lncRNA NEAT1 competes against let-7a to contribute to non-small cell lung cancer proliferation and metastasis

LncRNAs SOX2-OT and NEAT1 act as a potential biomarker for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Despite strides in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for ESCC, patient survival rates remain relatively low. Recent studies highlight the pivotal role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating diverse cellular activities in humans. Dysregulated lncRNAs have emerged as potential diagnostic indicators across various cancers, including ESCC. However, further research is necessary to effectively leverage ESCC-associated lncRNAs in clinical settings. Understanding their clinical significance for ESCC diagnosis and their mechanisms can pave the way for more effective therapeutic strategies. Our qRT-PCR analysis revealed significant downregulation of SOX2-OT (~ 2.02-fold) and NEAT1 (~ 1.53-fold) in ESCC blood samples. These lncRNAs show potential as biomarkers for distinguishing ESCC patients from healthy individuals, with ROC curves and AUC values of 0.736 for SOX2-OT and 0.621 for NEAT1. Further analysis examined the correlation between SOX2-OT and NEAT1 expression and various clinicopathological factors, including age, gender, smoking, alcohol use, hot beverage intake, tumor grade, and TNM stages. In-silico studies highlighted their roles in miRNA sponging via mTOR and MAPK pathways, while co-expression network analysis identified associated genes. This research paves the way for future studies on ESCC prognosis using SOX2-OT and NEAT1 as predictive markers. By thoroughly investigating the functions of these lncRNAs, we aim to deepen our understanding of their potential as diagnostic markers and their role in facilitating effective therapeutic interventions for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) within clinical contexts.

Crosstalk between lncRNAs and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in lung cancers: From cancer progression to therapeutic response

Lung cancer (LC) is considered to have the highest mortality rate around the world. Because there are no early diagnostic signs or efficient clinical alternatives, distal metastasis and increasing numbers of recurrences are a challenge in the clinical management of LC. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently been recognized as a critical regulator involved in the progression and treatment response to LC. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been shown to influence LC occurrence and progress. Therefore, discovering connections between Wnt signaling pathway and lncRNAs may offer new therapeutic targets for improving LC treatment and management. In this review, the purpose of this article is to present possible therapeutic approaches by reviewing particular relationships, key processes, and molecules associated to the beginning and development of LC.

LncRNA MRPL39 inhibits cell proliferation and migration by regulating miR-130/TSC1 axis in non-small cell lung cancer

Currently, the effect of miR-130 on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. In this study, the expression of miR-130 and lncRNA MRPL39 in tumor and non-tumor tissues of NSCLC patients was examined using real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and correlated with the prognosis of NSCLC. The phenotypic effects of miR-130 and MRPL39 on proliferation and migration of NSCLC cell line A549 cells were assessed through CCK-8 and Transwell assays with miR-130 mimic and MRPL39 (mitochondrial ribosomal protein L39) overexpressed plasmid transfection. StarBase/TargetScan analysis and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were conducted to investigate the relationship between MRPL39, miR-130, and Tuberculosis sclerosis 1 (TSC1). MiR-130 was overexpressed, and MRPL39 was downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Inhibition of miR-130 expression and overexpression of MRPL39 resulted in the inhibition of the viability and migration of A549 cells. MRPL39 is a potential upstream regulatory long non-coding RNA of miR-130, and its expression is negatively regulated by miR-130. TSC1 was identified as a target of miR-130, suppressing the antitumor effects of FGD5-AS1 silencing on GBM cells. After overexpression of MRPL39, the mRNA and protein levels of TSC1 in A549 cells significantly increased. However, after transfection with miR-130 mimic, the up-regulation of mRNA and protein was inhibited, leading to the suppression of cell proliferation and migration.

Insulin resistance in NSCLC: unraveling the link between development, diagnosis, and treatment

Lung cancer is responsible for the highest number of cancer-related deaths, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the most prevalent subtype. A critical aspect of managing lung cancer is reducing morbidity and mortality rates among NSCLC patients. Identifying high-risk factors for lung cancer and facilitating early diagnosis are invaluable in achieving this objective. Recent research has highlighted the association between insulin resistance and the development of NSCLC, further emphasizing its significance in the context of lung cancer. It has been discovered that improving insulin resistance can potentially inhibit the progression of lung cancer. Consequently, this paper aims to delve into the occurrence of insulin resistance, the mechanisms underlying its involvement in lung cancer development, as well as its potential value in predicting, assessing, and treating lung cancer.

Unraveling NEAT1's complex role in lung cancer biology: a comprehensive review

This review delves into the pivotal role of the long non-coding RNA NEAT1 in cancer biology, particularly in lung cancer (LC). It emphasizes NEAT1's unique subcellular localization and active involvement in gene regulation and chromatin remodeling. The review highlights NEAT1's impact on LC development and progression, including cell processes such as proliferation, migration, invasion, and resistance to therapy, positioning it as a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target. The complex web of NEAT1's regulatory interactions with proteins and microRNAs is explored, alongside challenges in targeting it therapeutically. The review concludes optimistically, suggesting future avenues for research and personalized LC therapies, shedding light on NEAT1's crucial role in LC. See also the Graphical abstract(Fig. 1).

From carcinogenesis to therapeutic avenues: lncRNAs and mTOR crosstalk in lung cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to have a crucial function in the modulation of the activity of genes, impacting a variety of homeostatic processes involving growth, survival, movement, and genomic consistency. Certain lncRNAs' aberrant expression has been linked to carcinogenesis, tumor growth, and therapeutic resistance. They are beneficial for the management of malignancies since they can function as cancer-causing or cancer-suppressing genes and behave as screening or prognosis indicators. The modulation of the tumor microenvironment, metabolic modification, and spread have all been linked to lncRNAs in lung cancer. Recent research has indicated that lncRNAs may interact with various mTOR signalling systems to control expression in lung cancer. Furthermore, the route can affect how lncRNAs are expressed. Emphasizing the function of lncRNAs as crucial participants in the mTOR pathway, the current review intends to examine the interactions between the mTOR cascade and the advancement of lung cancer. The article will shed light on the roles and processes of a few lncRNAs associated with the development of lung cancer, as well as their therapeutic prospects.

Noncoding RNA as an influential epigenetic modulator with promising roles in cancer therapeutics

The epigenetic landscape has an important role in cellular homeostasis and its deregulation leads to cancer. Noncoding (nc)RNA networks function as major regulators of cellular epigenetic hallmarks via regulation of vital processes, such as histone modification and DNA methylation. They are integral intracellular components affecting multiple oncogenic pathways. Thus, it is important to elucidate the effects of ncRNA networks on epigenetic programming that lead to the initiation and progression of cancer. In this review, we summarize the effects of epigenetic modification influenced by ncRNA networks and crosstalk between diverse classes of ncRNA, which could aid the development of patient-specific cancer therapeutics targeting ncRNAs, thereby altering cellular epigenetics.

