lncRNA PVT1 Promotes Tumorigenesis of Colorectal Cancer by Stabilizing miR-16-5p and Interacting with the VEGFA/VEGFR1/AKT Axis

Unraveling the ncRNA landscape that governs colorectal cancer: A roadmap to personalized therapeutics

Colorectal cancer (CRC) being one of the most common malignancies, has a significant death rate, especially when detected at an advanced stage. In most cases, the fundamental aetiology of CRC remains unclear despite the identification of several environmental and intrinsic risk factors. Numerous investigations, particularly in the last ten years, have indicated the involvement of epigenetic variables in this type of cancer. The development, progression, and metastasis of CRC are influenced by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are significant players in the epigenetic pathways. LncRNAs are implicated in diverse pathological processes in CRC, such as liver metastasis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), inflammation, and chemo-/radioresistance. It has recently been determined that CRC cells and tissues exhibit dysregulation of tens of oncogenic and tumor suppressor lncRNAs. Serum samples from CRC patients exhibit dysregulated expressions of several of these transcripts, offering a non-invasive method of detecting this kind of cancer. In this review, we outlined the typical paradigms of the deregulated lncRNA which exert significant role in the underlying molecular mechanisms of CRC initiation and progression. We comprehensively discuss the role of lncRNAs as innovative targets for CRC prognosis and treatment.

The mechanism and therapeutic potential of lncRNA MIR497HG/miR-16-5p axis in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer has become a major public health problem in the current society, and its incidence rate ranks the first among Chinese female malignant tumors. This paper once again confirmed the efficacy of lncRNA in tumor regulation by introducing the mechanism of the diagnosis of breast cancer by the MIR497HG/miR-16-5p axis.

METHODS

The abnormal expression of MIR497HG in breast cancer was determined by RT-qPCR method, and the correlation between MIR497HG expression and clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer patients was analyzed via Chi-square test. To understand the diagnostic potential of MIR497HG in breast cancer by drawing the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). The overexpressed MIR497HG (pcDNA3.1-MIR497HG) was designed and constructed to explore the regulation of elevated MIR497HG on biological function of BT549 and Hs 578T cells through Transwell assays. Additionally, the luciferase gene reporter assay and Pearson analysis evaluated the targeting relationship of MIR497HG to miR-16-5p.

RESULTS

MIR497HG was decreased in breast cancer and had high diagnostic function, while elevated MIR497HG inhibited the migration and invasion of BT549 and Hs 578T cells. In terms of functional mechanism, miR-16-5p was the target of MIR497HG, and MIR497HG reversely regulated the miR-16-5p. miR-16-5p mimic reversed the effects of upregulated MIR497HG on cell biological function.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, MIR497HG was decreased in breast cancer, and the MIR497HG/miR-16-5p axis regulated breast cancer tumorigenesis, providing effective insights for the diagnosis of patients.

LncRNA PVT1 facilitates the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer by sponging with miR-3619-5p to regulate TRIM29 expression

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is involved in many malignant tumors. This study aimed to clarify the role of the lncRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) in CRC growth and metastasis.

METHODS

Differentially expressed lncRNAs in CRC were analyzed using the Cancer Genome Atlas. Gene expression profiling interactive analysis and a comprehensive resource for lncRNAs from cancer arrays databases were used to analyze lncRNA PVT1 expression and CRC prognosis, respectively. Cell counting kit-8, wound healing, colony formation, Transwell, and immunofluorescence assays were used to evaluate CRC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), respectively. Tumor growth and metastasis models were used to explore the PVT1 effect on the growth and metastasis of CRC in vivo.

RESULTS

PVT1 was highly expressed in CRC, associated with a poor prognosis of CRC, and showed good diagnostic value. Transfection of sh-PVT1 or pcDNA3.1-PVT1 reduced or increased the proliferation, wound healing rate, colony formation, invasion, and EMT of CRC cells. PVT1 and miR-3619-5p were co-expressed in CRC cytoplasm, and PVT1 acted as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging miR-3619-5p to up-regulate tripartite motif containing 29 (TRIM29) expression. MiR-3619-5p overexpression and TRIM29 knockdown reduced proliferation, wound healing rate, invasion, and EMT of CRC cells. However, simultaneous PVT1 and miR-3619-5p overexpression or knockdown of miR-3619-5p and TRIM29 knockdown rescued the malignant phenotype of CRC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

We first clarified the ceRNA mechanism of PVT1 in CRC, which induced growth and metastasis by sponging with miR-3619-5p to regulate TRIM29.

Deregulated Long Non-Coding RNAs (lncRNA) as Promising Biomarkers in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Background/Objectives: In recent times, epigenetics alterations in Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) have been explored and exploited translationally to guide investigation of new therapeutic approaches. On the other hand, long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs), main regulators of the epigenetic status of the human genome, have been scarcely investigated, notwithstanding their potential relevance in broad pathogenesis comprehension. Here, we aim to explore the methylation pattern of lncRNAs in HS. Methods: In this case-control study, 24 HS patients and age-, sex- and BMI-matched controls were analyzed to characterize the methylome of lncRNA genes in peripheral blood cells. Gene ontology analysis (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and MCODE analysis were performed. Results: A set of fifteen lncRNA genes exhibited significantly differential methylation patterns, with ten of them showing hypomethylation and five displaying hypermethylation at specific CpG sites. The hypomethylated lncRNA genes were DLEU2, MESTIT1, CASC2, TUG1, KCNQ1DN, PSORS1C3, PCA3, DSCR8, RFPL1S, and PVT1, while the hypermethylated ones were HAR1A, FAM66B, SNHG9, HCG9, and HCP5. These lncRNA genes have been linked to various important biological processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, chronic inflammatory skin diseases, and wound healing. Their altered methylation status suggests potential roles in regulating these processes, and may contribute to HS pathogenesis and healing mechanisms. Conclusions: This study revealed an interesting dysregulation pattern of definite lncRNAs in the methylome which is linked to both the development of HS and its comorbidities. Epigenetically altered lncRNAs genes could represent useful biomarkers, and could help in guiding innovative treatment strategies.

Regulation of VEGF-A expression and VEGF-A-targeted therapy in malignant tumors

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), a highly conserved dimeric glycoprotein, is a key regulatory gene and a marker molecule of angiogenesis. The upregulation of VEGF-A facilitates the process of tumor vascularization, thereby fostering the initiation and progression of malignant neoplasms. Many genes can adjust the angiogenesis of tumors by changing the expression of VEGF-A. In addition, VEGF-A also exhibits immune regulatory properties, which directly or indirectly suppresses the antitumor activity of immune cells. The emergence of VEGF-A-targeted therapy alone or in rational combinations has revolutionized the treatment of various cancers. This review discusses how diverse mechanisms in various tumors regulate VEGF-A expression to promote tumor angiogenesis and the role of VEGF-A in tumor immune microenvironment. The application of drugs targeting VEGF-A in tumor therapy is also summarized including antibody molecule drugs and traditional Chinese medicine.

LncRNA PVT1 promotes neuroinflammation after intracerebral hemorrhage by regulating the miR-128-3p/TXNIP axis

OBJECTIVE

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has significant morbidity and mortality. TXNIP and the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory mechanism involved in long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) play roles in ICH. We probed the upstream microRNAs (miRNAs)/lncRNAs that regulated TXNIP expression in the ceRNA mechanism.

METHODS

ICH mouse model was established, and ICH secondary injury was simulated in BV2 microglia by hemin treatment. TXNIP was silenced 48 h before ICH modeling. The ICH mouse brain water content (BWC) and brain lesion volume after ICH were recorded. Neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits were evaluated by double staining of NeuN and TUNEL/modified Garcia/corner turn/forelimb placement tests. Iba1 + microglia number and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/interleukin-1β (IL-1β)/IL-10/TXNIP/PVT1/miR-128-3p levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, ELISA, and RT-qPCR. Cell viability/death of BV2 cells conditioned medium-treated neuron HT22 cells were assessed by CCK-8/LDH assays. miRNA that had a targeted binding relationship with TXNIP was screened. The targeted bindings of miR-128-3p to TXNIP/PVT1 to miR-128-3p were verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

TXNIP knockdown reduced post-ICH microglial activation/release of pro-inflammatory factors/brain edema/brain lesion volume/neurological deficits in mice and increased releases of anti-inflammatory factors. TXNIP/PVT1 knockdown inhibited hemin-induced inflammatory responses in BV2 cells and protected in vitro co-cultured HT22 cells. PVT1 was a sponge of miR-128-3p to repress TXNIP expression. miR-128-3p knockdown diminished PVT1 knockdown-inhibited hemin-induced BV2 cell inflammatory responses/neurotoxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

PVT1 silencing reduced hemin-induced neuroinflammation and had a protective effect on neurons by increasing the targeted inhibition of TXNIP by miR-128-3p.

