CDKN2B-AS1 as a novel therapeutic target in cancer: Mechanism and clinical perspective

ncRNAs and their impact on dopaminergic neurons: Autophagy pathways in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a complex neurological illness that causes severe motor and non-motor symptoms due to a gradual loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The aetiology of PD is influenced by a variety of genetic, environmental, and cellular variables. One important aspect of this pathophysiology is autophagy, a crucial cellular homeostasis process that breaks down and recycles cytoplasmic components. Recent advances in genomic technologies have unravelled a significant impact of ncRNAs on the regulation of autophagy pathways, thereby implicating their roles in PD onset and progression. They are members of a family of RNAs that include miRNAs, circRNA and lncRNAs that have been shown to play novel pleiotropic functions in the pathogenesis of PD by modulating the expression of genes linked to autophagic activities and dopaminergic neuron survival. This review aims to integrate the current genetic paradigms with the therapeutic prospect of autophagy-associated ncRNAs in PD. By synthesizing the findings of recent genetic studies, we underscore the importance of ncRNAs in the regulation of autophagy, how they are dysregulated in PD, and how they represent novel dimensions for therapeutic intervention. The therapeutic promise of targeting ncRNAs in PD is discussed, including the barriers that need to be overcome and future directions that must be embraced to funnel these ncRNA molecules for the treatment and management of PD.

[Genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors in life expectancy-What role does nature-versus-nurture play in aging?]

In Germany and worldwide, the average age of the population is continuously rising. With this general increase in chronological age, the focus on biological age, meaning the actual health and fitness status, is becoming more and more important. The key question is to what extent the age-related decline in fitness is genetically predetermined or malleable by environmental factors and lifestyle.Many epigenetic studies in aging research have provided interesting insights in this nature-versus-nurture debate. In most model organisms, aging is associated with specific epigenetic changes, which can be countered by certain interventions like moderate caloric restriction or increased physical activity. Since these interventions also have positive effects on lifespan and health, epigenetics appears to be the interface between environmental factors and the aging process. This notion is supported by the fact that an epigenetic drift occurs through the life course of identical twins, which is related to the different manifestations of aging symptoms. Furthermore, biological age can be determined with high precision based on DNA methylation patterns, further emphasizing the importance of epigenetics in aging.This article provides an overview of the importance of genetic and epigenetic parameters for life expectancy. A major focus will be on the possibilities of maintaining a young epigenome through lifestyle and environmental factors, thereby slowing down biological aging.

CDKN2B-AS1 may act as miR-92a-3p sponge in coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

LncRNAs, miRNAs, and the sponge effect between them exert diverse biological influences on the pathogenesis and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD), thus necessitating an exploration of the lncRNA-miRNA-gene regulatory network in CAD.

METHODS

Expression profile GSE98583 was obtained from NCBI, containing the data of 12 CAD patients and 6 controls. Limma package was utilized to determine the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional enrichment analysis was performed by DAVID. The CAD-related miRNA-DEG associations were retrieved via HMDD and miRTarBase, and the CAD-related lncRNA-miRNA associations were retrieved via LncRNADisease and starBase. The CAD-related lncRNA-miRNA-DEG regulatory network was constructed by combining these associations. The dual luciferase test was carried out to validate the connections among lncRNA, miRNA, and gene.

RESULTS

Overall, 534 DEGs were identified between CAD samples and controls, including 243 up-regulated and 291 down-regulated, and were enriched in various gene ontology biological processes and KEGG pathways. The CAD-related miRNAs targeting DEGs included hsa-miR-206, has-miR-320b, has-miR-4513, has-miR-765, and has-miR-92a-3p, and hsa-miR-92a-3p regulated the most DEGs. In the lncRNA-miRNA associations, only CDKN2B-AS1 regulated the CAD-related miRNA, hsa-miR-92a-3p, which was validated using the dual luciferase test.

CONCLUSIONS

CDKN2B-AS1 may act as an hsa-miR-92a-3p sponge to regulate the downstream DEGs in CAD. CDKN2B-AS1/ hsa-miR-92a-3p/GATA2 might be a novel mechanism for CAD.

HSFAS mediates fibroblast proliferation, migration, trans-differentiation and apoptosis in hypertrophic scars via interacting with ADAMTS8

Hypertrophic scar (HS) is one of the most common sequelae of patients, especially after burns and trauma. The roles of regulatory long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in mediating HS remain underexplored. Human hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts (HSFBs) have been shown to exert more potent promoting effects on extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation than normal skin-derived fibroblasts (NSFBs) and are associated with enhanced HS formation. The purpose of this study is to search for lncRNAs enriched in HSFBs and investigate their roles and mechanisms. LncRNA MSTRG.59347.16 is one of the most highly expressed lncRNAs in HS detected by lncRNA-seq and qRT-PCR and named as hypertrophic scar fibroblast-associated lncRNA (HSFAS). HSFAS overexpression significantly induces fibroblast proliferation, migration, and myofibroblast trans-differentiation and inhibits apoptosis in HSFBs, while knockdown of HSFAS results in augmented apoptosis and attenuated proliferation, migration, and myofibroblast trans-differentiation of HSFBs. Mechanistically, HSFAS suppresses the expression of A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 8 (ADAMTS8). ADAMTS8 knockdown rescues downregulated HSFAS-mediated fibroblast proliferation, migration, myofibroblast trans-differentiation and apoptosis. Thus, our findings uncover a previously unknown lncRNA-dependent regulatory pathway for fibroblast function. Targeted intervention in the HSFAS-ADAMTS8 pathway is a potential therapy for HS.

