LBX2-AS1 is activated by ZEB1 and promotes the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by interacting with HNRNPC to enhance the stability of ZEB1 and ZEB2 mRNAs

LncRNA LBX2-AS1 inhibits acute myeloid leukemia progression through miR-455-5p/MYLIP axis

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common blood cancer primarily affecting the bone marrow and blood cells, which is prevalent among adults. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play a crucial role in the development and progression of AML. LBX2-AS1 is a recently discovered lncRNA that has been linked to the pathogenesis and progression of several types of cancer. This study aimed to investigate the role and possible mechanisms of LBX2-AS1 in AML. Expression levels of LBX2-AS1, miR-455-5p, and their target genes were detected in AML samples and cells by RT-qPCR. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays, and flow cytometry, respectively. LBX2-AS1 was downregulated in AML specimens and cells, and overexpression of LBX2-AS1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and enhanced apoptosis in vitro. We also determined the effects of LBX2-AS1 overexpression in an AML mouse model by in vivo bioluminescence imaging. Mechanistically, LBX2-AS1 acts as a competitive endogenous RNA, which promotes myosin regulatory light chain interacting protein (MYLIP) expression by sponging miR-455-5p. Knockdown of MYLIP or upregulation of miR-455-5p antagonized the effect of LBX2-AS1 overexpression on the progression of AML. LBX2-AS1 may thus be a valuable therapeutic target for AML.

The m6A reader HNRNPC predicts adverse prognosis and promotes the progression of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

As a critical m6A RNA methylation regulator, HNRNPC has been revealed to serve as potential biomarkers in various human cancers. The specific expression and significance of HNRNPC in colorectal cancer remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to confirm HNRNPC expression level and evaluate its function in colorectal cancer progression.

METHODS

101 paired tissue samples were collected from colorectal cancer patients. HNRNPC levels in colorectal cancer were detected using PCR. CCK8 and transwell assays were conducted to estimate the effect of HNRNPC on cell growth and metastasis with the regulation of HNRNPC by cell transfection.

RESULTS

Upregulated HNRNPC was observed in colorectal cancer compared with normal tissues and cells. The higher HNRNPC levels in tumor tissues were associated with the advanced TNM stage and positive lymph node metastasis. Meanwhile, HNRNPC upregulation could indicate adverse outcomes of colorectal cancer patients. In vitro, the knockdown of HNRNPC significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Upregulated HNRNPC served as a biomarker for the prognosis and development of colorectal cancer, which provides a novel therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.

The nexus of long noncoding RNAs, splicing factors, alternative splicing and their modulations

The process of alternative splicing (AS) is widely deregulated in a variety of cancers. Splicing is dependent upon splicing factors. Recently, several long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to regulate AS by directly/indirectly interacting with splicing factors. This review focuses on the regulation of AS by lncRNAs through their interaction with splicing factors. AS mis-regulation caused by either mutation in splicing factors or deregulated expression of splicing factors and lncRNAs has been shown to be involved in cancer development and progression, making aberrant splicing, splicing factors and lncRNA suitable targets for cancer therapy. This review also addresses some of the current approaches used to target AS, splicing factors and lncRNAs. Finally, we discuss research challenges, some of the unanswered questions in the field and provide recommendations to advance understanding of the nexus of lncRNAs, AS and splicing factors in cancer.

LncRNA USP2-AS1 facilitates the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by targeting KDM3A/ETS1/USP2 to activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (HBMSCs) can promote new bone formation. Previous studies have proven the ability of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to modulate the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. However, the molecular mechanism modulated by lncRNAs in affecting the osteogenic differentiation of HBMSCs remains largely unknown. Thus, this study aims to reveal the role of lncRNA ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 antisense RNA 1 (USP2-AS1) in regulating the osteogenic differentiation of HBMSCs and investigate its regulatory mechanism. Through bioinformatics analysis and RT-qPCR, we confirmed that USP2-AS1 expression was increased in HBMSCs after culturing in osteogenic differentiation medium (OM-HBMSCs). Moreover, we uncovered that knockdown of USP2-AS1 inhibited the osteogenic differentiation of HBMSCs. Further exploration indicated that USP2-AS1 positively regulated the expression of its nearby gene USP2. Mechanistically, USP2-AS1 recruited lysine demethylase 3A (KDM3A) to stabilize ETS proto-oncogene 1 (ETS1), transcription factor that transcriptionally activated USP2. Additionally, USP2-induced Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway activation via deubiquitination of β-catenin protein. In summary, our study proved that lncRNA USP2-AS1 facilitates the osteogenic differentiation of HBMSCs by targeting KDM3A/ETS1/USP2 axis to activate the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway.

The implications of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in esophageal carcinoma

Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is always diagnosed at advanced stage and its the mortality rate remains high. The patients usually miss the best opportunity for treatment because of non-specific symptoms and the survival rates are low. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) the predominant modification in eukaryotic messenger RNA(mRNA), serves vital roles in numerous bioprocess. This chemical modification is dynamic, reversible and consists of three regulators: m6A methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers) and m6A-binding proteins (readers). Recently, a growing number of evidences have indicated relationships between m6A and EC. Whereas, lacking of cognition about the molecular mechanism of m6A modification in esophageal carcinoma. We will focus on the biological function roles of m6A modification in the tumorigenesis and development of EC. Recent studies showed that immunotherapy had a positive impact on EC. The relationship between m6A and immunotherapy in EC deserves further research and discussion. We will also discuss the potential clinical applications regarding diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of m6A modification for EC and provide perspectives for further studies.

Circular RNA circ-FIRRE interacts with HNRNPC to promote esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression by stabilizing GLI2 mRNA

Increasing evidence has shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) interact with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and promote cancer progression. However, the function and mechanism of the circRNA/RBP complex in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are still largely unknown. Herein, we first characterized a novel oncogenic circRNA, circ-FIRRE, by RNA sequencing (Ribo-free) profiling of ESCC samples. Furthermore, we observed marked circ-FIRRE overexpression in ESCC patients with high TNM stage and poor overall survival. Mechanistic studies indicated that circ-FIRRE, as a platform, interacts with the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC) protein to stabilize GLI2 mRNA by directly binding to its 3'-UTR in the cytoplasm, thereby resulting in elevated GLI2 protein expression and subsequent transcription of its target genes MYC, CCNE1, and CCNE2, ultimately contributing to ESCC progression. Moreover, HNRNPC overexpression in circ-FIRRE knockdown cells notably abolished circ-FIRRE knockdown-mediated Hedgehog pathway inhibition and ESCC progression impairment in vitro and in vivo. Clinical specimen results showed that circ-FIRRE and HNRNPC expression was positively correlated with GLI2 expression, which reveals the clear significance of the circ-FIRRE/HNRNPC-GLI2 axis in ESCC. In summary, our results indicate that circ-FIRRE could serve as a valuable biomarker and potential therapeutic target for ESCC and highlight a novel mechanism of the circ-FIRRE/HNRNPC complex in ESCC progression regulation.

AC125611.3 promotes the progression of colon cancer by recruiting DKC1 to stabilize CTNNB1

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Previous studies have suggested that lncRNAs impact cancer progression. The lncRNA AC125611.3 (also referred to as RP11-161H23.5) is highly expressed in colon cancer but rarely studied; understanding its regulation may provide novel insights on treating colon cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

qRT-PCR was performed to quantify RNAs. CCK-8 and EdU assays were performed to assess cell proliferation. Western blot analysis was used to detect levels of proteins related to cell apoptosis and EMT. Wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay were conducted to evaluate cell migratory and invasive capabilities, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay, RIP assay, and pull-down assay were used to verify RNA-RNA and RNA-protein interactions.

RESULTS

AC125611.3 was highly overexpressed in colon cancer cells. AC125611.3 depletion curbed cell proliferative, invasive, migratory, and EMT processes while enhancing apoptosis. Furthermore, AC125611.3 activated the Wnt signaling pathway in colon cancer cells by regulating catenin beta-1 (CTNNB1). Moreover, AC125611.3 recruited dyskeratosis congenita 1 (DKC1) to stabilize CTNNB1.

CONCLUSION

AC125611.3 recruits DKC1 to stabilize CTNNB1 and activate Wnt signaling, thereby promoting the progression of colon cancer.

