LincRNA-p21 promotes p21-mediated cell cycle arrest in benzene-induced hematotoxicity by sponging miRNA-17-5p

LncRNA TUG1 regulates mir-34a-5p / SIRT6 to participate in benzene-induced hematotoxicity through PI3K / AKT /mTOR signaling pathway

LncRNA TUG1 plays pivotal roles in various diseases. However, its exact roles in benzene - induced hematotoxicity remain unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of TUG1 in hematoxic injuries caused by benzene. In the current study, TUG1 was found dramatically decreased in WBCs of benzene exposure workers and negatively correlated with benzene exposure duration and urine SPMA. In vitro assays demonstrated that TUG1 overexpression attenuated 1,4-BQ-caused suppression of cell viability and proliferation, and promotion of ROS generation and apoptosis via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Bioinformatic prediction and molecular assay validated miR-34a-5p was negatively regulated by TUG1. The miR-34a-5p was upregulated in 1,4-BQ treated cells and downregulated in TUG1 overexpression cells. Moreover, miR-34a-5p upregulation partially reversed the protective effects of TUG1 overexpression on 1,4-BQ - caused cytotoxicity. Furthermore, SIRT6 was a downstream target gene of miR-34a-5p, whose expression was reduced in miR-34a-5p upregulation cells and elevated in TUG1 overexpression cells. Upregulated SIRT6 could counteract accelerated cytotoxicity mediated by miR-34a-5p upregulation after 1,4-BQ treatment. Taken together, our study revealed that the critical role of the TUG1/miR-34a-5p/SIRT6 axis in benzene-caused hematotoxicity, and provided scientific basis for further understanding the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying benzene hematotoxicity.

UBE2L3 promotes benzene-induced hematotoxicity via autophagy-dependent ferroptosis

Benzene is a common environmental pollutant and significant health hazard. Low-dose benzene exposure is common in most industrial settings, and some workers exhibit hematotoxicity characterized by impaired hematopoietic function. Consequently, understanding the early hematopoietic damage and biomarkers associated with low-dose benzene exposure is of critical importance for health risk assessment. Using data from a 5-year prospective cohort study on benzene exposure and the National Center for Biotechnology Information's Gene Expression Omnibus database, we detected significant downregulation of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2L3 (E2) in benzene-exposed subjects compared to control subjects. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and co-immunoprecipitation experiments illustrated the binding interaction between UBE2L3 and the ubiquitin-protein ligase ZNF598 (E3). We applied deep learning algorithms to predict candidate interacting proteins and then conducted validation via co-immunoprecipitation experiments, which showed that ZNF598 engages in binding with the autophagy protein LAMP-2. Subsequent overexpression and knockdown of UBE2L3 coupled with immunofluorescence experiments and transmission electron microscopy revealed that UBE2L3 disrupts the ubiquitination-degradation of LAMP-2 by ZNF598, reduces GPX4 expression levels, and activates an autophagy-dependent ferroptosis pathway. It also leads to increased lipid peroxidation, thereby promoting ferroptosis and contributing to the hematotoxicity induced by benzene. In summary, our results suggest that UBE2L3 may be involved in early hematopoietic damage by modulating the autophagy-dependent ferroptosis signaling pathway in benzene-induced hematotoxicity.

Sciellin promotes the development and progression of thyroid cancer through the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most common endocrine tumors worldwide. Sciellin (SCEL) is involved in various disease processes, including burn wound healing and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs); it is highly expressed in TC. However, its biological impact on TC and related mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SCEL on the function of human TC cell lines B-CPAP and OCUT-2C (cancer cell lines with BRAF V600E mutations). Analyses of data sets and clinical samples revealed enhanced expression of SCEL in TC than in adjacent normal tissue. SCEL knockout suppresses proliferation and cell cycle progression in TC cells, and these results were reversed by the upregulated SCEL expression in TC. SCEL knockout inhibited tumor development in xenograft mouse models. Western blot (WB) demonstrated that the expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 was reduced in SCEL-knockdown TC. These results suggest that SCEL plays a key role in TC progression through the JAK2-STAT3 pathway. Therefore, SCEL can be considered a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for TC.

