Long non-coding RNA ASMTL-AS1 inhibits tumor growth and glycolysis by regulating the miR-93-3p/miR-660/FOXO1 axis in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Progress in long non-coding RNAs as prognostic factors of papillary thyroid carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is generally recognized as a slow-growing tumor. However, a small subset of patients may still experience relapse or metastasis shortly after therapy, leading to a poor prognosis and raising concerns about excessive medical treatment. One major challenge lies in the inadequacy of effective biomarkers for accurate risk stratification. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are closely related to malignant characteristics and poor prognosis, play a significant role in the genesis and development of PTC through various pathways. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the biological functions of lncRNAs in PTC, identify prognosis-relevant lncRNAs, and explore their potential mechanisms in drug resistance to BRAF kinase inhibitors, tumor dedifferentiation, and lymph node metastasis. By doing so, this review aims to offer valuable references for both basic research and the prediction of PTC prognosis.

Comprehensive analysis of N1-methylandenosine regulators and m1A-related mRNAs and lncRNAs as prognostic factors in bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is a lethal malignancy and recurs frequently. m1A plays a vital role in maintaining the biological functions of non-coding RNAs. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is a free website from where transcriptome data of BC were obtained. We chose m1A methylation regulators for this study. Six m1A methylation regulator genes have a higher expression in BC tissue compared to normal tissue. The aberrant expression of those m1A regulator genes was remarkably related to BC prognosis and clinicopathological features. First, m1A-related mRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) were identified. Next, univariate Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression and multivariate Cox regression were performed to get the optimum RNAs for the development of prognostic signatures. Also, a nomogram with T status, lncRNA risk scores and mRNA risk scores was constructed. It revealed an adequate capacity to predict the overall survival of BC cases in the training set as well as in the testing set and in the total TCGA cohort. In conclusion, m1A methylation regulator genes played an important role in predicting the overall survival of BC patients. In addition, m1A-related lncRNAs and mRNAs illustrated underlying mechanisms of tumorigenesis and development of BC.

MicroRNAs as the Critical Regulators of Forkhead Box Protein Family in Pancreatic, Thyroid, and Liver Cancers

The metabolism of human body is mainly regulated by the pancreas, liver, and thyroid using the hormones or exocrine secretions that affect the metabolic processes from food digestion to intracellular metabolism. Therefore, metabolic organ disorders have wide clinical symptoms that severely affect the quality of patient's life. The pancreatic, liver, and thyroid cancers as the main malignancies of the metabolic system have always been considered as one of the serious health challenges worldwide. Despite the novel therapeutic modalities, there are still significant high mortality and recurrence rates, especially in liver and pancreatic cancer patients which are mainly related to the late diagnosis. Therefore, it is required to assess the molecular bases of tumor progressions to introduce novel early detection and therapeutic markers in these malignancies. Forkhead box (FOX) protein family is a group of transcription factors that have pivotal roles in regulation of cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. They function as oncogene or tumor suppressor during tumor progression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are also involved in regulation of cellular processes. Therefore, in the present review, we discussed the role of miRNAs during pancreatic, thyroid, and liver tumor progressions through FOX regulation. It has been shown that miRNAs were mainly involved in tumor progression via FOXM and FOXO targeting. This review paves the way for the introduction of miR/FOX axis as an efficient early detection marker and therapeutic target in pancreatic, thyroid, and liver tumors.

Long noncoding RNAs, glucose metabolism and cancer (Review)

Cancer is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease, which, despite numerous advances over several decades, remains a challenge to treat that challenging to detect at an early stage or treat during the later stages. Long noncoding RNAs are >200 nucleotides long and do not possess protein-coding capacity, instead regulating cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, maturation, apoptosis, metastasis, and sugar metabolism. Several studies have shown the role of lncRNAs and glucose metabolism in regulating several key glycolytic enzymes and the activity of multiple functional signaling pathways during tumor progression. Thus, it is possible to further learn about the effects of lncRNA and glycolytic metabolism on tumor diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis through a thorough investigation of the lncRNA expression profiles and glycolytic metabolism in tumors. This may provide a novel strategy for improving the management of several types of cancer.

Ursolic acid-downregulated long noncoding RNA ASMTL-AS1 inhibits renal cell carcinoma growth via binding to HuR and reducing vascular endothelial growth factor expression

It has been reported ursolic acid (UA), one of the naturally abundant pentacyclic triterpenes, possesses a wide range of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, and anticancer properties. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a severe malignancy due to its asymptomatically spreading ability. Our study aimed to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of UA in RCC. RCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis were assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, Transwell, and tube formation assays. Xenograft tumor models were established to confirm the role of UA and long noncoding RNA ASMTL antisense RNA 1 (ASMTL-AS1) in vivo. Expression levels of ASMTL-AS1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The interaction probabilities of ASMTL-AS1 or VEGF with RNA-binding protein human antigen R (HuR) were verified by RNA immunoprecipitation experiment. The half-life period of messenger RNA (mRNA) was determined using actinomycin D. UA inhibited RCC cell growth in vivo and tumorigenesis in vitro. ASMTL-AS1 was highly expressed in RCC cell lines. Of note, UA downregulated ASMTL-AS1 expression, and overexpressed ASMTL-AS1 reversed the UA-induced suppression on RCC cell migration, invasion, and tube formation. Additionally, ASMTL-AS1 bound to HuR to maintain the stability of VEGF mRNA. Rescue experiments showed that the suppressed malignancy of RCC cells mediated by ASMTL-AS1 knockdown was counteracted by overexpression of VEGF. Moreover, silenced ASMTL-AS1 inhibited RCC tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. The obtained data suggest UA as a promising therapeutic agent to attenuate the development of RCC via regulation of the targeted molecules.

Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveal 5-methylcytosine RNA methylation regulators immunologically reprograms tumor microenvironment characterizations, immunotherapy response and precision treatment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) is a highly heterogeneous disease, making it challenging to predict prognosis and therapy efficacy. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of 5-methylcytosine (m5C) RNA modification in ccRCC and its potential as a predictor for therapy response and overall survival (OS). We established a novel 5-methylcytosine RNA modification-related gene index (M5CRMRGI) and studied its effect on the tumor microenvironment (TME) using single-cell sequencing data for in-depth analysis, and verified it using spatial sequencing data. Our results showed that M5CRMRGI is an independent predictor of OS in multiple datasets and exhibited outstanding performance in predicting the OS of ccRCC. Distinct mutation profiles, hallmark pathways, and infiltration of immune cells in TME were observed between high- and low-M5CRMRGI groups. Single-cell/spatial transcriptomics revealed that M5CRMRGI could reprogram the distribution of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Moreover, significant differences in tumor immunogenicity and tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) were observed between the two risk groups, suggesting a better response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy of the high-risk group. We also predicted six potential drugs binding to the core target of the M5CRMRGI signature via molecular docking. Real-world treatment cohort data proved once again that high-risk patients were appropriate for immune checkpoint blockade therapy, while low-risk patients were appropriate for Everolimus. Our study shows that the m5C modification landscape plays a role in TME distribution. The proposed M5CRMRGI-guided strategy for predicting survival and immunotherapy efficacy, we reported here, might also be applied to more cancers other than ccRCC.

MiRNA-93: a novel signature in human disorders and drug resistance

miRNA-93 is a member of the miR-106b-25 family and is encoded by a gene on chromosome 7q22.1. They play a role in the etiology of various diseases, including cancer, Parkinson's disease, hepatic injury, osteoarthritis, acute myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic kidney disease. Different studies have found that this miRNA has opposing roles in the context of cancer. Recently, miRNA-93 has been downregulated in breast cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, and renal cancer. However, miRNA-93 is up-regulated in a wide variety of malignancies, such as lung, colorectal, glioma, prostate, osteosarcoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of the current review is to provide an overview of miRNA-93's function in cancer disorder progression and non-cancer disorders, with a focus on dysregulated signaling pathways. We also give an overview of this miRNA's function as a biomarker of prognosis in cancer and emphasize how it contributes to drug resistance based on in vivo, in vitro, and human studies. Video Abstract.

Downregulation of lncRNA ASMTL-AS1 in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Correlates with Worse Prognosis and Cancer Progression

Given the characters of "Silent killer", epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) usually suffered late diagnosis and poor prognosis. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the prognostic significance of ASMTL-AS1 in EOC and investigated the effect of lncRNA ASMTL-AS1 dysregulation on tumor cellular function. ASMTL-AS1 expression was analyzed in 133 EOC tissues and five kinds of cell lines by RT-qPCR. The expression of ASMTL-AS1 was tested for correlation with clinical data using the chi-square test and clinical follow-up using Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test. Further, the prognostic parameters in predicting EOC overall survival were assessed by using multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis. In vitro assays, including MTT assay and transwell assay, were conducted using EOC cell lines with overexpression of ASMTL-AS1. In tumorous tissues and cell lines, ASMTL-AS1 was lowly expressed compared with normal ones. This downregulation was associated with the advanced FIGO stage, positive ascites cytology, and lymph node. In particular, low levels of ASMTL-AS1 were revealed to have a high prognostic impact on EOC. ASMTL-AS1 overexpression strongly decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro partly by moderating miR-1228-3p. This study demonstrates a significant role for lowly expressed ASMTL-AS1 in EOC allowing for the prediction of prognosis for EOC. Considering that ASMTL-AS1 is strongly involved in cell growth and invasion, ASMTL-AS1 may be a promising marker for EOC prognosis and therapy.

Long non-coding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) modulates inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1) to facilitate papillary thyroid carcinoma development by sponging microRNA-524-5p

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) exerts a pro-oncogenic role in several cancers, whereas its underlying regulatory mechanism in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) progression remains unknown. This research mainly explored the roles of NEAT1 in PTC development. Quantitative real-time polymerase-chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to measure NEAT1, miR-524-5p, and inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1) expression in PTC tissues and cells. Western blot was conducted for detecting the protein levels. MTT, transwell, and flow cytometry assays were applied to assess cell proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis in PTC cells in vitro. The PTC xenograft tumor model was used for investigating the role of NEAT1 in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was utilized for confirming the interaction between miR-524-5p and NEAT1 or ID1. In PTC tissues and cells, NEAT1 was significantly up-regulated. NEAT1 silencing blocked cell proliferation, metastasis, and facilitated apoptosis in vitro and impeded xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Bioinformatics prediction revealed the existence of binding sites between NEAT1 and miR-524-5p. Besides, ID1 was confirmed as a direct target to miR-524-5p, and the enhancement of ID1 reversed the regulation of miR-524-5p upregulation on cell progression. In addition, NEAT1 promoted PTC development by regulating ID1 expression via sponging miR-524-5p in PTC. In summary, we demonstrate that NEAT1 advanced the process of PTC by miR-524-5p/ID1 axis, which may enhance our comprehension of PTC pathogenesis.

