Aloin decelerates the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through circ_0011385/miR-149-5p/WT1 axis

Long non-coding RNA LNC-POTEM-4 promotes HCC progression via the LNC-POTEM-4/miR-149-5p/Wnt4 signaling axis

Information on the potential role of the long non-coding RNA LNC-POTEM-4 in cancer progression is limited. Our preliminary study found that LNC-POTEM-4 was overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, which led us to further investigate the biological function and molecular mechanism of LNC-POTEM-4 in HCC development. LNC-POTEM-4 expression in HCC tissues was examined using transcriptome sequencing and quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The relationships between LNC-POTEM-4 and the stage and prognosis of HCC in patient data from the TCGA database were analyzed. The effects of LNC-POTEM-4 on proliferation, invasion/migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker expression in HCC cells were evaluated in vitro using gain- and loss-of-function assays, while its effects on tumor growth and metastasis were explored through animal experiments. A LNC-POTEM-4/microRNA (miR)-149-5p/Wnt4 regulatory signaling axis was identified using bioinformatics analysis, and dual luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down assays. Co-transfection of LNC-POTEM-4 and Wnt4 expression plasmids was employed to confirm the new signaling pathway. We found that LNC-POTEM-4 was overexpressed in HCC tissues and was linked to poor staging and prognosis. LNC-POTEM-4 promoted proliferation, invasion, migration, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of HCC cells in vitro. Silencing of LNC-POTEM-4 inhibited HCC growth and distant metastasis in vivo. Mechanically, LNC-POTEM-4 was found to function as a competitive endogenous RNA, upregulating Wnt4 by sponging miR-149-5p to promote HCC progression. Wnt4 overexpression may have counteracted the tumor-inhibition effect of LNC-POTEM-4 silencing. In conclusion, LNC-POTEM-4 upregulated Wnt4 to activate the Wnt signaling pathway and stimulate the malignancy tendency of HCC by sponging miR-149-5p, providing a prospective target for the detection and therapy of HCC. However, the effects of LNC-POTEM-4 on the miR-149-5p/Wnt4 signaling axis should be further studied in animal experiments.

Biologic activity and treatment resistance to gastrointestinal cancer: the role of circular RNA in autophagy regulation

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) lack the 5'-end methylated guanine cap structure and 3' polyadenylate tail structure, classifying it as a non-coding RNA. With the extensive investigation of circRNA, its role in regulating cell death has garnered significant attention in recent years, establishing it as a recognized participant in cancer's biological processes. Autophagy, an essential pathway in programmed cell death (PCD), involves the formation of autophagosomes using lysosomes to degrade cellular contents under the regulation of various autophagy-related (ATG) genes. Numerous studies have demonstrated that circRNA can modulate the biological activity of cancer cells by influencing the autophagy pathway, exhibiting a dualistic role in suppressing or promoting carcinogenesis. In this review, we comprehensively analyze how autophagy-related circRNA impacts the progression of gastrointestinal cancer (GIC). Additionally, we discuss drug resistance phenomena associated with autophagy regulation in GIC. This review offers valuable insights into exploring potential biological targets for prognosis and treatment strategies related to GIC.

Epigenetic regulation of hepatocellular carcinoma progression: MicroRNAs as therapeutic, diagnostic and prognostic factors

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a significant challenge for public healthcare systems in developed Western countries including the USA, Canada, and the UK, is influenced by different risk factors including hepatitis virus infections, alcoholism, and smoking. The disruption in the balance of microRNAs (miRNAs) plays a vital function in tumorigenesis, given their function as regulators in numerous signaling networks. These miRNAs, which are mature and active in the cytoplasm, work by reducing the expression of target genes through their impact on mRNAs. MiRNAs are particularly significant in HCC as they regulate key aspects of the tumor, like proliferation and invasion. Additionally, during treatment phases such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the levels of miRNAs are key determinants. Pre-clinical experiments have demonstrated that altered miRNA expression contributes to HCC development, metastasis, drug resistance, and radio-resistance, highlighting related molecular pathways and processes like MMPs, EMT, apoptosis, and autophagy. Furthermore, the regulatory role of miRNAs in HCC extends beyond their immediate function, as they are also influenced by other epigenetic factors like lncRNAs and circular RNAs (circRNAs), as discussed in recent reviews. Applying these discoveries in predicting the prognosis of HCC could mark a significant advancement in the therapy of this disease.

