The lncRNA THOR interacts with and stabilizes hnRNPD to promote cell proliferation and metastasis in breast cancer

Emerging roles of non-coding RNAs in modulating the PI3K/Akt pathway in cancer

Cancer progression results from the dysregulation of molecular pathways, each with unique features that can either promote or inhibit tumor growth. The complexity of carcinogenesis makes it challenging for researchers to target all pathways in cancer therapy, emphasizing the importance of focusing on specific pathways for targeted treatment. One such pathway is the PI3K/Akt pathway, which is often overexpressed in cancer. As tumor cells progress, the expression of PI3K/Akt increases, further driving cancer advancement. This study aims to explore how ncRNAs regulate the expression of PI3K/Akt. NcRNAs are found in both the cytoplasm and nucleus, and their functions vary depending on their location. They can bind to the promoters of PI3K or Akt, either reducing or increasing their expression, thus influencing tumorigenesis. The ncRNA/PI3K/Akt axis plays a crucial role in determining cell proliferation, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and even chemoresistance and radioresistance in human cancers. Anti-tumor compounds can target ncRNAs to modulate the PI3K/Akt axis. Moreover, ncRNAs can regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway both directly and indirectly.

New insights of LncRNAs fingerprints in breast cancer progression: Tumorigenesis, drug resistance, and therapeutic opportunities

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the common female cancers and it is characterized by considerable problems regarding its development and therapy. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as significant modulators in BC development, especially, in tumorigenicity and chemoresistance. We therefore endeavor to present an up-to-date understanding of lncRNAs and their impact on BC progression and treatment, concerning molecular processes, treatment options, and use as a therapeutic opportunity. LncRNAs are novel regulators of genes that cause therapeutic resistance and directly impact the functioning of both coding and non-coding genes in BC patients, but little is known about their mechanisms of actions. Thus, additional study is required to have a deeper understanding of their modes of action and possible roles in BC disease. This study aims to investigate the functions of lncRNAs in the development of BC, with particular attention to their role in tumorigenesis, drug resistance mechanisms, and therapeutic targets. This will help to identify novel therapeutic targets and improve the effectiveness of BC treatment.

HNRNPD/MAD2L2 axis facilitates lung adenocarcinoma progression and is a potential prognostic biomarker

BACKGROUND

Although progress has been made in the treatment of LAUD, the survival rate for patients remains poor. An in-depth grasp of the molecular pathways implicated in LUAD progression is vital for improving diagnosis and treatment strategies. This study aims to explore novel molecular mechanisms driving LUAD progression and identify new potential prognostic biomarkers for LAUD patients.

METHODS

Based on mass spectrometry analysis of human LUAD tissues, HNRNPD and MAD2L2 were identified as potential key proteins involved in LUAD progression. Subsequently, the interplay between HNRNPD and MAD2L2 was examined through dual-luciferase reporter assays, RNA-seq analysis, and various molecular biology techniques. Ultimately, the role of the HNRNPD/MAD2L2 axis in LUAD advancement and its potential as a prognostic indicator were investigated utilizing LUAD specimens, cell lines, and xenograft mouse models.

RESULTS

In human LAUD tissues and cell lines, elevated levels of HNRNPD and MAD2L2 proteins were discovered. It was determined that HNRNPD binds to the MAD2L2 promoter, forming a regulatory axis at the transcriptional level. Subsequently, both in vitro and in vivo data demonstrated that the downregulation of the HNRNPD/MAD2L2 axis inhibited LUAD progression, while this effect could be rescued by MAD2L2 upregulation. Conversely, the upregulation of the HNRNPD/MAD2L2 axis facilitated LUAD progression, and this outcome could be reversed by MAD2L2 knockdown. Mechanistically, the downregulation of HNRNPD suppressed the promoter activity and transcription of MAD2L2, thus inhibiting the PI3K/HIF1α/ANGPTL4 pathway and tumor angiogenesis. Finally, it was confirmed that LUAD patients with high levels of both HNRNPD and MAD2L2 exhibited the poorest prognosis. Therefore, the HNRNPD/MAD2L2 axis has been identified as a potential predictive indicator for LUAD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The HNRNPD/MAD2L2 axis facilitates LUAD progression and serves as a potential prognostic biomarker.

