Long Noncoding RNA HCAL Facilitates the Growth and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Acting as a ceRNA of LAPTM4B

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

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

Sex difference in liver diseases: How preclinical models help to dissect the sex-related mechanisms sustaining NAFLD and hepatocellular carcinoma

Only a few preclinical findings are confirmed in the clinic, posing a critical issue for clinical development. Therefore, identifying the best preclinical models can help to dissect molecular and mechanistic insights into liver disease pathogenesis while being clinically relevant. In this context, the sex relevance of most preclinical models has been only partially considered. This is particularly significant in NAFLD and HCC, which have a higher prevalence in men when compared to pre-menopause women but not to those in post-menopausal status, suggesting a role for sex hormones in the pathogenesis of the diseases. This review gathers the sex-relevant findings and the available preclinical models focusing on both in vitro and in vivo studies and discusses the potential implications and perspectives of introducing the sex effect in the selection of the best preclinical model. This is a critical aspect that would help to tailor personalized therapies based on sex.

Noncoding RNA-Mediated High Expression of PFKFB3 Correlates with Poor Prognosis and Tumor Immune Infiltration of Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

There is growing evidence showing that 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase (PFKFB3) plays crucial roles in different types of human cancers, including LUAD; however, the specific mechanism by which PFKFB3 plays a role in LUAD remains unclear.

Methods

We investigated the expression of PFKFB3 and explored the underlying mechanism as well as the correlation with immune markers using several online datasets, such as Tumor Immune Estimate Resource (TIMER), UALCAN, and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases, miRWalk, Targetscan, MiRDB and starBase database. Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis were performed to verify the corresponding outcomes.

Results

It was shown that the mRNA expression of PFKFB3 was lower in LUAD than in the normal tissues, while its protein expression was not consistent with the mRNA level. The expression of PFKFB3 was correlated with clinicopathological parameters and several signaling pathways. The potential long chain (lnc)RNA/microRNA/PFKFB3 axis and the possible mechanism by which tumor progression in LUAD is promoted was predicted. We obtained the LINC01798/LINC02086/AP000845.1/HAGLR-miR-17-5p-PFKFB3 axis after comprehensive analyses of expression, correlation, and survival. Moreover, the expression of PFKFB3 was positively correlated with immune cells and immune checkpoint expression, including PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that noncoding RNAs mediated the upregulation of PFKFB3 and was associated with a poor prognosis and immune tumor infiltration in LUAD.

Systematic Characterization and Regulatory Role of lncRNAs in Asian Honey Bees Responding to Microsporidian Infestation

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are pivotal regulators in gene expression and diverse biological processes, such as immune defense and host-pathogen interactions. However, little is known about the roles of lncRNAs in the response of the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) to microsporidian infestation. Based on our previously obtained high-quality transcriptome datasets from the midgut tissues of Apis cerana cerana workers at 7 days post inoculation (dpi) and 10 dpi with Nosema ceranae (AcT7 and AcT10 groups) and the corresponding un-inoculated midgut tissues (AcCK7 and AcCK10 groups), the transcriptome-wide identification and structural characterization of lncRNAs were conducted, and the differential expression pattern of lncRNAs was then analyzed, followed by investigation of the regulatory roles of differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) in host response. Here, 2365, 2322, 2487, and 1986 lncRNAs were, respectively, identified in the AcCK7, AcT7, AcCK7, and AcT10 groups. After removing redundant ones, a total of 3496 A. c. cerana lncRNAs were identified, which shared similar structural characteristics with those discovered in other animals and plants, such as shorter exons and introns than mRNAs. Additionally, 79 and 73 DElncRNAs were screened from the workers' midguts at 7 dpi and 10 dpi, respectively, indicating the alteration of the overall expression pattern of lncRNAs in host midguts after N. ceranae infestation. These DElncRNAs could, respectively, regulate 87 and 73 upstream and downstream genes, involving a suite of functional terms and pathways, such as metabolic process and Hippo signaling pathway. Additionally, 235 and 209 genes co-expressed with DElncRNAs were found to enrich in 29 and 27 terms, as well as 112 and 123 pathways, such as ABC transporters and the cAMP signaling pathway. Further, it was detected that 79 (73) DElncRNAs in the host midguts at 7 (10) dpi could target 321 (313) DEmiRNAs and further target 3631 (3130) DEmRNAs. TCONS_00024312 and XR_001765805.1 were potential precursors for ame-miR-315 and ame-miR-927, while TCONS_00006120 was the putative precursor for both ame-miR-87-1 and ame-miR-87-2. These results together suggested that DElncRNAs are likely to play regulatory roles in the host response to N. ceranae infestation through the regulation of neighboring genes via a cis-acting effect, modulation of co-expressed mRNAs via trans-acting effect, and control of downstream target genes' expression via competing endogenous RNA networks. Our findings provide a basis for disclosing the mechanism underlying DElncRNA-mediated host N. ceranae response and a new perspective into the interaction between A. c. cerana and N. ceranae.

Function of the Long Noncoding RNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Classification, Molecular Mechanisms, and Significant Therapeutic Potentials

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common and serious type of primary liver cancer. HCC patients have a high death rate and poor prognosis due to the lack of clear signs and inadequate treatment interventions. However, the molecular pathways that underpin HCC pathogenesis remain unclear. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a new type of RNAs, have been found to play important roles in HCC. LncRNAs have the ability to influence gene expression and protein activity. Dysregulation of lncRNAs has been linked to a growing number of liver disorders, including HCC. As a result, improved understanding of lncRNAs could lead to new insights into HCC etiology, as well as new approaches for the early detection and treatment of HCC. The latest results with respect to the role of lncRNAs in controlling multiple pathways of HCC were summarized in this study. The processes by which lncRNAs influence HCC advancement by interacting with chromatin, RNAs, and proteins at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels were examined. This critical review also highlights recent breakthroughs in lncRNA signaling pathways in HCC progression, shedding light on the potential applications of lncRNAs for HCC diagnosis and therapy.

Clinical potential of long non-coding RNA LINC01133 as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in cancers

Recently, long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 01133 (LINC01133) was identified as a novel transcript in cancers. It modulates various hallmarks of cancers and acts as oncogenic in some cancers while tumor-suppressive in others. Furthermore, the expression of LINC01133 correlates with tumor size, advanced tumor node metastasis stage and lymphatic node metastasis, Ki-67 levels and overall survival of patients. Herein, the authors provide an in-depth analysis describing how LINC01133 modulates the multiple cancer-associated signaling pathways and the pathogenesis of various malignancies and treatment regimens. Based on the role played by LINC01133, the authors propose LINC01133 as both a potential biomarker and a therapeutic target in cancer.

