LncRNA-CASC7 enhances corticosteroid sensitivity via inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by targeting miR-21 in severe asthma

miR-21-5p Modulates Airway Inflammation and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Processes in a Mouse Model of Combined Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome (CARAS) is a concurrent allergic symptom of diseases of allergic rhinitis and asthma. However, the mechanism of CARAS remains unclear. The study aimed to investigate the impact of microRNA-21 (miR-21) on CARAS via targeting poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathways.

METHODS

The levels of miR-21-5p and PARP-1 in CARAS patients were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). An ovalbumin-sensitized mouse model of CARAS was established. And knock down of miR-21-5p was constructed by intranasally administering with miR-21-5p shRNA-encoding adeno-associated virus vector. Airway resistance and airway inflammatory response were detected. ELISA was used to evaluate IL-4/IL-5/IL-13 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Expression levels of E-cadherin, fibronectin, and α-SMA were determined using Western blotting. The levels of PARP-1 and the activation of PI3K/AKT were assayed.

RESULTS

Downregulation of miR-21-5p relieved pathophysiological symptoms of asthma including airway hyperreactivity and inflammatory cell infiltration. Downregulation of miR-21-5p significantly reduced the levels of IL4, IL-5, and IL-13 in BALF. Additionally, downregulation of miR-21-5p inhibited the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in CARAS mice. Furthermore, miR-21-5p regulated PARP-1 and was involved in PI3K/AKT activation in CARAS mice.

CONCLUSION

Downregulation of miR-21-5p ameliorated CARAS-associated lung injury by alleviating airway inflammation, inhibiting the EMT process, and regulating PARP-1/PI3K/AKT in a mouse model of CARAS.

Tuning into miRNAs: A comprehensive analysis of their impact on diagnosis, and progression in asthma

Asthma is a diverse inflammatory illness affecting the respiratory passages, leading to breathing challenges, bouts of coughing and wheezing, and, in severe instances, significant deterioration in quality of life. Epigenetic regulation, which involves the control of gene expression through processes such as post-transcriptional modulation of microRNAs (miRNAs), plays a role in the evolution of various asthma subtypes. In immune-mediated diseases, miRNAs play a regulatory role in the behavior of cells that form the airway structure and those responsible for defense mechanisms in the bronchi and lungs. They control various cellular processes such as survival, growth, proliferation, and the production of chemokines and immune mediators. miRNAs possess chemical and biological characteristics that qualify them as suitable biomarkers for diseases. They allow for the categorization of patients to optimize drug selection, thus streamlining clinical management and decreasing both the economic burden and the necessity for critical care related to the disease. This study provides a concise overview of the functions of miRNAs in asthma and elucidates their regulatory effects on the underlying processes of the disease. We provide a detailed account of the present status of miRNAs as biomarkers for categorizing asthma, identifying specific asthma subtypes, and selecting appropriate treatment options.

LncRNAs in Kawasaki disease and Henoch-Schönlein purpura: mechanisms and clinical applications

Kawasaki disease (KD) and Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) are the two most predominant types of childhood vasculitis. In childhood vasculitis, factors such as lack of sensitive diagnostic indicators and adverse effects of drug therapy may cause multiorgan system involvement and complications and even death. Many studies suggest that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the mechanism of vasculitis development in children and can be used to diagnose or predict prognosis by lncRNAs. In existing drug therapies, lncRNAs are also involved in drug-mediated treatment mechanisms and are expected to improve drug toxicity. The aim of this review is to summarize the link between lncRNAs and the pathogenesis of KD and HSP. In addition, we review the potential applications of lncRNAs in multiple dimensions, such as diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis prediction. This review highlights that targeting lncRNAs may be a novel therapeutic strategy to improve and treat KD and HSP.

Noncoding RNAs in asthmatic airway smooth muscle cells

Asthma is a complex and heterogeneous airway disease caused by genetic, environmental and epigenetic factors treated with hormones and biologics. Irreversible pathological changes to airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) such as hyperplasia and hypertrophy can occur in asthmatic patients. Determining the mechanisms responsible is vital for preventing such changes. In recent years, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs and circular RNAs, have been found to be associated with abnormalities of the ASMCs. This review highlights recent ncRNA research into ASMC pathologies. We present a schematic that illustrates the role of ncRNAs in pathophysiological changes to ASMCs that may be useful in future research in diagnostic and treatment strategies for patients with asthma.

Determinants associated with uncontrolled asthma in Portugal: A national population-based study

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Asthma is a chronic and heterogeneous disease that affects people of all ages and has a high estimated increase in prevalence worldwide. Asthma control represents a main goal in the disease management. International studies revealed low levels of disease control resulting in a significant burden for healthcare systems, not only in terms of quality of life, but also in terms of health costs. Modifiable and non-modifiable factors have been identified as relating to poor asthma control level. In this study we evaluated the distribution of asthma control levels in Portuguese adult population and examine the determinants associated with uncontrolled asthma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using a similar methodology to the one employed in the Asthma Insights and Reality in Europe (AIRE) survey, 327 active asthmatic patients were identified by random phone number and completed a questionnaire during 2011 to 2012. Asthma control was assessed by the evaluation of GINA based symptom control, by Asthma Control Test.äó (ACT) and by self-perception of control. To examine the relationship between uncontrolled asthma and its determinants, univariate logistic regression analysis, sequential multivariable regression and population attributable risk percentage were determinate.

RESULTS

35.2% active asthmatic patients had uncontrolled asthma, 64.8% partially controlled and none of the individuals had total control of asthma assessed by ACT test. Factors significantly associated with poor asthma control scores were: age (OR 1.02 per year of age; 95% CI: 1.01.Çô1.03), female sex (OR 1.87; 95% CI: 1.15.Çô3.04), educational level (OR 0.5; 95% CI: 0.28.Çô0.89 at high school level or over), occupation (OR 4.92; 95% CI: 2.12.Çô11.42 if looking for a first job or unemployed) (OR 2.51; 95% CI: 1.35.Çô4.65 if being retired), income (OR 0.23; 95% CI: 0.07.Çô0.72 if >619 euros), BMI (OR 1.09 per BMI unit; 95% CI: 1.03.Çô1.14), having rhinitis symptoms (OR 4.40; 95% CI: 2.56.Çô7.58) and using inhaled corticosteroids (OR 0.44; 95%CI: 0.24.Çô0.82 if used in the past or never used). Looking for a first job or being unemployed, BMI and having rhinitis symptoms remained significant after multivariate adjustments.

