LINC00265 promotes colorectal tumorigenesis via ZMIZ2 and USP7-mediated stabilization of β-catenin

Identification of zinc finger MIZ-type containing 2 as an oncoprotein enhancing NAD-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin-1 deacetylase activity to regulate Wnt and Hippo pathways in non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Zinc finger MIZ-type containing 2 (ZMIZ2) can function as a coactivator and participate in the progression of certain malignant tumors; however, its expression and underlying molecular mechanism in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unknown. In this study, we aim to analyze the expression of ZMIZ2 and its tumorigenic function in NSCLC, identifying its related factors.

METHODS

ZMIZ2 expression in NSCLC tissue samples and cell lines was examined using immunohistochemistry and western blotting; its biological role was investigated using in vivo and in vitro assays. The association between ZMIZ2 and NAD-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) was demonstrated using mass spectrometry and immunoprecipitation experiments. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway (KEGG)-based enrichment analysis, luciferase reporter assay, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were conducted to verify the impact of ZMIZ2-SIRT1 combination on Hippo/Wnt pathways.

RESULTS

ZMIZ2 was highly expressed in NSCLC and positively associated with advanced pTNM staging, lymph node metastasis, and poor overall survival. Functional experiments revealed that ZMIZ2 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of lung cancer cells-establishing its role as a promoter of oncogenes. Molecular mechanism studies identified SIRT1 as an assisted key factor interacting with ZMIZ2. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that ZMIZ2 is closely related to Wnt/Hippo pathways; ZMIZ2-SIRT1 interaction enhanced SIRT1 deacetylase activity. Direct downregulation of intranuclear β-catenin and yes-associated protein (YAP) acetylation levels occurred independently of upstream proteins in Wnt/Hippo pathways; transcriptional activities of β-catenin-transcription factor 4 (TCF4) and YAP-TEA domain family transcription factors (TEADs) were amplified.

CONCLUSIONS

ZMIZ2 promotes the malignant phenotype of lung cancer by regulating Wnt/Hippo pathways through SIRT1, providing an experimental basis for discovering novel biomarkers and developing tumor-targeted drugs.

DCAF7 Acts as A Scaffold to Recruit USP10 for G3BP1 Deubiquitylation and Facilitates Chemoresistance and Metastasis in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Despite docetaxel combined with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) being the established treatment for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), there are patients who do not respond positively to this form of therapy. However, the mechanisms underlying this lack of benefit remain unclear. DCAF7 is identified as a chemoresistance gene attenuating the response to TPF therapy in NPC patients. DCAF7 promotes the cisplatin resistance and metastasis of NPC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, DCAF7 serves as a scaffold protein that facilitates the interaction between USP10 and G3BP1, leading to the elimination of K48-linked ubiquitin moieties from Lys76 of G3BP1. This process helps prevent the degradation of G3BP1 via the ubiquitin‒proteasome pathway and promotes the formation of stress granule (SG)-like structures. Moreover, knockdown of G3BP1 successfully reversed the formation of SG-like structures and the oncogenic effects of DCAF7. Significantly, NPC patients with increased levels of DCAF7 showed a high risk of metastasis, and elevated DCAF7 levels are linked to an unfavorable prognosis. The study reveals DCAF7 as a crucial gene for cisplatin resistance and offers further understanding of how chemoresistance develops in NPC. The DCAF7-USP10-G3BP1 axis contains potential targets and biomarkers for NPC treatment.

Linc00265 in human disease: A comprehensive analysis of its implications in human disease pathobiology and therapeutic prospect

Linc00265, a long intergenic non-coding RNA, has garnered significant research attention due to its involvement in various human diseases, particularly cancer. It exhibits tissue-specific and dysregulated expression across multiple cancer types, including blood malignancies, colorectal, gastric, bladder, osteosarcoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. This dysregulation is often associated with tumor aggressiveness, metastasis, and poor prognosis. Moreover, aberrant expression of Linc00265 has been reported in inflammation-related diseases such as osteoarthritis and sepsis. Mechanistically, Linc00265 acts as a competing endogenous RNA (CeRNA), sequestering specific microRNAs and thereby modulating their downstream targets. Additionally, it influences critical signaling pathways by mediating the key effectors within these pathways. Importantly, the dysregulation of Linc00265 shows promising potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in several human diseases. This review aims to comprehensively analyze the expression patterns, regulatory mechanisms, and potential biomarker roles of Linc00265 in human diseases, with a particular focus on cancer. By elucidating the functional implications of Linc00265, we can deepen our understanding of its roles in human diseases, potentially paving the way for novel therapeutic interventions in disease management.

Silencing of the long non-coding RNA LINC00265 triggers autophagy and apoptosis in lung cancer by reducing protein stability of SIN3A oncogene

Background

Long non-coding RNAs are important regulators in cancer biology and function either as tumor suppressors or as oncogenes. Their dysregulation has been closely associated with tumorigenesis. LINC00265 is upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma and is a prognostic biomarker of this cancer. However, the mechanism underlying its function in cancer progression remains poorly understood.

Methods

Here, the regulatory role of LINC00265 in lung adenocarcinoma was examined using lung cancer cell lines, clinical samples, and xenografts.

Results

We found that high levels of LINC00265 expression were associated with shorter overall survival rate of patients, whereas knockdown of LINC00265 inhibited proliferation of cancer cell lines and tumor growth in xenografts. Western blot and flow cytometry analyses indicated that silencing of LINC00265 induced autophagy and apoptosis. Moreover, we showed that LINC00265 interacted with and stabilized the transcriptional co-repressor Switch-independent 3a (SIN3A), which is a scaffold protein functioning either as a tumor repressor or as an oncogene in a context-dependent manner. Silencing of SIN3A also reduced proliferation of lung cancer cells, which was correlated with the induction of autophagy. These observations raise the possibility that LINC00265 functions to promote the oncogenic activity of SIN3A in lung adenocarcinoma.

Conclusions

Our findings thus identify SIN3A as a LINC00265-associated protein and should help to understand the mechanism underlying LINC00265-mediated oncogenesis.

The role of USP7-YY1 interaction in promoting colorectal cancer growth and metastasis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant global health issue with high incidence and mortality. Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a powerful transcription factor that acts dual roles in gene activation and repression. High expression level of YY1 has been reported in CRC, indicating the existence of stable factors of YY1 in CRC cells. We aimed to identify the key molecules and underlying mechanisms responsible for stabilizing YY1 expression in CRC. Mass spectrometry analysis was utilized to identify USP7 as a potential molecule that interacted with YY1. Mechanically, USP7 stabilizes YY1 expression at the protein level by interfering its K63 linkage ubiquitination. YY1 exerts its oncogenic function through transcriptionally activating TRIAP1 but suppressing LC3B. In addition, at the pathological level, there is a positive correlation between the expression of YY1 and the budding of CRC. This study has revealed the intricate interplay between YY1 and USP7 in CRC, suggesting that they could serve as novel therapeutic targets or predictive biomarkers for CRC patients.

LINC00265 can Serve as a Potential Biomarker for Predicting Increased Disease Risk, Systemic Inflammation, Disease Severity and Poor Prognosis in Sepsis

BACKGROUND

Identifying effective therapeutic targets is of great significance for improving early diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis. This study aims to explore the role of LINC00265 in sepsis.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study based on data collected from sepsis patients in 2017-2018. The basic clinical information of all subjects were collected and the survival of the sepsis patients within 28 days was monitored. The expression of LINC00265 was detected by qPCR. Receiver operating characteristics and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of LINC00265 in patients with sepsiss.

RESULTS

Compared with the healthy population, the expression of LINC00265 was significantly upregulated in patients with sepsis distinguishing them from healthy individuals. This expression was patients with sepsis positively correlated with the APACHEII score, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and IL-17, and negatively correlated with IL-10. LINC00265 expression was upregulated in the sepsis death group, predicting a lower rate in patients with patients with sepsis. The higher expression of LINC00265 was correlated with lower cumulative patient sursvival.

CONCLUSION

LINC00265 is upregulated in patients with sepsis, and its high expression predicts increased disease severity, heightened inflammation, and a poorer prognosis.