Long non coding RNAs reveal important pathways in childhood asthma: a future perspective

Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs refers changes that occur in conjunction with, or as a result of, chronic airway inflammation. Airway remodeling the subsequent of inflammation constitutes cellular and extracellular matrix changes in the wall airways, epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition and airway smooth muscle cell proliferation. Diseases often begin in childhood and despite extensive research, causative pathogenic mechanisms still remain unclear. Transcriptome analysis of childhood asthma reveals distinct gene expression profiles of Long noncoding RNAs which have been reported to play a central regulatory role in various aspects of pathogenesis, clinical course and treatment of asthma. We briefly review current understanding of lnc-RNA dysregulation in children with asthma, focusing on their complex role in the inflammation, cell proliferation and remodeling of airway to guide future researches. We found that the lnc-RNAs increases activity of several oncogenes such c-Myc, Akt, and ERK and various signaling pathways such as MAPK (PI3K, Ras, JNK and p38), NF-κB and Wnt and crosstalk between these pathways by TGFβ, β-catenin, ERK and SKP2. Moreover, two different signal transduction pathways, Wnt and Notch1, can be activated by two lnc-RNAs through sponging the same miRNA for exacerbation cell proliferation.

Lin28B overexpression decreases let-7b and let-7g levels and increases proliferation and estrogen secretion in Dolang sheep ovarian granulosa cells

Although ovine puberty initiation has been previously studied, the mechanism by which the RNA-binding protein Lin28B affects this process has not been investigated. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Lin28B overexpression on let-7b, let-7g, cell proliferation, and estrogen secretion in Dolang sheep ovine ovarian granulosa cells. In this study, a Lin28B vector was constructed and transfected into ovarian granulosa cells using liposomes. After 24, 48, and 72 h of overexpression, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used for measuring let-7b and let-7g microRNA (miRNA) levels, and estrogen secretion was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8) kit was used for evaluating cell viability and proliferation in response to Lin28B overexpression at 24 h. The results showed that the expression of let-7b and let-7g decreased significantly after Lin28B overexpression, and the difference was consistent over different periods. The result of ELISA showed that estradiol (E2) levels significantly increased following Lin28B overexpression. Additionally, Lin28B overexpression significantly increased the cell viability and proliferation. Therefore, the Lin28B-let-7 family axis may play a key role in the initiation of female ovine puberty.

An Updated Review of Contribution of Long Noncoding RNA-NEAT1 to the Progression of Human Cancers

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) present pivotal roles in cancer tumorigenesis and progression. Recently, nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) as a lncRNA has been shown to mediate cell proliferation, migration, and EMT in tumor cells. NEAT1 by targeting several miRNAs/mRNA axes could regulate cancer cell behavior. Therefore, NEAT1 may function as a potent biomarker for the prediction and treatment of some human cancers. In this review, we summarized various NEAT1-related signaling pathways that are critical in cancer initiation and progression.

Long Noncoding RNA: A Novel Insight into the Pathogenesis of Acute Lung Injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) and its severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), represent an acute stage of lung inflammation where the alveolar epithelium loses its functionality. ALI has a devastating impact on the population as it not only has a high rate of incidence, but also has high rates of morbidity and mortality. Due to the involvement of multiple factors, the pathogenesis of ALI is complex and is not fully understood yet. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of non-protein-coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. Growing evidence has shown that lncRNAs have a decisive role in the pathogenesis of ALI. LncRNAs can either promote or hinder the development of ALI in various cell types in the lungs. Mechanistically, current studies have found that lncRNAs play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of ALI via the regulation of small RNAs (e.g., microRNAs) or downstream proteins. Undoubtedly, lncRNAs not only have the potential to reveal the underlying mechanisms of ALI pathogenesis but also serve as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for the therapy of ALI.

High-resolution single-cell atlas reveals diversity and plasticity of tissue-resident neutrophils in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is characterized by molecular heterogeneity with diverse immune cell infiltration patterns, which has been linked to therapy sensitivity and resistance. However, full understanding of how immune cell phenotypes vary across different patient subgroups is lacking. Here, we dissect the NSCLC tumor microenvironment at high resolution by integrating 1,283,972 single cells from 556 samples and 318 patients across 29 datasets, including our dataset capturing cells with low mRNA content. We stratify patients into immune-deserted, B cell, T cell, and myeloid cell subtypes. Using bulk samples with genomic and clinical information, we identify cellular components associated with tumor histology and genotypes. We then focus on the analysis of tissue-resident neutrophils (TRNs) and uncover distinct subpopulations that acquire new functional properties in the tissue microenvironment, providing evidence for the plasticity of TRNs. Finally, we show that a TRN-derived gene signature is associated with anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) treatment failure.

The lncRNA NEAT1 Inhibits miRNA-216b and Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression by Indirectly Activating YY1

Background

Nuclear Paraspeckle Assembly Transcript 1 (NEAT1) is commonly considered an oncogene in various cancers. The long noncoding RNA NEAT1 has been reported to be overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the exact role of NEAT1 in CRC remains unknown. Our research aimed to explore the function of NEAT1 in the tumorigenesis and the development of CRC.

Methods

Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the NEAT1, miR-216b, and YIN-YANG-1 (YY1) mRNA levels in CRC tissues and cells, then immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression of YY1 in CRC tissues. Luciferase reporter, qPCR, western blot, and DNA pulldown assays were conducted to study the relationships between NEAT1, miR-216b, and YY1. Flow cytometry analysis was performed for cell cycle and apoptosis analyses, and a colony formation assay was performed to test cell proliferation. Transwell assays were performed to detect cell invasion and migration.

Results

The NEAT1 expression was significantly upregulated in CRC tissues compared with its expression in normal tissues, and downregulation of NEAT1 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells. Moreover, we found NEAT1 decreased the miR-216b level directly, and the suppression of miR-216b could inhibit the function of downstream YY1. However, overexpression of YY1 accelerated CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that NEAT1 acted as an oncogene in CRC and promoted the progression of CRC by directly sponging miR-216 b expression to activate the expression of YY1. The NEAT1/miR-216b/YY1 axis may be a novel therapeutic target for CRC.

Molecular Interactions of the Long Noncoding RNA NEAT1 in Cancer

As one of the best-studied long noncoding RNAs, nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) plays a pivotal role in the progression of cancers. NEAT1, especially its isoform NEAT1-1, facilitates the growth and metastasis of various cancers, excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia. NEAT1 can be elevated via transcriptional activation or stability alteration in cancers changing the aggressive phenotype of cancer cells. NEAT1 can also be secreted from other cells and be delivered to cancer cells through exosomes. Hence, elucidating the molecular interaction of NEAT1 may shed light on the future treatment of cancer. Herein, we review the molecular function of NEAT1 in cancer progression, and explain how NEAT1 interacts with RNAs, proteins, and DNA promoter regions to upregulate tumorigenic factors.