CONCLUSIONS

Uncontrolled asthma was associated with several determinants. Their identification can contribute to improve asthma care both from clinical and from public health perspectives.

MiR-21 modulates proliferation and apoptosis of human airway smooth muscle cells by regulating autophagy via PARP-1/AMPK/mTOR signalling pathway

Superfluous human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cell proliferation is an important pathological feature of airway remodelling in asthma. This study aimed to determine whether miR-21 is involved in the regulation of HASM cell survival. Overexpressed miR-21 inhibited HASM cell apoptosis and autophagy and promoted proliferation, whereas a miR-21 inhibitor exerted the opposite effects (P < 0.05). Overexpressed poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation of HASM cells (P < 0.05). Dual-luciferase assays confirmed that miR-21 directly targeted poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) mRNA (P < 0.05). Silencing PARP-1 based on miR-21 downregulation mimicked the role of 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor (P < 0.05). Overexpressed PARP-1 reversed the effects of miR-21 on HASM cells, somewhat dependently on PARP-1-induced enhanced autophagy, which we elucidated by 3-MA block (P < 0.05). MicroRNA-21 mimics reduced AMPK and increased mTOR signalling by downregulating PARP-1, and a miR-21 inhibitor exerted the opposite effects (P < 0.05). Collectively, miR-21 inhibitor could upregulate PARP-1 in HASM cells to promote autophagy and thus inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis that might be mediated by the AMPK/mTOR signalling pathway.

MicroRNA-21 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migration of human bronchial epithelial cells by targeting poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 and activating PI3K/AKT signaling

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is known to be involved in airway remodeling and fibrosis of bronchial asthma. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to EMT have yet to be fully clarified. The current study was designed to reveal the potential mechanism of microRNA-21 (miR-21) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) affecting EMT through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE cells) were transfected with miR-21 mimics/inhibitors and PARP-1 plasmid/small interfering RNA (siRNA). A dual luciferase reporter assay and biotin-labeled RNA pull-down experiments were conducted to verify the targeting relationship between miR-21 mimics and PARP-1. The migration ability of 16HBE cells was evaluated by Transwell assay. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting experiments were applied to determine the expression of Snail, ZEB1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and PARP-1. The effects of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 on the migration of 16HBE cells and EMT were investigated. Overexpression of miR-21 mimics induced migration and EMT of 16HBE cells, which was significantly inhibited by overexpression of PARP-1. Our findings showed that PARP-1 was a direct target of miR-21, and that miR-21 targeted PARP-1 to promote migration and EMT of 16HBE cells through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Using LY294002 to block PI3K/AKT signaling pathway resulted in a significant reduction in the migration and EMT of 16HBE cells. These results suggest that miR-21 promotes EMT and migration of HBE cells by targeting PARP-1. Additionally, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway might be involved in this mechanism, which could indicate its usefulness as a therapeutic target for asthma.

PTEN: An Emerging Potential Target for Therapeutic Intervention in Respiratory Diseases

Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a potent tumor suppressor that regulates several key cellular processes, including proliferation, survival, genomic integrity, migration, and invasion, via PI3K-dependent and independent mechanisms. A subtle decrease in PTEN levels or catalytic activity is implicated not only in cancer but also in a wide spectrum of other diseases, including various respiratory diseases. A systemic overview of the advances in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of PTEN involved in the initiation and progression of respiratory diseases may offer novel targets for the development of effective therapeutics for the treatment of respiratory diseases. In the present review, we highlight the novel findings emerging from current research on the role of PTEN expression and regulation in airway pathological conditions such as asthma/allergic airway inflammation, pulmonary hypertension (PAH), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and other acute lung injuries (ALI). Moreover, we discuss the clinical implications of PTEN alteration and recently suggested therapeutic possibilities for restoration of PTEN expression and function in respiratory diseases.

The Novel Regulatory Role of the lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA Axis in Chronic Inflammatory Airway Diseases

Chronic inflammatory airway diseases, characterized by airway inflammation and airway remodelling, are increasing as a cause of morbidity and mortality for all age groups and races across the world. The underlying molecular mechanisms involved in chronic inflammatory airway diseases have not been fully explored. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently attracted much attention for their roles in the regulation of a variety of biological processes. A number of studies have confirmed that both lncRNAs and miRNAs can regulate the initiation and progression of chronic airway diseases by targeting mRNAs and regulating different cellular processes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, migration, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Recently, accumulative evidence has shown that the novel regulatory mechanism underlying the interaction among lncRNAs, miRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) plays a critical role in the pathophysiological processes of chronic inflammatory airway diseases. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the regulatory roles of the lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA network in different cell types and their potential roles as biomarkers, indicators of comorbidities or therapeutic targets for chronic inflammatory airway diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.

Molecular genetics of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe progressive interstitial lung disease with a prevalence of 2 to 29 per 100,000 of the world’s population. Aging is a significant risk factor for IPF, and the mechanisms of aging (telomere depletion, genomic instability, mitochondrial dysfunction, loss of proteostasis) are involved in the pathogenesis of IPF. The pathogenesis of IPF consists of TGF-β activation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and SIRT7 expression decrease. Genetic studies have shown a role of mutations and polymorphisms in mucin genes (MUC5B), in the genes responsible for the integrity of telomeres (TERC, TERC, TINF2, DKC1, RTEL1, PARN), in surfactant-related genes (SFTPC, SFTPCA, SFTPA2, ABCA3, SP-A2), immune system genes (IL1RN, TOLLIP), and haplotypes of HLA genes (DRB1*15:01, DQB1*06:02) in IPF pathogenesis. The investigation of the influence of reversible epigenetic factors on the development of the disease, which can be corrected by targeted therapy, shows promise. Among them, an association of a number of specific microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs was revealed with IPF. Therefore, dysregulation of transposons, which serve as key sources of noncoding RNA and affect mechanisms of aging, may serve as a driver for IPF development. This is due to the fact that pathological activation of transposons leads to violation of the regulation of genes, in the epigenetic control of which microRNA originating from these transposons are involved (due to the complementarity of nucleotide sequences). Analysis of the MDTE database (miRNAs derived from Transposable Elements) allowed the detection of 12 different miRNAs derived in evolution from transposons and associated with IPF (miR-31, miR-302, miR-326, miR-335, miR-340, miR-374, miR-487, miR-493, miR-495, miR-630, miR-708, miR-1343). We described the relationship of transposons with TGF-β, sirtuins and telomeres, dysfunction of which is involved in the pathogenesis of IPF. New data on IPF epigenetic mechanisms can become the basis for improving results of targeted therapy of the disease using noncoding RNAs.