FUT8-AS1/miR-944/Fused in Sarcoma/Transcription Factor 4 Feedback Loop Participates in the Development of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma through Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

As a common type of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a lethal and deforming disease. Long noncoding RNAs have emerged as critical modulators in different malignancies. However, the role of fucosyltransferase 8 antisense RNA 1 (FUT8-AS1) in OSCC still remains elusive. In this study, quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot were used for the measurement of RNAs and proteins. Mechanism assays explored the putative correlation among genes. In vitro assays evaluated the changes in OSCC cell malignant phenotype, whereas in vivo assays highlighted the influence of FUT8-AS1 on tumor growth. FUT8-AS1, aberrantly up-regulated in OSCC tissues and cells, could exacerbate OSCC cell malignant behaviors. The cancerogenic property of FUT8-AS1 in OSCC was further confirmed via animal experiments. Furthermore, FUT8-AS1 enhanced the expression of transcription factor 4 (TCF4) via sponging miR-944 and recruiting fused in sarcoma (FUS), thus affecting OSCC cell biological behaviors via modulation on Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity. In addition, TCF4 was validated as the transcriptional activator of FUT8-AS1. To conclude, TCF4-mediated FUT8-AS1 could exacerbate OSCC cell malignant behaviors and facilitate tumor growth via modulation on miR-944/FUS/TCF4.

The role of LncRNA LBX2-AS1 in cancers: functions, mechanisms and potential clinical utility

Increasingly advanced biology technique has revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) as critical factors that exert significant regulatory effects on biological functions by modulating gene transcription, epigenetic modifications and protein translation. A newly emerging lncRNA, ladybird homeobox 2 (LBX2)-antisense RNA 1 (LBX2-AS1), was found to be highly expressed in various tumors. Moreover, it is functionally linked to the regulation of essential tumor-related biological processes, such as cell proliferation and apoptosis, through interactions with multiple signaling molecules/pathways. The important roles played by LBX2-AS1 in cancer initiation and progression suggest that this lncRNA has enormous clinical potential for use as a novel biomarker or therapeutic target. In this article, we retrospectively review the latest advances in research exploring the roles of the lncRNA LBX2-AS1 in oncology field, highlighting its involvement in a comprehensive network of molecular mechanisms underlying diverse cancers and examining its potential applications in clinical practice.

LncRNA TM4SF19-AS1 exacerbates cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via enhancing LAMC1 expression

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous and aggressive tumor with high mortality and unfavorable prognosis. Numerous long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been confirmed to exert pivotal parts in cancers. Nevertheless, the functions of most lncRNAs in HNSCC need deeper exploration. Our present research tried to clarify the biological role of TM4SF19 antisense RNA 1 (TM4SF19-AS1) and investigate its regulatory mechanism in HNSCC. RT-qPCR analysis was done to test TM4SF19-AS1 expression and identify the up-regulation of TM4SF19-AS1 in HNSCC cells. Loss-of-function assays were also involved, and the data implied that TM4SF19-AS1 knockdown hampered the proliferation, migration, invasion, along with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HNSCC cells. In vivo assays revealed TM4SF19-AS1 depletion restrained HNSCC tumor growth. Additionally, mechanism experiments were implemented to uncover the underlying regulatory mechanism of TM4SF19-AS1 in HNSCC cells. It turned out that TM4SF19-AS1 modulated laminin subunit gamma 1 (LAMC1) expression via sequestering microRNA-153-3p (miR-153-3p) and recruiting heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC) protein. Rescue assays confirmed that TM4SF19-AS1 contributed to HNSCC cell malignant behaviors via up-regulating LAMC1. To summarize, TM4SF19-AS1 played an oncogenic role in HNSCC cells, signifying TM4SF19-AS1 may have the potential to be used as a novel molecular target for HNSCC diagnosis.

The Role of m6A Modification and m6A Regulators in Esophageal Cancer

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, the most prevalent RNA modification, is involved in all aspects of RNA metabolism, including RNA processing, nuclear export, stability, translation and degradation. Therefore, m6A modification can participate in various physiological functions, such as tissue development, heat shock response, DNA damage response, circadian clock control and even in carcinogenesis through regulating the expression or structure of the gene. The deposition, removal and recognition of m6A are carried out by methyltransferases, demethylases and m6A RNA binding proteins, respectively. Aberrant m6A modification and the dysregulation of m6A regulators play critical roles in the occurrence and development of various cancers. The pathogenesis of esophageal cancer (ESCA) remains unclear and the five-year survival rate of advanced ESCA patients is still dismal. Here, we systematically reviewed the recent studies of m6A modification and m6A regulators in ESCA and comprehensively analyzed the role and possible mechanism of m6A modification and m6A regulators in the occurrence, progression, remedy and prognosis of ESCA. Defining the effect of m6A modification and m6A regulators in ESCA might be helpful for determining the pathogenesis of ESCA and providing some ideas for an early diagnosis, individualized treatment and improved prognosis of ESCA patients.

A novel DNA methylation marker to identify lymph node metastasis of colorectal cancer

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) of colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important factor for both prognosis and treatment. Given the deficiencies of conventional tests, we aim to discover novel DNA methylation markers to efficiently identify LNM status of CRC. In this study, genome-wide methylation sequencing was performed in a cohort (n=30) using fresh CRC tissue to discover differentially methylated markers. These markers were subsequently validated with fluorescence quantitative PCR in a cohort (n=221), and the optimal marker was compared to conventional diagnostic methods. Meanwhile, immunohistochemistry was used to verify the effectiveness of the antibody corresponding to this marker in a cohort (n=56). LBX2 achieved an AUC of 0.87, specificity of 87.3%, sensitivity of 75.7%, and accuracy of 81.9%, which outperformed conventional methods including imaging (CT, PET-CT) with an AUC of 0.52, CA199 with an AUC of 0.58, CEA with an AUC of 0.56. LBX2 was also superior to clinicopathological indicators including the depth of tumor invasion and lymphatic invasion with an AUC of 0.61and 0.63 respectively. Moreover, the AUC of LBX2 antibody was 0.84, which was also better than these conventional methods. In conclusion, A novel methylation marker LBX2 could be used as a simple, cost-effective, and reliable diagnostic method for LNM of CRC.

Nucleophosmin 1 is a prognostic marker of gastrointestinal cancer and is associated with m6A and cuproptosis

Background: NPM1 is highly expressed in a variety of solid tumors and promotes tumor development. However, there are few comprehensive studies on NPM1 analysis in gastrointestinal cancer.

Methods: We used bioinformatics tools to study the expression difference of NPM1 between gastrointestinal cancer and control group, and analyzed the relationship between its expression level and the diagnosis, prognosis, functional signaling pathway, immune infiltration, m6A and cuproptosis related genes of gastrointestinal cancer. At the same time, the expression difference of NPM1 between esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) samples and control samples was verified by in vitro experiments.

Results: NPM1 was overexpressed in gastrointestinal cancer. In vitro experiments confirmed that the expression of NPM1 in ESCA samples was higher than that in normal samples. The expression of NPM1 has high accuracy in predicting the outcome of gastrointestinal cancer. The expression of NPM1 is closely related to the prognosis of multiple gastrointestinal cancers. Go and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that NPM1 co-expressed genes involved in a variety of biological functions. NPM1 expression is potentially associated with a variety of immune cell infiltration, m6A and cuproptosis related genes in gastrointestinal cancers.

Conclusion: NPM1 can be used as a diagnostic and prognostic marker of gastrointestinal cancer, which is related to the immune cell infiltration and the regulation of m6A and cuproptosis.

lncRNA CYTOR promotes aberrant glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration via HNRNPC-mediated ZEB1 stabilization in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most common malignancy of the oral and maxillofacial region, severely affects human health. However, current treatments for OSCC commonly show only a ~60% 5-year survival rate of patients with distant metastases, indicating an urgent need for targeted treatments for patients with advanced metastases. Here, we report a survival-related long non-coding RNA, CYTOR, which is highly expressed in the lesions of oral cancer patients. We found that CYTOR can promote both migration and invasion in oral cancer cells as well as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). RNA-sequencing of CYTOR-knockdown oral cancer cells revealed that CYTOR can regulate mitochondrial respiration and RNA splicing. Mechanistically, we found that nuclear-localized CYTOR interacts with HNRNPC, resulting in stabilization of ZEB1 mRNAs by inhibiting the nondegradative ubiquitination of HNRNPC. By synthesizing CYTOR-targeting small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) encapsulated in Nanoscale Metal Organic Frameworks (NMOFs), we demonstrate the targeted suppression of CYTOR to inhibit invasion and metastasis of oral cancer cells in a nude mouse model. Cumulatively, this study reveals the potential role of the CYTOR-HNRNPC-ZEB1 axis in regulating mitochondrial metabolism and glycolysis of oral cancer cells, and illustrates the effective use of lncRNA targeting in anti-metastatic cancer therapies.

