LncRNA LINC00473 is involved in the progression of invasive pituitary adenoma by upregulating KMT5A via ceRNA-mediated miR-502-3p evasion

Glycolysis‑related lncRNA may be associated with prognosis and immune activity in grade II‑III glioma

Glucose metabolism, as a novel theory to explain tumor cell behavior, has been intensively studied in various tumors. The present study explored the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) related to glycolysis in grade II-III glioma, aiming to provide a promising target for further research. Pearson correlation analysis was used to identify glycolysis-related lncRNAs. Univariate/multivariate Cox regression analysis and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator algorithm were applied to identify glycolysis-related lncRNAs to construct a prognosis prediction model. Subsequently, multi-dimensional evaluations were used to verify whether the risk model could predict the prognosis and survival rate of patients with grade II-III glioma. Finally, it was verified by functional experiments. The present study finally identified seven glycolysis-related lncRNAs (CRNDE, AC022034.1, RHOQ-AS1, AL159169.2, AL133215.2, AC007098.1 and LINC02587) to construct a prognosis prediction model. The present study further investigated the underlying immune microenvironment, somatic landscape and functional enrichment pathways. Additionally, individualized immunotherapeutic strategies and candidate compounds were identified to guide clinical treatment. The experimental results demonstrated that CRNDE could increase the proliferation of SHG-44 cells. In conclusion, a large sample of human grade II-III glioma in The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to construct a risk model using glycolysis-related lncRNAs to predict the prognosis of patients with grade II-III glioma.

Transcriptomic Profiling of Lactotroph Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors via RNA Sequencing and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Lactotroph pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are common pituitary tumors, but their underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the transcriptomic landscape of lactotroph PitNETs and identify potential molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets through RNA sequencing and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA).

METHODS

Lactotroph PitNET tissues from five surgical cases without dopamine agonist treatment underwent RNA sequencing. Normal pituitary tissues from 3 patients served as controls. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and the functional pathways and gene networks were explored by IPA.

RESULTS

Transcriptome analysis revealed that lactotroph PitNETs had gene expression patterns that were distinct from normal pituitary tissues. We identified 1,172 upregulated DEGs, including nine long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) belonging to the top 30 DEGs. IPA of the upregulated DEGs showed that the estrogen receptor signaling, oxidative phosphorylation signaling, and EIF signaling were activated. In gene network analysis, key upstream regulators, such as EGR1, PRKACA, PITX2, CREB1, and JUND, may play critical roles in lactotroph PitNETs.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a comprehensive transcriptomic profile of lactotroph PitNETs and highlights the potential involvement of lincRNAs and specific signaling pathways in tumor pathogenesis. The identified upstream regulators may be potential therapeutic targets for future investigations.

Lysine Methyltransferase 5A Promotes the Progression of Growth Hormone Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors through the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

INTRODUCTION

Growth hormone (GH) secreting pituitary adenoma is considered one of the most harmful types of Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors (PitNETs). Our previous research has found that high expression of Lysine methyltransferase 5A (KMT5A) is closely related to the proliferation of PitNETs. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of KMT5A in the progression of GH PitNETs.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and Western blot (WB) were used to assess the expression levels of KMT5A in human normal pituitary and GH PitNETs, as well as in rat normal pituitary and GH3 cells. Additionally, we utilized RNA interference technology and treatment with a selective KMT5A inhibitor to decrease the expression of KMT5A in GH3 cells. CCK-8, EdU, flow cytometry (FCM), clone formation, and WB assay were further employed to evaluate the impact of KMT5A on the proliferation of GH3 cells in vitro. A xenograft model was established to evaluate the role of KMT5A in GH PitNETs progression in vivo.

RESULTS

KMT5A was highly expressed in GH PitNETs and GH3 cells. Moreover, the reduction of KMT5A expression led to inhibited growth of GH PitNETs and increased apoptosis of tumor cells, as indicated by the findings from CCK-8, EdU, clone formation, and FCM assays. Additionally, WB analysis identified the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway as a potential mechanism through which KMT5A promotes GH PitNETs progression.

CONCLUSION

Our research suggests that KMT5A may facilitate the progression of GH PitNETs via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, KMT5A may serve as a potential therapeutic target and molecular biomarker for GH PitNETs.

