LncRNA SNHG7 accelerates the proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via regulating miR-122-5p and RPL4

CASIN exerts anti-aging effects through RPL4 on the skin of naturally aging mice

Skin aging has been associated with the onset of various skin issues, and recent studies have identified an increase in Cdc42 activity in naturally aging mice. While previous literature has suggested that CASIN, a specific inhibitor of Cdc42 activity, may possess anti-aging properties, its specific effects on the epidermis and dermis, as well as the underlying mechanisms in naturally aging mice, remain unclear. Our study revealed that CASIN demonstrated the ability to increase epidermal and dermal thickness, enhance dermal-epidermal junction, and stimulate collagen and elastic fiber synthesis in 9-, 15-, and 24-month-old C57BL/6 mice in vivo. Moreover, CASIN was found to enhance the proliferation, differentiation, and colony formation and restore the cytoskeletal morphology of primary keratinocytes in naturally aging skin in vitro. Furthermore, the anti-aging properties of CASIN on primary fibroblasts in aging mice were mediated by the ribosomal protein RPL4 using proteomic sequencing, influencing collagen synthesis and cytoskeletal morphology both in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, both subcutaneous injection and topical application exhibited anti-aging effects for a duration of 21 days. Additionally, CASIN exhibited anti-inflammatory properties, while reduced expression of RPL4 was associated with increased inflammation in the skin of naturally aging mice. Taken together, our results unveil a novel function of RPL4 in skin aging, providing a foundational basis for future investigations into ribosomal proteins. And CASIN shows promise as a potential anti-aging agent for naturally aging mouse skin, suggesting potential applications in the field.

High expression of small nucleolar host gene RNA may predict poor prognosis of Hepatocellular carcinoma, based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular cancer is substantially correlated with the abnormal expression of growing long non-coding RNA small nucleolar host gene RNA (SNHG) families in liver cancer tissues. This study aimed to examine the relationship between SNHG expression and liver cancer prognosis.

METHODS

After searching six internet databases, pertinent manuscripts were found based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. To determine whether SNHG expression levels affect liver cancer prognosis, raw data were collected and hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. The results were examined for potential publication bias using the sensitivity analysis and Beeg's test.

RESULTS

Most SNHG family members were up-regulated in liver cancer tissues. High SNHG expression predicts poor liver cancer outcomes of, including overall survival (OS) (HR: 1.697, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.373-2.021), especially SNHG5 (the HR of OS is 4.74, 95%CI range from 1.35 to 6.64), progression-free survival (HR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.25-2.73), tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage (OR: 1.696, 95% CI: 1.436-2.005), lymph node metastasis (OR: 2.383, 95% CI: 1.098-5.173), and tumor size (OR: 1363, 95% CI: 1.165-1.595). The OS results were found to be reliable and robust, as indicated by the sensitivity analysis. Additionally, Beeg's test demonstrated the absence of any potential publication bias for each result.

CONCLUSION

In liver cancer tissues, most SNHGs are highly expressed, which may signal poor prognosis. SNHG has the potential to be an intriguing predictive marker and a prospective therapeutic target for liver cancer.

Non-coding RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis: Remarkable indicators and potential oncogenic mechanism

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), as key regulators involving in intercellular biological processes, are more prominent in many malignancies, especially for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we conduct a comprehensive review to summarize diverse ncRNAs roles in HCC metastatic mechanism. We focus on four signaling pathways that predominate in HCC metastatic process, including Wnt/β-catenin, HIF-1α, IL-6, and TGF-β pathways. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) employed different mechanisms to participate in the regulation of the key genes in these pathways, typical as interaction with DNA to control transcription, with RNA to control translation, and with protein to control stability. Therefore, ncRNAs may become potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC metastasis.

METTL3-Regulated lncRNA SNHG7 Drives MNNG-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Precancerous Lesions

As a representative item of chemical carcinogen, MNNG is closely associated with the onset of gastric cancer (GC), where N6-methyladonosine (m6A) RNA methylation is recognized as a critical epigenetic event. In our previous study, we found that the m6A modification by methyltransferase METTL3 was up-regulated in MNNG-exposed malignant GES-1 cells (MC cells) compared to control cells in vitro, and long non-coding RNA SNHG7 as a downstream target of the METTL3. However, the functional role of METTL3 in mediating the SNHG7 axis in MNNG-induced GC remains unclear. In the present study, we continuously investigate the functional role of METTL3 in mediating the SNHG7 axis in MNNG-induced GC. RIP-PCR and m6A-IP-qPCR were used to examine the molecular mechanism underlying the METTL3/m6A/SNHG7 axis in MNNG-induced GC. A METTL3 knockout mice model was constructed and exposed by MNNG. Western blot analysis, IHC analysis, and RT-qPCR were used to measure the expression of METTL3, SNHG7, and EMT markers. In this study, we demonstrated that in MNNG-induced GC tumorigenesis, the m6A modification regulator METTL3 facilitates cellular EMT and biological functions through the m6A/SNHG7 axis using in vitro and in vivo models. In conclusion, our study provides novel insights into critical epigenetic molecular events vital to MNNG-induced gastric carcinogenesis. These findings suggest the potential therapeutic targets of METTL3 for GC treatment.

Pan-cancer analysis of the prognostic and immunological role of RPL4

Ribosomal proteins (RPs) play an important role in the overall stability, function, and integrity of ribosomes. Ribosomal protein L4 (RPL4), which is encoded by RPL4, is assumed to play different roles in different cancers due to the strong correlation between them. However, research based on the underlying mechanisms of this correlations is limited. Therefore, this study investigated the biological role of RPL4 in various cancers. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases were used to compare the differential expression of RPL4 in tumor and normal tissues. The Sangerbox database and Kaplan-Meier method were employed to assess RPL4's impact on the prognosis of pan-cancer. Analyses using the cBioPortal tool, Shiny Methylation Analysis Resource Tool (SMART), and MethSurv provided insights into the methylation and epigenetic alterations of RPL4. Gene enrichment analysis revealed that RPL4 is involved in ribosome biogenesis through multiple pathways, and its enrichment in signaling pathways directly or indirectly influence tumor development. Tumor Immune Single-cell Hub (TISCH) was used to analyze RPL4 expression levels and cellular functions in the tumor microenvironment. Tumor Immune Estimation Resource Database 2.0 (TIMER2.0) and Tumor-Immune System Interactions Database (TISIDB) tools revealed that RPL4 affected the immune infiltration potential of tumors. Furthermore, the application of the ROC mapper and CellMiner databases indicated an association between RPL4 and sensitivity to multiple antitumor drugs. Additionally, RPL4 was found to remodel the tumor immune microenvironment, leading to the development of chemoresistance. In conclusion, the findings suggest that RPL4 can be used as a potential tumor biomarker and may serve as a target for immunotherapy in various cancers. Genetic testing of RPL4 provides a foundation for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of clinical tumors.

Prognostic model and ceRNA network of m7G- and radiosensitivity-related genes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Radiotherapy is an effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent studies indicated that N7-methylguanosine (m7G)-associated genes are involved in radioresistance and prognosis of HCC. However, the prognostic value and underlying mechanism of m7G-and radiosensitivity-associated genes are still lacking.

Methods

The related statistics of HCC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). M7G- and radiosensitivity-associated genes were screened and evaluated using correlation, differential, univariate, and multivariate analysis. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used to establish a prognostic model. Prognostic efficacy, functional analysis, immune cell infiltration,and drug sensitivity of the prognostic model were assessed. The ceRNA network was predicted and evaluated through the StarBase database, correlation analysis, expression analysis, and survival analysis.

