The therapeutic role of long non-coding RNAs in human diseases: A focus on the recent insights into autophagy

The role of LncRNA-mediated autophagy in cancer progression

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a sort of transcripts that are more than 200 nucleotides in length. In recent years, many studies have revealed the modulatory role of lncRNAs in cancer. Typically, lncRNAs are linked to a variety of essential events, such as apoptosis, cellular proliferation, and the invasion of malignant cells. Simultaneously, autophagy, an essential intracellular degradation mechanism in eukaryotic cells, is activated to respond to multiple stressful circumstances, for example, nutrient scarcity, accumulation of abnormal proteins, and organelle damage. Autophagy plays both suppressive and promoting roles in cancer. Increasingly, studies have unveiled how dysregulated lncRNAs expression can disrupt autophagic balance, thereby contributing to cancer progression. Consequently, exploring the interplay between lncRNAs and autophagy holds promising implications for clinical research. In this manuscript, we methodically compiled the advances in the molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs and autophagy and briefly summarized the implications of the lncRNA-mediated autophagy axis.

Dysregulation of LINC00324 promotes poor prognosis in patients with glioma

BACKGROUND

LINC00324 is a long-stranded non-coding RNA, which is aberrantly expressed in various cancers and is associated with poor prognosis and clinical features. It involves multiple oncogenic molecular pathways affecting cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. However, the expression, function, and mechanism of LINC00324 in glioma have not been reported.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We assessed the expression of LINC00324 of LINC00324 in glioma patients based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) to identify pathways involved in LINC00324-related glioma pathogenesis.

RESULTS

Based on our findings, we observed differential expression of LINC00324 between tumor and normal tissues in glioma patients. Our analysis of overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) indicated that glioma patients with high LINC00324 expression had a poorer prognosis compared to those with low LINC00324 expression. By integrating clinical data and genetic signatures from TCGA patients, we developed a nomogram to predict OS and DSS in glioma patients. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that several pathways, including JAK/STAT3 signaling, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, STAT5 signaling, NF-κB activation, and apoptosis, were differentially enriched in glioma samples with high LINC00324 expression. Furthermore, we observed significant correlations between LINC00324 expression, immune infiltration levels, and expression of immune checkpoint-related genes (HAVCR2: r = 0.627, P = 1.54e-77; CD40: r = 0.604, P = 1.36e-70; ITGB2: r = 0.612, P = 6.33e-7; CX3CL1: r = -0.307, P = 9.24e-17). These findings highlight the potential significance of LINC00324 in glioma progression and suggest avenues for further research and potential therapeutic targets.

CONCLUSION

Indeed, our results confirm that the LINC00324 signature holds promise as a prognostic predictor in glioma patients. This finding opens up new possibilities for understanding the disease and may offer valuable insights for the development of targeted therapies.

Recent progress and the emerging role of lncRNAs in cancer drug resistance; focusing on signaling pathways

It is becoming more and more apparent that many of the genetic alterations associated with cancer are located in areas that do not encode proteins. lncRNAs are a class of RNAs that do not code for proteins but play a crucial role in maintaining cell function and regulating various cellular processes. By doing this, they have recently introduced what may be a brand-new and essential layer of biological control. These have more than 200 nucleotides and are linked to several diseases; as a result, they have become potential tools for therapeutic intervention. Emerging technologies suggest the presence of mutations on genomic loci that give rise to lncRNAs rather than proteins in a disease as complex as cancer. These lncRNAs play essential parts in gene regulation, which impacts several cellular homeostasis processes, including proliferation, survival, migration, and genomic stability. The leading cause of death in the world today is cancer. Delays in diagnosis and a lack of standard and efficient treatments are the leading causes of the high death rate. Clinically, surgery is frequently used successfully to remove cancers that have not spread, but it is less successful in treating metastatic cancer, which has a drastically lower chance of survival. Chemotherapeutic drugs are a typical therapy to treat the cancer that has spread to other organs. Drug resistance to chemotherapy, however, presents a significant challenge to achieving positive outcomes and is frequently the cause of treatment failure. A substantial barrier to progress in medical oncology is cancer drug resistance. Resistance can develop clinically either before or after cancer treatment. According to this study, lncRNAs influence drug resistance through several different methods. LncRNAs often impact drug resistance by controlling the expression of a few intermediary regulatory variables rather than by directly affecting drug resistance. Additionally, lncRNAs have a variety of roles in cancer medication resistance. Most lncRNAs induce drug resistance when overexpressed; however, other lncRNAs have inhibitory effects. This study provides an overview of the current understanding of lncRNAs, relevance to cancer, and potential therapeutic applications.

Sirtuins: Promising Therapeutic Targets to Treat Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is a major cause of mortality and disability globally, with ischemic stroke (IS) accounting for over 80% of all stroke cases. The pathological process of IS involves numerous signal molecules, among which are the highly conserved nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent enzymes known as sirtuins (SIRTs). SIRTs modulate various biological processes, including cell differentiation, energy metabolism, DNA repair, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Importantly, several studies have reported a correlation between SIRTs and IS. This review introduces the general aspects of SIRTs, including their distribution, subcellular location, enzyme activity, and substrate. We also discuss their regulatory roles and potential mechanisms in IS. Finally, we describe the current therapeutic methods based on SIRTs, such as pharmacotherapy, non-pharmacological therapeutic/rehabilitative interventions, epigenetic regulators, potential molecules, and stem cell-derived exosome therapy. The data collected in this study will potentially contribute to both clinical and fundamental research on SIRTs, geared towards developing effective therapeutic candidates for future treatment of IS.