Long non-coding RNA TFAP2A-AS1 plays an important role in oral squamous cell carcinoma: research includes bioinformatics analysis and experiments

BACKGROUND

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common neck and head malignancies, and the prognosis is not good. Studies shown that the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) TFAP2A-AS1 is involved in the progression of multiple cancers. However, the role of lncRNA TFAP2A-AS1 in OSCC remains unclear. We aimed to explore the functions and expression in OSCC.

METHODS

The lncRNA profiles for OSCC patients were acquired from the TCGA. Based on these data, the data mining of TFAP2A-AS1 in patients with OSCC were performed. The functions of TFAP2A-AS1 were determined by bioinformatics analysis. The expression and roles in cell growth were tested by RT-qPCR and MTS assay. Cell invasion and migration were tested by wound healing and transwell assays.

RESULTS

The consequences displayed that TFAP2A-AS1 was upregulated in the TCGA datasets. The expression of TFAP2A-AS1 was higher in OSCC samples. Bioinformatics analysis shown that TFAP2A-AS1 might be associated with the P53 signaling pathway. Cell culture experiments indicated that deficiency of TFAP2A-AS1 inhibited cell growth, invasion, and migration, and overexpression of it could opposite results in SCC-25 cells.

CONCLUSION

The results suggested that TFAP2A-AS1 was overexpressed in OSCC cells, which could facilitate OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

MicroRNA profiling predicts positive nodal status in papillary thyroid carcinoma in the preoperative setting

BACKGROUND

The molecular characterization of thyroid nodules in cytological samples has so far been focused on discriminating between benign and malignant forms in a purely diagnostic setting. The evidence on the impact of molecular biomarkers to determine the risk of aggressiveness in cytologically "neoplastic" lesions is limited to genomic alterations (such as BRAF and TERT mutations). The aim of our study was to assess the preoperative role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in predicting the nodal status of patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

METHODS

A pilot series of histological samples of papillary thyroid carcinoma with (6 cases) or without (6 cases) lymph node metastases, matched for other major clinical and pathological features, was analyzed for global miRNA expression in a screening phase. A set of miRNAs was then validated in a series of 63 consecutive cytological samples of papillary carcinomas: 48 pN-negative and 15 pN-positive at histology.

RESULTS

Unsupervised cluster analysis segregated surgical pN-negative and pN-positive samples, except for 1 case. The 45 differentially expressed miRNAs in pN-positive versus pN-negative cases were predicted to regulate a wide range of cellular pathways, enriched for Wnt, gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor, and cerulein/cholecystokinin receptor signaling. In agreement with their profiles in surgical samples, 4 miRNAs of the 10 selected for validation (miR-154-3p, miR-299-5p, miR-376a-3p, and miR-302E) had a significant differential expression in cytological samples of papillary carcinoma with lymph node metastases and predicted the positive nodal status with a relatively good performance.

CONCLUSIONS

MiRNA profiling is a potential promising strategy to define papillary carcinoma aggressiveness in the preoperative setting.

CircRNA_Maml2 promotes the proliferation and migration of intestinal epithelial cells after severe burns by regulating the miR-93-3p/FZD7/Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Background

Circular RNA (circRNA) plays key regulatory roles in the development of many diseases. However the biological functions and potential molecular mechanisms of circRNA in the injury and repair of intestinal mucosa in mice after severe burns are yet to be elucidated.

Methods

Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU), wound healing and transwell assays were used to detect cell proliferation and migration ability. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to identify the expression of circRNA, microRNA and messenger RNA. Nuclear and cytoplasmic separation experiments were employed to perceive the location of circRNA_Maml2. Finally, in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to study the repairing effect of circRNA_Maml2 on the intestinal mucosa of mice after severe burns.

Results

When compared with the control group, the expression of circRNA_Maml2 was significantly reduced in the severe burn group. Furthermore, overexpression of circRNA_Maml2 promoted the proliferation and migration of CT26.wt cells in vivo and the repair of damaged intestinal mucosa in vitro. CircRNA_Maml2 acted as a sponge adsorption molecule for miR-93-3p to enhance the expression of frizzled class receptor 7 and activate the downstream Wnt/β-catenin pathway, thereby promoting the repair of the intestinal mucosa.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that circRNA_Maml2 regulates the miR-93-3p/FZD7/Wnt/β-catenin pathway and promotes the repair of damaged intestinal mucosa. Hence, circRNA_Maml2 is a potential therapeutic target to promote intestinal mucosal repair.

circITCH suppresses cell proliferation and metastasis through miR-660/TFCP2 pathway in melanoma

BACKGROUND

Melanoma is an aggressive disease that is rising in incidence. Advanced melanoma is still a life-threatening disease. CircRNAs are documented to be involved in melanoma progression. But circITCH role in melanoma remains unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To explore the functions of circITCH in melanoma, levels of circITCH in melanoma tissues and paracarcinoma normal tissues were detected. To study the roles of circITCH in melanoma in terms of cell proliferation and migration, in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed. Mechanism study was designed to investigate the potential regulatory effect of circITCH in melanoma. Results revealed that circITCH expression was repressed in melanoma versus adjacent normal tissues. Function study showed that circITCH suppressed melanoma cell proliferation and metastasis. The mechanism study showed that circITCH-sponged miR-660 to upregulate TFCP2 and suppress melanoma progression.

