The role of long non-coding RNA ANRIL in the carcinogenesis of oral cancer by targeting miR-125a

Molecular and Therapeutic Roles of Non-Coding RNAs in Oral Cancer-A Review

Oral cancer (OC) is among the most common malignancies in the world. Despite advances in therapy, the worst-case scenario for OC remains metastasis, with a 50% survival rate. Therefore, it is critical to comprehend the pathophysiology of the condition and to create diagnostic and treatment plans for OC. The development of high-throughput genome sequencing has revealed that over 90% of the human genome encodes non-coding transcripts, or transcripts that do not code for any proteins. This paper describes the function of these different kinds of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in OC as well as their intriguing therapeutic potential. The onset and development of OC, as well as treatment resistance, are linked to dysregulated ncRNA expression. These ncRNAs' potentially significant roles in diagnosis and prognosis have been suggested by their differing expression in blood or saliva. We have outlined every promising feature of ncRNAs in the treatment of OC in this study.

Interactive effects of CDKN2B-AS1 gene polymorphism and habitual risk factors on oral cancer

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignant disease associated with a high mortality rate and heterogeneous disease aetiology. Cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2B antisense RNA 1 (CDKN2B-AS1), is a long noncoding RNA that has been shown to act as a scaffold, sponge, or signal hub to promote carcinogenesis. Here, we attempted to assess the effect of CDKN2B-AS1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the susceptibility to OSCC. Five CDKN2B-AS1 SNPs, including rs564398, rs1333048, rs1537373, rs2151280 and rs8181047, were analysed in 1060 OSCC cases and 1183 cancer-free controls. No significant association of these five SNPs with the risk of developing OSCC was detected between the case and control group. However, while examining the clinical characteristics, patients bearing at least one minor allele of rs1333048 (CA and CC) were more inclined to develop late-stage (stage III/IV, adjusted OR, 1.480; 95% CI, 1.129-1.940; p = 0.005) and large-size (greater than 2 cm in the greatest dimension, adjusted OR, 1.347; 95% CI, 1.028-1.765; p = 0.031) tumours, as compared with those homologous for the major allele (AA). Further stratification analyses demonstrated that this genetic correlation with the advanced stage of disease was observed only in habitual betel quid chewers (adjusted OR, 1.480; 95% CI, 1.076-2.035; p = 0.016) or cigarette smokers (adjusted OR, 1.531; 95% CI, 1.136-2.063; p = 0.005) but not in patients who were not exposed to these major habitual risks. These data reveal an interactive effect of CDKN2B-AS1 rs1333048 with habitual exposure to behavioural risks on the progression of oral cancer.

The Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Cardiovascular Diseases

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides that regulate gene expression at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational levels. Abnormal expression of lncRNAs has been identified in many human diseases. Future improvements in diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic techniques will be facilitated by a deeper understanding of disease etiology. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main cause of death globally. Cardiac development involves lncRNAs, and their abnormalities are linked to many CVDs. This review examines the relationship and function of lncRNA in a variety of CVDs, including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, myocardial hypertrophy, and heart failure. Therein, the potential utilization of lncRNAs in clinical diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications will also be discussed.

The Long Non-Coding RNA ANRIL in Cancers

ANRIL (Antisense Noncoding RNA in the INK4 Locus), a long non-coding RNA encoded in the human chromosome 9p21 region, is a critical factor for regulating gene expression by interacting with multiple proteins and miRNAs. It has been found to play important roles in various cellular processes, including cell cycle control and proliferation. Dysregulation of ANRIL has been associated with several diseases like cancers and cardiovascular diseases, for instance. Understanding the oncogenic role of ANRIL and its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in cancer is crucial. This review provides insights into the regulatory mechanisms and oncogenic significance of the 9p21 locus and ANRIL in cancer.

Non-Coding RNAs in Oral Cancer: Emerging Roles and Clinical Applications

Oral cancer (OC) is among the most prevalent cancers in the world. Certain geographical areas are disproportionately affected by OC cases due to the regional differences in dietary habits, tobacco and alcohol consumption. However, conventional therapeutic methods do not yield satisfying treatment outcomes. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand the disease process and to develop diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for OC. In this review, we discuss the role of various types of ncRNAs in OC, and their promising clinical implications as prognostic or diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. MicroRNA (miRNA), long ncRNA (lncRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA), and small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) are the major ncRNA types whose involvement in OC are emerging. Dysregulated expression of ncRNAs, particularly miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, are linked with the initiation, progression, as well as therapy resistance of OC via modulation in a series of cellular pathways through epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational modifications. Differential expressions of miRNAs and lncRNAs in blood, saliva or extracellular vesicles have indicated potential diagnostic and prognostic importance. In this review, we have summarized all the promising aspects of ncRNAs in the management of OC.

