BBOX1-AS1 Accelerates Gastric Cancer Proliferation by Sponging miR-3940-3p to Upregulate BIRC5 Expression

LncRNA BBOX1-AS1 Contributes to Laryngeal Carcinoma Progression by Recruiting SRSF1 to Maintain EFNB2 mRNA Stability

Laryngeal cancer is a common malignancy of the larynx with a generally poor prognosis. This study systematically assessed the functional role of lncRNA BBOX1-AS1 in laryngeal carcinoma progression and associated molecular regulatory mechanisms. The proliferation, migration, and invasion of laryngeal carcinoma cells were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing, clonal formation, and transwell assays. In addition, the interaction between BBOX1-AS1, Serine/Arginine Splicing Factor 1 (SRSF1), and Ephrin-B2 (EFNB2) mRNA was examined employing RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down experiments. Furthermore, western blotting, and RT-qPCR assays were adopted to detect the expression levels of BBOX1-AS1, SRSF1, and EFNB2. The impact of BBOX1-AS1 and SRSF1 on EFNB2 mRNA stability was examined using the RNA stability assay. BBOX1-AS1 was highly expressed in human laryngeal carcinoma tissues and cell lines. BBOX1-AS1 knockdown suppressed the growth, proliferation, migration, and invasion of laryngeal carcinoma cells. BBOX1-AS1 maintained the stability of EFNB2 mRNA in laryngeal carcinoma cells by recruiting SRSF1. EFNB2 knockdown inhibited the growth and metastatic function of laryngeal carcinoma cells in vitro. EFNB2 overexpression reversed the influence of BBOX1-AS1 knockdown on laryngeal cancer tumorigenesis. BBOX1-AS1 maintained EFNB2 mRNA stability by recruiting SRSF1, thereby aggravating laryngeal carcinoma malignant phenotypes. BBOX1-AS1 might be a new theoretical target for the treatment of laryngeal carcinoma.

Genome-wide investigation of lncRNAs revealed their tight association with gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is a significant health issue globally, ranking as the fifth most common cancer with over 10,000 new cases reported annually. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has emerged as a critical player in cellular functions, influencing GC's development, growth, metastasis, and prognosis. However, our understanding of lncRNA's role in the pathogenesis of GC remains limited. Therefore, it is particularly important to explore the relationship between lncRNA and gastric cancer.

METHODS

we conducted a comprehensive analysis of RNA sequencing data from the GEO database and stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) data from the TCGA database to identify lncRNAs that exhibit altered expression levels in GC and the mechanisms underlying lncRNA-mediated transcription and post-transcriptional regulation were explored.

RESULTS

This study uncovered 94 lncRNAs with differential expression and, through co-expression analysis, linked these to 1508 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GO functional enrichment analysis highlighted that these DEGs are involved in critical pathways, such as cell adhesion and the positive regulation of cell migration. By establishing a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network, we found that the ceRNA mechanism, particularly involving RP11-357H14.17 and CTD-2377D24.4, could play a role in GC progression. Experimental validation of selected differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs (including RP11-357H14.17-CLDN1, BBOX1, TRPM2-AS, CLDN1, PLAU, HOXB7) confirmed the RNA-seq results.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our findings highlight the critical role of the lncRNA-mRNA regulatory network in the development and progression of GC, offering potential biomarkers for diagnosis and targets for innovative treatment strategies.

Circulating miRNAs and lncRNAs serve as biomarkers for early colorectal cancer diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most prevalent and lethal disease, accounted for approximately 1.9 million new cases and claimed nearly 861,000 lives in 2018. It is imperative to develop a minimally invasive diagnostic technique for early identification of CRC. This would facilitate the selection of patient populations most suitable for clinical trials, monitoring disease progression, assessing treatment effectiveness, and enhancing overall patient care. Utilizing blood as a biomarker source is advantageous due to its minimal discomfort for patients, enabling better integration into clinical and follow-up trials. Recent findings indicate that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are detectable in the blood of cancer patients, proving crucial in diagnosing various malignancies.