CONCLUSIONS

The circITCH/miR-660/TFCP2 axis is involved in melanoma progression hence circITCH can be a diagnostic biomarker as well as a target for treating melanoma.

miR-183-5p promotes proliferation, invasion, and glycolysis of thyroid carcinoma cells by targeting FOXO1

The aim of this study was to research the influences of miR-183-5p on the proliferation, invasion, and glycolysis of thyroid cancer (THCA) cells. Clinical specimens from 84 THCA patients were included. THCA cell lines (K1, SW1736, and TPC1) were cultured. siFOXO1, miR-183-5p mimic, or miR-183-5p inhibitors were transfected into THCA cells by Lipofectamine ™ 2000. qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry assays were used to detect miR-183-5p and FOXO1 expression. CCK-8 assay, colony formation, flow cytometry, Transwell, and wound healing experiment were utilized, respectively, to detect cell proliferation, colony formation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration. Glycolysis was evaluated by detecting glucose uptake, lactate production, ATP level, and glycolysis-related proteins expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay were employed to verify the target relationship between miR-183-5p and FOXO1. The effect of miR-183-5p on THCA cells growth in vivo was researched using nude mice. miR-183-5p was highly expressed in THCA tissues and cells, correlating with poor outcome. miR-183-5p up-regulation attenuated apoptosis, and accelerated proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and glycolysis of THCA cells. Opposite results were found by miR-183-5p down-regulation. FOXO1 was a target gene of miR-183-5p, where expression was directly inhibited by miR-183-5p. FOXO1 silencing reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-183-5p inhibitor on THCA cells malignant phenotype. miR-183-5p down-regulation inhibited THCA cells growth in vivo. miR-183-5p accelerates progression and glycolysis of THCA by targeting FOXO1. miR-183-5p was a novel target for THCA treatment.

LncRNA ASMTL-AS1/microRNA-1270 differentiate prognostic groups in gastric cancer and influence cell proliferation, migration and invasion

The objective of this study was to determine the expression levels of ASMTL-AS1 and miR-1270 in gastric cancer, and to explore whether ASMTL-AS1 and miR-1270 is associated with cancer prognosis and progression or not. ASMTL-AS1 and miR-1270 expression were quantified in gastric cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues (n = 167) and cell lines. The potential of ASMTL-AS1 and miR-1270 as prognostic biomarkers was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Kaplan-Meier, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The binding between ASMTL-AS1 and miR-1270 was verified by the Luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. Functional roles of ASMTL-AS1/miR-1270 on cells were investigated in HGC-27 and NCI-N87 cells by MTS viability, Transwell migration, and Matrigel invasion assay. ASMTL-AS1 was significantly downregulated while miR-1270 was upregulated in gastric cancer tissues as compared with normal tissue and cell lines. According to the studies, ASMTL-AS1 and miR-1270 were related to unfavorable clinical parameters, such as the advanced TNM stage. Downregulated ASMTL-AS1 and upregulated miR-1270 were associated with reduced 5-year overall survival. Functional studies suggested that ASMTL-AS1 inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of HGC-27 and NCI-N87 cells by regulation of miR-1270. In summary, ASMTL-AS1 and miR-1270 are associated with poor prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. ASMTL-AS1 inhibited gastric cancer progression by regulating miR-1270. Therefore, ASMTL-AS1/miR-1270 may be a potential prognostic biomarker and novel strategy for gastric cancer targeted therapy.

The long non-coding RNA ASMTL-AS1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by sponging miR-1343-3p that suppresses LAMC1 (laminin subunit gamma 1)

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are critical regulators of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) carcinogenesis and development. We aimed to identify the function of the lncRNA ASMTL-AS1 during HCC malignancy. The expression of ASMTL-AS1, miR-1343-3p, and LAMC1 (laminin subunit gamma 1) was assessed in HCC tissues and cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and Transwell migration assays were performed to determine the effect of ASMTL-AS1 on HCC cell proliferation and migration. Cell apoptosis was identified by detecting Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression using Western blotting, and a xenograft assay was performed to investigate tumor growth in vivo. The interplay between miR-1343-3p and ASMTL-AS1 or LAMC1 was verified through luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. ASMTL-AS1 and LAMC1 were highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells, whereas miR-1343-3p showed low expression. Clinically, miR-1343-3p expression in HCC tissues showed a negative correlation with ASMTL-AS1 or LAMC1 expression. Functional assays demonstrated that ASMTL-AS1 silencing suppressed HCC cell proliferation and migration and increased cell apoptosis. More interestingly, ASMTL-AS1 sponged miR-1343-3p and miR-1343-3p to target the 3'-UTR of LAMC1, thereby interfering with the malignant behavior of HCC cells. In conclusion, ASMTL-AS1 acts as a carcinogen in HCC through competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) activity in the miR-1343-3p/LAMC1 axis. Our findings demonstrate that regulating ASMTL-AS1/miR-1343-3p/LAMC1-mediated HCC cell malignancy might be an effective method to interfere with HCC progression.

Long non-coding RNA ASMTL-AS1 deteriorates the oncogenicity of osteosarcoma by decoying microRNA-342-3p and consequently raising ADAM9 expression

BACKGROUND

Till now, little is known regarding expression pattern and specific roles of lncRNA ASMTL antisense RNA 1 (ASMTL-AS1) in osteosarcoma (OS). Therefore, our current research measured the expression of ASMTL-AS1 in OS, unveiled the roles of ASMTL-AS1 in the modulation of malignant characteristics of OS, and identified the downstream mechanism.

METHODS

The regulatory actions of ASMTL-AS1 ablation in OS cells were explored utilizing loss-of-function experiments. Mechanistic studies were implemented utilizing bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation and rescue experiments.