Long noncoding RNA CASC7 is a novel regulator of glycolysis in oesophageal cancer via a miR-143-3p-mediated HK2 signalling pathway

Long noncoding RNAs have been proven to play a crucial role in many tumours. Here, we explored the role of the lncRNA cancer susceptibility candidate 7 (CASC7) in oesophageal cancer. LncRNA CASC7 was identified in our database analysis, and we found that it was significantly higher in oesophageal tumour tissue than in normal tissue and that high expression of lncRNA CASC7 predicted a poor prognosis. Furthermore, we verified through cell experiments that low expression of lncRNA CASC7 in oesophageal cancer cells significantly inhibited tumour proliferation, which could be explained by the effect of lncRNA CASC7 on aerobic glycolysis. Next, we found that the expression of CASC7 and hexokinase 2 (HK2) in oesophageal cancer was positively correlated in database analysis, and this conclusion was further verified in cell experiments. To determine the mechanism, we found that miR-143-3p can bind to both lncRNA CASC7 and HK2. In clinical specimens, we also found high expression of lncRNA CASC7 in tumours, and the expression levels of lncRNA CASC7 and HK2 were positively correlated. In conclusion, downregulating lncRNA CASC7 could inhibit tumour proliferation by reducing glycolysis through the miR-143-3p/HK2 axis.

Melatonin promotes apoptosis of thyroid cancer cells via regulating the signaling of microRNA-21 (miR-21) and microRNA-30e (miR-30e)

Melatonin (MEL) is an effective therapeutic choice for thyroid cancer treatment. In this study, we aimed to explored the potential effect of MEL upon the drug sensitivity of cancer cells and the according underlying mechanisms. Thyroid cancer mice were established as a control group and a MEL group to observe the in vivo effect of MEL. Tumor size and weight in nude mice were detected to evaluate the effect of MEL on tumor growth. Immunohistochemistry assay (IHC) and Western blot were performed to analyze the expression of PTEN protein in tumor cells or tumor cells. After 32 days of cancer cell implantation, MEL was found to significantly repress tumor growth in nude mice approximately by half. Moreover, MEL also suppressed tumor cell proliferation, while apparently activating the apoptosis of tumor cells. In addition, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) production was obviously elevated by MEL treatment. Mechanistically, the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was remarkably activated by MEL treatment in tumor tissues of implanted TPC-1 and BCPaP cells in nude mice. Meanwhile, MEL inhibited the expression of miR-21 and miR-30e and promoted the expression of lncRNA-cancer susceptibility candidate 7 (CASC7). Both miR-21 and miR-30e could suppress PTEN expression, while miR-21 could also inhibit the expression of lncRNA-CASC7. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that the MEL administration could downregulate the expression of miR-21 and miR-30e, which resulted in increased expression of PTEN, a pro-apoptotic tumor suppressor, to promote the apoptosis of thyroid cancer cells.

A Network Pharmacology Approach to Reveal the Underlying Mechanisms of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae in the Treatment of Asthma

Background

In this study, network pharmacological methods were used to analyze the targets of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae (RDN) and investigate the potential underlying mechanism of RDN in the treatment of asthma.

Methods

Asthma-related targets were obtained from the GeneCards and DisGeNET databases. The bioactive components of RDN were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform database, and the targets of these compounds were predicted using the BATMAN-TCM database. The network of RDN component targets was constructed using Cytoscape. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed in Cytoscape to determine the potential targets of RDN for the treatment of asthma. The hub genes of RDN in the treatment of asthma were screened using network topological parameters. Gene ontology (GO) and the KEGG pathways were analyzed. Molecular docking and in vivo experiments were performed to validate the network pharmacology results.

Results

A total of four bioactive components and 55 targets were identified. The results of the enrichment analysis suggested that the treatment of asthma with RDN involved signaling pathways, such as those related to systemic lupus erythematosus, alcoholism, viral carcinogenesis, the cell cycle, prostate cancer, transcriptional misregulation in cancer, hepatitis B, thyroid hormone signaling, and PI3K-AKT signaling, as well as other signaling pathways. Molecular docking showed that the active components of RDN could stably bind to the predicted target. In vivo experiments showed that RDN could regulate the expression of target genes and inhibit the activation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

Conclusion

To a certain extent, this study reveals the potential bioactive components and molecular mechanisms of RDN in the treatment of asthma and provides new insights for the development of new drugs for asthma.

CASC7: a LncRNA with potential clinical application

AIM

To explore the novel lncRNA CASC7 and its potential clinical applications.Long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs) are defined as non-coding genes with a length exceeding 200 nt. As transcripts of RNA polymerase Il, they have limited coding potential due to the lack of an open reading frame in the gene segment. Research has confirmed that lncRNAs are important biological factors that regulate many life processes in the human body through different mechanisms. This work focused on Cancer Susceptibility Candidate 7 (CASC7), a lncRNA with nuclear and cytoplasmic localization. Publicly available databases show that CASC7 is differentially expressed in human organs as well as in tumor tissues. A study confirmed that CASC7 is abnormally expressed in colorectal cancer, glioma, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and thyroid cancer. In male infertility, asthma and heart failure, it may also be a potential therapeutic target and promising biomarker. CASC7 mainly plays a biological effect through direct or indirect effects of promoting or inhibiting the expression of related genes. Currently, only few studies have assessed CASC7, and its mechanisms are not clear. The main purpose of this review was to examine CASC7 and its possible molecular mechanisms and clinical significance in cancer.