MicroRNAs as Predictors of Lung-Cancer Resistance and Sensitivity to Cisplatin

BACKGROUND

Platinum-based chemotherapy, cisplatin (DDP) specifically, is the main strategy for treating lung cancer (LC). However, currently, there is a lack of predictive drug-resistance markers, and there is increased interest in the development of a reliable and sensitive panels of markers for DDP chemotherapy-effectiveness prediction. MicroRNAs represent a perspective pool of markers for chemotherapy effectiveness.

OBJECTIVES

Data on miRNAs associated with LC DDP chemotherapy response are summarized and analyzed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive review of the data in the literature and an analysis of bioinformatics resources were performed. The gene targets of miRNAs, as well as their reciprocal relationships with miRNAs, were studied using several databases.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The complex analysis of bioinformatics resources and the literature indicated that the expressions of 12 miRNAs have a high predictive potential for LC DDP chemotherapy responses. The obtained information was discussed from the point of view of the main mechanisms of LC chemoresistance.

CONCLUSIONS

An overview of the published data and bioinformatics resources, with respect to the predictive microRNA markers of chemotherapy response, is presented in this review. The selected microRNAs and gene panel have a high potential for predicting LC DDP sensitiveness or DDP resistance as well as for the development of a DDP co-therapy.

Different roles of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract:

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains one of the deadliest malignant diseases, with high incidence and mortality worldwide. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis, consisting of IGF-1, IGF-2, related receptors (IGF-1R, -2R), and high-affinity binding proteins (IGFBP 1–6), is associated with promoting fetal development, tissue growth, and metabolism. Emerging studies have also identified the role of the IGF axis in NSCLC, including cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis. Upregulation of IGE-1 and IGF-2, overexpression of IGF-1R, and dysregulation of downstream signaling molecules involved in the PI-3K/Akt and MAPK pathways jointly increase the risk of cancer growth and migration in NSCLC. At the genetic level, some noncoding RNAs could influence the proliferation and differentiation of tumor cells through the IGF signaling pathway. The resistance to some promising drugs might be partially attributed to the IGF axis. Therapeutic strategies targeting the IGF axis have been evaluated, and some have shown promising efficacy. In this review, we summarize the biological roles of the IGF axis in NSCLC, including the expression and prognostic significance of the related components, noncoding RNA regulation, involvement in drug resistance, and therapeutic application. This review offers comprehensive understanding of NSCLC and provides insightful ideas for future research.

Noncoding RNA actions through IGFs and IGF binding proteins in cancer

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their regulatory proteins—IGF receptors and binding proteins—are strongly implicated in cancer progression and modulate cell survival and proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and metastasis. By regulating the bioavailability of the type-1 IGF receptor (IGF1R) ligands, IGF-1 and IGF-2, the IGF binding proteins (IGFBP-1 to -6) play essential roles in cancer progression. IGFBPs also influence cell communications through pathways that are independent of IGF1R activation. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which encompass a variety of RNA types including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), have roles in multiple oncogenic pathways, but their many points of intersection with IGF axis functions remain to be fully explored. This review examines the functional interactions of miRNAs and lncRNAs with IGFs and their binding proteins in cancer, and reveals how the IGF axis may mediate ncRNA actions that promote or suppress cancer. A better understanding of the links between ncRNA and IGF pathways may suggest new avenues for prognosis and therapeutic intervention in cancer. Further, by exploring examples of intersecting ncRNA-IGF pathways in non-cancer conditions, it is proposed that new opportunities for future discovery in cancer control may be generated.

Regulation of apoptosis, autophagy and ferroptosis by non‑coding RNAs in metastatic non‑small cell lung cancer (Review)

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a common type of cancer worldwide, is normally associated with a poor prognosis. It is difficult to treat successfully as it often metastasizes into brain or bone. Methods to facilitate the induction of effective programmed cell death (PCD) in NSCLC cells to reverse drug resistance, or to inhibit the invasion and migration of NSCLC cells, are currently under investigation. The present study summarized the regulatory functions of PCD, including apoptosis, autophagy and ferroptosis, in the context of NSCLC metastasis. It further summarized how regulatory agents, including long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs and microRNAs, regulate PCD during the metastasis of NSCLC and characterized new potential diagnostic biomarkers of NSCLC metastasis.

The lncRNA NEAT1/miRNA-766-5p/E2F3 Regulatory Axis Promotes Prostate Cancer Progression

Background

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies in men. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that dysregulation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is closely related to carcinogenesis and cancer progression. lncRNA NEAT1 has recently been identified as a carcinogenic regulator of multiple cancers; however, the role of NEAT1 on PCa is still poorly understood.

Methods

Kaplan–Meier was conducted to determine the overall survival rate in PCa patients with aberrant NEAT1 levels. qRT-PCR analysis was performed to detect expressions of NEAT1 and miR-766-5p in tissues and cells. In addition, CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry analysis, wound healing, and transwell assay were conducted to determine cell proliferation, cell arrest, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. The western blot assay was utilized to determine E2F3 and cell growth-related proteins. The relationship between NEAT1 and miR-766-5p or miR-766-5p and E2F3 was verified by correlation analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results

Here, we find that NEAT1 is overexpressed in PCa tissues and cell lines. Besides, silencing of NEAT1 inhibits cell proliferation, invasion, and migration and promotes cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Further mechanistic studies find that NEAT1 sponges miR-766-5p, and miRNA-766-5p is negatively correlated with the expression of NEAT1. In addition, the functional experiment shows that upregulation of miRNA-766-5p inhibits PCa proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) is testified to be the downstream target gene of miRNA-766-5p. Finally, the rescue experiment revealed that miRNA-766-5p inhibition largely restores NEAT1 downregulation-mediated function on PCa progression, while E2F3 knockdown partly removes the effects of miRNA-766-5p inhibitor.

Conclusions

In conclusion, NEAT1 facilitates PCa progression by targeting the miRNA-766-5p/E2F3 axis.

LncRNA-ENST00000556926 regulates the proliferation, apoptosis and mRNA transcriptome of malignant-transformed BEAS-2B cells induced by coal tar pitch

As a byproduct of coal tar distillation, coal tar pitch (CTP) has been proven to be carcinogenic to human. However, the mechanisms of lung cancer induced by CTP are still unclear. It has been shown that long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) play an important role in the development of human cancers. This study aims to investigate the effect of LncRNA-ENST00000556926 on malignant-transformed human bronchial epithelial (BAES-2B) cells induced by coal tar pitch extracts (CTPE). In this study, BEAS-2B cells were treated with 2.4 μg/ml of CTPE for 72 h and then passaged; and the cells were treated 4 times in the same procedure, then passaged until passage 30 (CTPE30). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to detect cell viability, then cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry, and transcriptome sequencing analysis was used to detect differentially expressed mRNAs after interference of ENST00000556926. The results indicated that the expression of ENST00000556926 in CTPE30 group was significantly higher compared with control group. Furthermore, after interfering the expression of ENST00000556926, cell viability was inhibited, and cell cycle was arrested while apoptosis of malignant-transformed BEAS-2B cells was promoted. Moreover, a total of 159 differentially expressed mRNAs were screened out after interference of ENST00000556926, including 62 up-regulated mRNAs and 97 down-regulated mRNAs. In addition, knockdown of ENST00000556926 decreased the expression of thioredoxin domain containing 5 (TXNDC5) and FOXD1. In conclusion, LncRNA-ENST00000556926 could regulate the proliferation, apoptosis and mRNA transcriptome of malignant-transformed BEAS-2B cells induced by CTP, which may provide a novel treatment strategy for lung cancer.