RESULTS

ASMTL-AS1 expression in OS was elevated in both TCGA database and our own cohort. Interfering with ASMTL-AS1 restricted cell proliferation, migration and invasion while increasing cell apoptosis in vitro. Additionally, silencing ASMTL-AS1 blocked tumour growth in vivo. Mechanistically, ASMTL-AS1 could act as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA-342-3p (miR-342-3p) and inhibit its activity in OS cells, consequently causing an increase in ADAM metallopeptidase domain 9 (ADAM9) levels. Furthermore, inhibiting miR-342-3p or upregulating ADAM9 abated silenced ASMTL-AS1-induced antitumour activity in OS cells.

CONCLUSION

ASMTL-AS1 aggravated OS progression by regulating the miR-342-3p/ADAM9 axis.

Identification of circulating biomarkers for differentiating patients with papillary thyroid cancers from benign thyroid tumors

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to identify the potential circulating biomarkers of protein, mRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to differentiate the papillary thyroid cancers from benign thyroid tumors.

METHODS

The study population of 100 patients was classified into identification (10 patients with papillary thyroid cancers and 10 patients with benign thyroid tumors) and validation groups (45 patients with papillary thyroid cancers and 35 patients with benign thyroid tumors). The Sengenics Immunome Protein Array-combined data mining approach using the Open Targets Platform was used to identify the putative protein biomarkers, and their expression validated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Next-generation sequencing by Illumina HiSeq was used for the detection of dysregulated mRNAs and lncRNAs. The website Timer v2.0 helped identify the putative mRNA biomarkers, which were significantly over-expressed in papillary thyroid cancers than in adjacent normal thyroid tissue. The mRNA and lncRNA biomarker expression was validated by a real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Although putative protein and mRNA biomarkers have been identified, their serum expression could not be confirmed in the validation cohorts. In addition, seven lncRNAs (TCONS_00516490, TCONS_00336559, TCONS_00311568, TCONS_00321917, TCONS_00336522, TCONS_00282483, and TCONS_00494326) were identified and validated as significantly downregulated in patients with papillary thyroid cancers compared to those with benign thyroid tumors. These seven lncRNAs showed moderate accuracy based on the area under the curve (AUC = 0.736) of receiver operating characteristic in predicting the occurrence of papillary thyroid cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified seven downregulated circulating lncRNAs with the potential for predicting the occurrence of papillary thyroid cancers.

ASMTL-AS1 impedes the malignant progression of lung adenocarcinoma by regulating SAT1 to promote ferroptosis

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is difficult to cureradically. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in LUAD are a hotspot in molecular research, however, the role of lncRNA ASMTL-AS1 in LUAD is still unknown. Our study explores the role and mechanisms of ASMTL-AS1 in LUAD. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR or western blot was utilized to analyze the expression of RNAs or proteins. The influences of ASMTL-AS1 and SAT1 on LUAD cells were analyzed by functional assays. Biological instruments were applied to observe ferroptosis-related markers. In vivo assays were performed to uncover the impact of ASMTL-AS1 on LUAD. Moreover, mechanism assays were done to confirm the relationship among ASMTL-AS1, SAT1 and U2AF2. Results showed that ASMTL-AS1 was down-regulated in LUAD cells and ASMTL-AS1 up-regulation resulted in retarded LUAD cell and xenograft tumor growth along with stimulated ferroptosis. ASMTL-AS1 recruited U2AF2 to stabilize SAT1 mRNA. Furthermore, SAT1 exerted a cancer suppressor role in LUAD cells. In conclusion, we first demonstrated that ASMTL-AS1 positively regulated SAT1 to promote ferroptosis and could stabilize SAT1 mRNA via recruiting U2AF2, shedding a light on a novel molecular mechanism in LUAD progression.

Long non-coding RNA AFAP1-AS1 promotes thyroid cancer progression by sponging miR-204-3p and upregulating DUSP4

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) actin filament-associated protein 1-antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1-AS1), shows crucial regulatory function in tumor progression. Nonetheless, the biological function and underlying mechanism of AFAP1-AS1 in the progression of thyroid cancer is still unclear. Expressions of AFAP1-AS1, miR-204-3p, and DUSP4 were quantified utilizing qRT-PCR and/or Western blot. In loss-of-function and gain-of-function assays, cell proliferation, migration and invasion were appraised by CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay, Transwell migration and invasion assays, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay was employed for validating the interaction between miR-204-3p and AFAP1-AS1 or the 3'UTR of dual specificity phosphatase 4 (DUSP4). AFAP1-AS1 was highly expressed in thyroid cancer tissues and cell lines. Highly expressed AFAP1-AS1 was in association with advanced TNM stage and positive lymph node metastasis. Knockdown of AFAP1-AS1 suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of thyroid cancer cells, and overexpression of AFAP1-AS1 induced a reversed effect. MiR-204-3p was targetedly repressed by AFAP1-AS1, and miR-204-3p could negatively regulate DUSP4 expression. AFAP1-AS1 augmented the expression of DUSP4 via repressing miR-204-3p, and the effects of AFAP1-AS1 overexpression on thyroid cancer cells were also partly abolished by miR-204-3p restoration. In summary, AFAP1-AS1 facilitates thyroid cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by regulating miR-204-3p/DUSP4 axis.

Genetic predisposition of SNPs in miRNA-149 (rs2292832) and FOXE1 (rs3758249) in thyroid Cancer

BACKGROUND

Many efforts have been made in recent years to investigate the alterations in protein-coding genes as well as non-coding RNAs that are playing an emerging role in the development and progression of cancers. These miRNAs are short non-coding functional RNAs that are involved in the regulation of transcriptome. In different studies, it was found that human miRNA-149 is an important microRNA that is functioning either as onco-miRNAs or acting as tumor suppressors, in different conditions.

