Targeting the Lnc-OPHN1-5/androgen receptor/hnRNPA1 complex increases Enzalutamide sensitivity to better suppress prostate cancer progression

Whole-Genome Resequencing Reveals Selection Signal Related to Sheep Wool Fineness

Wool fineness affects the quality of wool, and some studies have identified about forty candidate genes that affect sheep wool fineness, but these genes often reveal only a certain proportion of the variation in wool thickness. We further explore additional genes associated with the fineness of sheep wool. Whole-genome resequencing of eight sheep breeds was performed to reveal selection signals associated with wool fineness, including four coarse wool and four fine/semi-fine wool sheep breeds. Multiple methods to reveal selection signals (Fst and θπ Ratio and XP-EHH) were applied for sheep wool fineness traits. In total, 269 and 319 genes were annotated in the fine wool (F vs. C) group and the coarse wool (C vs. F) group, such as LGR4, PIK3CA, and SEMA3C and NFIB, OPHN1, and THADA. In F vs. C, 269 genes were enriched in 15 significant GO Terms (p < 0.05) and 38 significant KEGG Pathways (p < 0.05), such as protein localization to plasma membrane (GO: 0072659) and Inositol phosphate metabolism (oas 00562). In C vs. F, 319 genes were enriched in 21 GO Terms (p < 0.05) and 16 KEGG Pathways (p < 0.05), such as negative regulation of focal adhesion assembly (GO: 0051895) and Axon guidance (oas 04360). Our study has uncovered genomic information pertaining to significant traits in sheep and has identified valuable candidate genes. This will pave the way for subsequent investigations into related traits.

Non-coding RNAs in enzalutamide resistance of castration-resistant prostate cancer

Enzalutamide (Enz) is a next-generation androgen receptor (AR) antagonist used to treat castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Unfortunately, the relapsing nature of CRPC results in the development of Enz resistance in many patients. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are RNA molecules that do not encode proteins, which include microRNAs (miRNA), long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and other ncRNAs with known and unknown functions. Recently, dysregulation of ncRNAs in CRPC, particularly their regulatory function in drug resistance, has attracted more and more attention. Herein, we introduce the roles of dysregulation of different ncRNAs subclasses in the development of CRPC progression and Enz resistance. Recently determined mechanisms of Enz resistance are discussed, focusing mainly on the role of AR-splice variant-7 (AR-V7), mutations, circRNAs and lncRNAs that act as miRNA sponges. Also, the contributions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and glucose metabolism to Enz resistance are discussed. We summarize the different mechanisms of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in the progression of CRPC and Enz resistance, and highlight the prospect of future therapeutic strategies against Enz resistance.

LncRNA HOXA-AS2 Promotes Temozolomide Resistance in Glioblastoma by Regulated miR-302a-3p/IGF1 Axis

Background

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly prevalent brain tumor characterized by high rates of morbidity, recurrence, and mortality. While temozolomide (TMZ) is commonly used as a first-line treatment for this cancer, the emergence of TMZ resistance limits its utility. The long noncoding RNA HOXA-AS2 reportedly drives GBM progression, but whether it can influence therapeutic resistance to TMZ has yet to be established.

Methods

HOXA-AS2 expression was analyzed in TMZ-resistant and sensitive GBM tissue samples and cell lines by qPCR. A siRNA-based approach was used to knock down HOXA-AS2 in GBM cells, after which TMZ resistance was tested. Bioinformatics approaches were used to predict miRNA binding targets of HOXA-AS2, after which a series of luciferase reporter assay and rescue experiments with appropriate miRNA inhibitor/mimic constructs were performed to validate these predictions and to clarify the ability of HOXA-AS2 to regulate chemoresistant activity.

Results

TMZ-resistant GBM patients and cell lines exhibited increased HOXA-AS2 expression that was correlated with worse overall survival. Knocking down HOXA-AS2 increased the sensitivity of resistant GBM cells to TMZ. miR-302a-3p was identified as a HOXA-AS2 target confirmed through luciferase reporter assays and rescue experiments, and IGF1 was further identified as a confirmed miR-302a-3p target. In addition, HOXA-AS2 knockdown resulted in a corresponding drop in IGF1 expression consistent with indirect regulation mediated by miR-302a-3p.

Conclusion

In summary, these results highlight the role of HOXA-AS2 as a driver of TMZ resistance in GBM through its ability to regulate the miR-302a-3p/IGF1 signaling axis, highlighting this pathway as a promising target for the diagnosis, therapeutic sensitization, and/or treatment of affected patients.

Targeting the "undruggable": RNA-binding proteins in the spotlight in cancer therapy

Tumors refractory to conventional therapy belong to specific subpopulations of cancer cells, which have acquired a higher number of mutations/epigenetic changes than the majority of cancer cells. This property provides them the ability to become resistant to therapy. Aberrant expression of certain RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) can regulate the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs by binding to specific regions present in the 3´-UTR of certain mRNAs to promote or repress mRNA translation or by interacting with other proteins (including RBPs) and non-coding RNAs that are part of ribonucleoprotein complexes. In particular, an increasing interest in the RBPs involved in chemoresistance has recently emerged. In this review, we discuss how RBPs are not only affected by chemotherapeutic treatments, but also play an active role in therapeutic responses via the direct modulation of crucial cancer-related proteins. A special focus is being placed on the development of therapeutic strategies targeting these RBPs.