CONCLUSION

We reviewed the recent research progress of CASC7 and its potential as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target, and provide an outlook on its future application in terms of mechanism.Key points:CASC7 is a novel lncRNA, for which there are few reports.Aberrant expression of CASC7 may be associated with the emergence and treatment of many clinical diseases, including malignancy.

MicroRNA-98-5p Inhibits IL-13-Induced Proliferation and Migration of Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells by Targeting RAC1

The dysfunction of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) is one of the key factors in the pathogenesis of asthma. How miR-98-5p works in asthma has not been completely elucidated. This work focused on how miR-98-5p functions in the proliferation and migration of human ASMCs treated with interleukin-13 (IL-13). MiR-98-5p expression in plasma of asthmatic patients and IL-13-stimulated ASMCs was probed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RAS-relevant C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1) protein expression in ASMCs was assessed by Western blot. The growth of ASMCs was measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. The migration of ASMCs was examined by Transwell assay. Besides, the apoptosis of ASMCs was analyzed by flow cytometry. The targeting relationship between miR-98-5p and RAC1 3'-UTR was verified by a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. MiR-98-5p expression was reduced in patients' plasma and IL-13-stimulated ASMCs, and RAC1 expression was upregulated in ASMCs treated with IL-13. MiR-98-5p overexpression inhibited IL-13-induced proliferation and migration of ASMCs while promoting the apoptosis. The opposite result was observed after inhibiting miR-98-5p expression. Besides, RAC1 was identified as a direct downstream target of miR-98-5p in ASMCs. The restoration of RAC1 expression counteracted the impacts of miR-98-5p overexpression on IL-13-stimulated proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of ASMCs. MiR-98-5p inhibits IL-13-induced proliferation and migration and accelerates the apoptosis of ASMCs by downregulating RAC1 expression.

Screening and Verification of Differentially Expressed Long Non-coding RNAs in the Peripheral Blood of Patients With asthma

Growing evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a key role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Although some differentially expressed lncRNAs have been identified in asthmatic patients, many asthma-related lncRNAs have not been annotated. In the present study, six patients and three healthy subjects were randomly selected from 34 asthmatic patients and 17 healthy subjects. Second-generation high-throughput sequencing was performed on their peripheral blood samples. There were 1,137 differentially expressed lncRNAs in the asthma patients compared to in the healthy controls, of which 485 were upregulated and 652 were downregulated. The top 30 enriched GO and KEGG terms were identified, and the cytosolic ribosome (GO:0022626) and ribosome (hsa03010) were associated with the most differentially expressed lncRNAs. The top 10 differentially expressed lncRNAs associated with asthma were verified by an lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network and RT-qPCR. Seven of the these (NONHSAT015495.2, MSTRG.71212.2, NONHSAT163272.1, NONHSAT181891.1, NONHSAT190964.1, ENST00000564809, and NONHSAT076890.2) were down-regulated in the peripheral blood of asthmatic patients, which was consistent with the sequencing results. Three patients and three healthy subjects were randomly selected from the remaining subjects to verify these seven lncRNAs by RT-qPCR, which further confirmed the sequencing results. Public database GSE106230 was also in agreement with the FPKM (Fragments Per kilobase of exon model per Million mapped reads) trends of ENST00000564809, NONHSAT015495.2, NONHSAT181891.1, and NONHSAT190964.1. In conclusion, the present study identified seven lncRNAs that may serve as potential biological markers for asthma.

Unlocking the secrets of long non-coding RNAs in asthma

Asthma is a very heterozygous disease, divided in subtypes, such as eosinophilic and neutrophilic asthma. Phenotyping and endotyping of patients, especially patients with severe asthma who are refractory to standard treatment, are crucial in asthma management and are based on a combination of clinical and biological features. Nevertheless, the quest remains to find better biomarkers that distinguish asthma subtypes in a more clear and objective manner and to find new therapeutic targets to treat people with therapy-resistant asthma. In the past, research to identify asthma subtypes mainly focused on expression profiles of protein-coding genes. However, advances in RNA-sequencing technologies and the discovery of non-coding RNAs as important post-transcriptional regulators have provided an entire new field of research opportunities in asthma. This review focusses on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in asthma; these are non-coding RNAs with a length of more than 200 nucleotides. Many lncRNAs are differentially expressed in asthma, and several have been associated with asthma severity or inflammatory phenotype. Moreover, in vivo and in vitro functional studies have identified the mechanisms of action of specific lncRNAs. Although lncRNAs remain not widely studied in asthma, the current studies show the potential of lncRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets as well as the need for further research.

Emerging Roles of Non-Coding RNAs in Childhood Asthma

Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease in children characterized by airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodeling. Childhood asthma is usually associated with allergy and atopy, unlike adult asthma, which is commonly associated with obesity, smoking, etc. The pathogenesis and diagnosis of childhood asthma also remains more challenging than adult asthma, such as many diseases showing similar symptoms may coexist and be confused with asthma. In terms of the treatment, although most childhood asthma can potentially be self-managed and controlled with drugs, approximately 5-10% of children suffer from severe uncontrolled asthma, which carries significant health and socioeconomic burdens. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the pathogenesis of childhood asthma from a new perspective. Studies have revealed that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are involved in the regulation of respiratory diseases. In addition, altered expression of ncRNAs in blood, and in condensate of sputum or exhalation affects the progression of asthma via regulating immune response. In this review, we outline the regulation and pathogenesis of asthma and summarize the role of ncRNAs in childhood asthma. We also hold promise that ncRNAs may be used for the development of biomarkers and support a new therapeutic strategy for childhood asthma.