METHODS

In this case-control study, we collected plasma samples from 30 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) and 30 healthy volunteers. Following RNA extraction, we measured the expression levels of specific biomolecules, including miR-410, miR-211, miR-139, miR-197, lncRNA UICLM, lncRNA FEZF1-AS1, miR-129, lncRNA CCAT1, lncRNA BBOX1-AS1, and lncRNA LINC00698, using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The obtained data underwent analysis using the Mann-Whitney test for non-parametric data and the T-test for parametric data.

RESULTS

The level of miR-410, miR-211, miR-139, miR-197, lncRNA UICLM, lncRNA FEZF1-AS1 were significantly higher in patients with CRC than healthy controls (p < .05). Meanwhile, the level of miR-129, lncRNA CCAT1, lncRNA BBOX1-AS1, and lncRNA LINC00698 were higher in healthy controls than in CRC patients (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

MicroRNA (miRNA) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently emerged as detectable entities in the blood of cancer patients, playing crucial roles in diagnosing various malignancies. However, their specific relevance in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate miRNA and lncRNA profiles in the plasma fraction of human blood to discern significant differences in content and expression levels between CRC patients and healthy individuals. Our cohort comprised 30 CRC patients and 30 healthy controls, with no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in age or gender observed between the two groups. Noteworthy is the uniqueness of our study, as we identified a panel of three significant microRNAs and one significant lncRNA, providing a more reliable prediction compared to existing molecular markers in diagnosing CRC. The four genes examined, including miR-211, miR-129, miR-197, and lncRNA UICLM, demonstrated impeccable results in terms of sensitivity and specificity, suggesting their potential candidacy for inclusion in diagnostic panels. Further validation in a larger statistical population is recommended to confirm the robustness of these genes as promising markers for colorectal cancer diagnosis.

Long noncoding RNA BBOX1-AS1 increased radiotherapy sensitivity in colorectal cancer by stabilizing and activating PFK1

PURPOSE

Our study explored the effect of long noncoding RNA BBOX1-AS1 on colorectal cancer (CRC) radiosensitivity in vivo and in vitro.

METHODS

Differentially expressed lncRNAs in CRC were screened using a bioinformatics database and an online prediction website. The expression of BBOX1-AS1 in tissue samples was analyzed via real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Subcellular localization of BBOX1-AS1 in CRC cells was analyzed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The correlation between BBOX1-AS1 and PFK1 expression levels in CRC tissues was analyzed via Pearson's correlation coefficient. The effect of BBOX1-AS1 on PFK1 stability was investigated using RNA and protein stability testing. RNA Binding Protein Immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays were used to confirm the binding of BBOX1-AS1 to PFK1.

RESULTS

BBOX1-AS1 was highly expressed in CRC and associated with poor prognosis. Similarly, it was highly expressed in CRC tissues and CRC cell lines. In addition, BBOX1-AS1 promoted the proliferation, invasion, migration, and glycolysis of CRC cells and inhibited apoptosis. RIP and RNA pull-down experiments confirmed that BBOX1-AS1 bound to PFK1. RNA stability and protein stability experiments showed that BBOX1-AS1 affected the stability of PFK1 mRNA and protein. Furthermore, we confirmed that BBOX1-AS1 increased radiation resistance through the regulation of PFK1 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

BBOX1-AS1 promoted the proliferation, invasion, migration, and glycolysis of CRC cells through stabilization of the expression of PFK1. BBOX1-AS1 also inhibited CRC cell apoptosis and increased radiotherapy resistance in CRC cells.

LncRNA BBOX1-AS1 targets miR-361-3p/COL1A1 axis to drive the progression of oesophageal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Oesophageal carcinoma (EC) is one of the types of prevalent malignant cancer in the globe. Many researchers reported the vital role played by long-coding RNAs in EC. In the current research, we investigated the mechanisms of the action of lncRNA BBOX1-AS1 in EC progression.

METHODS

In EC tissues and EC cells, the expression levels of miR-361-3p along with COL1A1 and BBOX1-AS1 were detected through RT-qPCR or western blotting. MiR-361-3p interactions with BBOX1-AS1 or COL1A1 were verified through Luciferase reporter and RIP tests. Loss of function combined with caspase-3 activity, CCK-8 and Transwell assays was performed to investigate cell apoptosis, proliferation and migration, respectively. Knockdown of BBOX1-AS1 was used for evaluating BBOX1-AS1 effects on tumour development in vivo.