Decoding the regulatory landscape of lncRNAs as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for gastric and colorectal cancers

Colorectal cancer (CRC) and gastric cancer (GC) are major contributors to cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite advancements in understanding molecular mechanisms and improved drug treatments, the overall survival rate for patients remains unsatisfactory. Metastasis and drug resistance are major challenges contributing to the high mortality rate in both CRC and GC. Recent research has shed light on the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the development and progression of these cancers. LncRNAs regulate gene expression through various mechanisms, including epigenetic modifications and interactions with microRNAs (miRNAs) and proteins. They can serve as miRNA precursors or pseudogenes, modulating gene expression at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Additionally, circulating lncRNAs have emerged as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of drug therapy response in CRC and GC. This review explores the intricate relationship between lncRNAs and CRC/GC, encompassing their roles in cancer development, progression, and chemoresistance. Furthermore, it discusses the potential of lncRNAs as therapeutic targets in these malignancies. The interplay between lncRNAs, miRNAs, and tumor microenvironment is also highlighted, emphasizing their impact on the complexity of cancer biology. Understanding the regulatory landscape and molecular mechanisms governed by lncRNAs in CRC and GC is crucial for the development of effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as novel therapeutic strategies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge and paves the way for further exploration of lncRNAs as key players in the management of CRC and GC.

Targeting long non-coding RNAs as new modulators in anti-EGFR resistance mechanisms

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a cell surface protein that plays a vital role in regulating cell growth and division. However, certain tumors, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), can exhibit an overexpression of EGFR, resulting in uncontrolled cell growth and tumor progression. To address this issue, therapies targeting and inhibiting EGFR activity have been developed to suppress cancer growth. Nevertheless, resistance to these therapies poses a significant obstacle in cancer treatment. Recent research has focused on comprehending the underlying mechanisms contributing to anti-EGFR resistance and identifying new targets to overcome this striking challenge. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules that do not encode proteins but play pivotal roles in gene regulation and cellular processes. Emerging evidence suggests that lncRNAs may participate in modulating resistance to anti-EGFR therapies in CRC. Consequently, combining lncRNA targeting with the existing treatment modalities could potentially yield improved clinical outcomes. Illuminating the involvement of lncRNAs in anti-EGFR resistance mechanisms of cancer cells can provide valuable insights into the development of novel anti-EGFR therapies in several solid tumors.

Identification of LncPVT1 and CircPVT1 as prognostic biomarkers in human colorectal polyps

LncPVT1 and CircPVT1 are isoforms for the PVT1 gene and are associated with cancer progression and carcinogenesis. Our study investigated the expression of LncPVT1 and CircPVT1 in colon adenoma polyps. 40 tissues of colorectal polyps and 40 normal-adjacent tissues (NATs) were taken. The expression of LncPVT1 and CircPVT1 was evaluated through qRael-Time PCR. The relation between expression and features of clinicopathological was explored. The ceRNA network was constructed by LncPVT1 and CircPVT1 and predicted miRNAs and miRNAs targets. Further, hub nodes in this network were determined using the cytoHubba package. Over-expressed LncPVT1 and CircPVT1 were differentiated in polyp and NATs. The expression level of LncPVT1 and CircPVT1 were significantly higher in adenoma polyps than in hyperplastic polyps. The area under the curve of the ROC estimate for the LncPVT1 and CircPVT1 was 0.74 and 0.77, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between the LncPVT1 expression and CircPVT1. Three miRNAs, including hsa-miR-484, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-423-5p, and CircPVT1, were detected as ceRNA hub nodes. In this study, expression profiles of LncPVT1 and CircPVT1 were significantly higher in precancerous polyps. In addition, based on our in silico analysis, LncPVT1, CircPVT1/miR-484, miR-24-3p, miR-423-5p/PLAGL2 axis might be involved in colon cancer development. LncPVT1 and CircPVT1 can be prescribed as warning problems as potential prognostic biomarkers in patients with pre-CRC colon polyps.

Micro RNAs as a Diagnostic Marker between Glioma and Primary CNS Lymphoma: A Systematic Review

Differentiating glioma from primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) can be challenging, and current diagnostic measures such as MRI and biopsy are of limited efficacy. Liquid biopsies, which detect circulating biomarkers such as microRNAs (miRs), may provide valuable insights into diagnostic biomarkers for improved discrimination. This review aimed to investigate the role of specific miRs in diagnosing and differentiating glioma from PCNSL. A systematic search was conducted of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase for articles on liquid biopsies as a diagnostic method for glioma and PCNSL. Sixteen dysregulated miRs were identified with significantly different levels in glioma and PCNSL, including miR-21, which was the most prominent miR with higher levels in PCNSL, followed by glioma, including glioblastoma (GBM), and control groups. The lowest levels of miR-16 and miR-205 were observed in glioma, followed by PCNSL and control groups, whereas miR-15b and miR-301 were higher in both tumor groups, with the highest levels observed in glioma patients. The levels of miR-711 were higher in glioma (including GBM) and downregulated in PCNSL compared to the control group. This review suggests that using these six circulating microRNAs as liquid biomarkers with unique changing patterns could aid in better discrimination between glioma, especially GBM, and PCNSL.

Screening and introduction of key cell cycle microRNAs deregulated in colorectal cancer by integrated bioinformatics analysis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in women and the third most common in men worldwide. Impaired cell cycle regulation leads to many cancers and is also approved in CRC. Therefore, cell cycle regulation is a critical therapeutic target for CRC. Furthermore, miRNAs have been discovered as regulators in a variety of cancer-related pathways. This study is designed to investigate how miRNAs and mRNAs interact to regulate the cell cycle in CRC patients. Utilizing the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), cell cycle-associated genes were identified and evaluated. Seven of the 22 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) implicated in the cell cycle in three GSEs (GSE24514, GSE10950, and GSE74604) were identified as potential therapeutic targets. Then, using PyRx software, we performed docking proteins with selected drugs. The results demonstrated that these drugs are appropriate molecules for targeting cell cycle DEGs. Tarbase, miRTarbase, miRDIP, and miRCancer databases were used to find miRNAs that target the indicated genes. The ability of these six miRNAs to impact the cell cycle in colorectal cancer may be concluded. These miRNAs were found to be downregulated in SW480 cells when compared to the normal tissue. Our data imply that a precise selection of bioinformatics tools can facilitate the identification of miRNAs that impact mRNA translation at different stages of the cell cycle. The candidates can be investigated more as targets for cell cycle arrest in cancers.

Colon cancer transcriptome

Over the last four decades, methodological innovations have continuously changed transcriptome profiling. It is now feasible to sequence and quantify the transcriptional outputs of individual cells or thousands of samples using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). These transcriptomes serve as a connection between cellular behaviors and their underlying molecular mechanisms, such as mutations. This relationship, in the context of cancer, provides a chance to unravel tumor complexity and heterogeneity and uncover novel biomarkers or treatment options. Since colon cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies, its prognosis and diagnosis seem to be critical. The transcriptome technology is developing for an earlier and more accurate diagnosis of cancer which can provide better protectivity and prognostic utility to medical teams and patients. A transcriptome is a whole set of expressed coding and non-coding RNAs in an individual or cell population. The cancer transcriptome includes RNA-based changes. The combined genome and transcriptome of a patient may provide a comprehensive picture of their cancer, and this information is beginning to affect treatment decision-making in real-time. A full assessment of the transcriptome of colon (colorectal) cancer has been assessed in this review paper based on risk factors such as age, obesity, gender, alcohol use, race, and also different stages of cancer, as well as non-coding RNAs like circRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and siRNAs. Similarly, they have been examined independently in the transcriptome study of colon cancer.