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A/B: an emerging group of cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A/B (hnRNPA/B) is one of the core members of the RNA binding protein (RBP) hnRNPs family, including four main subtypes, A0, A1, A2/B1 and A3, which share the similar structure and functions. With the advance in understanding the molecular biology of hnRNPA/B, it has been gradually revealed that hnRNPA/B plays a critical role in almost the entire steps of RNA life cycle and its aberrant expression and mutation have important effects on the occurrence and progression of various cancers. This review focuses on the clinical significance of hnRNPA/B in various cancers and systematically summarizes its biological function and molecular mechanisms.

The Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Related Signaling Pathways in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common male malignancies with frequent remote invasion and metastasis, leading to high mortality. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental process in embryonic development and plays a key role in tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Numerous long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) could regulate the occurrence and development of EMT through various complex molecular mechanisms involving multiple signaling pathways in PCa. Given the importance of EMT and lncRNAs in the progression of tumor metastasis, we recapitulate the research progress of EMT-related signaling pathways regulated by lncRNAs in PCa, including AR signaling, STAT3 signaling, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling, TGF-β/Smad and NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, we summarize four modes of how lncRNAs participate in the EMT process of PCa via regulating relevant signaling pathways.

SH3BP5-AS1/IGF2BP2/VDAC2 Axis Promotes the Apoptosis and Ferroptosis of Bladder Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor in the urinary system with a high incidence, imposing a burden on the healthcare system worldwide. The participation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in BC has attracted increasing attention. OBJECTIVE: The aim in the current study was to explore the potential mechanism involving SH3BP5-AS1 in modulating BC cell proliferation, apoptosis and ferroptosis. METHODS: qPCR and WB analysis measured the expression of RNAs and proteins. Functional and mechanism experiments were performed to investigate RNA impacts on cell proliferation, apoptosis and ferroptosis, and explore the correlation between RNA and protein expression. RESULTS: SH3BP5-AS1 was down-regulated in BC cells, and SH3BP5-AS1 overexpression could inhibit BC cell proliferation but facilitate the cell apoptosis. SH3BP5-AS1 was also found to facilitate the ferroptosis of BC cells. Additionally, SH3BP5-AS1 was confirmed to recruit IGF2BP2 to regulate VDAC2 expression in the m6A-dependent manner. VDAC2 was detected to be down-regulated in BC cells and was verified to inhibit BC cell growth. Moreover, it was indicated from rescue assays that SH3BP5-AS1 could modulate VDAC2 expression to promote the ferroptosis of BC cells. CONCLUSION: SH3BP5-AS1 could affect BC cell proliferation, apoptosis and ferroptosis via IGF2BP2/VDAC2, providing a novel molecular perspective for understanding BC.

Characterization of DNA methylation as well as mico-RNA expression and screening of epigenetic markers in adipogenesis

This study aimed to use bioinformatics methods to characterize epigenetic changes in terms of micro-RNA(miRNA) expression and DNA methylation during adipogenesis. The mRNA and miRNA expression microarray and DNA methylation dataset were obtained from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and differentially methylated probes (DMPs) were filtered using the limma package. The R language cluster profile package was used for functional and enrichment analysis. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING and visualized in Cytoscape. The Connection map (CMap) website tool was used to screen potential therapeutic drugs for adipogenesis. When comparing the early and late stages of adipogenesis, 111 low miRNA targeted upregulated genes and 64 high miRNA targeted downregulated genes were obtained, as well as 663 low-methylated high-expressed genes and 237 high-methylated low-expressed genes. In addition, 41 genes (24 upregulated and 17 downregulated) were simultaneously regulated by abnormal miRNA changes and DNA methylation. Ten chemicals were identified as putative therapeutics for adipogenesis. In addition, among the dual-regulated genes identified, CANX, HNRNPA1, MCL1, and PPIF may play key roles in the epigenetic regulation of adipogenesis and may serve as aberrant methylation or miRNA targeting biomarkers.

Interaction between Non-Coding RNAs and Androgen Receptor with an Especial Focus on Prostate Cancer

The androgen receptor (AR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily and has three functional domains, namely the N-terminal, DNA binding, and C-terminal domain. The N-terminal domain harbors potent transactivation functions, whereas the C-terminal domain binds to androgens and antiandrogens used to treat prostate cancer. AR has genomic activity being DNA binding-dependent or through interaction with other DNA-bound transcription factors, as well as a number of non-genomic, non-canonical functions, such as the activation of the ERK, AKT, and MAPK pathways. A bulk of evidence indicates that non-coding RNAs have functional interactions with AR. This type of interaction is implicated in the pathogenesis of human malignancies, particularly prostate cancer. In the current review, we summarize the available data on the role of microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs on the expression of AR and modulation of AR signaling, as well as the effects of AR on their expression. Recognition of the complicated interaction between non-coding RNAs and AR has practical importance in the design of novel treatment options, as well as modulation of response to conventional therapeutics.