The role of lncRNAs/miRNAs/Sirt1 axis in myocardial and cerebral injury

In recent years, researchers have begun to realize the importance of the role of non-coding RNAs in the treatment of cancer and cardiovascular and neurological diseases. LncRNAs and miRNAs are important non-coding RNAs, which regulate gene expression and activate mRNA translation through binding to diverse target sites. Their involvement in the regulation of protein function and the modulation of physiological and pathological conditions continues to be investigated. Sirtuins, especially Sirt1, have a critical function in regulating a variety of physiological processes such as oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy. The lncRNAs/miRNAs/Sirt1 axis may be a novel regulatory mechanism, which is involved in the progression and/or prevention of numerous diseases. This review focuses on recent findings on the crosstalk between non-coding RNAs and Sirt1 in myocardial and cerebral injuries and may provide some insight into the development of novel approaches in the treatment of these disorders.Abbreviation: BMECs, brain microvascular endothelial cells; C2dat1, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II subunit delta (CAMK2D)-associated transcript 1; EPCs, endothelial progenitor cells; FOXOs, forkhead transcription factors; GAS5, growth arrest-specific 5; HAECs, human aortic endothelial cells; HAND2-AS1, HAND2 Antisense RNA 1; HIF-1α, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α; ILF3-AS1, interleukin enhancer-binding factor 3-antisense RNA 1; KLF3-AS1, KLF3 antisense RNA 1; LncRNA, long noncoding RNA; LUADT1, Lung Adenocarcinoma Associated Transcript 1; MALAT1, Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1; miRNA, microRNA; NEAT1, nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa B; OIP5-AS1, Opa-interacting protein 5-antisense transcript 1; Sirt1-AS, Sirt1 Antisense RNA; SNHG7, small nucleolar RNA host gene 7; SNHG8, small nucleolar RNA host gene 8; SNHG12, small nucleolar RNA host gene 12; SNHG15, small nucleolar RNA host gene 15; STAT3, signal transducers and activators of transcription 3; TUG1, taurine up-regulated gene 1; VSMCs, vascular smooth muscle cells; XIST, X inactive specific transcript; ZFAS1, ZNFX1 Antisense RNA 1.

Potential roles of microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs as diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers in coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD), which is mainly caused by atherosclerotic processes in coronary arteries, became a significant health issue. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), have been shown to be stable in plasma and could thereby be adopted as biomarkers for CAD diagnosis and treatment. MiRNAs can regulate CAD development through different pathways and mechanisms, including modulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) activity, inflammatory responses, myocardial injury, angiogenesis, and leukocyte adhesion. Similarly, previously studies have indicated that the causal effects of lncRNAs in CAD pathogenesis and their utility in CAD diagnosis and treatment, has been found to lead to cell cycle transition, proliferation dysregulation, and migration in favour of CAD development. Differential expression of miRNAs and lncRNAs in CAD patients has been identified and served as diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers for the assessment of CAD patients. Thus, in the current review, we summarize the functions of miRNAs and lncRNAs, which aimed to identify novel targets for the CAD diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Melatonin attenuates cardiopulmonary toxicity induced by benzo(a)pyrene in mice focusing on apoptosis and autophagy pathways

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and a serious environmental pollutant. BaP is formed by the incomplete combustion of organic matter at high temperatures. In addition, tobacco smoke and many foods, especially charbroiled food and grilled meats, contain BaP and can cause it to enter human body. Melatonin, a pineal gland hormone, has antioxidant, anti-apoptosis, and autophagy regulatory properties. The possible protective impact of melatonin on cardiopulmonary toxicity induced by BaP was investigated by examining the antioxidant effects and the apoptosis and autophagy properties of melatonin. Thirty male mice were divided into 5 groups and treated for 28 days as follows: (I) control (BaP and melatonin solvent), (II) BaP (75 mg/kg, oral gavage), (III and IV) BaP (75 mg/kg) + melatonin (10 and 20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), (V) melatonin (20 mg/kg). The oxidative stress factors (MDA and GSH content) were assessed in the heart and lung tissues. The levels of apoptotic (Caspase-3 and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio) and autophagic (the LC3 ӀӀ/Ӏ, Beclin-1, and Sirt1) proteins were examined by using western blot analysis. Following the administration of BaP, MDA, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and the Caspase-3 proteins increased in the heart and lung tissues, while GSH, Sirt1, Beclin-1, and the LC3 II/I ratio diminished. The coadministration of melatonin along with BaP, MDA, and apoptotic proteins returned to the control values, while GSH and the autophagy proteins were enhanced in both the heart and lungs. Melatonin exhibited a protective effect against BaP-induced heart and lung injury through the suppression of oxidative stress and apoptosis and the induction of the Sirt1/autophagy pathway.

Bioinformatics-based study reveals that AP2M1 is regulated by the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network and affects Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disease that worsens with time. The hallmark illnesses include extracellular senile plaques caused by β-amyloid protein deposition, neurofibrillary tangles caused by tau protein hyperphosphorylation, and neuronal loss accompanying glial cell hyperplasia. Noncoding RNAs are substantially implicated in related pathophysiology, according to mounting data. However, the function of these ncRNAs is mainly unclear. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) include many miRNA-binding sites (miRNA response elements, MREs), which operate as miRNA sponges or competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). The purpose of this study was to look at the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) as possible biomarkers. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to obtain an expression profile of Alzheimer's disease patients (GSE5281, GSE122603, GSE97760, GSE150693, GSE1297, and GSE161435). Through preliminary data deletion, 163 genes with significant differences, 156 miRNAs with significant differences, and 153 circRNAs with significant differences were identified. Then, 10 key genes, led by MAPT and AP2M1, were identified by the mediation center algorithm, 34 miRNAs with obvious prognosis were identified by the cox regression model, and 16 key circRNAs were selected by the database. To develop competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks, hub circRNAs and mRNAs were used. Finally, GO analysis and clinical data verification of key genes were carried out. We discovered that a down-regulated circRNA (has_circ_002048) caused the increased expression of numerous miRNAs, which further inhibited the expression of a critical mRNA (AP2M1), leading to Alzheimer's disease pathology. The findings of this work contribute to a better understanding of the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulating processes in Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, the ncRNAs found here might become novel biomarkers and potential targets for the development of Alzheimer's drugs.