Long noncoding RNA Gas5 induces cell apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth via activating the CHOP-dependent endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway in human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells

In recent years, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to be important tumor-associated regulatory factors. LncRNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (Gas5) acts as an anti-oncogene in most cancers. Whether Gas5 acts as an oncogene or anti-oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. In the present study, the expression and role of Gas5 in HCC were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Lower expression levels of Gas5 were determined in HCC tissues and cells by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Overexpressed Gas 5 lentiviral vectors were constructed to analyze their influence on cell viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to identify the subcellular localization of Gas5. Protein complexes that bound to Gas5 were isolated from HepG2 cells through pull-down experiments and analyzed by mass spectrometry. A series of novel Gas5-interacting proteins were identified and bioinformatics analysis was carried out. These included ribosomal proteins, proteins involved in protein folding, sorting, and transportation in the ER, some nucleases and protein enzymes involved in gene transcription, translation, and other proteins with various functions.78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) was identified as a direct target of Gas5 by Rip-qPCR and Western blot analysis assay. Gas5 inhibited HepG2 cell growth and induced cell apoptosis via upregulating CHOP to activate the ER stress signaling pathway. Further studies indicated that the knockdown of CHOP by shRNA partially reversed Gas5-mediated apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the ectopic expression of Gas5 inhibited the growth of HCC in nude mice. These findings suggest that Gas5 functions as a tumor suppressor and induces apoptosis through activation of ER stress by targeting the CHOP signal pathway in HCC.

LncRNA CASC11 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via Upregulation of UBE2T in a m6A-Dependent Manner

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent malignancies and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Besides, it has been revealed that long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) cancer susceptibility candidate 11 (CASC11) is involved in cancer progression. However, the functional role and underlying mechanism of CASC11 in HCC remains largely unknown. In this context, here, it was found that CASC11 was upregulated in HCC tissues and associated with tumor grades, metastasis, and prognosis of HCC patients. Functionally, CASC11 facilitated HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and enhanced tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, CASC11 associated with and stabilized Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2T (UBE2T) mRNA. To be specific, it decreased UBE2T N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) level via recruiting ALKBH5. Moreover, CASC11 inhibited the association between UBE2T mRNA and m⁶A reader protein YTHDF2. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the epigenetic mechanism of CASC11 in the regulation of UBE2T expression and possibly provide a novel therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

Screening Prognosis-Related lncRNAs Based on WGCNA to Establish a New Risk Score for Predicting Prognosis in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains an important cause of cancer death. The molecular mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis and prognostic factors of HCC have not been completely uncovered.

METHODS

In this study, we screened out differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE lncRNAs), miRNAs (DE miRNAs), and mRNAs (DE mRNAs) by comparing the gene expression of HCC and normal tissue in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. DE mRNAs were used to perform Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Then, the miRNA and lncRNA/mRNA modules that were most closely related to the survival time of patients with HCC were screened to construct a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network by weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). Moreover, univariable Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier curve analyses of DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs were conducted. Finally, the lasso-penalized Cox regression analysis and nomogram model were used to establish a new risk scoring system and predict the prognosis of patients with liver cancer. The expression of survival-related DE lncRNAs was verified by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

A total of 1896 DEmRNAs, 330 DElncRNAs, and 76 DEmiRNAs were identified in HCC and normal tissue samples. Then, the turquoise miRNA and turquoise lncRNA/mRNA modules that were most closely related to the survival time of patients with HCC were screened to construct a ceRNA network by WGCNA. In this ceRNA network, there were 566 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs, including 30 upregulated lncRNAs, 16 downregulated miRNAs, and 75 upregulated mRNAs. Moreover, we screened out 19 lncRNAs and 14 hub mRNAs related to prognosis from this ceRNA network by univariable Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier curve analyses. Finally, a new risk scoring system was established by selecting the optimal risk lncRNAs from the 19 prognosis-related lncRNAs through lasso-penalized Cox regression analysis. In addition, we established a nomogram model consisting of independent prognostic factors to predict the survival rate of HCC patients. Finally, the correlation between the risk score and immune cell infiltration and gene set enrichment analysis were determined.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the results may provide potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for HCC and the establishment of the new risk scoring system and nomogram model provides the new perspective for predicting the prognosis of HCC.

Transforming growth factor‑β1 functions as a competitive endogenous RNA that ameliorates intracranial hemorrhage injury by sponging microRNA‑93‑5p

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has the highest mortality rate of all stroke subtypes but an effective treatment has yet to be clinically implemented. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) has been reported to modulate microglia-mediated neuroinflammation after ICH and promote functional recovery; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) have surfaced as critical regulators in human disease. A known miR-93 target, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), has been shown to be neuroprotective after ICH. It was hypothesized that TGF-β1 functions as a ceRNA that sponges miR-93-5p and thereby ameliorates ICH injury in the brain. Short interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down TGF-β1 and miR-93 expression was also pharmacologically manipulated to elucidate the mechanistic association between miR-93-5p, Nrf2, and TGF-β1 in an in vitro model of ICH (thrombin-treated human microglial HMO6 cells). Bioinformatics predictive analyses showed that miR-93-5p could bind to both TGF-β1 and Nrf2. It was found that neuronal miR-93-5p was dramatically decreased in these HMO6 cells, and similar changes were observed in fresh brain tissue from patients with ICH. Most importantly, luciferase reporter assays were used to demonstrate that miR-93-5p directly targeted Nrf2 to inhibit its expression and the addition of the TGF-β1 untranslated region restored the levels of Nrf2. Moreover, an miR-93-5p inhibitor increased the expression of TGF-β1 and Nrf2 and decreased apoptosis. Collectively, these results identified a novel function of TGF-β1 as a ceRNA that sponges miR-93-5p to increase the expression of neuroprotective Nrf2 and decrease cell death after ICH. The present findings provided evidence to support miR-93-5p as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of ICH.

DLG1-AS1 is activated by MYC and drives the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through miR-497-5p/SSRP1 axis

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be biological regulators in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). DLG1 antisense RNA 1 (DLG1-AS1) has been found to be up-regulated in cervical cancer. However, its function and underlying mechanism in HCC remains unknown.

Methods

DLG1-AS1 expression was assessed in HCC cells and normal cell by RT-qPCR. Luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull down assay and RIP assay were used to demonstrate the interaction between DLG1-AS1 and miR-497-5p.

Results

DLG1-AS1 was highly expressed in HCC cells. Silencing of DLG1-AS1 led to the inhibition of HCC cell growth and migration. Besides, MYC induced the transcriptional activation of DLG1-AS1. MYC could facilitate HCC cellular processes by up-regulating DLG1-AS1. MiR-497-5p could interact with DLG1-AS1 in HCC cells. Down-regulation of miR-497-5p could reverse the impacts of DLG1-AS1 silencing on HCC cells. SSRP1 expression could be positively regulated by DLG1-AS1 but was negatively regulated by miR-497-5p. Knockdown of DLG1-AS1 suppressed tumor growth in nude mice.

Conclusions

DLG1-AS1 is activated by MYC and functions as an oncogene in HCC via miR-497-5p/SSRP1 axis.

