Functional roles of lncRNA-TUG1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

LncRNA495810 Promotes Proliferation and Migration of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Interacting with FABP5

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the malignant tumors with high morbidity and mortality. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are frequently dysregulated in human cancers and play an important role in the initiation and progression of HCC. Here, we investigated the expression of a new reported lncRNA495810 in our previous study by analyzing the publicly available datasets and using RT-qPCR assay. The cell proliferation experiment, cell cycle and apoptosis assay, wound healing assay, cell migration assay were used to explore the biological function of lncRNA495810 in HCC. The western blot, RNA pull down and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) detection were used to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms of lncRNA495810. The results demonstrated that lncRNA495810 was significantly upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and associated with poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Moreover, it proved that lncRNA495810 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of hepatoma cells by directly binding and upregulating the expression of fatty acid-binding protein 5. These results reveal the oncogenic roles of lncRNA495810 in HCC and provide a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

lncRNA PAARH impacts liver cancer cell proliferation by engaging miR‑6512‑3p to target LASP1

Long non-coding (lnc)RNAs serve a pivotal role as regulatory factors in carcinogenesis. The present study aimed to assess the involvement of the lncRNA progression and angiogenesis-associated RNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (PAARH) in liver cancer, along with the associated underlying mechanism. Through the use of reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q)PCR, differences in the expression levels of PAARH in HepG2, HEP3B2.1.7, HCCLM3, Huh-7 and MHCC97-H liver cancer cell lines and THLE-2 epithelial cell lines were evaluated. The liver cancer cell line with the greatest, significantly different, level of expression relative to the normal liver cell line was selected for subsequent experiments. Using ENCORI database, the putative target genes of the microRNA (miR) miR-6512-3p were predicted. Cells were then transfected with lentiviruses carrying short-hairpin-PAARH to interfere with PAARH expression. Subsequently, HepG2 liver cancer cells were transfected with a miR-6512-3p mimic and an inhibitor, and the expression levels of miR-6512-3p and the LIM and SH3 domain protein 1 (LASP1) in cells were assessed using RT-qPCR analysis. Cell proliferation was subsequently evaluated using colony formation assays, and immunofluorescence and western blotting were used to assess the expression level of LASP1 in transfected cells. The binding interaction between miR-6512-3p and LASP1 was further evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Liver cancer cells were found to exhibit higher expression levels of PAARH compared with normal liver cells. Following PAARH interference, the expression level of miR-6512-3p was significantly increased, whereas that of LASP1 was significantly decreased, resulting in a reduction in cell proliferation. In liver cancer cells, miR-6512-3p overexpression led to a significant reduction in the LASP1 level and reduced proliferation, whereas suppressing miR-6512-3p led to a significant increase in LASP1 levels and increased proliferation. Additionally, the inhibition of miR-6512-3p caused the states of low LASP1 expression and reduced cell proliferation to be reversed. LASP1, a recently identified target gene of miR-6512-3p, was demonstrated to be suppressed by miR-6512-3p overexpression, thereby inhibiting liver cancer cell proliferation. Taken together, the findings of the present study demonstrate that the lncRNA PAARH may enhance liver cancer cell proliferation by engaging miR-6512-3p to target LASP1.

LncRNA taurine upregulated gene 1 in liver disease

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA sequences exceeding 200 nucleotides in length that lack protein-coding capacity and participate in diverse biological processes in the human body, particularly exerting a pivotal role in disease surveillance, diagnosis, and progression. Taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) is a versatile lncRNA, and recent studies have revealed that the aberrant expression or function of TUG1 is intricately linked to the pathogenesis of liver diseases. Consequently, we have summarized the current understanding of the mechanism of TUG1 in liver diseases such as liver fibrosis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, liver injury, hepatitis, and liver cancer. Moreover, mounting evidence suggests that interventions targeting TUG1 or its downstream pathways may hold therapeutic promise for liver diseases. This review elucidates the characteristics, mechanisms, and targets of TUG1 in liver diseases, offering a theoretical basis for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic biomarkers of liver diseases.

