NORAD: Defender of the Genome

lncRNA NORAD, soluble ICAM1 and their correlations may be related to the regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC)

NORAD, non-coding RNA activated by DNA damage, is a Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) transcript that modulates genome stability and has been reported to be dysregulated in different cancers. Although it has been reported to be upregulated in tumor cells mostly for solid organ cancers, it has also been reported to be downregulated in some cancers. Although the pathophysiological mechanism is not fully understood, a negative correlation between NORAD and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) has been shown in experimental models, but this situation has not been evaluated in terms of cancer. We aimed to evaluate the potential roles of these two biomarker candidates together and separately in the clinicopathological axis in Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) in a case-control study setting. The interactions of NORAD and ICAM1 at the RNA level were evaluated interactively by the RIblast program. sICAM1 (soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1) levels were determined by ELISA in one hundred and five individuals (forty-four LSCC, sixty-one control) and lncRNA NORAD expression in eighty-eight tissues (forty-four LSCC tumors, forty-four tumor-free surrounding tissues) was determined by Real-time PCR. While the energy treesholud was - 16 kcal/mol between NORAD and ICAM1, the total energy was 176.33 kcal/mol, and 9 base pair pairings from 4 critical points were detected. NORAD expression level was found to be higher in tumor surrounding tissue compared to tumor tissue, and sICAM1 was higher in the control group compared to LSCC (p = 0.004; p = 0.02). NORAD discreminte tumor surrounding tissue from tumor (AUC: 0.674; optimal sensitivity:87.50%; optimal specificity 54.55%; cut-off point as >1.58 fold change; P = 0.034). The sICAM1 level was found to be higher in the control (494,814 ± 93.64 ng/L) than LSCC (432.95 ± 93.64 ng/L) (p = 0.02). sICAM1 discreminte control group from LSCC (AUC: 0.624; optimal sensitivity 68,85%; optimal specificity 61,36%; cut-off point ≤115,0 ng/L; (p = 0.033). A very strong negative correlation was found between NORAD expression and patients' sICAM1 levels (r = -.967; n = 44; p = 0.033). sICAM1 levels were found to be 1.63 times higher in NORAD downregulated subjects compared to upregulated ones (p = 0.031). NORAD was 3.63 times higher in those with alcohol use, and sICAM 1 was 5.77 times higher in those without distant organ metastasis (p = 0.043; 0.004). The increased NORAD expression in the tumor microenvironment in LSCC, the activation of T cells via TCR signaling, and the decrease of sICAM in the control group in correlation with NORAD suggests that ICAM1 may be needed as a membrane protein in the tumor microenvironment. NORAD and ICAM1 may be functionally related to tumor microenvironment and immune control in LSCC.

NORAD promotes multiple myeloma cell progression via BMP6/P-ERK1/2 axis

Multiple myeloma (MM) is one of the most common tumors of the hematological system and remains incurable. Recent studies have shown that long noncoding RNA NORAD is a potential oncogene in a variety of tumors. However, the general biological role and clinical value of NORAD in MM remains unknown. In this study, we measured NORAD expression in bone marrow of 60 newly diagnosed MM, 30 post treatment MM and 17 healthy donors by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The NORAD gene was knockdown by lentiviral transfection in MM cell lines, and the effects of NORAD on apoptosis, cell cycle and cell proliferation in MM cells were examined by flow cytometry, CCK8 assay, EDU assay and Western blot, and the differential genes after knockdown of NORAD were screened by mRNA sequencing, followed by in vivo experiments and immunohistochemical assays. We found that knockdown of NORAD promoted MM cell apoptosis, induced cell cycle G1 phase arrest, and inhibited MM cell apoptosis in in vivo and in vitro experiments. Mechanistically, NORAD plays these roles through the BMP6/P-ERK1/2 axis. We discuss a novel mechanism by which NORAD acts pro-tumorigenically in MM via the BMP6/P-ERK1/2 axis.

Disrupted expression of long non-coding RNAs in the human oocyte: the possible epigenetic culprits leading to recurrent oocyte maturation arrest

PURPOSE

To depict the lncRNA expression during human oocyte maturation and explore the lncRNAs leading to recurrent oocyte maturation arrest.

METHODS

LncRNA sequencing was performed on pooled RNA from 20 oocytes of each group (recurrent oocyte maturation arrest (ROMA), of germinal vesicle (GV), metaphase I (MI), or metaphase II (MII) stages. Bioinformatics software was deployed to compare the lncRNA differential expression between the normal and ROMA oocytes. The co-expression of lncRNA/mRNA was illustrated with the Cytoscape software. The pooled RNA from every 10 oocytes of each group (ROMA, GV, MI, MII) was extracted for further qPCR validation.