Role of m6A writers, erasers and readers in cancer

The N(6)-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most pervasive modification of human RNAs. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have suggested that m6A likely plays important roles in cancers. Many studies have demonstrated that m6A is involved in the biological functions of cancer cells, such as proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. In addition, m6A is closely related to the prognosis of cancer patients. In this review, we highlight recent advances in understanding the function of m6A in various cancers. We emphasize the importance of m6A to cancer progression and look forward to describe future research directions.

Long non-coding RNA LBX2-AS1 predicts poor survival of colon cancer patients and promotes its progression via regulating miR-627-5p/RAC1/PI3K/AKT pathway

Colon cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors across the world. Increasing studies have demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) take part in colon cancer development. Our study intends to explore the expression characteristics of LBX2-AS1, a novel lncRNA, in colon cancer and its underlying mechanisms. The results illustrated that LBX2-AS1 level was substantially increased in colon cancer tissues and was obviously correlated with the tumor volume and early distant metastasis of patients. Besides, overexpression of LBX2-AS1 remarkably boosted growth, proliferation, and metastasis and restrained apoptosis in colon cancer cells, whereas LBX2-AS1 knockdown produced the opposite effect. On the other hand, miR-627-5p, down-regulated in colon cancer tissues, was negatively associated with LBX2-AS1 expression. Functional experiments showed that miR-627-5p suppressed colon cancer growth. Mechanistically, LBX2-AS1, as an endogenous competitive RNA, targeted miR-627-5p and restrained its expression, while miR-627-5p targeted and negatively regulated the RAC1/PI3K/AKT axis. Collectively, this study has revealed that LBX2-AS1 is a poor prognostic factor of colon cancer and can regulate colon cancer progression by regulating the miR-627-5p/RAC1/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Landscape of Alternative Splicing Events Related to Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Glioma: A Data Analysis and Basic Verification

Background

Glioma is a prevalent primary brain cancer with high invasiveness and typical local diffuse infiltration. Alternative splicing (AS), as a pervasive transcriptional regulatory mechanism, amplifies the coding capacity of the genome and promotes the progression of malignancies. This study was aimed at identifying AS events and novel biomarkers associated with survival for glioma.

Methods

RNA splicing patterns were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas SpliceSeq database, followed by calculating the percentage of splicing index. Expression profiles and related clinical information of glioma were integrated based on the UCSC Xena database. The AS events in glioma were further analyzed, and glioma prognosis-related splicing factors were identified with the use of bioinformatics analysis and laboratory techniques. Further immune infiltration analysis was performed.

Results

Altogether, 9028 AS events were discovered. Upon univariate Cox analysis, 425 AS events were found to be related to the survival of patients with glioma, and 42 AS events were further screened to construct the final prognostic model (area under the curve = 0.974). Additionally, decreased expression of the splicing factors including Neuro-Oncological Ventral Antigen 1 (NOVA1), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L-like protein (HNRNPLL), and RNA-Binding Motif Protein 4 (RBM4) contributed to the poor survival in glioma. The immune infiltration analysis demonstrated that AS events were related to the proportion of immune cells infiltrating in glioma.

Conclusions

It is of great value for comprehensive consideration of AS events, splicing networks, and related molecular subtype clusters in revealing the underlying mechanism and immune microenvironment remodeling for glioma, which provides clues for the further verification of related therapeutic targets.

RASSF8-AS1 displays low expression in colorectal cancer and up-regulates RASSF8 to suppress cell invasion and migration

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most prevalent cancers. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important participant in various cancers. Based on the literature, lncRNA RASSF8-AS1 inhibits laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) malignant progression. However, the role of RASSF8-AS1 in CRC remains unclear.

PURPOSE

This study centered on uncovering the role of RASSF8-AS1 and its related regulatory mechanisms in CRC cells.

METHODS

RT-qPCR and western blot were performed to examine the expression of target genes. Functional assays were conducted to determine the effect of target genes on the migration and invasion of CRC cells. Mechanism assays were also carried out to figure out the specific downstream mechanisms of RASSF8-AS1. In vivo assays were also involved.

RESULTS

The expression of RASSF8-AS1 and RASSF8 was positively correlated in CRC, and the two genes were down-regulated in CRC cells and tissues. Moreover, CRC cell invasion and migration as well as xenograft CRC tumor growth suppressed by RASSF8-AS1 overexpression were entirely recovered by RASSF8 knockdown or partially rescued by miR-33a-5p augment. As for the downstream mechanism, RASSF8-AS1 sponged miR-33a-5p to up-regulate RASSF8, or recruited HNRNPC to stabilize RASSF8 mRNA.

CONCLUSION

RASSF8-AS1 modulates miR-33a-5p/HNRNPC/RASSF8 axis to further impede CRC cell invasion and migration.

AVAILABILITY OF DATA

The research data is confidential.

Long non-coding RNA NRSN2-AS1, transcribed by SOX2, promotes progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by regulating the ubiquitin-degradation of PGK1

Aberrant expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) plays pivotal roles in tumorigenesis of human malignant cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the specific role of lncRNA NRSN2-AS1 in ESCC has not been investigated. Our analysis of clinical data revealed that NRSN2-AS1 was upregulated in ESCC tissues and negatively correlated with patient survival. Luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that NRSN2-AS1 is transcribed by SOX2. In vitro functional experiments showed that NRSN2-AS1 can promote ESCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, NRSN2-AS1-binding proteins were detected using RNA pull-down assays and mass spectrometry. Mechanistically, NRSN2-AS1 can bind to phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) and upregulate its protein levels by inhibiting its ubiquitination. Knockdown of PGK1 in part abolished the NRSN2-AS1 overexpression-induced effects on ESCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT). Thus, NRSN2-AS1 may be a diagnostic biomarker or treatment target for ESCC.

An analysis of the role of HnRNP C dysregulation in cancers

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins C (HnRNP C) is part of the hnRNP family of RNA-binding proteins. The relationship between hnRNP C and cancers has been extensively studied, and dysregulation of hnRNP C has been found in many cancers. According to existing public data, hnRNP C could promote the maturation of new heterogeneous nuclear RNAs (hnRNA s, also referred to as pre-mRNAs) into mRNAs and could stabilize mRNAs, controlling their translation. This paper reviews the regulation and dysregulation of hnRNP C in cancers. It interacts with some cancer genes and other biological molecules, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). Even directly binds to them. The effects of hnRNP C on biological processes such as alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA) and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification differ among cancers. Its main function is regulating stability and level of translation of cancer genes, and the hnRNP C is regarded as a candidate biomarker and might be valuable for prognosis evaluation.

A Pleiotropic Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Modulation of Wnt/β-Catenin and PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathways in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Implication in Chemotherapeutic Drug Response

Despite the availability of modern techniques for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), tumor recurrence and metastasis are significant challenges in clinical management. Thus, ESCC possesses a poor prognosis and low five-year overall survival rate. Notably, the origin and recurrence of the cancer phenotype are under the control of complex cancer-related signaling pathways. In this review, we provide comprehensive knowledge about long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) related to Wnt/β-catenin and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in ESCC and its implications in hindering the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. We observed that a pool of lncRNAs, such as HERES, TUG1, and UCA1, associated with ESCC, directly or indirectly targets various molecules of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and facilitates the manifestation of multiple cancer phenotypes, including proliferation, metastasis, relapse, and resistance to anticancer treatment. Additionally, several lncRNAs, such as HCP5 and PTCSC1, modulate PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways during the ESCC pathogenesis. Furthermore, a few lncRNAs, such as AFAP1-AS1 and LINC01014, block the efficiency of chemotherapeutic drugs, including cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, paclitaxel, and gefitinib, used for ESCC treatment. Therefore, this review may help in designing a better therapeutic strategy for ESCC patients.