Targeting long non coding RNA by natural products: Implications for cancer therapy

In spite of achieving substantial progress in its therapeutic strategies, cancer-associated prevalence and mortality are persistently rising globally. However, most malignant cancers either cannot be adequately diagnosed at the primary phase or resist against multiple treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy as well as targeting therapy. In recent decades, overwhelming evidences have provided more convincing words on the undeniable roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in incidence and development of various cancer types. Recently, phytochemical and nutraceutical compounds have received a great deal of attention due to their inhibitory and stimulatory effects on oncogenic and tumor suppressor lncRNAs respectively that finally may lead to attenuate various processes of cancer cells such as growth, proliferation, metastasis and invasion. Therefore, application of phytochemicals with anticancer characteristics can be considered as an innovative approach for treating cancer and increasing the sensitivity of cancer cells to standard prevailing therapies. The purpose of this review was to investigate the effect of various phytochemicals on regulation of lncRNAs in different human cancer and evaluate their capabilities for cancer treatment and prevention.

LncRNA NEAT1 aggravates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by regulating the miR-98-5p/TLR4 axis

Although long noncoding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) was reported to be associated with acute lung injury (ALI), its specific mechanism has not been well studied. Mouse and cell ALI models were constructed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di- phenytetrazoliumromide assay. Cell death was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase release (LDH) detection kit and flow cytometry. The levels of cytokines in lung tissues lysates were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of apoptosis-related markers was detected by Western blot. The relationship between NEAT1, miR-98-5p, and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was determined by bioinformatics prediction, luciferase reporter assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Rescue experiments were performed to determine the role of NEAT1/miR-98-5p/TLR4 in ALI. NEAT1 was significantly upregulated during ALI both in vitro and in vivo. NEAT1 knockdown efficiently attenuated LPS-induced ALI and reduced LPS-induced elevation of cytokines both in vitro and in vivo. NEAT1 negatively regulated miR-98-5p by directly sponging it, and TLR4 was a target of miR-98-5p. MiR-98-5p inhibition or TLR4 overexpression could obviously attenuate the protective effects of NEAT1 knockdown in LPS-treated A549 cells. Our study demonstrated that NEAT1 knockdown alleviated LPS-induced ALI by targeting the miR-98-5p/TLR4 axis.

NEAT1 silencing alleviates pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation under hypoxia through regulation of miR‑34a‑5p/KLF4 in vitro

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe vascular disease that adversely affects patient health and can be life threatening. The present study aimed to investigate the detailed role of nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) in PAH. Using RT‑qPCR, the expression levels of NEAT1, microRNA (miR)‑34a‑5p, and Krüppel‑like factor 4 (KLF4) were detected in both hypoxia‑treated pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and serum from PAH patients. Then, the interactions among miR‑34a‑5p, NEAT1, and KLF4 were evaluated by dual‑luciferase reporter assay. The detailed role of the NEAT1/miR‑34a‑5p/KLF4 axis in PAH pathogenesis was further explored using MTT, Transwell, and western blot assays. The results revealed that NEAT1 targeted miR‑34a‑5p and miR‑34a‑5p targeted KLF4. In hypoxia‑treated PASMCs and serum from PAH patients, high NEAT1 and KLF4 expression levels and low miR‑34a‑5p expression were observed. The proliferation and migration of hypoxia‑treated PASMCs were reduced by transfection with sh‑NEAT1 or miR‑34a‑5p mimics. The suppressive effects of NEAT1 knockdown on the proliferation and migration of hypoxia‑treated PASMCs were reversed by knock down of miR‑34a‑5p expression and increased KLF4 expression. NEAT1 was not only highly expressed in the serum of PAH patients but its silencing also alleviated PAH by regulating miR‑34a‑5p/KLF4 in vitro. The present study highlighted a potential new therapeutic target and diagnostic biomarker for PAH.

Long non-coding RNA NEAT1 facilitates the growth, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells via the let-7 g/MEST/ATGL axis

Background/Aim

Growing evidence indicates a significant role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) in ovarian cancer, a frequently occurring malignant tumor in women; however, the possible effects of an interplay of NEAT1 with microRNA (miRNA or miR) let-7 g in ovarian cancer are not known. The current study aimed to investigate the role of the NEAT1/let-7 g axis in the growth, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells and explore underlying mechanisms.

Methods

NEAT1 expression levels were examined in clinical tissue samples and cell lines. The relationships between NEAT1, let-7 g, and MEST were then analyzed. Gain- or loss-of-function approaches were used to manipulate NEAT1 and let-7 g. The effects of NEAT1 on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were evaluated. Mouse xenograft models of ovarian cancer cells were established to verify the function of NEAT1 in vivo.

Results

NEAT1 expression was elevated while let-7 g was decreased in ovarian cancer clinical tissue samples and cell lines. A negative correlation existed between NEAT1 and let-7 g, whereby NEAT1 competitively bound to let-7 g and consequently down-regulate let-7 g expression. By this mechanism, the growth, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells were stimulated. In addition, let-7 g targeted mesoderm specific transcript (MEST) and inhibited its expression, leading to promotion of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) expression and inhibition of ovarian cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion. However, the effect of let-7 g was abolished by overexpression of MEST. Furthermore, silencing of NEAT1 decreased the xenograft tumor growth by decreasing MEST while up-regulating let-7 g and ATGL.

Conclusions

Cumulatively, the findings demonstrated that NEAT1 could promote malignant phenotypes of ovarian cancer cells by regulating the let-7 g/MEST/ATGL signaling axis. Therefore, NEAT1 can be regarded as an important molecular target and biomarker for ovarian cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02018-3.

Evaluation of CRISPR/Cas9 System Effects on Knocking Out NEAT1 Gene in AGS Gastric Cancer Cell Line with Therapeutic Perspective

AIM

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors globally, with an increasing incidence rate. Nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) responsible for regulating cell cycle progression, apoptosis, cell growth, proliferation, and migration in various cells. The present survey was performed to assess the effects of NEAT1 gene knocking out by CRISPR/Cas9 system in human gastric cancer cells.

METHODS

The CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technique was used to knockout NEAT1 in AGS cells as a gastric cancer model. After the design and construction of the vector, transfection was performed. The expression levels of mRNA, the survival of cells, apoptosis, and cell migration were evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, and scratch wound.