The Emerging Role of MicroRNAs and Autophagy Mechanism in Pancreatic Cancer Progression: Future Therapeutic Approaches

Pancreatic cancer constitutes the fourth most frequent cause of death due to malignancy in the US. Despite the new therapeutic modalities, the management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is considered a difficult task for clinicians due to the fact that is usually diagnosed in already advanced stages and it is relatively resistant to the current chemotherapeutic agents. The molecular background analysis of pancreatic malignant tumors, which includes various epigenetic and genetic alterations, opens new horizons for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The interplay between miRNAs, autophagy pathway, and pancreatic carcinogenesis is in the spotlight of the current research. There is strong evidence that miRNAs take part in carcinogenesis either as tumor inhibitors that combat the oncogene expression or as promoters (oncomiRs) by acting as oncogenes by interfering with various cell functions such as proliferation, programmed cell death, and metabolic and signaling pathways. Deregulation of the expression levels of various miRNAs is closely associated with tumor growth, progression, and dissemination, as well as low sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Similarly, autophagy despite constituting a pivotal homeostatic mechanism for cell survival has a binary role in PDAC, either as an inhibitor or promoter of carcinogenesis. The emerging role of miRNAs in autophagy gets a great deal of attention as it opens new opportunities for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the management of this aggressive and chemoresistant malignancy. In this review, we will shed light on the interplay between miRNAs and the autophagy mechanism for pancreatic cancer development and progression.

Expression status and prognostic value of autophagy-related lncRNAs in prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

LncRNAs involve in the autophagy to regulate Prostate cancer (PCa) initiation and progression. Therefore, it urges to explore more significant AR-lncRNAs in PCa.

METHODS

mRNA data and clinical information of PCa were achieved from TCGA database, and ARGs were obtained from the HADb. AR-lncRNAs were identified by correlation analysis of DE ARGs and lncRNAs. Univariate Cox regression, LASSO regression, and multivariate Cox regression were used to identify the prognostic AR-lncRNA signature and constructed a risk model. GESA was used to biological function analysis between high- and low-risk score group. A nomogram was constructed and used to predicate the survival of PCa patients. A calibration curve was used to determines accuracy of the predication model. AR-related ceRNA network was constructed by correlation analysis. Expression of six AR-related lncRNAs were detected by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

222 ARGs and 385 AR-lncRNAs were screened from PCa and normal tissues, and 17 AR-lncRNAs were identified as prognostic signature for PCa. Based on the expression of prognostic signature, a risk score was calculated, and PCa samples were distributed into high- and low-risk score groups. The biological function and predicated value of the prognostic signature were also examined. Finally, based on the correlation between each ARG and its prognostic signature, three modules of AR-lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were constructed based on 6 AR-lncRNAs, 17 miRNAs, and 12 ARGs. And we found that AC012085.2, UBXN10-AS1, LINC00261 downregulated, whereas AP004608.1, AC104667.2, AC008610.1 upregulated in PCa compared with BPH tissues.

CONCLUSION

Our finding supplied the potential AR-lncRNAs prognostic signature for PCa.

Long noncoding RNA H19 mediates neural stem/progenitor cells proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis through the p53 signaling pathway after ischemic stroke

Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) H19 plays an important role on the biological functions of endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs). Our study aimed to explore the functions of H19 in NSPCs induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) in vitro and the underlying mechanisms. In this study, our results showed that knockdown of H19 significantly inhibited NSPCs proliferation. Additionally, the apoptosis of NSPCs after ODG/R injury was notably promoted by H19 knockdown. Cell cycle arrest was induced in NSPCs at G0/G1 phase after OGD/R, while knockdown of H19 decreased the percentage of cells at G2/S phase. The results of immunofluorescence analysis revealed that H19 knockdown reduced the staining intensity of Ki-67 and DCX. Furthermore, H19 knockdown enhanced the expression of p53, Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3, while Bcl-2 expression was decreased. Silencing of H19 suppressed the NSPCs proliferation, cell cycle progression and differentiation, whereas cell apoptosis was promoted. Upregulation of H19 abolished OGD/R-induced NSPCs apoptosis, while cell proliferation and differentiation were promoted. Furthermore, the effects of overexpressed H19 on NSPCs proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis were abrogated by the upregulation of p53. In summary, overexpressed H19 resulted in the inactivation of p53, which promoted NSPCs proliferation, differentiation, and inhibited cell apoptosis. These findings suggested that H19 could promote cell proliferation and differentiation after OGD/R through suppressing the p53 signaling.

Circular RNA circ-FoxO3 attenuates blood-brain barrier damage by inducing autophagy during ischemia/reperfusion

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage can be a result of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and may be a cause of CNS deterioration. However, there are still many unknowns regarding effective and targeted therapies for maintaining BBB integrity during ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. In this study, we demonstrate that the circular RNA of FoxO3 (circ-FoxO3) promotes autophagy via mTORC1 inhibition to attenuate BBB collapse under I/R. Upregulation of circ-FoxO3 and autophagic flux were detected in brain microvessel endothelial cells in patients with hemorrhagic transformation and in mice models with middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion. In vivo and in vitro studies indicated that circ-FoxO3 alleviated BBB damage principally by autophagy activation. Mechanistically, we found that circ-FoxO3 inhibited mTORC1 activity mainly by sequestering mTOR and E2F1, thus promoting autophagy to clear cytotoxic aggregates for improving BBB integrity. These results demonstrate that circ-FoxO3 plays a novel role in protecting against BBB damage, and that circ-FoxO3 may be a promising therapeutic target for neurological disorders associated with BBB damage.

Development and Validation of a Prognostic Signature Associated With Tumor Microenvironment Based on Autophagy-Related lncRNA Analysis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective: The present study aimed to establish a prognostic signature based on the autophagy-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) analysis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Patients with HCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were taken as the training cohort, and patients from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) were treated as the validation cohort. Autophagy-related lncRNAs were obtained via a co-expression network analysis. According to univariate and multivariate analyses, a multigene prognostic signature was constructed in the training cohort. The predictive power of the signature was confirmed in both cohorts. The detailed functions were investigated using functional analysis. The single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) score was used to evaluate the tumor microenvironment. The expression levels of immunotherapy and targeted therapy targets between the two risk groups were compared. Finally, a nomogram was constructed by integrating clinicopathological parameters with independently predictive value and the risk score.