Regulation of long noncoding RNAs in the pathogenesis and clinical implications of pituitary adenomas

BACKGROUND

Pituitary adenoma (PA) is a type of tumor that develops in the sella turcica and is one of the most frequent intracranial tumors. It belongs to a type of adenoma derived from a single clone of cells in the pituitary gland. PA ranks third among all intracranial tumors, following only gliomas and meningioma. The average prevalence rate is approximately 15% at autopsy and 22.5% at radiological examinations.

OBJECTIVE AND SIGNIFICANCE

Most PAs are benign and non-invasive adenomas that can be removed surgically or controlled with medication. However, approximately 35% of them show invasion into nearby anatomical structures and cannot be completely resected. 0.1%~0.2% of PA cases eventually develop into pituitary carcinomas. Additionally, PA may cause severe morbidity due to mass effects and the disorder of pituitary hormone secretion. Therefore, there is an urgent need to clarify the pathological mechanism of PA, improve the accuracy of diagnosis, and develop targeted therapies.

RESEARCH STATUS

Although current knowledge about the pathogenesis of PA remains limited, epigenetic modulation of PA has been increasingly implicated. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally and exert substantial roles in the initiation, progression, or suppression of various tumors. Accumulating evidence has shown close relationships between lncRNA dysregulation and PA development.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights recent progress in the study of lncRNAs in PA pathogenesis and their potential as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets for PA patients.

Prognostic value and immunological roles of GPX3 in gastric cancer

Objective: The prognosis for gastric cancer (GC), a prevalent tumor of the digestive system, is unfavorable. The involvement of glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3) in tumorigenesis is significant, yet its specific role in GC remains insufficiently investigated. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the potential impact of GPX3 on GC and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Methods: The expression and survival of GPX3 in GC were analyzed using TCGA data. Additionally, the GPX3 mRNA and protein levels in GC were also assessed using datasets from GTEx, GEPIA, and HPA. A total of 38 pairs of GC tissues, along with their adjacent normal tissues, were collected from the Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, accompanied by detailed clinical information. The expression levels of GPX3 were subsequently determined for the purpose of validation. Following expression, correlation, and survival analyses, we proceeded to investigate the upstream non-coding RNA (ncRNA) of GPX3 using starBase and miRNet. Additionally, the co-expression networks of GPX3 were examined based on LinkedOmics. Lastly, we explored the correlation between GPX3 and immune cell infiltration, as well as the biomarkers of immune cells and immune checkpoints in GC. Furthermore, the GDSC database offered valuable drug sensitivity information. Results: A lower expression of GPX3 was observed in individuals with GC, while a higher expression of GPX3 was associated with a poorer prognosis. The DUBR/hsa-miR-502-3p/GPX3 pathway was identified as the most promising upstream ncRNA pathway related to GPX3 in GC. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that GPX3 expression was linked to coagulation cascades and cell locomotion. Furthermore, GPX3 levels in GC were positively correlated with immune cell infiltration, immune cell biomarkers, and immune checkpoint expression. The group with low GPX3 expression also exhibited increased sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and other drugs. Conclusions: Collectively, we hypothesized that the potential involvement of non-coding RNAs in the downregulation of GPX3 could contribute to the inhibition of tumor formation during the malignant transition from gastritis to GC. Nevertheless, it was plausible that GPX3 may also facilitate tumor progression to advanced stages by promoting immune cell infiltration and activating immune checkpoints.

Role of MicroRNA-502-3p in Human Diseases

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that play a major role in gene regulation in several diseases. MicroRNA-502-3p (MiR-502-3p) has been previously characterized in a variety of human diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, tuberculosis, cancers, and neurological disorders. Our studies recently explored the new role of miR-502-3p in regulating synapse function in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is the most common cause of dementia in elderly individuals. Synapse is the initial target that is hit during AD progression. The most common causes of synapse dysfunction in AD are amyloid beta, hyperphosphorylated tau, and microglia activation. MiR-502-3p was found to be localized and overexpressed in the AD synapses. Overexpression of miR-502-3p was correlated with AD severity in terms of Braak stages. Studies have shown that miR-502-3p modulates the glutaminergic and GABAergic synapse function in AD. The current study’s emphasis is to discuss the in-depth roles of miR-502-3p in human diseases and AD and the future possibilities concerning miR-502-3p as a therapeutic for AD treatment.

The hallmarks of cancer… in pituitary tumors?