Novel insight on GRP/GRPR axis in diseases

The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), a member of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), binds to ligands such as gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and plays a variety of biological roles. GRP/GRPR signalling is involved in the pathophysiological processes of many diseases, including inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, and various cancers. In the immune system, the unique function of GRP/GRPR in neutrophil chemotaxis suggests that GRPR can be directly stimulated through GRP-mediated neutrophils to activate selective signalling pathways, such as PI3K, PKC, and MAPK, and participate in the occurrence and development of inflammation-related diseases. In the cardiovascular system, GRP increases intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and induces vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). GRP activates ERK1/2, MAPK, and AKT, leading to cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction. Central nervous system signal transduction mediated by the GRP/GRPR axis plays a vital role in emotional responses, social interaction, and memory. The GRP/GRPR axis is elevated in various cancers, including lung, cervical, colorectal, renal cell, and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. GRP is a mitogen in a variety of tumour cell lines. Its precursor, pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP), may play an important role as an emerging tumour marker in early tumour diagnosis. GPCRs serve as therapeutic targets for drug development, but their function in each disease remains unclear, and their involvement in disease progression has not been well explored or summarised. This review lays out the above mentioned pathophysiological processes based on previous research conclusions. The GRP/GRPR axis may be a potential target for treating multiple diseases, and the study of this signalling axis is particularly important.

Mechanism Research of Platelet Core Marker Prediction and Molecular Recognition in Cardiovascular Events

BACKGROUND

Thrombosis triggered by platelet activation plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to find platelet combined biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases and investigate the possibility of Concanavalin A (ConA) acting on platelets as a new pharmacological target.

METHODS

High-throughput Technology and bioinformatics analysis were combined and groups of microarray chip gene expression profiles for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and sickle cell disease (SCD) were obtained using GEO database screening. R language limma package was used to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GO, KEGG, and other databases were utilized to perform the enrichment analysis of DEGs' functions, pathways, etc. PPI network was constructed using STRING database and Cytoscape software, and MCC algorithm was used to obtain the 200 core genes of the two groups of DEGs. Core targets were confirmed by constructing an intersection area screening. A type of molecular probe, ConA, was molecularly docked with the above core targets on the Zdock, HEX, and 3D-DOCK servers.

RESULTS

We found six core markers, CD34, SOCS2, ABL1, MTOR, VEGFA, and SMURF1, which were simultaneously related to both diseases, and the docking effect showed that VEGFA is the best-performing.

CONCLUSION

VEGFA is most likely to reduce its expression by binding to ConA, which could affect the downstream regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway during platelet activation. Some other core targets also have the opportunity to interact with ConA to affect platelet-activated thrombosis and trigger changes in cardiovascular events.

An epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related mRNA signature associated with the prognosis, immune infiltration and therapeutic response of colon adenocarcinoma

Background: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is closely associated with cancer cell metastasis. Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is one of the most common malignancies in the world, and its metastasis leading to poor prognosis remains a challenge for clinicians. The purpose of this study was to explore the prognostic value of EMT-related genes (EMTRGs) by bioinformatics analysis and to develop a new EMTRGs prognostic signature for COAD. Methods: The TCGA-COAD dataset was downloaded from the TCGA portal as the training cohort, and the GSE17538 and GSE29621 datasets were obtained from the GEO database as the validation cohort. The best EMTRGs prognostic signature was constructed by differential expression analysis, Cox, and LASSO regression analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) is used to reveal pathways that are enriched in high-risk and low-risk groups. Differences in tumor immune cell levels were analyzed using microenvironmental cell population counter and single sample gene set enrichment analysis. Subclass mapping analysis and Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer were applied for prediction of immunotherapy response and chemotherapy response, respectively. Results: A total of 77 differentially expressed EMTRGs were identified in the TCGA-COAD cohort, and they were significantly associated with functions and pathways related to cancer cell metastasis, proliferation, and apoptosis. We constructed EMTRGs prognostic signature with COMP, MYL9, PCOLCE2, SCG2, and TIMP1 as new COAD prognostic biomarkers. The high-risk group had a poorer prognosis with enhanced immune cell infiltration. The GSEA demonstrated that the high-risk group was involved in "ECM Receptor Interaction," "WNT Signaling Pathway" and "Colorectal Cancer." Furthermore, patients with high risk scores may respond to anti-CTLA4 therapy and may be more resistant to targeted therapy agents BI 2536 and ABT-888. Conclusion: Together, we developed a new EMTRGs prognostic signature that can be an independent prognostic factor for COAD. This study has guiding implications for individualized counseling and treatment of COAD patients.

The RNA demethylase ALKBH5 promotes the progression and angiogenesis of lung cancer by regulating the stability of the LncRNA PVT1

Background

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common posttranscriptional modification of RNA and plays critical roles in human cancer progression. However, the biological function of m6A methylation requires further studied in cancer, especially in tumor angiogenesis.

Methods

A public database was used to analyze the expression and overall survival of ALKBH5 and PVT1 in lung cancer patients. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were performed to detect cell proliferation, a transwell assay was used to assess cell migration, and a tube formation assay was performed to assess angiogenic potential in vitro. A zebrafish lung cancer xenograft model was used to verify the function of ALKBH5 and PVT1 in vivo. Western blot assays were used to measure the relative protein expression in lung cancer cells. SRAMP predictor analysis and RNA stability experiments were used to examine the potential m6A modification.

Results

Bioinformatics analysis showed that the expression levels of m6A-related genes were changed significantly in lung cancer tissues compared with normal lung tissues. We then identified that ALKBH5 was upregulated in lung cancer tissues and associated with poor prognosis of lung cancer patients by analyzing a public database. Knockdown of ALKBH5 inhibited the proliferation and migration of cultured lung cancer cell lines. Zebrafish lung cancer xenografts showed that ALKBH5 silencing also suppressed the growth and metastasis of lung cancer cells. Moreover, knockdown of ALKBH5 inhibited the angiogenesis of lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies showed that knockdown of ALKBH5 decreased the expression and stability of PVT1 in lung cancer cells. We next observed that PVT1 promoted the progression of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo and regulated the expression of VEGFA and angiogenesis in lung cancer. Finally, rescue experiments revealed that ALKBH5 regulated the proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of lung cancer cells, partially through PVT1.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that ALKBH5 promotes the progression and angiogenesis of lung cancer by regulating the expression and stability of PVT1, which provides a potential prognostic and therapeutic target for lung cancer patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02770-0.

A review on the role of mir-16-5p in the carcinogenesis

miR-16-5p is microRNA with important roles in the development of diverse malignancies including neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, cervical cancer, breast cancer, brain tumors, gastrointestinal cancers, lung cancer and bladder cancer. This miRNA has 22 nucleotides. hsa-miR-16-5p is produced by MIR16-1 gene. First evidence for its participation in the carcinogenesis has been obtained by studies reporting deletion and/or down-regulation of these miRNAs in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Subsequent studies have shown down-regulation of miR-16-5p in a variety of cancer cell lines and clinical samples. Besides, tumor suppressor role of miR-16-5p has been verified in animal models of different types of cancers. Studies in these models have shown that over-expression of this miRNA or modulation of expression of lncRNAs that sponge this miRNA can block carcinogenic processes. In the current review, we summarize function of miR-16-5p in the development and progression of different cancers.

Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Colorectal Cancer: Focus on Long Non-Coding RNAs

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite the advances in the knowledge of pathogenetic molecular mechanisms and the implementation of more effective drug treatments in recent years, the overall survival rate of patients remains unsatisfactory. The high death rate is mainly due to metastasis of cancer in about half of the cancer patients and the emergence of drug-resistant populations of cancer cells. Improved understanding of cancer molecular biology has highlighted the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in colorectal cancer development and evolution. ncRNAs regulate gene expression through various mechanisms, including epigenetic modifications and interactions of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with both microRNAs (miRNAs) and proteins, and through the action of lncRNAs as miRNA precursors or pseudogenes. LncRNAs can also be detected in the blood and circulating ncRNAs have become a new source of non-invasive cancer biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer, as well as for predicting the response to drug therapy. In this review, we focus on the role of lncRNAs in colorectal cancer development, progression, and chemoresistance, and as possible therapeutic targets.

lncRNA PVT1: a novel oncogene in multiple cancers

Long noncoding RNAs are involved in epigenetic gene modification, including binding to the chromatin rearrangement complex in pre-transcriptional regulation and to gene promoters in gene expression regulation, as well as acting as microRNA sponges to control messenger RNA levels in post-transcriptional regulation. An increasing number of studies have found that long noncoding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) plays an important role in cancer development. In this review of a large number of studies on PVT1, we found that PVT1 is closely related to tumor onset, proliferation, invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transformation, and apoptosis, as well as poor prognosis and radiotherapy and chemotherapy resistance in some cancers. This review comprehensively describes PVT1 expression in various cancers and presents novel approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

PVT1 inhibits miR-515-5p function and modulate HMGB3 to promote the growth of prostate cancer cells

AIM

This study is performed to analyze the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) in prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

PVT1, miR-515-5p, and high mobility group B3 (HMGB3) mRNA expressions were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). After gain-of-function and loss-of-function models were established, the changes in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, and Transwell experiments. Validation of the targeting relationships between PVT1 and miR-515-5p, and between miR-515-5p and HMGB3 was conducted using bioinformatics prediction, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) experiment. Moreover, the effects of PVT1 and miR-515-5p on HMGB3 protein expression were examined using Western blot.