Results: Four autophagy-related lncRNAs were identified to establish a prognostic signature, which separated patients into high- and low-risk groups. Survival analysis showed that patients in the high-risk group had a shorter survival time in both cohorts. A time-independent receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve and principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed that the prognostic signature had a robust predictive power and reliability in both cohorts. Functional analysis indicated that the expressed genes in the high-risk group are mainly enriched in autophagy- and cancer-related pathways. ssGSEA revealed that the different risk groups were associated with the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, the different risk groups had positive correlations with the expressions of specific mutant genes. Multivariate analysis showed that the risk score also exhibited excellent predictive power irrespective of clinicopathological characteristics in both cohorts. A nomogram was established. The nomogram showed good discrimination, with Harrell's concordance index (C-index) of 0.739 and good calibration.

Conclusion: The four autophagy-related lncRNAs could be used as biological biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The prognostic signature and nomogram might aid clinicians in individual treatment optimization and clinical decision-making for patients with HCC.

Sempervirine Mediates Autophagy and Apoptosis via the Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathways in Glioma Cells

The potential antitumor effects of sempervirine (SPV), an alkaloid compound derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Gelsemium elegans Benth., on different malignant tumors were described in detail. The impact of SPV on glioma cells and the basic atomic components remain uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the activity of SPV in vitro and in vivo. The effect of SPV on the growth of human glioma cells was determined to explore three aspects, namely, cell cycle, cell apoptosis, and autophagy. In this study, glioma cells, U251 and U87 cells, and one animal model were used. Cells were treated with SPV (0, 1, 4, and 8 μM) for 48 h. The cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis rate and autophagic flux were examined. Cell cycle, apoptotic, autophagy, and Akt/mTOR signal pathway-related proteins, such as CDK1, Cyclin B1, Beclin-1, p62, LC3, AKT, and mTOR were investigated by Western blot approach. As a result, cells induced by SPV led to G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. SPV also promoted the effect of autophagic flux and accumulation of LC3B. SPV reduced the expression of p62 protein and induced the autophagic death of glioma cells. Furthermore, SPV downregulated the expressions of AKT and mTOR phosphorylated proteins in the mTOR signaling pathway, thereby affecting the onset of apoptosis and autophagy in U251 cells. In conclusion, SPV induced cellular G2/M phase arrest and blockade of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby triggering apoptosis and cellular autophagy. The in vivo and in vitro studies confirmed that SPV inhibits the growth of glioma cancer.

Research updates on the clinical implication of long noncoding RNA in digestive system cancers and chemoresistance

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in various biological processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. They are also key players in various biological pathways. LncRNA was considered as 'translational noise' before 1980s. It has been reported that lncRNAs are aberrantly expressed in different cancers, either as oncogene or tumor suppressor gene. Therefore, more and more lncRNAs are recognized as potential diagnostic biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets. As competitive endogenous RNA, lncRNAs can interact with microRNA to alter the expression of target genes, which may have extensive clinical implications in cancers, including diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and chemoresistance. This review comprehensively summarizes the functions and clinical relevance of lncRNAs in digestive system cancers, especially as a potential tool to overcome chemoresistance.

Upregulated LINC00319 aggravates neuronal injury induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation via modulating miR-200a-3p

Ischemic stroke is one of the main causes of physical disability and mortality worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are reported to be dysregulated in various biological progressions and serve important roles in pathological processes of cerebral ischemia. However, their biological actions and potential mechanisms in the progression of ischemic stroke remain unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the functions of LINC00319 on ischemic brain injury. It was identified that LINC00319 was significantly upregulated in the Gene Expression Omnibus profile of ischemic stroke. Furthermore, LINC00319 overexpression elevated caspase-3 activity and increased the apoptotic rate of neuronal cells, as well as decreased cell viability and glucose uptake. It was also demonstrated that LINC00319 participated in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced cerebral ischemic injury. LINC00319 could competitively bind with microRNA (miR)-200a-3p and decrease its expression. Moreover, miR-200a-3p could partly offset the negative effects of LINC00319 overexpression on neuronal injury caused by OGD. Collectively, the present results suggested that LINC00319 promoted apoptosis and aggravated neuronal injury induced by OGD by regulating miR-200a-3p, which may be important for ischemic stroke treatment.

LncRNAs as Therapeutic Targets for Autophagy-involved Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review of Molecular Mechanism and T herapy Strategy

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death worldwide. The concept of precision medicine in CVD therapy today requires the incorporation of individual genetic and environmental variability to achieve personalized disease prevention and tailored treatment. Autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved intracellular degradation process, has been demonstrated to be essential in the pathogenesis of various CVDs. Nonetheless, there have been no effective treatments for autophagy- involved CVDs. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are noncoding RNA sequences that play versatile roles in autophagy regulation, but much needs to be explored about the relationship between lncRNAs and autophagy-involved CVDs.

SUMMARY

Increasing evidence has shown that lncRNAs contribute considerably to modulate autophagy in the context of CVDs. In this review, we first summarize the current knowledge of the role lncRNAs play in cardiovascular autophagy and autophagy-involved CVDs. Then, recent developments of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) designed to target lncRNAs to specifically modulate autophagy in diseased hearts and vessels are discussed, focusing primarily on structure-activity relationships of distinct chemical modifications and relevant clinical trials.

PERSPECTIVE

ASOs are promising in cardiovascular drug innovation. We hope that future studies of lncRNA-based therapies would overcome existing technical limitations and help people who suffer from autophagy-involved CVDs.

Long non-coding RNA MALAT1 modulate cell migration, proliferation and apoptosis by sponging microRNA-146a to regulate CXCR4 expression in acute myeloid leukemia

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the role of Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and analyze the potential regulatory network of MALAT1/miR-146a/ CXCR4.

METHODS

The expressions of MALAT1, miR-146a and CXCR4 were performed by qRT-PCR and Western Blot. We conducted trans-well assay, CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry to evaluate the migration, proliferation and apoptosis of AML cells. Also by using luciferase reporter assay, we investigated the interaction between miR-146a and MALAT1 or CXCR4.

RESULTS

Firstly, MALAT1 and CXCR4 were upregulated while miR-146a was downregulated in AML patients compared with healthy controls. We observed a negative correlation between miR-146a and MALAT1 or CXCR4, but a positive correlation between MALAT1 and CXCR4 in AML patients. MALAT1 knockdown inhibited migration and proliferation but induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells. MALAT1 restrained miR-146a expression by acting as a ceRNA. miR-146a regulated HL-60 cells migration, proliferation and apoptosis by directly targeting CXCR4 expression. Finally, we found that CXCR4 expression was downregulated by MALAT1 knockdown and partially restored by miR-146a abrogation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that MALAT1 regulates migration, proliferation and apoptosis by sponging miR-146a to regulate CXCR4 expression in AML cells, providing novel insights into the role of MALAT1 as a therapeutic target in AML.