Result

METTL1, EIF3D, NCBP2, and WDR4 participated in prognosis model construction. The favorable prediction efficiency has been verified in both the training and verification sets. Different risk groups have differences in prognosis outcome, function analysis, immune cell infiltration, and drug sensitivity. NCBP2 can be used to predict the prognosis and has excellent potential in immunotherapy. A prognostic ceRNA network based on the NCBP2/miR-122-5p axis was established.

Conclusion

The prognosis model of m7G- and radiosensitivity-related genes is constructed, and widely used in clinical prognosis, immunotherapy, and drug therapy. NCBP2, as a hub gene, may be a prognostic biomarker for HCC and is related to immunotherapy. Establishing the NCBP2/miR-122-5p axis helps study the mechanism of ceRNA and provides new ideas for finding a new candidate biomarker.

Role of non-coding RNAs mediated pyroptosis on cancer therapy: a review

INTRODUCTION

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which are incapable of encoding proteins, are involved in the progression of numerous tumors by altering transcriptional and post-transcriptional processing. Recent studies have revealed prominent features of ncRNAs in pyroptosis, a type of non-apoptotic programmed cellular destruction linked to an inflammatory reaction. Drug resistance has arisen gradually as a result of anti-apoptotic proteins, therefore strategies based on pyroptotic cell death have attracted increasing attention. We have observed that ncRNAs may exert significant influence on cancer therapy, chemotherapy, radio- therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, by regulating pyroptosis.

AREAS COVERED

Literatures were searched (December 2023) for studies on cancer therapy for ncRNAs-mediated pyroptotic cell death.

EXPERT OPINION

The most universal mechanical strategy for ncRNAs to regulate target genes is competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNA). Besides, certain ncRNAs could directly interact with proteins and modulate downstream genes to induce pyroptosis, resulting in tumor growth or inhibition. In this review, we aim to display that ncRNAs, predominantly long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), could function as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis and produce new insights into anti-cancer strategies modulated by pyroptosis for clinical applications.

Single-Cell Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals Molecular Expression Differences and Marker Genes in Testes during the Sexual Maturation of Mongolian Horses

This study aimed to investigate differences in testicular tissue morphology, gene expression, and marker genes between sexually immature (1-year-old) and sexually mature (10-year-old) Mongolian horses. The purposes of our research were to provide insights into the reproductive physiology of male Mongolian horses and to identify potential markers for sexual maturity. The methods we applied included the transcriptomic profiling of testicular cells using single-cell sequencing techniques. Our results revealed significant differences in tissue morphology and gene expression patterns between the two age groups. Specifically, 25 cell clusters and 10 cell types were identified, including spermatogonial and somatic cells. Differential gene expression analysis highlighted distinct patterns related to cellular infrastructure in sexually immature horses and spermatogenesis in sexually mature horses. Marker genes specific to each stage were also identified, including APOA1, AMH, TAC3, INHA, SPARC, and SOX9 for the sexually immature stage, and PRM1, PRM2, LOC100051500, PRSS37, HMGB4, and H1-9 for the sexually mature stage. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of testicular development and spermatogenesis in Mongolian horses and have potential applications in equine reproductive biology and breeding programs. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying sexual maturity in Mongolian horses.

Functional role of lncRNAs in gastrointestinal malignancies: the peculiar case of small nucleolar RNA host gene family

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in normal physiology and are often de-regulated in disease states such as cancer. Recently, a class of lncRNAs referred to as the small nucleolar RNA host gene (SNHG) family have emerged as important players in tumourigenesis. Here, we discuss new findings describing the role of SNHGs in gastrointestinal tumours and summarize the three main functions by which these lncRNAs promote carcinogenesis, namely: competing with endogenous RNAs, modulating protein function, and regulating epigenetic marking. Furthermore, we discuss how SNHGs participate in different hallmarks of cancer, and how this class of lncRNAs may serve as potential biomarkers in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Long noncoding RNA small nucleolar RNA host genes as prognostic molecular biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recently, increasing data have suggested that the lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host genes (SNHGs) were aberrantly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the association between the prognosis of HCC and their expression remained unclear. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the prognostic significance of lncRNA SNHGs in HCC.

METHODS

We systematically searched Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library for eligible articles published up to February 2024. The prognostic significance of SNHGs in HCC was evaluated by hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Odds ratios (ORs) were used to assess the clinicopathological features of SNHGs.

RESULTS

This analysis comprised a total of 25 studies covering 2314 patients with HCC. The findings demonstrated that over-expressed SNHGs were associated with larger tumor size, multiple tumor numbers, poor histologic grade, earlier lymphatic metastasis, vein invasion, advanced tumor stage, portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT), and higher alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, but not with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and cirrhosis. In terms of prognosis, patients with higher SNHG expression were more likely to have shorter overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and disease-free survival (DFS).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, upregulation of SNHGs expression correlates with shorter OS, RFS, DFS, tumor size and numbers, histologic grade, lymphatic metastasis, vein invasion, tumor stage, PVTT, and AFP level, suggesting that SNHGs may serve as prognostic biomarkers in HCC.

A pan-cancer analysis of the prognosis and immune infiltration of eEF1A2 and its potential function in thyroid carcinoma

Purpose

Eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1α2 (eEF1A2) promotes tumour progression in various cancers. We performed a pan-cancer analysis of eEF1A2 and explored its role in thyroid carcinoma (THCA).

Methods

Databases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer data analysis Portal (UALCAN), and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) were used to investigate the differential expression of eEF1A2 in pan-cancer. The pathological stage, prognostic characteristics, tumour microenvironment (TME), tumour mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI) were analysed in diverse tumours with different expression levels of eEF1A2. The expression levels in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and its specific role in cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell glycolysis in PTC cells were verified by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, cell counting kit-8, colony formation, wound healing, Transwell assay, and lactate acid and glucose assays.Results:eEF1A2 was differentially expressed in various malignant tumour tissues compared to control tissues and was associated with poor pathological stage and prognosis in most types of tumours. Moreover, eEF1A2 expression closely correlated with the infiltration of immunosuppressive cells, TMB, and MSI in some tumour types. Expression of eEF1A2 in PTC is higher than the para-carcinoma, and eEF1A2 downregulation suppressed TPC-1 and BCPAP cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and glycolysis.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that the expression of eEF1A2 is related to the prognosis and immune infiltration of some tumours and may be a predictor of prognosis and immunotherapy. eEF1A2 could promote malignant behaviour of PTC cells.

Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes colorectal cancer metastasis by excretion of miR-122-5p from cells via exosomes

Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) infection and microRNAs (miRNAs) are closely associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) development, but the mechanism by which Fn regulates tumor-suppressive miRNAs via exosomes and facilitates CRC metastasis remains unclear. Here, we identified that Fn infection significantly increased exosomal miR-122-5p levels in the serum of CRC patients and CRC cell culture supernatants through two miRNA panels of high-throughput sequencing and RT-qPCR analysis. In Fn-infected patients, the serum exosomal levels of miR-122-5p were negatively associated with their expression levels of tissues. Downregulated miR-122-5p was demonstrated to enhance the migration, invasion, and metastasis abilities of CRC cells in vivo and in vitro. Secretion of miR-122-5p into exosomes is mediated by hnRNPA2B1. Mechanistically, Fn activated the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway to promote EMT by regulation of the miR-122-5p/FUT8 axis. In conclusion, Fn infection may stimulate CRC cells to excrete exosome-wrapped miR-122-5p, and activate the FUT8/TGF-β1/Smads axis to promote metastasis.