Connection of Cancer Exosomal LncRNAs, Sponging miRNAs, and Exosomal Processing and Their Potential Modulation by Natural Products

Cancerous exosomes contain diverse biomolecules that regulate cancer progression. Modulating exosome biogenesis with clinical drugs has become an effective strategy for cancer therapy. Suppressing exosomal processing (assembly and secretion) may block exosomal function to reduce the proliferation of cancer cells. However, the information on natural products that modulate cancer exosomes lacks systemic organization, particularly for exosomal long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). There is a gap in the connection between exosomal lncRNAs and exosomal processing. This review introduces the database (LncTarD) to explore the potential of exosomal lncRNAs and their sponging miRNAs. The names of sponging miRNAs were transferred to the database (miRDB) for the target prediction of exosomal processing genes. Moreover, the impacts of lncRNAs, sponging miRNAs, and exosomal processing on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and natural-product-modulating anticancer effects were then retrieved and organized. This review sheds light on the functions of exosomal lncRNAs, sponging miRNAs, and exosomal processing in anticancer processes. It also provides future directions for the application of natural products when regulating cancerous exosomal lncRNAs.

Long Non-Coding RNAs, Extracellular Vesicles and Inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has currently no effective treatment; however, preventive measures have the potential to reduce AD risk. Thus, accurate and early prediction of risk is an important strategy to alleviate the AD burden. Neuroinflammation is a major factor prompting the onset of the disease. Inflammation exerts its toxic effect via multiple mechanisms. Amongst others, it is affecting gene expression via modulation of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as miRNAs. Recent evidence supports that inflammation can also affect long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression. While the association between miRNAs and inflammation in AD has been studied, the role of lncRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases has been less explored. In this review, we focus on lncRNAs and inflammation in the context of AD. Furthermore, since plasma-isolated extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly recognized as an effective monitoring strategy for brain pathologies, we have focused on the studies reporting dysregulated lncRNAs in EVs isolated from AD patients and controls. The revised literature shows a positive association between pro-inflammatory lncRNAs and AD. However, the reports evaluating lncRNA alterations in EVs isolated from the plasma of patients and controls, although still limited, confirm the value of specific lncRNAs associated with AD as reliable biomarkers. This is an emerging field that will open new avenues to improve risk prediction and patient stratification, and may lead to the discovery of potential novel therapeutic targets for AD.

Prognostic Role of Long Noncoding RNAs in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of tumor progression, and lncRNA expression levels could serve as a potential molecular biomarker for the prognosis and diagnosis of some cancers. However, the prognostic value of lncRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear. Thus, a meta-analysis was conducted to explore the potential prognostic value of lncRNAs in OSCC. We systematically searched PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Elsevier from 2005 to 2021 to identify all published studies that reported the association between lncRNAs and prognosis in OSCC. Then, we used meta-analytic methods to identify the actual effect size of lncRNAs on cancer prognosis. The hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of the association. The reliability of those results was then examined using measures of heterogeneity and testing for selective reporting biases. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 17 studies were eligible in our meta-analysis, involving 1384 Asian patients. The results identified a statistically significant association of high lncRNA expression with poor overall survival [adjusted pooled hazard ratio (AHR) = 1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI): [1.26–1.84], p ≤ 0.001]. The present meta-analysis demonstrated that lncRNA expression might be used as a predictive prognostic biomarker for Asian patients with OSCC.

Pathological Bases and Clinical Application of Long Noncoding RNAs in Cardiovascular Diseases

Increasing evidence has suggested that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have vital roles in cardiovascular tissue homeostasis and diseases. As a main subgroup of ncRNAs, long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play important roles in lipid metabolism, inflammation, vascular injury, and angiogenesis. They have also been implicated in many human diseases including atherosclerosis, arterial remodeling, hypertension, myocardial injury, cardiac remodeling, and heart failure. Importantly, it was reported that lncRNAs were dysregulated in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). A variety of studies have demonstrated that lncRNAs could influence gene expression at transcription, post-transcription, translation, and post-translation level. Particularly, emerging evidence has confirmed that the crosstalk among lncRNAs, mRNA, and miRNAs is an important underlying regulatory mechanism of lncRNAs. Nevertheless, the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in CVDs have not been fully explored yet. In this review, we will comprehensively summarize the main findings about lncRNAs and CVDs, highlighting the most recent discoveries in the field of lncRNAs and their pathophysiological functions in CVDs, with the aim of dissecting the intrinsic association between lncRNAs and common risk factors of CVDs including hypertension, high glucose, and high fat. Finally, the potential of lncRNAs functioning as the biomarkers, therapeutic targets, as well as specific diagnostic and prognostic indicators of CVDs will be discussed in this review.

Long Intergenic Non-Coding RNAs in HNSCC: From "Junk DNA" to Important Prognostic Factor

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common and fatal cancers worldwide. Even a multimodal approach consisting of standard chemo- and radiotherapy along with surgical resection is only effective in approximately 50% of the cases. The rest of the patients develop a relapse of the disease and acquire resistance to treatment. Especially this group of individuals needs novel, personalized, targeted therapy. The first step to discovering such solutions is to investigate the tumor microenvironment, thus understanding the role and mechanism of the function of coding and non-coding sequences of the human genome. In recent years, RNA molecules gained great interest when the complex character of their impact on our biology allowed them to come out of the shadows of the "junk DNA" label. Furthermore, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), specifically the intergenic subgroup (lincRNA), are one of the most aberrantly expressed in several malignancies, which makes them particularly promising future diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This review contains characteristics of known and validated lincRNAs in HNSCC, such as XIST, MALAT, HOTAIR, HOTTIP, lincRNA-p21, LINC02487, LINC02195, LINC00668, LINC00519, LINC00511, LINC00460, LINC00312, and LINC00052, with a description of their prognostic abilities. Even though much work remains to be done, lincRNAs are important factors in cancer biology that will become valuable biomarkers of tumor stage, outcome prognosis, and contribution to personalized medicine.