Circular RNAs: Novel potential regulators in embryogenesis, female infertility, and pregnancy-related diseases

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are endogenous noncoding RNAs with unique cyclic structures. Although they were previously considered as nonfunctional transcription byproducts, numerous studies have demonstrated that circRNAs regulate gene transcription and expression via different mechanisms. Reproductive health influences the quality of life and affects offspring propagation in women. CircRNAs have been found to modify pregnancy-related diseases, gynecologic cancers, polycystic ovary syndrome, aging, gamete, and embryo development. It's promising for circRNAs to be the novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for multiple reproductive diseases. With the widespread application of assisted reproduction technology (ART), it has been revealed that circRNA identification contributes to estimating the quality of gametes and embryos, reflecting the success rate of ART. CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology has enabled the discovery of new roles of circRNAs. So far, the roles of circRNAs in the reproductive system remain poorly defined. In this review, we describe the classification and functions of circRNAs in embryogenesis and the female reproductive system diseases, revealing potential roles of circRNAs physiologically and pathologically. In so-doing, we provide ideas for developing circRNA-based therapeutic treatment and clinical application of various female reproductive system diseases.

Long non-coding RNA ZFAS1 is a major regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition through miR-200/ZEB1/E-cadherin, vimentin signaling in colon adenocarcinoma

Colon adenocarcinoma is a common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is a major regulator of cancer metastasis, and increased understanding of this process is essential to improve patient outcomes. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) are important regulators of carcinogenesis. To identify lncRNAs associated with colon carcinogenesis, we performed an exploratory differential gene expression analysis comparing paired colon adenocarcinoma and normal colon epithelium using an RNA-sequencing data set. This analysis identified lncRNA ZFAS1 as significantly increased in colon cancer compared to normal colon epithelium. This finding was validated in an institutional cohort using laser capture microdissection. ZFAS1 was also found to be principally located in the cellular cytoplasm. ZFAS1 knockdown was associated with decreased cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion in two colon cancer cell lines (HT29 and SW480). MicroRNA-200b and microRNA-200c (miR-200b and miR-200c) are experimentally validated targets of ZFAS1, and this interaction was confirmed using reciprocal gene knockdown. ZFAS1 knockdown regulated ZEB1 gene expression and downstream targets E-cadherin and vimentin. Knockdown of miR-200b or miR-200c reversed the effect of ZFAS1 knockdown in the ZEB1/E-cadherin, vimentin signaling cascade, and the effects of cellular migration and invasion, but not cellular proliferation. ZFAS1 knockdown was also associated with decreased tumor growth in an in vivo mouse model. These results demonstrate the critical importance of ZFAS1 as a regulator of the miR-200/ZEB1/E-cadherin, vimentin signaling cascade.

The Regulatory Functions of lncRNAs on Angiogenesis Following Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of global mortality and disability. It is a multi-factorial disease involving multiple factors, and gene dysregulation is considered as the major molecular mechanisms underlying disease progression. Angiogenesis can promote collateral circulation, which helps the restoration of blood supply in the ischemic area and reduces ischemic necrosis following ischemic injury. Aberrant expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in ischemic stroke is associated with various biological functions of endothelial cells and serves essential roles on the angiogenesis of ischemic stroke. The key roles of lncRNAs on angiogenesis suggest their potential as novel therapeutic targets for future diagnosis and treatment. This review elucidates the detailed regulatory functions of lncRNAs on angiogenesis following ischemic stroke through numerous mechanisms, such as interaction with target microRNAs, downstream signaling pathways and target molecules.

Prognostic value of an autophagy-related long-noncoding-RNA signature for endometrial cancer

This study retrieved the transcriptome profiling data of 552 endometrial cancer (EC) patients from the TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database, and identified 1297 lncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs) related to autophagy genes using Pearson correlation analysis. Univariate Cox regression analysis of the training data set revealed that 14 autophagy-related lncRNAs had significantly prognostic value for endometrial cancer (P < 0.01). Multivariate Cox regression analysis of these autophagy-related lncRNAs established the following autophagy-related lncRNA prognosis signature for endometrial cancer: PI = (0.255 × AC005229.4 expression) + (0.405 × BX322234.1 expression) + (0.169 × FIRRE expression value) + (-0.122 × RAB11B-AS1 expression) + (-0.338 × AC003102.1 expression). This signature was validated in both the testing data set and the entire data set. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates in the entire data set were 0.772, 0.733, and 0.714, respectively. In addition, a gene set enrichment analysis confirmed that cancer-related and autophagy-related pathways were significantly up-regulated in the high-risk group. In summary, this study has demonstrated that a signature comprising five autophagy-related lncRNAs has potential as an independent prognostic indicator of endometrial cancer, and also that these lncRNAs may play a key role in the development of endometrial cancer.

Epigenetics in Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a common febrile multisystemic inflammatory illness in children that preferentially affects coronary arteries. Children with KD who develop coronary artery aneurysms have a life-long risk of premature coronary artery disease. Hypothesis of inherent predisposition to KD is supported by epidemiological evidence that suggests increased risk of development of disease in certain ethnicities and in children with a previous history of KD in siblings or parents. However, occurrence of cases in clusters, seasonal variation, and very low risk of recurrence suggests an acquired trigger (such as infections) for the development of illness. Epigenetic mechanisms that modulate gene expression can plausibly explain the link between genetic and acquired predisposing factors in KD. Analysis of epigenetic factors can also be used to derive biomarkers for diagnosis and prognostication in KD. Moreover, epigenetic mechanisms can also help in pharmacogenomics with the development of targeted therapies. In this review, we analysed the available literature on epigenetic factors such as methylation, micro-RNAs, and long non-coding RNAs in KD and discuss how these mechanisms can help us better understand the disease pathogenesis and advance the development of new biomarkers in KD.

circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in age-related macular degeneration: From construction to identification

The aim of the present study was to investigate the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by constructing a regulatory circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. By adjusting the P value to <0.05 and the absolute log value of fold change to >0.25, 2920 and 1057 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified from GSE50195 and GSE29801, respectively. Based on a literature review, Starbase database analysis, and RNA hybrid assays, we obtained 77 miRNA-mRNA and 331 circRNA-miRNA pairs. After combining these pairs, we constructed a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network possessing 303 circRNA nodes, 4 miRNA nodes, 51 mRNA nodes, and 408 edges. By utilizing protein-protein network analysis, the MCODE algorithm, and the highest degree of circRNA node, we identified the regulatory axis of hsa_circRNA7329/hsa-miR-9/SCD. Hsa_circRNA7329 may regulate SCD through hsa-miR-9 to promote macrophage-mediated inflammation and pathologic angiogenesis, which lead to AMD development. However, the underlying details require further investigation.

The protective effect of melatonin on benzo(a)pyrene-induced brain injury: role of apoptosis and autophagy pathways

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, is spread in different ways as an environmental pollutant. It has been proposed that BaP can induce toxicity through oxidative stress and apoptosis in vital organs. The present study evaluated the protective effect of melatonin, a circadian hormone of the pineal gland, on BaP-induced neurotoxicity focused on oxidative stress, autophagy, and apoptosis pathways. Thirty male mice in 5 groups were treated daily for 28 consecutive days: (I) control group (BaP and melatonin solvent), (II) BaP (75 mg/kg, orally), (III) and (IV) BaP + melatonin (10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.), (V) melatonin (20 mg/kg). The oxidative stress markers were determined in the brain. Western blot was conducted for the level of LC3 II/I and Beclin1, as autophagy markers, caspase3 and Bcl2, as apoptosis proteins, and Sirt1 in the brain. The exposure of mice to BaP caused a marked increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and decrease of glutathione (GSH) content in the brain. Furthermore, the Sirt1 level upregulated as well as LC3 II/I, Beclin1, and cleaved caspase3 proteins, while the level of Bcl2 did not change. Melatonin at 20 mg/kg concurrently with BaP restored the BaP alteration in the brain compared with the BaP group. In conclusion, BaP induced brain toxicity via the induction of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy, whereas melatonin afforded neuroprotection against BaP due to inhibition of these mechanisms.

Analysis of lncRNA Expression Profile during the Formation of Male Germ Cells in Chickens

Simple Summary

The differentiation of germ cells plays an important role in sex differentiation in poultry. Therefore, it is necessary for us to explore the potential regulators in the process of germ cell development. In this study, RNA-seq was used to detect the expression profile of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in chicken embryonic stem cells (ESCs), primordial germ cells (PGCs) and spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). The results showed that a total of 296, 280 and 357 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were screened in ESCs vs. PGCs, ESCs vs. SSCs and PGCs vs. SSCs, respectively. Functional analysis of the target genes of DELs showed that autophagy, Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β, Notch and ErbB signaling pathways were involved in the differentiation process of male germ cells and, moreover, XLOC_612026, XLOC_612029, XLOC_240662, XLOC_362463, XLOC_023952, XLOC_674549, XLOC_160716, ALDBGALG0000001810, ALDBGALG0000002986, XLOC_657380674549, XLOC_022100 and XLOC_657380 were predicted to be the key lncRNAs in this process. Our findings could not only supply scientific data for constructing the gene regulatory network of germ cell development, but also provide new ideas for further optimizing the induction efficiency of germ cells in vitro.

Abstract

Germ cells have an irreplaceable role in transmitting genetic information from one generation to the next, and also play an important role in sex differentiation in poultry, while little is known about epigenetic factors that regulate germ cell differentiation. In this study, RNA-seq was used to detect the expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) during the differentiation of chicken embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). The results showed that a total of 296, 280 and 357 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were screened in ESCs vs. PGCs, ESCs vs. SSCs and PGCs vs. SSCs, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that DELs in the three cell groups were mainly enriched in autophagy, Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β, Notch and ErbB and signaling pathways. The co-expression network of 37 candidate DELs and their target genes enriched in the biological function of germ cell development showed that XLOC_612026, XLOC_612029, XLOC_240662, XLOC_362463, XLOC_023952, XLOC_674549, XLOC_160716, ALDBGALG0000001810, ALDBGALG0000002986, XLOC_657380674549, XLOC_022100 and XLOC_657380 were the key lncRNAs in the process of male germ cell formation and, moreover, the function of these DELs may be related to the interaction of their target genes. Our findings preliminarily excavated the key lncRNAs and signaling pathways in the process of male chicken germ cell formation, which could be helpful to construct the gene regulatory network of germ cell development, and also provide new ideas for further optimizing the induction efficiency of germ cells in vitro.

Four Autophagy-Related lncRNAs Predict the Prognosis of HCC through Coexpression and ceRNA Mechanism

Abnormally expressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to affect the occurrence and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by modulating the autophagy axis. However, none of studies has explored the clinical significance of these autophagy-related lncRNAs in HCC comprehensively. In this study, the RNA-seq, miRNA-seq, and clinical data of normal and HCC patients from the TCGA database and autophagy genes from the Human Autophagy Database were extracted. Subsequently, we screened out 78 differentially expressed autophagy-related lncRNAs, and four prognostic-related lncRNAs (LUCAT1, AC099850.3, ZFPM2-AS1, and AC009005.1) were eventually used to develop the prognostic model. This signature could be regarded as an independent prognostic signature for HCC patients and has the highest prediction efficiency than other clinicopathological factors for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival (AUC = 0.764, 0.738, and 0.717, respectively). Additionally, regardless of whether the clinical information is complete for HCC patients, the autophagy-related lncRNA model shows a good predictive power for the overall survival. Importantly, the coexpression network of 4 lncRNAs and 11 autophagy-related genes was constructed. Moreover, based on the bioinformatic analyses, our results found that LUCAT1 and ZFPM2-AS1 may affect the autophagic activity in HCC through the hsa-miR-495-3p/DLC1 and hsa-miR-515-5p/DAPK2 axis, respectively. In conclusion, we establish an effective prognostic model for HCC patients and shed new light on the autophagy-related regulatory mechanisms of the identified lncRNAs.