Specific CpG sites methylation is associated with hematotoxicity in low-dose benzene-exposed workers

Benzene is a broadly used industrial chemicals which causes various hematologic abnormalities in human. Altered DNA methylation has been proposed as epigenetic biomarkers in health risk evaluation of benzene exposure, yet the role of methylation at specific CpG sites in predicting hematological effects remains unclear. In this study, we recruited 120 low-level benzene-exposed and 101 control male workers from a petrochemical factory in Maoming City, Guangdong Province, China. Urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA) in benzene-exposed workers was 3.40-fold higher than that in control workers (P < 0.001). Benzene-induced hematotoxicity was characterized by reduced white blood cells counts and nuclear division index (NDI), along with an increased DNA damage and urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (all P < 0.05). Methylation levels of TRIM36, MGMT and RASSF1a genes in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLCs) were quantified by pyrosequencing. CpG site 6 of TRIM36, CpG site 2, 4, 6 of RASSF1a and CpG site 1, 3 of MGMT methylation were recognized as hot CpG sites due to a strong correlation with both internal exposure and hematological effects. Notably, integrating hot CpG sites methylation of multiple genes reveal a higher efficiency in prediction of integrative damage compared to individual genes at hot CpG sites. The negative dose-response relationship between the combined methylation of hot CpG sites in three genes and integrative damage enabled the classification of benzene-exposed individuals into high-risk or low-risk groups using the median cut-off value of the integrative index. Subsequently, a prediction model for integrative damage in benzene-exposed populations was built based on the methylation status of the identified hot CpG sites in the three genes. Taken together, these findings provide a novel insight into application prospect of specific CpG site methylation as epi-biomarkers for health risk assessment of environmental pollutants.

HIF-1α/m6A/NF-κB/CCL3 axis-mediated immunosurveillance participates in low level benzene-related erythrohematopoietic development toxicity

Defective erythropoiesis is one of the causes of anemia and leukemia. However, the mechanisms underlying defective erythropoiesis under a low-dose environment of benzene are poorly understood. In the present study, multiple omics (transcriptomics and metabolomics) and methods from epidemiology to experimental biology (e.g., benzene-induced (WT and HIF-1α + ) mouse, hiPSC-derived HSPCs) were used. Here, we showed that erythropoiesis is more easily impacted than other blood cells, and the process is reversible, which involves HIF-1 and NF-kB signaling pathways in low-level benzene exposure workers. Decreased HIF-1α expression in benzene-induced mouse bone marrow resulted in DNA damage, senescence, and apoptosis in BMCs and HSCs, causing disturbances in iron homeostasis and erythropoiesis. We further revealed that HIF-1α mediates CCL3/macrophage-related immunosurveillance against benzene-induced senescent and damaged cells and contributes to iron homeostasis. Mechanistically, we showed that m6A modification is essential in this process. Benzene-induced depletion of m6A promotes the mRNA stability of gene NFKBIA and regulates the NF-κB/CCL3 pathway, which is regulated by HIF-1α/METTL3/YTHDF2. Overall, our results identified an unidentified role for HIF-1α, m6A, and the NF-kB signaling machinery in erythroid progenitor cells, suggesting that HIF-1α/METTL3/YTHDF2-m6A/NF-κB/CCL3 axis may be a potential prevention and therapeutic target for chronic exposure of humans to benzene-associated anemia and leukemia.

Non-coding RNAs: A new frontier in benzene-mediated toxicity

One of the most frequent environmental contaminants, benzene is still widely used as an industrial solvent around the world, especially in developing nations, posing a serious occupational risk. While the processes behind the toxicity of benzene grounds are not fully understood, it is generally accepted that its metabolism, which involves one or more reactive metabolites, is crucial to its toxicity. In order to evaluate the many ways that benzene could influence gene regulation and thus have an impact on human health, new methodologies have been created. The pathophysiology of the disorder may result from epigenetic reprogramming caused by exposure to benzene, including changes in non-coding RNA (ncRNA) markers, according to recent studies. We are interested in the identification of hazardous regulatory ncRNAs, the identification of these ncRNAs' targets, and the comprehension of the significance of these interactions in the mechanisms behind benzene toxicity. Hence, the focus of recent research is on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), and some of the more pertinent articles are also discussed.

Nanocomposite fibers based on cellulose acetate loaded with fullerene for cancer therapy: preparation, characterization and in-vitro evaluation