Human Lung Mast Cells Impair Corticosteroid Responsiveness in Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells

The mechanisms underlying corticosteroid insensitivity in severe asthma have not been elucidated although some indirect clinical evidence points toward a role of mast cells. Here, we tested the hypothesis that mast cells can drive corticosteroid insensitivity in airway smooth muscle cells, a key player in asthma pathogenesis. Conditioned media from resting or FcεR1-activated human lung mast cells were incubated with serum-deprived ASM cells (1:4 dilution, 24 h) to determine their impact on the anti-inflammatory action of fluticasone on ASM cell chemokine expression induced by TNFα (10 ng/ml). Conditioned media from FcεR1-activated mast cells (but not that from non-activated mast cells or control media) significantly reduced the ability of 100 nM fluticasone to suppress ASM TNFα-dependent CCL5 and CXCL10 production at both mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, fluticasone inhibition of CXCL-8 production by TNFα was still preserved in the presence of activated mast cell conditioned media. Transcriptomic analysis validated by individual qPCR assays revealed that activated mast cell conditioned media dramatically reduced the number of anti-inflammatory genes induced by fluticasone in ASM cells. Our study demonstrates for the first time that conditioned media from FcεR1-activated mast cells blunt the anti-inflammatory action of corticosteroids in ASM cells by altering their transactivation properties. Because infiltration of mast cells within the ASM bundles is a defining feature of asthma, mast cell-derived mediators may contribute to the glucocorticoid insensitivity present in severe asthma.

lncRNA CASC7 regulates pathological progression of ox-LDL-stimulated atherosclerotic cell models via sponging miR-21 and regulating PI3K/Akt and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a frequently occurring cause of cardiovascular disease and involves a complicated pathophysiological process. Studies suggest that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in AS genesis and progression, but mechanisms underlying these connections are unclear. Therefore, this work focused on exploring the role of lncRNA CASC7 in AS. In this study, RNA-seq sequencing results identified 1040 lncRNAs differentially expressed between AS patients and healthy controls. Of these lncRNAs, 458 were up-regulated and 582 were downregulated. CASC7 was found to be down-regulated in serum samples from AS patients and in HUVEC and VSMC exposed to ox-LDL. Overexpression of CASC7 inhibited proliferation and enhanced apoptosis of VSMC, and it markedly reduced IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels in HUVEC. Increased expression of a CASC7 target, miR-21, abolished the effects of CASC7 on HUVEC and VSMC. Notably, miR-21 targets PI3K in VSMC and TLR4 in HUVEC. The inhibitory effect of CASC7 was decreased by stimulation of PI3K, suggesting that the CASC7/miR-21 axis functions through PI3K/Akt signaling in VSMC. Similarly, the inhibitory effect of CASC7 on the inflammatory response in HUVEC was abolished through activating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. CASC7 inhibited proliferation and enhanced the apoptosis of VSMC through modulating the miR-21/PI3K-AKT axis, and upregulating CASC7 suppressed the inflammatory response of HUVEC by sponging miR-21 to inhibit the TLR4/NF-κB signal pathway.

TGF-β1/SMOC2/AKT and ERK axis regulates proliferation, migration, and fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation in lung fibroblast, contributing with the asthma progression

Background

Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease that influences 300 million people all over the world. However, the pathogenesis of asthma has not been fully elucidated. It has been reported that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) can activate myofibroblasts. Moreover, the fibroblast to myofibroblast transformation (FMT) can be triggered by TGF-β, which is a major mediator of subepithelial fibrosis. Secreted modular calcium-binding protein 2 (SMOC2) is a member of cysteine (SPARC) family and is involved in the progression of multiple diseases. However, its role in asthma remains poorly understood. RT-qPCR evaluated the expression of SMOC2. Bromodeoxyuridine assay and wound-healing assay detected the proliferation and migration of lung fibroblasts, respectively. IF staining was performed to assess the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Western blot analysis detected the levels of proteins. Flow cytometry was utilized for determination of the number of myofibroblasts.

Results

We found the expression of SMOC2 was upregulated by the treatment of TGF-β1 in lung fibroblasts. In addition, SMOC2 promoted the proliferation and migration of lung fibroblasts. More importantly, SMOC2 accelerated FMT of lung fibroblasts. Furthermore, SMOC2 was verified to control the activation of AKT and ERK. Rescue assays showed that the inhibition of AKT and ERK pathway reversed the promoting effect of SMOC2 overexpression on proliferation, migration and FMT in lung fibroblasts.

Conclusions

This work demonstrated that SMOC2 modulated TGF-β1-induced proliferation, migration and FMT in lung fibroblasts and may promote asthma, which potentially provided a novel therapeutic target for the management of asthma.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41065-021-00213-w.

Emerging Advances of Non-coding RNAs and Competitive Endogenous RNA Regulatory Networks in Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway remodeling and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. A variety of effector cells and cytokines jointly stimulate the occurrence of inflammatory response in asthma. Although the pathogenesis of asthma is not entirely clear, the possible roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been recently demonstrated. NcRNAs are non-protein-coding RNA molecules, such as circular RNAs (circRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), which are involved in the regulation of a variety of biological processes. Mounting studies have shown that ncRNAs play pivotal roles in the occurrence and progression of asthma via competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks. However, the specific mechanism and clinical application of ncRNAs and ceRNA regulatory networks in asthma have not been fully elucidated, which are worthy of further investigation. This paper comprehensively summarized the current progress on the roles of miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, and ceRNA regulatory networks in asthma, which can provide a better understanding for the disease pathogenesis and is helpful for identifying novel biomarkers for asthma.

Convergent Evidence Supports TH2LCRR as a Novel Asthma Susceptibility Gene

Asthma is a common complex disease with apparent genetic predispositions, and previous genome-wide association studies suggest that rs1295686 within the IL13 (interleukin 13) gene is significantly associated with asthma. Analysis of the data provided by the 1000 Genomes Project indicated that there are additional four SNPs in nearly complete linkage disequilibrium with rs1295686 in Caucasians. However, the causal SNPs and the associated mechanism remain unclear. To investigate this issue, functional genomics approaches were utilized to analyze the functions of these SNPs. Dual-luciferase assays indicated that the functional SNP is not rs1295686 but a haplotype consisting of other three SNPs, rs1295685, rs848 and rs847. Through chromosome conformation capture, it was found that the enhancer containing the three functional SNPs interacts with the promoter of TH2LCRR (T helper type 2 locus control region associated RNA), a recently identified long non-coding RNA. RNA-seq data analysis indicated that TH2LCRR expression is significantly increased in asthma patients and is dependent on the genotype at this locus, indicating that TH2LCRR is a novel susceptibility gene for asthma and that these SNPs confer asthma risk by regulating TH2LCRR expression. By chromatin immunoprecipitation, the related transcription factors that bind in the region surrounding these three SNPs were identified, and their interactions were investigated by functional genomics approaches. Our effort identified a novel mechanism through which genetic variations at this locus could influence asthma susceptibility.