LINC00665 promotes glycolysis in lung adenocarcinoma cells via the let-7c-5p/HMMR axis

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the most lethal and common malignancies. The energy metabolism of LUAD is a critical factor affecting its malignant progression, and research on this topic can aid in the development of novel cancer treatment targets. Bioinformatics analysis of the expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00665 in LUAD was performed. Downstream regulatory molecules of LINC00665 were predicted using the StarBase database. We used quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot to measure the expression at mRNA and protein levels, respectively. The effects of the LINC00665/let-7c-5p/HMMR axis on cell viability in vitro were tested by CCK-8 assay. The regulatory effects on glycolysis were analyzed by extracellular acidification rate, oxygen consumption rate, glucose uptake, adenosine triphosphate production, and lactate production. The predicted competitive endogenous RNA mechanism between LINC00665 and let-7c-5p/HMMR was verified by a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. LINC00665 was upregulated in LUAD. Silencing LINC00665 inhibited tumor proliferation and reduced the glycolytic activity of tumor cells. Additionally, the expression of LINC00665 had a negative correlation with that of let-7c-5p, while the expression of HMMR was remarkably inhibited by let-7c-5p. HMMR could affect the development of LUAD by influencing glycolytic capacity. Mechanistically, LINC00665 acted as a molecular sponge to absorb let-7c-5p and targeted HMMR. Transfection of let-7c-5p inhibitor or overexpression of HMMR plasmid could reverse the inhibition in proliferation and glycolysis of LUAD cells induced by silencing of LINC00665. In summary, this study demonstrated that the LINC00665/let-7c-5p/HMMR regulatory axis promoted the tumorigenesis of LUAD by enhancing aerobic glycolysis, suggesting that this regulatory axis was an effective target for inhibiting LUAD progression and providing theoretical support for the development of new drugs for LUAD.

ZMIZ2 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma progression via LEF1 mediated activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies with a high lethality rate. ZMIZ2 is a transcriptional co-activator implicated in various human diseases. However, the role and molecular mechanism of ZMIZ2 in HCC remains to be elucidated.

METHODS

The expression and prognostic value of ZMIZ2 in HCC was excavated from public databases and explored by bioinformatic analysis. Then the expression of ZMIZ2 and related genes was further validated by quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Loss and gain-of-function experiments were performed in vitro and in vivo to investigate the function of ZMIZ2 in HCC. In addition, transcriptome sequencing and immunoprecipitation was conducted to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of ZMIZ2.

RESULTS

ZMIZ2 was highly expressed in HCC and associated with poor prognosis. Silencing ZMIZ2 significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, cell cycle process, migration, and invasion in vitro, and also inhibited the progression of HCC in vivo. Additionally, ZMIZ2 expression was correlated with immune cell infiltration in HCC samples. Somatic mutation analysis showed that ZMIZ2 and TP53 mutations jointly affected the progression of HCC. Mechanistically, ZMIZ2 interacted with LEF1 to regulate malignant progression of HCC by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

CONCLUSION

ZMIZ2 was overexpressed in HCC and associated with poor prognosis. The overexpression of ZMIZ2 was corelated with malignant phenotype, and it facilitated HCC progression via LEF1-mediated activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Furthermore, ZMIZ2 could be served as a prognostic biomarker and a new therapeutic target for HCC.

A Transcription Factor ZNF384, Regulated by LINC00265, Activates the Expression of IFI30 to Stimulate Malignant Progression in Glioma

Glioma remains one of the most challenging primary brain malignancies to treat. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs (mRNAs) are implicated in regulating the malignant phenotypes of cancers including glioma. This study aimed to elucidate the functions and mechanisms of lncRNA LINC00265 and mRNA IFI30 in the pathogenesis of glioma. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed the upregulated expression of LINC00265 and IFI30 in glioma cells compared to normal human astrocytes. Western blot (WB) quantified the associated proteins. Glioma stemness and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were assessed by aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) activity, sphere formation, and WB. Mechanistic and rescue assays evaluated the LINC00265/miR-let-7d-5p/IFI30/ZNF384/IGF2BP2 axis. The results demonstrated that LINC00265 and IFI30 were highly expressed in glioma cells, promoting stemness and EMT. ZNF384 was identified as a transcription factor that upregulates IFI30. Moreover, LINC00265 elevated ZNF384 by sponging miR-let-7d-5p and recruiting IGF2BP2. In conclusion, LINC00265 and IFI30 act as oncogenes in glioma by driving stemness and EMT, underscoring their potential as therapeutic targets.

Comprehensive analysis of the role of ubiquitin-specific peptidases in colorectal cancer: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent and the second most fatal cancer. The search for more effective drugs to treat this disease is ongoing. A better understanding of the mechanisms of CRC development and progression may reveal new therapeutic strategies. Ubiquitin-specific peptidases (USPs), the largest group of the deubiquitinase protein family, have long been implicated in various cancers. There have been numerous studies on the role of USPs in CRC; however, a comprehensive view of this role is lacking.

AIM

To provide a systematic review of the studies investigating the roles and functions of USPs in CRC.

METHODS

We systematically queried the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science databases.

RESULTS

Our study highlights the pivotal role of various USPs in several processes implicated in CRC: Regulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis, cancer stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, DNA repair, and drug resistance. The findings of this study suggest that USPs have great potential as drug targets and noninvasive biomarkers in CRC. The dysregulation of USPs in CRC contributes to drug resistance through multiple mechanisms.

CONCLUSION

Targeting specific USPs involved in drug resistance pathways could provide a novel therapeutic strategy for overcoming resistance to current treatment regimens in CRC.

Novel PBMC LncRNA signatures as diagnostic biomarkers for colorectal cancer

The expression of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and its clinical relevance in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains largely uncharacterized. To address these gaps, we investigated the expression profiles of lncRNAs in PBMC from CRC and healthy controls (HC) by RNA sequencing. The expression level of differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were evaluated by quantitative PCR in PBMC samples from CRC patients and HC. A total of 447 DElncRNAs were identified, with 178 elevated lncRNAs and 269 decreased lncRNAs in PBMC from CRC patients as compared with that from HC. RT-PCR results supported a significant elevation of NEAT1:11, lnc-PDZD8-1:5 and LINC00910:16 in 98 CRC patients and 82 HC. The clinical implication of NEAT1:11, lnc-PDZD8-1:5 and LINC00910:16 as CRC diagnostic biomarker were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, showing sensitivity 74.5% and specificity 84.5% for joint detection the three lncRNAs. Notably, NEAT1:11 was closely related with the size and extent of primary tumor, with higher relative expression of NEAT1:11 in higher T stage (P = 0.0047). Moreover, NEAT1:11 was related with grade (P = 0.012). Collectively, PBMC from patients with CRC show significantly variable expression profiles of lncRNAs, and detection of these differential expression lncRNAs may provide useful information for basic and clinical research.

The Role of Long Noncoding RNAs in Progression of Leukemia: Based on Chromosomal Location

Long non-coding RNA [LncRNA] dysregulation has been seen in many human cancers, including several kinds of leukemia, which is still a fatal disease with a poor prognosis. LncRNAs have been demonstrated to function as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in leukemia. This study covers current research findings on the role of lncRNAs in the prognosis and diagnosis of leukemia. Based on recent results, several lncRNAs are emerging as biomarkers for the prognosis, diagnosis, and even treatment outcome prediction of leukemia and have been shown to play critical roles in controlling leukemia cell activities, such as proliferation, cell death, metastasis, and drug resistance. As a result, lncRNA profiles may have superior predictive and diagnostic potential in leukemia. Accordingly, this review concentrates on the significance of lncRNAs in leukemia progression based on their chromosomal position.

Oncogenic KRAS effector USP13 promotes metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer through deubiquitinating β-catenin

KRAS mutations are frequently detected in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Although covalent KRASG12C inhibitors have been developed to treat KRASG12C-mutant cancers, effective treatments are still lacking for other KRAS-mutant NSCLCs. Thus, identifying a KRAS effector that confers poor prognosis would provide an alternative strategy for the treatment of KRAS-driven cancers. Here, we show that KRAS drives expression of deubiquitinase USP13 through Ras-responsive element-binding protein 1 (RREB1). Elevated USP13 promotes KRAS-mutant NSCLC metastasis, which is associated with poor prognosis in NSCLC patients. Mechanistically, USP13 interacts with and removes the K63-linked polyubiquitination of β-catenin at lysine 508, which enhances the binding between β-catenin and transcription factor TCF4. Importantly, we identify 2-methoxyestradiol as an effective inhibitor for USP13 from a natural compound library, and it could potently suppress the metastasis of KRAS-mutant NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo. These findings identify USP13 as a therapeutic target for metastatic NSCLC with KRAS mutations.