RESULTS

Degradation of NEAT1 by CRISPR/cas9 significantly suppressed the gene's expression rate, arrested cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, and a significant reduction in cell number in the S phase (P < 0.05). Degradation of NEAT1 by CRISPR/cas9 also restrained the ability to migrate in transfected cells compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Knockout of NEAT1 via impact on miR-34a gene expression induced apoptosis of AGS cells (P < 0.05) with increasing in the FAS level and total apoptosis (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that NEAT1 plays a vital role in cellular mechanisms of GC's occurrence and can serve as a new treatment target in GC.

lncRNA OXCT1-AS1 Promotes Metastasis in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer by Stabilizing LEF1, In Vitro and In Vivo

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play nonnegligible roles in the metastasis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study is aimed at investigating the biological role of lncRNA OXCT1-AS1 in NSCLC metastasis and the underlying regulatory mechanisms. The expression profiles of lncRNA OXCT1-AS1 in different NSCLC cell lines were examined. Then, the biological function of lncRNA OXCT1-AS1 in NSCLC metastasis was explored by loss-of-function assays in vitro and in vivo. Further, the protective effect of lncRNA OXCT1-AS1 on lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF1) was examined using RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Additionally, the role of LEF1 in NSCLC metastasis was investigated. Results indicated that lncRNA OXCT1-AS1 expression was significantly increased in NSCLC cell lines. Functional analysis revealed that knockdown of lncRNA OXCT1-AS1 impaired invasion and migration in vitro. Additionally, the ability of lncRNA OXCT1-AS1 to promote NSCLC metastasis was also confirmed in vivo. Mechanistically, through direct interaction, lncRNA OXCT1-AS1 maintained LEF1 stability by blocking NARF-mediated ubiquitination. Furthermore, LEF1 knockdown impaired invasion and migration of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these data highlight the ability of lncRNA OXCT1-AS1 to promote NSCLC metastasis by stabilizing LEF1 and suggest that lncRNA OXCT1-AS1 represents a novel therapeutic target in NSCLC.

LncRNA NEAT1 Acts as an miR-148b-3p Sponge to Regulate ROCK1 Inhibition of Retinoblastoma Growth

Background

It is reported that long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (LncRNA NEAT1) is involved in the occurrence and development of various cancers. However, the detailed biological function and mechanism of LncRNA NEAT1 in retinoblastoma are still unclear. So we will explore the biological function and possible mechanism of LncRNA NEAT1 in retinoblastoma.

Materials and Methods

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect LncRNA NEAT1 in retinoblastoma tissues and cell lines. Cell counting kit 8, Transwell and flow cytometry were applied to explore cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis. The target miRNAs (miR) of LncRNA NEAT1 and miR and downstream target genes were predicted using Starbase3.0 software and confirmed by double luciferase reporting test and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP). Western Blot was applied to explore ROCK1 in cells, and tumor allogeneic experiment was applied to study the role of LncRNA NEAT1 on tumor growth.

Results

It was found that LncRNA NEAT1 was up-regulated in retinoblastoma tissues, cells and serum, and the prognosis of patients with high expression of LNC RNA NEAT 1 was poor. Functional analysis showed that knocking down LncRNA NEAT1 could weaken proliferation and invasion, and accelerate apoptosis. Tumor allogeneic experiment showed that sh-NEAT1 injection can inhibit tumor growth. In addition, LncRNA NEAT1 inhibited proliferation and invasion, and promoted apoptosis through miR-148b-3p/ROCK1 axis.

Conclusion

LncRNA NEAT1 can mediate miR-148b-3p/ROCK1 axis to weaken the proliferation and invasion of retinoblastoma.

NEAT1 Overexpression Indicates a Poor Prognosis and Induces Chemotherapy Resistance via the miR-491-5p/SOX3 Signaling Pathway in Ovarian Cancer

Background

Accumulated studies have reported that dysregulated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial in ovarian cancer (OC) initiation and development. However, detailed biological functions of lncRNA NEAT1 during the progression of OC remains to be uncovered.

Purpose

Our aim was to identify the role of NEAT1 in cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

The expression patterns of NEAT1 in OC cell lines and tissue samples were identified by qRT-PCR. The cisplatin (DDP) sensitivity of OC cells was detected by MTT and CCK8 assay, while OC cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected using flow cytometer assays. In addition, effects of NEAT1 on tumor growth were determined by xenograft tumor model. Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to prove the regulatory relation of miR-491-5p, NEAT1, and SOX3. Importantly, the expression of NEAT1 in exosomes from cisplatin-resistant patients was also determined by using qRT-PCR.

Results

In this study, upregulated NEAT1 was detected in OC cell lines and tissues. Meanwhile, NEAT1 was also increased in cisplatin-resistant OC cell lines and tissues. Upregulation of NEAT1 inhibited cisplatin-induced OC cell apoptosis and promoted cell proliferation, while knockdown of NEAT1 played the opposite role. These effects were also observed in vivo. Furthermore, direct interaction was observed between NEAT1 and miR-491-5p. NEAT1 led to the upregulation of miR-491-5p-targeted SOX3 mRNA. Importantly, this study also showed upregulated NEAT1 expression in serum exosomes derived from cisplatin-resistant patients.

Conclusion

NEAT1 is vital in the chemoresistance of ovarian cancer through regulating miR-491-5p/SOX3 pathway, showing that NEAT1 might be a potential target for OC resistance treatment.

Competing endogenous RNAs in lung cancer

Competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) containing microRNA response elements can competitively interact with microRNA via miRNA response elements, which can combine non-coding RNAs with protein-coding RNAs through complex ceRNA networks. CeRNAs include non-coding RNAs (long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, and transcribed pseudogenes) and protein-coding RNAs (mRNAs). Molecular interactions in ceRNA networks can coordinate many biological processes; however, they may also lead to ceRNA network imbalance and thus contribute to cancer occurrence when disturbed. Recent studies indicate that many dysregulated RNAs derived from lung cancer may function as ceRNAs to regulate multitudinous biological functions for lung cancer, including tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, growth, invasion, migration, and metastasis. This study therefore reviewed the research progress in the field of non-coding and protein-coding RNAs as ceRNAs in lung cancer, and highlighted validated ceRNAs involved in biological lung cancer functions. Furthermore, the roles of ceRNAs as novel prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers were also discussed. Interpreting the involvement of ceRNAs networks in lung cancer will provide new insight into cancer pathogenesis and treatment strategies.