EWSAT1 Acts in Concert with Exosomes in Osteosarcoma Progression and Tumor-Induced Angiogenesis: The "Double Stacking Effect"

The prognosis for osteosarcoma (OS) continues to be unsatisfactory due to tumor recurrence as a result of metastasis and drug resistance. Several studies have shown that Ewing sarcoma associated transcript 1 (EWSAT1) plays an important role in the progression of OS. Exosomes (Exos) act as important carriers in intercellular communication and play an important role in the tumor microenvironment, especially in tumor-induced angiogenesis. Nonetheless, the specific mechanism via which EWSAT1 and Exos regulate OS progression is unknown, and whether they can be effective therapeutic targets also requires verification. Hence, in this study, it is aimed to investigate the mechanisms of action of EWSAT1 and Exos. EWSAT1 significantly promotes proliferation, migration, colony formation, and survival of OS. EWSAT1 regulates OS-induced angiogenesis via two mechanisms, called the "double stacking effect," which is a combination of the increase in sensitivity/reactivity of vascular endothelial cells triggered by Exos-carrying EWSAT1, and the EWSAT1-induced increase in angiogenic factor secretion. In vivo experiments further validates the "double stacking effect" and shows that EWSAT1-KD effectively inhibits tumor growth in OS. The above observations indicate that EWSAT1 can be used as not only a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker, but also as a precise therapeutic target for OS.

lncRNA TUG1 Promotes Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Regulating miR-29c-3p/COL1A1 Axis

Background

Taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) has been recognized as a novel oncogenic gene. The current study was established to explore the function and regulatory mechanism of TUG1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of TUG1, miR-29c-3p, and COL1A1 in tissues and cell lines. MTT assay, wound-healing and transwell assay were utilized for the detection of cell viability, migration and invasion, respectively. The interactions between miR-29c-3p and TUG1/COL1A1 were predicted by starBase v2.0 (http://starbase.sysu.edu.cn/) and verified by the dual-luciferase reporter or RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Western blot assay was performed to determine the protein levels of COL1A1, cyclin D1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Bcl-2, and Bax.

Results

Dramatically increased expression of TUG1 was noticed in HCC tissues and cell lines. TUG1 knockdown restrained the proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted the apoptosis of HCC cells. TUG1 targeted miR-29c-3p and inhibited miR-29c-3p expression. Overexpression of miR-29c-3p inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. MiR-29c-3p directly targeted COL1A1 and down-regulated COL1A1 expression. In addition, downregulation of miR-29c-3p and upregulation of COL1A1 both reversed the effects of TUG1 knockdown on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of HCC cells.

Conclusion

TUG1 could promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells through regulating miR-29c-3p/COL1A1 axis. This novel finding might provide a latent target for the treatment of HCC.

Long Non-Coding RNA MALAT1 as a Detection and Diagnostic Molecular Marker in Various Human Cancers: A Pooled Analysis Based on 3255 Subjects

Purpose

Accumulating studies have explored the potential diagnostic value of lncRNA MALAT1 in various cancers. However, there are still inconsistent results in diagnostic accuracy and reliability in individual studies. The aim of this pooled study was to summarize the overall diagnostic capacity of lncRNA MALAT1 in cancer detection and diagnosis.

Methods

Eligible studies satisfying the inclusion criteria were screened and selected from the online database. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata 14.0.

Results

A total of 17 eligible studies were included in this pooled analysis, with 1777 cases and 1478 controls. The overall results were shown as follows: sensitivity, 0.74 (95% CI=0.65-0.81), specificity, 0.79 (95% CI=0.73-0.84), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), 3.48 (95% CI=2.79-4.32), negative likelihood, 0.33 (95% CI=0.25-0.44), diagnostic score, 2.34 (95% CI=1.99-2.69), diagnostic odds ratio, 10.41 (95% CI=7.33-14.78) and area under the curve, 0.83 (95% CI=0.80-0.86). Deeks' funnel plot asymmetry test (p = 0.66) suggested no potential publication bias.

Conclusion

All these results indicate that lncRNA MALAT1 achieves a relatively moderate accuracy in cancer detection and diagnosis, and could serve as a diagnostic biomarker for cancers.

Comprehensive Analysis of Competing Endogenous RNA (ceRNA) Network Based on RNAs Differentially Expressed in Lung Adenocarcinoma Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Database

Background

The aim of this study was to explore a comprehensive analysis of the competing endogenous (ceRNA) network of lung adenocarcinoma and predict its regulatory mechanism and prognosis correlation based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

Material/Methods

The genes expression data from 535 lung adenocarcinoma cases and 59 normal tissue cases were acquired and downloaded from TCGA database, and differentially expressed messenger RNA (mRNA), long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) were selected primarily by “edgeR” package in R software, which further constructs lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network. We then proceed to carry out Gene Ontology enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of the mRNAs involved in the ceRNA network.

Results

There are 3 mRNAs (ANLN, IGFBP1, and TFAP2A) in differentially expressed genes, 4 lncRNAs (AC015923.1, FGF12-AS2, LINC00211, and MED4-AS1), and 2 miRNAs (miR-31 and miR-490) associated with the prognostic of lung adenocarcinoma. Besides, LINC00461 and has-mir-139 as key nodes were found in the ceRNA network. Significantly, miR-31 shows the greatest prognostic value related to the adverse effect of the prognostic of lung adenocarcinoma (P<0.001).

Conclusions

By analyzing the expression data of lung adenocarcinoma in TCGA database, we found that 3 mRNAs, 4 lncRNAs, and 2 miRNAs were screened as potential prognostic factors for lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, LINC00461 and has-mir-139 are 2 important regulatory network nodes in lung adenocarcinoma ceRNA.

Non-Coding RNAs: Regulating Disease Progression and Therapy Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the primary liver cancer arising from hepatocytes, is a universal health problem and one of the most common malignant tumors. Surgery followed by chemotherapy as well as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as sorafenib, are primary treatment procedures for HCC, but recurrence of disease because of therapy resistance results in high mortality. It is necessary to identify novel regulators of HCC for developing effective targeted therapies that can significantly interfere with progression of the disease process. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are an abundant group of versatile RNA transcripts that do not translate into proteins, rather serve as potentially functional RNAs. The role of ncRNAs in regulating diverse aspects of the carcinogenesis process are gradually being elucidated. Recent advances in RNA sequencing technology have identified a plethora of ncRNAs regulating all aspects of hepatocarcinogenesis process and serving as potential prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers. The present review provides a comprehensive description of the biological roles of ncRNAs in disease process and therapy resistance, and potential clinical application of these ncRNAs in HCC.

Long non-coding RNA NEAT1/miR-338-3p axis impedes the progression of acute myeloid leukemia via regulating CREBRF

Background

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematological disease. Our purpose of the research was to investigate the regulatory influence of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1)/microRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p)/CREB3 regulatory factor (CREBRF) in AML progression.

Methods

The associated RNA and protein levels were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. Cell growth was assessed through colony formation assay and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-y1)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Flow cytometry was exploited to determine the apoptosis rate. Cell migration and invasion were detected by transwell assay. The combination of miR-338-3p and NEAT1 or CREBRF was analyzed via the dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results

NEAT1 and CREBRF were down-regulated in AML tissues and cells. NEAT1 up-regulation suppressed cell growth, migration and invasion but enhanced apoptosis of AML cells. Inhibition of CREBRF reverted the NEAT1-induced effects on AML cells. Moreover, NEAT1 directly targeted miR-338-3p and miR-338-3p targeted CREBRF. NEAT1/miR-338-3p could affect cellular behaviors of AML cells via the modulation of CREBRF.

Conclusion

NEAT1/miR-338-3p axis repressed the AML progression through regulating CREBRF, which might afford a favorable perspective for the AML treatment molecularly.