The Mechanisms of Long Non-coding RNA-XIST in Ischemic Stroke: Insights into Functional Roles and Therapeutic Potential

Ischemic stroke, which occurs due to the occlusion of cerebral arteries, is a common type of stroke. Recent research has highlighted the important role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the development of cerebrovascular diseases, specifically ischemic stroke. Understanding the functional roles of lncRNAs in ischemic stroke is crucial, given their potential contribution to the disease pathology. One noteworthy lncRNA is X-inactive specific transcript (XIST), which exhibits downregulation during the early stages of ischemic stroke and subsequent upregulation in later stages. XIST exert its influence on the development of ischemic stroke through interactions with multiple miRNAs and transcription factors. These interactions play a significant role in the pathogenesis of the condition. In this review, we have provided a comprehensive summary of the functional roles of XIST in ischemic stroke. By investigating the involvement of XIST in the disease process, we aim to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying ischemic stroke and potentially identify novel therapeutic targets.

Conceptual breakthroughs of the long noncoding RNA functional system and its endogenous regulatory role in the cancerous regime

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) derived from noncoding regions in the human genome were once regarded as junks with no biological significance, but recent studies have shown that these molecules are highly functional, prompting an explosion of studies on their biology. However, these recent efforts have only begun to recognize the biological significance of a small fraction (< 1%) of the lncRNAs. The basic concept of these lncRNA functions remains controversial. This controversy arises primarily from conventional biased observations based on limited datasets. Fortunately, emerging big data provides a promising path to circumvent conventional bias to understand an unbiased big picture of lncRNA biology and advance the fundamental principles of lncRNA biology. This review focuses on big data studies that break through the critical concepts of the lncRNA functional system and its endogenous regulatory roles in all cancers. lncRNAs have unique functional systems distinct from proteins, such as transcriptional initiation and regulation, and they abundantly interact with mitochondria and consume less energy. lncRNAs, rather than proteins as traditionally thought, function as the most critical endogenous regulators of all cancers. lncRNAs regulate the cancer regulatory regime by governing the endogenous regulatory network of all cancers. This is accomplished by dominating the regulatory network module and serving as a key hub and top inducer. These critical conceptual breakthroughs lay a blueprint for a comprehensive functional picture of the human genome. They also lay a blueprint for combating human diseases that are regulated by lncRNAs.

Differential expressions and potential clinical values of lncRNAs in the plasma exosomes of rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease with unclear pathogenesis. Progress in its clinical diagnosis and treatment mainly depends on the elucidation of its pathogenesis and the exploration of new biomarkers. Exosomes contain various biomolecules, including long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs). lncRNAs may participate in the regulation of autoimmune and inflammatory processes during RA pathogenesis by transmitting these biomolecules via exosomes among different cells. Therefore, the investigation of lncRNAs in RA exosomes may be a feasible pathway to elucidate RA pathogenesis, identify new diagnostic biomarkers, and identify potential therapeutic targets.

METHODS

In the first phase of exosomal non-coding RNAs screening, exosomes were isolated from the peripheral blood of six patients with RA and healthy controls (HC). High-throughput RNA sequencing was performed to obtain lncRNA expression profiles, and 15 lncRNAs with the highest differential expression were selected as candidate lncRNAs. In the second phase of validation using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), differential expression of the 15 candidate lncRNAs was verified in 42 patients with RA and their matched HC. Their potential value as RA diagnostic biomarkers was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Their relationships with common clinical indices of RA were explored using Spearman's rank correlation and linear regression analyses.

RESULT

Compared to HC, patients with RA had 206 upregulated and 2,332 downregulated lncRNAs. Fifteen candidate lncRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR, of which 12 (SNHG6, RPS18P9, RPL21P28, EBLN3P, FAM153CP, RPL23P8, SNHG31, NORAD, H3P6, DLEU2, TUG1, and OIP5-AS1) were upregulated, and three (CXXC4-AS1, OLMALINC, and NPHP3-AS1) were downregulated. In the ROC analysis of the 15 candidate lncRNAs, the area under the curve (AUC) ranged from 0.847 (0.767, 0.927) for OLMALINC to 0.994 (0.984, 1.000) for CXXC4-AS1. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and disease activity score of 28 (DAS28) were correlated with seven, six, and five lncRNAs, respectively. Further linear regression analysis revealed a negative relationship between exosomal SNHG6 and ESR (B = -0.384, P = 0.006), and a positive relationship between SNHG31 and ESR (B = 0.381, P = 0.007). Exosomal SNHG6 also showed a negative relationship with CRP (B = -0.361, P = 0.019). Moreover, exosomal RPS18P9 and SNGH31 had a negative effect and a positive effect on DAS28, respectively (B = -0.463, P < 0.001; B = 0.586, P < 0.001), implying novel exosomal lncRNAs were the independent influencing factors of the main RA-related clinical indices.