Screening and identification of potential biomarkers for pancreatic cancer: An integrated bioinformatics analysis

Pancreatic cancer is one of the highly invasive and the seventh most common cause of death among cancers worldwide. To identify essential genes and the involved mechanisms in pancreatic cancer, we used bioinformatics analysis to identify potential biomarkers for pancreatic cancer management. Gene expression profiles of pancreatic cancer patients and normal tissues were screened and downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) bioinformatics database. The Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified among gene expression signatures of normal and pancreatic cancer, using R software. Then, enrichment analysis of the DEGs, including Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, was performed by an interactive and collaborative HTML5 gene list enrichment analysis tool (enrichr) and ToppGene. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was also constructed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database and ToppGenet web based tool followed by identifying hub genes of the top 100 DEGs in pancreatic cancer using Cytoscape software. Over 2000 DEGs with variable log2 fold (LFC) were identified among 34,706 genes. Principal component analysis showed that the top 20 DEGs, including H1-4, H1-5, H4C3, H4C2, RN7SL2, RN7SL3, RN7SL4P, RN7SKP80, SCARNA12, SCARNA10, SCARNA5, SCARNA7, SCARNA6, SCARNA21, SCARNA9, SCARNA13, SNORA73B, SNORA53, SNORA54 might distinguish pancreatic cancer from normal tissue. GO analysis showed that the top DEGs have more enriched in the negative regulation of gene silencing, negative regulation of chromatin organization, negative regulation of chromatin silencing, nucleosome positioning, regulation of chromatin silencing, and nucleosomal DNA binding. KEGG analysis identified an association between pancreatic cancer and systemic lupus erythematosus, alcoholism, neutrophil extracellular trap formation, and viral carcinogenesis. In PPI network analysis, we found that the different types of histone-encoding genes are involved as hub genes in the carcinogenesis of pancreatic cancer. In conclusion, our bioinformatics analysis identified genes that were significantly related to the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. These genes and pathways could serve as new potential prognostic markers and be used to develop treatments for pancreatic cancer patients.

Pharmacological roles of lncRNAs in diabetic retinopathy with a focus on oxidative stress and inflammation

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication caused by abnormal glucose metabolism, which affects the vision and quality of life of patients and severely impacts the society at large.DR has a complex pathogenic process. Evidence from multiple studies have shown that oxidative stress and inflammation play pivotal roles in DR.Additionally, with the rapid development of various genetic detection methods, the abnormal expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been confirmed to promote the development of DR.Research has demonstrated the potential of lncRNAs as ideal biomarkers and theranostic targets in DR. In this narrative review, we will focus on the research results on mechanisms underlying DR, list lncRNAs confirmed to be closely related to these mechanisms, and discuss their potential clinical application value and limitations.

The emerging importance role of m6A modification in liver disease

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, as one of the most common types of inner RNA modification in eukaryotes, plays a multifunctional role in normal and abnormal biological processes. This type of modification is modulated by m6A writer, eraser and reader, which in turn impact various processes of RNA metabolism, such as RNA processing, translation, nuclear export, localization and decay. The current academic view holds that m6A modification exerts a crucial role in the post-transcriptional modulation of gene expression, and is involved in multiple cellular functions, developmental and disease processes. However, the potential molecular mechanism and specific role of m6A modification in the development of liver disease have not been fully elucidated. In our review, we summarized the latest research progress on m6A modification in liver disease, and explored how these novel findings reshape our knowledge of m6A modulation of RNA metabolism. In addition, we also illustrated the effect of m6A on liver development and regeneration to prompt further exploration of the mechanism and role of m6A modification in liver physiology and pathology, providing new insights and references for the search of potential therapeutic targets for liver disease.

Role of NLRP3 inflammasome in hepatocellular carcinoma: A double-edged sword

In recent years, the study of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has become a hot topic, especially its role in various tumors. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma is ranked in the top five in China. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant and typical form of primary liver cancer. Due to the close relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome and cancers, many studies have investigated its role in HCC. The results suggest that NLRP3 inflammasome participates in both tumor growth inhibition and tumor growth promotion in HCC. Therefore, this review elaborates on the relationship between NLRP3 and HCC and explains its role in HCC. In addition, the potential of NLRP3 as a therapeutic target for cancer therapy is explored, summarizing and classifying impacts of and processes underlying different NLRP3 inflammasome-targeting drugs on HCC.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Sorafenib-Associated Druggable Targets on Differential Gene Expression and ceRNA Network in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant pathological type of liver cancer. Several therapeutic treatments, including sorafenib and regorafenib, have only modestly improved survival in patients with HCC. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profiles and the regulation of competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) of the sorafenib-related target genes in HCC. Based on clinical information and expression profiles of HCC clinical samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed and identified. Sorafenib-associated DEGs (SADs) were obtained by intersecting the DEGs with the sorafenib target genes from SuperTarget database. The expression patterns of SADs were verified in the Oncomine database. The biological functions of the SADs were annotated by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). In addition, a ceRNA network associated with SADs was constructed. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in network that were significantly associated with overall survival were identified as prognosis of patients by Cox regression analysis. Finally, the expression levels of prognostic genes in HCC tissues and cell lines were verified using qRT-PCR. Gene expression differential analysis yielded a total of 146 common DEGs were obtained, including 21 upregulated and 125 downregulated DEGs. Among them, ten SADs were detected to be differentially expressed between tumor and normal tissues, including AXL, CYP2C19, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, FGFR2, GMNN, PDGFRA, and TTK. GSEA analysis grouped them into three categories by function. The first category (CYP2C19, CYP2C8, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4) and second category (GMNN, TTK and EGER2) had the opposite roles in the enriched terms and pathways, while the third class (AXL and PDGFRA) has enrichment terms and pathways that intersect with those of the first and second categories. A ceRNA network associated with SADs was also constructed including 49 lncRNAs, 14 miRNAs, and 8 mRNAs. Three of these lncRNAs, SNHG7, GAS5 and HCP5, were found upregulated in HCC tissues and to be independent predictors in HCC patients. Significant correlations were found in expression between the prognostic lncRNAs and SADs. Ten SADs were systematically identified using expression data from HCC and normal tissues from TCGA and GEO datasets. GSEA analysis provided us with insight into the function of SADs. In the future, we will continue to explore the mechanisms of coordinated regulation of SADs-related prognostic lncRNAs and SADs at the ceRNA axis level and their potential functions in the development of HCC.

Serum-Exosome-Derived miRNAs Serve as Promising Biomarkers for HCC Diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Serum exosomes are emerging as key liquid biopsy biomarkers for the early diagnosis of cancer. However, the proportion and distribution of small RNA (sRNA) species from serum exosomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients remain unclear. Effective and reliable biomarkers for HCC diagnosis should be explored.

METHODS

In this study, we aimed to use sRNA sequencing to profile the sRNAs of serum exosomes in HCC and non-tumor donors. The serum exosomes of 124 HCC patients and 46 non-tumor donors were enrolled for detecting the values of the potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC.

RESULTS

We found that miRNAs accounted for the maximal percentage of all types of sRNAs both in the serum exosomes of HCC patients and non-tumor donors. This indicated that the serum-exosome-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) were the most valuable as potential biomarkers in HCC diagnosis. Then, miRNAs were set as research candidates. In our Chinese cohorts, three serum-exosome-derived miRNAs (miR-122-5p, let-7d-5p, and miR-425-5p) could be promising biomarkers for distinguishing HCC patients from non-tumor donors. In addition, they were preferred for the early diagnosis of HCC. We also presented the base distribution of some novel serum-exosome-derived miRNAs and described the potential values as biomarkers.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggested that the serum-exosome-derived miRNAs were the most crucial sRNA species and they highlighted the potential of serum-exosome-derived miRNAs as promising biomarkers for HCC diagnosis.