RESULTS

There were 17 downregulated and 3 upregulated lncRNAs in the ROMA oocyte. Among them, co-expression analysis indicated that NEAT1 and NORAD were both downregulated. Basing on the KEGG enrichment analysis, PRCKA and JAK3 might be the target genes in the PI3K-Akt pathway and modulated by NEAT1 and NORAD. As validated by qPCR, the expressional levels of lncRNA candidates (NEAT1 and NORAD) and their target genes (PRKCA and JAK3) were confirmed to be extremely lower in the ROMA oocyte than in the normal oocyte.

CONCLUSION

By targeting the PI3K-Akt pathway genes PRKCA and JAK3, the abnormal expression of NEAT1 and NORAD is suggested to impede oocyte maturation and impair oocyte genome integrity.

Ferroptosis: A New Road towards Cancer Management

Ferroptosis is a recently described programmed cell death mechanism that is characterized by the buildup of iron (Fe)-dependent lipid peroxides in cells and is morphologically, biochemically, and genetically distinct from other forms of cell death, having emerged to play an important role in cancer biology. Ferroptosis has significant importance during cancer treatment because of the combination of factors, including suppression of the glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4), cysteine deficiency, and arachidonoyl (AA) peroxidation, which cause cells to undergo ferroptosis. However, the physiological significance of ferroptosis throughout development is still not fully understood. This current review is focused on the factors and molecular mechanisms with the diagrammatic illustrations of ferroptosis that have a role in the initiation and sensitivity of ferroptosis in various malignancies. This knowledge will open a new road for research in oncology and cancer management.

A non-coding RNA balancing act: miR-346-induced DNA damage is limited by the long non-coding RNA NORAD in prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

miR-346 was identified as an activator of Androgen Receptor (AR) signalling that associates with DNA damage response (DDR)-linked transcripts in prostate cancer (PC). We sought to delineate the impact of miR-346 on DNA damage, and its potential as a therapeutic agent.

METHODS

RNA-IP, RNA-seq, RNA-ISH, DNA fibre assays, in vivo xenograft studies and bioinformatics approaches were used alongside a novel method for amplification-free, single nucleotide-resolution genome-wide mapping of DNA breaks (INDUCE-seq).

RESULTS

miR-346 induces rapid and extensive DNA damage in PC cells - the first report of microRNA-induced DNA damage. Mechanistically, this is achieved through transcriptional hyperactivation, R-loop formation and replication stress, leading to checkpoint activation and cell cycle arrest. miR-346 also interacts with genome-protective lncRNA NORAD to disrupt its interaction with PUM2, leading to PUM2 stabilisation and its increased turnover of DNA damage response (DDR) transcripts. Confirming clinical relevance, NORAD expression and activity strongly correlate with poor PC clinical outcomes and increased DDR in biopsy RNA-seq studies. In contrast, miR-346 is associated with improved PC survival. INDUCE-seq reveals that miR-346-induced DSBs occur preferentially at binding sites of the most highly-transcriptionally active transcription factors in PC cells, including c-Myc, FOXA1, HOXB13, NKX3.1, and importantly, AR, resulting in target transcript downregulation. Further, RNA-seq reveals widespread miR-346 and shNORAD dysregulation of DNA damage, replication and cell cycle processes. NORAD drives target-directed miR decay (TDMD) of miR-346 as a novel genome protection mechanism: NORAD silencing increases mature miR-346 levels by several thousand-fold, and WT but not TDMD-mutant NORAD rescues miR-346-induced DNA damage. Importantly, miR-346 sensitises PC cells to DNA-damaging drugs including PARP inhibitor and chemotherapy, and induces tumour regression as a monotherapy in vivo, indicating that targeting miR-346:NORAD balance is a valid therapeutic strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

A balancing act between miR-346 and NORAD regulates DNA damage and repair in PC. miR-346 may be particularly effective as a therapeutic in the context of decreased NORAD observed in advanced PC, and in transcriptionally-hyperactive cancer cells.

