting survival rates. While conventional diagnostic methods like mammograms, biopsies, ultrasounds, and MRIs are valuable tools, limitations exist in terms of cost, invasiveness, and the requirement for specialized equipment and trained personnel. Recent shifts towards biosensor technologies offer a promising alternative for monitoring biological processes and providing accurate health diagnostics in a cost-effective, non-invasive manner. These biosensors are particularly advantageous for early detection of primary tumors, metastases, and recurrent diseases, contributing to more effective breast cancer management. The integration of biosensor technology into medical devices has led to the development of low-cost, adaptable, and efficient diagnostic tools. In this framework, electrochemical screening platforms have garnered significant attention due to their selectivity, affordability, and ease of result interpretation. The current review discusses various breast cancer biomarkers and the potential of electrochemical biosensors to revolutionize early cancer detection, making provision for new diagnostic platforms and personalized healthcare solutions.

Ferroptosis contributes to the progression of female-specific neoplasms, from breast cancer to gynecological malignancies in a manner regulated by non-coding RNAs: Mechanistic implications

Ferroptosis, a recently identified type of non-apoptotic cell death, triggers the elimination of cells in the presence of lipid peroxidation and in an iron-dependent manner. Indeed, ferroptosis-stimulating factors have the ability of suppressing antioxidant capacity, leading to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the subsequent oxidative death of the cells. Ferroptosis is involved in the pathophysiological basis of different maladies, such as multiple cancers, among which female-oriented malignancies have attracted much attention in recent years. In this context, it has also been unveiled that non-coding RNA transcripts, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs have regulatory interconnections with the ferroptotic flux, which controls the pathogenic development of diseases. Furthermore, the potential of employing these RNA transcripts as therapeutic targets during the onset of female-specific neoplasms to modulate ferroptosis has become a research hotspot; however, the molecular mechanisms and functional alterations of ferroptosis still require further investigation. The current review comprehensively highlights ferroptosis and its association with non-coding RNAs with a focus on how this crosstalk affects the pathogenesis of female-oriented malignancies, from breast cancer to ovarian, cervical, and endometrial neoplasms, suggesting novel therapeutic targets to decelerate and even block the expansion and development of these tumors.

Glyphosate as a direct or indirect activator of pro-inflammatory signaling and cognitive impairment

Glyphosate-based herbicides are widely used around the world, making it likely that most humans have significant exposure. Because of habitual exposure, there are concerns about toxicity including neurotoxicity that could result in neurological, psychiatric, or cognitive impairment. We recently found that a single injection of glyphosate inhibits long-term potentiation, a cellular model of learning and memory, in rat hippocampal slices dissected 1 day after injection, indicating that glyphosate-based herbicides can alter cognitive function. Glyphosate-based herbicides could adversely affect cognitive function either indirectly and/or directly. Indirectly, glyphosate could affect gut microbiota, and if dysbiosis results in endotoxemia (leaky gut), infiltrated bacterial by-products such as lipopolysaccharides could activate pro-inflammatory cascades. Glyphosate can also directly trigger pro-inflammatory cascades. Indeed, we observed that acute glyphosate exposure inhibits long-term potentiation in rat hippocampal slices. Interestingly, direct inhibition of long-term potentiation by glyphosate appears to be similar to that of lipopolysaccharides. There are several possible measures to control dysbiosis and neuroinflammation caused by glyphosate. Dietary intake of polyphenols, such as quercetin, which overcome the inhibitory effect of glyphosate on long-term potentiation, could be one effective strategy. The aim of this narrative review is to discuss possible mechanisms underlying neurotoxicity following glyphosate exposure as a means to identify potential treatments.