Long Non-Coding RNA H19 Participates in Periodontal Inflammation via Activation of Autophagy

Purpose

Periodontitis is the leading cause of tooth loss. The role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in periodontal inflammation remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of lncRNA H19 in periodontitis and its possible regulation of autophagy in periodontitis.

Material and Methods

Inflammation level was determined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs). Western blotting, flow cytometric analysis, and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the autophagy flux. Overexpression or knockdown of H19 was used to confirm its function. Ligature-induced periodontitis model in mice and periodontitis-affected human gingival tissue were used in vivo. RNA sequencing was performed to determine the differentially expressed genes.

Results

Autophagy was significantly increased in PDLCs after inflammatory stimulation as well as in a ligature-induced periodontitis model in mice and periodontitis-affected human gingival tissue. During the inflammatory process, H19 expression was also significantly upregulated. Further, the levels of autophagic markers were significantly upregulated after overexpressing H19 in PDLCs, and the increased autophagic activity induced by inflammatory stimulation was reversed by H19 knockdown. RNA sequencing showed that the expression profiles of mRNAs were significantly altered after H19 overexpression, and the differentially expressed genes were enriched in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which was confirmed by the decreased p-AKT protein expression in the H19 overexpression group.

Conclusion

Periodontal inflammation activates autophagy flux, and H19 mediates the activation of autophagy via AKT pathway in periodontitis. This study expands our understanding of molecular regulation in periodontitis.

Autophagy-Associated lncRNAs: Promising Targets for Neurological Disease Diagnosis and Therapy

Neurological diseases are a major threat to global public health and prosperity. The number of patients with neurological diseases is increasing due to the population aging and increasing life expectancy. Autophagy is one of the crucial mechanisms to maintain nerve cellular homeostasis. Numerous studies have demonstrated that autophagy plays a dual role in neurological diseases. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a vital class of noncoding RNAs with a length of more than 200 nucleotides and cannot encode proteins themselves but are expressed in most neurological diseases. An early phase, emerging knowledge has revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial in autophagy regulation. Furthermore, autophagy-associated lncRNAs can promote the development of neurological diseases or slow their progression. In this review, we introduce a general overview of lncRNA functional mechanisms and summarizes the recent progress of lncRNAs on autophagy regulation in neurological diseases to reveal possible novel therapeutic targets or useful biomarkers.

RETRACTED: Long noncoding RNA LCTS5 inhibits non-small cell lung cancer by interacting with INO80

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. The journal was alerted to an associated PubPeer post reporting that a migration assay image represented in Figure 2E appeared to have been previously published in another article, as detailed here: https://pubpeer.com/publications/EB45D50E3D52ABE00BDD60C2BD3057. The journal performed independent image analysis and confirmed this suspected image duplication. As per journal policy, authors were contacted and asked to provide an explanation to these concerns and associated raw data, but the authors failed to respond. The Editor-in-Chief assessed the case and decided to retract the article.

The Role of Non-coding RNAs in Viral Myocarditis

Viral myocarditis (VMC) is a disease characterized as myocardial parenchyma or interstitium inflammation caused by virus infection, especially Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection, which has no accurate non-invasive examination for diagnosis and specific drugs for treatment. The mechanism of CVB3-induced VMC may be related to direct myocardial damage of virus infection and extensive damage of abnormal immune response after infection. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) refers to RNA that is not translated into protein and plays a vital role in many biological processes. There is expanding evidence to reveal that ncRNAs regulate the occurrence and development of VMC, which may provide new treatment or diagnosis targets. In this review, we mainly demonstrate an overview of the potential role of ncRNAs in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of CVB3-induced VMC.

Melatonin inhibits Benzo(a)pyrene-Induced apoptosis through activation of the Mir-34a/Sirt1/autophagy pathway in mouse liver

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), an important environmental pollutant, is produced as the result of incomplete combustion of organic materials in many industries and food cooking process. It has been purposed that BaP induces hepatotoxicity through oxidative stress and apoptosis. Several studies have shown that melatonin can protect against chemical-induced apoptosis through autophagy pathway. In this study, we assessed the modulating effect of melatonin, a well-known antioxidant, on BaP-induced hepatotoxicity through induction of autophagy. Thirty male mice were treated daily for 28 consecutive days. BaP (75 mg/kg; oral gavage) and melatonin (10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered to mice. The liver histopathology and the levels of apoptosis and autophagy proteins as well as the expression of miR-34a were determined. The BaP exposure induced severe liver histological injury and markedly enhanced AST, ALT and MDA level. Also, apoptosis proteins and hepatic miR-34a expression increased. However, the level of Sirt1 and autophagy markers such as LC3 II/I ratio and Beclin-1 reduced. The co-administration of melatonin reversed all changes caused by BaP. In summary, melatonin appears to be effective in BaP-induced hepatotoxicity maybe through the miR-34a/Sirt1/autophagy molecular pathway.

Profiling analysis reveals the potential contribution of long non-coding RNAs to preterm white matter injury

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying preterm white matter injury (WMI) via the identification and functional analysis of differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs.

MAIN METHODS

A neonatal rat model of preterm WMI was established by ligating the common carotid artery and hypoxia induction. RNA sequencing was performed to analyze gene expression profiles of brain samples. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes (KEGG) analyses were performed to evaluate functions of target mRNAs. A co-expression network was generated to explore regulatory mechanisms.

KEY FINDINGS

In total, 210 lncRNAs and 619 mRNAs were differentially expressed between the preterm WMI group and the sham group. Based on GO and KEGG analyses, enriched pathways included the apoptotic signaling pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity pathway, and the autophagy pathway.

SIGNIFICANCE

Differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs in the brain tissues of preterm WMI model were identified, and the biological processes were closely associated with the development of preterm WMI, thus being considered potential targets for future studies.