Progress of CRISPR-Cas13 Mediated Live-Cell RNA Imaging and Detection of RNA-Protein Interactions

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and proteins play critical roles in gene expression and regulation. The relevant study increases the understanding of various life processes and contributes to the diagnosis and treatment of different diseases. RNA imaging and mapping RNA-protein interactions expand the understanding of RNA biology. However, the existing methods have some limitations. Recently, precise RNA targeting of CRISPR-Cas13 in cells has been reported, which is considered a new promising platform for RNA imaging in living cells and recognition of RNA-protein interactions. In this review, we first described the current findings on Cas13. Furthermore, we introduced current tools of RNA real-time imaging and mapping RNA-protein interactions and highlighted the latest advances in Cas13-mediated tools. Finally, we discussed the advantages and disadvantages of Cas13-based methods, providing a set of new ideas for the optimization of Cas13-mediated methods.

A Quartet Network Analysis Identifying Mechanically Responsive Long Noncoding RNAs in Bone Remodeling

Mechanical force, being so ubiquitous that it is often taken for granted and overlooked, is now gaining the spotlight for reams of evidence corroborating their crucial roles in the living body. The bone, particularly, experiences manifold extraneous force like strain and compression, as well as intrinsic cues like fluid shear stress and physical properties of the microenvironment. Though sparkled in diversified background, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) concerning the mechanotransduction process that bone undergoes are not yet detailed in a systematic way. Our principal goal in this research is to highlight the potential lncRNA-focused mechanical signaling systems which may be adapted by bone-related cells for biophysical environment response. Based on credible lists of force-sensitive mRNAs and miRNAs, we constructed a force-responsive competing endogenous RNA network for lncRNA identification. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we then illustrated the possible crosstalk between lncRNAs and mRNAs as well as transcriptional factors and mapped lncRNAs to known signaling pathways involved in bone remodeling and mechanotransduction. Last, we developed combinative analysis between predicted and established lncRNAs, constructing a pathway–lncRNA network which suggests interactive relationships and new roles of known factors such as H19. In conclusion, our work provided a systematic quartet network analysis, uncovered candidate force-related lncRNAs, and highlighted both the upstream and downstream processes that are possibly involved. A new mode of bioinformatic analysis integrating sequencing data, literature retrieval, and computational algorithm was also introduced. Hopefully, our work would provide a moment of clarity against the multiplicity and complexity of the lncRNA world confronting mechanical input.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of genomic instability-derived long non-coding RNA signature of endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether genomic instability (GI)-derived long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have a prognostic impact on the patients with endometrial cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (UCEC) were selected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Systematic bioinformatics analyses were performed, including Pearson correlations, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analysis, and Kaplan-Meier (KM) method.

RESULTS

A total of 552 UCEC samples were included in the study. The differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were identified, including 79 down-regulated lncRNAs and 31 up-regulated lncRNAs. Bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that 19 GI-derived lncRNAs were prognostic factors. By further multivariate logistic regression analysis, AC005256.1 (estimated coefficient = -0.474), AC026336.3 (estimated coefficient = -0.030), AL161618.1 (estimated coefficient = -1.661), and BX322234.1 (estimated coefficient = 1.511) were used to construct a prognostic risk model. In the train set and test set, the risk model was shown to have both a high prognostic and a diagnostic value.

CONCLUSION

We developed a novel GI-derived 4-lncRNA signature for the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with endometrial cancer. These findings offered a novel perspective in the clinical management of endometrial cancer.

Multi-Omics Integrative Bioinformatics Analyses Reveal Long Non-coding RNA Modulates Genomic Integrity via Competing Endogenous RNA Mechanism and Serves as Novel Biomarkers for Overall Survival in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays a crucial role in modulating genome instability, immune characteristics, and cancer progression, within which genome instability was identified as a critical regulator in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. However, the existing accounts fail to detail the regulatory role of genome instability in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). We explored the clinical value of genome instability-related lncRNA in LUAD with multi-omics bioinformatics analysis. We extracted the key genome instability-related and LUAD-related gene modules using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and established a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network using four lncRNAs (LINC01224, LINC00346, TRPM2-AS, and CASC9) and seven target mRNAs (CCNF, PKMYT1, GCH1, TK1, PSAT1, ADAM33, and DDX11). We found that LINC01224 is primarily located in the cytoplasm and that LINC00346 and TRPM2-AS are primarily located in the nucleus (CASC9 unknown). We found that all 11 genes were positively related to tumor mutational burden and involve drug resistance, cancer stemness, and tumor microenvironment infiltration. Additionally, an eight-lncRNA genome instability-related lncRNA signature was established and validated, predicting the overall survival and immunotherapy outcomes in LUAD. To conclude, we discovered that sponging microRNA, genome instability-related lncRNA functions as ceRNA, modulating genomic integrity. This research provides clinical references for LUAD immunotherapy and prognosis and interprets a potential genome instability-related ceRNA regulatory network in which LINC01224-miR-485-5p/miR-29c-3p-CCNF-RRM2 and LINC01224-miR485-5p-PKMYT1-CDK1 axes were the most promising pathways. However, the potential mechanisms underlying our findings still need biological validation through in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Prognostic and clinicopathological role of long noncoding RNA NORAD in various cancers: a meta-analysis