RESULTS

PVT1 expression and HMGB3 expression were up-regulated in PCa tissues and cell lines while miR-515-5p expression was down-regulated. PVT1 knockdown restrained the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LNCaP and DU145 cells in vitro, and the transfection with miR-515-5p inhibitors reversed these effects. Mechanistically, PVT1 could repress the function of miR-515; HMGB3 was proved to be a target gene of miR-515-5p, and its expression could be indirectly positively modulated by PVT1.

CONCLUSION

PVT1 accelerates PCa progression by repress miR-515-5p's function to upregulate HMGB3 expression. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

LncRNA PVT1 is a novel mediator promoting the angiogenesis response associated with collateral artery formation

AIMS

Angiogenesis plays a key role in coronary collateral circulation (CCC), the compensatory formation of new blood vessels during chronic total coronary occlusion. This study aimed to determine whether plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1), a long non-coding (lnc) RNA involved in tumor angiogenesis, plays a role in regulating angiogenesis during chronic coronary ischemia.

MAIN METHODS

Patients with coronary artery disease, and ≥90% stenosis, were examined and divided into "Good" and "Poor" CCC groups based on Rentrop Cohen classification. RNA samples were obtained from all patients, as well as from oxygen and glucose-deprived (OGD) HUVECs. PVT1, miR-15b-5p and AKT3 levels were measured with RT-qPCR or Western blot, while HUVEC migration and angiogenesis were detected by, respectively, wound-healing and tube formation assays. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed direct PVT1-miR-15b-5p binding.

KEY FINDINGS

Increased PVT1 was found in "Good CCC" patient plasma, along with being highly expressed among OGD HUVECs; PVT1 knockdown reduced HUVEC migration, tube formation, and pro-angiogenic factor expression. Conversely, OGD HUVECs had downregulated miR-15b-5p, and miR-15b-5p overexpression significantly depressed their angiogenic capabilities. These PVT1 knockdown- or miR-15b-5p overexpression-associated reductions in angiogenic effects were reversed by AKT3 overexpression. In vivo, neovascularization and functioning in both ischemic mice hind-limbs and infarcted myocardium injected with ADV-sh-PVT1 were reduced, which were ameliorated by concurrent antagomiR-15b-5p injections.

SIGNIFICANCE

Circulating PVT1 may serve as a useful biomarker to distinguish between good versus poor CCC, as it is involved in orchestrating angiogenesis via the miR-15b-5p-AKT3 axis; it thus has potential as a target for treating ischemic disease.

CASC11 and PVT1 spliced transcripts play an oncogenic role in colorectal carcinogenesis

Cancer is fundamentally a genetic disorder that alters cellular information flow toward aberrant growth. The coding part accounts for less than 2% of the human genome, and it has become apparent that aberrations within the noncoding genome drive important cancer phenotypes. The numerous carcinogenesis-related genomic variations in the 8q24 region include single nucleotide variations (SNVs), copy number variations (CNVs), and viral integrations occur in the neighboring areas of the MYC locus. It seems that MYC is not the only target of these alterations. The MYC-proximal mutations may act via regulatory noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). In this study, gene expression analyses indicated that the expression of some PVT1 spliced linear transcripts, CircPVT1, CASC11, and MYC is increased in colorectal cancer (CRC). Moreover, the expression of these genes is associated with some clinicopathological characteristics of CRC. Also, in vitro studies in CRC cell lines demonstrated that CASC11 is mostly detected in the nucleus, and different transcripts of PVT1 have different preferences for nuclear and cytoplasmic parts. Furthermore, perturbation of PVT1 expression and concomitant perturbation in PVT1 and CASC11 expression caused MYC overexpression. It seems that transcription of MYC is under regulatory control at the transcriptional level, i.e., initiation and elongation of transcription by its neighboring genes. Altogether, the current data provide evidence for the notion that these noncoding transcripts can significantly participate in the MYC regulation network and in the carcinogenesis of colorectal cells.

Long non-coding RNA PVT1: A promising chemotherapy and radiotherapy sensitizer

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) PVT1 was first found to activate variant translocations in the plasmacytoma of mice. Human lncPVT1 is located on chromosome 8q24.21, at the same locus as the well-known MYC oncogene. LncPVT1 has been found to promote the progression of various malignancies. Chemoresistance and radioresistance seriously affect tumor treatment efficacy and are associated with the dysregulation of physiological processes in cancer cells, including apoptosis, autophagy, stemness (for cancer stem cells, CSC), hypoxia, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and DNA damage repair. Previous studies have also implicated lncPVT1 in the regulation of these physiological mechanisms. In recent years, lncPVT1 was found to modulate chemoresistance and radioresistance in some cancers. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of lncPVT1-mediated regulation of cellular chemoresistance and radioresistance. Due to its high expression in malignant tumors and sensitization effect in chemotherapy and radiotherapy, lncPVT1 is expected to become an effective antitumor target and chemotherapy and radiotherapy sensitizer, which requires further study.

Deleted in lymphocytic leukemia 2 induces retinoic acid receptor beta promoter methylation and mitogen activated kinase-like protein activation to enhance viability and mobility of colorectal cancer cells

Abnormal expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is frequently linked to the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). This work explored the function of lncRNA deleted in lymphocytic leukemia 2 (DLEU2) in CRC and the epigenetic mechanism. Candidate oncogenes in CRC were predicted using a GSE146587 dataset. DLEU2 was highly expressed in CRC according to the bioinformatic analysis and its high expression was detected in CRC cells compared to the normal colon epithelial cells (FHC). Downregulation of DLEU2 in CRC SW480 and HT29 cells suppressed viability, migration, invasiveness, and resistance to apoptosis of cells. The mRNA microarray analysis was performed to explore the key molecules mediated by DLEU2. Retinoic acid receptor beta (RARB) expression was elevated in cells after DLEU2 downregulation. The promoter methylation of RARB was enhanced in CRC cells compared to normal FHC cells. DLEU2 induced promoter methylation of RARB to downregulate its expression. Further silencing of RARB restored proliferation and invasiveness of cells blocked by sh-DLEU2. Upregulation of DLEU2 activated the mitogen activated kinase-like protein (MAPK) signaling pathway to trigger CRC progression. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that DLEU2 enhances viability and mobility of CRC cells by inducing RARB promoter methylation and activating the MAPK signaling pathway.

LncRNA PVT1 Promotes Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Migration and Inhibits Cell Apoptosis by Phosphorylating YAP

Gastric cancer (GC) as a serious global health problem is a threat to human longevity. Plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) participates in the formation and progression of various cancers, including GC. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanism underlying the functions of PVT1 and explore a novel target for the diagnosis and treatment of GC. Analysis of the TCGA dataset using the R software identified that the lncRNA PVT1 was greatly upregulated in GC tissues. Twenty pairs of GC and adjacent normal tissues were acquired from patients with GC, and the expression of PVT1 was evaluated using RT-qPCR. Furthermore, PVT1 expression was knocked down in GC cells using siRNA, and the GC cells were divided into control, negative control (NC), and siRNA groups. Cell proliferation ability was analyzed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and colony formation assays, whereas cell migration and invasion ability were investigated through wound healing and Transwell assays. Moreover, Western blotting was used to analyze the expression of Yes-associated protein (YAP) and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) proteins. We also found that PVT1 and YAP expressions were upregulated in the GC tissues compared with those in the adjacent nontumor tissues. Knockdown of PVT1 was found to inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration and promote apoptosis of GC cells. Furthermore, knockdown of PVT1 downregulated YAP and promoted phosphorylation of YAP, suggesting that PVT1 exerts actions on GC cells by targeting YAP and inhibits cell apoptosis in vitro. The EMT process was also inhibited by the knockdown of PVT1. In summary, lncRNA PVT1 facilitated cell proliferation, invasion, and migration and suppressed cell apoptosis by targeting YAP. This study suggests that the expressions of PVT1 and YAP could be used for the early detection of GC and the occurrence and development of GC could be inhibited by interfering the interaction of PVT1 and YAP, which will provide new insights for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of GC.