BDE-47, -99, -209 and Their Ternary Mixture Disrupt Glucose and Lipid Metabolism of Hepg2 Cells at Dietary Relevant Concentrations: Mechanistic Insight through Integrated Transcriptomics and Proteomics Analysis

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent organic chemicals implied as flame retardants. Humans are mainly exposed to BDE-47, -99, and -209 congeners by diet. PBDEs are metabolic disruptors with the liver as the main target organ. To investigate their mode of action at a human-relevant concentration, we exposed HepG2 cells to these congeners and their mixture at 1 nM, analyzing their transcriptomic and proteomic profiles. KEGG pathways and GSEA Hallmarks enrichment analyses evidenced that BDE-47 disrupted the glucose metabolism and hypoxia pathway; all the congeners and the MIX affected lipid metabolism and signaling Hallmarks regulating metabolism as mTORC1 and PI3K/AKT/MTOR. These results were confirmed by glucose secretion depletion and increased lipid accumulation, especially in BDE-47 and -209 treated cells. These congeners also affected the EGFR/MAPK signaling; further, BDE-47 enriched the estrogen pathway. Interestingly, BDE-209 and the MIX increased ERα gene expression, whereas all the congeners and the MIX induced ERβ and PPARα. We also found that PBDEs modulated several lncRNAs and that HNRNAP1 represented a central hub in all the four interaction networks. Overall, the PBDEs investigated affected glucose and lipid metabolism with different underlying modes of action, as highlighted by the integrated omics analysis, at a dietary relevant concentration. These results may support the mechanism-based risk assessment of these compounds in relation to liver metabolism disruption.

The lncRNA KIF9-AS1 Accelerates Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth by Recruiting DNMT1 to Promote RAI2 DNA Methylation

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very common malignant tumor. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) enable discoveries of new therapeutic tumor targets. We aimed to study the role and potential regulatory mechanisms of the lncRNA KIF9-AS1 in HCC.

Methods

CCK-8, scratch assay, and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis, respectively. Bax, Bcl-2, ERK, and pERK expression were measured by western blotting. StarBase predicted KIF9-AS1 expression in HCC and paracancerous tissues. RPISeq predicted the interaction score of KIF9-AS1 and DNMT1, and MethyPrimer revealed the CpG island distribution in the RAI2 promoter. MSP was performed to measure RAI2 methylation. RIP and ChIP were performed to examine lncRNA KIF9-AS1, DNMT1, and RAI2 interactions. Finally, the effect of KIF9-AS1 knockdown on HCC was verified with nude mice.

Results

We found that KIF9-AS1 expression was increased in HCC tissues. KIF9-AS1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation and migration, and facilitated the apoptosis of HCC cells. lncRNA KIF9-AS1-mediated RAI2 expression led to DNMT1 recruitment and regulated RAI2 DNA methylation. RAI2 overexpression inhibited the proliferation and migration and promoted the apoptosis of HCC cells. KIF9-AS1 knockdown inhibited subcutaneous tumor formation in vivo.

Conclusion

This study shows that KIF9-AS1 accelerates HCC growth by inducing DNMT1 promotion of RAI2 DNA methylation.

Identification and validation of a fatty acid metabolism-related lncRNA signature as a predictor for prognosis and immunotherapy in patients with liver cancer

Background

Fatty acid (FA) metabolism is considered the emerging cause of tumor development and metastasis, driving poor prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely related to cancer progression and play important roles in FA metabolism. Thus, the discovery of FA metabolism-related lncRNA signatures to predict outcome and immunotherapy response is critical in improving the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

FA metabolism scores and a FA metabolism-related lncRNA signature were constructed using a single-sample gene set enrichment analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. “ConsensusClusterPlus” was used to screen molecular subtypes. Chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test were applied to explore the relationship between clinical, genomic mutation characteristics and subtypes. Transcription factor (TF) activity scores, cellular distributions, immune cell infiltration, and immunotherapy response were employed to investigate the functions of FA metabolism-related lncRNA signatures. FA metabolism microarray and western blot were performed to detect the biological function of candidate lncRNAs.

Results

A total of 70 lncRNAs that highly correlated with FA metabolism scores in two cohorts were used to construct two distinct clusters. Patients in cluster 2 had lower FA metabolism scores and worse survival than those in cluster 1. Patients in cluster 2 exhibited a high frequency of DNA damage, gene mutations, oncogenic signaling such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and a high degree of immune cell infiltration. Moreover, the lncRNA signature could predict the effects of immunotherapy in patients with HCC. Furthermore, three lncRNAs (SNHG1, LINC00261, and SNHG7) were identified that were highly correlated with FA metabolism. Additionally, SNHG1 and SNHG7 were found to regulate various FA metabolism-related genes and ferroptosis-related genes in vitro experiments. GSEA analysis revealed that SNHG1 and SNHG7 promote fatty acid beta-oxidation. SNHG1 and SNHG7 silencing dramatically reduced lipid droplets in HCC cells. Many immune-infiltration genes and TFs were overexpressed in HCC tissues with SNHG1 and SNHG7 high expression.

Conclusions

A novel molecular model of FA metabolism-related lncRNAs was developed, which has significantly prognostic potential in HCC diagnosis and aids in clinical decision making.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-10122-4.

A novel necroptosis-related gene signature for predict prognosis of glioma based on single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing

Background: Glioma is the most fatal neoplasm among the primary intracranial cancers. Necroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, is correlated with tumor progression and immune response. But, the role of necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) in glioma has not been well-uncovered.

Methods: Single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data, obtained from publicly accessed databases, were used to establish a necroptosis-related gene signature for predicting the prognosis of glioma patients. Multiple bioinformatics algorithms were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the signature. The relative mRNA level of each signature gene was validated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) in glioma cell lines compared to human astrocytes.

Results: In this predicted prognosis model, patients with a high risk score showed a shorter overall survival, which was verified in the testing cohorts. The signature risk score was positively related with immune cell infiltration and some immune check points, such as CD276 (B7-H3), CD152 (CTLA-4), CD223 (LAG-3), and CD274 (PD-L1). Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis confirmed that the glioma microenvironment consists of various immune cells with different markers. The eight NRGs of the signature were detected to be expressed in several immune cells. QRT-PCR results verified that all the eight signature genes were differentially expressed between human astrocytes and glioma cells.

Conclusion: The eight NRGs correlate with the immune microenvironment of glioma according to our bioinformatics analysis. This necroptosis-related gene signature may evaluate the precise methodology of predicting prognosis of glioma and provide a novel thought in glioma investigation.

Long noncoding RNA SNHG7-miRNA-mRNA axes crosstalk with oncogenic signaling pathways in human cancers

LncRNAs and miRNAs are the two most important non-coding RNAs, which have been identified to be associated with cancer progression or prevention. The dysregulation of lncRNAs conducts tumorigenesis and metastasis in different ways. One of the mechanisms is that lncRNAs interact with miRNAs to regulate distinct cellular and genomic processes and cancer progression. LncRNA SNHG7 as an oncogene sponges miRNAs and develops lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA axes, leading to the regulation of several signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-Catenin, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, SIRT1, and Snail-EMT. Therefore, in this article, after a brief overview of lncRNA SNHG7-miRNA-mRNA axes' contribution to cancer development, we will discuss the role of lncRNA SNHG7 in the genes expression and signaling pathways related to cancers development via acting as a ceRNA.