CONCLUSIONS

lncRNAs in RA plasma exosomes have characteristic expression profiles, including some lncRNAs with potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for RA.

The role of competing endogenous RNA network in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma: potential therapeutic targets

The current situation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management is challenging due to its high incidence, mortality, recurrence and metastasis. Recent advances in gene genetic and expression regulation have unveiled the significant role of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) in various cancers. This led to the formulation of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis, which posits that both coding RNA and ncRNA, containing miRNA response elements (MRE), can share the same miRNA sequence. This results in a competitive network between ncRNAs, such as lncRNA and mRNA, allowing them to regulate each other. Extensive research has highlighted the crucial role of the ceRNA network in HCC development, impacting various cellular processes including proliferation, metastasis, cell death, angiogenesis, tumor microenvironment, organismal immunity, and chemotherapy resistance. Additionally, the ceRNA network, mediated by lncRNA or circRNA, offers potential in early diagnosis and prevention of HCC. Consequently, ceRNAs are emerging as therapeutic targets for HCC. The complexity of these gene networks aligns with the multi-target approach of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), presenting a novel perspective for TCM in combating HCC. Research is beginning to show that TCM compounds and prescriptions can affect HCC progression through the ceRNA network, inhibiting proliferation and metastasis, and inducing apoptosis. Currently, the lncRNAs TUG1, NEAT1, and CCAT1, along with their associated ceRNA networks, are among the most promising ncRNAs for HCC research. However, this field is still in its infancy, necessitating advanced technology and extensive basic research to fully understand the ceRNA network mechanisms of TCM in HCC treatment.

The oncogenic role of SAMMSON lncRNA in tumorigenesis: A comprehensive review with especial focus on melanoma

LncRNA Survival Associated Mitochondrial Melanoma Specific Oncogenic Non-coding RNA (SAMMSON) is located on human chromosome 3p13, and its expression is upregulated in several tumours, including melanoma, breast cancer, glioblastoma and liver cancer and has an oncogenic role in malignancy disorders. It has been reported that SAMMSON impacts metabolic regulation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, EMT, drug resistance, invasion and migration. Also, SAMMSON is involved in regulating several pathways such as Wnt, MAPK, PI3K, Akt, ERK and p53. SAMMSON is considered a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in several types of cancer and a suitable therapeutic target. In addition, the highly expressed SAMMSON is closely associated with clinicopathological features of various cancers. SAMMSON has a significant role in regulating epigenetic processes by regulating histone protein or the status of DNA methylation. Herein for the first time, we comprehensively summarized the currently available SAMMSON, molecular regulatory pathways, and clinical significance. We believe that clarifying all the molecular aspects of this lncRNA can be a good guide for cancer studies in the future.

lncRNA TUG1 as potential novel biomarker for prognosis of cardiovascular diseases

Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the leading causes of death. In light of the high prevalence and mortality of CVDs, it is imperative to understand the molecules involved in CVD pathogenesis and the signaling pathways that they initiate. This may facilitate the development of more precise and expedient diagnostic techniques, the identification of more effective prognostic molecules and the identification of potential therapeutic targets. Numerous studies have examined the role of lncRNAs, such as TUG1, in CVD pathogenesis in recent years. According to this review article, TUG1 can be considered a biomarker for predicting the prognosis of CVD.