Long Non-Coding RNAs as Functional Codes for Oral Cancer: Translational Potential, Progress and Promises

Oral cancer is one of the leading malignant tumors worldwide. Despite the advent of multidisciplinary approaches, the overall prognosis of patients with oral cancer is poor, mainly due to late diagnosis. There is an urgent need to develop valid biomarkers for early detection and effective therapies. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recognized as key elements of gene regulation, with pivotal roles in various physiological and pathological processes, including cancer. Over the past few years, an exponentially growing number of lncRNAs have been identified and linked to tumorigenesis and prognosis outcomes in oral cancer, illustrating their emerging roles in oral cancer progression and the associated signaling pathways. Herein, we aim to summarize the most recent advances made concerning oral cancer-associated lncRNA, and their expression, involvement, and potential clinical impact, reported to date, with a specific focus on the lncRNA-mediated molecular regulation in oncogenic signaling cascades and oral malignant progression, while exploring their potential, and challenges, for clinical applications as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for oral cancer.

LINC00514 upregulates CCDC71L to promote cell proliferation, migration and invasion in triple-negative breast cancer by sponging miR-6504-5p and miR-3139

BACKGROUND

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently identified as essential gene modulators in numerous cancers. Previous studies have confirmed the oncogenic role of long intergenic nonprotein-coding RNA 00514 (LINC00514) in some cancers. Nevertheless, its biological function and mechanism remain unclear in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

METHODS

Herein, we detected LINC00514 expression level in TNBC tissues and cells using RT-qPCR. The function of LINC00514 in TNBC cellular activities was assessed by colony formation, EdU, wound healing, transwell assays and flow cytometry analysis.

RESULTS

The binding between miR-6504-5p/miR-3139 and LINC00514/CCDC71L was validated by luciferase reporter assay. The results indicated that LINC00514 expression was upregulated in TNBC tissues and cells. Furthermore, it was manifested that silenced LINC00514 restrained cell proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities and promoted cell apoptosis. In mechanism, LINC00514 was revealed to sequester miR-6504-5p and miR-3139 in TNBC cells. Furthermore, the low level of miR-6504-5p and miR-3139 was identified in TNBC tissues and cells. Overexpression of miR-6504-5p or miR-3139 inhibited cell growth and migration in TNBC. CCDC71L was recognized as a common downstream gene of miR-6504-5p and miR-3139. Rescue assay verified that overexpressed CCDC71L countervailed the anti-tumor influence of LINC00514 knockdown on TNBC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

LINC00514 promote cell proliferation, migration and invasion in triple-negative breast cancer by targeting the miR-6504-5p/miR-3139/CCDC71L axis in TNBC.

LncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 stabilized by IGF2BP3 drives the malignancy of renal clear cell carcinoma through epigenetically activating NUF2 transcription

Because of the lack of sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, therapeutic options for renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) are scarce. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in the progression of cancer. However, their functional roles and upstream mechanisms in KIRC remain largely unknown. Exploring the functions of potential essential lncRNAs may lead to the discovery of novel targets for the diagnosis and treatment of KIRC. Here, according to the integrated analysis of RNA sequencing and survival data in TCGA-KIRC datasets, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2B antisense lncRNA (CDKN2B-AS1) was discovered to be the most upregulated among the 14 lncRNAs that were significantly overexpressed in KIRC and related to shorter survival. Functionally, CDKN2B-AS1 depletion suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, CDKN2B-AS1 exerted its oncogenic activity by recruiting the CREB-binding protein and SET and MYND domain-containing 3 epigenetic-modifying complex to the promoter region of Ndc80 kinetochore complex component (NUF2), where it epigenetically activated NUF2 transcription by augmenting local H3K27ac and H3K4me3 modifications. Moreover, we also showed that CDKN2B-AS1 interacted with and was stabilized by insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3), an oncofetal protein showing increased levels in KIRC. The Kaplan-Meier method and receiver operating curve analysis revealed that patients whose IGF2BP3, CDKN2B-AS1 and NUF2 are all elevated showed the shortest survival time, and the combined panel (containing IGF2BP3, CDKN2B-AS1, and NUF2) possessed the highest accuracy in discriminating high-risk from low-risk KIRC patients. Thus, we conclude that the stabilization of CDKN2B-AS1 by IGF2BP3 drives the malignancy of KIRC through epigenetically activating NUF2 transcription and that the IGF2BP3/CDKN2B-AS1/NUF2 axis may be an ideal prognostic and diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for KIRC.