RATIONALE

Many of the miRNAs are regulating different SNPs of FOXE1 in different studies which are causing low-to-moderate penetrance of genes that initiates the development of thyroid cancer. The involvement of SNPs in miRNA-149 gene rs2292832 and FOXE1 rs3758249 with PTC for better disease prognosis and management was determined in this study and the relation between these SNPs at the genotypic level was also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PTC patients with age and gender-matched controls were recruited in the present study. Blood samples were collected in EDTA vacutainer followed by DNA extraction by the organic method. Genotyping of rs2292832 and rs3758249 was done by ARMS-PCR and PCR- RFLP respectively. Statistical analyses were carried out by using SPSS software (version 20).

RESULTS

The mutation T>C in miRNA-149 rs2292832 was significantly associated with thyroid cancer (p-value 0.0004, < 0.05) while rs3758249 G>C did not show significant association with the disease (p-value 0.124244, > 0.05). Moreover, no correlation of rs2292832 at the genotype level was observed with rs3758249.

CONCLUSIONS

miRNA-149 gene SNP rs2292832 was observed in strong association with thyroid cancer. Lack of genetic association of rs3758249 of FOXE1 gene has been ruled for the disease. The statistically significant association of rs2292832 with thyroid cancer depicts its mechanistic involvement at the cellular level in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

miR-4443 targets TRIM14 to suppress metastasis and energy metabolism of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in vitro

Tripartite motif-containing protein 14 (TRIM14) is a tumor-promoter in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We found that miR-4443 expression was significantly downregulated in PTC tumor tissue, and was negatively associated with TRIM14. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between miR-4443 and TRIM14 on metastasis and energy metabolism in PTC and the underlying mechanisms. To this end, human PTC cells (SW1736 and MZ-CRC-1) were transfected with a miR-4443 mimic or miR-4443 inhibitor + siRNA-TRIM14, and then dual-luciferase assay, Transwell, Seahorse, and western blot analyses were performed to assess the function of miR-4443 and the underlying mechanism. We found that ectopic expression of miR-4443 inhibited PTC cell migration, invasion, ATP production, and aerobic glycolysis, while inhibition of miR-4443 had the opposite effect. miR-4443 directly targeted TRIM14 and reduced both TRIM14 mRNA and protein levels. Silencing TRIM14 significantly reversed miR-4443 inhibition-induced PTC cell migration, invasion, ATP production, aerobic glycolysis, and phosphorylation of the transcription factor STAT3. These findings suggest that miR-4443 is a tumor suppressor in PTC and inhibits metastasis and energy metabolism via the suppression of TRIM14 signaling.

LINC00894 Enhances the Progression of Breast Cancer by Sponging miR-429 to Regulate ZEB1 Expression

PURPOSE

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to regulate tumorigenesis. Although breast cancer tissues show a high expression of LINC00894, its specific biological role in breast cancer progression is still unknown. In this study, lncRNA microarray was used to analyze the lncRNA expression in breast cancer tissues, and LINC00894 was selected for further analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Expression of LINC00894 in 45 pairs of breast cancer tissues and normal tissues obtained from patients with breast cancer was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, while proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells were assessed using a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), EdU assay, colony formation experiment, and transwell assays. A dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and bioinformatics analysis were employed to detect potential targets of LINC00894. Additionally, RNA Binding Protein Immunoprecipitation (RIP) and Western blot assays were utilized to clarify its interaction and roles in the regulation of breast cancer progression.

RESULTS

High expression of LINC00894 was observed in breast cancer cells, and its overexpression significantly expedited cell proliferation and invasion. Moreover, LINC00894 positively regulated the expression of ZEB1 by competitively binding to miR-429.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, these results suggest that LINC00894 competitively binds to miR-429 to mediate ZEB1 expression; consequently, it is implicated to play a role in the progression of breast cancer.

A novel tumor suppressor ASMTL-AS1 regulates the miR-1228-3p/SOX17/β-catenin axis in triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a special type of breast cancer that lacks effective therapeutic targets. There is a significant need to clarify its pathogenesis, so as to bring new targeted approaches for TNBC management. Here, we identified a long-non coding RNA (lncRNA) ASMTL-AS1 that linked to TNBC development and progression.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot assays were used to test gene and protein levels, respectively. The regulatory axis of miR-1228-3p/SOX17/β-catenin was determined by luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. In vivo assay was conducted by using the nude mice model via subcutaneous transplantation of tumor cells.

RESULTS

ASMTL-AS1 was significantly downregulated in TNBC tissues compared to normal tissues, which was closely associated with aggressive clinical features and unfavorable prognosis. Lentivirus-mediated ASMTL-AS1 overexpression evidently reduced the ability of TNBC cell colony formation, activity and invasion by more than 2.5 times. RNA pull-down and luciferase reporter assays revealed that miR-1228-3p directly bound to ASMTL-AS1, ASMTL-AS1 increased SOX17 expression via sponging and repressing miR-1228-3p. Subsequently, the upregulated SOX17 trans-suppressed β-catenin expression, resulting in the inactivation of carcinogenic Wnt/β-catenin signaling, thereby restraining TNBC cell growth and dissemination. Importantly, the xenograft tumor model showed that the ASMTL-AS1 overexpression significantly retarded tumor growth, and negatively regulated Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data characterize a novel tumor suppressor in TNBC, restoration of ASMTL-AS1 may be a candidate therapeutic intervention for TNBC patients.