USP7-mediated JUND suppresses RCAN2 transcription and elevates NFATC1 to enhance stem cell property in colorectal cancer

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) encompass a subset of highly aggressive tumor cells that are involved in tumor initiation and progression. This study investigates the function of regulator of calcineurin 2 (RCAN2) in the stem cell property in colorectal cancer (CRC). By analyzing four GEO datasets, we obtained RCAN2 as a stemness-related gene in CRC. RCAN2 was poorly expressed in CRC tissues and cells, especially in CSCs. RCAN2 restoration reduced calcineurin activity and promoted phosphorylation and degradation of nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATC1) protein, leading to reduced stemness of CSCs. JunD proto-oncogene (JUND), whose protein level was increased in CRC samples and CRC stem cells, bound to RCAN2 and suppressed its transcription. The abundant ubiquitin specific peptidase 7 (USP7) in CSCs enhanced JUND protein stability through deubiquitination modification. Lentivirus-mediated knockdown of USP7 or JUND also blocked the calcineurin-NFATC1 signaling and reduced the protein levels of stemness-related proteins. Moreover, the USP7 knockdown weakened the colony/sphere formation ability as well as the tumorigenicity of CSCs, and it reduced the CSC content in xenograft tumors. However, further restoration of JUND rescued the stemness of the CSCs. Overall, this study demonstrates that USP7-mediated JUND suppresses RCAN2 transcription and activates NFATC1 to enhance stem cell property in CRC. 1. RCAN2 is poorly expressed in CRC tissues and cells and especially in CSCs. 2. RCAN2 reduces stemness of CSCs by blocking calcineurin-NFATC1 signal transduction. 3. JUND binds to RCAN2 promoter to suppresses RCAN2 transcription. 4. USP7 enhances JUND protein stability via deubiquitination modification. 5. Downregulation of USP7 or JUND restores RCAN2 level and suppresses stemness of CSCs.

circRARS synergises with IGF2BP3 to regulate RNA methylation recognition to promote tumour progression in renal cell carcinoma

As the most prominent RNA modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6 A) participates in the regulation of tumour initiation and progression. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) also play crucial roles in ubiquitous life processes. Whether circRNAs are required for m6 A regulation in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unclear. Meta-analysis and bioinformatics identified that IGF2BP3 was upregulated in RCC and indicated a worse prognosis. IGF2BP3 significantly promoted RCC progression in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circRARS bound to KH1-KH2 domains of IGF2BP3 to enhance m6 A modification recognition. A 12-nt sequence (GUCUUCCAGCAA) was proven to be the IGF2BP3-binding site of circRARS. Additionally, CAPN15, CD44, HMGA2, TNRC6A and ZMIZ2 were screened to be the target genes regulated by the IGF2BP3/circRARS complex in an m6 A-dependent manner. Stabiliser proteins, including HuR, Matrin3 and pAbPC1, were recruited by circRARS, thereby increasing the mRNA stability of the forementioned five target genes. Consequently, the IGF2BP3/circRARS complex facilitated the lipid accumulation of RCC cells and promoted sunitinib resistance via target genes. circRARS synergised with IGF2BP3 to facilitate m6 A recognition, thereby promoting RCC progression. Thus, IGF2BP3 could be a potential biomarker for RCC diagnosis and prognosis and a therapeutic target.

MetaLnc9 facilitates osteogenesis of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by activating the AKT pathway

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the role of MetaLnc9 in the osteogenesis of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used lentiviruses to knockdown or overexpress MetaLnc9 in hBMSCs. qRT-PCR was employed to determine the mRNA levels of osteogenic-related genes in transfected cells. ALP staining and activity assay, ARS staining and quantification were used to identify the degree of osteogenic differentiation. Ectopic bone formation was conducted to examine the osteogenesis of transfected cells in vivo. AKT pathway activator SC-79 and inhibitor LY294002 were used to validate the relationship between MetaLnc9 and AKT signaling pathway.

RESULTS

The expression of MetaLnc9 was significantly upregulated in the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. MetaLnc9 knockdown inhibited the osteogenesis of hBMSCs, whereas overexpression of it promoted the osteogenic differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. Taking a deeper insight, we found that MetaLnc9 enhanced the osteogenic differentiation by activating AKT signaling. The inhibitor of AKT signaling LY294002 could reverse the positive effect on osteogenesis brought by MetaLnc9 overexpression, whereas the activator of AKT signaling SC-79 could reverse the negative effect caused by MetaLnc9 knockdown.

CONCLUSION

Our works uncovered a vital role of MetaLnc9 in osteogenesis via regulating the AKT signaling pathway. [Figure: see text].

Prognosis of colon cancer patients based on enhancer RNAs-related genes

PURPOSE

Colon cancer (CC) is a cancer of the large intestine with high prevalence and poor prognosis. enhancer RNAs. Therefore, valuable tools or biomarkers for predicting patient status, directing clinical practice, and reducing overtreatment are needed. Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs), a class of noncoding RNAs transcribed from enhancers, have been shown to function as regulators of oncogene or tumor suppressor gene expression. The aim of our study was to explore the potential roles of eRNAs and their target enhancer-related genes (ERGs) in the prognosis of CC.

METHODS

Selected CC cases (stage I-III) from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were used as a training set, and cases from the Gene Expression Omnibus were used as the validation set. ERGs associated with prognosis were screened through three steps: potential, candidate, and prognosis ERGs. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to identify independent prognostic factors, and a nomogram was created. Calibration curves were drawn by comparing predicted and observed survival probability. For validation, the calibration curves and ROC analysis were also applied to two external validation sets. The biological significance and clinical application of the genes obtained were investigated.

RESULTS

Based on the multiple tiers of strict screening, 11 prognostic ERGs were obtained, which were combined to obtain a prognosis signature. A compound nomogram integrating age, TNM classification, and the prognostic signature was constructed. The model was reliable in distinguishing the risk of patients with stage I-III CC, with AUCs of 0.78 and 0.70 at 5 and 7 years, respectively. There was good reproducibility in calibration curves. The prognostic model also yielded good prediction capability in the validation sets.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the usefulness and specificity of the ERGs in prognosis were described, which should be considered a key feature in the clinical guidance of CC patients with early stage. We concluded that the major implications of the eRNAs and ERGs should be valued, which would be an emerging hallmark in the prognosis of cancer.

Targeting the deubiquitinase USP2 for malignant tumor therapy (Review)

The ubiquitin‑proteasome system is a major degradation pathway for >80% of proteins in vivo. Deubiquitylases, which remove ubiquitinated tags to stabilize substrate proteins, are important components involved in regulating the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins. In addition, they serve multiple roles in tumor development by participating in physiological processes such as protein metabolism, cell cycle regulation, DNA damage repair and gene transcription. The present review systematically summarized the role of ubiquitin‑specific protease 2 (USP2) in malignant tumors and the specific molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of USP2 in tumor‑associated pathways. USP2 reverses ubiquitin‑mediated degradation of proteins and is involved in aberrant proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and drug resistance of tumors. Additionally, the present review summarized studies reporting on the use of USP2 as a therapeutic target for malignancies such as breast, liver, ovarian, colorectal, bladder and prostate cancers and glioblastoma and highlights the current status of pharmacological research on USP2. The clinical significance of USP2 as a therapeutic target for malignant tumors warrants further investigation.

Activation of CTNNB1 by deubiquitinase UCHL3-mediated stabilization facilitates bladder cancer progression

BACKGROUND

The catenin beta 1 gene (CTNNB1) plays a crucial role in the malignant progression of various cancers. Recent studies have suggested that CTNNB1 hyperactivation is closely related to the occurrence and development of bladder cancer (BCa). As a member of the deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) family, ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L3 (UCHL3) is abnormally expressed in various cancers. In this study, we discovered that UCHL3 is a novel oncogene in bladder cancer, suggesting it is a promising target against bladder cancer.

METHODS

We utilized CRISPR‒Cas9 technology to construct cell lines with UCHL3 stably overexpressed or knocked out. The successful overexpression or knockout of UCHL3 was determined using Western blotting. Then, we performed CCK-8, colony formation, soft agar and Transwell migration assays to determine the impact of the UCHL3 gene on cell phenotype. RNA-seq was performed with UCHL3-depleted T24 cells (established via CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genomic editing). We analyzed differences in WNT pathway gene expression in wild-type and UCHL3-deficient T24 cell lines using a heatmap and by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Then, we validated the effect of UCHL3 on the Wnt pathway using a dual fluorescence reporter. We then analyzed the underlying mechanisms involved using Western blots, co-IP, and immunofluorescence results. We also conducted nude mouse tumor formation experiments. Moreover, conditional UCHL3-knockout mice and bladder cancer model mice were established for research.

RESULTS

We found that the overexpression of UCHL3 boosted bladder cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration, while the depletion of UCHL3 in bladder cancer cells delayed tumor tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. UCHL3 was highly associated with the Wnt signaling pathway and triggered the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway, which showed that its functions depend on its deubiquitination activity. Notably, Uchl3-deficient mice were less susceptible to bladder tumorigenesis. Additionally, UCHL3 was highly expressed in bladder cancer cells and associated with indicators of advanced clinicopathology.

CONCLUSION

In summary, we found that UCHL3 is amplified in bladder cancer and functions as a tumor promoter that enhances proliferation and migration of tumor cells in vitro and bladder tumorigenesis and progression in vivo. Furthermore, we revealed that UCHL3 stabilizes CTNNB1 expression, resulting in the activation of the oncogenic Wnt signaling pathway. Therefore, our findings strongly suggest that UCHL3 is a promising therapeutic target for bladder cancer.

Altered long non-coding RNAs expression in normal and diseased primary human airway epithelial cells exposed to diesel exhaust particles

BACKGROUND

Exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) has been linked to a variety of adverse health effects, including increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), metabolic syndrome, and lung cancer. The epigenetic changes caused by air pollution have been associated with increased health risks. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the lncRNA-mediated pathogenesis induced by DEP exposure have not been revealed.