The current prevalence of cancerous diseases necessitates the exploration of materials that can effectively treat these conditions while minimizing the occurrence of adverse side effects. This study aims to identify materials with the potential to inhibit the metastasis of cancerous diseases within the human body while concurrently serving as therapeutic agents for their treatment. A novel approach was employed to enhance the anti-cancer properties of electrospun cellulose fibers by incorporating fullerene nanoparticles (NPs) into cellulose acetate (CA) fibers, resulting in a composite material called Fullerene@CA. This development aimed at utilizing the anti-cancer properties of fullerenes for potential therapeutic applications. This process has been demonstrated in vitro against various types of cancer, and it was found that Fullerene@CA nanocomposite fibers displayed robust anticancer activity. Cancer cells (Caco-2, MDA-MB 231, and HepG-2 cells) were inhibited by 0.3 and 0.5 mg.g-1 fullerene doses by 58.62-62.87%, 47.86-56.43%, and 48.60-57.73%, respectively. The tested cancer cells shrink and lose their spindle shape due to morphological changes. The investigation of the prepared nanocomposite reveals its impact on various genes, such as BCL2, NF-KB, p53, Bax, and p21, highlighting the therapeutic compounds' effectiveness. The experimental results demonstrated that the incorporation of NPs into CA fibers resulted in a significant improvement in their anti-cancer efficacy. Therefore, it is suggested that these modified fibers could be utilized as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment and prevention of cancer metastasis.

p53-regulated lncRNAs in cancers: from proliferation and metastasis to therapy

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as master gene regulators through various mechanisms such as transcription, translation, protein modification and RNA-protein complexes. LncRNA dysregulation is frequently associated with a variety of biological functions and human diseases including cancer. The p53 network is a key tumor-suppressive mechanism that transcriptionally activates target genes to suppress cellular proliferation in human malignancies. Recent research indicates that lncRNAs play an important role in the p53 signaling pathway. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of lncRNAs in p53-relevant functions and provide an overview of how these altered lncRNAs contribute to tumor initiation and progression. We also discuss the association between lncRNA and up- or downstream genes of p53. These findings imply that lncRNAs can help identify cellular vulnerabilities that may prove to be promising potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

LncRNA OBFC2A modulated benzene metabolites-induced autophagy and apoptosis by interacting with LAMP2

Exposure to benzene results in peripheral blood cell reduction, aplastic anemia, and leukemia. We previously observed that the lncRNA OBFC2A was upregulated significantly in benzene-exposed workers and correlated with reduced blood cell counts. However, the role of lncRNA OBFC2A in benzene hematotoxicity remains unclear. In this study, we discovered that lncRNA OBFC2A was regulated by oxidative stress and played roles in cell autophagy and apoptosis caused by the benzene metabolite 1,4-Benzoquinone (1,4-BQ) in vitro. Mechanistically, protein chip, RNA pull-down and FISH colocalization uncovered that lncRNA OBFC2A directly bound to LAMP2, a regulator of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), and upregulated its expression in 1,4-BQ-treated cells. LncRNA OBFC2A knockdown alleviated LAMP2 overexpression caused by 1,4-BQ, which confirmed their regulatory relationship. In conclusion, we demonstrate that lncRNA OBFC2A mediates 1,4-BQ-induced apoptosis and autophagy by interacting with LAMP2. LncRNA OBFC2A could serve as a biomarker for hematotoxicity caused by benzene.

Identification of miR-192 target genes in porcine endometrial epithelial cells based on miRNA pull-down

INTRODUCTION

MicroRNAs (miRNAs)-a class of small endogenous non-coding RNAs-are widely involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation of numerous physiological processes. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the miR-192 expression level appeared to be significantly higher in the blood exosomes of sows at early gestation than that in non-pregnant sows. Furthermore, miR-192 was hypothesized to have a regulatory role in embryo implantation; however, the target genes involved in exerting the regulatory function of miR-192 required further elucidation.

METHODS

In the present study, potential target genes of miR-192 in porcine endometrial epithelial cells (PEECs) were identified through biotin-labeled miRNA pull-down; functional and pathway enrichment analysis was performed via gene ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment. Bioinformatic analyses were concurrently used to predict the potential target genes associated with sow embryo implantation. In addition, double luciferase reporter vectors, reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and Western blot were performed to verify the targeting and regulatory roles of the abovementioned target genes.

RESULTS

A total of 1688 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified via miRNA pull-down. Through RT-qPCR, the accuracy of the sequencing data was verified. In the bioinformatics analysis, potential target genes of miR-192 appeared to form a dense inter-regulatory network and regulated multiple signaling pathways, such as metabolic pathways and the PI3K-Akt, MAPKs, and mTOR signaling pathways, that are relevant to the mammalian embryo implantation process. In addition, CSK (C-terminal Src kinase) and YY1 (Yin-Yang-1) were predicted to be potential candidates, and we validated that miR-192 directly targets and suppresses the expression of the CSK and YY1 genes.

CONCLUSION

We screened 1688 potential target genes of miR-192 were screened, and CSK and YY1 were identified as miR-192 target genes. The outcomes of the present study provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanism of porcine embryo implantation and the identification of miRNA target genes.