Potentials of long non-coding RNAs as biomarkers of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignant tumor worldwide and the fourth major cause of cancer-related death, with high morbidity and increased mortality year by year. Although significant progress has been made in the therapy strategies for CRC, the great difficulty in early diagnosis, feeble susceptibility to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and high recurrence rates have reduced therapeutic efficacy resulting in poor prognosis. Therefore, it is urgent to understand the pathogenesis of CRC and unravel novel biomarkers to improve the early diagnosis, treatment and prediction of CRC recurrence. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with a length of more than 200 nucleotides, which are abnormally expressed in tumor tissues and cell lines, activating or inhibiting specific genes through multiple mechanisms including transcription and translation. A growing number of studies have shown that lncRNAs are important regulators of microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) expression in CRC and may be promising biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in the research field of CRC. This review mainly summarizes the potential application value of lncRNAs as novel biomarkers in CRC diagnosis, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and prognosis. Additionally, the significance of lncRNA SNHGs family and lncRNA-miRNA networks in regulating the occurrence and development of CRC is mentioned, aiming to provide some insights for understanding the pathogenesis of CRC and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

microRNA-16-5p suppresses cell proliferation and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer by negatively regulating forkhead box K1 to block the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) have aroused increasing attention in colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy. This study is designed for a detailed analysis of the roles of miR-16-5p and forkhead box K1 (FOXK1) in cell angiogenesis and proliferation during CRC in addition to their underlying mechanisms. CRC tissues and colon cancer cell lines (SW620 and HCT8) were investigated. qRT-PCR and Western blot were utilized to evaluate miR-16-5p and FOXK1 expression. Following gain- and loss-of-function assays on miR-16-5p or FOXK1, the effects of miR-16-5p and FOXK1 were assessed on cell angiogenesis and proliferation in CRC cells. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was employed to evaluate the binding relationship of miR-16-5p and FOXK1. Western blot was used to determine the effects of miR-16-5p and FOXK1 on key molecules of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Highly expressed FOXK1 and lowly expressed miR-16-5p were observed in CRC cells and tissues. miR-16-5p overexpression or FOXK1 knockdown reduced CRC cell proliferation and angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells co-cultured with the supernatant of CRC cells, whereas miR-16-5p silencing or FOXK1 upregulation caused opposite trends. Additionally, miR-16-5p negatively modulated FOXK1 expression. The blockade of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway was triggered by miR-16-5p overexpression or FOXK1 silencing. In conclusion, miR-16-5p hampers cell angiogenesis and proliferation during CRC by targeting FOXK1 to block the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Major Role for Cellular MicroRNAs, Long Noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and the Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded BART lncRNA during Tumor Growth In Vivo

This study assessed the effects of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and one form of virally encoded BART long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) on cellular expression in epithelial cells grown in vitro and as tumors in vivo determined by high-throughput RNA sequencing of mRNA and small RNAs. Hierarchical clustering based on gene expression distinguished the cell lines from the tumors and distinguished the EBV-positive tumors and the BART tumors from the EBV-negative tumors. EBV and BART expression also induced specific expression changes in cellular microRNAs (miRs) and lncRNAs. Multiple known and predicted targets of the viral miRs, the induced cellular miRs, and lncRNAs were identified in the altered gene set. The changes in expression in vivo indicated that the suppression of growth pathways in vivo reflects increased expression of cellular miRs in all tumors. In the EBV and BART tumors, many of the targets of the induced miRs were not changed and the seed sequences of the nonfunctional miRs were found to have homologous regions within the BART lncRNA. The inhibition of these miR effects on known targets suggests that these induced miRs have reduced function due to sponging by the BART lncRNA. This composite analysis identified the effects of EBV on cellular miRs and lncRNAs with a functional readout through identification of the simultaneous effects on gene expression. Major shifts in gene expression in vivo are likely mediated by effects on cellular noncoding RNAs. Additionally, a predicted property of the BART lncRNA is to functionally inhibit the induced cellular miRs.

Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer: Role of Non-coding RNAs

High oxidative stress, Th1/Th17 immune response, M1 macrophage inflammation, and cell death are associated with cardiovascular diseases. Controlled oxidative stress, Th2/Treg anti-tumor immune response, M2 macrophage inflammation, and survival are associated with cancer. MiR-21 protects against cardiovascular diseases but may induce tumor growth by retaining the anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage and Treg phenotypes and inhibiting apoptosis. Down-regulation of let-7, miR-1, miR-9, miR-16, miR-20a, miR-22a, miR-23a, miR-24a, miR-26a, miR-29, miR-30a, miR-34a, miR-124, miR-128, miR-130a, miR-133, miR-140, miR-143-145, miR-150, miR-153, miR-181a, miR-378, and miR-383 may aid cancer cells to escape from stresses. Upregulation of miR-146 and miR-223 may reduce anti-tumor immune response together with miR-21 that also protects against apoptosis. MiR-155 and silencing of let-7e, miR-125, and miR-126 increase anti-tumor immune response. MiR expression depends on oxidative stress, cytokines, MYC, and TGF-β, and expression of silencing lncRNAs and circ-RNAs. However, one lncRNA or circ-RNA may have opposite effects by targeting several miRs. For example, PVT1 induces apoptosis by targeting miR-16a and miR-30a but inhibits apoptosis by silencing miR-17. In addition, levels of a non-coding RNA in a cell type depend not only on expression in that cell type but also on an exchange of microvesicles between cell types and tumors. Although we got more insight into the function of a growing number of individual non-coding RNAs, overall, we do not know enough how several of them interact in functional networks and how their expression changes at different stages of disease progression.

Serum exosomal miR ‐16‐5p functions as a tumor inhibitor and a new biomarker for PD‐L1 inhibitor‐dependent immunotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma by regulating PD‐L1 expression

Objectives

We aimed at investigating whether serum exosomal miR‐16‐5p could be utilized as an immunotherapy biomarker in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients administered by programmed cell death ligand‐1 (PD‐L1) inhibitors, and to evaluate its functions in LUAD progression.

Methods

Sixty LUAD sufferers and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were covered in this work. We applied both IHC and WB to examine PD‐L1 level in clinical tissue samples and utilized WB to quantify PD‐L1 expression in LUAD cells and LUAD xenograft tissues, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), WB, and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) were executed to confirm the exosomes isolated from serum specimens and cell culture media. To quantify of exosomal miR‐16‐5p level from serum and culture medium of cultured cell, qRT‐PCR experiment was utilized. The connection between tissue PD‐L1 level and serum exosomal miR‐16‐5p expression in PD‐L1‐positive sufferers administered by PD‐L1 inhibitors was verified using Spearman correlation coefficient analysis. In addition, the overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) rates among PD‐L1 inhibitor managed sufferers were acquired through a follow‐up visit. Finally, we used a group of assays, including 5‐bromo‐2′‐dexoyuridine (BrdU) and colony formation test, wound healing experiment, flow cytometry, and nude mice xenograft experiment, to explore the functions of circulating exosomal miR‐16‐5p on LUAD cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration, as well as tumor development, respectively.

Results

PD‐L1 expression was positively related to T stage (tumor size stage), and PD‐L1 inhibitor treatment reduced the PD‐L1 expression and mitigated T stage in PD‐L1‐positive LUAD sufferers. For PD‐L1‐positive LUAD sufferers, elevated PD‐L1 expression or reduced serum exosomal miR‐16‐5p level were linked to longer PFS and OS upon PD‐L1 inhibitor treatment. The number of exosomes in patient's serum was more than that in the serum of healthy individuals, and PD‐L1 inhibitor treatment decreased the number of serum‐derived exosomes in PD‐L1‐positive LUAD sufferers. Exosome‐derived miR‐16‐5p was downregulated in patient's serum and cell culture medium, and this was negatively linked to tumor stage and PD‐L1 expression. Meanwhile, PD‐L1 inhibitor treatment could increase the serum exosomal miR‐16‐5p expression, and the expression change of serum exosomal miR‐16‐5p was diametrically related to PD‐L1 after the treatment. Moreover, the overexpression of PD‐L1 accelerated tumor growth and decreased the exosomal miR‐16‐5p content in cell culture media, while exosomal miR‐16‐5p overexpression in cell culture media inhibited tumor development by decreasing the PD‐L1 expression. Exosomal miR‐16‐5p overexpression in cell culture media also depressed LUAD cell proliferation and migration, and stimulated cell apoptosis, especially in the cells which cultured in the mediums with PD‐L1 inhibitor in vitro.