ZFPM2-AS1 transcriptionally mediated by STAT1 regulates thyroid cancer cell growth, migration and invasion via miR-515-5p/TUSC3

Objective: Our purpose was to study the roles and molecular mechanisms of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ZFPM2 Antisense RNA 1 (ZFPM2-AS1) in thyroid cancer.

Methods: Firstly, the expression of ZFPM2-AS1, miR-515-5p and TUSC3 was detected in thyroid cancer tissues and cells. Secondary, their biological functions (proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion) were analyzed by a serious of functional experiments including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), clone formation, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), wound healing and Transwell assays. Thirdly, the mechanisms of STAT1/ZFPM2-AS1 and ZFPM2-AS1/miR-515-5p/TUSC were validated using chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP), pull-down and luciferase reporter assays.

Results: ZFPM2-AS1 and TUSC were both highly expressed and miR-515-5p was down-regulated in thyroid cancer tissues as well as cells. Their knockdown weakened thyroid cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion. ZFPM2-AS1 was mainly distributed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of thyroid cancer cells. Mechanistically, up-regulation of ZFPM2-AS1 was induced by transcription factor STAT1 in line with CHIP and luciferase reporter assays. Furthermore, as a sponge of miR-515-5p, ZFPM2-AS1 decreased the ability of miR-515-5p to inhibit TUSC3 expression by pull-down, luciferase reporter and gain-and-loss assays, thereby promoting malignant progression of thyroid cancer.

Conclusion: ZFPM2-AS1 acted as an oncogene in thyroid cancer, which was transcriptionally mediated by STAT1. Furthermore, ZFPM2-AS1 weakened the inhibitory effect of miR-515-5p on TUSC3. Thus, ZFPM2-AS1 could be an underlying biomarker for thyroid cancer.

Epigenetic regulation of papillary thyroid carcinoma by long non-coding RNAs

Thyroid cancer is the most common primary endocrine malignancy with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) its most common subtype. The jump in diagnoses over last many years has prompted re-assessment of molecularly targeted therapies and the discovery of novel targets. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly being assessed for their expression in various PTC models. Interestingly, in addition to cell line models, a large proportion of the reported studies have evaluated lncRNA levels in PTC patient samples providing an immediate clinical relevance of their findings. While most lncRNAs either promote or suppress PTC pathogenesis, data on individual lncRNAs is not very clear. As expected, lncRNAs function in PTC through sponging of microRNAs as well as modulation of several signaling pathways. The process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the PI3K/Akt and wnt signaling pathways have emerged as the primary targets of lncRNAs in PTC. This comprehensive review discusses all the information that is available on lncRNAs in PTC, ranging from in vitro and in vivo findings to the possible role of lncRNAs as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers.

Long non-coding RNA signatures as predictors of prognosis in thyroid cancer: a narrative review

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, with high incidence rates in recent decades. Most TC cases have good prognoses, but a high risk of recurrence and metastases poses challenges, especially for patients with high-risk factors. Currently used prognostic markers for TC involve a combination of genetic factors and overexpressed proteins. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate several integral biologic processes by playing key roles in the transcription of several downstream targets maintaining cellular behavior. Prior studies have revealed that lncRNAs promote tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis, making them important targets for therapeutic intervention in cancer. While the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the role of lncRNAs in modulating TC progression and recurrence is still unclear, it is important to note that some lncRNAs are upregulated in certain cancers, while others are downregulated. In the present study, we review several key lncRNAs, their association with cancer progression, and the important roles they may play as tumor suppressors or tumor promoters in tumorigenesis. We discuss the potential mechanisms of lncRNA-mediated pathogenesis that can be targeted for the treatment of TC, the existing and potential benefits of using lncRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic measures for cancer detection, and tumor burden in patients.

Extracellular Matrix-Related Six-lncRNA Signature as a Novel Prognostic Biomarker for Bladder Cancer

Introduction

Bladder cancer (BC) is the fourth-commones cancer and the sixth-leading cause of cancer-related death among men. However, a lack of reliable biomarkers remains a problem forprognosis and treatment of BC. lncRNAs have been shown to play important roles in various cancers, and have emerged as promising biomarkers for cancer prognosis and treatment.

Methods

In this study, using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, we examined the differential expression profiles of 1,651 lncRNAs in the TCGA BLCA cohort and created a prognostic gene signature composed of six lncRNAs (for SNHG12, MAFG-DT, ASMTL-AS1, LINC02321, LINC01322, and LINC00922), designed the SMALLL signature.

Results

The SMALLL signature displayed significant prognostic power for overall survival for BC patients in multiple cohorts. Gene Ontology analysis showed that genes coexpressed with the SMALLL signature were associated with the extracellular matrix network, and immune cell–infiltration analysis showed that activated naïve B cells, regulatory T cells, M0 macrophages, eosinophils, resting memory CD4 T cells and resting NK cells were significantly different in high- and low-risk groups. We also confirmed differential expression of the lncRNAs of the SMALLL signature in BC tissue and paracancer normal tissue by qRT-PCR analysis. Cell-invasion and -migration experiments showed that MAFG-AS1, ASMTL-AS1, LINC02321, and LINC00922 significantly affected cell invasion and migration.

Conclusion

Our study revealed that the lncRNA signature is an important predictive factor of prognosis and provides a promising biomarker for BC.