RESULTS

BBOX1-AS1 was remarkably elevated in EC tissues and cells. In addition, the silencing of BBOX1-AS1 attenuated the cell viability, cell migration and enhanced cell apoptosis of EC, as well as suppressed EC tumour formation in vivo. Moreover, BBOX1-AS1 was found to be a sponge of miR-361-3p, which downregulated miR-361-3p expression. MiR-361-3p inhibitor rescued the anti-tumour effect of BBOX1-AS1 knockdown on the progression of EC. Furthermore, we discovered that miR-361-3p specially bound to COL1A1 3'UTR and downregulated COL1A1 and COL1A1 reduction declined the promoting effect of silencing miR-361-3p on EC cell malignant phenotypes.

CONCLUSION

BBOX1-AS1 facilitated the EC development and malignancy via miR-361-3p/COL1A1 axis, indicating BBOX1-AS1 could be a novel therapy target for the diagnostic of EC.

BBOX1-AS1 mediates trophoblast cells dysfunction via regulating hnRNPK/GADD45A axis†

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a common pathological problem during pregnancy, and its clinical etiology is complex and unclear. Dysfunction of trophoblasts may cause a series of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and RPL. Recently, lncRNAs have been found to be closely related to the occurrence and regulation of pregnancy-related diseases, but few studies have focused on their role in RPL. In this study, we identified a novel lncRNA BBOX1-AS1 that was significantly upregulated in villous tissues and serum of RPL patients. Functionally, BBOX1-AS1 inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, tube formation and promoted apoptosis of trophoblast cells. Mechanistically, overexpression of BBOX1-AS1 activated the p38 and JNK MAPK signaling pathways by upregulating GADD45A expression. Further studies indicated that BBOX1-AS1 could increase the stability of GADD45A mRNA by binding hnRNPK and ultimately cause abnormal trophoblast function. Collectively, our study highlights that the BBOX1-AS1/hnRNPK/GADD45A axis plays an important role in trophoblast-induced RPL and that BBOX1-AS1 may serve as a potential target for the diagnosis of RPL.

Low gamma-butyrobetaine dioxygenase (BBOX1) expression as a prognostic biomarker in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma: a machine learning approach

Gamma-butyrobetaine dioxygenase (BBOX1) is a catalyst for the conversion of gamma-butyrobetaine to l-carnitine, which is detected in normal renal tubules. The purpose of this study was to analyze the prognosis, immune response, and genetic alterations associated with low BBOX1 expression in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We analyzed the relative influence of BBOX1 on survival using machine learning and investigated drugs that can inhibit renal cancer cells with low BBOX1 expression. We analyzed clinicopathologic factors, survival rates, immune profiles, and gene sets according to BBOX1 expression in a total of 857 patients with kidney cancer from the Hanyang University Hospital cohort (247 cases) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (610 cases). We employed immunohistochemical staining, gene set enrichment analysis, in silico cytometry, pathway network analyses, in vitro drug screening, and gradient boosting machines. BBOX1 expression in RCC was decreased compared with that in normal tissues. Low BBOX1 expression was associated with poor prognosis, decreased CD8+ T cells, and increased neutrophils. In gene set enrichment analyses, low BBOX1 expression was related to gene sets with oncogenic activity and a weak immune response. In pathway network analysis, BBOX1 was linked to regulation of various T cells and programmed death-ligand 1. In vitro drug screening showed that midostaurin, BAY-61-3606, GSK690693, and linifanib inhibited the growth of RCC cells with low BBOX1 expression. Low BBOX1 expression in patients with RCC is related to short survival time and reduced CD8+ T cells; midostaurin, among other drugs, may have enhanced therapeutic effects in this context.