The role of microRNAs in the pathophysiology of human central nervous system: A focus on neurodegenerative diseases

microRNAs (miRNAs) are suggested to play substantial roles in regulating the development and various physiologic functions of the central nervous system (CNS). These include neurogenesis, cell fate and differentiation, morphogenesis, formation of dendrites, and targeting non-neural mRNAs. Notably, deregulation of an increasing number of miRNAs is associated with several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and CNS tumors. They are particularly known to affect the amyloid β (Aβ) cleavage and accumulation, tau protein homeostasis, and expression of alpha-synuclein (α-syn), Parkin, PINK1, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. These include miR-16, miR-17-5p, miR-20a, miR-106a, miR-106b, miR-15a, miR-15b, miR-103, miR-107, miR-298, miR-328, miR-195, miR-485, and miR-29. In CNS tumors, several miRNAs, including miR-31, miR-16, and miR-21 have been identified to modulate tumorigenesis through impacting tumor invasion and apoptosis. In this review article, we have a look at the recent advances on our knowledge about the role of miRNAs in human brain development and functions, neurodegenerative diseases, and their clinical potentials.

microRNA-184 in the landscape of human malignancies: a review to roles and clinical significance

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with a short length of 19-22 nucleotides. miRNAs are posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression involved in various biological processes like cell growth, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. miR-184 is a well-studied miRNA, for which most studies report its downregulation in cancer cells and tissues and experiments support its role as a tumor suppressor inhibiting malignant biological behaviors of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. To exert its functions, miR-184 affects some signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis like Wnt and β-catenin, and AKT/mTORC1 pathway, oncogenic factors (e.g., c-Myc) or apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl-2. Interestingly, clinical investigations have shown miR-184 with good performance as a prognostic/diagnostic biomarker for various cancers. Additionally, exogenous miR-184 in cell and xenograft animal studies suggest it as a therapeutic anticancer target. In this review, we outline the studies that evaluated the roles of miR-184 in tumorigenesis as well as its clinical significance.

Combating drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma: No awareness today, no action tomorrow

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the sixth most common cancer worldwide, is associated with a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. Patients with early HCC may benefit from surgical resection to remove tumor tissue and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it. Unfortunately, most patients with HCC are diagnosed at an advanced or distant stage, at which point resection is not feasible. Systemic therapy is now routinely prescribed to patients with advanced HCC; however, drug resistance has become a major obstacle to the treatment of HCC and exploring purported mechanisms promoting drug resistance remains a challenge. Here, we focus on the determinants of drug resistance from the perspective of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs), autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), exosomes, ferroptosis, and the tumor microenvironment (TME), with the aim to provide new insights into HCC treatment.

Emerging roles of long non-coding RNA FTX in human disorders

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved the progression of cancerous and non-cancerous disorders via different mechanism. FTX (five prime to xist) is an evolutionarily conserved lncRNA that is located upstream of XIST and regulates its expression. FTX participates in progression of various malignancy including gastric cancer, glioma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and retinoblastoma. Also, FTX can be involved in the pathogenesis of non-cancerous disorders such as endometriosis and stroke. FTX acts as competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) and via sponging various miRNAs, including miR-186, miR-200a-3p, miR-215-3p, and miR-153-3p to regulate the expression of their downstream target. FTX by targeting various signaling pathways including Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, SOX4, PDK1/PKB/GSK-3β, TGF-β1, FOXA2, and PPARγ regulate molecular mechanism involved in various disorders. Dysregulation of FTX is associated with an increased risk of various disorders. Therefore, FTX and its downstream targets may be suitable biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of human malignancies. In this review, we summarized the emerging roles of FTX in human cancerous and non-cancerous cells.

N6-Methyladenosine-Modified ATP8B1-AS1 Exerts Oncogenic Roles in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Epigenetically Activating MYC

Purpose

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification has shown critical roles in regulating mRNA fate. Non-coding RNAs also have important roles in various diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the potential influences of m6A modification on non-coding RNAs are still unclear. In this study, we identified a novel m6A-modified ATP8B1-AS1 and aimed to investigate the effects of m6A on the expression and role of ATP8B1-AS1 in HCC.

Methods

qPCR was performed to measure the expression of related genes. The correlation between gene expression and prognosis was analyzed using public database. m6A modification level was measured using MeRIP and single-base elongation- and ligation-based qPCR amplification method. The roles of ATP8B1-AS1 in HCC were investigated using in vitro and in vivo functional assays. The mechanisms underlying the roles of ATP8B1-AS1 were investigated by ChIRP and ChIP assays.