Long non-coding RNA CASC7 suppresses malignant behaviors of breast cancer by regulating miR-21-5p/FASLG axis

Recently, it has been increasingly proved that lncRNAs are functionally involved in a majority of tumor progression. LncRNA CASC7 has also been revealed to participate in the development of several cancers as a tumor promoter or suppressor. Herein, we focus on uncovering the role and underlying molecular mechanism of CASC7 in breast cancer. Tumor tissues and the paired paracancerous tissues from the breast cancer patients were used to evaluate the level of CASC7 in breast cancer. By analyzing the CASC7 expression in breast cancer cell lines, both the expression levels of CASC7 in cancer tissues and cell lines were obviously downregulated compared to those in paired paracancerous tissues and normal human epithelial MCF10A cells. Subsequently, the construction of lentivirus overexpression system (oe-CASC7 and oe-NC) was used to elevate the expression of CASC7. A series of functional experiments were conducted to show that the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were inhibited when CASC7 overexpressed in breast cancer cells. Meanwhile, the apoptosis of oe-CASC7 cells was induced compared to the oe-NC breast cancer cells. We further confirmed that CASC7 functions by regulating miR-21-5p/FASLG axis. Finally, a xenograft model in nude mice verified that CASC7 was a tumor suppressor in breast cancer. These results suggest that lncRNA CASC7 suppresses to malignant behaviors of breast cancer by modulating miR-21-5p/FASLG axis. Abbreviations lncRNAs: long non-coding RNAs; ceRNA: competing endogenous RNA; CASC7: cancer susceptibility candidate 7; miRNAs: MicroRNAs; MAPK10: mitogen-activated protein kinase 10; FASLG: Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 6; FAS: Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily Member 6.

LncRNA-CASC7 inhibits the proliferation and migration of colon cancer by negatively regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

This study aims to investigate the effect of LncRNA-CASC7 (cancer susceptibility candidate 7) on the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells and its possible mechanism.

METHODS

In this study, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed for the detection of lncRNA-CASC7 expression in 54 colon cancer tissues and 5 colon cancer cell lines. This study aimed to evaluate the significant correlation between the lncRNA-CASC7 expression, the clinical features, and the survival rate of patients. LncRNA-CASC7 was overexpressed by lipofectin transfection. Cell proliferation was detected by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Transwell assay was conducted to examine cell migration and invasion. The target gene was verified by dual fluorescein. The expression of proliferation and invasion-related proteins was detected via western blotting (WB).

RESULTS

The LncRNA-CASC7 expression in colon cancer was considerably decreased than in nearby healthy tissues (P<0.01). Its expression level was linked to survival rate, lymph node metastasis, and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage. Similarly, the expression of lncRNA-CASC7 was decreased in 5 colon cancer cell lines. The proliferative, invasive, and migratory potential of cells was considerably decreased by lncRNA-CASC7 overexpression. Overexpression of lncRNA-CASC7 significantly inhibited the expression of proteins Ki-67 and PNCA (associated with proliferation) and proteins N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and vimentin (linked with metastasis). Further studies showed that overexpression of LncRNA-CASC7 could significantly inhibit the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in colon cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The PI3K/Akt signaling cascade is negatively regulated by LncRNA-CASC7, which serves as a tumor suppressor gene by attenuating colon cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, thus affecting the tumor progression and prognosis of colon cancer patients.

Role of Epigenetics in the Pathogenesis, Treatment, Prediction, and Cellular Transformation of Asthma

Asthma is a mysterious disease with heterogeneity in etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical phenotypes. Although ongoing studies have provided a better understanding of asthma, its natural history, progression, pathogenesis, diversified phenotypes, and even the exact epigenetic linkage between childhood asthma and adult-onset/old age asthma remain elusive in many aspects. Asthma heritability has been established through genetic studies, but genetics is not the only influencing factor in asthma. The increasing incidence and some unsolved queries suggest that there may be other elements related to asthma heredity. Epigenetic mechanisms link genetic and environmental factors with developmental trajectories in asthma. This review provides an overview of asthma epigenetics and its components, including several epigenetic studies on asthma, and discusses the epigenetic linkage between childhood asthma and adult-onset/old age asthma. Studies involving asthma epigenetics present valuable novel approaches to solve issues related to asthma. Asthma epigenetic research guides us towards gene therapy and personalized T cell therapy, directs the discovery of new therapeutic agents, predicts long-term outcomes in severe cases, and is also involved in the cellular transformation of childhood asthma to adult-onset/old age asthma.

LncRNA NEAT1 regulates MMP-16 by targeting miR-200a/b to aggravate inflammation in asthma

Asthma is a common respiratory disease which is characterized by persistent airway inflammation. Abnormal expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is observed in asthma. However, whether lncRNA nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) regulates asthmatic inflammation and its mechanism still needs to be further investigated. The expression levels of inflammatory factors (tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and IL-10) were detected using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MTT and flow cytometry assays were employed to determine cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the relationship between miR-200a/b and MMP-16 or NEAT1. NEAT1 silencing markedly reduced TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-13 levels, while elevated IL-10 expression, suppressed cell proliferation, and promoted cell apoptosis. However, NEAT1 overexpression elicited the opposite effects on cell proliferation and inflammation cytokines secretion. What is more, NEAT1 negatively regulated miR-200a/b expression, and MMP16 was a target gene of miR-200a/b. miR-200a/b overexpression suppressed inflammation, cell proliferation, and enhanced cell apoptosis through regulation of MMP16. Moreover, MMP-16 overexpression or miR-200a/b inhibition abolished the regulatory effect of sh-NEAT1 on cell inflammation and apoptosis in BEAS-2B cells. NEAT1 acted as the role of sponge for miR-200a/b to regulate MMP-16 expression, thereby promoting asthma progression, suggesting that NEAT1 might have great potential as therapeutic target for asthma.