Evolution of the Neocortex Through RNA-Binding Proteins and Post-transcriptional Regulation

The human neocortex is undoubtedly considered a supreme accomplishment in mammalian evolution. It features a prenatally established six-layered structure which remains plastic to the myriad of changes throughout an organism’s lifetime. A fundamental feature of neocortical evolution and development is the abundance and diversity of the progenitor cell population and their neuronal and glial progeny. These evolutionary upgrades are partially enabled due to the progenitors’ higher proliferative capacity, compartmentalization of proliferative regions, and specification of neuronal temporal identities. The driving force of these processes may be explained by temporal molecular patterning, by which progenitors have intrinsic capacity to change their competence as neocortical neurogenesis proceeds. Thus, neurogenesis can be conceptualized along two timescales of progenitors’ capacity to (1) self-renew or differentiate into basal progenitors (BPs) or neurons or (2) specify their fate into distinct neuronal and glial subtypes which participate in the formation of six-layers. Neocortical development then proceeds through sequential phases of proliferation, differentiation, neuronal migration, and maturation. Temporal molecular patterning, therefore, relies on the precise regulation of spatiotemporal gene expression. An extensive transcriptional regulatory network is accompanied by post-transcriptional regulation that is frequently mediated by the regulatory interplay between RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). RBPs exhibit important roles in every step of mRNA life cycle in any system, from splicing, polyadenylation, editing, transport, stability, localization, to translation (protein synthesis). Here, we underscore the importance of RBP functions at multiple time-restricted steps of early neurogenesis, starting from the cell fate transition of transcriptionally primed cortical progenitors. A particular emphasis will be placed on RBPs with mostly conserved but also divergent evolutionary functions in neural progenitors across different species. RBPs, when considered in the context of the fascinating process of neocortical development, deserve to be main protagonists in the story of the evolution and development of the neocortex.

LBX2-AS1 Activates FSTL3 by Binding to Transcription Factor RARα to Foster Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Thyroid Cancer

Background: Thyroid cancer is a frequent endocrine tumor in women. It is of great significance to investigate the molecular mechanism of progression of thyroid cancer.

Methods: Gene expression data set and clinical data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database for differential expression analysis. The triplet of downstream transcription factors (TFs) and modulatory genes of target lncRNA in thyroid cancer was predicted by the lncMAP database. mRNA and protein expression of lncRNA LBX2-AS1, RARα, and FSTL3 were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. The localization of lncRNA LBX2-AS1 in cells was tested by Fluorescence in situ hybridization assay. The RNA immunoprecipitation assay was applied to verify the binding relationship between lncRNA LBX2-AS1 and FSTL3. ChIP and dual-luciferase assays were used to prove the binding relationship between RARα and FSTL3. Cell function experiments were used to test cell proliferation, migration and invasion in each treatment group. The role of lncRNA LBX2-AS1 in thyroid cancer progression was also confirmed in nude mice.

Results: Bioinformatics analysis indicated that lncRNA LBX2-AS1, RARα, FSTL3 were remarkably fostered in thyroid cancer tissue, and LBX2-AS1 was evidently correlated with clinical features. The LncMAP triplet prediction showed that LBX2-AS1 recruited TF RARα to modulate FSTL3. RIP assay confirmed that LBX2-AS1 was prominently enriched on RARα. ChIP and dual-luciferase report assays unveiled that RARα bound to the promoter region of FSTL3 and functioned as a TF. Cell function experiments uncovered that LBX2-AS1 boosted the progression of thyroid cancer. The rescue experiments showed that LBX2-AS1 recruited the TF RARα to hasten the transcription activity of FSTL3 and thus promoted the development of thyroid cancer.

Conclusion: The integrative results demonstrated that LBX2-AS1 activated FSTL3 by binding to TF RARα to hasten proliferation, migration and invasion of thyroid cancer.

LBX2-AS1 as a Novel Diagnostic Biomarker and Therapeutic Target Facilitates Multiple Myeloma Progression by Enhancing mRNA Stability of LBX2

Objective: Multiple myeloma (MM) represents a common age-associated malignancy globally. The function and underlying mechanism of antisense lncRNA LBX2-AS1 remain ambiguous in multiple myeloma (MM). Herein, we aimed to observe the biological implication of this lncRNA in MM.

Methods: RT-qPCR was employed to examine circulating LBX2-AS1 and LBX2 in 60 paired MM and healthy subjects. Correlation between the two was analyzed by Pearson test. Under transfection with shLBX2-AS1, proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated in MM cells through CCK-8, colony formation and flow cytometry. LBX2 expression was examined in MM cells with shLBX2-AS1 or pcDNA3.1-LBX2 transfection. Following treatment with cycloheximide or actinomycin D, LBX2 expression was examined in pcDNA3.1-LBX2-transfected MM cells at different time points. Rescue assays were then presented. Finally, xenograft tumor models were established.

Results: Circulating LBX2-AS1 was up-regulated in MM patients and positively correlated to LBX2 expression. Area under the curve (AUC) of LBX2-AS1 expression was 0.7525. Its up-regulation was also found in MM cells and primarily distributed in cytoplasm. LBX2-AS1 knockdown distinctly weakened proliferative ability and induced apoptosis in MM cells. Overexpressing LBX2-AS1 markedly strengthened LBX2 expression by increasing its mRNA stability. Rescue assays showed that silencing LBX2-AS1 distinctly weakened the pcDNA3.1-LBX2-induced increase in proliferation and decrease in apoptosis for MM cells. Silencing LBX2-AS1 markedly weakened tumor growth.

Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that circulating LBX2-AS1 could be an underlying diagnostic marker in MM. Targeting LBX2-AS1 suppressed tumor progression by affecting mRNA stability of LBX2 in MM. Hence, LBX2-AS1 could be a novel therapeutic marker against MM.

LncRNA LBX2-AS1 promotes colorectal cancer progression and 5-fluorouracil resistance

BACKGROUND

Recent reports suggest that the long non-coding RNA LBX2 antisense RNA 1 (LBX2-AS1) acts as an important regulator in cancer progression, but its significance in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains undetermined.

METHODS

LBX2-AS1 expression levels in CRC were determined from the GEPIA database and CRC tissues to investigate clinical relevance. meRIP-PCR assays investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of m6A in LBX2-AS1. Loss of function experiments was used to define the role of LBX2-AS1 in the progression of CRC. The ceRNA function of LBX2-AS1 was evaluated by RNA immunoprecipitation. In vitro and PDX models were used to determine if LBX2-AS1 promotes 5-fluorouracil resistance.

RESULTS

Data from the TCGA and our institutional patient cohorts established that LBX2-AS1 levels were significantly upregulated in most CRC tissues relative to normal adjacent colon tissues. Moreover, LBX2-AS1 levels were positively correlated with aggressive disease characteristics, constituting an independent prognostic indicator of overall patient survival. Mechanistic investigations suggested that the increased LBX2-AS1 in CRC was mediated by METTL3-dependent m6A methylation. In vitro experiments indicated that knockdown of LBX2-AS1 inhibited CRC proliferation, migration and invasion with this phenotype linked to LBX2-AS1-mediated regulation of AKT1, acting as a ceRNA to sponge miR-422a. Ex vivo analysis of patient-derived CRC xenografts showed that low LBX2-AS1 expression cases exhibited 5-FU responsiveness and clinical investigations confirmed that low LBX2-AS1 expression was associated with improved clinical benefits from 5-FU therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Together these results suggest that LBX2-AS1 may serve as a therapeutic target and predictor of 5-FU benefit in CRC patients.

ELK1‑mediated upregulation of lncRNA LBX2‑AS1 facilitates cell proliferation and invasion via regulating miR‑491‑5p/S100A11 axis in colorectal cancer

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role and regulatory mechanism of LBX2 antisense RNA 1 (LBX2-AS1) in colorectal cancer. Firstly, LBX2-AS1 expression was detected using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR in colorectal cancer tissues and cells, and its prognostic and diagnostic efficacy was assessed in a colorectal cancer cohort (n=145). Subcellular fractionation assay of LBX2-AS1 was performed. Secondly, the effects of LBX2-AS1 and microRNA (miR)-491-5p on colorectal cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were investigated by a series of functional assays. Thirdly, RNA immunoprecipitation, dual-luciferase reporter and gain and loss of function assays were carried out to analyze the interactions between ETS transcription factor ELK1 (ELK1) and LBX2-AS1, as well as LBX2-AS1, miR-491-5p and S100A11. The results showed that LBX2-AS1 was upregulated both in colorectal cancer tissues and cells, which was distributed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of colorectal cancer cells. Clinically, high LBX2-AS1 expression could be an independent prognostic factor for colorectal cancer. Furthermore, relative operating characteristic curve analysis showed that LBX2-AS1 was a sensitive diagnostic marker for colorectal cancer. Highly expressed ELK1, as a transcription factor, could bind to the two conserved sites in the promoter region of LBX2-AS1, thereby activating the transcription of LBX2-AS1. Silencing LBX2-AS1 markedly inhibited proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities of colorectal cancer cells. miR-491-5p expression was downregulated, while S100A11 expression was upregulated in colorectal cancer tissues and cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that LBX2-AS1 could block S100A11 degradation via competitively binding to miR-491-5p. Furthermore, LBX2-AS1 overexpression could notably reverse the inhibitory effect of miR-491-5p on proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells. Taken together, LBX2-AS1 induced by transcription factor ELK1 may facilitate colorectal cancer cell proliferation and invasion via regulation of the miR-491-5p/S100A11 axis. Thus, LBX2-AS1 could be an underlying prognostic and diagnostic marker for colorectal cancer.