Construction of a competing endogenous RNA network to analyse glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase dysregulation in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumour with high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Therefore, it is of great significance to find new molecular markers for HCC diagnosis and treatment. G6PD is known to be dysregulated in a variety of tumours. In addition, the ceRNA network plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of HCC. However, the mechanism by which the ceRNA network regulates G6PD in HCC remains unclear. We used TCGA-LIHC data to analyse the possibility of using G6PD as an independent prognostic marker. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression, multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used to analyse the influence of G6PD overexpression on the prognosis of HCC patients. We also analysed the biological function of G6PD, its effect on the immune microenvironment, and drug sensitivity. Finally, we constructed a ceRNA network of lncRNAs/miR-122-5p/G6PD to explore the regulatory mechanism of G6PD. G6PD was highly expressed in HCC, was related to pathological stage and poor prognosis, and could be used as an independent prognostic indicator of HCC. The expression of G6PD was closely related to the immune microenvironment of HCC. In addition, the expression of G6PD in HCC could be regulated by the ceRNA network. Therefore, G6PD can be used as an immunotherapy target to improve the survival and prognosis of HCC patients, and the ceRNA regulatory network of G6PD has potential diagnostic and therapeutic value for HCC.

Molecular Targets and Signaling Pathways of microRNA-122 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading global causes of cancer mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small interfering RNAs that alleviate the levels of protein expression by suppressing translation, inducing mRNA cleavage, and promoting mRNA degradation. miR-122 is the most abundant miRNA in the liver and is responsible for several liver-specific functions, including metabolism, cellular growth and differentiation, and hepatitis virus replication. Recent studies have shown that aberrant regulation of miR-122 is a key factor contributing to the development of HCC. In this review, the signaling pathways and the molecular targets of miR-122 involved in the progression of HCC have been summarized, and the importance of miR-122 in therapy has been discussed.

Potential Therapeutics Targeting Upstream Regulators and Interactors of EHMT1/2

Euchromatin histone lysine methyltransferases (EHMTs) are epigenetic regulators responsible for silencing gene transcription by catalyzing H3K9 dimethylation. Dysregulation of EHMT1/2 has been reported in multiple cancers and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Although substantial insights have been gleaned into the downstream targets and pathways regulated by EHMT1/2, few studies have uncovered mechanisms responsible for their dysregulated expression. Moreover, EHMT1/2 interacting partners, which can influence their function and, therefore, the expression of target genes, have not been extensively explored. As none of the currently available EHMT inhibitors have made it past clinical trials, understanding upstream regulators and EHMT protein complexes may provide unique insights into novel therapeutic avenues in EHMT-overexpressing cancers. Here, we review our current understanding of the regulators and interacting partners of EHMTs. We also discuss available therapeutic drugs that target the upstream regulators and binding partners of EHMTs and could potentially modulate EHMT function in cancer progression.

Exploring the underlying molecular mechanism of liver cancer cells under hypoxia based on RNA sequencing

Background

The aim of our study was to use the differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) to illustrate the underlying mechanism of hypoxia in liver cancer.

Methods

In this study, a cell model of hypoxia was established, and autophagy activity was measured with western blotting and transmission electron microscopy. The effect of hypoxia conditions on the invasion of liver cancer cell was evaluated. RNA sequencing was used to identify DEmRNAs and DEmiRNAs to explore the mechanism of hypoxia in liver cancer cells.

Results

We found that autophagy activation was triggered by hypoxia stress and hypoxia might promote liver cancer cell invasion. In addition, a total of 407 shared DEmRNAs and 57 shared DEmiRNAs were identified in both HCCLM3 hypoxia group and SMMC-7721 hypoxia group compared with control group. Furthermore, 278 DEmRNAs and 24 DEmiRNAs were identified as cancer hypoxia-specific DEmRNAs and DEmiRNAs. Finally, we obtained 19 DEmiRNAs with high degree based on the DEmiRNA-DEmRNA interaction network. Among them, hsa-miR-483-5p, hsa-miR-4739, hsa-miR-214-3p and hsa-miR-296-5p may be potential gene signatures related to liver cancer hypoxia.

Conclusions

Our study may help to understand the potential molecular mechanism of hypoxia in liver cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12863-022-01055-9.

Long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host genes: functions and mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system, with a high degree of malignancy. Although treatment methods are constantly improving, the mortality of patients is still very high, and the small nucleolar RNA host gene (SNHG) plays an important role in the occurrence and development of cancer. It can activate downstream signaling molecules by acting on microRNA and microRNA target genes, promote the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells, and provide a new molecular target for the treatment of HCC. At present, the molecular mechanisms of HCC remain unclear. In this study, the mechanism and signaling pathway of SNHG in HCC are reviewed, which provides a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of HCC.

Remifentanil reduces the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells via lncRNA NBR2/miR‐650/TIMP3 axis

Cancer cell hyperproliferation and metastasis are major causes of cancer-associated mortality. Although the use of anaesthetics and analgesics may affect cancer cell metastasis, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms of action of remifentanil on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Cell viability was measured by the 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-h-tetrazolium bromide assay. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were performed to assess the expression levels of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) neighbour of BRCA1 gene 2 (NBR2), microRNA (miR)-650 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP3) in HCC cells. Wound healing and transwell assays were employed to evaluate the migration and invasion of HCC cells respectively. The target relationships between miR-650 and NBR2/TIMP3 were confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay. Remifentanil reduced the viability of HCC cells in a dose-dependent manner. Remifentanil treatment significantly increased the expression of lncRNA NBR2 and TIMP3, and repressed miR-650 expression in HCC cells. Decreased lncRNA NBR2 or increased miR-650 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of remifentanil-treated HCC cells. LncRNA NBR2 targeted miR-650, and miR-650 further targeted TIMP3. Moreover, miR-650 down-regulation or TIMP3 up-regulation reversed the effects of lncRNA NBR2 knockdown that caused an enhancement of cell viability, migration and invasiveness in remifentanil-treated HCC cells. Thus remifentanil reduces the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells via the lncRNA NBR2/miR-650/TIMP3 axis in vitro.

Oncogenic Roles of Small Nucleolar RNA Host Gene 7 (SNHG7) Long Noncoding RNA in Human Cancers and Potentials

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of noncoding transcripts characterized with more than 200 nucleotides of length. Unlike their names, some short open reading frames are recognized for them encoding small proteins. LncRNAs are found to play regulatory roles in essential cellular processes such as cell growth and apoptosis. Therefore, an increasing number of lncRNAs are identified with dysregulation in a wide variety of human cancers. SNHG7 is an lncRNA with upregulation in cancer cells and tissues. It is frequently reported with potency of promoting malignant cell behaviors in vitro and in vivo. Like oncogenic/tumor suppressor lncRNAs, SNHG7 is found to exert its tumorigenic functions through interaction with other biological substances. These include sponging target miRNAs (various numbers are identified), regulation of several signaling pathways, transcription factors, and effector proteins. Importantly, clinical studies demonstrate association between high SNHG7 expression and clinicopathological features in cancerous patients, worse prognosis, and enhanced chemoresistance. In this review, we summarize recent studies in three eras of cell, animal, and human experiments to bold the prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic potentials.

Prognostic effect of lncRNA SNHG7 on cancer outcome: a meta and bioinformatic analysis

BACKGROUND

New evidence from clinical and fundamental researches suggests that SNHG7 is involved in the occurrence and development of carcinomas. And the increased levels of SNHG7 are associated with poor prognosis in various kinds of tumors. However, the small sample size was the limitation for the prognostic value of SNHG7 in clinical application. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to conduct a qualitative analysis to explore the prognostic value of SNHG7 in various cancers.