Deciphering the oncogenic landscape: Unveiling the molecular machinery and clinical significance of LncRNA TMPO-AS1 in human cancers

The in-depth exploration of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) reveals their pivotal and diverse roles in various disorders, particularly cancer. Within this intricate landscape, thymopoietin-antisense RNA-1 (TMPO-AS1) emerges as a noteworthy instigator of oncogenesis in humans. This exhaustive review seeks to intricately unravel the present understanding of TMPO-AS1, emphasizing its molecular foundations and highlighting its clinical applications in the realm of cancer research. TMPO-AS1 consistently exhibits heightened expression across a spectrum of cancer types, encompassing lung, colorectal, breast, cervical, bladder, pancreatic, hepatocellular, gastric, ovarian, and osteosarcoma. Elevated levels of TMPO-AS1 are intricately linked to unfavorable prognoses, accompanied by distinctive clinical and pathological characteristics. Functionally, TMPO-AS1 showcases its prowess in enhancing cancer cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and orchestrating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through a myriad of molecular mechanisms. These mechanisms entail intricate interactions with proteins, microRNAs, and intricate signaling pathways. Furthermore, TMPO-AS1 is intricately involved in regulating critical cellular processes, including apoptosis and the cell cycle. The mounting evidence converges towards the potential of TMPO-AS1 serving as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, further entwined with its potential role in influencing chemoresistance in cancer. This potential is underscored by its consistent associations with clinical outcomes and treatment responses. This comprehensive investigation not only consolidates our existing knowledge of TMPO-AS1's multifaceted roles but also sheds illuminating insights on its profound significance in the intricate landscape of cancer biology, paving the way for potential applications in clinical practice.

Tumor-derived lncRNAs: Behind-the-scenes mediators that modulate the immune system and play a role in cancer pathogenesis

Having been involved in complex cellular regulatory networks and cell-to-cell communications, non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have become functional carriers that transmit information between cells and tissues, modulate tumor microenvironments, encourage angiogenesis and invasion, and make tumor cells more resistant to drugs. Immune cells' exosomal lncRNAs may be introduced into tumor cells to influence the tumor's course and the treatment's effectiveness. Research has focused on determining if non-coding RNAs affect many target genes to mediate regulating recipient cells. The tumor microenvironment's immune and cancer cells are influenced by lncRNAs, which may impact a treatment's efficacy. The lncRNA-mediated interaction between cancer cells and immune cells invading the tumor microenvironment has been the subject of numerous recent studies. On the other hand, tumor-derived lncRNAs' control over the immune system has not gotten much attention and is still a relatively new area of study. Tumor-derived lncRNAs are recognized to contribute to tumor immunity, while the exact mechanism is unclear.

Construction of an efferocytosis-related long non-coding ribonucleic acid scoring system to predict clinical outcome and immunotherapy response in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Background

Efferocytosis suppresses antitumour immune responses by inducing the release and secretion of cytokines. Long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) have various functions in different forms of programmed cell death and in immune regulation. This study aims to explore the potential role of efferocytosis-related lncRNAs as biomarkers in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD).

Methods

Transcriptome profiles, simple nucleotide variations and clinical data of patients with PAAD were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Co-expression algorithms identified efferocytosis-related lncRNAs. The efferocytosis-related lncRNA scoring system (ERLncSys) was established using Cox regression and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator algorithm. Additionally, Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves, Cox regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and clinical parameter stratification analyses were used to evaluate ERlncSys. Moreover, ERlncSys was explored through Gene Set Variation Analysis, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses. Furthermore, the TIMER platform, ESTIMATE algorithm, single sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and immune checkpoint analysis were utilised to explore the predictive power of ERlncSys for the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME). Finally, a consensus clustering algorithm identified distinct molecular profiles among patients with PAAD, aiding in the identification of potential beneficiaries for immunotherapy.

Results

K-M, Cox regression and ROC analyses confirmed the robust prognostic efficacy of ERlncSys. Clinical stratification analysis indicated the broad applicability of ERlncSys in PAAD. Additionally, mmunological analyses indicated that ERlncSys can determine immune cell infiltration status in the TIME. Furthermore, consensus clustering analysis based on ERlncSys divided the TCGA-PAAD cohort into two clusters. Cluster 1 exhibited characteristics consistent with an immune 'hot tumour' compared to cluster 2, suggesting cluster 1 is a more suitable population for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Conclusion

The established ErlncSys aids in predicting the prognosis and understanding the TIME landscape of patients with PAAD. In turn, it facilitates the identification of optimal candidates for immunotherapy. This study introduces novel insights into the potential value of efferocytosis-related lncRNAs as biomarkers in PAAD.