Long non-coding RNA SNHG15 in various cancers: a meta and bioinformatic analysis

Background

The snoRNA host gene SNHG15 produces a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) with a short half-life and has been reported to be dysregulated in multiple cancers and has recently been found to be correlated with tumour progression. Therefore, this meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the generalised prognostic role of small nucleolar RNA host gene 15 (SNHG15) in malignancies, based on variable data from different studies.

Methods

Four public databases were used to identify eligible studies. The association between prognostic indicators and clinical features was extracted and pooled to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Publication bias was measured using Begg’s test and Egger’s test, and the stability of pooled results were measured using sensitivity analysis. Additionally, an online database based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was screened to further validate our results. Ultimately, we predicted the molecular regulation of SNHG15 based on the public databases.

Results

In total, 11 studies including 1087 patients were ultimately enrolled in our meta-analysis. We found that SNHG15 overexpression was associated with worse overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), and this was validated in the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) cohort. Moreover, increased SNHG15 expression suggested advanced TNM stage and LNM, but was not associated with age, gender, or tumour size. No publication bias or instability of the results was observed. SNHG15 was significantly upregulated in seven cancers and elevated expression of SNHG15 indicated shorter OS and DFS in five malignancies based on the validation using the GEPIA cohort. Further functional prediction indicated that SNHG15 may participate in some cancer-related pathways.

Conclusions

Upregulation of lncRNA SNHG15 was notably associated with worse prognosis and clinical features, suggesting that SNHG15 might serve as a novel prognostic factor in various cancers.

The DLG1-AS1/miR-497/YAP1 axis regulates papillary thyroid cancer progression

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), DLG1-AS1, is upregulated in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) tissues and cell lines. Here, we found that increased expression of DLG1-AS1 caused lymph node metastasis and advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. DLG1-AS1 knockdown inhibited proliferation, invasion, and migration of PTC cells, and impaired tumorigenesis in vivo in mouse xenografts. DLG1-AS1 functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-497. Further investigation revealed that DLG1-AS1 regulated yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1; a known target of miR-497) by competitively binding to miR-497. Moreover, inhibition of miR-497 abrogated the inhibitory effects of DLG1-AS1 depletion on PTC cells. These findings demonstrate that the DLG1-AS1-miR-497-YAP1 axis promotes the growth and metastasis of PTC by forming a ceRNA network.

MicroRNA in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Systematic Review from 2018 to June 2020

Simple Summary

The most common form of endocrine cancer - papillary thyroid carcinoma, has an increasing incidence. Although this disease usually has an indolent behavior, there are cases when it can evolve more aggressively. It has been known for some time that it is possible to use microRNAs for the diagnosis, prognosis and even treatment monitoring of papillary thyroid cancer. The purpose of this study is to summarize the latest information provided by publications regarding the involvement of microRNAs in papillary thyroid cancer, underling the new clinical perspectives offered by these publications.

Abstract

The involvement of micro-ribonucleic acid (microRNAs) in metabolic pathways such as regulation, signal transduction, cell maintenance, and differentiation make them possible biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The purpose of this review is to summarize the information published in the last two and a half years about the involvement of microRNAs in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Another goal is to understand the perspective offered by the new findings. Main microRNA features such as origin, regulation, targeted genes, and metabolic pathways will be presented in this paper. We interrogated the PubMed database using several keywords: “microRNA” + “thyroid” + “papillary” + “carcinoma”. After applying search filters and inclusion criteria, a selection of 137 articles published between January 2018–June 2020 was made. Data regarding microRNA, metabolic pathways, gene/protein, and study utility were selected and included in the table and later discussed regarding the matter at hand. We found that most microRNAs regularly expressed in the normal thyroid gland are downregulated in PTC, indicating an important tumor-suppressor action by those microRNAs. Moreover, we showed that one gene can be targeted by several microRNAs and have nominally described these interactions. We have revealed which microRNAs can target several genes at once.

Regulation of Glycolysis by Non-coding RNAs in Cancer: Switching on the Warburg Effect

The “Warburg effect” describes the reprogramming of glucose metabolism away from oxidative phosphorylation toward aerobic glycolysis, and it is one of the hallmarks of cancer cells. Several factors can be involved in this process, but in this review, the roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are highlighted in several types of human cancer. ncRNAs, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, can all affect metabolic enzymes and transcription factors to promote glycolysis and modulate glucose metabolism to enhance the progression of tumors. In particular, the 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways are associated with alterations in ncRNAs. A better understanding of the roles of ncRNAs in the Warburg effect could ultimately lead to new therapeutic approaches for suppressing cancer.

Long Non-Coding RNA LINC01089 Enhances the Development of Gastric Cancer by Sponging miR-145-5p to Mediate SOX9 Expression

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have potential regulatory effects in oncogenesis. Previous studies showed that several lncRNAs could participate in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). However, the specific biological mechanisms in GC are still unclear. We analyzed an lncRNA microarray of GC and selected LINC01089 for study.

METHODS

LINC01089 expression in GC was tested by qRT-PCR. GC cell proliferation was assessed using CCK-8 and EdU assays. Cell invasion was assessed using the Transwell assay. A dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and bioinformatics assay were performed to detect potential targets of LINC01089. Additionally, RNA immunoprecipitation and Western blot assays were performed to clarify their interactions and roles in the regulation of GC progression.

RESULTS

High LINC01089 expression was observed in GC cells. LINC01089 overexpression notably expedited cell migration, proliferation, and invasion. LINC01089 positively regulated SOX9 expression by competitively binding to microRNA (miR-145-5p).

CONCLUSION

LINC01089 competitively binds to miR-145-5p to mediate SOX9 expression. LINC01089 may participate in the progression of GC.