METHODS

Articles related to the SNHG7 as a prognostic biomarker for cancer patients, were comprehensive searched in several electronic databases. The enrolled articles were qualified via the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology checklists. Additionally, an online database based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was further used to validate our results.

RESULTS

We analyzed 2418 cancer patients that met the specified criteria. The present research indicated that an elevated SNHG7 expression level was significantly associated with unfavorable overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.45, 95% CI: 2.12-2.85, p <0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that high expression levels of SNHG7 were also significantly associated with unfavorable OS in digestive system cancer (HR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.90-2.80, p <0.001) and non-digestive system cancer (HR = 2.67, 95% CI: 2.12-3.37, p <0.001). Additionally, increased SNHG7 expression was found to be associated with tumor stage and progression (III/IV vs. I/II: HR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.57-1.98, p <0.001). Furthermore, elevated SNHG7 expression significantly predicted lymph node metastasis (LNM) (HR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.74-2.26, p <0.001) and distant metastasis (DM) (HR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.88-3.30, p <0.001) respectively. No significant heterogeneity was observed among these studies. SNHG7 was significantly upregulated in four cancers and the elevated expression of SNHG7 predicted shorter OS in four cancers, worse DFS in five malignancies and worse PFI in five carcinomas based on the validation using the GEPIA on-line analysis tool.

CONCLUSIONS

The present analysis suggests that elevated SNHG7 is significantly associated with unfavorable OS, tumor progression, LNM and DM in various carcinomas, and may be served as a promising biomarker to guide therapy for cancer patients.

Deregulation of ribosomal proteins in human cancers

The ribosome, the site for protein synthesis, is composed of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and ribosomal proteins (RPs). The latter have been shown to have many ribosomal and extraribosomal functions. RPs are implicated in a variety of pathological processes, especially tumorigenesis and cell transformation. In this review, we will focus on the recent advances that shed light on the effects of RPs deregulation in different types of cancer and their roles in regulating the tumor cell fate.

LncRNA GASAL1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by up-regulating USP10-stabilized PCNA

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal malignancy which has insufficient treatment options. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) GASAL1 was discovered to be conspicuously up-regulated in HCC. However, the study on the role of GASAL1 in HCC reamins limited. Our study aimed at exploring the role and mechanism of GASAL1 in HCC. RT-qPCR or Western blot was conducted to examine the expression of RNAs or proteins. Functional assays were carried out to investigate the impact of GASAL1, USP10, and PCNA on HCC cells. Mechanism assays were performed to fathom out the relationship among GASAL1, miR-193b-5p, USP10, and PCNA. In vivo assays were also employed to determine the role of GASAL1 in HCC tumor growth and metastases. According to the data collected, GASAL1 displayed a high expression in HCC cells and GASAL1 knockdown led to impeded cell proliferation and migration, as well as tumor progression. A series of mechanism analysis demonstrated GASAL1 could sponge miR-193b-5p to raise the expression of USP10. Moreover, USP10 could induce PCNA deubiquitination to promote HCC cell growth. To conclude, GASAL1 plays an oncogenic role in HCC. GASAL1 could up-regulate USP10 via competitively binding to miR-193b-5p. And USP10 could strengthen cell proliferative and migratory abilities through deubiquitinating PCNA.

Clinicopathological and prognostic value of long noncoding RNA SNHG7 in cancers: a meta-analysis and bioinformatics

The long intergenic non-coding RNA SNHG7 has been reported to be abnormally expressed in many types of cancer, the results remain controversial. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the clinicopathologic and prognostic value of SNHG7 in cancers. Electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase were used to search relevant studies. A combined hazard ratio (HR) and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to assess the association between SNHG7 expression and prognosis in cancer patients. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI were calculated to elaborate the association between SNHG7 expression and clinicopathological features in cancers. Besides, the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset was used to validate the results. In total, eighteen studies compromising 1303 participants were enrolled in this analysis. The pooled results showed increased SNHG7 expression could predict unfavorable overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.75, 95%CI = 1.52–2.02, P = 0.000). Analysis stratified by follow-up time, cancer types, analysis types, sample sizes and cut off further verified the prognostic value of SNHG7. Additionally, elevated SNHG7 expression was correlated with TNM stage (OR: 3.31, 95%CI = 2.29–4.80, P = 0.000), lymph node metastasis (OR = 3.32, 95%CI = 1.61–6.83, P = 0.004), and tumor differentiation (OR = 1.92, 95%CI = 1.22–3.03, P =0.005) in patients with cancers. Excavation of TCGA dataset valuated that SNHG7 was upregulated in some cancers and predicted worse OS, which partially confirmed our results in this meta-analysis.

Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) SNHG7/ Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 gamma 2 (EIF4G2) involves in the malignant events of ovarian cancer cells with paclitaxel resistant

LncRNA SNHG7 shows a strong relationship with malignant behavior of cancer cells and poor clinical outcome in cancer. The resistance of ovarian cancer for Paclitaxel seriously limits the clinical efficacy in chemotherapy for ovarian cancer patients. In this study, we investigated whether lncRNA SNHG7 was involved in Paclitaxel sensitivity of ovarian cancer as well as the underlying mechanism regulating the behavior of ovarian cancer cells with Paclitaxel resistance. The experiment results of wound healing and transwell showed that in paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer cells, transfection with siRNA-SNHG7 in ovarian cancer cells reduced cell migration and invasion. And cell cycle was observed by means of Flow cytometry. RNA immunoprecipitation assay was performed to analyze the interaction of lncRNA SNHG7 and EIF4G2. Overexpression of EIF4G2 by transfection with Ov- EIF4G2 plasmids efficiently blocked the changes of migration and invasion, as well as G0/1 arrest caused by lncRNA SNHG7 silencing. Taken together, these results demonstrated that lncRNA SNHG7 could affect the degradation of EIF4G2 to regulate the sensitivity of ovarian cancer to Paclitaxel, inhibit cell viability, migration, and invasion. The interaction of lncRNA SNHG7 and EIF4G2 plays an important role in the migrative and invasive activity and Paclitaxel resistance of ovarian cancer cells.

Exosome-mediated transfer of SNHG7 enhances docetaxel resistance in lung adenocarcinoma

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 7 (SNHG7) has been widely reported in various cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, it is largely unknown whether SNHG7 is involved in docetaxel resistance of LUAD. In the current study, we identified the high expression of SNHG7 in docetaxel-resistant cells. Through functional assays, we determined that silencing of SNHG7 decreased IC₅₀ value of LUAD cells to docetaxel and suppressed proliferation and autophagy in LUAD cells, and reversed M2 polarization in macrophages. Mechanistically, we uncovered that SNHG7 promoted autophagy via recruiting human antigen R (HuR) to stabilize autophagy-related genes autophagy related 5 (ATG5) and autophagy related 12 (ATG12). Moreover, exosomal SNHG7 was transmitted from docetaxel-resistant LUAD cells to parental LUAD cells and thus facilitated docetaxel resistance. Additionally, exosomal SNHG7 activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway to promote M2 polarization in macrophages via recruiting cullin 4A (CUL4A) to induce ubiquitination and degradation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). Taken together, we concluded that exosomal SNHG7 enhances docetaxel resistance of LUAD cells through inducing autophagy and macrophage M2 polarization. All findings in the study suggested that SNHG7 may be a promising target for relieving docetaxel resistance in LUAD.