LncRNA ANRIL Regulates Ovarian Cancer Progression and Tumor Stem Cell-Like Characteristics via miR-324-5p/Ran Axis

Objective

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ANRIL is emerging as a crucial role in ovarian cancer progression and prognosis. However, the precise molecular mechanism of ANRIL on ovarian cancer is not known. Thus, we aim to study the underlying mechanism of ANRIL on the action.

Methods

The MTT assay assessed cell viability. Cell migration and invasion were determined using the wound healing assay, Transwell migration, and invasion assay. The relationships of ANRIL, miR-324-5p, and RAN were evaluated using luciferase activity assay and RNA pull-down assay. Cancer stem cell was identified by flow cytometry. Sphere formation assay was conducted to determine the stem-like properties. Xenograft tumor was established to assess tumor growth in vivo. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect gene expression.

Results

ANRIL was elevated while miR-324-5p was decreased in ovarian cancer tissues and cells. Besides, downregulated ANRIL enhanced miR-324-5p expression, and the luciferase reporting experiment and RNA pull-down assay showed the binding interaction between ANRIL and miR-324-5p. miR-324-5p directly targeted Ran and negatively modulated the expression of Ran. Besides, Ran was promoted by overexpressed ANRIL, which was reversed by overexpression of miR-324-5p. Furthermore, decreased ANRIL and increased miR-324-5p suppressed tumor growth, migration capacity, drug resistance, and alleviated stem-like characteristics in vitro and in vivo. Ran mediated the regulation of ANRIL on cell viability, stem-like properties, and drug resistance of ovarian cancer cells.

Conclusion

The ANRIL/miR-324-5p/Ran axis regulated ovarian cancer development, making the axis meaningful targets for ovarian cancer therapy.

Knockdown of long non‑coding RNA ANRIL inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of Burkitt lymphoma cells through the TGF‑β1 signaling pathway

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) has a high mortality rate and its treatment is currently limited to chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy. The long non-coding RNA antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) has been identified as an oncogene that can regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis in multiple types of cancer. However, the function of ANRIL in BL remains unknown. The present study aimed to determine the effect of ANRIL on cell proliferation and apoptosis in BL. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to analyze the expression levels of ANRIL in BL cells. The effect of ANRIL knockdown on BL cells was determined using Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometric, western blotting, immunofluorescence staining and Hoechst staining assays. The results revealed that ANRIL silencing inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of BL cells. In addition, the expression levels of cyclin D1, E2F transcription factor 1 and Bcl-2 were downregulated, while the expression levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A, Bcl-2-associated X protein, cleaved-caspase-9/pro-caspase-9 and cleaved-caspase-3/pro-caspase-3 were upregulated. Furthermore, the knockdown of ANRIL activated the TGF-β1 signaling pathway, as evidenced by the upregulated expression levels of TGF-β1, phosphorylated (p)-SMAD2/3/SMAD2/3, p-SMAD1/SMAD1 and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2. Moreover, the protective effect of ANRIL silencing in BL could be inhibited by the TGF-β receptor type I/II dual inhibitor, LY2109761. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that the knockdown of ANRIL may inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis in BL by regulating the TGF-β1 signaling pathway, which may provide a novel target for the treatment of BL.

Long noncoding RNA ANRIL as a novel biomarker in human cancer

The long noncoding RNA ANRIL, located in the human chromosome 9p21 region, has been reported to be involved in tumor progression. ANRIL regulates gene expression via recruiting PRC2 or titrating miRNA; it also participates in signaling pathways. Evidence has indicated that ANRIL is overexpressed in many cancer types and is capable of enhancing cell proliferation and cell cycle progression and inhibiting apoptosis and senescence. ANRIL has the potential to serve as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in cancer. In this article we focus on recent advances in studies of the oncogenic role of ANRIL and its potential role in cancer medicine.

MicroRNAs in oral cancer: Biomarkers with clinical potential

Oral cancer is the sixteenth most common cancer globally, with a relatively poor five-year survival rate of 50%. Thus it is imperative to understand the biology of oral cancer and examine alternative prognostic and therapeutic targets for oral cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs mediating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level through mRNA degradation or translational repression. miRNAs play an essential role in cancer development and oncogenic cell processes. miRNA deregulation is observed in oral cancer and associated with prognosis. However, the role of miRNAs and their clinical implications in oral cancer is not clear. The current review highlights the miRNA profile of oral cancer and discusses the diagnostic, prognostic and potential therapeutic targets with clinical implications. miRNAs mediate activation or suppression of signalling pathways associated with oral cancer. Hence, a panel of select deregulated miRNAs may indicate clinicopathological features, personalised treatment outcome and provide novel lead profiles of oral cancer. The translational applications of miRNAs may lead to better management and survival of oral cancer patients. The compiled data provides a platform for consideration of miRNA signatures as potential biomarkers for early oral cancer diagnosis, prognosis and as novel molecular therapies.