Over 20 years ago, Hanahan and Weinberg published a seminal review that addressed the biological processes that underly malignant transformation. This classical review, along with two revisions published in 2011 and 2022, has remain a classic of the oncology literature. Since many of the addressed biological processes may apply to non-malignant tumorigenesis, we evaluated to what extent these hallmarks pertain to the development of pituitary adenomas.Some of the biological processes analyzed in this review include genome instability generated by somatic USP8 and GNAS mutations in Cushing's diseases and acromegaly respectively; non-mutational epigenetic reprograming through changes in methylation; induction of angiogenesis through alterations of VEGF gene expression; promotion of proliferative signals mediated by EGFR; evasion of growth suppression by disrupting cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors; avoidance of immune destruction; and the promotion of inflammation mediated by alteration of gene expression of immune check points. We also elaborate further on the existence of oncogene induced senescence in pituitary tumors. We conclude that a better understanding of these processes can help us dilucidated why pituitary tumors are so resistant to malignant transformation and can potentially contribute to the development of novel anticancer treatments.

Transcriptome of GH-producing pituitary neuroendocrine tumours and models are significantly affected by somatostatin analogues

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNETs) are neoplasms of the pituitary that overproduce hormones or cause unspecific symptoms due to mass effect. Growth hormone overproducing GH-producing PitNETs cause acromegaly leading to connective tissue, metabolic or oncologic disorders. The medical treatment of acromegaly is somatostatin analogues (SSA) in specific cases combined with dopamine agonists (DA), but almost half of patients display partial or full SSA resistance and potential causes of this are unknown. In this study we investigated transcriptomic landscape of GH-producing PitNETs on several levels and functional models-tumour tissue of patients with and without SSA preoperative treatment, tumour derived pituispheres and GH3 cell line incubated with SSA to study effect of medication on gene expression. MGI sequencing platform was used to sequence total RNA from PitNET tissue, pituispheres, mesenchymal stromal stem-like cells (MSC), and GH3 cell cultures, and data were analysed with Salmon-DeSeq2 pipeline. We observed that the GH-producing PitNETs have distinct changes in growth hormone related pathways related to its functional status alongside inner cell signalling, ion transport, cell adhesion and extracellular matrix characteristic patterns. In pituispheres model, treatment regimens (octreotide and cabergoline) affect specific cell proliferation (MKI67) and core functionality pathways (RYR2, COL8A2, HLA-G, ARFGAP1, TGFBR2). In GH3 cells we observed that medication did not have transcriptomic effects similar to preoperative treatment in PitNET tissue or pituisphere model. This study highlights the importance of correct model system selection for cell transcriptomic profiling and data interpretation that could be achieved in future by incorporating NGS methods and detailed cell omics profiling in PitNET model research.

FOXO1-Induced miR-502-3p Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth through Targeting CDK6

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common tumor of the digestive system and the third most common tumor worldwide. To date, the prognosis of CRC patients remains poor. It is urgent to identify new therapeutic targets for CRC. As a tumor suppresser, microRNA (miRNA) miR-502-5p is downregulated in CRC tissues. Nevertheless, the role of miR-502-3p in CRC is largely unclear. Besides, the transcript factor forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) could suppress the CRC cell growth. However, the effect of FOXO1 on miR-502-3p in CRC remains unknown. By contrast, cyclin-dependent kinases 6 (CDK6) promotes the CRC cell growth. Yet the regulatory effect of miR-502-3p on CDK6 in CRC has not been reported. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to investigate whether FOXO1 enhanced miR-502-3p expression to suppress the CRC cell growth by targeting CDK6. Here, RNA level and protein level were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot (WB), respectively. Besides, the cell growth was detected by Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) assay. Moreover, the regulatory effect of FOXO1 on miR-502-3p or miR-502-3p on CDK6 was determined using dual-luciferase reporter gene (DLR) assay. Results revealed that miR-502-3p and FOXO1 were downregulated in CRC cells. Besides, miR-502-3p suppressed the CRC cell growth. Moreover, FOXO1 could increase the miR-502-3p level through facilitating MIR502 transcription in CRC cells. In addition, miR-502-3p could suppress the CRC cell growth by targeting CDK6. These findings indicated that FOXO1 induced miR-502-3p expression to suppress the CRC cell growth through targeting CDK6, which might provide new therapeutic targets for CRC.