LncRNA BBOX1-AS1 Contributes to the Progression of Esophageal Carcinoma by Targeting the miR-361-3p/COL5A1 Axis

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to participate in the progression of several cancers, including esophageal carcinoma (EC), a common malignancy of the digestive system. Although the role of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network is crucial for the growth and progression of EC, the regulation of lncRNA BBOX1-AS1 (BBOX1 antisense RNA1) remains unclear. We performed reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting to evaluate miR-361-3p, collagen type V alpha 1 chain (COL5A1), and BBOX1-AS1 expression levels in EC cells and tissues. The colony formation assay (CFA) and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) were employed to identify EC cell proliferation, while western blotting was used to examine EC cell apoptosis and Bax and Bcl-2 expression levels. The effect of BBOX1-AS1 on EC proliferation was determined using an in vivo carcinogenesis assay. Correlation between COL5A1, BBOX1-AS1, and miR-361-3p was examined using the luciferase reporter system and RNA immunoprecipitation assay (RIP). Herein, we observed that BBOX1-AS1 expression levels were upregulated in EC cells and tissues. BBOX1-AS1 knockdown inhibited EC cell proliferation and conferred a pro-apoptotic effect. These results indicated a positive interaction between BBOX1-AS1 and miR-361-3p in EC and a negative association with miR-361-3p. COL5A1 was recognized as a downstream miR-361-3p target and was inversely related to miR-361-3p in EC. Therefore, BBOX1-AS1 expression suppressed cell apoptosis and promoted cell proliferation via the downregulation of miR-361-3p and upregulation of COL5A1 expression. Overall, BBOX1-AS1 facilitates EC progression via the miR-361-3p or COL5A1 axis, indicating that BBOX1-AS1 might be a potential therapeutic target for EC therapy.

Oncogenic lncRNA BBOX1-AS1 promotes PHF8-mediated autophagy and elicits sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Some long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been documented to be involved in cancer progression and anticancer drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, approaches designed to target these genes may facilitate the development of promising strategies for treating HCC. Previously, we showed that lncRNA BBOX1-AS1 was highly expressed and played an oncogenic role in HCC. However, the potential functions and mechanisms through which BBOX1-AS1 regulates HCC progression and drug resistance remain unclear. This study revealed that BBOX1-AS1 could promote tumor progression, autophagy, and drug resistance by upregulating PHF8 in HCC cells. Mechanistically, BBOX1-AS1 enhanced the stability of PHF8 mRNA by targeting the PHF8 inhibitor miR-361-3p to regulate tumor progression and autophagy in HCC. The functional rescue experiments showed that PHF8 acted as a key factor in regulating the biological effects induced by BBOX1-AS1 and miR-361-3p in HCC, indicating that BBOX1-AS1 promotes tumor progression and sorafenib resistance by regulating miR-361-3p/PHF8. Finally, mouse tumor models and patient-derived organoid models were established to further confirm these findings. Taken together, the results demonstrate that BBOX1-AS1 promotes HCC progression and sorafenib resistance via the miR-361-3p/PHF8 axis.

Identification of a Prognostic Colorectal Cancer Model Including LncRNA FOXP4-AS1 and LncRNA BBOX1-AS1 Based on Bioinformatics Analysis

Background: Knowledge about the prognostic role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is limited. Therefore, we constructed a lncRNA-related prognostic model based on data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Materials and Methods: CRC transcriptome and clinical data were downloaded from the GSE20916 dataset and the TCGA database, respectively. R software was used for data processing and analysis. The differential lncRNA expression within the two datasets was first screened, and then intersections were measured. Cox regression and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to evaluate the effects of various factors on prognosis. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve and a nomogram based on multivariate Cox analysis were used to estimate the prognostic value of the lncRNA-related model. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were applied to elucidate the significantly involved biological functions and pathways. Results: A total of 11 lncRNAs were crossed. The univariate Cox analysis screened out two lncRNAs, which were analyzed in the multivariate Cox analysis. A nomogram based on the two lncRNAs and other clinicopathological risk factors was constructed. The AUC of the nomogram was 0.56 at 3 years and 0.71 at 5 years. The 3-year nomogram model was compared with the ideal model, which showed that some indices of the 3-year model were consistent with the ideal model, suggesting that our model was highly accurate. The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that positive regulation of secretion by cells, positive regulation of secretion, positive regulation of exocytosis, endocytosis, and the calcium signaling pathway were differentially enriched in the two-lncRNA-associated phenotype. Conclusions: A two-lncRNA prognostic model of CRC was constructed by bioinformatics analysis. The model had moderate prediction accuracy. LncRNA BBOX1-AS1 and lncRNA FOXP4-AS1 were identified as prognostic biomarkers.