METHODS

Through RNA-sequencing and integrative analysis of both mRNA and lncRNA profiles, this study investigated the role of lncRNAs in altered gene expression in healthy and diseased human primary epithelial cells (NHBE and DHBE-COPD) exposed to DEP at a dose of 30 μg/cm2.

RESULTS

We identified 503 and 563 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and a total of 10 and 14 DE lncRNAs in NHBE and DHBE-COPD cells exposed to DEP, respectively. In both NHBE and DHBE-COPD cells, enriched cancer-related pathways were identified at mRNA level, and 3 common lncRNAs OLMALINC, AC069234.2, and LINC00665 were found to be associated with cancer initiation and progression. In addition, we identified two cis-acting (TMEM51-AS1 and TTN-AS1) and several trans-acting lncRNAs (e.g. LINC01278, SNHG29, AC006064.4, TMEM51-AS1) only differentially expressed in COPD cells, which could potentially play a role in carcinogenesis and determine their susceptibility to DEP exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our work highlights the potential importance of lncRNAs in regulating DEP-induced gene expression changes associated with carcinogenesis, and individuals suffering from COPD are likely to be more vulnerable to these environmental triggers.

Long non-coding RNA PVT1 induces proliferation, inhibits apoptosis, and induces autophagy by up-regulating Atg5 in rectal cancer cells

BACKGROUND

As a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), PVT1 has been proved to play a role in promoting cancer in many tumors, but there are few reports on its impact on the biological behavior of rectal cancer. Therefore, this study investigated the expression of lncRNA PVT1 in rectal cancer and its relationship with prognosis, as well as its effect on rectal cancer cell autophagy, proliferation, and apoptosis, so as to provide a reliable target for treatment of rectal cancer.

AIM

To investigate the expression of lncRNA PVT1 in rectal cancer and its effects on autophagy and proliferation of rectal cancer cells.

METHODS

The expression data of lncRNA PVT1 in 92 rectal cancer samples and 318 healthy control samples were obtained from the GEPIA database, and the expression levels of lncRNA PVT1 in rectal cancer cell lines SW837, HR8348, SW1463, and FHC were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The relationship between the expression level of lncRNA PVT1 and the prognosis of rectal cancer was analyzed using the R packages (survival and survminer) based on the TCGA database. Overexpression of lncRNA PVT1 was then induced in SW837 and HR8348 cells. Transwell assay, CCK-8 assay, and flow cytometry were used to analyze the changes of cell invasion, proliferation, and apoptosis. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of LC3-II/LC3-I, immunofluorescence was used to analyze the change of LC3 expression, and transmission electron microscopy was used to determine the change of autophagosomes. After co-transfection with si-Atg5, the changes of rectal cancer cell autophagy were analyzed.

RESULTS

The expression of lncRNA PVT1 in rectal cancer tissues and cells increased significantly. The expression of lncRNA PVT1 was related to the prognosis of rectal cancer. Overexpression of lncRNA PVT1 activated autophagy of rectal cancer cells and induced tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis inhibition (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

LncRNA PVT1 is highly expressed in rectal cancer tissues and cells, and is significantly related to the prognosis of rectal cancer. Overexpression of lncRNA PVT1 induces rectal cancer cell proliferation and invasion, and inhibits their apoptosis. LncRNA PVT1 participates in the regulation of rectal cancer cell autophagy by regulating the expression of Atg5, which may be involved in the occurrence and development of rectal cancer.

M6A Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression via Regulating the miR-27a-3p/BTG2 Pathway

Long noncoding (lnc) RNAs regulate cancer progression. However, the importance of lncRNAs and how they are regulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) are unclear. We aim to evaluate the function of lncRNA ADAMTS9-AS2 in CRC and its fundamental mechanism. Levels of ADAMTS9-AS2, miR-27a-3p, and B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) were measured by qPCR. Cell viability was analyzed by CCK-8 and colony formation. Migration and invasion were tested by transwell assay. The interactions among ADAMTS9-AS2, miR-27a-3p, BTG2, and YTHDF2 were analyzed by luciferase test, immunoblotting, RNA pull-down, or RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). An animal model was adopted to assess ADAMTS9-AS2's function. Overexpressing ADAMTS9-AS2 inhibited cell migration, invasion, colony formation capacity, and proliferation in vitro. The direct targeting of miR-27a-3p by ADAMTS9-AS2 abrogated the latter's effect in CRC cells. BTG2 was identified a target of miR-27a-3p, and silencing BTG2 weakened miR-27a-3p's effect. Knocking down ADAMTS9-AS2 abolished sh-YTHDF2's inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and invasion. Finally, overexpressing ADAMTS9-AS2 restrained xenograft growth. M6A reader YTHDF2-mediated degradation of ADAMTS9-AS2 promotes colon carcinogenesis via miR-27a-3p/BTG2 axis.

Long non-coding RNAs affecting cell metabolism in cancer

Metabolic reprogramming is commonly recognized as one important hallmark of cancers. Cancer cells present significant alteration of glucose metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and lipid metabolism. Recent findings demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs control cancer development and progression by modulating cell metabolism. Here, we give an overview of breast cancer metabolic reprogramming and the role of long non-coding RNAs in driving cancer-specific metabolic alteration.

Promotion or remission: a role of noncoding RNAs in colorectal cancer resistance to anti-EGFR therapy

Anti-epidermal-growth-factor-receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are of great significance for RAS and BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. However, the generation of primary and secondary resistance to anti-EGFR mAbs has become an important factor restricting its efficacy. Recent studies have revealed that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are implicated in anti-EGFR antibodies resistance, affecting the sensitivity of CRC cells to Cetuximab and Panitumumab. This paper briefly reviewed the research advance of the expression, signaling network and functional mechanism of ncRNAs related to anti-EGFR mAbs resistance in CRC, as well as their relationship with clinical prognosis and the possibility of therapeutic targets. In addition, some ncRNAs that are involved in the regulation of signaling pathways or genes related to anti-EGFR resistance, but need to be further verified by resistance experiments were also included in this review, thereby providing more ideas and basis for ncRNAs as CRC prognostic markers and anti-EGFR therapy sensitizers. Video Abstract.

The involvement of gut microbiota in the anti-tumor effect of carnosic acid via IL-17 suppression in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor that threatens human health worldwide. Disturbance of the gut microbiota caused by various external factors is one of the leading causes. Carnosic acid (CA) is a phenolic diterpene compound, mainly isolated from rosemary plants, with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of CA in CRC development and its underlying mechanisms in B6/JGpt-Apc^em1Cin(min)/Gpt (Apc^Min/+) mice based on the analysis of gut microbiota, serum metabolomics, and tumor proteomics. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot were performed to confirm the changes in cytokine and protein levels related to inflammation after CA administration. CA regulated the abundance of the gut microbiota, which further caused changes in the production of dl-lactic acid. CA suppressed the inflammatory response by reducing the levels of IL-1β, -6, and -17A. Overall, CA showed anti-CRC properties via modulation of gut microbiota and serum metabolites through NF-κB/STAT3 signaling to inhibit IL-17 expression in Apc^Min/+ mice. These results provide experimental evidence for the future treatment of CRC with CA.

The Cellular and Molecular Landscape of Synchronous Pediatric Sialoblastoma and Hepatoblastoma

Sialoblastoma (SBL) is an infrequent embryonal malignant tumor originating from the salivary gland, resembling primitive salivary gland anlage, whereas hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common pediatric liver malignancy. The simultaneous occurrence of both tumors is extremely rare. Here we reported a case of a 6-month-old infant diagnosed with synchronous SBL and HB. The patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical resection. Fresh tissues of both tumors were collected before and after chemotherapy, which were further profiled by whole exome sequencing (WES) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). WES analysis revealed potential somatic driver mutation PIK3CA p.Glu454Lys for SBL and canonical mutation CTNNB1 p.Ser45Pro for HB. No shared somatic variants or common copy number alterations were found between SBL and HB primary tumor samples. Though scRNA-seq, single-cell atlases were constructed for both tumors. SBL may recapitulate a pre-acinar stage in the development of salivary gland, including basaloid, duct-like, myoepithelial-like, and cycling phenotypes. In the meantime, HB was composed of tumor cells resembling different stages of the liver, including hepatocyte-like, hepatic progenitor-like, and hepatoblast-like cells. After chemotherapy, both tumors were induced into a more mature phenotype. In terms of transcriptional signatures, SBL and HB showed enhanced expression of epithelial markers KRT8, KRT18, and essential embryo development genes SDC1, MDK, indicating the disruption of normal embryo epithelium development. Finally, heterozygous deleterious germline mutation BLM and FANCI were identified which could predispose the patient to higher cancer risk. It partially explained the reason for the co-occurrence of SBL and HB. Taken together, we provided valuable resources for deciphering cellular heterogeneity and adaptive change of tumor cells after chemotherapy for synchronous SBL and HB, providing insights into the mechanisms leading to synchronous pediatric tumors.

