Oral delivery of RNAi for cancer therapy

The role of lncRNA binding to RNA‑binding proteins to regulate mRNA stability in cancer progression and drug resistance mechanisms (Review)

Cancer is a disease that poses a serious threat to human health, the occurrence and development of which involves complex molecular mechanisms. Long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and RNA‑binding proteins (RBPs) are important regulatory molecules within cells, which have garnered extensive attention in cancer research in recent years. The binding of lncRNAs and RBPs plays a crucial role in the post‑transcriptional regulation of mRNA, affecting the synthesis of proteins related to cancer by regulating the stability of mRNA. This, in turn, regulates the malignant biological behaviors of tumor cells, such as proliferation and metastasis, and serves an important role in therapeutic resistance. The present study reviewed the role of lncRNA‑RBP interactions in the regulation of mRNA stability in various malignant tumors, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulatory interaction. The aim of the present review was to gain a deeper understanding of these molecular mechanisms to provide new strategies and insights for the precise treatment of cancer.

Recent advancements in small interfering RNA based therapeutic approach on breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common and malignant tumor diagnosed in women, with 2.9 million cases in 2023 and the fifth highest cancer-causing mortality worldwide. Recent developments in targeted therapy options for BC have demonstrated the promising potential of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based cancer therapeutic approaches. As BC continues to be a global burden, siRNA therapy emerges as a potential treatment strategy to regulate disease-related genes in other types of cancers, including BC. siRNAs are tiny RNA molecules that, by preventing their expression, can specifically silence genes linked to the development of cancer. In order to increase the stability and effectiveness of siRNA delivery to BC cells, minimize off-target effects, and improve treatment efficacy, advanced delivery technologies such as lipid nanoparticles and nanocarriers have been created. Additionally, combination therapies, such as siRNAs that target multiple pathways are used in conjunction with conventional chemotherapy agents, have shown synergistic effects in various preclinical studies, opening up new treatment options for breast cancer that are personalized and precision medicine-oriented. Targeting important genes linked to BC growth, metastasis, and chemo-resistance has been reported in BC research using siRNA-based therapies. This study reviews recent reports on therapeutic approaches to siRNA for advanced treatment of BC. Furthermore, this review evaluates the role and mechanisms of siRNA in BC and demonstrates the potential of exploiting siRNA as a novel target for BC therapy.

Lipid nanoparticles-based RNA therapies for breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer (BC) prevails as a major burden on global healthcare, being the most prevalent form of cancer among women. BC is a complex and heterogeneous disease, and current therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, frequently fall short in providing effective solutions. These treatments fail to mitigate the risk of cancer recurrence and cause severe side effects that, in turn, compromise therapeutic responses in patients. Over the last decade, several strategies have been proposed to overcome these limitations. Among them, RNA-based technologies have demonstrated their potential across various clinical applications, notably in cancer therapy. However, RNA therapies are still limited by a series of critical issues like off-target effect and poor stability in circulation. Thus, novel approaches have been investigated to improve the targeting and bioavailability of RNA-based formulations to achieve an appropriate therapeutic outcome. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been largely proven to be an advantageous carrier for nucleic acids and RNA. This perspective explores the most recent advances on RNA-based technology with an emphasis on LNPs' utilization as effective nanocarriers in BC therapy and most recent progresses in their clinical applications.

Cell Membrane-Camouflaged Chitosan-Polypyrrole Nanogels Co-Deliver Drug and Gene for Targeted Chemotherapy and Bone Metastasis Inhibition of Prostate Cancer

The development of functional nanoplatforms to improve the chemotherapy outcome and inhibit distal cancer cell metastasis remains an extreme challenge in cancer management. In this work, a human-derived PC-3 cancer cell membrane-camouflaged chitosan-polypyrrole nanogel (CH-PPy NG) platform, which can be loaded with chemotherapeutic drug docetaxel (DTX) and RANK siRNA for targeted chemotherapy and gene silencing-mediated metastasis inhibition of late-stage prostate cancer in a mouse model, is reported. The prepared NGs with a size of 155.8 nm show good biocompatibility, pH-responsive drug release profile, and homologous targeting specificity to cancer cells, allowing for efficient and precise drug/gene co-delivery. Through in-vivo antitumor treatment in a xenografted PC-3 mouse tumor model, it is shown that such a CH-PPy NG-facilitated co-delivery system allows for effective chemotherapy to slow down the tumor growth rate, and effectively inhibits the metastasis of prostate cancer to the bone via downregulation of the RANK/RANKL signaling pathway. The created CH-Ppy NGs may be utilized as a promising platform for enhanced chemotherapy and anti-metastasis treatment of prostate cancer.