Altered expression of microRNAs in the rat diaphragm in a model of ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction after controlled mechanical ventilation

BACKGROUND

Ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD) is a common complication of life support by mechanical ventilation observed in critical patients in clinical practice and may predispose patients to severe complications such as ventilator-associated pneumonia or ventilator discontinuation failure. To date, the alterations in microRNA (miRNA) expression in the rat diaphragm in a VIDD model have not been elucidated. This study was designed to identify these alterations in expression.

RESULTS

Adult male Wistar rats received conventional controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) or breathed spontaneously for 12 h. Then, their diaphragm tissues were collected for RNA extraction. The miRNA expression alterations in diaphragm tissue were investigated by high-throughput microRNA-sequencing (miRNA-seq). For targeted mRNA functional analysis, gene ontology (GO) analyses and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were subsequently conducted. qRT-PCR validation and luciferase reporter assays were performed. We successfully constructed a model of ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction and identified 38 significantly differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs, among which 22 miRNAs were upregulated and 16 were downregulated. GO analyses identified functional genes, and KEGG pathway analyses revealed the signaling pathways that were most highly correlated, which were the MAPK pathway, FoxO pathway and Autophagy-animal. Luciferase reporter assays showed that STAT3 was a direct target of both miR-92a-1-5p and miR-874-3p and that Trim63 was a direct target of miR-3571.

CONCLUSIONS

The current research supplied novel perspectives on miRNAs in the diaphragm, which may not only be implicated in diaphragm dysfunction pathogenesis but could also be considered as therapeutic targets in diaphragm dysfunction.

Long Non-coding RNAs: Potential Players in Cardiotoxicity Induced by Chemotherapy Drugs

One of the most important side effects of chemotherapy is cardiovascular complications, such as cardiotoxicity. Many factors are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiotoxicity; one of the most important of which is long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). lncRNA has 200-1000 nucleotides. It is involved in important processes such as cell proliferation, regeneration and apoptosis; today it is used as a prognostic and diagnostic factor. A, various drugs by acting on lncRNAs can affect cells. Therefore, by accurately identifying IncRNAs function, we can play an effective role in preventing the development of cardiotoxicity-induced chemotherapy drugs, and use them as a therapeutic strategy to improve clinical symptoms and increase patient survival.

Functional roles of non-coding RNAs regulated by thyroid hormones in liver cancer

Recent reports have shown the important role of the non-coding part of human genome RNA (ncRNA) in cancer formation and progression. Among several kinds of ncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNA) play a pivotal role in cancer biology. Accumulating researches have been focused on the importance of non-coding genes in various diseases. In addition to miRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have also been extensively documented. Recently, the study of human liver cancer has gradually shifted to these non-coding RNAs that were originally considered "junk". Notably, dysregulated ncRNAs maybe influence on cell proliferation, angiogenesis, anti-apoptosis, and metastasis. Thyroid hormones play critical roles in human development and abnormalities in thyroid hormone levels are associated with various diseases, such as liver cancer. Thyroid hormone receptors (TR) act as ligand-activated nuclear transcription factors to affect multiple functions through the gene-level regulation in the cells and several studies have revealed that thyroid hormone associated with ncRNAs expression. TR actions are complex and tissue- and time-specific, aberrant expression of the various TR isoforms have different effects and are associated with different types of tumor or stages of development. In this review, we discuss various aspects of the research on the thyroid hormones modulated ncRNAs to affect the functions of human liver cells.

The Impact of Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the utmost deadly human malignancies. This type of cancer has been associated with several environmental, viral, and lifestyle risk factors. Among the epigenetic factors which contribute in the pathogenesis of HCC is dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). These transcripts modulate expression of several tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes and alter the activity of cancer-related signaling axes. Several lncRNAs such as NEAT1, MALAT1, ANRIL, and SNHG1 have been up-regulated in HCC samples. On the other hand, a number of so-called tumor suppressor lncRNAs namely CASS2 and MEG3 are down-regulated in HCC. The interaction between lncRNAs and miRNAs regulate expression of a number of mRNA coding genes which are involved in the pathogenesis of HCC. H19/miR-15b/CDC42, H19/miR-326/TWIST1, NEAT1/miR-485/STAT3, MALAT1/miR-124-3p/Slug, MALAT1/miR-195/EGFR, MALAT1/miR-22/SNAI1, and ANRIL/miR-144/PBX3 axes are among functional axes in the pathobiology of HCC. Some genetic polymorphisms within non-coding regions of the genome have been associated with risk of HCC in certain populations. In the current paper, we describe the recent finding about the impact of lncRNAs in HCC.

Long non-coding RNA LINC00173 enhances cisplatin resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma via the microRNA-641/RAB14 axis

A growing body of evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in the chemoresistance of human cancers. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of certain lncRNAs in the chemotherapeutic resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the function and potential mechanism of action of lncRNA LINC00173 in HCC cisplatin (DDP) resistance. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis indicated that LINC00173 was highly expressed in DDP-resistant HCC tissues and cell lines, and high expression levels of LINC00173 were found to be associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Moreover, LINC00173-knockdown improved the DDP sensitivity of DDP-resistant HCC cells. A luciferase reporter assay also demonstrated that microRNA (miR)-641 was a direct target of LINC00173. miR-641 inhibition restored the promoting effect of LINC00173 knockdown on DDP sensitivity in HCC cells. Furthermore, RAB14 was identified as a target of miR-641, and RAB14 overexpression restrained the inducing effect of LINC00173 knockdown on HCC cell DDP sensitivity. The findings of the present study demonstrated that LINC00173 increased DDP resistance in HCC via the miR-641/RAB14 axis, which may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for HCC.

The LINC01410/miR-122-5p/NDRG3 axis is involved in the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells

PURPOSE

It is generally accepted that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) function as vital regulators of tumor development and progression. Long intergenic non-coding RNA 1410 (LINC01410) is a newly discovered lncRNA, and its role in osteosarcoma (OS) is yet to be determined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression of LINC01410, microRNA-122-5p (miR-122-5p), and N-myc downstream-regulated gene 3 (NDRG3) in OS tissues was determined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Interactions between LINC01410, miR-122-5p, and NDRG3 were predicted and verified using bioinformatics tools and luciferase assays. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected using cell counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays.

RESULTS

LINC01410 was overexpressed in OS tissues. Furthermore, it was confirmed that LINC01410 facilitated OS cell proliferation and migration. Our studies also showed that LINC01410 binds to miR-122-5p, and miR-122-5p binds to NDRG3. Finally, we observed that LINC01410 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of OS cells. Knockdown of LINC01410 resulted in the upregulation of miR-122-5p and downregulation of NDRG3.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that the LINC01410/miR-122-5p/NDRG3 axis is involved in the progression of OS.

PRR34-AS1 sponges miR-498 to facilitate TOMM20 and ITGA6 mediated tumor progression in HCC

BACKGROUND

The researches on PRR34 antisense RNA 1 (PRR34-AS1) have been limited. Both translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 (TOMM20) and integrin subunit alpha 6 (ITGA6) have been proven to facilitate cancer progression. Whether TOMM20 or ITGA6 affects hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression has never been investigated. Some studies showed that microRNA 498 (miR-498) can suppress HCC progression. Additionally, the influence of ceRNA network (including PRR34-AS1, miR-498, and TOMM20 or ITGA6) on HCC progression has not been inquired into yet.