Long non-coding RNA ANRIL knockdown suppresses apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokines while enhancing neurite outgrowth via binding microRNA-125a in a cellular model of Alzheimer's disease

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the long non-coding RNA antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus (lnc-ANRIL) knockdown on apoptosis, neurite outgrowth and inflammation based on a PC12 cellular Alzheimer's disease (AD) model. A cellular AD model was constructed by treating nerve growth factor stimulated PC12 cells with amyloid β (Aβ) 1–42 and then control knockdown plasmid and lnc-ANRIL knockdown plasmid were transfected in the PC12 cellular AD model as the KD- negative control (NC) group or the AD-ANRIL group respectively. Apoptosis, neurite outgrowth, pro-inflammatory cytokines and microRNA (miR)-125a were assessed. Rescue experiments were conducted by transfecting lnc-ANRIL knockdown plasmid and lnc-ANRIL knockdown plasmid and miR-125a inhibitor in the PC12 cellular AD model as the KD-ANRIL group or KD-ANRIL + KD-miR-125a group respectively. Following transfection, cell apoptosis deccreased while neurite outgrowth increased in the KD-ANRIL group compared with the KD-NC group (all P<0.01). Concerning inflammation, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-17 were decreased in the KD-ANRIL group compared with the KD-NC group (all P<0.01). miR-125a was negatively regulated by lnc-ANRIL and therefore rescue experiments were subsequently conducted. In the rescue experiments, cell apoptosis was increased while total neurite outgrowth was inhibited in the KD-ANRIL + KD-miR-125a group compared with the KD-ANRIL group (all P<0.01), and TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17 were increased in the KD-ANRIL + KD-miR-125a group compared with the KD-ANRIL group (all P<0.01). A luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that lnc-ANRIL directly bound miR-125a. lnc-ANRIL knockdown suppressed cell apoptosis and inflammation while promoting neurite outgrowth via binding of miR-125a in AD.

Long non-coding RNA SAMMSON as a novel potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background/purpose

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies which accounts for approximately 90% of all malignant oral tumours. SAMMSON is a lncRNA located on chromosome 3p13–3p14 and is known to act as an oncogene in several malignancies. However, its expression and clinical significance in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain mostly unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression and clinical relevance of lncRNA SAMMSON in human OSCC.

Materials and methods

Human OSCC cell lines (Tca8113, SCC9, SCC25, CAL27, HN12, HSU3, FADU) and a human normal oral keratinocyte cell line (HNOK) were used to detect the difference of SAMMSON expression. A total of 90 OSCC patients confirmed by pathological and clinical diagnoses at the Hospital of Stomatology, Department of Periodontology, Shandong University were enrolled. The mRNA expression level was analyzed by reverse transcription PCR (QRT-PCR). Statistical analyses including Student's t-test, chi-square method, Kaplan-Meier method, Univariate and, Multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to analyse all data.

Results

This study showed that the expression of SAMMSON was significantly increased in OSCC tissues and cell lines. High SAMMSON expression was significantly associated with TMN stage, tumour differentiation, lymph node metastasis distant metastasis and neighboring tissue infiltration. Patients with high expression of SAMMSON had poor overall survival and disease-free survival compared to those with low levels. Cox regression analysis showed that SAMMSON could act as an independent prognostic factor in OSCC.

Conclusion

Serum SAMMSON expression was associated with tumour SAMMSON expression. ROC curve analysis indicated the high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of serum SAMMSON expression in OSCC patients as compared to other traditional serum biomarker SCCA, TSGF, and CEA. These results indicated that SAMMSON might play an essential role in OSCC progression and could serve as a novel prognostic and diagnostic biomarker in OSCC.

Long noncoding RNA KTN1-AS1 promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting miR-153-3p

Aim: To explore the biological functions and clinicopathologic significance of the long noncoding RNA KTN1-AS1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Materials & methods: We assessed the effects of KTN1-AS1 and identified the target miRNA by bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. The clinicopathologic features of KTN1-AS1 and its target miRNA were analyzed in HNSCC. Results:KTN1-AS1, a competing endogenous RNA, promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by sponging miR-153-3p in HNSCC. Dysregulation of SNAI1 and ZEB2 mediated the effect of KTN1-AS1 due to miR-153-3p exhaustion. The KTN1-AS1 and miR-153-3p combination can accurately diagnose HNSCC. Conclusion: The KTN1-AS1 and miR-153-3p combination could be a valuable diagnostic and prognostic predictor for HNSCC.

LncRNA ANRIL/miR-125a axis exhibits potential as a biomarker for disease exacerbation, severity, and inflammation in bronchial asthma

Background

This study aimed to explore the correlation of lncRNA ANRIL/miR‐125a axis with disease risk, severity, and inflammatory cytokines of bronchial asthma.

Methods

Plasma samples from 90 patients with bronchial asthma at exacerbation (BA‐E), 90 with bronchial asthma at remission (BA‐R), and 90 controls (healthy subjects) were collected. The qPCR was used for lncRNA ANRIL and miR‐125a detection, and ELISA was adopted for pro‐inflammatory cytokines detection. Participants’ characteristics, laboratory tests, and the pulmonary ventilation function examinations were recorded.