Tumour-regulatory role of long non-coding RNA HOXA-AS3

Dysregulation of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOXA-AS3 has been shown to contribute to the development of multiple cancer types. Several studies have presented the tumour-modulatory role or prognostic significance of this lncRNA in various kinds of cancer. Overall, HOXA-AS3 can act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that inhibits the activity of seven microRNAs (miRNAs), including miR-29a-3p, miR-29 b-3p, miR-29c, miR-218-5p, miR-455-5p, miR-1286, and miR-4319. This relieves the downstream messenger RNA (mRNA) targets of these miRNAs from miRNA-mediated translational repression, allowing them to exert their effect in regulating cellular activities. Examples of the pathways regulated by lncRNA HOXA-AS3 and its associated downstream targets include the WNT/β-catenin and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) activities. Besides, HOXA-AS3 can interact with other cellular proteins like homeobox HOXA3 and HOXA6, influencing the oncogenic signaling pathways associated with these proteins. Generally, HOXA-AS3 is overexpressed in most of the discussed human cancers, making this lncRNA a potential candidate to diagnose cancer or predict the clinical outcomes of cancer patients. Hence, targeting HOXA-AS3 could be a new therapeutic approach to slowing cancer progression or as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target. A drawback of using lncRNA HOXA-AS3 as a biomarker or therapeutic target is that most of the studies that have reported the tumour-regulatory roles of lncRNA HOXA-AS3 are single observational, in vitro, or in vivo studies. More in-depth mechanistic and large-scale clinical trials must be conducted to confirm the tumour-modulatory roles of lncRNA HOXA-AS3 further. Besides, no lncRNA HOXA-AS3 inhibitor has been tested preclinically and clinically, and designing such an inhibitor is crucial as it may potentially slow cancer progression.

The application of plant-exosome-like nanovesicles as improved drug delivery systems for cancer vaccines

The use of cancer immunotherapeutics is currently increasing. Cancer vaccines, as a form of immunotherapy, are gaining much attention in the medical community since specific tumor-antigens can activate immune cells to induce an anti-tumor immune response. However, the delivery of cancer vaccines presents many issues for research scientists when designing cancer treatments and requires further investigation. Nanoparticles, synthetic liposomes, bacterial vectors, viral particles, and mammalian exosomes have delivered cancer vaccines. In contrast, the use of many of these nanotechnologies produces many issues of cytotoxicity, immunogenicity, and rapid clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS). Plant-exosome-like nanovesicles (PELNVs) can provide solutions for many of these challenges because they are innocuous and nonimmunogenic when delivering nanomedicines. Hence, this review will describe the potential use of PELNVs to deliver cancer vaccines. In this review, different approaches of cancer vaccine delivery will be detailed, the mechanism of oral vaccination for delivering cancer vaccines will be described, and the review will discuss the use of PELNVs as improved drug delivery systems for cancer vaccines via oral administration while also addressing the subsequent challenges for advancing their usage into the clinical setting.

Recent insights into breast milk microRNA: their role as functional regulators

Breast milk (BM) is a primary biofluid that plays a crucial role in infant development and the regulation of the immune system. As a class of rich biomolecules in BM, microRNAs (miRNAs) are regarded as active factors contributing to infant growth and development. Surprisingly, these molecules exhibit resilience in harsh conditions, providing an opportunity for infants to absorb them. In addition, many studies have shown that miRNAs in breast milk, when absorbed into the gastrointestinal system, can act as a class of functional regulators to effectively regulate gene expression. Understanding the absorption pattern of BM miRNA may facilitate the creation of formula with a more optimal miRNA balance and pave the way for novel drug delivery techniques. In this review, we initially present evidence of BM miRNA absorption. Subsequently, we compile studies that integrate both in vivo and in vitro findings to illustrate the bioavailability and biodistribution of BM miRNAs post-absorption. In addition, we evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of previous studies and discuss potential variables contributing to discrepancies in their outcomes. This literature review indicates that miRNAs can be absorbed and act as regulatory agents.

What is the role of microbial biotechnology and genetic engineering in medicine?

Microbial products are essential for developing various therapeutic agents, including antibiotics, anticancer drugs, vaccines, and therapeutic enzymes. Genetic engineering techniques, functional genomics, and synthetic biology unlock previously uncharacterized natural products. This review highlights major advances in microbial biotechnology, focusing on gene-based technologies for medical applications.

Downregulation of Gadd45β alleviates osteoarthritis by repressing lipopolysaccharide-induced fibroblast-like synoviocyte inflammation, proliferation and migration

OBJECTIVE

Gadd45β have a regulatory role in cellular inflammation, proliferation and migration. However, the role of Gadd45β in synovial inflammation in osteoarthritis (OA) remains to be explored. This study aimed to ascertain whether Gadd45β is involved in OA synovial inflammation.

METHODS

The rat model was induced by sodium iodoacetate and the cellular model was constructed with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). siRNA was applied to interfere with the expression of intracellular Gadd45β. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting were used to detect the expression of Gadd45β mRNA and protein. The inflammation, proliferation, and migration of OA-FLSs were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cell scratch assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, etc. The effect of downregulation of Gadd45β on the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway was investigated.

