A review on the role of ADAMTS9-AS2 in different disorders

lncRNA Biomarkers of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules of 200 nucleotides or more in length that are not translated into proteins. Their expression is tissue-specific, with the vast majority involved in the regulation of cellular processes and functions. Many human diseases, including cancer, have been shown to be associated with deregulated lncRNAs, rendering them potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for differential diagnosis. The expression of lncRNAs in the nervous system varies in different cell types, implicated in mechanisms of neurons and glia, with effects on the development and functioning of the brain. Reports have also shown a link between changes in lncRNA molecules and the etiopathogenesis of brain neoplasia, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM is an aggressive variant of brain cancer with an unfavourable prognosis and a median survival of 14-16 months. It is considered a brain-specific disease with the highly invasive malignant cells spreading throughout the neural tissue, impeding the complete resection, and leading to post-surgery recurrences, which are the prime cause of mortality. The early diagnosis of GBM could improve the treatment and extend survival, with the lncRNA profiling of biological fluids promising the detection of neoplastic changes at their initial stages and more effective therapeutic interventions. This review presents a systematic overview of GBM-associated deregulation of lncRNAs with a focus on lncRNA fingerprints in patients' blood.

LncRNA ADAMTS9-AS2 regulates periodontal ligament cell migration under mechanical compression via ADAMTS9/fibronectin

BACKGROUND

Periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) are key mechanosensory cells involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Mechanical force changes the ECM components, such as collagens and matrix metalloproteinases. However, the associations between the changes in ECM molecules and cellular dynamics during OTM remain largely uncharacterized.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the influence of mechanical force on the morphology and migration of PDLCs and explore the interaction between ECM remodeling and cellular dynamics, including the detailed mechanisms involved.

METHODS

Human PDLCs (hPDLCs) were subjected to a static mechanical compression to mimic the compression state of OTM in vitro. A mouse OTM model was used to mimic the OTM procedure in vivo. The migration of hPDLCs was compared by wound healing and transwell migration assays. Moreover, expression levels of ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 9 (ADAMTS9) and fibronectin (FN) in hPDLCs were determined via western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Expression levels of ADAMTS9 and FN in mice were assessed via immunohistochemical staining. Additionally, the relative expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ADAMTS9-antisense RNA 2 (ADAMTS9-AS2) was assessed via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. ADAMTS9-AS2 knockdown was performed to confirm its function in hPDLCs.

RESULTS

Mechanical compression induced changes in the morphology of hPDLCs. It also promoted migration and simultaneous upregulation of FN and downregulation of ADAMTS9, a fibronectinase. The mouse OTM model showed the same expression patterns of the two proteins on the compression side of the periodontium of the moved teeth. RNA sequencing revealed that lncRNA ADAMTS9-AS2 expression was significantly upregulated in hPDLCs under mechanical compression. After knocking down ADAMTS9-AS2, hPDLCs migration was significantly inhibited. ADAMTS9 expression was increased as FN expression decreased compared to that in the control group. Moreover, knockdown of ADAMTS9-AS2 reduced the effect of mechanical compression on hPDLCs migration and reversed the expression change of ADAMTS9 and FN. RNA immunoprecipitation revealed direct binding between ADAMTS9-AS2 and ADAMTS9 protein.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that mechanical compression induces the expression of ADAMTS9-AS2, which directly binds to ADAMTS9 and inhibits its function, leading to the promotion of downstream FN expression and ECM remodeling to facilitate hPDLCs migration and maintain the stability of the periodontium.

Molecular subgroup establishment and signature creation of lncRNAs associated with acetylation in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The significance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as pivotal mediators of histone acetylation and their influential role in predicting the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has been increasingly recognized. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the potential utility of acetylation-related lncRNAs (ARLs) in prognosticating the overall survival (OS) of LUAD specimens.

METHODS

The RNA-Seq and clinical information were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Through the differential analysis, weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), Pearson correlation test and univariate Cox regression, we found out the prognosis associated ARLs and divided LUAD specimens into two molecular subclasses. The ARLs were employed to construct a unique signature through the implementation of the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithm. Subsequently, the predictive performance was evaluated using ROC analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis. Finally, ARL expression in LUAD was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

We triumphantly built a ARLs prognostic model with excellent predictive accuracy for LUAD. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis illustrated that risk model served as an independent predictor for influencing the overall survival OS of LUAD. Furthermore, a nomogram exhibited strong prognostic validity. Additionally, variations were observed among subgroups in the field of immunity, biological functions, drug sensitivity and gene mutations within the field.

CONCLUSIONS

Nine ARLs were identified as promising indicators of personalized prognosis and drug selection for people suffering with LUAD.

Hypoxic regulation of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha via antisense transcription

Impaired oxygen homeostasis is a frequently encountered pathophysiological factor in multiple complex diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. While the canonical hypoxia response pathway is well characterized, less is known about the role of noncoding RNAs in this process. Here, we investigated the nascent and steady-state noncoding transcriptional responses in endothelial cells and their potential roles in regulating the hypoxic response. Notably, we identify a novel antisense long noncoding RNA that convergently overlaps the majority of the hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1A) locus, which is expressed across several cell types and elevated in atherosclerotic lesions. The antisense (HIF1A-AS) is produced as a stable, unspliced, and polyadenylated nuclear retained transcript. HIF1A-AS is highly induced in hypoxia by both HIF1A and HIF2A and exhibits anticorrelation with the coding HIF1A transcript and protein expression. We further characterized this functional relationship by CRISPR-mediated bimodal perturbation of the HIF1A-AS promoter. We provide evidence that HIF1A-AS represses the expression of HIF1a in cis by repressing transcriptional elongation and deposition of H3K4me3, and that this mechanism is dependent on the act of antisense transcription itself. Overall, our results indicate a critical regulatory role of antisense mediated transcription in regulation of HIF1A expression and cellular response to hypoxia.