Genes involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral cancer: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is considered the initial step in the invasion-metastasis cascade. The aim of this systematic review was to study the signature of genes involved in the EMT process in oral cancer (OC) confirmed by protein expression and its possible relationship with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) prognostic variables.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A search of the scientific literature was carried out with no start date restriction until 17 September 2020 in the electronic databases Pubmed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus, following specific eligibility criteria. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa tool.

RESULTS

A total of 8 retrospective cohort studies were included, all of them performed in China and with low risk of bias. Overexpression of the genes HNRNPC, ITGA5, HMGA2 and SRSF3, and low expression of ALDH3A1 and ARID2 promote EMT in OC. The more advanced clinical stages of the TNM classification were significantly associated with overexpression of HNRNPC, ITGA5, HMGA2 and SRSF3, and low expression of ARID2.

CONCLUSIONS

HNRNPC, ITGA5, HMGA2, SRSF3, ALDH3A1 and ARID2 genes were associated with EMT process. Over- or under-expression of these genes is associated with worse stages of OSCC and/or worse prognosis of the tumor. Further studies on this topic are needed in different countries to be able to confirm these results, since the detection of these genes can help to know which tumors have a worse prognosis.

Comprehensive Analysis of PD-L1 Expression, Immune Infiltrates, and m6A RNA Methylation Regulators in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common cancer types and represents a threat to global public health. N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) methylation plays a key role in the occurrence and development of many tumors, but there are still few studies investigating ESCC. This study attempts to construct a prognostic signature of ESCC based on m6A RNA methylation regulators and to explore the potential association of these regulators with the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME).

Methods

The transcriptome sequencing data and clinical information of 20 m6A RNA methylation regulators in 453 patients with ESCC (The Cancer Genome Atlas [TCGA] cohort, n = 95; Gene Expression Omnibus [GEO] cohort, n = 358) were obtained. The differing expression levels of m6A regulators between ESCC and normal tissue were evaluated. Based on the expression of these regulators, consensus clustering was performed to investigate different ESCC clusters. PD-L1 expression, immune score, immune cell infiltration and potential mechanisms among different clusters were examined. LASSO Cox regression analysis was utilized to obtain a prognostic signature based on m6A RNA methylation modulators. The relationship between the risk score based on the prognostic signature and the TIME of ESCC patients was studied in detail.

Results

Six m6A regulators (METTL3, WTAP, IGF2BP3, YTHDF1, HNRNPA2B1 and HNRNPC) were observed to be significantly highly expressed in ESCC tissues. Two molecular subtypes (clusters 1/2) were determined by consensus clustering of 20 m6A modulators. The expression level of PD-L1 in ESCC tissues increased significantly and was significantly negatively correlated with the expression levels of YTHDF2, METL14 and KIAA1429. The immune score, CD8 T cells, resting mast cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in cluster 2 were significantly increased. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) shows that this cluster involves multiple hallmark pathways. We constructed a five-gene prognostic signature based on m6A RNA methylation, and the risk score based on the prognostic signature was determined to be an independent prognostic indicator of ESCC. More importantly, the prognostic value of the prognostic signature was verified using another independent cohort. m6A regulators are related to TIME, and their copy-number alterations will dynamically affect the number of tumor-infiltrating immune cells.

Conclusion

Our study established a strong prognostic signature based on m6A RNA methylation regulators; this signature was able to accurately predict the prognosis of ESCC patients. The m6A methylation regulator may be a key mediator of PD-L1 expression and immune cell infiltration and may strongly affect the TIME of ESCC.

Suppression of Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein C Inhibit Hepatocellular Carcinoma Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion via Ras/MAPK Signaling Pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common malignant tumor, has high fatality and recurrence rates. Accumulating evidence shows that heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC), which is mainly involved in RNA splicing, export, and translation, promotes progression and metastasis of multiple tumor types; however, the effects of HNRNPC in HCC are unknown. In the present study, high levels of HNRNPC were detected in tumor tissues compared with para-tumor tissues by immunohistochemical and western blot assays. Furthermore, Cox proportional hazards regression models, the Kaplan–Meier method, and clinicopathologic features analysis showed that HNRNPC was not only an independent prognostic factor for both overall and disease-free survival in HCC but also a predictor of large tumor size and advanced tumor stage. Functional experiments revealed that silencing of HNRNPC not only led to arrest of more HCC cells at G0/G1 phase to inhibit their proliferation, but also suppressed EMT process to block their invasion, and migration in vitro; this was related to the Ras/MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, blocking of HCC cell proliferation regulated by HNRNPC silencing was observed in vivo. Finally, rescue tests showed that after recovery of Ras/MAPK signaling pathway activity by treatment with Ras agonists, the proliferation, migration, and invasion suppression of Huh-7 and Hep 3B cell lines caused by HNRNPC knockdown was partially reversed. Taken together, these results indicate that HNRNPC knockdown inhibits HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, in part via the Ras/MAPK signaling pathway. Thus, HNRNPC may have an important role in the progression of HCC and represents a promising biomarker for evaluation of prognosis and a potential therapeutic target in HCC patients.

ZFPM2-AS1 facilitates cell growth in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via up-regulating TRAF4

Emerging evidence has confirmed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are strongly involved in tumor initiation and development. LncRNA ZFPM2 antisense RNA 1 (ZFPM2-AS1) has been identified as a tumor facilitator in some cancers; nevertheless, its functional significance and regulatory mechanism remain greatly unclear in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Here, we detected ZFPM2-AS1 expression in ESCC cell lines using qRT-PCR. ZFPM2-AS1 knockdown models were established for investigating the biological function of ZFPM2-AS1 in ESCC cells. The association between miR-3612 and ZFPM2-AS1 or TRAF4 was assessed by RNA pull-down and luciferase reporter assays. The present study indicated that ZFPM2-AS1 was significantly up-regulated in ESCC cells. Functional assays manifested that ZFPM2-AS1 knockdown restrained cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and facilitated cell apoptosis in ESCC. Mechanistically, ZFPM2-AS1 promoted ESCC cell growth and up-regulated TRAF4 to trigger NF-κB pathway by sequestering miR-3612. Besides, miR-3612 was confirmed to be a tumor inhibitor in ESCC. Through restoration experiments, we observed that TRAF4 overexpression could recover the suppressive effect of ZFPM2-AS1 on ESCC cell growth. Collectively, all the results suggested that ZFPM2-AS1 was an oncogene in ESCC cell growth by up-regulating TRAF4 and activating NF-κB pathway.

Silencing of lncRNA LBX2-AS1 suppresses glioma cell proliferation and metastasis through the Akt/GSK3β pathway in vitro

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proposed to play pivotal roles in the tumorigenesis of various malignant tumors. Previous studies have found that lncRNA LBX2-AS1 is involved in the progression of various tumors. However, currently, the expression and exact mechanism of LBX2-AS1 in glioma remain unclear. In this study, using online-available datasets combined with clinical glioma tissues collected, we found that LBX2-AS1 was significantly increased and negatively correlated with prognosis in glioma. In vitro functional assays such as CCK-8, Annexin V, transwell assay, and western blot analysis showed that silencing of LBX2-AS1 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioma cells and increased apoptosis. RNA sequencing and western blot analysis confirmed that LBX2-AS1 regulates the Akt/GSK3β pathway. In conclusion, this study showed that lncRNA LBX2-AS1 depletion inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioma cells and increases apoptosis through the Akt/GSK3β pathway. lncRNA LBX2-AS1 is expected to become a new target for glioma therapy.