Targeting autophagy can synergize the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors against therapeutic resistance: New promising strategy to reinvigorate cancer therapy

Immune checkpoints are a set of inhibitory and stimulatory molecules/mechanisms that affect the activity of immune cells to maintain the existing balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways and avoid the progression of autoimmune disorders. Tumor cells can employ these checkpoints to evade immune system. The discovery and development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) was thereby a milestone in the area of immuno-oncology. ICIs stimulate anti-tumor immune responses primarily by disrupting co-inhibitory signaling mechanisms and accelerate immune-mediated killing of tumor cells. Despite the beneficial effects of ICIs, they sometimes encounter some degrees of therapeutic resistance, and thereby do not effectively act against tumors. Among multiple combination therapies have been introduced to date, targeting autophagy, as a cellular degradative process to remove expired organelles and subcellular constituents, has represented with potential capacities to overcome ICI-related therapy resistance. It has experimentally been illuminated that autophagy induction blocks the immune checkpoint molecules when administered in conjugation with ICIs, suggesting that autophagy activation may restrict therapeutic challenges that ICIs have encountered with. However, the autophagy flux can also provoke the immune escape of tumors, which must be considered. Since the conventional FDA-approved ICIs have designed and developed to target programmed cell death receptor/ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) as well as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated molecule 4 (CTLA-4) immune checkpoint molecules, we aim to review the effects of autophagy targeting in combination with anti-PD-1/PD-L1- and anti-CTLA-4-based ICIs on cancer therapeutic resistance and tumor immune evasion.

Investigating the interplay between mitophagy and diabetic neuropathy: Uncovering the hidden secrets of the disease pathology

Mitophagy, the cellular process of selectively eliminating damaged mitochondria, plays a crucial role in maintaining metabolic balance and preventing insulin resistance, both key factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) development. When mitophagy malfunctions in diabetic neuropathy, it triggers a cascade of metabolic disruptions, including reduced energy production, increased oxidative stress, and cell death, ultimately leading to various complications. Thus, targeting mitophagy to enhance the process may have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for T2DM and its complications. Notably, plant-derived compounds with β-cell protective and mitophagy-stimulating properties offer potential as novel therapeutic agents. This review highlights the intricate mechanisms linking mitophagy dysfunction to T2DM and its complications, particularly neuropathy, elucidating potential therapeutic interventions for this debilitating disease.

Nutritional Strategies in Major Depression Disorder: From Ketogenic Diet to Modulation of the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. While traditional pharmacological treatments are effective for many cases, a significant proportion of patients do not achieve full remission or experience side effects. Nutritional interventions hold promise as an alternative or adjunctive approach, especially for treatment-resistant depression. This review examines the potential role of nutrition in managing MDD through addressing biological deficits and modulating pathways relevant to its pathophysiology. Specifically, it explores the ketogenic diet and gut microbiome modulation through various methods, including probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation. Numerous studies link dietary inadequacies to increased MDD risk and deficiencies in nutrients like omega-3 s, vitamins D and B, magnesium, and zinc. These deficiencies impact neurotransmitters, inflammation, and other biological factors in MDD. The gut-brain axis also regulates mood, stress response, and immunity, and disruptions are implicated in MDD. While medications aid acute symptoms, nutritional strategies may improve long-term outcomes by preventing relapse and promoting sustained remission. This comprehensive review aims to provide insights into nutrition's multifaceted relationship with MDD and its potential for developing more effective integrated treatment approaches.

Neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease: focus on the relationship between miRNAs and microglia

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS). Neuroinflammation is a crucial factor in the pathological advancement of PD. PD is characterized by the presence of activated microglia and increased levels of proinflammatory factors, which play a crucial role in its pathology. During the immune response of PD, microglia regulation is significantly influenced by microRNA (miRNA). The excessive activation of microglia, persistent neuroinflammation, and abnormal polarization of macrophages in the brain can be attributed to the dysregulation of certain miRNAs. Additionally, there are miRNAs that possess the ability to inhibit neuroinflammation. miRNAs, which are small non-coding epigenetic regulators, have the ability to modulate microglial activity in both normal and abnormal conditions. They also have a significant impact on promoting communication between neurons and microglia.