Aim: Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) noncoding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD) is widely investigated in different tumors. Our meta-analysis intends to assess the prognostic and clinicopathological value of NORAD in cancers. Materials & methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure from inception to 1 August 2020. Results: The results showed that higher expression of NORAD had a significant association with worse overall survival. Additionally, correlations were detected between elevated level of NORAD and poor differentiation degree, positive lymph node metastasis and large tumor size in cancer patients. Conclusion: LncRNA NORAD can serve as a novel and promising biomarker for prognosis and clinicopathological characteristics in different cancers.

Long non-coding RNA NORAD upregulation induced by airborne particulate matter (PM10) exposure leads to aneuploidy in A549 lung cells

Air pollution is a worldwide problem that affects human health predominantly in the largest cities. Particulate matter of 10 μm or less in diameter (PM₁₀) is considered a risk factor for multiple diseases, including lung cancer. The long non-coding RNA NORAD and the components of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) ensure proper chromosomal segregation. Alterations in the SAC cause aneuploidy, a feature associated with carcinogenesis. In this study, we demonstrated that PM₁₀ treatment increased the expression levels of NORAD as well as those of SAC components mitotic arrest deficient 1 (MAD1L1), mitotic arrest deficient 2 (MAD2L1), BubR1 (BUB1B), aurora B (AURKB), and survivin (BIRC5) in the lung A549 cell line. We also demonstrated that MAD1L1, MAD2L1, and BUB1B expression levels were reduced when cells were transfected with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against NORAD. Interestingly, the expression levels of AURKB and BIRC5 (survivin) were not affected by transfection with NORAD siRNAs. Cells treated with PM₁₀ exhibited a decrease in mitotic arrest and an increase in micronuclei frequency in synchronized A549 cells. PM₁₀ exposure induced aneuploidy events as a result of SAC deregulation. We also observed a reduction in the protein levels of Pumilio 1 after PM₁₀ treatment. Our results provide novel clues regarding the effect of PM₁₀ in the generation of chromosomal instability, a phenotype observed in lung cancer cells.

CBRPP: a new RNA-centric method to study RNA-protein interactions

RNA and protein are interconnected biomolecules that can influence each other's life cycles and functions through physical interactions. Abnormal RNA-protein interactions lead to cell dysfunctions and human diseases. Therefore, mapping networks of RNA-protein interactions is crucial for understanding cellular processes and pathogenesis of related diseases. Different practical protein-centric methods for studying RNA-protein interactions have been reported, but few robust RNA-centric methods exist. Here, we developed CRISPR-based RNA proximity proteomics (CBRPP), a new RNA-centric method to identify proteins associated with an endogenous RNA of interest in native cellular context without pre-editing of the target RNA, cross-linking or RNA-protein complexes manipulation in vitro. CBRPP is based on a fusion of dCas13 and proximity-based labelling (PBL) enzyme. dCas13 can deliver PBL enzyme to the target RNA with high specificity, while PBL enzyme labels the surrounding proteins of the target RNA, which are then identified by mass spectrometry.

LncRNA NORAD promotes proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through targeting miR-211-5p/FOXD1/VEGF-A axis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death around the world. Despite improvement in the prevention and treatment of HCC, the clinical prognosis is still poor with increasing mortality. Non-coding RNAs play pivotal roles in HCC oncogenesis, but the detailed mechanism is poorly known. Therefore, the functions and interaction of lncRNA NORAD and miR-211-5p in HCC was investigated in this study.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time PCR method was used to analyze the expression of NORAD and miR-211-5p in clinical HCC tissues and cultured cell lines. Knockdown of NORAD and overexpression of miR-211-5p were then carried in HCC cells. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis and luciferase report assays were further employed to analyze the interaction between miR-211-5p and NORAD or FOXD1.

RESULTS

Increased lncRNA NORAD and decreased miR-211-5p expression were first detected in HCC compared with the peritumorial area. Further studies showed that knockdown of NORAD or overexpression of miR-211-5p impaired the proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of HCC cells. Mechanistically, we found that NORAD functions as a sponge for miR-211-5p. Moreover, it was revealed that decreased miR-211-5p induced the expression of FOXD1 as well as its downstream target VEGF-A, thereby contributes to enhanced angiogenesis of HCC.