LINC00174 is an oncogenic lncRNA of hepatocellular carcinoma and regulates miR-320/S100A10 axis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers. Multiple long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recently identified as crucial oncogenic factors or tumour suppressors. In this study, we explored the effects of LINC00174 on the progression of HCC. Expression levels of LINC00174 and microRNA-320 (miR-320) in HCC tissue samples were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The association between pathological indices and LINC00174 was also analysed. Human HCC cell lines Hep3B and Huh7 were used as cell models. CCK-8 and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assays were used to assess the effect of LINC00174 on HCC cell line proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to study the effect of LINC00174 on HCC apoptosis. Transwell assay was conducted to detect the effect of LINC00174 on migration and invasion. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were used to confirm the binding relationship between miR-320 and LINC00174. Additionally, western blot was used to detect the regulatory function of LINC00174 on oncogene S100 calcium binding protein A10 (S100A10). We demonstrated that LINC00174 expression in HCC clinical samples was significantly increased and this was correlated with higher T stage. Its overexpression remarkably accelerated proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells while reduced apoptosis. Accordingly, knockdown of it suppressed the malignant phenotypes of HCC cells. Overexpression of LINC00174 significantly reduced the expression of miR-320 by sponging it, in turn enhanced the expression of S100A10. In conclusion, LINC00174 is a sponge of tumour suppressor miR-320, enhances the expression of S100A10 indirectly and functions as an oncogenic lncRNA in HCC. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: LINC00174 is a novel lncRNA, whose function is rarely investigated. It is reported that it is oncogenic in colorectal cancer, while its role in HCC remains unclear. Herein, we report that LINC00174 is significantly up-regulated in HCC tissues and promotes the malignant phenotypes. We demonstrate that LINC00174 functions as a sponge for miR-320, increases the expression level of oncogene S100A10 in HCC. This study helps clarify the mechanism of HCC tumorigenesis and progression, and uncover the role of LINC00174 in human disease.

Long non-coding RNA CDKN2B-AS1 promotes osteosarcoma by increasing the expression of MAP3K3 via sponging miR-4458

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor worldwide. Recently, several studies have shown that the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) CDKN2B-AS1 plays a critical role in several cancers. However, the function and underlying mechanism of CDKN2B-AS1 in OS development remains elusive. In this study, we firstly assessed the expression of CDKN2B-AS1 in OS tissues and cells, showing that CDKN2B-AS1 expression were remarkably upregulated in OS tissues and cells. Moreover, CDKN2B-AS1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and EMT progress in OS. Interestingly, we found and proved that CDKN2B-AS1 could sponge miR-4458 in OS cells. Moreover, MAP3K3 was certified as a downstream target of miR-4458 in OS. Besides, MAP3K3 was negatively regulated by miR-4458 and positively regulated by CDKN2B-AS1. More importantly, overexpression of MAP3K3 could partly counteract the effect of CDKN2B-AS1 suppression on the biological behavior of OS cells. Also, the in vivo experiments further testified that CDKN2B-AS1 accelerated tumor growth in OS. Our results suggested that CDKN2B-AS1 facilitated OS progression by sponging miR-4458 to enhance MAP3K3 expression, which provides a novel insight into improving diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with OS.

ZEB1 induced-upregulation of long noncoding RNA ZEB1-AS1 facilitates the progression of triple negative breast cancer by binding with ELAVL1 to maintain the stability of ZEB1 mRNA

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the malignant type of breast cancer. Previous study indicated that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) ZEB1-AS1 was associated with the progression of several cancers. However, its underlying molecular mechanism in TNBC remains to be elucidated. In this study, ZEB1-AS1 expression was boosted in TNBC tissues and cell lines according to reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Inhibition of ZEB1-AS1 suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis in TNBC. Moreover, ZEB1-AS1 positively regulated ZEB1 expression. RT-qPCR disclosed ZEB1 expression was elevated in TNBC tissues and ZEB1 silence blocked TNBC progression. RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation assays revealed ZEB1-AS1 and ZEB1 both could bind with ELAVL1. ZEB1-AS1 maintained ZEB1 messenger RNA (mRNA) stability by binding with ELAVL1. In addition chromatin, immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays confirmed that ZEB1 could bind with ZEB1-AS1 promoter and promoted ZEB1-AS1 expression. Rescue assays manifested ZEB1 overexpression could abolish the inhibitory effect caused by ZEB1-AS1 inhibition on TNBC progression. To sum up, ZEB1 induced-upregulation of ZEB1-AS1 maintained the stability of ZEB1 mRNA by binding with ELAVL1, which formed a feedback loop to facilitate TNBC progression. These findings might provide a new target for TNBC treatment.

LncRNA NEAT1 facilitates pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis through stabilizing ELF3 mRNA

Recently, increasing evidence has revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the pathogenesis of multiple cancers. Although the oncogenic effects of lncRNA nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) in some cancers have been reported, the functional significance and molecular mechanism of NEAT1 in pancreatic cancer (PC) progression remains elusive. In this study, our findings showed that NEAT1 expression was upregulated in PC tissues and cell lines; high NEAT1 expression was associated with tumor size, TNM stage, lymph node and distant metastasis, and also predicted poor prognosis. Functional experiments demonstrated that NEAT1 could promote PC cell proliferation and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, NEAT1 could associate with E74 like ETS transcription factor 3 (ELF3) mRNA and enhance the combination of Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) and ELF3 mRNA, subsequently suppressing the degradation of ELF3 mRNA. Overall, our research indicates that NEAT1 might be a potential therapeutic target for patients with PC.

The Emerging Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play multifaceted roles in modulating gene expression under both physiological and pathological processes. The dysregulation of lncRNAs has been increasingly linked with many human diseases, including a plethora of cancers. Mounting evidence indicates that lncRNAs are aberrantly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and can regulate HCC progression, as well as metastasis. In this review, we summarize the recent findings on the expanding roles of lncRNAs in modulating various functions of HCC, and elaborate on how can lncRNAs impact HCC metastasis and progression via interacting with chromatin, RNA, and proteins at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels. This mini-review also highlights the current advances regarding the signaling pathways of lncRNAs in HCC metastasis and sheds light on the possible application of lncRNAs for the prevention and treatment of HCC.

Long Non-Coding RNA EGOT Promotes the Malignant Phenotypes of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells and Increases the Expression of HMGA2 via Down-Regulating miR-33a-5p

Background

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). EGOT is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) induced after HCV infection that increases viral replication by antagonizing the antiviral response. Interestingly, EGOT also acts as a crucial regulator in multiple cancers. However, its role in HCC remains unclear.

Methods

Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of EGOT in HCC samples and cell lines. CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay were performed to evaluate the effect of EGOT on proliferation. Scratch healing assay and transwell assay were used to detect the changes of migration and invasion. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of EGOT on apoptosis. Interaction between EGOT and miR-33a-5p was determined by bioinformatics analysis, RT-PCR, and dual-luciferase reporter assay. Western blot was used to confirm that high mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) could be modulated by EGOT.

Results

Compared with normal liver tissues, the expression level of EGOT in HCC tissues was significantly up-regulated. EGOT markedly regulated viability, migration and invasion of HCC cells. The expression level of EGOT was negatively correlated the expression level of miR-33a-5p. It is also confirmed that EGOT could specifically bind to miR-33a-5p and could reduce its expression, in turn, up-regulate the expression of HMGA2.

Conclusion

Our data imply that EGOT may be a novel therapeutic target for HCC, and highlights the key role of EGOT/miR-33a-5p/HMGA2 in the progression of this deadly disease.