Non-coding RNA transcripts, incredible modulators of cisplatin chemo-resistance in bladder cancer through operating a broad spectrum of cellular processes and signaling mechanism

Bladder cancer (BC) is a highly frequent neoplasm in correlation with significant rate of morbidity, mortality, and cost. The onset of BC is predominantly triggered by environmental and/or occupational exposures to carcinogens, such as tobacco. There are two distinct pathways by which BC can be developed, including non-muscle-invasive papillary tumors (NMIBC) and non-papillary (or solid) muscle-invasive tumors (MIBC). The Cancer Genome Atlas project has further recognized key genetic drivers of MIBC along with its subtypes with particular properties and therapeutic responses; nonetheless, NMIBC is the predominant BC presentation among the suffering individuals. Radical cystoprostatectomy, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have been verified to be the common therapeutic interventions in metastatic tumors, among which chemotherapeutics are more conventionally utilized. Although multiple chemo drugs have been broadly administered for BC treatment, cisplatin is reportedly the most effective chemo drug against the corresponding malignancy. Notwithstanding, tumor recurrence is usually occurred following the consumption of cisplatin regimens, particularly due to the progression of chemo-resistant trait. In this framework, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), as abundant RNA transcripts arise from the human genome, are introduced to serve as crucial contributors to tumor expansion and cisplatin chemo-resistance in bladder neoplasm. In the current review, we first investigated the best-known ncRNAs, i.e. microRNAs (miRNAs), long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), correlated with cisplatin chemo-resistance in BC cells and tissues. We noticed that these ncRNAs could mediate the BC-related cisplatin-resistant phenotype through diverse cellular processes and signaling mechanisms, reviewed here. Eventually, diagnostic and prognostic potential of ncRNAs, as well as their therapeutic capabilities were highlighted in regard to BC management.

The potential role of circular RNAs -regulated PI3K signaling in non-small cell lung cancer: Molecular insights and clinical perspective

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), accounting for more than 80% of all cases, is the predominant form of lung cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Significant progress has been made in diagnostic techniques, surgical interventions, chemotherapy protocols, and targeted therapies at the molecular level, leading to enhanced treatment outcomes in patients with NSCLC. Extensive evidence supports the use of circular RNAs (circRNAs), a specific category of naturally occurring non-coding small RNAs (ncRNAs), for the diagnosis, monitoring of treatment efficacy, and assessment of survival in NSCLC. CircRNAs have been identified to play significant roles in various aspects of cancer formation, either as tumor suppressors or tumor promoters, contributing to cancer development through several signaling pathways, including the phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) pathway. This pathway is well-established because of its regulatory role in essential cellular processes. CircRNAs regulate the PI3K/AKT pathway by targeting diverse cellular elements. This review aims to provide insight into the involvement of several circRNAs linked to the PI3K/AKT pathway in NSCLC.

Non-coding RNAs in leukemia drug resistance: new perspectives on molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways

Like almost all cancer types, timely diagnosis is needed for leukemias to be effectively cured. Drug efflux, attenuated drug uptake, altered drug metabolism, and epigenetic alterations are just several of the key mechanisms by which drug resistance develops. All of these mechanisms are orchestrated by up- and downregulators, in which non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) do not encode specific proteins in most cases; albeit, some of them have been found to exhibit the potential for protein-coding. Notwithstanding, ncRNAs are chiefly known for their contribution to the regulation of physiological processes, as well as the pathological ones, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, and immune responses. Specifically, in the case of leukemia chemo-resistance, ncRNAs have been recognized to be responsible for modulating the initiation and progression of drug resistance. Herein, we comprehensively reviewed the role of ncRNAs, specifically its effect on molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways, in the development of leukemia drug resistance.