CONCLUSION

Elevated NORAD works as a sponge for miR-211-5p in HCC, thus release the inhibition effect of the latter on its downstream target FOXD1 and VEGF-A, which finally promotes angiogenesis. These results provide new insights into the interaction between NORAD and miR-211-5p in HCC and their potential usage as targets for the development of novel therapeutics against HCC.

LncRNA NORAD as a Novel Predictor of Lymph Node Metastasis and Prognosis in Solid Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background:

Non-coding RNA-activated by DNA damage (NORAD), a novel identified lncRNA, was found to be aberrantly expressed in various types of cancer. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the value of lncRNA NORAD as a prognostic biomarker in human cancers.

Methods:

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, PMC, and Embase databases thoroughly for eligible literatures. Studies which explored the relationship of lncRNA NORAD expression with clinical outcomes in human cancers were included in our meta-analysis. Review Manager version 5.3 and Stata SE 12.0 were used to perform the data analyses.

Results:

Our meta-analysis results indicated that cancer patients with high lncRNA NORAD expression tended to have unfavorable overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.67; 95% CI, 1.44-1.95; P < 0.00001). Moreover, elevated lncRNA NORAD expression showed a significant relationship with poor tumor grade (OR = 1.61; 95% CI, 1.01-2.56; P = 0.05) and more lymph node metastasis (LNM) (OR = 2.66; 95% CI, 1.60-4.43; P = 0.0002).

Conclusions:

LncRNA NORAD could serve as a valuable biomarker to predict poor prognosis and LNM in various human tumors.

SUMOylation of PUM2 promotes the vasculogenic mimicry of glioma cells via regulating CEBPD

Glioma is the most common form of primary central nervous malignant tumors. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a blood supply channel that is different from endothelial blood vessels in glioma. VM is related to tumor invasion and metastasis. Therefore, it plays an important role to target therapy for glioma VM. Our experimental results showed abnormal expression of UBE2I, PUM2, CEBPD, and DSG2 in glioma cells. The Co-IP and Immunofluorescence staining were used to detect that PUM2 can be modified by SUMO2/3. The interaction between PUM2 and CEBPD mRNA was detected by the RIP assays. The interaction between transcription factor CEBPD and promoter region of DSG2 was detected by the ChIP assays and luciferase assays. The capacity for migration in glioma cells was observed by the laser holographic microscope. The capacity for invasion in glioma cells was detected by Transwell method. The VM in glioma cells was detected by three-dimensional cell culture method. The experimental results found that the upregulation of UBE2I in glioma tissues and cells promotes the SUMOylation of PUM2, which decreases not only the stability of PUM2 protein but also decreases the inhibitory effect of PUM2 on CEBPD mRNA. The upregulation of CEBPD promotes the binding to the upstream promoter region of DSG2 gene, further upregulates the expression of DSG2, and finally promotes the development of glioma VM. In conclusion, this study found that the UBE2I/PUM2/CEBPD/DSG2 played crucial roles in regulating glioma VM. It also provides potential targets and alternative strategies for combined treatment of glioma.

The crosstalk between lncRNAs and the Hippo signalling pathway in cancer progression

LncRNAs play a pivotal role in the regulation of epigenetic modification, cell cycle, differentiation, proliferation, migration and other physiological activities. In particular, considerable studies have shown that the aberrant expression and dysregulation of lncRNAs are widely implicated in cancer initiation and progression by acting as tumour promoters or suppressors. Hippo signalling pathway has attracted researchers’ attention as one of the critical cancer‐related pathways in recent years. Increasing evidences have demonstrated that lncRNAs could interact with Hippo cascade and thereby contribute to acquisition of multiple malignant hallmarks, including proliferation, metastasis, relapse and resistance to anti‐cancer treatment. Specifically, Hippo signalling pathway is reported to modulate or be regulated by widespread lncRNAs. Intriguingly, certain lncRNAs could form a reciprocal feedback loop with Hippo signalling. More speculatively, lncRNAs related to Hippo pathway have been poised to become important putative biomarkers and therapeutic targets in human cancers. Herein, this review focuses on the crosstalk between lncRNAs and Hippo pathway in carcinogenesis, summarizes the comprehensive role of Hippo‐related lncRNAs in tumour progression and depicts their clinical diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic potentials in tumours.