NR2F1-AS1 regulated miR-423-5p/SOX12 to promote proliferation and invasion of papillary thyroid carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is an aggressive histological subtype of thyroid carcinoma (THCA), whose occurrence rate is high. The participation of long noncoding RNAs in the pathologies of cancers has attracted significant attention during the past decades. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the role of NR2F1 antisense RNA 1 (NR2F1-AS1) in PTC. The expression of NR2F1 in THCA samples was analyzed by bioinformatics tool gene expression profiling interactive analysis. Levels of NR2F1-AS1, microRNA-423-5p (miR-423-5p), and SRY-box 12 (SOX12) were evaluated by a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The impact of NR2F1-AS1 on PTC cell proliferation and invasion was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU, and Transwell invasion assays. The interactions among NR2F1-AS1, miR-423-5p, and SOX12 were determined by RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. Consequently, we found that NR2F1-AS1 and SOX12 levels were elevated in PTC, whereas miR-423-5p was downregulated in PTC cells. Functionally, NR2F1-AS1 silence led to reduced proliferation and invasion of PTC cells. Mechanistically, NR2F1-AS1 interacted with miR-423-5p to induce SOX12 expression in PTC cells. In conclusion, the present study firstly stated that NR2F1-AS1 regulated miR-423-5p/SOX12 to promote proliferation and invasion of PTC, indicating NR2F1-AS1 as a potential novel target for the molecular-targeted therapy of PTC.

The Reciprocal Interaction Between LncRNA CCAT1 and miR-375-3p Contribute to the Downregulation of IRF5 Gene Expression by Solasonine in HepG2 Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Solasonine (SS), a natural glycoalkaloid component, has been shown to have potent inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity against many cancer types. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are poorly understood. In this study, we showed that SS inhibited growth of HCC cells. Mechanistically, we observed that SS increased the expression of miR-375-3p, whereas reducing levels of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) CCAT1 was noticed in HepG2 HCC and other cells. In addition, we found that SS repressed transcription factors, SP1 and interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5), protein expressions. There was a reciprocal interaction among miR-375-3p, CCAT1, and SP1. Moreover, SS inhibited IRF5 promoter activity, which was not observed in cells transfected with excessive expressed SP1 vectors. Interestingly, exogenously expressed IRF5 was shown to reverse expressions of SS-inhibited CCAT1 and induced-miR-375-3p; and neutralized SS-inhibited growth of HCC cells. Similar results were also found in vivo mouse model. Collectively, our results show that SS inhibits HepG2 HCC growth through the reciprocal regulation between the miR-375-3p and lncRNA CCAT1, and this results in transcription factor SP1-mediated reduction of IRF5 expression. The regulations and interactions among miR-375-3p, CCAT1, SP1, and IRF5 axis unveil a novel molecular mechanism underlying the anti-HCC growth by SS. IRF5 may be a potential target for treatment of HCC.

Long non-coding RNA MEG3 impacts diabetic nephropathy progression through sponging miR-145

Long non-coding RNA MEG3 has been reported to implicate in the progression of several cancers. Nevertheless, few studies have focused on the role of MEG3 in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Here, we demonstrated MEG3 was differently expressed by > 4 fold and was elevated significantly using lncRNA microarray in DN patient serum. Besides, MEG3 knockdown alleviated proliferation, fibrosis and induced apoptosis of mesangial cells under high glucose condition. Furthermore, bioinformatics predictions showed that MEG3 is a direct target of miR-145. In the vivo experiment, we found MEG3 silencing decreased the laboratory indicators and fibrosis-related protein secretion in db/db mice. Altogether, our study suggests MEG3 may play as an important role in progression of diabetic nephropathy, contributing to a novel understanding of pathogenesis and underlying therapeutic strategies for diabetic nephropathy.

A novel long noncoding RNA HHIP-AS1 suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression through stabilizing HHIP mRNA

Aberrant expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and confirmed to participate in the initiation and progression of HCC. In the present study, we identified a novel functional lncRNA, hedgehog-interacting protein antisense RNA 1 (HHIP-AS1). The expression levels of HHIP-AS1 were significantly decreased in HCC tissues. Downregulation of HHIP-AS1 expression correlated with larger tumor size, metastasis, and advanced TNM stage, and also predicted worse overall survival rate of HCC patients. Through performing overexpression and knockdown experiments, the biological function of HHIP-AS1 was identified to suppress HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while promote apoptosis. Further investigation showed that HHIP-AS1 interacted with and positively regulated the stability of HHIP mRNA in a HuR-dependent manner. HHIP-AS1 exerted its suppressive effects through HHIP. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that HHIP-AS1 represses HCC progression by promoting HHIP expression, and indicate that the use of HHIP-AS1 may offer a promising treatment for HCC patients.

Long noncoding RNA lnc-DILC stabilizes PTEN and suppresses clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression

Background

Increasing evidence has indicated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial regulators affecting the progression of human cancers. Recently, lncRNA downregulated in liver cancer stem cells (lnc-DILC) was identified to function as a tumor suppressor inhibiting the tumorigenesis and metastasis in liver cancer and colorectal cancer. However, to date, little is known about the functional roles of lnc-DILC in modulating malignant phenotypes of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cells.

Methods

lnc-DILC expression in human ccRCC tissues was detected by qRT-PCR. Overexpression and knockdown experiments were carried out to determine the effects of lnc-DILC on ccRCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. To reveal the underlying mechanisms of lnc-DILC functions in ccRCC cells. RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pull-down, in vivo ubiquitination, co-immunoprecipitation and western blot assays were performed.

Results

Here, we identified that lnc-DILC levels were dramatically downregulated in ccRCC tissues. Loss of lnc-DILC expression was correlated with larger tumor size, advanced tumor grade and lymph node metastasis, and also predicted worse prognosis in patients with ccRCC. Functionally, knockdown and overexpression experiments demonstrated that lnc-DILC inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in ccRCC cells. Mechanistic investigation revealed that lnc-DILC bound to tumor suppressor PTEN and suppressed its degradation. lnc-DILC repressed the PTEN ubiquitination through blocking the interaction between PTEN and E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 and recruiting the deubiquitinase USP11 to PTEN. Moreover, we demonstrated that PTEN–AKT signaling was crucial for lnc-DILC-mediated suppressive effects.

Conclusions

In summary, our research revealed a novel mechanism by which lnc-DILC regulates PTEN stability via WWP2 and USP11, and shed light on potential therapeutic strategies by the restoration of lnc-DILC expression in patients with ccRCC.

CeRNA network analysis and functional enrichment of salt sensitivity of blood pressure by weighted-gene co-expression analysis

Background

Salt sensitivity of blood pressure (SSBP) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The pathogenic mechanisms of SSBP are still uncertain. This study aimed to construct the co-regulatory network of SSBP and data mining strategy based on the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) theory.

Methods

LncRNA and mRNA microarray was performed to screen for candidate RNAs. Four criteria were used to select the potential differently expressed RNAs. The weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) package of R software and target miRNA and mRNA prediction online databases were used to construct the ceRNA co-regulatory network and discover the pathways related to SSBP. Gene ontology enrichment, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and KEGG pathway analysis were performed to explore the functions of hub genes in networks.

Results

There were 274 lncRNAs and 36 mRNAs that differently expressed between salt-sensitive and salt-resistant groups (P < 0.05). Using WGCNA analysis, two modules were identified (blue and turquoise). The blue module had a positive relationship with salt-sensitivity (R = 0.7, P < 0.01), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (R = 0.53, P = 0.02), and total cholesterol (TC) (R = 0.55, P = 0.01). The turquoise module was positively related with triglyceride (TG) (R = 0.8, P < 0.01) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (R = 0.54, P = 0.01). Furthermore, 84 ceRNA loops were identified and one loop may be of great importance for involving in pathogenesis of SSBP. KEGG analysis showed that differently expressed mRNAs were mostly enriched in the SSBP-related pathways. However, the enrichment results of GSEA were mainly focused on basic physical metabolic processes.