Long noncoding RNA LINC00324 promotes retinoblastoma progression by acting as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA-769-5p, thereby increasing STAT3 expression

Long intergenic non–protein-coding RNA 324 (LINC00324) is abnormally expressed in multiple human cancer types and plays an important role in cancer initiation and progression. This study showed that LINC00324 was expressed at higher levels in retinoblastoma (RB) tumors and cell lines than in control samples. Increased LINC00324 expression closely correlated with the TNM stage, optic nerve invasion, and shorter overall survival among patients with RB. The knockdown of LINC00324 decreased RB cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion, and promoted apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in vitro as well as hindered tumor growth in vivo. With respect to the mechanism, LINC00324 acted as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA-769-5p (miR-769-5p) in RB cells. The mRNA of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was identified as a direct target of miR-769-5p in RB cells. Rescue experiments indicated that restoration of STAT3 expression attenuated the tumor-suppressive actions of miR-769-5p in RB cells. Downregulation of miR-769-5p or restoration of STAT3 almost completely reversed the effects of LINC00324 knockdown on RB cells. Our findings describe a novel RB-related LINC00324–miR-769-5p–STAT3 axis that is implicated in the malignancy of RB in vitro and in vivo. This study may point to innovative therapeutic targets in RB.

The role of noncoding RNAs and sirtuins in cancer drug resistance

Cancer is a rising and major health issue around the world. The acquisition of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is a great obstacle for the effective treatment of nearly all cancers. Drug resistance is regulated by multiple factors and mechanisms including genetic mutations, abnormal expression of some cellular transporters such as multidrug resistance (MDR) transporters, changes in apoptotic pathways, cancer stem cells, tumor microenvironment, and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). Evidence clearly indicates a key role for sirtuins in several characteristics of cancer drug resistance. Recent studies demonstrated the crucial impact of some ncRNAs on sirtuins expression leading to modulation of chemotherapy resistance in cancers. In this review, we will focus on the current findings about the impacts of ncRNAs on the sirtuins pathway and their role in drug resistance of cancer.

LncRNA CAR10 Upregulates PDPK1 to Promote Cervical Cancer Development by Sponging miR-125b-5p

Cervical cancer is one of the malignant tumors that seriously threaten women's health. The mechanism of development needs to be deeply studied. In recent years, lncRNA has been identified as one of the important factors affecting the malignant progression of tumors. In this study, we illustrated the important mechanism of lncRNA CAR10 in the development of cervical cancer. We found that CAR10 is significantly increased in4 cervical cancer tissues and cells, which can promote the proliferation of cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, indicating that CAR10 is involved in the progression of cervical cancer as an oncogene. Further studies showed that CAR10 is a target gene of miR-125b-5p, and miR-125b-5p can inhibit the effect of CAR10 on the proliferation of cervical cancer cells. In addition, we also found that 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDPK1) is also a target gene of miR-125b-5p, and CAR10 can upregulate the expression level of PDPK1. The results showed that CAR10 acts as a ceRNA to upregulate the expression of PDPK1 by sponging miR-125b-5p. Knockdown of PDPK1 can inhibit the effect of CAR10 on cervical cancer cells. Our study demonstrates that, based on ceRNA mechanism, CAR10/miR-125b-5p/PDPK1 network can regulate the proliferation of cervical cancer cells and play an important role in the development of cervical cancer. In addition, our study also suggests that intervention of CAR10/miR-125b-5p/PDPK1 network may be a new strategy for targeted therapy of cervical cancer.

lncRNA ZEB1-AS1 inhibits high glucose-induced EMT and fibrogenesis by regulating the miR-216a-5p/BMP7 axis in diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the leading causes of mortality in diabetic patients. Long non-coding RNA zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 antisense 1 (ZEB1-AS1) plays a crucial role in the development of various diseases, including DN. However, the molecular mechanism of ZEB1-AS1 in DN pathogenesis remains elusive. An in vitro DN model was established by treating HK-2 cells with high glucose (HG). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to detect the expression levels of ZEB1-AS1, microRNA-216a-5p (miR-216a-5p), and bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7). Western blot assay was used to evaluate the protein levels of BMP7, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins, and fibrosis markers. Additionally, the interaction among ZEB1-AS1, miR-216a-5p, and BMP7 was predicted by MiRcode (http://www.mircode.org) and starBase 2.0 (omics_06102, omicX), and confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. ZEB1-AS1 and BMP7 were down-regulated, while miR-216a-5p was highly expressed in kidney tissues of DN patients. Consistently, HG treatment decreased the levels of ZEB1-AS1 and BMP7, whereas HG increased miR-216a-5p expression in HK-2 cells in a time-dependent manner. ZEB1-AS1 upregulation inhibited HG-induced EMT and fibrogenesis. Furthermore, ZEB1-AS1 directly targeted miR-216a-5p, and overexpression of miR-216a-5p restored the inhibitory effects of ZEB1-AS1 overexpression on EMT and fibrogenesis. BMP7 was negatively targeted by miR-216a-5p. In addition, ZEB1-AS1 suppressed HG-induced EMT and fibrogenesis by regulating miR-216a-5p and BMP-7. lncRNA ZEB1-AS1 inhibited high glucose-induced EMT and fibrogenesis via regulating miR-216a-5p/BMP7 axis in diabetic nephropathy, providing a potential target for DN therapy.

Autophagy Modulators: Mechanistic Aspects and Drug Delivery Systems

Autophagy modulation is considered to be a promising programmed cell death mechanism to prevent and cure a great number of disorders and diseases. The crucial step in designing an effective therapeutic approach is to understand the correct and accurate causes of diseases and to understand whether autophagy plays a cytoprotective or cytotoxic/cytostatic role in the progression and prevention of disease. This knowledge will help scientists find approaches to manipulate tumor and pathologic cells in order to enhance cellular sensitivity to therapeutics and treat them. Although some conventional therapeutics suffer from poor solubility, bioavailability and controlled release mechanisms, it appears that novel nanoplatforms overcome these obstacles and have led to the design of a theranostic-controlled drug release system with high solubility and active targeting and stimuli-responsive potentials. In this review, we discuss autophagy modulators-related signaling pathways and some of the drug delivery strategies that have been applied to the field of therapeutic application of autophagy modulators. Moreover, we describe how therapeutics will target various steps of the autophagic machinery. Furthermore, nano drug delivery platforms for autophagy targeting and co-delivery of autophagy modulators with chemotherapeutics/siRNA, are also discussed.