Overexpression of Long Noncoding RNA LBX2-AS1 Promotes the Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer

Background:

LBX2 antisense RNA 1 (LBX2-AS1), a long noncoding RNA, has been identified to be closely associated with the progression of various cancers. However, the role of LBX2-AS1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) is still poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression and function of LBX2-AS1 in CRC.

Material and Methods:

Expression data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases and results obtained from clinical samples/patients were used to determine the correlation between LBX2-AS1 expression and pathological stages, overall survival (OS). Furthermore, knockdown of LBX2-AS1 in CRC cells using the short interfering RNA (siRNA) technique, and observed its biological functions using western blotting, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry assay in the CRC cell line.

Results:

Our study demonstrated that the expression levels of LBX2-AS1 were higher in CRC cell lines than in normal colon mucosal cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that CRC patients with high LBX2-AS1 expression levels had poor OS. Furthermore, knockdown of LBX2-AS1 in CRC cells could attenuate the proliferative ability of CRC cells in vitro, which is associated with decreased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 3, CDK6, and CCND1 and enhanced expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A.

Conclusions:

LBX2-AS1 plays a crucial role in the tumorigenesis of CRC, providing a potential therapeutic target for CRC patients.

m6A Regulators Is Differently Expressed and Correlated With Immune Response of Esophageal Cancer

N6 methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation regulators play an important role in the development of tumors. However, their function in esophageal cancer (EC) has not been fully elucidated. Here, we analyzed the gene expression data of 24 major m6A RNA methylation regulators from 775 patients with EC from TCGA dataset. The present study showed the aberrations of m6A regulators in genome were correlated to prognosis in human ECs. Meanwhile, 17 m6A regulators showed increased expression in EC samples, including YTHDC1, IGF2BP2, FTO, METTL14, YTHDF3, RBM15, WTAP, HNRNPA2B1, HNRNPC, ALKBH5, YTHDF2, METTL16, IGF2BP3, VIRMA, RBM15B, YTHDF1, KIAA1429, HAKAI, and ZC3H13. Among them, we found HNRNPC, YTHDC2, WTAP, VIRMA, IGF2BP3, and HNRNPA2B1 were significantly correlated to worse outcomes and advanced stage in EC. Furthermore, we showed levels of m6A regulators is correlated with the expression of Immuno-regulators (Immunoinhibitors, Immunostimulators, and MHC molecules) and immune infiltration levels in EC. Bioinformatics further confirm m6A regulators were involved in regulating RNA splicing, RNA stability, and cell proliferation. Our study showed m6A regulators are promising targets and biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy in EC.

GAS5 knockdown alleviates spinal cord injury by reducing VAV1 expression via RNA binding protein CELF2

Long non-coding RNA growth arrest specific transcript 5 (GAS5) has been found to be implicated in the pathogenesis of central nervous diseases and to be a contributor to hypoxic brain injury. However, the roles and molecular mechanisms of GAS5 in spinal cord injury (SCI) have not thoroughly investigated. Here, we reported that GAS5 knockdown improved rat locomotor function and alleviated pathological damage of spinal cord tissues by reducing oxidative stress, caspase-3 activity and vav guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (VAV1) expression in SCI rat models. GAS5 knockdown inhibited the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) level and cell apoptotic rate induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and weakened the inhibitory effects of OGD on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and cell viability in RN-Sc cells, suggesting that GAS5 loss mitigated OGD-triggered oxidative stress and cell injury in RN-Sc cells. Molecular mechanism explorations revealed that GAS5 recruited CUGBP, Elav-like family member 2 (CELF2) to the coding region of VAV1 mRNA, resulting in the increase of VAV1 mRNA stability and expression levels. VAV1 knockdown weakened OGD-induced oxidative stress and cell injury in RN-Sc cells. VAV1 loss alleviated GAS5-induced oxidative stress and cell injury in OGD-treated RN-Sc cells. As a conclusion, our findings suggested that GAS5 aggravated SCI by increasing VAV1 expression via binding with CELF2, deepening our understanding on function and molecular basis of GAS5 in SCI.

Elevated Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein C Expression Correlates With Poor Prognosis in Patients With Surgically Resected Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), as the most common histological subtype of lung cancer, is a high-grade malignancy and a leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Identification of biomarkers with prognostic value is of great significance for the diagnosis and treatment of LUAD. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC) is an RNA-binding protein “reader” of N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) methylation, and is related to the progression of various cancers; however, its role in LUAD is unclear. The aims of this study aims were to study the expression and prognostic value of HNRNPC in LUAD.

Methods

The Oncomine database and gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) were used for preliminary exploration of HNRNPC expression and prognostic value in LUAD. LUAD cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (n = 416) and the Kaplan-Meier plotter database (n = 720) were extracted to study the differential expression and prognostic value of HNRNPC. HNRNPC expression in the National Cancer Center of China (NCC) cohort was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining, and the relationship between HNRNPC expression and survival rate evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify independent prognostic factors. Several pathways that were significantly enriched in the HNRNPC high expression group were identified by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA).

Results

Five data sets from the Oncomine and GEPIA databases all supported that HNRNPC expression is significantly higher in LUAD than in normal lung tissue. In TCGA cohort, HNRNPC was highly expressed in LUAD tissues and significantly related to age, sex, smoking history, ethnicity, lymph node metastasis, and TNM staging (P < 0.001). High HNRNPC expression was significantly correlated with poor prognosis in the three cohorts (NCC, TCGA, and K-M plotter) (P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that HNRNPC expression was an independent prognostic factor in both TCGA and NCC cohorts (P < 0.05). Further, 10 significantly enriched pathways were identified from TCGA data and 118 lung cancer cell lines in CCLE, respectively.

Conclusions

High HNRNPC expression is significantly related to poor overall survival in patients with LUAD, suggesting that HNRNPC may be a cancer-promoting factor and a potential prognostic biomarker in LUAD.

Identification of genetic variants in m6A modification genes associated with pancreatic cancer risk in the Chinese population

N6-Methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most prevalent modification of RNA in eukaryotes, and is associated with many cellular processes and even the development of cancers. We hypothesized that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in m⁶A modification genes, including its "writers", "erasers" and "readers", might affect the m⁶A functions and associate with the susceptibility to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We first conducted a two-stage case-control study in Chinese population to interrogate all SNPs in 22 m⁶A modification genes. In the discovery stage, a total of 2735 SNPs were genotyped in 980 patients and 1991 controls. Then, the promising SNP was replicated in another independent population consisting of 858 cases and 2084 controls. As a result, we found the rs7495 in 3'UTR of hnRNPC was significantly associated with increased risk of PDAC in both stages (combined odds ratio = 1.22, 95% confidence interval = 1.12-1.32, P = 2.39 × 10^-6). To further reveal the biological function of rs7495 and hnRNPC, we performed a series of biochemical experiments. Luciferase reporter assays indicated that rs7495G allele promoted hnRNPC expression through disrupting a putative binding site for has-miR-183-3p. Cell viability assay demonstrated that knockdown of hnRNPC suppressed the proliferation of PDAC cells. RNA-seq analysis suggested that as an m⁶A "reader", hnRNPC played an important role in RNA biological processes. In conclusion, our findings elucidated that rs7495G could confer higher risk of PDAC via promoting the expression of hnRNPC through a miRNA-mediated manner. These results provided a novel insight into the critical role of m⁶A modification in tumorigenesis.

LBX2-AS1 promotes ovarian cancer progression by facilitating E2F2 gene expression via miR-455-5p and miR-491-5p sponging

LBX2-AS1 is a long non-coding RNA that facilitates the development of gastrointestinal cancers and lung cancer, but its participation in ovarian cancer development remained uninvestigated. Clinical data retrieved from TCGA ovarian cancer database and the clinography of 60 ovarian cancer patients who received anti-cancer treatment in our facility were analysed. The overall cell growth, colony formation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and tumour formation on nude mice of ovarian cancer cells were evaluated before and after lentiviral-based LBX2-AS1 knockdown. ENCORI platform was used to explore LBX2-AS1-interacting microRNAs and target genes of the candidate microRNAs. Luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA pulldown assay were used to verify the putative miRNA-RNA interactions. Ovarian cancer tissue specimens showed significant higher LBX2-AS1 expression levels that non-cancerous counterparts. High expression level of LBX2-AS1 was significantly associated with reduced overall survival of patients. LBX2-AS1 knockdown significantly down-regulated the cell growth, colony formation, migration, invasion and tumour formation capacity of ovarian cancer cells and increased their apoptosis in vitro. LBX2-AS1 interacts with and thus inhibits the function of miR-455-5p and miR-491-5p, both of which restrained the expression of E2F2 gene in ovarian cancer cells via mRNA targeting. Transfection of miRNA inhibitors of these two miRNAs or forced expression of E2F2 counteracted the effect of LBX2-AS1 knockdown on ovarian cancer cells. LBX2-AS1 was a novel cancer-promoting lncRNA in ovarian cancer. This lncRNA increased the cell growth, survival, migration, invasion and tumour formation of ovarian cancer cells by inhibiting miR-455-5p and miR-491-5p, thus liberating the expression of E2F2 cancer-promoting gene.