Conclusion

The microarray data mining process based on WGCNA co-expression analysis had identified 84 ceRNA loops that closely related with known SSBP pathogenesis. The results of our study provide implications for further understanding of the pathogenesis of SSBP and facilitate the precise diagnosis and therapeutics.

Long noncoding RNA TP53TG1 promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma development by acting as a molecular sponge of microRNA-96

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as key regulators in cancer initiation and progression. TP53TG1 is a recently identified lncRNA and several studies have shown that TP53TG1 may play the role of tumor suppressor gene or oncogene in different tumors. Nevertheless, the involvement of TP53TG1 in carcinogenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has not been characterized. In our studies, we identified that TP53TG1 was highly expressed in PDAC and was a novel regulator of PDAC development. Knockdown of TP53TG1 inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis, and decreased migration and invasion in PDAC cells, whereas enhanced expression of TP53TG1 had the opposite effects. Mechanistically, TP53TG1 could directly bind to microRNA (miR)-96 and effectively function as a sponge for miR-96, thus antagonizing the functions of miR-96 and leading to derepression of its endogenous target KRAS, which is a core oncogene in the initiation and maintenance of PDAC. Taken together, these observations imply that TP53TG1 contributes to the growth and progression of PDAC by acting as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to competitively bind to miR-96 and regulate KRAS expression, which highlights the importance of the complicated miRNA-lncRNA network in modulating the progression of PDAC.

LINC00460 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma development through sponging miR-485-5p to up-regulate PAK1

LncRNAs can function as significant regulators of tumor development. However, their roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain poorly investigated. LINC00460 has been identified in several cancers, which can act as an oncogene. In this study, we observed that LINC00460 was significantly up-regulated in HCC cells, which implied that LINC00460 was involved in HCC development. Then, LINC00460 was silenced in Hep3B and Huh-7 cells and we found that knockdown of LINC00460 greatly inhibited HCC cell proliferation. In addition, HCC cell apoptosis was induced and meanwhile, cell cycle progression was blocked by down-regulation of LINC00460 in vitro. Furthermore, we proved that Hep3B and Huh-7 cell migration and invasion capacity was repressed by decrease of LINC00460. Recently, a growing number of studies have indicated the correlation between lncRNAs and microRNAs. Currently, we displayed that miR-485-5p was greatly decreased in HCC cells and LINC00460 could sponge miR-485-5p to regulate HCC progression. The binding association between LINC00460 and miR-485-5p was confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA pulled down and RIP assay in our research. Subsequently, PAK1 was predicted as a downstream target of miR-485-5p and we demonstrated that miR-485-5p suppressed PAK1 levels in vitro. Finally, in vivo experiments were conducted to validate that knockdown of LINC00460 repressed HCC development through modulating miR-485-5p to increase PAK1. Taken these together, we indicated that LINC00460 promoted HCC progression through sponging miR-485-5p and up-regulating PAK1.

Long noncoding RNA BLACAT1 is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and its downregulation suppressed cancer cell development through endogenously competing against hsa-miR-485-5p

OBJECTIVE

In this work, we explored the expression and mechanistic role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), bladder cancer associated transcript 1 (BLACAT1) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

BLACAT1 expression in bothin vitro HCC cell lines and in vivo human HCC clinical samples were assessed by qRT-PCR. In HeG2 and MHCC97 L cells, BLACAT1 downregulation was induced by lentiviral infection to evaluate its functions in regulating HCC cancer cell proliferation and invasion in vitro, and xenograft in vivo. A BLACAT1 endogenously competing candidate, human microRNA-485-5p (has-miR-485-5p) was assessed in dual-luciferase assay and qRT-PCR in HCC cells. Furthermore, has-miR-485-5p was inhibited in BLACAT1-downregulated HeG2 and MHCC97 L cells to evaluate the correlation of has-miR-485-5p in BLACAT1-associated functional regulation in HCC cells.

RESULTS

BLACAT1was found to be overexpressed in both HCC cells and human HCC tumors. In HeG2 and MHCC97 L cells, lentivirus-induced BLACAT1 downregulation inhibited cancer cellin vitro proliferation and invasion, and in vivo xenograft growth. Has-miR-485-5p was confirmed to be bound by BLACAT1 and its expression in HCC cells inversely regulated by BLACAT1. Then, has-miR-485-5p downregulation reversed the inhibitory effects of BLACAT1 downregulation on HCC cancer cell in vitro functions.

CONCLUSION

BLACAT1 is aberrantly upregulated in HCC and its inhibition had tumor suppressing effects in human HCC, possibly through endogenously competing against has-miR-485-5p. The BLACAT1/ has-miR-485-5p regulatory axis may be a molecular target for future HCC therapy.

A Novel lncRNA Regulates the Toll-Like Receptor Signaling Pathway and Related Immune Function by Stabilizing FOS mRNA as a Competitive Endogenous RNA

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently emerged as new regulatory molecules with diverse functions in regulating gene expression and significant roles in the immune response. However, the function of many unknown lncRNAs is still unclear. By studying the regulatory effect of daidzein (DA) on immunity, we identified a novel lncRNA with an immune regulatory function: lncRNA- XLOC_098131. In vivo, DA treatment upregulated the expression of lncRNA- XLOC_098131, FOS, and JUN in chickens and affected the expression of activator protein 1 (AP-1) to regulate MAPK signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling, and related mRNA expression. It also enhanced macrophage activity and increased the numbers of blood neutrophils and mononuclear cells, which can improve the body's ability to respond to stress and bacterial and viral infections. Furthermore, DA treatment also reduced B lymphocyte apoptosis and promoted the differentiation of B lymphocytes into plasma cells, which in turn resulted in the production of more immunoglobulins and the promotion of antigen presentation. In vitro, using HEK293FT cells, we demonstrated that mir-548s could bind to and decrease the expression of both FOS and lncRNA- XLOC_098131. LncRNA- XLOC_098131 served as a competitive endogenous RNA to stabilize FOS by competitively binding to miR-548s and thereby reducing its inhibitory effect of FOS expression. Therefore, we concluded that the novel lncRNA XLOC_098131 acts as a key regulatory molecule that can regulate the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and related immune function by serving as a competitive endogenous RNA to stabilize FOS mRNA expression.