LncRNA VPS9D1-AS1 Sponging miR-520a-5p Contributes to the Development of Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma by Enhancing BIRC5 Expression

The pattern of VPS9D1-AS1 expression and its effects on uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) remained unclear. VPS9D1-AS1, miR-520a-5p, and BIRC5 mRNA levels were quantified by qRT-PCR. Bax, Bcl-2, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and BIRC5 protein levels were analyzed through western blotting. Cell migration, invasion, proliferation, as well as apoptosis of cells were checked after performing assay for wound-healing, Transwell, cell-counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and western blotting. VPS9D1-AS1 effects on UCEC were observed in nude mice. Through bioinformatics tools, we analyzed the association present among miR-520a-5p, BIRC5, and VPS9D1-AS1 along with RNA immunoprecipitation, and Dual-Luciferase verification reporter analysis. Our findings suggested VPS9D1-AS1 gene expression was up-regulated in both tissues as well as cells of UCEC. VPS9D1-AS1 knockdown suppressed migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) along with proliferation of UCEC cells, caused in vitro cell apoptosis initiation, and in vivo reduction of tumor growth. Mechanistically, it was verified that VPS9D1-AS1 targeted BIRC5 and caused miR-520a-5p sponging. Inhibitor of miR-520-5p markedly reversed the anti-tumor effects of VPS9D1-AS1 knockdown or BIRC5 knockdown on UCEC progression. Our studies revealed that VPS9D1-AS1 contributed to the UCEC development and progression by binding to miR-520a-5p competitively and inducing BIRC5 expression, indicating that VPS9D1-AS1 might act as a therapeutic target to develop new therapies for UCEC patients.

LncRNA BBOX1-AS1 promotes pituitary adenoma progression via sponging miR-361-3p/E2F1 axis

Pituitary adenoma is one of the most common intracranial tumors, more and more studies have shown that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays a very important role in pituitary adenoma. However, there are few reports on the function of lncRNA BBOX1-AS1 in pituitary adenomas, and further exploration is needed. The objective of this research is to figure out what function BBOX1-AS1 plays in pituitary adenoma and how it regulates it. The expression of the E2F1, miR-361-3p and BOX1-AS1 genes was measured using a quantitative real-time PCR method. The functional involvement of BBOX1-AS1 in pituitary adenoma was examined utilizing the Transwell assay, western blot assays and the cell counting kit-8. RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays revealed that miR-361-3p binds to E2F1 or BBOX1-AS1. In addition, in-vivo assays were carried out. The expression of BBOX1-AS1 in pituitary adenoma tissues and cells has been increased, according to our findings. Furthermore, it is also noted that downregulation of BBOX1-AS1causes the inhibition of pituitary adenoma cells which result in invasion, apoptosis and proliferation, as well as boosting tumor development in vivo . In addition, BBOX1-AS1 knockdown inhibited tumor development in vivo . We identify BBOX1-AS1 bind to miR-361-3p and to suppress its expression in a negative way. Moreover, miR-361-3p has been shown to bind with E2F1 and inhibit its expression. E2F1 also corrected miR-361-3p-mediated cell invasion, proliferation and apoptosis in BBOX1-AS1-dysregulated pituitary adenoma cells in rescue tests. BBOX1-AS1 increases pituitary adenoma malignant activity by sponging miR-361-3p to upregulate E2F1 expression, which may lead to a new path in pituitary adenoma therapeutic attempts.