METHODS

The knockdown or overexpression efficiency was validated via RT-qPCR. Also, RT-qPCR was applied to detect the expression of PRR34-AS1, miR-498, TOMM20, and ITGA6. Cell proliferation in HCC was tested via EdU and colony formation assays. Transwell assays presented the migratory and invasive capabilities of HCC cells. Subcellular fractionation and FISH assays showed the subcellular localization of PRR34-AS1. RNA pull down and luciferase reporter assays were performed to explore whether miR-498 combines with PRR34-AS1, TOMM20 or ITGA6. Western blot was conducted to detect protein expression. Rescue experiments were conducted to verify the relationship among PRR34-AS1, miR-498, TOMM20, and ITGA6.

RESULTS

The expressions of PRR34-AS1, TOMM20, and ITGA6 were markedly high in HCC cell lines while miR-498 was lowly expressed. PRR34-AS1, TOMM20, and ITGA6 promoted HCC progression while miR-498 suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC. Furthermore, PRR34-AS1, TOMM20, and ITGA6 combined with miR-498.

CONCLUSION

PRR34-AS1 facilitates HCC progression by regulating miR-498/TOMM20/ITGA6 axis.

BASP1 Suppresses Cell Growth and Metastasis through Inhibiting Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Gastric Cancer

Objective

Our research is designed to explore the function of brain acid soluble protein 1 (BASP1) in the progression of gastric cancer (GC) and its underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods

In this study, the expression of BASP1 was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in both GC tissue and GC cells. The cell cloning, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion potential of AGS and HGC-27 cells were, respectively, determined using colony formation assay, 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine (EDU) assay, flow cytometry, and Transwell assay. The protein expressions of Bax, caspase-3, Bcl-2, matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, Wilms tumor 1 (WT1), Wnt, and β-catenin in AGS and HGC-27 cells were measured by western blot. In addition, the mRNA expressions of WT1, Wnt, and β-catenin in AGS and HGC-27 cells were detected by qRT-PCR.

Results

BASP1 expression was significantly downregulated in both GC tissue and GC cells. BASP1 overexpression markedly repressed proliferation, migration, and invasion and facilitated apoptosis in AGS and HGC-27 cells. In addition, BASP1 overexpression notably promoted the protein expression of Bax and caspase-3 in AGS and HGC-27 cells and inhibited the expression of Bcl-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9. Moreover, BASP1 overexpression significantly inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of WT1, Wnt, and β-catenin in AGS and HGC-27 cells.

Conclusion

BASP1 could significantly suppress cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and promote apoptosis through inhibiting the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in GC.

miRNA-122-5p stimulates the proliferation and DNA synthesis and inhibits the early apoptosis of human spermatogonial stem cells by targeting CBL and competing with lncRNA CASC7

Epigenetic regulators of human spermatogonia stem cells (SSCs) remain largely unknown. We found that miRNA-122-5p was upregulated in human spermatogonia from obstructive azoospermia (OA) patients compared with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). MiRNA-122-5p stimulated the proliferation and DNA synthesis of human SSCs, whereas it inhibited the early apoptosis of human SSCs. CBL was predicted and identified as a direct target of miRNA-122-5p in human SSCs. CBL silencing led to an enhancement of cell proliferation and DNA synthesis and neutralized the effect of miRNA-122-5p inhibitor on the DNA synthesis of human SSCs. The decrease in the early apoptosis of human SSCs was observed after CBL knockdown. By comparing the profiles of lncRNAs between OA and NOA spermatogonia, CASC7 was significantly deficient in OA spermatogonia, and it had a direct association with miRNA-122-5p. LncRNA CASC7 competed with miRNA-122-5p, and it suppressed the inhibition of CBL. Collectively, these results implicate that miRNA-122-5p enhances the proliferation and DNA synthesis and inhibits the early apoptosis of human SSCs by targeting CBL and competing with lncRNA CASC7. Therefore, this study provides novel insights into epigenetic regulation of fate determinations of human SSCs, and it offers new targets for gene therapy of male infertility that is associated with aging.

Determining the Clinical Value and Critical Pathway of GTPBP4 in Lung Adenocarcinoma Using a Bioinformatics Strategy: A Study Based on Datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and the most common histologic subtype is lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Due to the significant mortality and morbidity rates among patients with LUAD, the identification of novel biomarkers to guide diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy is urgent. Guanosine triphosphate-binding protein 4 (GTPBP4) has been found to be associated with tumorigenesis in recent years, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we demonstrate that GTPBP4 is significantly overexpressed in LUAD primary tumors. A total of 55 genes were identified as potential targets of GTPBP4. GO enrichment analysis identified the top 25 pathways among these target genes, among which, ribosome biogenesis was shown to be the most central. Each target gene demonstrated strong and complex interactions with other genes. Of the potential target genes, 12 abnormally expressed candidates were associated with survival probability and correlated with GTPBP4 expression. These findings suggest that GTPBP4 is associated with LUAD progression. Finally, we highlight the importance of the role of GTPBP4 in LUAD in vitro. GTPBP4 knockdown in LUAD cells inhibited proliferation and metastasis, promoted apoptosis, and enhanced sensitivity to TP. Overall, we conclude that GTPBP4 may be considered as a potential biomarker of LUAD.

Long noncoding RNA SBF2-AS1 contributes to the growth and metastatic phenotypes of NSCLC via regulating miR-338-3p/ADAM17 axis

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a type of refractory malignant lung cancer with a high rate of metastasis and mortality. Currently, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SBF2 Antisense RNA 1 (SBF2-AS1) is considered as a biomarker for a variety of tumors. However, the function of SBF2-AS1 in the growth and metastasis of NSCLC needs to be further studied. In this study, we revealed that SBF2-AS1 was overexpressed in NSCLC tissues compared with that in normal tissues. SBF2-AS1 silencing restrained the growth and aggressive phenotypes of NSCLC cell in vitro. Consistently, SBF2-AS1 knockdown hindered the growth of NSCLC cell in nude mice. The following luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay suggested the relationship between miR-338-3p and SBF2-AS1. The rescue experiments showed that miR-338-3p inhibitor abolished SBF2-AS1 silencing caused inhibition on the growth, migration and invasiveness of NSCLC cell. The luciferase reporter assay and immunoblotting assay validated that A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) was a target of miR-338-3p. In addition, SBF2-AS1 positively regulated the level of ADAM17 through sponging for miR-338-3p. Finally, we revealed that SBF2-AS1 contributed to the proliferation and metastatic phenotypes of NSCLC cell via regulating miR-338-3p/ADAM17 axis.

Long Noncoding RNA PART1 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via Targeting miR-590-3p/HMGB2 Axis

Introduction

In East Asia, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer types. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) prostate androgen-regulated transcript 1 (PART1) was reported to play crucial roles in regulating cancer progression. However, roles and mechanisms of action of PART1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still remain unknown.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method was used to detect the PART1 expression level in HCC cells. Cell proliferation, colony formation, and transwell invasion assays were performed to investigate the biological roles of PART1 on HCC cell behaviors. Bioinformatic analysis methods were performed to analyze connections of microRNA-590-3p (miR-590-3p) with PART1 or high mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) in HCC. Moreover, expression levels of PART1, miR-590-3p, and HMGB2 in HCC tissues and normal tissues were analyzed at ENCORI.

Results

PART1 expression was found to be significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cells. Functionally, silencing of PART1 significantly suppressed HCC cell proliferation, colony formation and invasion in vitro, while forcing PART1 exerts opposite biological effects. Mechanically, miR-590-3p/HMGB2 axis was downstream target of PART1, and silencing of miR-590-3p or forcing of HMGB2 could rescue the stimulation effects of PART1 overexpression on HCC cell behaviors.

Discussion

Our results provided evidence that PART1 serves as oncogenic lncRNA through sponging miR-590-3p to upregulate HMGB2 expression in HCC.