MicroRNA-1224-5p Aggravates Sepsis-Related Acute Lung Injury in Mice

Oxidative stress and inflammation are implicated in the development of sepsis-related acute lung injury (ALI). MicroRNA-1224-5p (miR-1224-5p) plays critical roles in regulating inflammatory response and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The present study is aimed at investigating the role and underlying mechanisms of miR-1224-5p in sepsis-related ALI. Mice were intratracheally injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5 mg/kg) for 12 h to induce sepsis-related ALI. To manipulate miR-1224-5p level, mice were intravenously injected with the agomir, antagomir, or matched controls for 3 consecutive days. Murine peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with LPS (100 ng/mL) for 6 h to further validate the role of miR-1224-5p in vitro. To inhibit adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKα) or peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ), compound C or GW9662 was used in vivo and in vitro. We found that miR-1224-5p levels in lungs were elevated by LPS injection, and that the miR-1224-5p antagomir significantly alleviated LPS-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and ALI in mice. Conversely, the miR-1224-5p agomir aggravated inflammatory response, ROS generation, and pulmonary dysfunction in LPS-treated mice. In addition, the miR-1224-5p antagomir reduced, while the miR-1224-5p agomir aggravated LPS-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in murine peritoneal macrophages. Further findings revealed that miR-1224-5p is directly bound to the 3′-untranslated regions of PPAR-γ and subsequently suppressed PPAR-γ/AMPKα axis, thereby aggravating LPS-induced ALI in vivo and in vitro. We demonstrate for the first time that endogenous miR-1224-5p is a critical pathogenic factor for inflammation and oxidative damage during LPS-induced ALI through inactivating PPAR-γ/AMPKα axis. Targeting miR-1224-5p may help to develop novel approaches to treat sepsis-related ALI.

MIR31HG Expression Predicts Poor Prognosis and Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression

Purpose

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are correlated with cancer pathogenesis and prognosis. Many studies have shown that aberrant expression of MIR31HG is implicated in the cancer progression and patient prognosis. However, the biological function and predictive value of MIR31HG in colorectal cancer is unclear.

Methods

The correlation between MIR31HG expression and clinicopathological characteristics of colorectal cancer patients was analyzed by collating the information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Kaplan–Meier analysis, univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis were performed to evaluate the prognostic value of MIR31HG. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted to identify the potential carcinogenic mechanisms implicated in MIR31HG. Moreover, MIR31HG was knocked down using siRNA in colorectal cancer cells, and cell migration, invasion, growth and colony formation assays were performed. The expression of MIR31HG influenced gene markers was quantified by qRT-PCR in MIR31HG-silenced colorectal cancer cells.

Results

In TCGA database, we found that MIR31HG was elevated in colorectal cancer patients. The patients with high MIR31HG expression had poor overall survival and disease-specific survival. Univariable and multivariable analyses showed that MIR31HG expression was an independent prognostic predictor in colorectal cancer patients. GSEA revealed that MIR31HG mainly modulated focal adhesion, extracellular matrix organization, integrin cell surface interactions and focal adhesion-PI3K-Akt-mTOR-signaling pathway. Besides, MIR31HG knockdown significantly impaired colorectal cancer cell migration, invasion, growth and colony formation. Further qRT-PCR data confirmed that alteration of MIR31HG expression notably affected the tumorigenesis-related key gene expression in the cells.

Conclusion

Our findings provide evidence that MIR31HG is a key factor in maintaining the malignant phenotype of colorectal cancer and may act as an independent predictor for patients with colorectal cancer.

ZMIZ proteins: partners in transcriptional regulation and risk factors for human disease

Coregulator proteins interact with signal-dependent transcription factors to modify their transcriptional activity. ZMIZ1 and ZMIZ2 (zinc finger MIZ-type containing 1 and 2) are coregulators with nonredundant functions that share unique structural characteristics. Among other interacting domains, they possess a MIZ (Msx-interacting zinc finger) that relates them to members of the protein inhibitor of activated STAT (PIAS) family and provides them the capacity to function as SUMO E3 ligases. The ZMIZ proteins stimulate the activity of various signaling pathways, including the androgen receptor (AR), P53, SMAD3/4, WNT/β-catenin, and NOTCH1 pathways, and interact with the BAF chromatin remodeling complex. Due to their molecular versatility, ZMIZ proteins have pleiotropic effects and thus are important for embryonic development and for human diseases. Both have been widely associated with cancer, and ZMIZ1 has been very frequently identified as a risk allele for several autoimmune conditions and other disorders. Moreover, mutations in the coding region of the ZMIZ1 gene are responsible for a severe syndromic neurodevelopmental disability. Because the actions of coregulators are highly gene-specific, a better knowledge of the associations that exist between the function of the ZMIZ coregulators and human pathologies is expected to potentiate the use of ZMIZ1 and ZMIZ2 as new drug targets for diseases such as hormone-dependent cancers.

LINC00265 Promotes Metastasis and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Interacting with E2F1 at The Promoter of CDK2

Objective

This study aimed to explore biological function of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 265 (LINC00265) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, and evaluate its potential function as a biomarker.

Materials and Methods

In this experimental study, GEPIA database and Kaplan-Meier Plotter database were employed to analyze LINC00265 expression in HCC tissue samples and its predicting value for prognosis. LINC00265 expression in HCC tissues and cells was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). After overexpressing and knocking-down of LINC00265 in HCC cells, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-Ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were adopted to detect proliferation of HCC cells. Transwell assay was used to detect migration and invasion of HCC cells. Interaction of LINC00265 with E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) was verified by the catRAPID online analysis tool, RNA pull-down experiment and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Binding of E2F1 to the promoter region of cyclin-dependent kinases 2 (CDK2) was detected by dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Regulatory effects of LINC00265 and E2F1 on CDK2 expression were probed by Western blot.

Results

LINC00265 expression was increased in HCC tissues and cells. LINC00265 overexpression promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells, and knocking-down LINC00265 worked oppositely. LINC00265 could bind to E2F1 and it could enhance combination of E2F1 and CDK2 promoter regions, thus promoting CDK2 transcription. LINC00265 overexpression promoted expression of CDK2 in HCC cells.

Conclusion

Our data suggested that LINC00265 can promote malignant behaviors of HCC cells by recruiting E2F1 to the promoter region of CDK2.

Long Intergenic Noncoding RNA00265 Enhances Cell Viability and Metastasis via Targeting miR-485-5p/USP22 Axis in Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is one of the bone malignancies in children and adolescents. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to participate in osteosarcoma development and progression. Linc00265 has been shown to involve in osteosarcoma oncogenesis; however, the underlying mechanism is largely unclear. In this study, we investigated the function of linc00265 in osteosarcoma cells, including cell viability, migration and invasion. Moreover, we elucidated mechanistically the involvement of linc00265 in osteosarcoma. We found that linc00265 overexpression promoted viability, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. Notably, linc00265 sponged miR-485-5p and increased the expression of USP22, one target of miR-485-5p, in osteosarcoma cells. Strikingly, linc00265 exerted its oncogenic function via regulating miR-485-5p and USP22 in osteosarcoma. Taken together, targeting linc00265 is a promising approach for treating osteosarcoma patients.

Characterization of a Novel LUCAT1/miR-4316/VEGF-A Axis in Metastasis and Glycolysis of Lung Adenocarcinoma

Objective: Accumulating literatures suggested that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were involved in tumorigenesis and cancer progression in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the precise regulatory mechanism of lncRNA Lung cancer-associated transcript 1 (LUCAT1) in LUAD is not well defined. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biological function and mechanism of lncRNA LUCAT1 in regulating tumor migration and glycolysis of LUAD.

Methods: High throughput sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs between LUAD patients and healthy controls. The expression levels of LUCAT1 in LUAD clinical specimens or cell lines were evaluated by In situ hybridization (ISH) and quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Functional experiments, including wound-healing, transwell invasion assays, glucose absorption, lactate metabolism and tumor xenograft experiments were conducted to identify the biological functions of LUCAT1 in LUAD. Silencing of LUCAT1, over-expression of LUCAT1 and miR-4316 were generated in LUAD cell lines to verify the regulatory mode of LUCAT1-mir-4316-VEGFA axis.

Results: Our findings revealed that lncRNA LUCAT1 was significantly up-regulated in LUAD serum exosomes, tumor tissues, and LUAD cells in comparison with corresponding controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis indicated that the area under the curve (AUC) value of serum exosomal LUCAT1 reached 0.852 in distinguishing LUAD patients from healthy individuals. High expression of LUCAT1 in LUAD patient tissues was associated with enhanced Lymph Node Metastasis (LNM), advanced Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage and poorer clinical outcome in LUAD patients. Knockdown of LUCAT1 inhibited LUAD cell metastasis and glycolysis in vitro as well as tumor metastasis in vivo, while overexpression of LUCAT1 induced a promoted LUAD metastasis and glycolysis. Furthermore, mechanistic investigations revealed that LUCAT1 elevated LUAD cell metastasis and glycolysis by sponging miR-4316, which further led to the upregulation of VEGFA. Finally, the regulatory axis LUCAT1-miR-4316-VEGFA was verified in LUAD.