Long non-coding RNA BBOX1-AS1 exacerbates esophageal squamous cell carcinoma development by regulating HOXB7/β-catenin axis

Mounting evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs play a critical role in the occurrence and development of human malignancies. Nonetheless, it remains unknown whether Gamma-Butyrobetaine Hydroxylase 1-Antisense RNA 1 (BBOX1-AS1) participates in the regulation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) carcinogenesis. Herein, we validated that BBOX1-AS1 was notably overexpressed in ESCC tissues compared to the adjacent non-tumor tissues and significantly correlated with tumor sizes. BBOX1-AS1 enhanced the malignant behavior of ESCC cells in vitro, such as cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, knockdown of BBOX1-AS1 augmented the proportion of apoptotic cells in ESCC cells. Mechanistically, BBOX1-AS1 regulated HOXB7 expression, and rescue experiments indicated that silencing of HOXB7 could abolish the malignant phenotypes mediated by BBOX1-AS1 to a certain extent. Moreover, HOXB7 participated in the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In summary, our findings substantiated that BBOX1-AS1 could activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by upregulating HOXB7 expression to promote ESCC progression, providing a rationale to develop novel therapeutic approaches.

Long non-coding RNA BBOX1-antisense RNA 1 enhances cell proliferation and migration and suppresses apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma via the miR-3940-3p/laminin subunit gamma 2 axis

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an essential role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We aimed to demonstrate the effects of lncRNA gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase 1 (BBOX1)-antisense RNA 1 (AS1) in OSCC and its regulatory mechanisms. The levels of BBOX1-AS1, microRNA (miR)-3940-3p, and laminin subunit gamma 2 (LAMC2) in OSCC were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The correlations among BBOX1-AS1, miR-3940-3p, and LAMC2 were validated using luciferase, pull-down, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were examined. BBOX1-AS1 and LAMC2 were notably overexpressed in OSCC, while miR-3940-3p showed the opposite trend. BBOX-1-AS1 silencing reduced the cell proliferation and migration, while promoting apoptosis. Mechanistically, BBOX1-AS1 modulates LAMC2 expression by competitively binding to miR-3940-3p. miR-3940-3p inhibition alleviated the inhibitory effects of BBOX1-AS1 deficiency on OSCC development. LAMC2 knockdown reversed these changes. Our results revealed that BBOX1-AS1 promotes the malignant phenotype of OSCC cells via the upregulation of LAMC2 expression by targeting miR-3940-3p, indicating that BBOX1-AS1 may be a novel target for OSCC intervention.

BBOX1-AS1 Accelerates Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Progression by Sponging miR-3940-3p and Enhancing KPNA2 Upregulation

Background

Upregulation of lncRNA BBOX1 antisense RNA 1 (BBOX1-AS1) has been examined in various tumors. However, its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains poorly understood.

Methods

RT-qPCR was performed to measure the expression of BBOX1-AS1, KPNA2, and miR-3940-3p. In vitro assays were performed to determine the alteration of cell phenotypes in NPC cells upon transfection or co-transfection with sh-BBOX1-AS1, sh-KPNA2, or miR-3940-3p inhibitor. The BBOX1-AS1-miR-3940-3p and miR-3940-3p-KPNA2 interplay was verified via luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays.

Results

High BBOX1-AS1 levels were detected in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues. BBOX1-AS1 silencing considerably suppressed the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of NPC cells in vitro. Interestingly, BBOX1-AS1 could specifically bind to miR-3940-3 and abrogate the inhibition of KPNA2 induced by miR-3940-3. Additionally, analysis of tissue samples showed that miR-3940-3 was inversely correlated with BBOX1-AS1 and KPNA2.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed that the BBOX1-AS1/miR-3940-3/KPNA2 axis is pro-oncogenic in NPC progression, uncovering novel insights into targeted therapy for this disorder.

Clinical significance and effect of lncRNA BBOX1-AS1 on the proliferation and migration of lung squamous cell carcinoma

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have a role in the occurrence and development of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). lncRNA γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase 1 (BBOX1)-antisense 1 (AS1) may contribute to disease development. However, there are no studies on the role of BBOX1-AS1 in LUSC to date. In the present study, an in-house gene microarray analysis was performed to detect the differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs between three pairs of LUSC and normal lung tissues. Only one lncRNA, BBOX1-AS1, was differentially expressed in the in-house microarray and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and ArrayExpress databases. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was then performed and the original RNA-sequencing data from the TCGA, GEO and ArrayExpress datasets were used to determine the expression and clinical value of BBOX1-AS1 in LUSC. In addition, a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, cell cycle analysis and scratch assay were performed to explore whether BBOX1-AS1 expression affected the proliferation and migration of LUSC cells in vitro. The results of the RT-qPCR analysis and data obtained from the TCGA database, GEO datasets, in-house gene microarray and standard mean deviation analysis all supported the upregulated expression level of BBOX1-AS1 in LUSC. Furthermore, silencing of BBOX1-AS1 inhibited the proliferation and migration of LUSC cells according to in vitro assays. In addition, the cells were arrested in S-phase after knockdown of BBOX1-AS1. In conclusion, the expression level of BBOX1-AS1 was upregulated in LUSC tissues. BBOX1-AS1 may exert an oncogenic effect on LUSC by regulating various biological functions. However, additional functional experiments should be performed to verify the exact mechanism.