Conclusions

Serum exosomal miR‐16‐5p may be a latent tumor inhibitor and a new biomarker for PD‐L1 inhibitor‐dependent immunotherapy in LUAD by regulating the PD‐L1 expression.

Deciphering the roles of miR-16-5p in Malignant Solid Tumorsmalignant solid tumors

MiR-16-5p, a member of the miR-16 family, has been reported to be abnormal expression in tumor tissues and blood of tumor patients, and also downregulated in most cancer cell lines. Aberrant expression of miR-16-5p promotes tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and can also affect the treatment sensitivity, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Generally, miR-16-5p plays an anti-tumor role and these diverse functions of miR-16-5p in tumors collectively indicate that miR-16-5p may become an attractive target for novel anticancer therapies and a powerful diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for early tumor detection and population risk screening. Herein we review the role and utilization of miR-16-5p in malignant tumor in detail.

Dioscin Reduces Vascular Damage in the Retina of db/db Mice by Inhibiting the VEGFA Signaling Pathway

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes that has a serious impact on the quality of life of patients. VEGFA is necessary in the physiological state to maintain endothelial activity and physical properties of blood vessels. VEGFA plays an important role in the promotion of neovascularization; therefore, inhibition of VEGFA can degrade the structure of blood vessels and reduce neovascularization. In the present study, HERB, a high-throughput experimental and reference-oriented database of herbal medicines, was used for compound mining targeting VEGFA. The compounds most likely to interact with VEGFA were screened by molecular docking. Next, the compounds were used to verify whether it could inhibit the activity of the VEGF signaling pathway in vitro and neovascularization in vivo. In vitro, we found that dioscin could inhibit the activation of the VEGFA–VEGFR2 signaling pathway and cell proliferation of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells in a high-glucose (HG) environment. A more important dioscin intervention inhibits the expression of pro-angiogenic factors in the retinas of db/db mice. In conclusion, our study indicates that dioscin reduces the vascular damage and the expression of pro-angiogenic factors in the retina of db/db mice and implies an important and potential application of dioscin for treatment of DR in clinics.

A diagnostic and prognostic value of blood-based circulating long non-coding RNAs in Thyroid, Pancreatic and Ovarian Cancer

Several studies have demonstrated the potential of circulating long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as promising cancer biomarkers. Herein, we addressed the regulatory role of circulating lncRNAs and their potential value as diagnostic/prognostic markers for thyroid, pancreatic and ovarian cancers. Furthermore, we analyzed and measured the clinical implications and association of lncRNAs with sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve (AUC). Based on our meta-analysis, we found that GAS8-AS1 could discriminate thyroid cancer from non-cancer and other cancers with higher accuracy (AUC = 0.746; sensitivity = 61.70%, and specificity = 90.00%). Similarly, for ovarian cancer, lncRNA RP5-837J1.2 was found to have ideal diagnostic potential with critical clinical specifications of AUC = 0.996; sensitivity = 97.30% and specificity = 94.60%. Whereas we could not find any lncRNA having high diagnostic/prognostic efficiency in pancreatic cancer. We believe that lncRNAs mentioned above may explore clinical settings for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients.

KRAS-related long noncoding RNAs in human cancers

KRAS is one of the most widely prevalent proto-oncogenes in human cancers. The constitutively active KRAS oncoprotein contributes to both tumor onset and cancer development by promoting cell proliferation and anchorage-independent growth in a MAPK pathway-dependent manner. The expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and the KRAS oncogene are known to be dysregulated in various cancers, while long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can act as regulators of the miRNAs targeting KRAS oncogene in different cancers and have gradually become a focus of research in recent years. In this review article, we summarize recent advances in the research on lncRNAs that have sponging effects on KRAS-targeting miRNAs as crucial mediators of KRAS expression in different cell types and organs. A deeper understanding of lncRNA function in KRAS-driven cancers is of major fundamental importance and will provide a valuable clinical tool for the diagnosis, prognosis, and eventual treatment of cancers.

A Novel Defined Necroptosis-Related miRNAs Signature for Predicting the Prognosis of Colon Cancer

Objective

This study aims at exploring the relationship between necroptosis-related miRNAs and colon cancer prognosis.

Methods

We downloaded the miRNA sequencing data from the TCGA, and eight differentially expressed necroptosis-related miRNAs were screened. Then, we used Cox regression analysis to establish a prediction model of necroptosis-related miRNA. Finally, the prognosis related miRNAs were used to predict the target genes, and functional analysis was used to explore the potential mechanism of these target genes.

Results

The miRNA-seq data of 444 COAD cases were downloaded from TCGA. We identified 8 differentially expressed miRNAs (has-miR-16-5p, has-miR-141-3p, has-miR-148a-3p, has-miR-425-5p, has-miR-7-5p, has-miR-223-3p, has-miR-200a-5p, and has-miR-500a-3p), then Cox analysis was performed for determining eight-miRNA signature prognostic biomarkers with obviously different OS. The area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival were 0.663, 0.653 and 0.639, respectively. The multivariate analysis also implied that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor considering other confounding factors (HR = 1.847, 95% CI = 1.197–2.848, P = 0.006). According to the Kaplan–Meier analysis, the expression of hsa-miR-500a-3p (P = 0.003), hsa-miR-16-5p (P = 0.004) and hsa-miR-148a-3p (P = 0.035) significantly affected OS outcomes. We predicted the target genes of these three miRNAs and then screened 10 hub genes (CCND1, SMAD3, SMAD2, CDK1, TGFB2, CDC25A, CHEK1, VEGFA, CCNE1, WEE1). In addition, CHEK1 was associated with the survival prognosis.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that necroptosis is closely associated with colon cancer, and the model of eight necroptosis-related miRNAs are potentially useful prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for colon cancer.

The Relationship Between the Network of Non-coding RNAs-Molecular Targets and N6-Methyladenosine Modification in Colorectal Cancer

Recent accumulating researches implicate that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNA (miRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), and long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation and development. Notably, N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) methylation, the critical posttranscriptional modulators, exerts various functions in ncRNA metabolism such as stability and degradation. However, the interaction regulation network among ncRNAs and the interplay with m⁶A-related regulators has not been well documented, particularly in CRC. Here, we summarize the interaction networks and sub-networks of ncRNAs in CRC based on a data-driven approach from the publications (IF > 6) in the last quinquennium (2016–2021). Further, we extend the regulatory pattern between the core m⁶A regulators and m⁶A-related ncRNAs in the context of CRC metastasis and progression. Thus, our review will highlight the clinical potential of ncRNAs and m⁶A modifiers as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for improving the diagnostic precision and treatment of CRC.

Long non-coding RNA LINC00649 regulates YES-associated protein 1 (YAP1)/Hippo pathway to accelerate gastric cancer (GC) progression via sequestering miR-16-5p

Although long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) LINC00649 is reported to be closely associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), prostate cancer and colorectal cancer, its role in regulating other types of cancer, such as gastric cancer (GC), has not been studied. This study analyzed the expression status of LINC00649 in GC tissues and cells by performing Real-Time qPCR analysis, and we found that LINC00649 tended to be enriched in cancerous tissues and cells but not in their normal counterparts, which were supported by the data from TCGA dataset. Next, by performing the gain- and loss-of-function experiments, we expectedly found that LINC00649 acted as an oncogene to accelerate GC cell proliferation, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and promote its tumorigenesis in vivo. Moreover, the online miRDB software predicted that miR-16-5p bound to both LINC00649 and 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of YAP1 mRNA, which were validated by the following dual-luciferase reporter gene system assay and RNA pull-down assay. Finally, we proved that LINC00649 exerted its tumor-promoting effects in GC by regulating the miR-16-5p/YES-associated protein 1 (YAP1)/Hippo pathway. Mechanistically, knock-down of LINC00649 suppressed YAP1 expressions by releasing miR-16-5p, resulting in the recovery of the Hippo pathway, which suppressed the expression levels of the downstream oncogenes, including EGFR, SOX2 and OCT4, leading to the inhibition of the malignant phenotypes in GC cells. In conclusion, this study, for the first time, evidenced that LINC00649 promoted GC progression by targeting the miR-16-5p/YAP1/Hippo signaling pathway, which provided potential diagnostic and therapeutic indicators for GC treatment for clinical utilization.