The long non-coding RNA SNHG4/microRNA-let-7e/KDM3A/p21 pathway is involved in the development of non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a foremost cause of malignancy-associated mortality globally. Recent studies have emphasized long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as important biomarkers with diagnostic and therapeutic potential in regard to NSCLC. This study aimed to elucidate the functional role of lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 4 (SNHG4) in NSCLC. Initially, 50 paired cancerous and noncancerous tissues were obtained from NSCLC patients. Human NSCLC H1299 cells were assayed to evaluate viability, colony formation, invasion, migration, cycle arrest, and apoptosis via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), plate clone formation, and transwell invasion assays, as well as a scratch test and flow cytometry. A dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to examine lncRNA SNHG4 binding with miR-let-7e and miR-let-7e binding with lysine demethylase 3A (KDM3A). H1299 cells were xenografted into nude mice. lncRNAs SNHG4 and KDM3A were both upregulated in NSCLC tissues. The knockdown of lncRNA SNHG4 or KDM3A inhibited H1299 cell viability, colony formation, invasion, migration, and cycle progression while inducing apoptosis. lncRNA SNHG4 was found to bind to miR-let-7e that negatively targeted KDM3A. KDM3A inhibited p53-K372me1, thus reducing p21 expression. The NSCLC development was inhibited by downregulating lncRNA SNHG4 in nude mice. Taken together, the key findings of the current study demonstrate a novel lncRNA SNHG4/let-7e/KDM3A/p21 axis in NSCLC, highlighting a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.

The interplay between ATF2 and NEAT1 contributes to lung adenocarcinoma progression

Background

Activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2), a member of the activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factor family, has been shown to be involved in the pathobiology of numerous cancers. However, the biological role and mechanism of ATF2 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains to be elucidated.

Methods

The expression of ATF2, NEAT1 and miR-26a-5p in LUAD tissues and cell lines was detected by qRT-PCR and western blotting. The interaction between ATF2, NEAT1, and miR-26a-5p was validated by chromatin immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. Cell proliferation, invasion and tumorigenesis of LUAD cells were analyzed by using CCK8, transwell invasion assay and xenograft tumor model.

Results

We confirmed that ATF2 expression was increased in LUAD tissues compared with normal adjacent lung tissues. Functional experiments showed that ATF2 positively regulated cell proliferation and invasion in LUAD cells. Moreover, we identified that NEAT1 expression was increased in LUAD tissues and positively correlated with ATF2 expression. Mechanistically, ATF2 could bind to the promoter of NEAT1 to promote its transcription. Rescue experiments showed that ATF2 exerted its oncogenic function in LUAD, at least, partly through NEAT1 upregulation. In turn, NEAT1 could positively regulate ATF2 expression and form a positive feedback loop in LUAD cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that NEAT1 positively regulated ATF2 expression via sponging miR-26a-5p.

Conclusion

ATF2 and NEAT1 form a positive feedback loop mediated by miR-26a-5p and coordinately contribute to LUAD progression.

Identification of a 4-lncRNA signature predicting prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a multicenter study in China

Background

Previous findings have indicated that the tumor, nodes, and metastases (TNM) staging system is not sufficient to accurately predict survival outcomes in patients with non-small lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Thus, this study aims to identify a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) signature for predicting survival in patients with NSCLC and to provide additional prognostic information to TNM staging system.

Methods

Patients with NSCLC were recruited from a hospital and divided into a discovery cohort (n = 194) and validation cohort (n = 172), and detected using a custom lncRNA microarray. Another 73 NSCLC cases obtained from a different hospital (an independent validation cohort) were examined with qRT-PCR. Differentially expressed lncRNAs were determined with the Significance Analysis of Microarrays program, from which lncRNAs associated with survival were identified using Cox regression in the discovery cohort. These prognostic lncRNAs were employed to construct a prognostic signature with a risk-score method. Then, the utility of the prognostic signature was confirmed using the validation cohort and the independent cohort.

Results

In the discovery cohort, we identified 305 lncRNAs that were differentially expressed between the NSCLC tissues and matched, adjacent normal lung tissues, of which 15 are associated with survival; a 4-lncRNA prognostic signature was identified from the 15 survival lncRNAs, which was significantly correlated with survivals of NSCLC patients. This signature was further validated in the validation cohort and independent validation cohort. Moreover, multivariate Cox analysis demonstrates that the 4-lncRNA signature is an independent survival predictor. Then we established a new risk-score model by combining 4-lncRNA signature and TNM staging stage. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve indicates that the prognostic value of the combined model is significantly higher than that of the TNM stage alone, in all the cohorts.

Conclusions

In this study, we identified a 4-lncRNA signature that may be a powerful prognosis biomarker and can provide additional survival information to the TNM staging system.

LncRNAs in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is associated with a high mortality, with around 1.8 million deaths worldwide in 2018. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for around 85% of cases and, despite improvement in the management of NSCLC, most patients are diagnosed at advanced stage and the five-year survival remains around 15%. This highlights a need to identify novel ways to treat the disease to reduce the burden of NSCLC. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides in length which play important roles in gene expression and signaling pathways. Recently, lncRNAs were implicated in cancer, where their expression is dysregulated resulting in aberrant functions. LncRNAs were shown to function as both tumor suppressors and oncogenes in a variety of cancer types. Although there are a few well characterized lncRNAs in NSCLC, many lncRNAs remain un-characterized and their mechanisms of action largely unknown. LncRNAs have success as therapies in neurodegenerative diseases, and having a detailed understanding of their function in NSCLC may guide novel therapeutic approaches and strategies. This review discusses the role of lncRNAs in NSCLC tumorigenesis, highlighting their mechanisms of action and their clinical potential.

Long non-coding RNA NEAT1 promotes human glioma tumor progression via miR-152-3p/CCT6A pathway

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) has been documented to implicate in diverse tumor progression. However, the mechanism of NEAT1 in glioma was rarely reported.

METHODS

The levels of NEAT1, microRNA-152-3p (miR-152-3p) and chaperonin containing TCP1 subunit 6A (CCT6A) in glioma tissues and cells were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The cell viability, apoptotic rate, the migrated and invaded abilities of A172 and U251 cells were evaluated via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry and Transwell assay, respectively. The mice xenograft model was constructed to further verify the effect of NEAT1. The interactions between miR-152-3p and NEAT1 or CCT6A were predicted by starBase v2.0 or TargetScan, then luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assay were performed to validate the interaction. The protein level of CCT6A was detected by Western blot assay.

RESULTS

The levels of NEAT1, CCT6A were highly expressed, but miR-152-3p was decreased in glioma tissues and cells. NEAT1 depletion or miR-152-3p mimics suppressed cell viability, migrated and invaded abilities but induced apoptotic rate in A172 and U251 cells, while the introduction of CCT6A partly counteracted these impacts. In addition, NEAT1 silencing impeded xenograft tumor growth in vivo. MiR-152-3p was verified as a direct target of NEAT1 and directly targeted CCT6A. CCT6A expression was upregulated by NEAT1 and reversed by miR-152-3p.

CONCLUSION

NEAT1 enhanced glioma progression, partially through miR-152-3p/CCT6A pathway. The novel regulatory network might contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of glioma.