LncRNA MALAT1 promotes proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells in asthma by downregulating microRNA-216a

Asthma is a difficult chronic airway inflammation, if it cannot be treated and relieved in time, it will seriously affect the health and quality of life of patients. Airway remodeling is relevant to asthma, but there is currently no effective treatment for airway remodeling. Regulating the biological function of airway smooth muscle cells (AMSCs) may be an important method to inhibit airway remodeling. LncRNA MALAT1 and microRNA-216a are involved in the regulation of AMSCs respectively, but there is no research to prove that they can regulate airway remodeling of asthma through mutual combination. Hence, the aim of the present study was performed to investigate the function of lncRNA MALAT1 and microRNA-216a on AMSCs in asthma. The relationship between lncRNA MALAT1, microRNA-216a and AMSCs was studied by MTT, qPCR, Western blot, Transwell and flow cytometry. The results revealed that lncRNA MALAT1 was up-regulated and microRNA-216a was down-regulated in asthma. lncRNA MALAT1 inhibited microRNA-216a targetedly. Whether downregulating lncRNA MALAT1 or upregulating microRNA-216a, cell proliferation, migration and invasion were reduced and apoptosis increased. Therefore, it is believed that lncRNA MALAT1 promotes proliferation and migration of asthma AMSCs by downregulating microRNA-216a. Since lncRNA MALAT1 and microRNA-216a take part in asthma by jointly regulating the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells and other biological functions, it would be interesting to study if they become biomarkers of asthma, and relationship between the two in asthma diagnosis and poor prognosis.

Long noncoding RNA LINC-PINT retards the abnormal growth of airway smooth muscle cells via regulating the microRNA-26a-5p/PTEN axis in asthma

BACKGROUND

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease worldwide. This study aimed to explore the functions of the long noncoding RNA LINC-PINT (LINC-PINT) in asthma and to determine its underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

Rat asthma model was established with ovalbumin sensitization and challenge. The serum level of IgE, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), airway inflammation, and pathological changes of lung were evaluated. Airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) were stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) to mimic the asthma-like condition at cellular level. QRT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of LINC-PINT, microRNA-26a-5p (miR-26a-5p), and PTEN. MTT and transwell assays were performed to measure the viability and migration of ASMCs. The protein expression of airway remodelling marker MMP-1 and MMP-9 was measured by western blot. The interactions among LINC-PINT, miR-26a-5p, and PTEN were determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

The expression of LINC-PINT and PTEN was decreased, while miR-26a-5p expression was increased in PDGF-BB-stimulated ASMCs. In vivo, overexpression of LINC-PINT decreased the serum level of IgE, AHR, airway inflammation, and pathological changes of lung in asthma rat model. In vitro, up-regulation of LINC-PINT decreased the viability, migration, and MMP-1 and MMP-9 protein expression in PDGF-BB-stimulated ASMCs. Dual-luciferase reporter assay determined that LINC-PINT targeted miR-26a-5p, and miR-26a-5p targeted PTEN in ASMCs. Feedback approaches confirmed that miR-26a-5p up-regulation or PTEN down-regulation reversed the suppressive effect of LINC-PINT overexpression on the abnormal growth of ASMCs.

CONCLUSIONS

LINC-PINT overexpression retarded the abnormal growth of ASMCs by regulating the miR-26a-5p/PTEN axis, offering a potential therapeutic target for asthma.

MicroRNA-30b-5p promotes the proliferation and migration of human airway smooth muscle cells induced by platelet-derived growth factor by targeting phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten

Dysfunction of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells is crucial in asthma pathogenesis. Here, microRNA-30b-5p (miR-30b-5p)’s function and mechanism in ASM cells’ multiplication and migration were investigated. Microarray was utilized for identifying the differentially expressed miRNAs in the bronchial epithelial cells of the asthma patients and healthy controls. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was employed to treat ASM cells to establish an in-vitro asthma model. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was conducted for detecting the expressions of miR-30b-5p and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN). 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and 5-bromo-2ʹ-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assays were used for examining cell multiplication; Transwell assay was performed for detecting cell migration; cell cycle was analyzed through flow cytometry. The targeted relationship between PTEN and miR-30b-5p was verified using a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Western blot was used for detecting the expressions of phosphorylated (p)-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), PTEN, PI3K, protein kinase B (AKT) and p-AKT in ASM cells. We demonstrated that, miR-30b-5p expression in the bronchial epithelial cells of asthmatic patients was up-regulated. It was also increased in PDGF-stimulated ASM cells. Transfection of miR-30b-5p mimics facilitated ASM cells’ multiplication, migration and cycle progression, while inhibiting miR-30b-5p had the opposite effect. Furthermore, miR-30b-5p could target PTEN to repress PTEN expression. PTEN overexpression attenuated the effect of miR-30b-5p on ASM cells. Moreover, miR-30b-5p overexpression facilitated the expression of p-PI3K and p-AKT in PDGF-stimulated ASM cells. Collectively, miR-30b-5p activates the PI3K/AKT pathway by targeting PTEN to facilitate PDGF-induced dysfunction of ASM cells.

Methylprednisolone Induces Neuro-Protective Effects via the Inhibition of A1 Astrocyte Activation in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Mouse Models

Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) leads to pathological changes such as inflammation, edema, and neuronal apoptosis. Methylprednisolone (MP) is a glucocorticoid that has a variety of beneficial effects, including decreasing inflammation and ischemic reaction, as well as inhibiting lipid peroxidation. However, the efficacy and mechanism of MP in TSCI therapy is yet to be deciphered. In the present study, MP significantly attenuated the apoptotic effects of H₂O₂ in neuronal cells. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the levels of apoptotic related proteins, Bax and cleaved caspase-3, were reduced while levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 were increased. In vivo TUNEL assays further demonstrated that MP effectively protected neuronal cells from apoptosis after TSCI, and was consistent with in vitro studies. Furthermore, we demonstrated that MP could decrease expression levels of IBA1, Il-1α, TNFα, and C3 and suppress A1 neurotoxic reactive astrocyte activation in TSCI mouse models. Neurological function was evaluated using the Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) and Footprint Test. Results demonstrated that the neurological function of MP-treated injured mice was significantly increased. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that MP could attenuate astrocyte cell death, decrease microglia activation, suppress A1 astrocytes activation, and promote functional recovery after acute TSCI in mouse models.