Innovative pharmacotherapy for hepatic metabolic and chronic inflammatory diseases in China

Liver disease constitutes a significant global health concern, particularly in China where it has distinctive characteristics. China grapples with a staggering 300 million cases, predominantly due to hepatitis B and metabolic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Additionally, hepatocellular carcinoma has become a prevalent which is a lethal type of cancer. Despite the scarcity of innovative treatment options, Chinese hepatologists and researchers have achieved notable breakthroughs in the prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment of liver diseases. Traditional Chinese medicines have found widespread application in the treatment of various liver ailments owing to their commendable pharmacological efficacy and minimal side effects. Furthermore, there is a growing body of research in extracellular vesicles, cell therapy and gene therapy, offering new hope in the fight against liver diseases. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the epidemiological characteristics of liver diseases and the diverse array of treatments that Chinese scholars and scientists have pursued in critical field.

The role of competing endogenous RNA network in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma: potential therapeutic targets

The current situation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management is challenging due to its high incidence, mortality, recurrence and metastasis. Recent advances in gene genetic and expression regulation have unveiled the significant role of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) in various cancers. This led to the formulation of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis, which posits that both coding RNA and ncRNA, containing miRNA response elements (MRE), can share the same miRNA sequence. This results in a competitive network between ncRNAs, such as lncRNA and mRNA, allowing them to regulate each other. Extensive research has highlighted the crucial role of the ceRNA network in HCC development, impacting various cellular processes including proliferation, metastasis, cell death, angiogenesis, tumor microenvironment, organismal immunity, and chemotherapy resistance. Additionally, the ceRNA network, mediated by lncRNA or circRNA, offers potential in early diagnosis and prevention of HCC. Consequently, ceRNAs are emerging as therapeutic targets for HCC. The complexity of these gene networks aligns with the multi-target approach of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), presenting a novel perspective for TCM in combating HCC. Research is beginning to show that TCM compounds and prescriptions can affect HCC progression through the ceRNA network, inhibiting proliferation and metastasis, and inducing apoptosis. Currently, the lncRNAs TUG1, NEAT1, and CCAT1, along with their associated ceRNA networks, are among the most promising ncRNAs for HCC research. However, this field is still in its infancy, necessitating advanced technology and extensive basic research to fully understand the ceRNA network mechanisms of TCM in HCC treatment.

Roles of conventional and complementary therapies in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common type of cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. HCC has a reported recurrence rate of 70%-80% after 5 years of follow-up. Controlling tumor recurrence is the most critical factor associated with HCC mortality. Conventional salvage therapies for recurrent HCC include re-hepatectomy or liver transplantation, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, Y-90, target therapy, and immunotherapy; however, these conventional treatment modalities have yet to achieve consistently favorable outcomes. Meanwhile, previous studies have demonstrated that conventional therapies in combination with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture, moxibustion or dietary supplements could notably benefit patients with HCC recurrence by strengthening and augmenting the overall management strategy. However, systemic reviews related to the interactions between complementary therapies and conventional therapy in recurrent HCC are limited. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of complementary therapies for recurrent HCC, which include augmenting the local control to improve the congestion status of primary tumors and reducing multicentric tumor occurrence via inducing autophagy, apoptosis or cell cycle arrest. TCM and its derivatives may play important roles in helping to control HCC recurrence by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, invasion, and metastasis, inhibiting cancer stem cells, and ameliorating drug resistance.

Epigenetic regulation of autophagy by non-coding RNAs in gastrointestinal tumors: Biological functions and therapeutic perspectives