Results

ATP8B1-AS1 is highly expressed in HCC tissues and cell lines. High expression of ATP8B1-AS1 is correlated with poor overall survival of HCC patients. ATP8B1-AS1 is m6A modified and the 792 site of ATP8B1-AS1 is identified as an m6A modification site. m6A modification increases the stability of ATP8B1-AS1 transcript. m6A modification level of ATP8B1-AS1 is increased in HCC tissues and cell lines, and correlated with poor overall survival of HCC patients. ATP8B1-AS1 promotes HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which were abolished by the mutation of m6A-modified 792 site. Mechanistic investigation revealed that m6A-modified ATP8B1-AS1 interacts with and recruits m6A reader YTHDC1 and histone demethylase KDM3B to MYC promoter region, leading to the reduction of H3K9me2 level at MYC promoter region and activation of MYC transcription. Functional rescue assays showed that depletion of MYC largely abolished the oncogenic roles of ATP8B1-AS1.

Conclusion

m6A modification level of ATP8B1-AS1 is increased and correlated with poor prognosis in HCC. m6A-modified ATP8B1-AS1 exerts oncogenic roles in HCC via epigenetically activating MYC expression.

The role of microRNA-185 in the pathogenesis of human diseases: A focus on cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a widely-studied class of non-coding RNAs characterized by their short length (18-25 nucleotides). The precise functions of miRNAs are not well-elucidated; however, an increasing number of studies suggest their involvement in various physiologic processes and deregulation in pathologic conditions. miRNA-185 (miR-185) is among the mostly-studied miRNAs in human diseases, which is found to play putative roles in conditions like metabolic disorders, asthma, frailty, schizophrenia, and hepatitis. Notably, many cancer studies report the downregulation of miR-185 in cell lines, tumor tissues, and plasma specimens of patients, while it demonstrates a suppressing role on the malignant properties of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, miR-185 can be considered a tumor suppressor miRNA in human malignancies, while a few studies also report inconsistent findings. Being suggested as a prognostic/diagnostic biomarker, mi-185 is also found to offer clinical potentials, particularly for early diagnosis and prediction of the prognosis of cancer patients. In this review, we have outlined the studies that have evaluated the functions and clinical significance of miR-185 in different human diseases with a particular focus on cancer.

A review on the biological roles of LncRNA PTCSC3 in cancerous and non-cancerous disorders

Long non-coding RNA papillary thyroid carcinoma susceptibility candidate 3 (LncRNA PTCSC3) is located on human chromosome 14q13.3. PTCSC3 functions as a tumor suppressor lncRNA to regulate essential cellular processes such as apoptosis, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. PTCSC3 is also involved in the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, aerobic glycolysis, and p53 pathways. Downregulation of PTCSC3 has been associated with an increased risk of many tumors such as thyroid, gastric, laryngeal, breast, cervical, oral, lung, and glioma cancers. In addition, dysregulation of PTCSC3 has been reported in non-cancerous disorders notably osteoporosis and periodontitis. However, a number of single nucleotide polymorphisms at PTCSC3 have been linked to a higher risk of human diseases. This literature review summarizes the diagnostic, prognostic, and the clinical value of abnormal expression of PTCSC3 in cancerous and non-cancerous disorders and comprehensively analyzes potential molecular regulatory mechanism related to PTCSC3, which is expected to provide clear guidance for future PTCSC3 research.

Clinical implications of lncRNA LINC-PINT in cancer

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) possess the potential for therapeutic targeting to treat many disorders, including cancers. Several RNA-based therapeutics (ASOs and small interfering RNAs) have gained FDA approval over the past decade. And with their potent effects, lncRNA-based therapeutics are of emerging significance. One important lncRNA target is LINC-PINT, with its universalized functions and relationship with the famous tumor suppressor gene TP53. Establishing clinical relevance, much like p53, the tumor suppressor activity of LINC-PINT is implicated in cancer progression. Moreover, several molecular targets of LINC-PINT are directly or indirectly used in routine clinical practice. We further associate LINC-PINT with immune responses in colon adenocarcinoma, proposing the potential utility of LINC-PINT as a novel biomarker of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Collectively, current evidence suggests LINC-PINT can be considered for use as a diagnostic/prognostic marker for cancer and several other diseases.