Conclusion: Our present research suggested that LUCAT1 facilitate LUAD cell metastasis and glycolysis via serving as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate miR-4316/VEGFA axis, which provided a novel diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for LUAD patients.

Comprehensive analysis to identify noncoding RNAs mediated upregulation of maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) correlated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular

Object: Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) is involved in the development and progression of various cancers. This work investigated the usefulness of MELK in the prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis.

Methods: Information on MELK expression was obtained by pan-cancer analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The TCGA-liver hepatic cancer (TCGA-LIHC), Oncomine datasets, International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) datasets were used to investigate MELK expression in HCC. The prognostic roles of MELK in HCC were assessed by univariate and multivariate survival analyses. The underlying mechanism for noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) involved in MELK expression was investigated by in silico studies, correlation, methylation, and survival analyses. The relationships between MELK expression and immune cells, immune markers, and checkpoint markers were also analyzed.

Results: (1) MELK was identified as an independent predictor of overall survival (OS) in HCC patients (MELK high vs. low expression, HR 2.469; 95% CI 1.217–5.008; p = 0.012) in a multivariate Cox analysis, with a concordance index (C-index) value of 0.727 (95% CI 0.750–0.704). (2) The noncoding RNA miR3142HG and the LINC00265/has-miR-101-3p axis were found to regulate MELK expression in HCC tissue. (3) MELK levels were linked to various immune functions, including tumor infiltration and the expression of immune checkpoints and biomarkers in HCC.

Conclusion: MELK may have an oncogenic function in HCC and was found to be up-regulated by ncRNAs and associated with immune cell infiltration and unfavorable prognosis.

Circulating Tumor Cell-Free DNA Genes as Prognostic Gene Signature for Platinum Resistant Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

Clinical management of gynecological cancer begins by optimal debulking with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. However, in ~80% patients, ovarian cancer will recur and is lethal. Prognostic gene signature panel identifying platinum-resistance enables better patient stratification for precision therapy. Retrospectively collected serum from 11 "poor" (<6 months progression free interval [PFI]) and 22 "favorable" (>24 months PFI) prognosis patients, were evaluated using circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA). DNA from both groups showed 50 to 10 000 bp fragments. Pairwise analysis of sequenced cfDNA from patients showed that gene dosages were higher for 29 genes and lower for 64 genes in poor than favorable prognosis patients. Gene ontology analysis of higher dose genes predominantly grouped into cytoskeletal proteins, while lower dose genes, as hydrolases and receptors. Higher dosage genes searched for cancer-relatedness in Reactome database indicated 15 genes were referenced with cancer. Among them 3 genes, TGFBR2, ZMIZ2, and NRG2, were interacting with more than 4 cancer-associated genes. Protein expression analysis of tumor samples indicated that TGFBR2 was downregulated and ZMIZ2 was upregulated in poor prognosis patients. Our results indicate that the cfDNA gene dosage combined with protein expression in tumor samples can serve as gene signature panel for prognosis determination amongst ovarian cancer patients.

5-Methylcytosine Related LncRNAs Reveal Immune Characteristics, Predict Prognosis and Oncology Treatment Outcome in Lower-Grade Gliomas

5-Methylcytosine (m5C) methylation is an important RNA modification pattern that can participate in oncogenesis and progression of cancers by affecting RNA stability, expression of oncogenes, and the activity of cancer signaling pathways. Alterations in the expression pattern of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are potentially correlated with abnormalities in the m5C regulation features of cancers. Our aim was to reveal the mechanisms by which lncRNAs regulated the m5C process, to explore the impact of aberrant regulation of m5C on the biological properties of lower-grade gliomas (LGG), and to optimize current therapeutic. By searching 1017 LGG samples from the Cancer Genome Atlas and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas, we first clarified the potential impact of m5C regulators on LGG prognosis in this study and used univariate Cox analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression to explore clinically meaningful lncRNAs. Consequently, we identified four lncRNAs, including LINC00265, CIRBP-AS1, GDNF-AS1, and ZBTB20-AS4, and established a novel m5C-related lncRNAs signature (m5CrLS) that was effective in predicting prognosis. Notably, mutation rate, WHO class II, IDH mutation, 1p/19q co-deletion and MGMT promoter methylation were increased in the low m5CrLS score group. Patients with increased m5CrLS scores mostly showed activation of tumor malignancy-related pathways, increased immune infiltrating cells, and decreased anti-tumor immune function. Besides, the relatively high expression of immune checkpoints also revealed the immunosuppressed state of patients with high m5CrLS scores. In particular, m5CrLS stratification was sensitive to assess the efficacy of LGG to temozolomide and the responsiveness of immune checkpoint blockade. In conclusion, our results revealed the molecular basis of LGG, provided valuable clues for our understanding of m5C-related lncRNAs, and filled a gap between epigenetics and tumor microenvironment.

MicroRNA-665-3p exacerbates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are major culprits of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). MicroRNA-665-3p (miR-665-3p) is implicated in regulating inflammation and oxidative stress; however, its role and molecular basis in NAFLD remain elusive. Herein, we measured a significant upregulation of miR-665-3p level in the liver and primary hepatocytes upon high fat diet (HFD) or 0.5 mmol/L palmitic acid plus 1.0 mmol/L oleic acid stimulation, and the elevated miR-665-3p expression aggravated oxidative stress, inflammation and NAFLD progression in mice. In contrast, miR-665-3p inhibition by the miR-665-3p antagomir significantly prevented HFD-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and hepatic dysfunction in vivo. Manipulation of miR-665-3p in primary hepatocytes also caused similar phenotypic alterations in vitro. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that miR-665-3p directly bound to the 3'-untranslated region of fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 (FNDC5) to downregulate its expression and inactivated the downstream AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKα) pathway, thereby facilitating oxidative stress, inflammation and NAFLD progression. Our findings identify miR-665-3p as an endogenous positive regulator of NAFLD via inactivating FNDC5/AMPKα pathway, and inhibiting miR-665-3p may provide novel therapeutic strategies to treat NAFLD.

USP19 exacerbates lipogenesis and colorectal carcinogenesis by stabilizing ME1

Lipogenesis plays a critical role in colorectal carcinogenesis, but precisely how remains unclear. Here, we show that ERK2 phosphorylates ME1 at T103, thereby inhibiting its polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation and enhancing its interaction with USP19. USP19 antagonizes RNF1-mediated ME1 degradation by deubiquitination, which in turn promotes lipid metabolism and NADPH production and suppresses ROS. Meanwhile, ROS dramatically increases PD-L1 mRNA levels through accelerating expression of the transcription factor NRF2. Increased lipid metabolism is correlated with ERK2 activity and colorectal carcinogenesis in human patients. Therefore, the combination of ERK2 inhibitor and anti-PD-L1 antibody significantly inhibits spontaneous and chemically induced colorectal carcinogenesis. Collectively, the USP19-ME1 axis plays a vital role in colorectal carcinogenesis and may also provide a potential therapeutic target.

Identification and functional analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs between tumorigenesis and metastasis in CRC

The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) tumorigenesis and metastasis remains poorly characterized. The aim of this study was to identify novel lncRNAs and their functions in CRC progression. Through microarray analysis of paired normal colorectal mucosa (NM), primary tumor (PT), and metastatic lymph node (MLN) tissues, lncRNA and mRNA expression patterns were identified. Further bioinformatic analyses were performed to compare the biological functions of lncRNAs between tumorigenesis and metastasis of CRC, which was further verified by TCGA-COAD and GSE82236. The expression of lncRNA MIR29B2CHG93 in paired CRC tissues was detected in a cohort of CRC patients. The effects of lncRNA MIR29B2CHG93 on proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined by in vitro experiments. We found that tumorigenesis-associated lncRNAs predominantly participated in the regulation of the EMT/P53/PI3K-Akt/KRAS signaling pathway as well as the processes related to cell cycle and cell mitosis, while metastasis-associated lncRNAs mainly regulated blood vessel morphogenesis and immune-related biological processes. Compared to the TCGA and GSE datasets, seven tumorigenesis-associated lncRNAs and eight metastasis-associated lncRNAs were identified. LncRNA MIR29B2CHG93 knockdown remarkably suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vitro, which acted as a tumor promoter in CRC. The lncRNA MIR29B2CHG93 was significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and was indicator of unfavorable clinical outcome in CRC. These results revealed novel lncRNAs that provide new insights for an in-depth understanding of CRC progression. In particular, this study identified a novel lncRNA MIR29B2CHG93 in CRC progression, which might be a potential biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis and metastasis-prediction in CRC.