Biomarkers in Different Asthma Phenotypes

Asthma is the most common respiratory disease. It has multiple phenotypes thatcan be partially differentiated by measuring the disease’s specific characteristics—biomarkers. The pathogenetic mechanisms are complex, and it is still a challenge to choose suitable biomarkers to adequately stratify patients, which became especially important with the introduction of biologicals in asthma treatment. Usage of biomarkers and an understanding of the underlying pathobiological mechanisms lead to the definition of endotypes. Asthma can be broadly divided into two endotypes, T2-high and T2-low. The right combination of various biomarkers in different phenotypes is under investigation, hoping to help researchers and clinicians in better disease evaluation since theindividual approach and personalized medicine are imperative. Multiple biomarkers are superior to a single biomarker.

Prospects for miR-21 as a Target in the Treatment of Lung Diseases

MicroRNA (miRNA/miR) is a class of small evolutionarily conserved non-coding RNA, which can inhibit the target gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and serve as significant roles in cell differentiation, proliferation, migration and apoptosis. Of note, the aberrant miR-21 has been involved in the generation and development of multiple lung diseases, and identified as a candidate of biomarker, therapeutic target, or indicator of prognosis. MiR-21 relieves acute lung injury via depressing the PTEN/Foxo1-TLR4/NF-κB signaling cascade, whereas promotes lung cancer cell growth, metastasis, and chemo/radio-resistance by decreasing the expression of PTEN and PDCD4 and promoting the PI3K/AKT transduction. The purpose of this review is to elucidate the potential mechanisms of miR-21 associated lung diseases, with an emphasis on its dual regulating effects, which will trigger novel paradigms in molecular therapy.

Long noncoding RNA CASC7 inhibits the proliferation and migration of papillary thyroid cancer cells by inhibiting miR-34a-5p

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an essential role in the progression of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). However, the expression and function of lncRNA cancer susceptibility candidate 7 (CASC7) in PTC remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of CASC7 in regulating PTC cell behavior. The expression of CASC7, miR-34a-5p, and tumor protein P73 (TP73) was determined by qRT-PCR and western blot. Cell proliferation was examined by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry following Annexin V and PI staining. Cell migration was determined by Transwell migration assay. The interaction between miR-34a-5p and CASC7 or TP73 was examined by luciferase reporter assay. CASC7 and TP73 expression were significantly lower, whereas miR-34a-5p expression was higher in PTC tissues than the adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, CASC7 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation and migration, whereas facilitated cell apoptosis in human PTC cell lines (K1 and TPC-1). Mechanistically, CASC7 acted as a sponge of miR-34a-5p to upregulate TP73 expression. Moreover, miR-34a-5p mimic transfection could abate the CASC7-regulated PTC cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Collectively, CASC7 inhibited the proliferation and migration of PTC cells by sponging miR-34a-5p to upregulate TP73 expression.

Long Noncoding RNAs in the Regulation of Asthma: Current Research and Clinical Implications

Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disorder related to variable expiratory airflow limitation, leading to wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough. Its characteristic features include airway inflammation, airway remodeling and airway hyperresponsiveness. The pathogenesis of asthma remains extremely complicated and the detailed mechanisms are not clarified. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play a prominent role in asthma and function as modulators of various aspects in pathological progress of asthma. Here, we summarize recent advances of lncRNAs in asthma pathogenesis to guide future researches, clinical treatment and drug development, including their regulatory functions in the T helper (Th) 1/Th2 imbalance, Th17/T regulatory (Treg) imbalance, eosinophils dysfunction, macrophage polarization, airway smooth muscle cells proliferation, and glucocorticoid insensitivity.

The long non‑coding RNA CASC7 inhibits growth and invasion of non‑small cell lung cancer cells through phosphatase and tensin homolog upregulation via sequestration of miR‑92a

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the crucial roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in various human cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, to the best of our knowledge, the role of the lncRNA cancer susceptibility candidate 7 (CASC7) in NSCLC has not been clearly determined. The aim of the present study was to investigate the involvement of CASC7 in NSCLC. Marked downregulation of CASC7 was observed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, and this downregulation of CASC7 was closely associated with distant metastasis, lymph node involvement and poor overall survival in NSCLC patients. Furthermore, overexpression of CASC7 significantly suppressed the proliferation, invasion and migration of the NSCLC cells A549 and H358, and promoted cell apoptosis in vitro. In addition, CASC7 was shown to act as a competing endogenous RNA by sponging miR-92a, which was proven to be an oncogenic miRNA in our previous study. The expression of miR-92a was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, and was found to be inversely associated with CASC7 expression in NSCLC tissues. It was also demonstrated that CASC7 upregulated the expression of the tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog (a well-known target of miR-92a) by sequestration of miR-92a. Moreover, the tumor-suppressive effects of CASC7 were partly reversed by miR-92a overexpression in NSCLC cells. Collectively, the results of the present study indicated that CASC7 may act as a tumor-suppressive lncRNA that inhibits NSCLC progression by sponging miR-92a. These findings may improve our understanding of the potential mechanisms through which gain of CASC7 expression represses NSCLC progression.

Important lessons learned from studies on the pharmacology of glucocorticoids in human airway smooth muscle cells: Too much of a good thing may be a problem

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the treatment of choice for chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma. Despite proven effective anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, long-term and/or systemic use of GCs can potentially induce adverse effects. Strikingly, some recent experimental evidence suggests that GCs may even exacerbate some disease outcomes. In asthma, airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells are among the targets of GC therapy and have emerged as key contributors not only to bronchoconstriction, but also to airway inflammation and remodeling, as implied by experimental and clinical evidence. We here will review the beneficial effects of GCs on ASM cells, emphasizing the differential nature of GC effects on pro-inflammatory genes and on other features associated with asthma pathogenesis. We will also summarize evidence describing how GCs can potentially promote pro-inflammatory and remodeling features in asthma with a specific focus on ASM cells. Finally, some of the possible solutions to overcome these unanticipated effects of GCs will be discussed.