Construction of a ceRNA Network and a Prognostic lncRNA Signature associated with Vascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma based on Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis

Background: Understanding risk factors for vascular invasion (VI) is crucial for assessing the risk of recurrence and overall prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to construct a prognostic long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) signature and a ceRNA Network associated with vascular invasion in HCC. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of HCC patients associated with VI were identified by analyzing data from TCGA. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify associations between gene expression modules and clinical features. A VI-related prognostic lncRNA signature was then established using univariate, LASSO and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Based on the hub modules identified by the WGCNA, we constructed a VI-related lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network and screened hub lncRNAs for further research. Finally, we conducted in vitro and in vivo experiments to determine the biological roles of the identified hub gene BBOX1-AS1. Results: The key module related to VI and OS was identified using WGCNA, after which a prognostic model consisting of eight lncRNAs was established, and verified using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. BBOX1-AS1 was confirmed to be highly expressed in HCC tissues, and its expression was significantly correlated with a poor prognosis. Silencing BBOX1-AS1 in vitro significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that knocking down of BBOX1-AS1 could result in significant decrease of tumor volume and tumor weight. Conclusions: The VI-related lncRNA signature established in this study can be used to predict the clinical outcomes of HCC patients. In addition, we constructed a VI-related lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network and demonstrated that BBOX1-AS1 might be a novel biomarker associated with VI in HCC.

KLF5-induced BBOX1-AS1 contributes to cell malignant phenotypes in non-small cell lung cancer via sponging miR-27a-5p to up-regulate MELK and activate FAK signaling pathway

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a major histological subtype of lung cancer with high mortality and morbidity. A substantial amount of evidence demonstrates long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) as critical regulators in tumorigeneis and malignant progression of human cancers. The oncogenic role of BBOX1 anti-sense RNA 1 (BBOX1-AS1) has been reported in several tumors. As yet, the potential functions and mechanisms of BBOX1-AS1 in NSCLC are obscure.

Methods

The gene and protein expression was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. Cell function was determined by CCK-8, colony forming, would healing and transwell assays. Bioinformatics tools, ChIP assays, dual luciferase reporters system and RNA pull-down experiments were used to examine the interaction between molecules. Subcutaneous tumor models in nude mice were established to investigate in vivo NSCLC cell behavior.

Results

BBOX1-AS1 was highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cells. High BBOX1-AS1 expression was associated with worse clinical parameters and poor prognosis. BBOX1-AS1 up-regulation was induced by transcription factor KLF5. BBOX1-AS1 deficiency resulted in an inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT in vitro. Also, knockdown of BBOX1-AS1 suppressed NSCLC xenograft tumor growth in mice in vivo. Mechanistically, BBOX1-AS1 acted act as a competetive “sponge” of miR-27a-5p to promote maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) expression and activate FAK signaling. miR-27a-5p was confirmed as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC. Moreover, BBOX1-AS1-induced increase of cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT was greatly reversed due to the overexpression of miR-27a-5p. In addition, the suppressive effect of NSCLC progression owing to BBOX1-AS1 depletion was abated by the up-regulation of MELK. Consistently, BBOX1-AS1-mediated carcinogenicity was attenuated in NSCLC after treatment with a specific MELK inhibitor OTSSP167.

Conclusions

KLF5-induced BBOX1-AS1 exerts tumor-promotive roles in NSCLC via sponging miR-27a-5p to activate MELK/FAK signaling, providing the possibility of employing BBOX1-AS1 as a therapeutic target for NSCLC patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-01943-5.