Circular RNAs and cervical cancer: friends or foes? A landscape on circRNA-mediated regulation of key signaling pathways involved in the onset and progression of HPV-related cervical neoplasms

Cervical cancer (CC) is a common gynecologic malignancy, accounting for a significant proportion of women death worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the major etiological causes leading to CC onset; however, genetic, and epigenetic factors are also responsible for disease expansion. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), which are known as a particular subset of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) superfamily, with covalently closed loop structures, have been reported to be involved in the progression of diverse diseases, especially neoplasms. In this framework, abnormally expressed circRNAs are in strong correlation with CC pathogenesis through regulating substantial signaling pathways. Also, these RNA molecules can be considered as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for CC diagnosis/prognosis and treatment, respectively. Herein, we first review key molecular mechanisms, including Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways, as well as angiogenesis and metastasis, by which circRNAs interfere with CC development. Then, diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potentials of these ncRNA molecules will be highlighted in depth.

Neuronal dysfunction and gene modulation by non-coding RNA in Parkinson's disease and synucleinopathies

Over the last few decades, emerging evidence suggests that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including long-non-coding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA) and circular-RNA (circRNA) contribute to the molecular events underlying progressive neuronal degeneration, and a plethora of ncRNAs have been identified significantly misregulated in many neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and synucleinopathy. Although a direct link between neuropathology and causative candidates has not been clearly established in many cases, the contribution of ncRNAs to the molecular processes leading to cellular dysfunction observed in neurodegenerative diseases has been addressed, suggesting that they may play a role in the pathophysiology of these diseases. Aim of the present Review is to overview and discuss recent literature focused on the role of RNA-based mechanisms involved in different aspects of neuronal pathology in Parkinson's disease and synucleinopathy models.

CircRNAs as a Novel Class of Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers in Bipolar Disorders

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mood disorder with uncertain causes and debilitating signs and symptoms. Gene expression is crucial to the pathophysiology of BD and could be influenced by genetic or epigenetic factors, by either direct modification of mRNA templates or by regulation of post-transcriptional translation. Recent evidence has shown that several critical processes in psychiatric diseases, such as neuronal activity or plasticity, synaptic transmission, and neuronal depolarization, have all been linked to circular RNAs (circRNAs). The circRNA profile of neuronal cells, which may be easily ascertained by a liquid biopsy, may shed light on the molecular pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, including BD. This approach could aid in future development in diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we provide an in-depth understanding of the roles of circRNAs in the pathophysiology of BD and offer new insight into their potential as emerging diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets.

CircZNF609 regulates pulmonary fibrosis via miR-145-5p/KLF4 axis and its translation function

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary fibrosis is a growing clinical problem that develops as a result of abnormal wound healing, leading to breathlessness, pulmonary dysfunction and ultimately death. However, therapeutic options for pulmonary fibrosis are limited because the underlying pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Circular RNAs, as key regulators in various diseases, remain poorly understood in pulmonary fibrosis induced by silica.

METHODS

We performed studies with fibroblast cell lines and silica-induced mouse pulmonary fibrosis models. The expression of circZNF609, miR-145-5p, and KLF4 was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays and m6A RNA immunoprecipitation assays (MeRIP), Western blotting, immunofluorescence assays, and CCK8 were performed to investigate the role of the circZNF609/miR-145-5p/KLF4 axis and circZNF609-encoded peptides in fibroblast activation.

RESULTS

Our data showed that circZNF609 was downregulated in activated fibroblasts and silica-induced fibrotic mouse lung tissues. Overexpression of circZNF609 could inhibit fibroblast activation induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Mechanically, we revealed that circZNF609 regulates pulmonary fibrosis via miR-145-5p/KLF4 axis and circZNF609-encoded peptides. Furthermore, circZNF609 was highly methylated and its expression was controlled by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. Lastly, in vivo studies revealed that overexpression of circZNF609 attenuates silica-induced lung fibrosis in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that circZNF609 is a critical regulator of fibroblast activation and silica-induced lung fibrosis. The circZNF609 and its derived peptides may represent novel promising targets for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

The prevalence of varicella zoster virus, herpes simplex virus type 2, and human papillomavirus in breast cancerous tissues and their adjacent ones in Iran

Background

Breast cancer is the second type of cancer in the world. Some internal and external risk factors, especially infection diseases, can progress breast cancer. As the relation between varicella zoster virus (VZV), human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and breast cancer has not been understood, it was attempting to find the effect of these viruses and breast cancer in this study.