The Relationship Between the Network of Non-coding RNAs-Molecular Targets and N6-Methyladenosine Modification in Colorectal Cancer

Recent accumulating researches implicate that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNA (miRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), and long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation and development. Notably, N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) methylation, the critical posttranscriptional modulators, exerts various functions in ncRNA metabolism such as stability and degradation. However, the interaction regulation network among ncRNAs and the interplay with m⁶A-related regulators has not been well documented, particularly in CRC. Here, we summarize the interaction networks and sub-networks of ncRNAs in CRC based on a data-driven approach from the publications (IF > 6) in the last quinquennium (2016–2021). Further, we extend the regulatory pattern between the core m⁶A regulators and m⁶A-related ncRNAs in the context of CRC metastasis and progression. Thus, our review will highlight the clinical potential of ncRNAs and m⁶A modifiers as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for improving the diagnostic precision and treatment of CRC.

Ceramide-mediated gut dysbiosis enhances cholesterol esterification and promotes colorectal tumorigenesis in mice

Colorectal cancer (CRC) severely threatens human health and life span. An effective therapeutic strategy has not been established because we do not clearly know its pathogenesis. Here, we report that ceramide and sterol O-acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1) have roles in both spontaneous and chemical-induced intestinal cancers. We first found that miRNA-148a deficiency dramatically increased mouse gut dysbiosis through upregulating ceramide synthase 5 (Cers5) expression, which promoted ceramide synthesis afterward. The newly generated ceramide further promoted both azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate–induced (AOM/DSS-induced) and Apc^Min/+ spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis via increasing mouse gut dysbiosis. Meanwhile, increased level of ceramide correlated with the significant enhancements of both β-catenin activity and colorectal tumorigenesis in a TLR4-dependent fashion. Next, we found a direct binding of β-catenin to SOAT1 promoter to activate transcriptional expression of SOAT1, which further induced cholesterol esterification and colorectal tumorigenesis. In human patients with CRC, the same CERS5/TLR4/β-catenin/SOAT1 axis was also found to be dysregulated. Finally, the SOAT1 inhibitor (avasimibe) showed significant levels of therapeutic effects on both AOM/DSS-induced and Apc^Min/+ spontaneous intestinal cancer. Our study clarified that ceramide promoted CRC development through increasing gut dysbiosis, further resulting in the increase of cholesterol esterification in a SOAT1-dependent way. Treatment with avasimibe to specifically decrease cholesterol esterification could be considered as a clinical strategy for effective CRC therapy in a future study.

LINC00265 promotes the viability, proliferation, and migration of bladder cancer cells via the miR-4677-3p/FGF6 axis

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BCa) is a common genitourinary malignancy with higher incidence in males. Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 265 (LINC00265) is identified as an oncogene in many malignancies, while its role in BCa development remains unknown.

PURPOSE

To explore the functions and mechanism of LINC00265 in BCa.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to examine LINC00265 expression in BCa cells. Cell counting kit-8 assays, colony formation assays, TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling assays, and Transwell assays were conducted to examine BCa cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. Luciferase reporter assays and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were carried out to explore the binding capacity between miR-4677-3p and messenger RNA fibroblast growth factor 6 (FGF6) (or LINC00265). Xenograft tumor model was established to explore the role of LINC00265 in vivo.

RESULTS

LINC00265 was highly expressed in BCa cells. LINC00265 knockdown inhibited xenograft tumor growth and BCa cell viability, proliferation and migration while enhancing cell apoptosis. Moreover, LINC00265 interacted with miR-4677-3p to upregulate the expression of FGF6. FGF6 overexpression reversed the suppressive effect of LINC00265 knockdown on malignant phenotypes of BCa cells.

CONCLUSIONS

LINC00265 promotes the viability, proliferation, and migration of BCa cells by binding with miR-4677-3p to upregulate FGF6 expression.

Protein profiling reveals potential isomiR-associated cross-talks among RNAs in cholangiocarcinoma

•

Protein profiling identified crucial genes that were used to screen related ncRNAs.

•

Both miRNAs and isomiRs were involved in coding-non-coding RNA regulatory network.

•

IsomiR-associated ceRNA networks implied the complex interactions among RNAs.

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are tumors that arise from the cholangiocytes. Although some genes have been shown with important roles in pathological process, interactions or cross-talks among different RNAs are important to understand the detailed molecular mechanisms in cancer development, especially discussing cross-talks among isomiRs and other RNAs. Herein, to characterize crucial genes in CCA, the protein expression profile was performed to survey potential crucial mRNAs and related non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in mRNA-ncRNA network, mainly including miRNAs/isomiRs and lncRNAs. Deregulated mRNAs were firstly obtained if consistent expression patterns were found at protein and mRNA levels, and related miRNAs/isomiRs were screened according to regulatory relationships. Diverse isomiRs from a given miRNA locus also contributed to interactions between the small RNAs and target mRNAs, and miRNAs were further used to survey related lncRNAs to expand the interactions. Thus, several groups of RNAs were constructed as candidate competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. Finally, we found that RAB11FIP1:miR-101-3p:MIR3142HG may be a potential ceRNA network, and the interactions among them may be more complex due to variety of isomiRs. Simultaneously, RAB11FIP1 and miR-194-5p were also detected other related lncRNAs (FBXL19-AS1, SNHG1 and PVT1) that may be crucial in coding-non-coding RNA regulatory network. Our results show that diverse isomiRs with sequence and expression heterogeneities contribute to ceRNA regulatory network that may have crucial roles in CCA, which will expand our understanding of interactions among diverse RNAs and their contributions in cancer development.

Lnc-RP11-536 K7.3/SOX2/HIF-1α signaling axis regulates oxaliplatin resistance in patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids

Background

Resistance to oxaliplatin is a major obstacle for the management of locally advanced and metastatic colon cancer (CC). Although long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in CC, the relationships between lncRNAs and resistance to oxaliplatin have been poorly understood yet.

Methods

Chemo-sensitive and chemo-resistant organoids were established from colon cancer tissues of the oxaliplatin-sensitive or -resistant patients. Analysis of the patient cohort indicated that lnc-RP11-536 K7.3 had a potential oncogenic role in CC. Further, a series of functional in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to assess the effects of lnc-RP11-536 K7.3 on CC proliferation, glycolysis, and angiogenesis. RNA pull-down assay, luciferase reporter and fluorescent in situ hybridization assays were used to confirm the interactions between lnc-RP11-536 K7.3, SOX2 and their downstream target HIF-1α.

Results

In this study, we identified a novel lncRNA, lnc-RP11-536 K7.3, was associated with resistance to oxaliplatin and predicted a poor survival. Knockout of lnc-RP11-536 K7.3 inhibited the proliferation, glycolysis, and angiogenesis, whereas enhanced chemosensitivity in chemo-resistant organoids and CC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that lnc-RP11-536 K7.3 recruited SOX2 to transcriptionally activate USP7 mRNA expression. The accumulative USP7 resulted in deubiquitylation and stabilization of HIF-1α, thereby facilitating resistance to oxaliplatin.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our findings indicated that lnc-RP11-536 K7.3 could promote proliferation, glycolysis, angiogenesis, and chemo-resistance in CC by SOX2/USP7/HIF-1α signaling axis. This revealed a new insight into how lncRNA could regulate chemosensitivity and provide a potential therapeutic target for reversing resistance to oxaliplatin in the management of CC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-02143-x.

A novel lncRNA-mRNA-miRNA signature predicts recurrence and disease-free survival in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) patients have a poor prognosis due to the high recurrence rate. However, there are still no effective molecular signatures to predict the recurrence and survival rates for CC patients. Here, we aimed to identify a novel signature based on three types of RNAs [messenger RNA (mRNAs), microRNA (miRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)]. A total of 763 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs), 46 lncRNAs (DELs), and 22 miRNAs (DEMis) were identified between recurrent and non-recurrent CC patients using the datasets collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE44001; training) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (RNA- and miRNA-sequencing; testing) databases. A competing endogenous RNA network was constructed based on 23 DELs, 15 DEMis, and 426 DEMs, in which 15 DELs, 13 DEMis, and 390 DEMs were significantly associated with disease-free survival (DFS). A prognostic signature, containing two DELs (CD27-AS1, LINC00683), three DEMis (hsa-miR-146b, hsa-miR-1238, hsa-miR-4648), and seven DEMs (ARMC7, ATRX, FBLN5, GHR, MYLIP, OXCT1, RAB39A), was developed after LASSO analysis. The built risk score could effectively separate the recurrence rate and DFS of patients in the high- and low-risk groups. The accuracy of this risk score model for DFS prediction was better than that of the FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) staging (the area under receiver operating characteristic curve: training, 0.954 vs 0.501; testing, 0.882 vs 0.656; and C-index: training, 0.855 vs 0.539; testing, 0.711 vs 0.508). In conclusion, the high predictive accuracy of our signature for DFS indicated its potential clinical application value for CC patients.