LncRNA PITPNA-AS1 boosts the proliferation and migration of lung squamous cell carcinoma cells by recruiting TAF15 to stabilize HMGB3 mRNA

Plenty of reports have probed the involvement of abnormally expressed lncRNAs in multiple cancers, including lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). Through online database GEPIA, lncRNA PITPNA antisense RNA 1 (PITPNA-AS1) was highly expressed in LUSC samples, and these tendency was further affirmed in LUSC cells. The aim of current study was to investigate the related mechanism of PITPNA-AS1 in LUSC. Functional experiments verified that depletion of PITPNA-AS1 hampered the proliferative and migratory abilities, but accelerated apoptosis of LUSC cells. Additionally, we observed the increased expression of HMGB3 and its positive correlation with PITPNA-AS1 in LUSC samples. Interestingly, PITPNA-AS1 mainly located in the cytosol of LUSC cells, and also affected mRNA stability of HMGB3. Furthermore, the repressed mRNA stability of HMGB3 by PITPNA-AS1 via TAF15 was exposed through mechanism experiments. The mediatory function of PITPNA-AS1 on HMGB3 was validated via rescue assays. All in all, PITPNA-AS1 promoted the proliferation and migration of LUSC cells via stabilizing HMGB3 by TAF15. In conclusion, our study displayed a novel mechanism underlying PITPNA-AS1 in LUSC cells.

Long non-coding RNA LBX2-AS1 enhances glioma proliferation through downregulating microRNA-491-5p

Background

Dysregulation of lncRNAs is frequent in glioma and has emerged as an important mechanism involved in tumorigenesis. Previous analysis of Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database indicated that LBX2-AS1 expression is one of differentially expression lncRNA between lower grade glioma (LGG) (grade II and III) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). However, the function and mechanism of LBX2-AS1 in glioma has not been evaluated yet.

Methods

Here, we analyzed the expression of LBX2-AS1 in GTEx data (normal brain), TCGA-LGG and TCGA-GBM. RT-PCR was performed to detect LBX2-AS1 in surgery obtained normal brain and glioma. CCK-8 kit and Annexin V-FITC-PI Apoptosis Detection Kit were used to study the function of LBX2-AS1 on glioma proliferation and apoptosis. Bioinformatic analysis, RNA immunoprecipitation, RT-PCR, western blotting and dual luciferase reporter assay were carried out to investigate the target miRNA of LBX2-AS1. The discovered mechanism was validated by the rescue assay.

Results

Following study of GTEx and TCGA data, LBX2-AS1 was significantly elevated in glioma compared with normal brain and in GBM compared with LGG. Higher expression of LBX2-AS1 was associated with poor prognosis of patients with glioma. Expression of LBX2-AS1 was positively correlated with pathology classification of glioma. Knockdown of LBX2-AS1 inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in glioma. LBX2-AS1 have complimentary binding site for tumor suppressor miR-491-5p and we showed that LBX2-AS1 sponged miR-491-5p to upregulate TRIM28 expression in glioma cells. TRIM28 overexpression attenuated the effect of LBX2-AS1 knockdown on glioma cells.

Conclusions

In conclusion, LBX2-AS1 was an increased lncRNA in glioma. Mechanistically, LBX2-AS1 promoted glioma cell proliferation and resistance to cell apoptosis via sponging miR-491-5p.

LncRNA LBX2-AS1 facilitates abdominal aortic aneurysm through miR-4685-5p/LBX2 feedback loop

Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are involved in multiple processes of human malignancy, and emerge as crucial molecules in RNA biology. However, the function of lncRNAs has not been well illustrated in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). In this research, the effects of dysregulated ladybird homeobox 2 antisense RNA 1 (LBX2-AS1) or ladybird homeobox 2 (LBX2) on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) biological processes were surveyed via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) and caspase-3 activity assays. LBX2-AS1 and LBX2 both possessed pro-apoptosis and anti-proliferation functions in AAA. Mechanically, the regulation role of LBX2-AS1 on miR-4685-5p or that of miR-4685-5p on LBX2 was investigated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Additionally, the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was confirmed by luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. LBX2-AS1 sequestered miR-4685-5p to release LBX2 expression via ceRNA mechanism. Further, LBX2 could act as a transcriptional activator of LBX2-AS1. A positive feedback loop was formed by LBX2-AS1, miR-4685-5p and LBX2, deteriorating AAA formation and progression. To sum up, our data suggested that LBX2-AS1, miR-4685-5p and LBX2 constituted a positive feedback loop in promoting AAA development, implying a potential usage of LBX2-AS1/miR-4685-5p/LBX2 axis in AAA management.

LBX2-AS1/miR-219a-2-3p/FUS/LBX2 positive feedback loop contributes to the proliferation of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly investigated in numerous carcinomas containing gastric cancer (GC). The aim of our research is to inquire about the expression profile and role of LBX2-AS1 in GC.

METHODS

The expressions of LBX2-AS1, miR-219a-2-3p, FUS and LBX2 were measured by qRT-PCR. Western blot evaluated FUS and LBX2 protein levels. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were, respectively, evaluated by CCK-8, colony formation, EdU, flow cytometry and TUNEL assays. FISH and subcellular fractionation assays examined the position of LBX2-AS1. The binding between genes were certified by RIP, RNA pull-down, ChIP and luciferase reporter assays. Pearson correlation analysis analyzed the association of genes. Kaplan-Meier method detected the relationship of LBX2-AS1 expression with overall survival.

RESULTS

The up-regulation of LBX2-AS1 in GC tissues and cells was verified. Function assays proved that LBX2-AS1 down-regulation restricted the proliferation ability. Then, we unveiled the LBX2-AS1/miR-219a-2-3p/FUS axis. Additionally, LBX2-AS1 positively regulated LBX2 mRNA stability via FUS. LBX2 transcriptionally modulated LBX2-AS1. In the end, rescue and in vivo experiments validated the whole regulatory mechanism.

CONCLUSION

LBX2-AS1/miR-219a-2-3p/FUS/LBX2 positive feedback loop mainly affected the proliferation and apoptosis abilities of GC cells, offering novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of patients with GC.

RETRACTED: Long noncoding RNA LBX2-AS1 drives the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by sponging microRNA-384 and thereby positively regulating IRS1 expression

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the authors. The authors reported that the in vivo study was performed without the approval from an ethics committee. This is despite previously reporting that the in vivo experiments involved animals were approved by the Animal Care and Use Ethics Committee at their hospital. All authors have agreed to retract the article and apologise to the readership of the journal for any inconvenience caused. Further concern was raised about several figures of the article”: “A pair of flow-cytometry plots share most of their points in common, and appear to have been derived from the same data set.” The Editors of Pathology Research and Practice consider these concerns as well justified.