Cancer is the manifestation of changes and mutations in genetic and epigenetic levels. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are commonly dysregulated in disease pathogenesis, and their role in cancer has been well-documented. The ncRNAs regulate various molecular pathways and mechanisms in cancer that can lead to induction/inhibition of carcinogenesis. Autophagy is a molecular "self-digestion" mechanism its function can be pro-survival or pro-death in tumor cells. The aim of the present review is to evaluate the role of ncRNAs in regulating autophagy in gastrointestinal tumors. The role of the ncRNA/autophagy axis in affecting the progression of gastric, liver, colorectal, pancreatic, esophageal, and gallbladder cancers is investigated. Both ncRNAs and autophagy mechanisms can function as oncogenic or onco-suppressor and this interaction can determine the growth, invasion, and therapy response of gastrointestinal tumors. ncRNA/autophagy axis can reduce/increase the proliferation of gastrointestinal tumors via the glycolysis mechanism. Furthermore, related molecular pathways of metastasis, such as EMT and MMPs, are affected by the ncRNA/autophagy axis. The response of gastrointestinal tumors to chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be suppressed by pro-survival autophagy, and ncRNAs are essential regulators of this mechanism. miRNAs can regulate related genes and proteins of autophagy, such as ATGs and Beclin-1. Furthermore, lncRNAs and circRNAs down-regulate miRNA expression via sponging to modulate the autophagy mechanism. Moreover, anti-cancer agents can affect the expression level of ncRNAs regulating autophagy in gastrointestinal tumors. Therefore, translating these findings into clinics can improve the prognosis of patients.

Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Study on the Multi-Target Mechanisms of Aloe vera for Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Treatment

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease with limited treatment options. The widely distributed plant Aloe vera has shown protective effects against NASH in animals, yet the precise mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanisms underlying the anti-NASH effects of Aloe vera using a network pharmacology and molecular docking approach. By searching online databases and analyzing the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset, we obtained 260 Aloe vera-NASH common targets. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses showed that the common targets were strongly associated with the key pathological processes implicated in NASH, including lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and liver fibrosis. Four core proteins, AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), transcription factor c-Jun, and tumor suppressor protein p53, were identified from compound-target-pathway and protein-protein interaction networks. Molecular docking analysis verified that the active ingredients of Aloe vera were able to interact with the core proteins, especially AKT1 and TNFα. The results demonstrate the multi-compound, multi-target, and multi-pathway mechanisms of Aloe vera against NASH. Our study has shown the scientific basis for further experiments in terms of the mechanism to develop Aloe vera-based natural products as complementary treatments for NASH. Furthermore, it identifies novel drug candidates based on the structures of Aloe vera's active compounds.

Tumor-Suppressive and Oncogenic Roles of microRNA-149-5p in Human Cancers

Malignant tumors are always a critical threat to human health, with complex pathogenesis, numerous causative factors, and poor prognosis. The features of cancers, such as gene mutations, epigenetic alterations, and the activation and inhibition of signaling pathways in the organism, play important roles in tumorigenesis and prognosis. MicroRNA (miRNA) enables the control of various molecular mechanisms and plays a variety of roles in human cancers, such as radiation sensitivity and tumor immunity, through the regulation of target genes. MiR-149-5p participates in the process and is closely related to lipogenesis, the migration of vascular endothelial cells, and the expression of stem-cell-related proteins. In recent years, its role in cancer has dramatically increased. In this review, we summarize the regular physiological roles of miRNAs, specifically miR-149-5p, in the organism and discuss the tumor-suppressive or oncogenic roles of miR-149-5p in different human cancers with respect to signaling pathways involved in regulation. Possible clinical applications of miR-149-5p in future targeted therapies and prognosis improvement in oncology are suggested.

Characterization of the metabolism of aloin A/B and aloesin in rats by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Aloin A/B and aloesin are the major bioactive constituents in the Aloe vera, with diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-bacterial, anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory and intestinal regulation. However, the in vivo metabolism of aloin A/B and aloesin are still unclear. In this study, the metabolic processes of aloin A/B and aloesin in rats were investigated using the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) and MetaboLynx^TM software with Mass defect filter (MDF) technique. Based on the proposed method, the prototype component of three compounds were all detected in the rat plasma, urine and feces. Meanwhile, 25 aloin A/B metabolites (6 phase I, 3 phase II, 16 phase I combined with phase II) and 3 aloesin metabolites (2 phase I and 1 phase II) were detected in rats after oral administration of aloin A, aloin B and aloesin, and the main biotransformation reactions were hydroxylation, oxidation, methylation, acetylation, and glucuronidation. In addition, Aloin A and aloin B can be transformed into each other in vivo and the metabolic profiles of aloin A and aloin B were identical. These results provide essential data for further pharmaceutical researches and clinical application of aloin A/B and aloesin.