MicroRNA-196a/-196b regulate the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through modulating the JAK/STAT pathway via targeting SOCS2

microRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the roles of miR-196a and miR-196b as well as mechanism in HCC progression remain poorly understood. The expressions of miR-196a, miR-196b and suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) were measured in HCC tissues and cells by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or immunohistochemistry. HCC progression was investigated by cell proliferation, glycolysis, cycle, clones, apoptosis, and necrosis. The interaction between SOCS2 and miR-196a or miR-196b was explored by luciferase activity and RNA immunoprecipitation analyses. The expressions of proteins in Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway were measured by western blot. A xenograft model was established to investigate the roles of miR-196a or miR-196b in vivo. We found that miR-196a and miR-196b were highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells. High expression of miR-196a or miR-196b was correlated with tumor size, tumor-node-metastasis stage, lymph node metastasis, albumin–bilirubin grade and poor 5-year survival. Knockdown of miR-196a or miR-196b suppressed cell proliferation, glycolysis, cell cycle process, colony formation but induced apoptosis or necrosis in HCC cells. SOCS2 was targeted by miR-196a and miR-196b and its interference ablated abrogation of miR-196a or miR-196b-mediated inhibitory effect on HCC progression. SOCS2 was negatively associated with activation of the JAK/STAT pathway. Besides, knockdown of miR-196a or miR-196b limited xenograft tumor growth by blocking the JAK/STAT pathway. We concluded that downregulation of miR-196a or miR-196b inhibited HCC progression through regulating the JAK/STAT pathway via targeting SOCS2, providing novel targets for prognosis and therapeutics of HCC.

Long non-coding RNA LINC01133 mediates nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumorigenesis by binding to YBX1

Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported as the vital regulators of various cancers including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). An increasing number of studies have suggested that lncRNA LINC01133 is dysregulated and involved in human carcinogenesis. However, the roles of LINC01133 in NPC remain largely unknown. In this work, we demonstrated that LINC01133 was significantly downregulated in NPC tissues and cell lines. Loss and gain of function experiments provided evidence that LINC01133 inhibited NPC cell proliferation, invasion and migration both in vitro and in vivo. Besides, Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay was performed to determine the localization of LINC01133 and LINC01133 was observed mainly distributed in the nucleus. Importantly, RNA pull-down and RIP assays showed that LINC01133 directly combined with YBX1, and YBX1 can partly reverse the repression of NPC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion caused by LINC01133. Collectively, our exploration indicate that LINC01133 inhibits the malignant-biological behavior of NPC cells by binding to YBX1, thereby suggesting a novel biomarker for the NPC prognosis and treatment.

EGR1-induced upregulation of lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via epigenetically silencing DKK1 and activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are regarded as a group of biomarkers in the initiation and development of various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). LncRNA FOXD2-AS1 has been studied in human colorectal cancer and glioma as an oncogene. However, the function and mechanism of lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 in hepatocellular carcinoma are marked. In this study, we found that high expression of FOXD2-AS1 predicted poor prognosis of HCC patients in the TCGA database. The dysregulation of FOXD2-AS1 was determined in HCC tissues and cell lines by qRT-PCR. Functionally, silenced FOXD2-AS1 efficiently suppressed HCC progression by regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanistically, FOXD2-AS1 was found to be activated by the transcription factor EGR1. Furthermore, FOXD2-AS1 could activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The mechanism contributed to the interaction between FOXD2-AS1 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was analyzed. It was uncovered that FOXD2-AS1 enhanced the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by epigenetically silencing the inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (DKK1). Rescue assays demonstrated that DKK1 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway involved in FOXD2-AS1-mediated HCC progression. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that EGR1-induced upregulation of lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via epigenetically silencing DKK1 and activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

LAPTM4B facilitates tumor growth and induces autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent cancers and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. It has been reported that lysosomal associated transmembrane protein LAPTM4B expression is significantly upregulated in human cancers and closely associated with tumor initiation and progression.

Purpose: We aimed to reveal the relevance of LAPTM4B and the pathogenesis of HCC. Methods: Cell viability assessment, colony formation assay, in vivo xenograrft model, microarray, real-time PCR, immunofluorescence and western blot analysis were applied.

Results: Our results demonstrated that LAPTM4B promoted HCC cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. Additionally, upon starvation conditions, LAPTM4B facilitated cell survival, inhibited apoptosis and induced autophagic flux. Expression profiling coupled with gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that 159 gene downregulated by LAPTM4B silencing was significantly enriched in response to nutrient and some metabolic processes. Moreover, LAPTM4B activated ATG3 transcription to modulate HCC cell apoptosis and autophagy.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that LAPTM4B acts as an oncogene that promotes HCC tumorigenesis and autophagy, and indicate that LAPTM4B may be used as a novel therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

Small regulatory polypeptide of amino acid response negatively relates to poor prognosis and controls hepatocellular carcinoma progression via regulating microRNA-5581-3p/human cardiolipin synthase 1

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies with extremely high rates of occurrence and death. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been increasingly revealed to participate in tumorigenesis and development of multiple human cancers, including HCC. LINC00961 is a novel lncRNA which has been uncovered as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer and glioma. However, the role of LINC00961 in HCC has never been probed yet. Herein, we revealed a marked downregulation of LINC00961 in HCC tissues and cell lines. Correlation of low LINC00961 expression with poor outcomes in patients with HCC suggested LINC00961 as an independent predictor for HCC prognosis. Functionally, LINC00961 overexpression obviously inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC cells. Mechanistically, LINC00961 regulated cardiolipin synthase 1 (CRLS1) expression via sponging miR-5581-3p. Importantly, both miR-5581-3p upregulation and CRLS1 inhibition led to an acceleration in cellular processes in HCC cells. At length, the rescue assays suggested that LINC00961 functioned in HCC through the miR-5581-3p/CRLS1 axis. On the whole, our findings disclosed that LINC00961 played a suppressive role in HCC progression via modulating miR-5581-3p/CRLS1, thus providing a potentially effective target for the prognosis and treatment of patients with HCC.

LncRNA HOXA-AS2 Facilitates Tumorigenesis and Progression of Papillary Thyroid Cancer by Modulating the miR-15a-5p/HOXA3 Axis

The long non-coding RNA HOXA-AS2 has been found to be an oncogene in several types of human malignant tumors. However, its role in regulating the occurrence and development of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is still unclear. The present study investigated the function and mechanism(s) of HOXA-AS2 in PTC progression. Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, HOXA-AS2 was found to be differentially expressed in PTC tissues and cell lines. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the overall survival rate of patients with higher levels of HOXA-AS2 was lower than those with relatively lower levels. Loss-of-function assays revealed that HOXA-AS2 knockdown inhibited PTC progression by inhibiting cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion and accelerating apoptosis. Mechanistically, loss-of-function assays showed a positive correlation between HOXA3 and HOXA-AS2 expression. Subcellular fractionation assay results revealed abundant HOXA-AS2 expression in the cytoplasm of PTC cells. Additionally, FOXD2-AS1 was found to upregulate HOXA3 expression by binding to miR-15a-5p. Finally, rescue assays demonstrated the overall function of the HOXA-AS2/miR-15a-5p/HOXA3 axis in PTC progression. These findings will significantly contribute to further research and the development of more efficient treatments for thyroid cancer in the future.

Long non-coding RNA TUG1 regulates the migration and invasion of trophoblast-like cells through sponging miR-204-5p

Preeclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal death. Accumulated evidence suggests that many long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are abnormally expressed in placentas from PE patients, and they may play functional roles in the development of PE. The present study aimed to investigate the functional role TUG1 in PE and explore the potential molecular mechanisms. Clinically, the expression of TUG1 in placental tissues from PE and normal controls was determined. In vitro, human trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo and JAR cells were employed for loss or gain-of-function assays. Our results demonstrate that TUG1 was downregulated in PE placental tissues compared with normal controls. Moreover, downregulation of TUG1 inhibited the migration and invasion of trophoblast-like cells. Bioinformatics analysis and functional assays showed that TUG1 interacted with miR-204-5p and negatively regulated the expression and function of miR-204-5p in trophoblast cells. Furthermore, TUG1-mediated migration and invasion of trophoblast cells was regulated by miR-204-5p. Together, our results suggested that TUG1 regulates trophoblast migration and invasion partly through sponging miR-204-5p, and the TUG1/miR-204-5p axis could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of PE.