Results

LncRNA ANRIL was negatively correlated with miR‐125a in BA‐E patients, BA‐R patients, and controls. LncRNA ANRIL/miR‐125a axis was upregulated in BA‐E patients compared with BA‐R patients and controls. ROC curve analyses illuminated that lncRNA ANRIL/miR‐125a axis was of good value in distinguishing BA‐E patients from BA‐R patients and controls. As to pulmonary ventilation functions, lncRNA ANRIL/miR‐125a axis was negatively associated with FEV₁/FVC and FEV₁%predicted in bronchial asthma patients, especially in BA‐E patients. Regarding inflammation, lncRNA ANRIL/miR‐125a axis was positively correlated with pro‐inflammatory cytokines in bronchial asthma patients, especially in BA‐E patients. In addition, lncRNA ANRIL/miR‐125a axis was positively correlated with exacerbation severity in BA‐E patients.

Conclusion

LncRNA ANRIL/miR‐125a is potentially indicative of disease exacerbation, exacerbation severity, and inflammation for bronchial asthma, while these findings are preliminary and need further confirmation.

Association between polymorphism in CDKN2B-AS1 gene and its interaction with smoking on the risk of lung cancer in a Chinese population

Background

Long non-coding RNAs became the hot spots in the carcinogenesis of various tumors. This case-control study evaluated the association between the rs2151280 in lncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 and lung cancer risk.

Methods

This study included 507 lung cancer patients and 542 healthy individuals. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated by unconditional logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between the rs2151280 and lung cancer risk.

Results

Compared with individuals carrying TT genotype, individuals carrying CC genotype of rs2151280 had a decreased risk of lung cancer (OR = 0.640, 95%CI = 0.421–0.972, P = 0.036). In the recessive model, rs2151280 CC genotype was observed to reduce the risk of lung cancer (OR = 0.684). C allele was associated with non-small cell lung cancer risk (OR = 0.674). The rs2151280 was significantly associated with lung adenocarcinoma risk (CCvsTT: OR = 0.567, 95%CI = 0.333–0.965, P = 0.037; CCvsTC+TT: OR = 0.543, 95%CI 0.330–0.893, P = 0.016, respectively). However, there was no significant association between rs2151280 and lung squamous cell carcinoma risk in five models. The quantitative analysis suggested that there were no significant interactions of rs2151280 with smoking exposure to lung cancer susceptibility.

Conclusions

This hospital-based case-control study suggested that CDKN2B-AS1 rs2151280 T>C was associated with the risk of lung cancer.

ANRIL and atherosclerosis

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

The 3.8-kb-long antisense non-coding RNA at the INK4 locus (ANRIL) is transcribed from the short arm of human chromosome 9 on P21 and is associated with malfunction of the vascular endothelium, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation/migration/senescence/apoptosis, mononuclear cell adhesion and proliferation, glycolipid metabolism disorder and DNA damage. Hence, ANRIL plays an important role in atherogenesis. Moreover, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified ANRIL as a biomarker that is closely related to coronary heart disease (CHD). The objective of this review was to discuss the pathological mechanism of ANRIL in atherosclerotic development and its significance as a predictor of cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

Review of the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases for articles demonstrating the roles of ANRIL in the development of atherosclerotic diseases.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The abnormal expression of ANRIL is linked to vascular endothelium injury; the proliferation, migration, senescence and apoptosis of VSMCs; mononuclear cell adhesion and proliferation; glycolipid metabolism disorder; DNA damage; and competing endogenous RNAs. Moreover, ANRIL accelerates the progression of CHD by regulating its single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

Considering that ANRIL accelerates atherosclerosis (AS) development and is a risk factor for CHD, it is reasonable for us to explore an efficacious ANRIL-based therapy for AS in CHD.

Hyperglycemia Associated Metabolic and Molecular Alterations in Cancer Risk, Progression, Treatment, and Mortality

Cancer and diabetes are amongst the leading causes of deaths worldwide. There is an alarming rise in cancer incidences and mortality, with approximately 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths in 2018. A major contributory but neglected factor for risk of neoplastic transformation is hyperglycemia. Epidemiologically too, lifestyle patterns resulting in high blood glucose level, with or without the role of insulin, are more often correlated with cancer risk, progression, and mortality. The two conditions recurrently exist in comorbidity, and their interplay has rendered treatment regimens more challenging by restricting the choice of drugs, affecting surgical consequences, and having associated fatal complications. Limited comprehensive literature is available on their correlation, and a lack of clarity in understanding in such comorbid conditions contributes to higher mortality rates. Hence, a critical analysis of the elements responsible for enhanced mortality due to hyperglycemia-cancer concomitance is warranted. Given the lifestyle changes in the human population, increasing metabolic disorders, and glucose addiction of cancer cells, hyperglycemia related complications in cancer underline the necessity for further in-depth investigations. This review, therefore, attempts to shed light upon hyperglycemia associated factors in the risk, progression, mortality, and treatment of cancer to highlight important mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

Prospective applications of microRNAs in oral cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules that are generally encoded by endogenous genes and exert suppressive effects on post-transcriptional regulation of their target genes by translation repression or degradation of mRNA. This subsequently mediates activation or blocking of downstream signaling pathways associated with oral malignancies. Aberrant levels of certain miRNAs have been identified in cell experiments, clinical carcinomatous specimens, saliva, serum or plasma samples of patients with oral malignancies. miRNAs are associated with multiple aspects of oral cancer, including tumor growth, cellular proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, metastasis, glycometabolism, radiosensitivity and chemosensitivity. miRNAs have the potential to be used in clinical applications as minimally invasive or non-invasive tools for early diagnosis and prognosis by the detection of serum, plasma and saliva levels, and may provide a new ancillary or additional reference index of traditional pathological grading and clinical staging. Furthermore, miRNAs may be used as prognostic biomarkers or targets for novel therapies for oral cancer.