Exosomal RNAs in the development and treatment of pituitary adenomas

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that carry various bioactive molecules including various RNAs that modulate the activities of recipient cells. It has drawn considerable attention as means of cell communication and drug delivery. Exosome plays important role in various tumors, but it is rarely summarized in pituitary adenoma (PA). PA is the second most common primary central nervous system tumor, and its recurrence and persistent postoperative hormone hypersecretion lead to compromised quality of life. How exactly exosomes impact tumor development and hormone secretion is important for the development of this tumor diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we discuss how exosomal RNAs impact PAs and their potential as future clinical therapies. In our literature review, first, we found that exosomal microRNA hsa-miR-1180-3p is a potential early biomarker for NFPAs. Since NFPAs are typically difficult to diagnose, this is an especially important finding. Second, exosomal protein transcripts are potential invasive biomarker, such as MMP1, N-cadherin, CDK6, RHOU, INSM1, and RASSF10. Third, exosomal contents such as hsa-miR-21-5p promote distant bone formation of GHPA patients. Fourth, tumor suppressors in the exosome constitute novel therapeutic application of exosome, including long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) H19, miR-149-5p, miR-99a-3p, and miR-423-5p. This review discusses the possible mechanisms of exosome and their contents in PA and promotes the use of exosomes in both clinical diagnosis and treatment of this tumor.

Emerging Roles of miRNA, lncRNA, circRNA, and Their Cross-Talk in Pituitary Adenoma

Pituitary adenoma (PA) is a common intracranial tumor without specific biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA), regulate a variety of cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Increasing studies have shown that the dysregulation of ncRNAs, especially the cross-talk between lncRNA/circRNA and miRNA, is related to the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis of PA. Therefore, ncRNAs can be considered as promising biomarkers for PA. In this review, we summarize the roles of ncRNAs from different specimens (i.e., tissues, biofluids, cells, and exosomes) in multiple subtypes of PA and highlight important advances in understanding the contribution of the cross-talk between ncRNAs (e.g., competing endogenous RNAs) to PA disease.

Alterations of the Gut Microbiome in Patients With Pituitary Adenoma

Pituitary adenoma (PA) includes invasive pituitary adenoma (IPA) and noninvasive pituitary adenoma (NIPA), which are associated with the endocrine system. The gut microbiome plays an important role in human metabolism, but the association between the gut microbiome and pituitary adenoma remains unclear. A total of 44 subjects were enrolled in this study. Of these, 29 PA patients were further divided into IPA patients (n = 13) and NIPA patients (n = 16), while 15 healthy age-matched subjects were defined as control subjects. We collected faecal samples and characterized the gut microbial profiles by metagenomic sequencing using the Illumina X-ten platform. PLS-DA showed different microbial clusters among the three groups, and slightly different microbial ecological networks were observed. LEfSe analysis revealed significant alterations in the microbial community among PA patients. In particular, the enrichment of Clostridium innocuum, along with the reduced abundance of Oscillibacter sp. 57_20 and Fusobacterium mortiferum, were observed both in the IPA and NIPA groups compared to the control group. Moreover, PA patients could be effectively classified based on these bacteria using a support vector machine algorithm. In summary, this study demonstrated significant differences in the gut microbiome between PA patients and healthy controls. Future mechanistic experiments are needed to determine whether such alterations are a cause or consequence of pituitary adenoma.

CASC1 Expression in Bladder Cancer Is Regulated by Exosomal miRNA-150: A Comprehensive Pan-Cancer and Bioinformatics Study

This study explored the role of cancer susceptibility 1 (CASC1) in tumorigenesis and development as well as the key pathways affecting bladder cancer progression. CASC1 was examined in various normal tissues in humans using the HPA database to quantify its expression level and subcellular localization. CASC1 is abundantly expressed in tumor tissues, primarily in cytoplasmic vesicles and stroma. TIMER2 was used to analyze the correlation between CASC1 expression levels and the types of infiltrates associated with immune cells and immunosuppressive cells. MDSC, Treg, M2, and CAF were significantly correlated with CASC1 expression in various tumors. Comparing patients with and without CASC1 mutation, those with CASC1 mutation had worse overall survival, progression-free survival, and disease-free survival. The correlation between has-miR-150 and CASC1 (for the case of bladder cancer) was then analyzed, and the related ceRNA network was mapped. A negative relationship between CASC1 expression and has-miR-150 expression was found in cases of bladder cancer. And the presence of miR-150-targeted CASC1 may be associated with bladder cancer progression. CASC1 is expressed at elevated levels in various tumor tissues, and it is associated with tumorigenesis and development. Exosomes containing miR-150-targeted CASC1 may affect the progression of bladder cancer.

lncRNA–mRNA Expression Patterns in Invasive Pituitary Adenomas: A Microarray Analysis