RESULTS

Expression of Gadd45β in OA rat synovial tissues and OA-FLSs was increased, and LPS treatment promoted cell proliferation and enhanced cell migration. Gadd45β interference inhibited the inflammation, proliferation and migration of cells induced by LPS. LPS promoted P65 expression in the nucleus and activated the NF-κB signaling pathway, whereas si-Gadd45β reversed this situation.

CONCLUSIONS

si-Gadd45β inhibited the inflammatory response, proliferation and migration of FLSs, and activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, which could delay the progression of OA. Hence, it may become a potential therapeutic target for OA.

Gene-Editing and RNA Interference in Treating Hepatitis B: A Review

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to cause substantial health and economic burdens, and its target of elimination may not be reached in 2030 without further efforts in diagnostics, non-pharmaceutical prevention measures, vaccination, and treatment. Current therapeutic options in chronic HBV, based on interferons and/or nucleos(t)ide analogs, suppress the virus replication but do not eliminate the pathogen and suffer from several constraints. This paper reviews the progress on biotechnological approaches in functional and definitive HBV treatments, including gene-editing tools, i.e., zinc-finger proteins, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and CRISPR/Cas9, as well as therapeutics based on RNA interference. The advantages and challenges of these approaches are also discussed. Although the safety and efficacy of gene-editing tools in HBV therapies are yet to be demonstrated, they show promise for the revitalization of a much-needed advance in the field and offer viral eradication. Particular hopes are related to CRISPR/Cas9; however, therapeutics employing this system are yet to enter the clinical testing phases. In contrast, a number of candidates based on RNA interference, intending to confer a functional cure, have already been introduced to human studies. However, larger and longer trials are required to assess their efficacy and safety. Considering that prevention is always superior to treatment, it is essential to pursue global efforts in HBV vaccination.

Human Breast Milk miRNAs: Their Diversity and Potential for Preventive Strategies in Nutritional Therapy

The endogenous miRNAs of breast milk are the products of more than 1000 nonprotein-coding genes, giving rise to mature small regulatory molecules of 19-25 nucleotides. They are incorporated in macromolecular complexes, loaded on Argonaute proteins, sequestrated in exosomes and lipid complexes, or present in exfoliated cells of epithelial, endothelial, or immune origins. Their expression is dependent on the stage of lactation; however, their detection depends on progress in RNA sequencing and the reappraisal of the definition of small RNAs. Some miRNAs from plants are detected in breast milk, opening the possibility of the stimulation of immune cells from the allergy repertoire. Each miRNA harbors a seeding sequence, which targets mRNAs, gene promoters, or long noncoding RNAs. Their activities depend on their bioavailability. Efficient doses of miRNAs are estimated to be roughly 100 molecules in the cytoplasm of target cells from in vitro and in vivo experiments. Each miRNA is included in networks of stimulation/inhibition/sequestration, driving the expression of cellular phenotypes. Three types of stress applied during lactation to manipulate miRNA supply were explored using rodent offspring: a foster mother, a cafeteria diet, and early weaning. This review presents the main mature miRNAs described from current mothers' cohorts and their bioavailability in experimental models as well as studies assessing the potential of miR-26 or miR-320 miRNA families to alter offspring phenotypes.

β-Glucan-Mediated Oral Codelivery of 5FU and Bcl2 siRNA Attenuates Stomach Cancer

Based on cancer-related deaths, stomach cancer is ranked fifth, and first among Hispanics. Lack of technologies for early diagnosis and unavailability of target-specific therapeutics are largely the causes of the poor therapeutic outcomes from existing chemotherapeutics. Currently available therapeutic modalities are invasive and require systemic delivery, although the cancer is localized in the stomach at its early stage. Therefore, we hypothesize that an oral local delivery approach can extend the retention duration of the therapeutics modalities within the stomach and thereby enhance therapeutic efficacy. To accomplish this, we have developed a ß-glucan (BG)-based oral delivery vehicle that can adhere to the mucus lining of the stomach for an extended period while controlling the release of Bcl2 siRNA and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) payload for over 6 h. We found that Bcl2 siRNA selectively knocked down the Bcl2 gene in a C57BL/6 stomach cancer mouse model followed by upregulation of apoptosis and remission of cancer. BG was found to be very effective in maintaining the stability of siRNA for at least 6 h, when submerged in simulated gastric juice tested in vitro. To investigate the potential therapeutic effects in vivo, we used a stomach cancer mouse model, where C57BL/6 mice were treated with 5FU, BG/5FU, siRNA, BG/siRNA, and BG/5FU/siRNA. Higher inhibition of Bcl2 and therapeutic efficacy were observed in mice treated with BG/5FU/siRNA confirmed with Western blotting and a TUNEL assay. Significant reduction in the tumor region was observed with histology (H&E) and immunohistochemistry (Ki67, TUNEL, and Bcl2) analyses. Overall, the oral formulation shows improved efficacy with nonsignificant side effects compared to the conventional treatment tested in the gastric cancer mouse model.