Diagnostic, progressive and prognostic performance of m6A methylation RNA regulators in lung adenocarcinoma

Background: N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) RNA methylation is dynamically and reversibly regulated by methyl-transferases ("writers"), binding proteins ("readers"), and demethylases ("erasers"). The m⁶A is restored to adenosine and thus to achieve demethylation modification. The abnormality of m⁶A epigenetic modification in cancer has been increasingly attended. However, we are rarely aware of its diagnostic, progressive and prognostic performance in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Methods and Results: The expression of 13 widely reported m⁶A RNA regulators in LUAD and normal samples were systematically analyzed. There were 12 m⁶A RNA methylation genes displaying aberrant expressions, and an 11-gene diagnostic score model was finally built (Diagnostic score =0.033*KIAA1429+0.116*HNRNPC+0.115*RBM15-0.067* METTL3-0.048*ZC3H13-0.221*WTAP+0.213*YTHDF1-0.132*YTHDC1-0.135* FTO+0.078*YTHDF2+0.014*ALKBH5). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to demonstrate superiority of the diagnostic score model (Area under the curve (AUC) was 0.996 of training cohort, P<0.0001; AUC was 0.971 of one validation cohort-GSE75037, P<0.0001; AUC was 0.878 of another validation cohort-GSE63459, P<0.0001). In both training and validation cohorts, YTHDC2 was associated with tumor stage (P<0.01), while HNRNPC was up expressed in progressed tumor (P<0.05). Besides, WTAP, RBM15, KIAA1429, YTHDF1, and YTHDF2 were all up expressed for TP53 mutation. Furthermore, using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) regression analysis, a ten-gene risk score model was built. Risk score=0.169*ALKBH5-0.159*FTO+0.581*HNRNPC-0.348* YTHDF2-0.265*YTHDF1-0.123*YTHDC2+0.434*RBM15+0.143*KIAA1429-0.200*WTAP-0.310*METTL3. There existed correlation between the risk score and TNM stage (P<0.01), lymph node stage (P<0.05), gender (P<0.05), living status (P<0.001). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses of relevant clinicopathological characters and the risk score revealed risk score was an independent risk factor of lung adenocarcinoma (HR: 2.181, 95%CI (1.594-2.984), P<0.001). Finally, a nomogram was built to facilitate clinicians to predict outcome. Conclusions: m⁶A epigenetic modification took part in the progression, and provided auxiliary diagnosis and prognosis of LUAD.

SNHG16 regulates invasion and migration of bladder cancer through induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most common urinary malignancies in the world. Growing evidence suggests that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a major contributor for BCa metastasis. lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16) has been reported as a tumor promoter in many cancers. This study aims to investigate the function and mechanism of SNHG16 on EMT in BCa. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to determine the expression of SNHG16 in human BCa tissues and TGF-β-induced cells. Western blot (WB) was performed to evaluate the expression of EMT-related proteins. Transwell assay was exerted to assess the migration and invasion ability of SNHG16 in BCa. RNA pull-down assay was conducted to confirm the RNA-RNA interaction. The precise mechanism by which SNHG16 regulated EMT process in BCa was also explored. SNHG16 was found up-regulated in TGF-β-induced BCa cells and BCa tissues. Transwell assay showed that overexpression of SNHG16 significantly promoted the migration and invasion of BCa cells, whereas knock-down of SNHG16 caused the opposite effects. Then, the interaction between SNHG16 and miR-200a-3p was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. And the effects of knock-down or overexpression of SNHG16 on migration and invasion were reversed by co-transfecting miR-200a-3p inhibitors or mimics. This study first demonstrated that SNHG16 was responsible for EMT of BCa cells via miR-200a-3p/ ZEB1/ZEB2 axis. These results provided a potential therapeutic strategy for BCa treatment, especially in metastatic BCa.

Emerging Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly prevalent tumor and is associated with ethnicity, genetics, and dietary intake. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), specifically microRNAs (miRNAs), long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported as functional regulatory molecules involved in the development of many human cancers, including ESCC. Recently, several ncRNAs have been detected as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in ESCC progression. These ncRNAs influence the expression of specific genes or their associated signaling pathways. Moreover, interactions of ncRNAs are evident in ESCC, as miRNAs regulate the expression of lncRNAs, and further, lncRNAs and circRNAs function as miRNA sponges to compete with the endogenous RNAs. Here, we discuss and summarize the findings of recent investigations into the role of ncRNAs (miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs) in the development and progression of ESCC and how their interactions regulate ESCC development.

Transcriptome-wide Profiling of Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Patients Reveal Important Long noncoding RNA molecular signatures

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are low-flow vascular malformations in the brain associated with recurrent hemorrhage and seizures. The current treatment of CCMs relies solely on surgical intervention. Henceforth, alternative non-invasive therapies are urgently needed to help prevent subsequent hemorrhagic episodes. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) belong to the class of non-coding RNAs and are known to regulate gene transcription and involved in chromatin remodeling via various mechanism. Despite accumulating evidence demonstrating the role of lncRNAs in cerebrovascular disorders, their identification in CCMs pathology remains unknown. The objective of the current study was to identify lncRNAs associated with CCMs pathogenesis using patient cohorts having 10 CCM patients and 4 controls from brain. Executing next generation sequencing, we performed whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis and identified 1,967 lncRNAs and 4,928 protein coding genes (PCGs) to be differentially expressed in CCMs patients. Among these, we selected top 6 differentially expressed lncRNAs each having significant correlative expression with more than 100 differentially expressed PCGs. The differential expression status of the top lncRNAs, SMIM25 and LBX2-AS1 in CCMs was further confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis. Additionally, gene set enrichment analysis of correlated PCGs revealed critical pathways related to vascular signaling and important biological processes relevant to CCMs pathophysiology. Here, by transcriptome-wide approach we demonstrate that lncRNAs are prevalent in CCMs disease and are likely to play critical roles in regulating important signaling pathways involved in the disease progression. We believe, that detailed future investigations on this set of identified lncRNAs can provide useful insights into the biology and, ultimately, contribute in preventing this debilitating disease.

PAX5-induced upregulation of IDH1-AS1 promotes tumor growth in prostate cancer by regulating ATG5-mediated autophagy

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the major malignancies affecting males' health around the world. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of long transcripts, has been reported as essential regulators in tumorigenesis. IDH1 antisense RNA 1 (IDH1-AS1) is an lncRNA which can interact with genes to regulate the Warburg effect. However, function and mechanism of it in tumorigenesis of PCa remains unclear. Therefore, our current study focused on exploring the role of IDH1-AS1 in PCa tumor growth. At first, the expression of IDH1-AS1 was identified to be upregulated in PCa samples and cell lines. Mechanism associated with the upregulation of IDH1-AS1 was analyzed and demonstrated by mechanism experiments. The result suggested that PAX5 is the transcriptional activator of IDH1-AS1. Functionally, loss-of function assays revealed that silencing of IDH1-AS1 inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Through microarray analysis and Gene ontology (GO) analysis, we determined that IDH1-AS1 can affect PCa cell autophagy by upregulating ATG5 expression. Mechanism investigation further validated that IDH1-AS1 posttranscriptionally regulated ATG5 expression by enhancing the mRNA stability of ATG5 or upregulating ATG5 by sequestering miR-216b-5p. Consequently, rescue assays demonstrated that IDH1-AS1 promoted proliferation and apoptosis in PCa via ATG5-induced autophagy. Taken together, our study elucidated the function and regulatory mechanism of IDH1-AS1, thus providing a novel biomarker for PCa.

SNHG8 is upregulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and directly sponges microRNA-411 to increase oncogenicity by upregulating KPNA2

Background

The long noncoding RNA, small nucleolar RNA host gene 8 (SNHG8), is upregulated in multiple human cancer types. However, whether SNHG8 is aberrantly expressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its biological functions have yet to be elucidated. Thus, we aimed to determine the expression status of SNHG8 in ESCC, explore the effects of SNHG8 on the oncogenicity of ESCC, and investigate the potential underlying mechanisms.

Methods

SNHG8 expression in ESCC tissues and cell lines was determined via reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The actions of SNHG8 on the malignant characteristics of ESCC were explored using CCK-8 assay, flow-cytometric analysis, Transwell migration and invasion assays, and tumor xenografts in nude mice.

Results

SNHG8 expression was significantly higher in ESCC tissues and cell lines. High SNHG8 expression was revealed to closely correlate with primary tumor invasion depth, lymph node metastases, TNM stage, and worse overall survival among patients with ESCC. Functional investigation showed that ablation of SNHG8 notably restricted ESCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while inducing apoptosis in vitro and hindered tumor growth in vivo. In the meantime, SNHG8 acted as a molecular sponge of microRNA-411 (miR-411) in ESCC. Furthermore, miR-411 exerted a tumor-suppressive effect on ESCC cells, and karyopherin alpha 2 (KPNA2) turned out to be a direct target gene of miR-411. Restoring KPNA2 expression neutralized the inhibitory effects of miR-411 overexpression on the malignant behaviors of ESCC cells. Moreover, silencing of miR-411 abrogated the influence of SNHG8 downregulation in ESCC cells.

Conclusion

SNHG8 may play oncogenic roles in the malignancy of ESCC by sponging miR-411 to increase KPNA2 expression. The SNHG8–miR-411–KPNA2 pathway may be a novel target for the treatment of patients with ESCC and offer potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of ESCC.