Long non-coding RNAs and their role in breast cancer pathogenesis and drug resistance: Navigating the non-coding landscape review

Despite the progress made in the development of targeted therapies, breast cancer (BC) continues to pose a significant threat to the health of women. Transcriptomics has emerged due to the advancements in high-throughput sequencing technology. This provides crucial information about the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in human cells, particularly long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), in disease development and function. When the control of these ncRNAs is disrupted, various illnesses emerge, including cancer. Numerous studies have produced empirical data on the function of lncRNAs in tumorigenesis and disease development. However, the roles and mechanisms of numerous lncRNAs remain unidentified at the molecular level because their regulatory role and the functional implications of abnormalities in cancer biology have yet to be thoroughly defined. The review gives an itemized summary of the most current developments in the role of lncRNA in BC, focusing on three main pathways, PI3K, MAPK, NF-kB, and hypoxia, and their resistance mechanisms.

HNRNPD is a prognostic biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer and affects tumor growth and metastasis via the PI3K-AKT pathway

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D (HNRNPD) can regulate expression of key proteins in various cancers. However, the prognostic predictive value and biology function of HNRNPD in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. First, we used the TCGA and GEO datasets to determine that HNRNPD predicts the prognosis of NSCLC patients. Following that, we knocked down HNRNPD in NSCLC cell lines in vitro and validated its biological function using CCK-8, transwell assays, wound healing tests, and Western blotting. Finally, we constructed tissue microarrays (TMAs) from 174 NSCLC patients and verified our findings using immunohistochemistry staining for HNRNPD from public databases. In both the public datasets, NSCLC tissues with elevated HNRNPD expression had shorter overall survival (OS). In addition, HNRNPD knockdown NSCLC cell lines showed significantly reduced proliferation, invasion, and metastatic capacity via the PI3K-AKT pathway. Finally, elevated HNRNPD expression in NSCLC TMAs was linked to a poorer prognosis and decreased PD-L1 expression levels. HNRNPD is associated with a poorer prognosis in NSCLC and affects tumor growth and metastasis via the PI3K-AKT pathway.

Copy number amplification-induced overexpression of lncRNA LOC101927668 facilitates colorectal cancer progression by recruiting hnRNPD to disrupt RBM47/p53/p21 signaling

BACKGROUND

Somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) are pivotal in cancer progression and patient prognosis. Dysregulated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), modulated by SCNAs, significantly impact tumorigenesis, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Nonetheless, the functional significance of lncRNAs induced by SCNAs in CRC remains largely unexplored.

METHODS

The dysregulated lncRNA LOC101927668, induced by copy number amplification, was identified through comprehensive bioinformatic analyses utilizing multidimensional data. Subsequent in situ hybridization was employed to ascertain the subcellular localization of LOC101927668, and gain- and loss-of-function experiments were conducted to elucidate its role in CRC progression. The downstream targets and signaling pathway influenced by LOC101927668 were identified and validated through a comprehensive approach, encompassing RNA sequencing, RT-qPCR, Western blot analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay, evaluation of mRNA and protein degradation, and rescue experiments. Analysis of AU-rich elements (AREs) within the mRNA 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the downstream target, along with exploration of putative ARE-binding proteins, was conducted. RNA pull-down, mass spectrometry, RNA immunoprecipitation, and dual-luciferase reporter assays were employed to elucidate potential interacting proteins of LOC101927668 and further delineate the regulatory mechanism between LOC101927668 and its downstream target. Moreover, subcutaneous xenograft and orthotopic liver xenograft tumor models were utilized to evaluate the in vivo impact of LOC101927668 on CRC cells and investigate its correlation with downstream targets.

RESULTS

Significantly overexpressed LOC101927668, driven by chr7p22.3-p14.3 amplification, was markedly correlated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in our CRC patient cohort, as well as in TCGA and GEO datasets. Moreover, we demonstrated that enforced expression of LOC101927668 significantly enhanced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while its depletion impeded these processes in a p53-dependent manner. Mechanistically, nucleus-localized LOC101927668 recruited hnRNPD and translocated to the cytoplasm, accelerating the destabilization of RBM47 mRNA, a transcription factor of p53. As a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein, hnRNPD mediated RBM47 destabilization by binding to the ARE motif within RBM47 3'UTR, thereby suppressing the p53 signaling pathway and facilitating CRC progression.