MicroRNA-214-5p aggravates sepsis-related acute kidney injury in mice

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a devastating comorbidity in sepsis and correlates with a very poor prognosis and increased mortality. Currently, we use lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish sepsis-related AKI and try to demonstrate the pathophysiological role of microRNA-214-5p (miR-214-5p) in this process. Mice were intravenously injected with the miR-214-5p agomir, antagomir or negative controls for three consecutive days and then received a single intraperitoneal injection of LPS (10 mg/kg) for 24 h to induce AKI. Besides, the Boston University mouse proximal tubular cell lines were stimulated with LPS (10 μg/ml) for 8 h to investigate the role of miR-214-5p in vitro. To inhibit adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), compound C (CpC) was used in vivo. For glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) silence, cells were transfected with the small interfering RNA against GLP-1R. miR-214-5p level was upregulated in LPS-treated kidneys and proximal tubular cell lines. The miR-214-5p antagomir reduced LPS-induced renal inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby preventing renal damage and dysfunction. In contrast, the miR-214-5p agomir aggravated LPS-induced inflammation, oxidative stress and AKI in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, we found that the miR-214-5p antagomir prevented septic AKI via activating AMPK and that CpC treatment completely abrogated its renoprotective effect in mice. Further detection showed that miR-214-5p directly bound to the 3'-untranslational region of GLP-1R to inhibit GLP-1R/AMPK axis. Our data identify miR-214-5p as a promising therapeutic candidate to treat sepsis-related AKI.

LINC00265 maintains hepatocyte proliferation during liver regeneration by targeting miRNA-28-5p

Long noncoding RNAs have been implicated in many biological processes, but their roles in liver regeneration still need to be illustrated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of LINC00265 as a pivotal regulator of hepatocyte proliferation during liver regeneration. It was found that LINC00265 is significantly upregulated in rat liver tissues at various time points after 2/3 liver resection. LINC00265 knockdown inhibited hepatocyte proliferation, induced cell apoptosis and led to G2/M phase cell cycle arrestment. In rats subjected to surgery, LINC00265 knockdown decreased liver/body weight ratio, attenuated improvement from liver damage and reduced Ki67 and PCNA expression. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-28-5p was a direct target of LINC00265, and inhibition of miR-28-5p abolished the effect of LINC00265 knockdown. In summary, LINC00265 might maintain hepatocyte proliferation by targeting miR-28-5p during liver regeneration and should be considered as a promising therapeutic option for hepatocyte regeneration after liver resection.

Comprehensive molecular and clinical characterization of SLC1A5 in human cancers

Although SLC1A5 has been reported to be closely associated with some cancer types, a comprehensive and systematic assessment of SLC1A5 across human cancers is lacking. Thus, Pan-cancer analysis of SLC1A5 was performed across 30 types of human cancers in this study. We examined mRNA expression, protein expression, copy number variation (CNV), DNA methylation, clinical relevance, cell functions, drug response and total immune infiltrates of SLC1A5 in more than 9000 patients across 30 human cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Additionally, nine independent Gene Expression Omnibus datasets, more than 800 cancer cell lines from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia dataset and the Project Achilles dataset were used to validate our findings in the TCGA dataset. Landscapes of SLC1A5 were established across multiple cancers. We showed that SLC1A5 is upregulated in multiple cancers, particularly in digestive and respiratory system cancers. SLC1A5 upregulation may be driven by CNV gain and DNA hypomethylation in human cancers. Furthermore, SLC1A5 overexpression is associated with tumor progression and poor survival in multiple cancers. Moreover, we systematically explored the potential effects of SLC1A5 expression on cell functions and drug response in human cancers. SLC1A5 knockdown showed significant proliferation-inhibiting effects in most human cancer types, especially in the digestive system and KRAS-mutant cancers. SLC1A5 expression is associated with proliferation activities of KRAS-mutant cancer cell lines and drug response of many anti-cancer drugs. Finally, we demonstrated that SLC1A5-realted tumor immune microenvironment characteristics showed strong heterogeneity in human cancers. Taken together, our findings highlight the important roles of SLC1A5 in tumorigenesis, progression, prognosis and therapy.

Long intergenic noncoding RNA00265 promotes proliferation of gastric cancer via the microRNA-144-3p/Chromobox 4 axis

The expression and biological function of long intergenic noncoding RNA00265 (LINC00265) in gastric cancer (GC) have not yet been explored. This study aimed to detect LINC00265 expression in GC tissues and cell lines, investigate its roles in the proliferation of GC cells in vitro, and elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of LINC00265 action. It was found that LINC00265 expression was significantly upregulated in GC tissue samples and cell lines compared with their normal counterparts. Additionally, LINC00265 knockdown could inhibit GC cell proliferation in vitro. Further investigation revealed that LINC00265 acted as a competing endogenous RNA for microRNA-144-3p (miR-144-3p) and inhibition of miR-144-3p markedly counteracted LINC00265 knockdown-meditated suppression on GC cell proliferation. Additionally, Chromobox 4 (CBX4) was upregulated in GC and silencing CBX4 could reduce GC cell proliferation. Then, CBX4 mRNA was demonstrated to be a direct target of miR-144-3p in GC cells and LINC00265/miR-144-3p axis could regulate CBX4 expression. Taken together, LINC00265 may promote GC cell proliferation via the miR-144-3p/CBX4 axis.

Oncogenic lncRNA ZNF561-AS1 is essential for colorectal cancer proliferation and survival through regulation of miR-26a-3p/miR-128-5p-SRSF6 axis

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are reported to influence colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. Currently, the functions of the lncRNA ZNF561 antisense RNA 1 (ZNF561-AS1) in CRC are unknown.

Methods

ZNF561-AS1 and SRSF6 expression in CRC patient samples and CRC cell lines was evaluated through TCGA database analysis, western blot along with real-time PCR. SRSF6 expression in CRC cells was also examined upon ZNF561-AS1 depletion or overexpression. Interaction between miR-26a-3p, miR-128-5p, ZNF561-AS1, and SRSF6 was examined by dual luciferase reporter assay, as well as RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) mediated knockdown experiments were performed to assess the role of ZNF561-AS1 and SRSF6 in the proliferative actives and apoptosis rate of CRC cells. A mouse xenograft model was employed to assess tumor growth upon ZNF561-AS1 knockdown and SRSF6 rescue.

Results

We find that ZNF561-AS1 and SRSF6 were upregulated in CRC patient tissues. ZNF561-AS1 expression was reduced in tissues from treated CRC patients but upregulated in CRC tissues from relapsed patients. SRSF6 expression was suppressed and enhanced by ZNF561-AS1 depletion and overexpression, respectively. Mechanistically, ZNF561-AS1 regulated SRSF6 expression by sponging miR-26a-3p and miR-128-5p. ZNF561-AS1-miR-26a-3p/miR-128-5p-SRSF6 axis was required for CRC proliferation and survival. ZNF561-AS1 knockdown suppressed CRC cell proliferation and triggered apoptosis. ZNF561-AS1 depletion suppressed the growth of tumors in a model of a nude mouse xenograft. Similar observations were made upon SRSF6 depletion. SRSF6 overexpression reversed the inhibitory activities of ZNF561-AS1 in vivo, as well as in vitro.

Conclusion

In summary, we find that ZNF561-AS1 promotes CRC progression via the miR-26a-3p/miR-128-5p-SRSF6 axis. This study reveals new perspectives into the role of ZNF561-AS1 in CRC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-01882-1.

LINC01106 drives colorectal cancer growth and stemness through a positive feedback loop to regulate the Gli family factors

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are essential contributors to the progression of various human cancers. Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1106 is a member of lncRNAs family. Until now, the specific role of LINC01106 in CRC remains undefined. The aim the current study was to unveil the functions of LINC01106 and explore its potential molecular mechanism in CRC. Based on the data of online database GEPIA, we determined that LINC01106 was expressed at a high level in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) tissues compared to normal colon tissues. More importantly, high level of LINC01106 had negative correlation with the overall survival of COAD patients. Additionally, we also determined the low level of LINC01106 in normal colon tissues based on UCSC database. Through qRT-PCR, we identified that LINC01106 was highly expressed in CRC tissues compared to adjacent normal ones. Similarly, we detected the expression of LINC01106 and confirmed that LINC01106 was expressed higher in CRC cells than that in normal cells. Subsequently, LINC01106 was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. LINC01106 induced the proliferation, migration, and stem-like phenotype of CRC cells. Mechanistically, cytoplasmic LINC01106 positively modulated Gli4 in CRC cells by serving as a miR-449b-5p sponge. Furthermore, nuclear LINC01106 could activate the transcription of Gli1 and Gli2 through recruiting FUS to Gli1 and Gli2 promoters. Mechanism of investigation unveiled that Gli2 was a transcription activator of LINC01106. In conclusion, Gli2-induced upregulation of LINC01106 aggravates CRC progression through upregulating Gli2, Gli2, and Gli4.