Long non-coding RNA SNHG22 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis and angiogenesis via DNA methylation of microRNA miR-16-5p

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered as a common malignancy worldwide. Considerable evidence has illustrated that abnormally expressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are in a close correlation with the initiation and progression of various tumors, including HCC. LncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 22 (SNHG22) has been reported to play important roles in tumor initiation, but its role and mechanism are little known in HCC. In our report, we discovered the high level of SNHG22 in HCC tissues and cells, and the high expression of SNHG22 was correlated with unfavorable clinical outcome in HCC patients. Functional assays implied that SNHG22 deficiency suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in vitro. Additionally, it was also confirmed that silenced SNHG22 suppressed tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo. Mechanistic exploration revealed that SNHG22 recruited DNMT1 to miR-16-5p DNA promoter through EZH2 and inhibited miR-16-5p transcription via DNA methylation. Finally, we verified that the suppression of miR-16-5p countervailed the suppressive effect of SNHG22 deficiency on HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. Conclusively, this study clarified the SNHG22/EZH2/DNMT1/miR-16-5p axis and revealed that SNHG22 could be an underlying biomarker for HCC.

Knockdown of lncRNA PVT1 inhibits the proliferation and accelerates the apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells via the miR‑761/MAPK1 axis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with high morbidity rates. Long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in the development of CRC. However, the potential roles of lncRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) in CRC remain unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the potential roles of PVT1 in CRC. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blot analyses were conducted to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels. The cellular behaviors were detected using 5‑Ethynyl‑2'‑deoxyuridine, Cell Counting Kit‑8 and flow cytometry assays. The interaction between PVT1 and microRNA (miR)‑761 or MAPK1 was confirmed using a dual‑luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, the Pearson's method was applied for correlation analysis. The results demonstrated that the expression levels of PVT1 and MAPK1 were upregulated, while miR‑761 was downregulated in CRC tissues. The expression of PVT1 was positively correlated with MAPK1 and negatively correlated with miR‑761. In addition, PVT1 sponged miR‑761 to upregulate MAPK1 expression. It was found that the knockdown of PVT1 expression inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of CRC cells, which was more potent in cells transfected with miR‑761. The regulatory role of small interfering RNA‑PVT1 on the expression of apoptosis‑related genes was reduced by MAPK1. Collectively, the present results suggested that knockdown of PVT1 may inhibit the progression of CRC by regulating the miR‑761/MAPK1 axis, which may provide a promising biomarker for the treatment of CRC.

Long noncoding RNA LINC00958 suppresses apoptosis and radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer through targeting miR-422a

Background

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been elucidated to participate in the development and progression of various cancers. In this study, we aimed to explore the underlying functions and mechanisms of LINC00958 in colorectal cancer.

Methods

LINC00958 expression in colorectal cancer tissues was examined by qRT-PCR. The correlations between LINC00958 expression and clinical characteristics and prognosis were evaluated. The biological functions of LINC00958 were detected by CCK-8, MTT, colony formation and flow cytometric analyses. RNA pulldown, RIP and luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm the regulatory effects of LINC00958 on miR-422a. Rescue experiments were performed to detect the effects of miR-422a on the roles of LINC00958.

Results

LINC00958 was upregulated in colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines. High LINC00958 levels were positively associated with T stage and predicted poor prognosis. Cell experiments showed that LINC00958 promoted cell proliferation and suppressed apoptosis and sensitivity to radiotherapy in vitro and promoted tumor growth in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis predicted the binding site of miR-422a on LINC00958. Mechanistically, RNA pulldown, RIP and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that LINC00958 specifically targeted miR-422a. In addition, we found that miR-422a suppressed MAPK1 expression by directly binding to the 3’-UTR of MAPK1, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation and enhancing cell apoptosis and radiosensitivity. Furthermore, miR-422a rescued the roles of LINC00958 in promoting MAPK1 expression and cell proliferation and decreasing cell apoptosis and radiosensitivity.

Conclusions

LINC00958 promoted MAPK1 expression and cell proliferation and suppressed cell apoptosis and radiosensitivity by targeting miR-422a, which suggests that it is a potential biomarker for the prognosis and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Long Non-coding RNA PVT1 Inhibits miR-30c-5p to Upregulate Rock2 to Modulate Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Through MAPK Signaling Pathway Activation

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a key role in a variety of disease processes. Plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1), a lncRNA, is known to regulate cell functions and play a key role in the pathogenesis of many malignant tumors. The function and molecular mechanisms of lncRNA-PVT1 in cerebral ischemia remain unknown. Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect lncRNA-PVT1 and microRNA-30c-5p (miR-30c-5p) expression in the brain tissues of mice underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-treated mouse primary brain neurons. Gain- or loss-of-function approaches were used to manipulate PVT1, miR-30c-5p, and Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (Rock2). The mechanism of PVT1 in ischemic stroke was evaluated both in vivo and in vitro via bioinformatics analysis, CCK-8, flow cytometry, TUNEL staining, luciferase activity assay, RNA FISH, and Western blot. PVT1 was upregulated in the brain tissues of mice treated with MCAO/R and primary cerebral cortex neurons of mice treated with OGD/R. Mechanistically, PVT1 knockdown resulted in a lower infarct volume and ameliorated neurobehavior in MCAO mice. Consistent with in vivo results, PVT1 upregulation significantly decreased the viability and induced apoptosis of neurons cultured in OGD/R. Moreover, we demonstrated that PVT1 acts as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that competes with miR-30c-5p, thereby negatively regulating its endogenous target Rock2. Overexpression of miR-30c-5p significantly promoted cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. Meanwhile, PVT1 was confirmed to target miR-30c-5p, thus activating Rock2 expression, which finally led to the activation of MAPK signaling. We demonstrated that PVT1, as a ceRNA of miR-30c-5p, could target and regulate the level of Rock2, which aggravates cerebral I/R injury via activation of the MAPK pathway. These findings reveal a new function of PVT1, which helps to broadly understand cerebral ischemic stroke and provide a new treatment strategy for this disease.

Curcumol inhibits EBV-positive Nasopharyngeal carcinoma migration and invasion by targeting nucleolin

Metastasis is a major cause of recurrence and death in patients with EBV-positive Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Previous reports documented that curcumol has both anti-cancer and anti-viral effects, but there is little literature systematically addressing the mechanism of curcumol in EBV-positive tumors. Previously we found that nucelolin (NCL) is a target protein of curcumol in CNE2 cells, an EBV-negative NPC, and in this experiment, we reported a critical role for NCL in promoting migration and invasion of C666-1 cells, an EBV-positive NPC, and found that the expression of NCL determined the level of curcumol's efficacy. Mechanistically, NCL interacted with Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen 1 (EBNA1) to activate VEGFA/VEGFR1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which in turn promoted NPC cell invasion and metastasis. Moreover, further study showed that the differential expression of NCL and curcumol intervention only had a regulatory effect on the nuclear accumulation of VEGFR1, which strengthened the anti-cancer effect of curcumol mediated through NCL. Our findings indicated that curcumol exerted anti EBV-positive NPC invasion and metastasis by downregulating EBNA1 and inhibiting VEGFA/VEGFR1/PI3K/AKT signaling by targeting NCL, which provides a novel pharmacological basis for curcumol's clinical use in treating patients with EBV-positive NPC.

Exosomal Components and Modulators in Colorectal Cancer: Novel Diagnosis and Prognosis Biomarkers

The relatively high incidence and mortality rates for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) make it a formidable malignant tumor. Comprehensive strategies have been applied to predict patient survival and diagnosis. Various clinical regimens have also been developed to improve the therapeutic outcome. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are recently proposed cellular structures that can be produced by natural or artificial methods and have been extensively studied. In addition to their innate functions, EVs can be manipulated to be drug carriers and exert many biological functions. The composition of EVs, their intravesicular components, and the surrounding tumor microenvironment are closely related to the development of colorectal cancer. Determining the expression profiles of exocytosis samples and using them as indicators for selecting effective combination therapy is an indispensable direction for EV study and should be regarded as a novel prediction platform in addition to cancer stage, prognosis, and other clinical assessments. In this review, we summarize the function, regulation, and application of EVs in the colon cancer research field. We provide an update on and discuss potential values for clinical applications of EVs. Moreover, we illustrate the specific markers, mediators, and genetic alterations of EVs in colorectal carcinogenesis. Furthermore, we outline the vital markers present in the EVs and discuss their plausible uses in colon cancer patient therapy in combination with the currently used clinical strategies. The development and application of these EVs will significantly improve the accuracy of diagnosis, lead to more precise prognoses, and may lead to the improved treatment of colorectal cancer.