CONCLUSIONS

The overexpression of LOC101927668, driven by SCNAs, facilitates CRC proliferation and metastasis by recruiting hnRNPD, thus perturbing the RBM47/p53/p21 signaling pathway. These findings underscore the pivotal roles of LOC101927668 and highlight its therapeutic potential in anti-CRC interventions.

hnRNPA0 promotes MYB expression by interacting with enhancer lncRNA MY34UE-AS in human leukemia cells

MYB is a key regulator of hematopoiesis and erythropoiesis, and dysregulation of MYB is closely involved in the development of leukemia, however the mechanism of MYB regulation remains still unclear so far. Our previous study identified a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) derived from the -34 kb enhancer of the MYB locus, which can promote MYB expression, the proliferation and migration of human leukemia cells, and is therefore termed MY34UE-AS. Then the interacting partner proteins of MY34UE-AS were identified and studied in the present study. hnRNPA0 was identified as a binding partner of MY34UE-AS through RNA pulldown assay, which was further validated through RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). hnRNPA0 interacted with MY34UE-AS mainly through its RRM2 domain. hnRNPA0 overexpression upregulated MYB and increased the proliferation and migration of K562 cells, whereas hnRNPA0 knockdown showed opposite effects. Rescue experiments showed MY34UE-AS was required for above mentioned functions of hnRNPA0. These results reveal that hnRNPA0 is involved in leukemia through upregulating MYB expression by interacting with MY34UE-AS, suggesting that the hnRNPA0/MY34UE-AS axis could serve as a potential target for leukemia treatment.

Human RNA-binding protein HNRNPD interacts with and regulates the repair of deoxyribouridine in DNA

Deoxyribouridine (dU) is an abnormal nucleoside in DNA and plays vital roles in multiple biological and physiological processes. Here, we conducted a mass spectrometry-based screen for dU-binding proteins and found that the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D (HNRNPD) could preferentially bind to dU-containing DNA. We also discovered that HNRNPD engages in the 5-Fluorouracil (5FU)-induced DNA damage response and can modulate the repair of dU in DNA in vitro and in human cells. Moreover, using a shuttle vector- and next-generation sequencing-based method, we unveiled the crucial role of HNRNPD in promoting the replicative bypass of dU in human cells. Taken together, these findings suggested that HNRNPD is a novel dU-bearing DNA-binding protein capable of regulating the removal of dU in DNA, and provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms of dU-associated diseases.

The copious capabilities of non-coding RNAs in cancer regulation, diagnosis and treatment

Globally, cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality, accounting for 10 million deaths per year. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play integral and diverse roles in cancer, possessing the ability to both promote oncogenesis and impede tumor formation. This review discusses the various roles of microRNAs, transfer RNA-derived small RNAs, long non-coding RNAs and lncRNA-derived microproteins in cancer progression and prevention. We highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of these ncRNAs, with a particular focus on detection in liquid biopsies and targeting of ncRNAs with small inhibitory molecules. Ultimately, the biological functions of cancer-associated ncRNAs, as well as the development of ncRNA-based technologies, are compelling areas for further research, holding the possibility of revolutionizing cancer treatment and diagnosis.

The role of long non-coding RNAs in breast cancer microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment (TME), which includes tumor cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells, and blood vessels, can affect tumor growth and metastasis. Studies have shown that tumor cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages can promote the development of tumors, while T and B cells can inhibit tumor progression. The crosstalk among different cells within the TME needs further study. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in biological processes, including cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. The abnormal expression of certain lncRNAs is correlated with the progression of breast cancer and has been proven as diagnostic markers in various cancers, including breast cancer. In breast cancer, recent studies have shown that tumor cell- and non-tumor cell-derived lncRNAs can affect various facets of tumor progression, including growth, proliferation, and migration of tumor cells. Interestingly, in addition to being regulated by lncRNAs derived from tumor and non-tumor cells, the TME can regulate the expression of lncRNAs in tumor cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages, influencing their phenotype and function. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of these phenomena remain unclear in the breast cancer microenvironment. Currently, many studies have shown that TME-associated lncRNAs are potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for breast cancer. Considering that TME and lncRNAs can regulate each other, we summarize the role of lncRNAs in the breast cancer microenvironment and the potential of lncRNAs as valuable diagnostic markers.