Downregulation of NEAT1 Suppresses Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion in NSCLC Via Sponging miR-153-3p

Background: Long noncoding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) has been reported to play a promotive role in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression through microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the exact influence and mechanism of NEAT1 were unsatisfied. Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was applied to examine the expression of NEAT1 and miR-153-3p. The cell proliferation ability, apoptosis rate, migration, and invasion were measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay, respectively. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition process and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were verified by Western blot. The interaction between NEAT1 and miR-153-3p was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Results: These data showed that NEAT1 is highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of NEAT1 suppresses cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and induces the cell apoptosis in NSCLC cell lines. At the same time, NEAT1 directly interacts with miR-153-3p in NSCLC. In addition, upregulation of miR-153-3p inhibits the cell progression, and miR-153-3p inhibitor recovers the inhibition effect of si-NEAT1 in NSCLC cell lines. Subsequently, si-NEAT1 inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is reactivated by miR-153-3p inhibitor. Conclusions: Knockdown of NEAT1 could suppress cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC while promoting cell apoptosis through sponging miR-153-3p.

The Key microRNAs Regulated the Development of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer by Targeting TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal Transition

PURPOSE

Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) was reported to play a key role in the development of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). The process of EMT is regulated by the changes of miRNAs expression. However, it is still unknown which miRNA changed the most in the process of canceration and whether these changes played a role in tumor development.

METHODS

A total of 36 SCLC patients treated in our hospital between 11th, 2015 and 10th, 2017 were enrolled. The samples of cancer tissues and paracancer tissues of patients were collected and analyzed. Then, the miRNAs in normal lung cells and NSCLC cells were also analyzed. In the presence of TGF-β, we transfected the miRNA mimics or inhibitor into NSCLC cells to investigate the role of the significantly altered miRNAs in cell migration and invasion and in the process of EMT.

RESULTS

MiR-330-3p was significantly up-regulated in NSCLC cell lines and tissues and miRNA- 205 was significantly down-regulated in NSCLC cell lines and NSCLC tissues. Transfected miRNA-205 mimics or miRMA-330-3p inhibitor inhibited the migration and invasion of NCIH1975 cell and restrained TGF-β-induced EMT in NSCLC cells.

CONCLUSION

miRNA-330-3p and miRNA-205 changed the most in the process of canceration in NSCLC. Furthermore, miR-330-3p promoted cell invasion and metastasis in NSCLC probably by promoting EMT and miR-205 could restrain NSCLC likely by suppressing EMT.

LncRNA NEAT1 Interacted With DNMT1 to Regulate Malignant Phenotype of Cancer Cell and Cytotoxic T Cell Infiltration via Epigenetic Inhibition of p53, cGAS, and STING in Lung Cancer

Purpose

Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. We report here the biological role of nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) in the pathogenesis of lung cancer and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting analysis were used to evaluate expression of mRNA and protein. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by qPCR analysis, and reporter assay were used to detect DNA/RNA and protein binding. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were assessed with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Cytotoxic T cell infiltration was evaluated with flow cytometric analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. The changes of cell viability and cell invasive and migratory ability were analyzed by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide), colony formation, and Transwell assays, respectively. Syngeneic tumor model was set up to evaluate antitumor effect.

Results

The results showed that NEAT1 was overexpressed in lung cancer tissues and cancer cell lines. This aberrant expression was closely related with tumor stage and lymph node metastasis. Tumor sample with high CD8⁺ showed lower NEAT1 expression. In vitro studies displayed that inhibition of NEAT1 with shRNA resulted in suppression of survival and migration/invasion of lung cancer cells. On the other side, NEAT1 was found to promote tumor growth via inhibiting cytotoxic T cell immunity in syngeneic models. Finally, NEAT1 was found to interact with DNMT1, which in turn inhibited P53 and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS/STING) expression.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated that NEAT1 interacted with DNMT1 to regulate cytotoxic T cell infiltration in lung cancer via inhibition of cGAS/STING pathway. The results provided the novel mechanistic insight into the pathogenesis of lung cancer.

lncRNA NEAT1 Facilitates Cell Proliferation, Invasion and Migration by Regulating CBX7 and RTCB in Breast Cancer

Purpose

To investigate the association between the lncRNA NEAT1 and breast cancer, and to determine the influence of NEAT1 on regulation of other signaling molecules in breast cancer.

Methods

In the present study, we measured levels of the lncRNA NEAT1 in 106 breast cancer patients and in a human breast cancer cell line by qRT-PCR. The correlation between NEAT1 expression and patients’ clinical characteristics was analyzed with in-house and TCGA data. We used cellular functioning assays and cell immunofluorescence assay to evaluate the role of NEAT1 and its target molecules in proliferation, invasion and migration in breast cancer. We used Western blotting to explore possible targets of NEAT1 and a subcellular fractionation assay to locate NEAT1 expression.

Results

NEAT1 was overexpressed in breast cancer tissue and also closely related to advanced clinical stages and positive lymph node metastases. NEAT1 levels were also tightly correlated to prognosis for breast cancer patients in survival analyses. Cellular function assays revealed that downregulation of NEAT1 could inhibit breast cancer cell viability, invasion and migration. Western blotting revealed down-regulation of CBX7 and up-regulation of RTCB following NEAT1 inhibition. Based on the cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of NEAT1, we investigated the possible regulation of CBX7 and RTCB by NEAT1. Results showed that NEAT1 regulated the expression of CBX7 and RTCB, possibly by binding of NEAT1 to DNA in the nucleus, which facilitates cell proliferation, invasion and migration.

Conclusion

The current results suggest that the lncRNA NEAT1 is upregulated in breast cancer and facilitates tumor cell viability, invasion and migration via CBX7 and RTCB.

Non-coding RNA profile in lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the leading source of cancer-associated mortality. This kind of cancer has heterogeneous nature and is divided into two broad classes of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In addition to aberrant expression of several signaling pathways and oncogenes, lung cancer is associated with dysregulation of expression of non-coding RNAs including both long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and miRNAs. These aberrantly expressed transcripts are putative therapeutic targets and diagnostic/ prognostic markers. Integrative assessment of expression of lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs has led to construction of competing endogenous RNA networks in which several lncRNAs act as molecular sponges to inhibit regulatory function of miRNAs on mRNAs. Notably, some of these networks seem to have subtype-specific functions in lung cancer. In this review, we summarize recent findings about the importance of these networks in the pathogenesis of lung cancer and provide a list of onco-miRNAs, tumor suppressor miRNAs, oncogenic lncRNAs and tumor suppressor lncRNAs based on their roles in the carcinogenic process in lung cancer.