Let-7e-5p, a promising novel biomarker for benzene toxicity, is involved in benzene-induced hematopoietic toxicity through targeting caspase-3 and p21

Benzene is a common industrial chemical and environmental pollutant. However, the mechanism of hematotoxicity caused by exposure to low doses of benzene is unknown. Let-7e-5p pathway regulatory networks were constructed by bioinformatics analysis using a benzene-induced aplastic anemia (BIAA) mouse model. The MTT assay, EdU staining, flow cytometric analysis, dual luciferase reporter gene assay, and RIP assay were utilized to evaluate the effects of benzoquinone (1,4-BQ) on let-7e-5p pathway. This study consisted of 159 workers with a history of low-level benzene exposure and 159 workers with no history of benzene exposure. After the confounding factors were identified, the associations between let-7e-5p expression and hematotoxicity were assessed by multiple linear regression. Furthermore, we used four machine learning algorithms (decision trees, neural network, Bayesian network, and support vector machines) to construct a predictive model for detecting benzene-causing hematotoxicity in workers. In this study, compared with respective controls, let-7e-5p expression was decreased in BIAA mice and benzene-exposed workers. After 1,4-BQ exposure, let-7e-5p overexpression negatively regulated caspase-3 and p21 expression, protected cells from apoptosis, and facilitated cell proliferation. RIP assays, and dual luciferase reporter gene assays confirmed that let-7e-5p could target p21 and caspase-3 and regulate the cell cycle and apoptosis. The support vector machines classifier achieved the best prediction of benzene-induced hematotoxicity (prediction accuracy = 88.27, AUC = 0.83) by statistically characterizing the internal dose of benzene exposure and the oxidative stress index, as well as the expression levels of let-7e-5p pathway-related genes in benzene-exposed workers. Let-7e-5p may be a potential therapeutic target of benzene-induced hematotoxicity, provide a basis for evaluating the health hazards of long-term and low-dose benzene exposure in workers, and supply a reference for revising occupational health standards.

lncRNA MPFAST Promotes Proliferation and Fatty Acid Synthesis of Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cell by Sponging miR-103 Regulating PI3K-AKT Pathway

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have an essential role in mammary gland development and lactation. Our earlier study showed that the lncRNA mammary proliferation and fatty acid synthesis-associated transcript (MPFAST) is highly expressed in the Holstein cow mammary gland during the middle lactation period compared to the dry period, which indicates its potential role in lactation. Therefore, gain- and loss-of-function experiments were performed on bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) by cell counting kit 8 (CCK8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and western blot. The results indicated that MPFAST promoted the viability and proliferation of BMECs. The oil red O staining and cellular triglyceride assay further showed that MPFAST promoted the number of lipid droplets and cellular triglyceride synthesis in BMECs. Bioinformatics analysis showed that MPFAST could act as a molecular sponge for miR-103, and PIK3R1 was a potential target of miR-103, which was further confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay, RT-qPCR, and western blot. The overexpression of MPFAST promoted the expression of PIK3R1 at mRNA and protein levels. It also significantly increased the mRNA relative expression levels of AKT, mTOR, and SREBP1, and the protein relative expression levels of AKT and p-AKT in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. In contrast, the inhibition of MPFAST resulted in the downregulation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway genes. These results indicated that MPFAST regulates the expression of the genes in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway through sponging miR-103 and promotes the proliferation and synthesis of fatty acids of BMECs. Our results would provide a new direction for further exploring the regulatory mechanism of lncRNA in the mammary gland.

An Unanticipated Modulation of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors: The Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs

It is now definitively established that a large part of the human genome is transcribed. However, only a scarce percentage of the transcriptome (about 1.2%) consists of RNAs that are translated into proteins, while the large majority of transcripts include a variety of RNA families with different dimensions and functions. Within this heterogeneous RNA world, a significant fraction consists of sequences with a length of more than 200 bases that form the so-called long non-coding RNA family. The functions of long non-coding RNAs range from the regulation of gene transcription to the changes in DNA topology and nucleosome modification and structural organization, to paraspeckle formation and cellular organelles maturation. This review is focused on the role of long non-coding RNAs as regulators of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors’ (CDKIs) levels and activities. Cyclin-dependent kinases are enzymes necessary for the tuned progression of the cell division cycle. The control of their activity takes place at various levels. Among these, interaction with CDKIs is a vital mechanism. Through CDKI modulation, long non-coding RNAs implement control over cellular physiology and are associated with numerous pathologies. However, although there are robust data in the literature, the role of long non-coding RNAs in the modulation of CDKIs appears to still be underestimated, as well as their importance in cell proliferation control.