The positive feedback loop of lncRNA DANCR/miR-138/Sox4 facilitates malignancy in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. The abnormal expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been reported to be closely associated with the progression of human cancers, including NSCLC. Here, we demonstrated that differentiation antagonizing noncoding RNA (DANCR) was overexpressed in NSCLC tissues. Upregulation of DANCR expression was significantly associated with larger tumor size, advanced TNM stage and lymph node metastasis, and also predicted poor prognoses of patients with NSCLC. Functional experiments showed that DANCR enhanced NSCLC growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Further investigation revealed that DANCR could compete with the Sox4 mRNA to bind with miR-138, thus affecting Sox4 expression. In addition, we found that Sox4 bound to the promoter regions of DANCR gene to activate DANCR expression, suggesting a positive feedback loop of DANCR/miR-138/Sox4 in NSCLC. Taken together, these results provide a comprehensive analysis of the roles of DANCR as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in NSCLC progression.

Hypoxia-sensitive LINC01436 is regulated by E2F6 and acts as an oncogene by targeting miR-30a-3p in non-small cell lung cancer

Dysregulation of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is known to be involved in numerous human diseases, including lung cancer. However, the precise biological functions of most lncRNA remain to be elucidated. Here, we identified a novel up‐regulated lncRNA, LINC01436 (RefSeq: NR_110419.1), in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). High expression of LINC01436 was significantly associated with poor overall survival. Notably, LINC01436 expression was transcriptionally repressed by E2F6 under normoxia, and the inhibitory effect was relieved in a hypoxic microenvironment. Gain‐ and loss‐of‐function studies revealed that LINC01436 acted as a proto‐oncogene by promoting lung cancer cell growth, migration and invasion in vitro. Xenograft tumor assays in nude mice confirmed that LINC01436 promoted tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC01436 exerted biological functions by acting as a microRNA (miR)‐30a‐3p sponge to regulate the expression of its target gene EPAS1. Our findings characterize LINC01436 as a new hypoxia‐sensitive lncRNA with oncogenic function in NSCLC, suggesting that LINC01436 may be a potential biomarker for prognosis and a potential target for treatment.

STAT3-induced upregulation of lncRNA MEG3 regulates the growth of cardiac hypertrophy through miR-361-5p/HDAC9 axis

Cardiac hypertrophy is closely correlated with diverse cardiovascular diseases, augmenting the risk of heart failure and sudden death. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been studied in cardiac hypertrophy for their regulatory function. LncRNA MEG3 has been reported in human cancers. Whereas, it is unknown whether MEG3 regulates the growth of cardiac hypertrophy. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the specific role of MEG3 in the progression of cardiac hypertrophy. Here, we found that MEG3 contributed to the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. MEG3 expression was remarkably strengthened in the mice heart which undergone the transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis revealed that MEG3 was upregulated in the cardiomyocytes which were treated with Ang-II. Silenced MEG3 inhibited the increasing size of hypertrophic cardiomyocytes and reversed other hypertrophic responses. Mechanically, MEG3 could affect cardiac hypertrophy by regulating gene expression. Mechanically, we found that MEG3 could be upregulated by the transcription factor STAT3 and could regulate miR-361-5p and HDAC9 by acting as a ceRNA. Finally, rescue assays were made to do further confirmation. All our findings revealed that STAT3-inducetd upregulation of lncRNA MEG3 controls cardiac hypertrophy by regulating miR-362-5p/HDAC9 axis.

Integrated analysis of lncRNA-associated ceRNA network reveals potential biomarkers for the prognosis of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

There is evidence that abnormal expression of lncRNAs is associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanisms remain not fully elucidated. The study aimed to identify novel lncRNAs and explore their underlying mechanisms based on the ceRNA hypothesis.

Methods

The RNA and miRNA expression profiling in 20 tumor and matched adjacent tissues from HBV–HCC patients were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database under accession numbers GSE77509 and GSE76903, respectively. Differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), miRNAs (DEMs), and genes (DEGs) were identified using the EdgeR package. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed for DEGs followed by module analysis. The ceRNA network was constructed based on interaction relationships between miRNAs and mRNAs/lncRNAs. The functions of DEGs were predicted using DAVID and BinGO databases. The prognosis values (overall survival [OS] and recurrence-free survival [RFS]) of ceRNA network genes were determined using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data with Cox regression analysis and Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

The present study screened 643 DELs, 83 DEMs, and 1,187 DEGs. PPI network analysis demonstrated that CDK1 and CCNE1 were hub genes and extracted in functionally related modules. E2F2, CDK1, and CCNE1 were significantly enriched into cell cycle pathway. FAM182B-miR-125b-5p-E2F2 and LINC00346-miR-10a-5p-CDK1/CCNE1 ceRNA axes were obtained by constructing the ceRNA network. Patients with high expressions of DELs and DEGs in the above ceRNA axes had poor OS, while patients with the high expression of DEMs possessed excellent OS. CDK1 was also an RFS-related biomarker, with its high expression predicting poor RFS. The upregulation of LINC00346 and CDK1 but the downregulation of miR-10a-5p in HCC was validated in other microarray datasets and TCGA database.

Conclusion

The LINC00346-miR-10a-5p-CDK1 axis may be an important mechanism for HBV-related HCC, and genes in this ceRNA axis may be potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Comprehensive analysis of potential prognostic genes for the construction of a competing endogenous RNA regulatory network in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an extremely common malignant tumor with worldwide prevalence. The aim of this study was to identify potential prognostic genes and construct a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network to explore the mechanisms underlying the development of HCC.

METHODS

Integrated analysis was used to identify potential prognostic genes in HCC with R software based on the GSE14520, GSE17548, GSE19665, GSE29721, GSE60502, and the Cancer Genome Atlas databases. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway-enrichment analyses were performed to explore the molecular mechanisms of potential prognostic genes. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and lncRNAs (DELs) were screened based on the Cancer Genome Atlas database. An lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA regulatory network was constructed based on information about interactions derived from the miRcode, TargetScan, miRTarBase, and miRDB databases.

RESULTS

A total of 152 potential prognostic genes were screened that were differentially expressed in HCC tissue and significantly associated with overall survival of HCC patients. There were 13 key potential prognostic genes in the ceRNA regulatory network: eleven upregulated genes (CCNB1, CEP55, CHEK1, EZH2, KPNA2, LRRC1, PBK, RRM2, SLC7A11, SUCO, and ZWINT) and two downregulated genes (ACSL1 and CDC37L1) whose expression might be regulated by eight DEMs and 61 DELs. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that nine DELs (AL163952.1, AL359878.1, AP002478.1, C2orf48, C10orf91, CLLU1, CLRN1-AS1, ERVMER61-1, and WARS2-IT1) in the ceRNA regulatory network were significantly associated with HCC-patient prognoses.

CONCLUSION

This study identified potential prognostic genes and constructed an lncRNA- miRNA-mRNA ceRNA regulatory network of HCC, which not only has important clinical significance for early diagnoses but also provides effective targets for HCC treatments and could provide new insights for HCC-interventional strategies.