Materials and Methods

We collected 40 breast cancer and 50 healthy adjacent tissues from Taleghani and Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran, in 3 years starting in 2017. After extracting DNA from breast tissues, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nested PCR, and PCR were done to analyze the prevalence of HSV-2, VZV, and HPV.

Results

Our results showed that HPV may be one of the important causes of breast cancer. Nested PCR illustrated nine breast cancerous tissues (mean age: 43) and three healthy adjacent ones (mean age: 41) were infected by HPV. Phylogenetic analysis illustrated that all of the infected HPV cancerous and healthy tissues were HPV 18 (except two healthy samples infected with HPV 6). Nevertheless, there were not any infected tissues by HSV-2 and VZV.

Conclusion

It seems that HPV virus type 18 can have high prevalence in breast cancerous tissues in comparison with healthy adjacent ones, and it is likely to have an effect on breast cancer progression. However, the opposite trend is true for HSV-2 and VZV as we did not find any differences between different kinds of breast tissues.

Brain alarm by self-extracellular nucleic acids: from neuroinflammation to neurodegeneration

Neurological disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, as well as the neurodegenerative diseases Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease are accompanied or even powered by danger associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), defined as endogenous molecules released from stressed or damaged tissue. Besides protein-related DAMPs or "alarmins", numerous nucleic acid DAMPs exist in body fluids, such as cell-free nuclear and mitochondrial DNA as well as different species of extracellular RNA, collectively termed as self-extracellular nucleic acids (SENAs). Among these, microRNA, long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs and extracellular ribosomal RNA constitute the majority of RNA-based DAMPs. Upon tissue injury, necrosis or apoptosis, such SENAs are released from neuronal, immune and other cells predominantly in association with extracellular vesicles and may be translocated to target cells where they can induce intracellular regulatory pathways in gene transcription and translation. The majority of SENA-induced signaling reactions in the brain appear to be related to neuroinflammatory processes, often causally associated with the onset or progression of the respective disease. In this review, the impact of the diverse types of SENAs on neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases will be discussed. Based on the accumulating knowledge in this field, several specific antagonistic approaches are presented that could serve as therapeutic interventions to lower the pathological outcome of the indicated brain disorders.

The landscape of exosomal non-coding RNAs in breast cancer drug resistance, focusing on underlying molecular mechanisms

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women worldwide. Like many other cancers, BC therapy is challenging and sometimes frustrating. In spite of the various therapeutic modalities applied to treat the cancer, drug resistance, also known as, chemoresistance, is very common in almost all BCs. Undesirably, a breast tumor might be resistant to different curative approaches (e.g., chemo- and immunotherapy) at the same period of time. Exosomes, as double membrane-bound extracellular vesicles 1) secreted from different cell species, can considerably transfer cell products and components through the bloodstream. In this context, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs, long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are a chief group of exosomal constituents with amazing abilities to regulate the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of BC, such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, migration, and particularly drug resistance. Thereby, exosomal ncRNAs can be considered potential mediators of BC progression and drug resistance. Moreover, as the corresponding exosomal ncRNAs circulate in the bloodstream and are found in different body fluids, they can serve as foremost prognostic/diagnostic biomarkers. The current study aims to comprehensively review the most recent findings on BC-related molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways affected by exosomal miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, with a focus on drug resistance. Also, the potential of the same exosomal ncRNAs in the diagnosis and prognosis of BC will be discussed in detail.