World Workshop on Oral Medicine VII: Clinical evidence of differential expression of lncRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have important roles in regulating gene expression pertaining to cell proliferation, survival, migration and genomic stability. Dysregulated expression of lncRNAs is implicated in cancer initiation, progression and metastasis.

OBJECTIVES

To explore, map and summarize the extent of evidence from clinical studies investigating the differential expression of lncRNAs in oral/tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were used as search engines. Clinical, full-length, English language studies were included. PRISMA-ScR protocol was used to evaluate and present results. The present scoping review summarizes relationships of the differential expression of lncRNAs with the presence of tumour and with clinicopathological features including survival.

RESULTS

Almost half of the investigated transcripts have been explored in more than one study, yet not always with consistent results. The collected data were also compared to the limited studies investigating oral epithelial dysplasia. Data are not easily comparable, first because of different methods used to define what differential expression is, and second because only a limited number of studies performed multivariate analyses to identify clinicopathological features associated with the differentially expressed lncRNAs.

CONCLUSIONS

Standard methods and more appropriate data analyses are needed in order to achieve reliable results from future studies.

Elevated circulating lnc-ANRIL/miR-125a axis level predicts higher risk, more severe disease condition, and worse prognosis of sepsis

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the correlation of lnc-ANRIL/miR-125a axis with risk, severity, inflammation, and prognosis of sepsis.

METHODS

A hundred and twenty-six sepsis patients and 125 healthy controls were recruited, and then, blood samples were collected, and plasma was separated for lnc-ANRIL, miR-125a, lnc-ANRIL/miR-125a axis, and inflammatory cytokine level detections. In addition, basic characteristics, 28-day mortality, and accumulating survival of sepsis patients were recorded.

RESULTS

Plasma lnc-ANRIL expression was increased, miR-125a expression was decreased, and lnc-ANRIL/miR-125a axis level was elevated in sepsis patients compared with healthy controls, and all of them had good value for predicting sepsis risk with AUCs of 0.800, 0.817, and 0.843, respectively. Lnc-ANRIL and lnc-ANRIL/miR-125a axis were positively correlated with biochemical index levels including CRP and PCT levels, disease severity scale scores, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in sepsis patients, while miR-125a displayed the opposite trend. Lnc-ANRIL and lnc-ANRIL/miR-125a axis expressions were elevated, while miR-125a expression was declined in deaths compared with survivors, and all of them predicted 28-day mortality in sepsis patients with AUCs of 0.765, 0.745, and 0.785, respectively. Subsequently, the Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with high lnc-ANRIL, low miR-125a, and high lnc-ANRIL/miR-125a axis levels presented with worse accumulating survival. In addition, multivariate regression model analyses revealed that high plasma lnc-ANRIL/miR-125a axis was an independent predictive factor for both increased 28-day mortality and worse accumulating survival.

CONCLUSION

Circulating lnc-ANRIL/miR-125a axis was upregulated and could serve as a biomarker for severity, inflammation, and prognosis in sepsis patients.

RETRACTED: Propofol suppresses proliferation and migration of papillary thyroid cancer cells by down-regulation of lncRNA ANRIL

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief as there are concerns about the reliability of the results included in the article. The journal was initially contacted by the corresponding author to request the retraction of the article. Given the comments of Dr Elisabeth Bik https://scienceintegritydigest.com/2020/02/21/the-tadpole-paper-mill/ regarding this article, the journal requested the author to provide the raw data. However, the author was not able to fulfil this request.

The long noncoding RNA cardiac hypertrophy-related factor plays oncogenic roles in hepatocellular carcinoma by downregulating microRNA-211

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most major type of primary hepatic cancer. This study aimed to explore the possible oncogenic effects of the long noncoding RNA cardiac hypertrophy-related factor (CHRF) on HCC, as well as the underlying possible mechanism.

METHODS

The expression levels of CHRF and microRNA-211 (miR-211) in HCC tissues and/or cell lines HepG2 and Huh-7 were measured using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Cell transfection was conducted to change the expression levels of CHRF and miR-211 in cells. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed using the cell counting kit-8 assay and annexin V-phycoerythrin staining, respectively. The pull-down assay and RNA immunoprecipitation were performed to analyze the association between CHRF and miR-211. The expression of the key factors involving in cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, as well as the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, were evaluated by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

CHRF was highly expressed in HCC tissues and positively associated with the TNM stage, differentiation, and size of tumors. Overexpression of CHRF promoted HepG2 cell viability, proliferation, and EMT process. CHRF knockdown had opposite effects. Moreover, CHRF negatively regulated the expression of miR-21, and miR-21 was a direct target of CHRF. Overexpression of miR-211 reversed the effects of CHRF on HepG2 and Huh-7 cell viability, proliferation, and EMT process. Furthermore, overexpression of CHRF activated the PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in HepG2 cells by downregulating miR-211.

