Ghrelin intronic lncRNAs, lnc-GHRL-3:2 and lnc-GHRL-3:3, as novel biomarkers in type 2 diabetes mellitus

The Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Female Oriented Cancers

Recent advances in molecular biology have discovered the mysterious role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and targets for advanced cancer therapy. Studies have shown that lncRNAs take part in the incidence and development of cancers in humans. However, previously they were considered as mere RNA noise or transcription byproducts lacking any biological function. In this article, we present a summary of the progress on ascertaining the biological functions of five lncRNAs (HOTAIR, NEAT1, H19, MALAT1, and MEG3) in female-oriented cancers, including breast and gynecological cancers, with the perspective of carcinogenesis, cancer proliferation, and metastasis. We provide the current state of knowledge from the past five years of the literature to discuss the clinical importance of such lncRNAs as therapeutic targets or early diagnostic biomarkers. We reviewed the consequences, either oncogenic or tumor-suppressing features, of their aberrant expression in female-oriented cancers. We tried to explain the established mechanism by which they regulate cancer proliferation and metastasis by competing with miRNAs and other mechanisms involved via regulating genes and signaling pathways. In addition, we revealed the association between stated lncRNAs and chemo-resistance or radio-resistance and their potential clinical applications and future perspectives.

Noncoding RNAs and RNA-binding proteins in diabetic wound healing

Poor wound healing is a common complication in diabetic patients. It often leads to intractable infections and lower limb amputations and is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. NcRNAs, which can regulate gene expression, have emerged as important regulators of various physiological processes. Herein, we summarize the diverse roles of ncRNAs in the key stages of diabetic wound healing, including inflammation, angiogenesis, re-epithelialization, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Meanwhile, the potential use of ncRNAs as novel therapeutic targets for wound healing in diabetic patients is also discussed. In addition, we summarize the role of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in the regulation of gene expression and signaling pathways during skin repair, which may provide opportunities for therapeutic intervention for this potentially devastating disease. However, so far, research on the modulated drug based on ncRNAs that lead to significantly altered gene expression in diabetic patients is scarce. We have compiled some drugs that may be able to modulate ncRNAs, which significantly regulate the gene expression in diabetic patients.

Long non-coding RNAs in metabolic disorders: pathogenetic relevance and potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) could be associated with the incidence and development of metabolic disorders.

AIM

Accordingly, this narrative review described the molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in the development of metabolic diseases including insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cirrhosis, and coronary artery diseases (CAD). Furthermore, we investigated the up-to-date findings on the association of deregulated lncRNAs in the metabolic disorders, and potential use of lncRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

CONCLUSION

LncRNAs/miRNA/regulatory proteins axis plays a crucial role in progression of metabolic disorders and may be used in development of therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.

The prognostic value of an autophagy-related lncRNA signature in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

lncRNA may be involved in the occurrence, metastasis, and chemical reaction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through various pathways associated with autophagy. Therefore, it is urgent to reveal more autophagy-related lncRNAs, explore these lncRNAs’ clinical significance, and find new targeted treatment strategies.

Methods

The corresponding data of HCC patients and autophagy genes were obtained from the TCGA database, and the human autophagy database respectively. Based on the co-expression and Cox regression analysis to construct prognostic prediction signature.

Results

Finally, a signature containing seven autophagy-related lncRNAs (PRRT3-AS1, RP11-479G22.8, RP11-73M18.8, LINC01138, CTD-2510F5.4, CTC-297N7.9, RP11-324I22.4) was constructed. Based on the risk score of signature, Overall survival (OS) curves show that the OS of high-risk patients is significantly lower than that of low-risk patients (P = 2.292e−10), and the prognostic prediction accuracy of risk score (AUC = 0.786) is significantly higher than that of ALBI (0.532), child_pugh (0.573), AFP (0.5751), and AJCC_stage (0.631). Moreover, multivariate Cox analysis and Nomogram of risk score are indicated that the 1-year and 3-year survival rates of patients are obviously accuracy by the combined analysis of the risk score, child_pugh, age, M_stage, and Grade (The AUC of 1- and 3-years are 0.87, and 0.855). Remarkably, the 7 autophagy-related lncRNAs may participate in Spliceosome, Cell cycle, RNA transport, DNA replication, and mRNA surveillance pathway and be related to the biological process of RNA splicing and mRNA splicing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 7 autophagy-related lncRNAs might be promising prognostic and therapeutic targets for HCC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12859-021-04123-6.