Overexpression of Lin28B Promoted the Proliferation of Adenomyotic Smooth Muscle Cells of the Junctional Zone via Regulating Let-7a

The inner myometrium, also called the junctional zone (JZ), is believed to play a major role in the development of adenomyosis. Recently, we found that the lethal-7a (Let-7a) microRNA (miRNA) was clearly downregulated in the miRNA expression profiles of JZ smooth muscle cells (JZSMCs) of patients with adenomyosis. Lin28, including Lin28A and Lin28B, is responsible for the post-transcriptional downregulation of the Let-7 miRNA family. However, the expression pattern of Lin28 and the function of the Lin28/Let-7 axis in adenomyosis have not yet been identified. In this study, we aim to explore the potential roles of the Lin28/Let-7 axis in the development of adenomyosis. Immunohistochemistry, western blot, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to evaluate the Lin28 expression, respectively. The correlation between Let-7a, Lin28A, and Lin28B expression was further examined using Pearson's correlation analysis. RNA interference was used to inhibit Lin28B gene, and then Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8) assay was performed to detect the cell proliferation capacity. The results revealed that the expression levels of Lin28B were upregulated in the JZ of adenomyosis whatever about proteins or mRNA (P < 0.0001); furthermore, its mRNA expression level was negatively correlated with Let-7a (r = - 0.749, P < 0.0001). After inhibiting Lin28B gene, the proliferation capacity of JZSMCs in adenomyosis group decreased after 48 h (P < 0.05). These results indicated that Lin28B may be involved in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis by promoting the proliferation capacity of JZSMCs via regulating Let-7a.

LncRNA nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 regulates hypoxia-evoked apoptosis and autophagy via mediation of microRNA-181b

Nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1), a vital long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), exhibits the functions in disparate cancers. Nevertheless, the influences of NEAT1 in congenital heart disease (CHD) remain unreported. The research delves into whether NEAT1 affects H9c2 cells apoptosis and autophagy under the hypoxia condition. Overexpressed NEAT1 vector was transfected into H9c2 cells; then, functions of NEAT1 in cell viability, apoptosis, autophagy, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and JAK1/STAT3 pathways were detected in H9c2 cells under hypoxia condition. Expression of NEAT1 and miR-181b in hypoxia and blood samples from CHD was evaluated. After miR-181b inhibitor transfection, functions of miR-181b repression in the above-mentioned cell behavior and PI3K/AKT/mTOR and JAK1/STAT3 pathways were reassessed. Overexpressed NEAT1 clearly allayed hypoxia-triggered H9c2 cells apoptosis and autophagy. The decreased NEAT1 and miR-181b were showcased in hypoxia and blood samples from CHD; meanwhile, elevated miR-181b evoked by overexpressed NEAT1 was observed in hypoxia-managed H9c2 cells. More importantly, miR-181b inhibition obviously overturned the influences of NEAT1 in hypoxia-affected H9c2 cells apoptosis and autophagy. Besides, overexpressed NEAT1 facilitated PI3K/AKT/mTOR and JAK1/STAT3 activations via enhancing miR-181b. The research exposed that NEAT1 eased hypoxia-triggered H9c2 cells apoptosis and autophagy by expediting PI3K/AKT/mTOR and JAK1/STAT3 pathways via elevating miR-181b.

Identification of novel mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA competing endogenous RNA network associated with prognosis of breast cancer

Aim: To identify novel competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network related to patients prognosis in breast cancer. Materials & methods: Dysregulated mRNA based on intersection of three Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets were analyzed by bioinformatics. Results: In total 72 upregulated and 208 downregulated genes were identified. Functional analysis showed that some pathways related to cancer were significantly enriched. By means of stepwise reverse prediction and validation from mRNA to lncRNA, 19 hub genes, nine key miRNA and four key lncRNAs were identified by expression and survival analysis. Ultimately, the coexpression analysis identified RRM2-let-7a-5p-SNHG16/MAL2 as key ceRNA subnetwork associated with prognosis of breast cancer. Conclusion: We successfully constructed a novel ceRNA network, among which each component was significantly associated with breast cancer prognosis.

MicroRNA let-7a inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cell by downregulating USP32 expression

Background

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of microRNA (miR) let-7a on ubiquitin specific protease 32 (USP32) expression and its potential function in MCF-7 breast cancer (BCa) cell line.

Methods

BCa MCF-7 cells were transfected with hsa-miR let-7a mimics or inhibitors, then the USP32 expression was evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot analysis in the transfected cells. USP32 as a target regulated by miR let-7a was confirmed via Dual-luciferase reporter assay. The effects of miR let-7a on the viability were determined using MTT assay and colony formation analysis.

Results

Western blot analysis revealed that miR let-7a mimics dramatically decreased the USP32 protein expression, whereas miR let-7a inhibitors increased the protein expression of USP32 compared with their controls in the MCF-7 cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miR let-7a mimics could directly target the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of USP32. Further, MTT assay and colony formation analysis showed that miR let-7a significantly inhibited cell proliferation of MCF-7 cells. However, overexpression of USP32 could reverse the effect of miR let-7a on MCF-7 cells proliferation.

Conclusions

Collectively, the results suggested that miR let-7a functions as a tumor suppressor to reduce proliferation by targeting USP32 in BCa cells.

Recent Advances in Understanding FOXN3 in Breast Cancer, and Other Malignancies

FOXN3 (forkhead box N3; CHES1: check point suppressor 1) belongs to the forkhead box (FOX) protein family. FOXN3 displays transcriptional inhibitory activity, and is involved in cell cycle regulation and tumorigenesis. FOXN3 is a tumor suppresser and alterations in FOXN3 are found in of a variety of cancers including melanoma, osteosarcoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. While the roles of FOXN3 role in some cancers have been explored, its role in breast cancer remains unclear. Here we describe current state of knowledge of FOXN3 functions, and focus on its roles (known and potential) in breast cancer.

Long noncoding RNA STXBP5-AS1 inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via preventing the PI3K/AKT against STXBP5 expression in non-small-cell lung carcinoma

Long noncoding RNAs participate in carcinogenesis and tumor progression in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), but the mechanisms underlying NSCLC tumorigenesis remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we reported the functional role and potential mechanism of long noncoding RNA syntaxin-binding protein 5-antisense RNA 1 (STXBP5-AS1) in NSCLC. First, our data revealed that the expression levels of STXBP5-AS1 in 31 NSCLC tissues were lower than in adjacent tissues using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and its expression was significantly associated with tumor metastasis of NSCLC patients. Moreover, CCK-8, scratch wound healing and transwell assay suggested that upregulation of STXBP5-AS1 repressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion in A549, NCI-H292, and NCI-H460 cells. To explore the potential mechanism of STXBP5-AS1 in NSCLC, we first investigated the relationship among STXBP5-AS1, STXBP5, and AKT1 in A549 cells. Results indicated that STXBP5-AS1 was negatively related with STXBP5 and AKT1 at messenger RNA expression level using qPCR. In addition, we observed that STXBP5-AS1 had reverse effects on the protein levels of STXBP5 and phosphorylated AKT1 (p-AKT1) in A549 cells via Western blot assay, despite no significant effects on AKT1. Subsequently, LY294002, as the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway inhibitor, was used to further confirm the regulatory mechanism of STXBP5-AS1, which showed that knockdown of STXBP5-AS1 could rescue the expression of STXBP5 and p-AKT1 protein expression levels in A549 cells. Taken together, our results suggested that STXBP5-AS1, as a tumor suppressor, inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by preventing the PI3K/AKT against STXBP5 expression in NSCLC.