Background. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the tumorigenesis and progression of various cancer types; however, their roles in the development of invasive pituitary adenomas (PAs) remain to be investigated. Methods. lncRNA microarray analysis was performed for three invasive and three noninvasive PAs. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were performed, and coexpression networks between lncRNA and mRNA were constructed. Furthermore, three differentially expressed lncRNAs were selected for validation in PA samples by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The diagnostic values of these three lncRNAs were further evaluated by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results. A total of 8872 lncRNAs were identified in invasive and paired noninvasive PAs via lncRNA microarray analysis. Among these, the differentially expressed lncRNAs included 81 that were upregulated and 165 that were downregulated. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis showed that these differentially expressed lncRNAs were associated with the posttranslational modifications of proteins. Furthermore, we performed target gene prediction and coexpression analysis. The interrelationships between the significantly differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were identified. Additionally, three differentially expressed lncRNAs were selected for validation in 41 PA samples by qRT-PCR. The expression levels of FAM182B, LOC105371531, and LOC105375785 were significantly lower in the invasive PAs than in the noninvasive PAs ( $P<0.05$ ). These results were consistent with the microarray data. ROC curve analysis suggested that the expression levels of FAM182B and LOC105375785 could be used to distinguish invasive PAs from noninvasive PAs. Conclusion. Our findings demonstrated the expression patterns of lncRNAs in invasive PAs. FAM182B and LOC105375785 may be involved in the invasiveness of PAs and serve as new candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis of invasive PAs.

The Emerging Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Pituitary Gland Tumors and Meningioma

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding transcripts which are involved in the pathogenesis of pituitary gland tumors. LncRNAs that participate in the pathogenesis of pituitary gland tumors mainly serve as sponges for miRNAs. CLRN1-AS1/miR-217, XIST/miR-424-5p, H19/miR-93a, LINC00473/miR-502-3p, SNHG7/miR-449a, MEG8/miR-454-3p, MEG3/miR-23b-3p, MEG3/miR-376B-3P, SNHG6/miR-944, PCAT6/miR-139-3p, lncRNA-m433s1/miR-433, TUG1/miR-187-3p, SNHG1/miR-187-3p, SNHG1/miR-302, SNHG1/miR-372, SNHG1/miR-373, and SNHG1/miR-520 are identified lncRNA/miRNA pairs that are involved in this process. Hsa_circ_0001368 and circOMA1 are two examples of circRNAs that contribute to the pathogenesis of pituitary gland tumors. Meanwhile, SNHG1, LINC00702, LINC00460, and MEG3 have been found to partake in the pathogenesis of meningioma. In the current review, we describe the role of non-coding RNAs in two types of brain tumors, i.e., pituitary tumors and meningioma.

Advances in Non-Coding RNA Sequencing

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) comprise a set of abundant and functionally diverse RNA molecules. Since the discovery of the first ncRNA in the 1960s, ncRNAs have been shown to be involved in nearly all steps of the central dogma of molecular biology. In recent years, the pace of discovery of novel ncRNAs and their cellular roles has been greatly accelerated by high-throughput sequencing. Advances in sequencing technology, library preparation protocols as well as computational biology helped to greatly expand our knowledge of which ncRNAs exist throughout the kingdoms of life. Moreover, RNA sequencing revealed crucial roles of many ncRNAs in human health and disease. In this review, we discuss the most recent methodological advancements in the rapidly evolving field of high-throughput sequencing and how it has greatly expanded our understanding of ncRNA biology across a large number of different organisms.

Evolving Landscape of Long Non-coding RNAs in Cerebrospinal Fluid: A Key Role From Diagnosis to Therapy in Brain Tumors

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a type of non-coding RNAs that act as molecular fingerprints and modulators of many pathophysiological processes, particularly in cancer. Specifically, lncRNAs can be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of brain tumors, affecting stemness/differentiation, replication, invasion, survival, DNA damage response, and chromatin dynamics. Furthermore, the aberrations in the expressions of these transcripts can promote treatment resistance, leading to tumor recurrence. The development of next-generation sequencing technologies and the creation of lncRNA-specific microarrays have boosted the study of lncRNA etiology. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) directly mirrors the biological fluid of biochemical processes in the brain. It can be enriched for small molecules, peptides, or proteins released by the neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) or immune cells. Therefore, strategies that identify and target CSF lncRNAs may be attractive as early diagnostic and therapeutic options. In this review, we have reviewed the studies on CSF lncRNAs in the context of brain tumor pathogenesis and progression and discuss their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.