Exosomal lncRNA PVT1/VEGFA Axis Promotes Colon Cancer Metastasis and Stemness by Downregulation of Tumor Suppressor miR-152-3p

Background

Treating advanced colon cancer remains challenging in clinical settings because of the development of drug resistance and distant metastasis. Mechanisms underlying the metastasis of colon cancer are complex and unclear.

Methods

Computational analysis was performed to determine genes associated with the exosomal long noncoding (lncRNA) plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1)/vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) axis in patients with colon cancer. The biological importance of the exosomal lncRNA PVT1/VEGFA axis was examined in vitro by using HCT116 and LoVo cell lines and in vivo by using a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse model through knockdown (by silencing of PVT1) and overexpression (by adding serum exosomes isolated from patients with distant metastasis (M-exo)).

Results

The in silico analysis demonstrated that PVT1 overexpression was associated with poor prognosis and increased expression of metastatic markers such as VEGFA and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This finding was further validated in a small cohort of patients with colon cancer in whom increased PVT1 expression was correlated with colon cancer incidence, disease recurrence, and distant metastasis. M-exo were enriched with PVT1 and VEGFA, and both migratory and invasive abilities of colon cancer cell lines increased when they were cocultured with M-exo. The metastasis-promoting effect was accompanied by increased expression of Twist1, vimentin, and MMP2. M-exo promoted metastasis in PDX mice. In vitro silencing of PVT1 reduced colon tumorigenic properties including migratory, invasive, colony forming, and tumorsphere generation abilities. Further analysis revealed that PVT1, VEGFA, and EGFR interact with and are regulated by miR-152-3p. Increased miR-152-3p expression reduced tumorigenesis, where increased tumorigenesis was observed when miR-152-3p expression was downregulated.

Conclusion

Exosomal PVT1 promotes colon cancer metastasis through its association with EGFR and VEGFA expression. miR-152-3p targets both PVT1 and VEGFA, and this regulatory pathway can be explored for drug development and as a prognostic biomarker.

Long noncoding RNAs in respiratory viruses: A review

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are defined as RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides that can regulate gene expression at the transcriptional or post‐transcriptional levels. Both human lncRNAs and lncRNAs encoded by viruses can modulate the expression of host genes which are critical for viral replication, latency, activation of signalling pathways, cytokine and chemokine production, RNAi processing, expression of interferons (IFNs) and interferon‐stimulated genes (ISGs). Studies on lncRNAs as key regulators of host‐virus interactions may give new insights into therapeutic strategies for the treatment of related diseases. This current review focuses on the role of lncRNAs, and their interactions with respiratory viruses including influenza A virus (IAV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2).

ZFP36L2 regulates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and attenuates mitochondrial fusion and fission by LncRNA PVT1

Among several leading cardiovascular disorders, ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury causes severe manifestations including acute heart failure and systemic dysfunction. Recently, there has been increasing evidence suggesting that alterations in mitochondrial morphology and dysfunction also play an important role in the prognosis of cardiac disorders. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) form major regulatory networks altering gene transcription and translation. While the role of lncRNAs has been extensively studied in cancer and tumor biology, their implications on mitochondrial morphology and functions remain to be elucidated. In this study, the functional roles of Zinc finger protein 36-like 2 (ZFP36L2) and lncRNA PVT1 were determined in cardiomyocytes under hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury in vitro and myocardial I/R injury in vivo. Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis were used to assess the levels of ZFP36L2, mitochondrial fission and fusion markers in the myocardial tissues and cardiomyocytes. Cardiac function was determined by immunohistochemistry, H&E staining, and echocardiogram. Ultrastructural analysis of mitochondrial fission was performed using transmission electron microscopy. The mechanistic model consisting of PVT1 with ZFP36L2 and microRNA miR-21-5p with E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH5 was assessed by subcellular fraction, RNA pull down, FISH, and luciferase reporter assays. These results identified a novel regulatory axis involving PVT1, miR-21-5p, and MARCH5 that alters mitochondrial morphology and function during myocardial I/R injury. Using an in vivo I/R injury mouse model and in vitro cardiomyocytes H/R model, we demonstrated that ZFP36L2 directly associates with PVT1 and alters mitochondrial fission and fusion. PVT1 also interactes with miR-21-5p and suppresses its expression and activity. Furthermore, we identified MARCH5 as a modifier of miR-21-5p, and its effect on mitochondrial fission and fusion are directly proportional to PVT1 expression during H/R injury. Our findings show that manipulation of PVT1-miR-21-5p-MARCH5-mediated mitochondrial fission and fusion via ZFP36L2 may be a novel therapeutic approach to regulate myocardial I/R injury.

Comprehensive Analysis of Differentially Expressed Long Noncoding RNA-mRNA in the Adenoma-Carcinoma Sequence of DNA Mismatch Repair Proficient Colon Cancer

DNA proficient mismatch repair colon cancer (pMMR CC) is the most common subtype of sporadic CC. We aimed to investigate the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in pMMR CC carcinogenesis. In the present study, we conducted transcriptomic analysis of lncRNAs-mRNAs in five low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), five high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), four pMMR CC, and five normal control (NC) tissues. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment pathway, and coexpression network analyses were performed to elucidate the functions of lncRNAs and mRNAs as well as their interactions. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate five dysregulated lncRNAs in a large set of colon tissues. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to evaluate the performance of the candidate lncRNAs. A set of 5783 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 4483 differentially expressed mRNAs were detected among the LGIN, HGIN, pMMR CC, and NC samples. These differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were assigned to 275 significant GO terms and 179 significant KEGG enriched pathways. qRT-PCR confirmed that the expression of five selected lncRNAs (ENST00000521815, ENST00000603052, ENST00000609220, NR_026543, and ENST00000545920) were consistent with the microarray data. ROC analysis showed that four lncRNAs (ENST00000521815, ENST00000603052, ENST00000609220, and NR_026543) had larger area under the ROC curve (AUC) values compared to serum carcinoembryonic antigens, thereby distinguishing NC from pMMR CC. In conclusion, several lncRNAs play various roles in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence and may serve as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pMMR CC.

Cross-talk between non-coding RNAs and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third commonest cancer globally, with metastasis being the reason for cancer-associated mortality. Much is still unknown biochemically about CRC, and with current treatments that are not wholly effective over time, new therapeutics are urgently needed. Emerging evidence has shown the importance of non-coding RNAs such as lncRNAs and miRNAs functions in the development and progression of CRC. However, the exact underlying mechanism of these types of RNAs in CRC is still mostly unknown. PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway contributes to many cellular processes, and dysregulation of this pathway frequently occurs in cancers. In this review, the authors have mostly focused on the significant non-coding RNAs regulators of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and their contribution to the development or inhibition of CRC and their potential as diagnostic or therapeutic targets in CRC treatment.

RP11-51O6.1 sponges miR-206 to accelerate colorectal cancer carcinogenesis and metastasis through upregulating YAP1

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been characterized by playing a crucial role in tumorigenesis. However, the detail biological function and clinical importance of lncRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) are unclear and have attracted different levels of in-depth research. In this context, we explored the differentially expressed profiles of lncRNAs in six CRC tissues and three adjacent non-tumor tissues from RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) study and noted a lncRNA, RP11-51O6.1, which is markedly overexpressed in CRC tissues, particularly in aggressive cases. Impressively, an elevated RP11-51O6.1 level was highly correlated with poor prognosis in clinical patients. Functional analyses revealed that RP11-51O6.1 could promote cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we reported that RP11-51O6.1 enhances cell migration and invasion in vitro. Mechanistic studies (Bioinformatics binding site analyses, the Luciferase reporter, Ago2 immunoprecipitation, the RNA pull-down, immunofluorescence colocalization, rescued assays and western blotting) implicated that RP11-51O6.1 could regulate YAP1 expression by competitively sponging miR-206 and blocking its activity in promoting CRC progression. Conclusively, our findings identify a novel RP11-51O6.1/miR-206/YAP1 regulatory axis that participates in CRC progression and development, suggesting RP11-51O6.1 is an exploitable biomarker and appealing therapeutic target in treating CRC.