CONCLUSION

CHRF played oncogenic roles in HCC. The overexpression of CHRF promoted HepG2 and Huh-7 cell viability, proliferation, and EMT process by downregulating miR-211 and then activating the PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways.

Antiproliferative Activity of microRNA-125a and its Molecular Targets

BACKGROUND

MicroRNA-125a is present in all animals with bilateral symmetry and displays a conserved nucleotide sequence with a section of 11 bases including the seed region that is identical in all considered species. It primarily downregulates the expression of LIN28, thereby promoting cell differentiation and larval phase transitions in nematodes, mammals and insects.

OBJECTIVE

In this review, we focus on the cellular control of miR-125a expression and its antiproliferative activity.

RESULTS

In mammalians, microRNA-125a is present in most adult organs and tissues in which it targets proteins involved in the mitogenic response, such as membrane receptors, intracellular signal transducers, or transcription factors, with the overall effect of inhibiting cell proliferation. Tissue levels of miR-125a generally raise during differentiation but it is often downregulated in cancers, e.g. colon, cervical, gastric, ovarian, lung, and breast cancers, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, retinoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

The antiproliferative activity of miR-125a, demonstrated in many cell types, together with the notion that this miRNA is downregulated in several kinds of cancers, give a substantial support to the concept that miR-125a plays an oncosuppressive role.

LncRNA ANRIL promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation in uric acid nephropathy through miR-122-5p/BRCC3 axis

This study is designed to explore the mechanism by which long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) plays a pathogenic role in uric acid nephropathy (UAN). The expressions of ANRIL, miR-122-5p, BRCA1-BRCA2-containing complex subunit 3 (BRCC3) and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) were determined in UAN patients and uric acid-treated HK-2 cells by qRT-PCR. Protein levels of BRCC3 and NLRP3 were examined by western blot. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were quantified by ELISA. CCK-8 assay was used to assess cell viability. Apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double-labeled flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. The interaction between ANRIL, miR-122-5p and BRCC3 were studied using luciferase reporter assay. The role of ANRIL in renal injury was evaluated in experimental rats. ANRIL and BRCC3 were highly expressed while miR-122-5p was down-regulated in serum of UAN patients and uric acid-treated tubular epithelial cells. Luciferase reporter assay and in vitro rescue experiment confirmed that ANRIL promoted NLRP3 inflammasome activation by up-regulating BRCC3 expression via sponging miR-122-5p. Furthermore, in vivo experiment validated that knockdown of ANRIL alleviated renal injury of UAN rats. ANRIL exerted pathogenic effect in UAN to promote NLRP3 inflammasome activation via miR-122-5p/BRCC3 axis.

ANRIL: A lncRNA at the CDKN2A/B Locus With Roles in Cancer and Metabolic Disease

The CDKN2A/B genomic locus is associated with risk of human cancers and metabolic disease. Although the locus contains several important protein-coding genes, studies suggest disease roles for a lesser-known antisense lncRNA encoded at this locus, called ANRIL. ANRIL is a complex gene containing at least 21 exons in simians, with many reported linear and circular isoforms. Like other genes, abundance of ANRIL is regulated by epigenetics, classic transcription regulation, splicing, and post-transcriptional influences such as RNA stability and microRNAs. Known molecular functions of ANRIL include in cis and in trans gene regulation through chromatin modification complexes, and influence over microRNA signaling networks. Polymorphisms at the ANRIL gene are linked to risk for many different cancers, as well as risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, bone mass, obesity and type 2 diabetes. A broad array of variable reported impacts of polymorphisms on ANRIL abundance, splicing and function suggests that ANRIL has cell-type and context-dependent regulation and actions. In cancer cells, ANRIL gain of function increases proliferation, metastasis, cell survival and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, whereas ANRIL loss of function decreases tumor size and growth, invasion and metastasis, and increases apoptosis and senescence. In metabolic disease, polymorphisms at the ANRIL gene are linked to risk of type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, coronary artery calcium score, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Intriguingly, with the exception of one polymorphism in exon 2 of ANRIL, the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with atherosclerosis and diabetes are non-overlapping. Evidence suggests that ANRIL gain of function increases atherosclerosis; in diabetes, a risk-SNP reduced the pancreatic beta cell proliferation index. Studies are limited by the uncertain relevance of rodent models to ANRIL studies, since most ANRIL exons do not exist in mouse. Diverse cell-type-dependent results suggest it is necessary to perform studies in the relevant primary human tissue for each disease. Much remains to be learned about the biology of ANRIL in human health and disease; this research area may lead to insight into disease mechanisms and therapeutic approaches.