Long non-coding RNAs in gastric cancer: New emerging biological functions and therapeutic implications

Gastric cancer (GC) is currently the fourth most common malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), transcriptional products with more than 200 nucleotides, are not as well-characterized as protein-coding RNAs. Accumulating evidence has recently revealed that maladjustments of diverse lncRNAs may play key roles in multiple genetic and epigenetic phenomena in GC, affecting all aspects of cellular homeostasis, such as proliferation, migration, and stemness. However, the full extent of their functionality remains to be clarified. Considering the lack of viable biomarkers and therapeutic targets, future research should be focused on unravelling the intricate relationships between lncRNAs and GC that can be translated from bench to clinic. Here, we summarized the state-of-the-art advances in lncRNAs and their biological functions in GC, and we further discuss their potential diagnostic and therapeutic roles. We aim to shed light on the interrelationships between lncRNAs and GC with respect to their potential therapeutic applications. With better understanding of these relationships, the biological functions of lncRNAs in GC development will be exploitable, and promising new strategies developed for the prevention and treatment of GC.

Overexpression of long noncoding RNA NORAD in colorectal cancer associates with tumor progression

Purpose

The aim of this study was to elucidate the role and clinical significance of long noncoding RNA-activated by DNA damage (NORAD) in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

Sixty pairs of tumorous and adjacent nontumorous tissues derived from CRC patients were subjected to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine the expression level of NORAD. The serum levels of NORAD expression were also measured in an independent cohort of CRC patients as well as patients with benign diseases and healthy controls. Comparative analyses were performed to investigate the relationships between NORAD levels in tissues and clinicopathological features of CRC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic value of NORAD in patients with CRC. Furthermore, the potential functions of NORAD in the development of CRC were explored in vitro, using the HCT116 and SW1116 CRC cell lines.

Result

NORAD expression was significantly upregulated in the tumorous tissues of CRC patients (P<0.001) compared to the adjacent nontumorous tissues. Higher NORAD expression was associated with advanced CRC. Moreover, serum levels supported that NORAD could distinguish CRC patients from healthy controls and patients with benign diseases, indicating a potential diagnostic role in CRC. The ROC curve analysis showed a diagnostic efficacy with area under the curve of 0.800 (95% CI: 0.737–0.853). Mechanistic investigations indicated that NORAD silencing reduced CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Conclusion

NORAD may serve as a novel predictor in CRC and may be a potential target for future therapy.

HyPR-MS for Multiplexed Discovery of MALAT1, NEAT1, and NORAD lncRNA Protein Interactomes

RNA-protein interactions are integral to the regulation of gene expression. RNAs have diverse functions and the protein interactomes of individual RNAs vary temporally, spatially, and with physiological context. These factors make the global acquisition of individual RNA-protein interactomes an essential endeavor. Although techniques have been reported for discovery of the protein interactomes of specific RNAs they are largely laborious, costly, and accomplished singly in individual experiments. We developed HyPR-MS for the discovery and analysis of the protein interactomes of multiple RNAs in a single experiment while also reducing design time and improving efficiencies. Presented here is the application of HyPR-MS to simultaneously and selectively isolate the interactomes of lncRNAs MALAT1, NEAT1, and NORAD. Our analysis features the proteins that potentially contribute to both known and previously undiscovered roles of each lncRNA. This platform provides a powerful new multiplexing tool for the efficient and cost-effective elucidation of specific RNA-protein interactomes.

Emerging roles of long non-coding RNA in cancer

Since comprehensive analysis of the mammalian genome revealed that the majority of genomic products are transcribed in long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA), increasing attention has been paid to these transcripts. The applied next‐generation sequencing technologies have provided accumulating evidence of dysregulated lncRNA in cancer. The implication of this finding can be seen in many forms and at multiple levels. With impacts ranging from integrating chromatin remodeling complexes to regulating transcription and post‐transcriptional processes, aberrant expression of lncRNA may have repercussions in cell proliferation, tumor progression or metastasis. lncRNA may act as enhancers, scaffolds or decoys by physically interacting with other RNA species or proteins, resulting in a direct impact on cell signaling cascades. Even though their functional classification is well‐established in the context of cancer, clearer characterization in terms of their phenotypic outputs is needed to optimize and identify suitable candidates that enable the development of new therapeutic strategies and the design of novel diagnostic approaches. The present article aims to outline different cancer‐associated lncRNA according to their contribution to tumor suppression or tumor promotion based on their most current functional annotations.