Role of non-coding RNAs as new therapeutic targets in regulating the EMT and apoptosis in metastatic gastric and colorectal cancers

Synergistic potential of CDH3 in targeting CRC metastasis and enhancing immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, particularly due to advanced-stage metastasis. P-cadherin (CDH3), a potential therapeutic target, is highly expressed in CRC tissues and associated with poor prognosis and metastasis. However, the mechanisms underlying its role in CRC progression and its translational potential remain poorly understood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study integrated multiple public databases (TCGA, HCMDB, UALCAN, HPA, UniProt, cBioPortal, and GEO) to evaluate CDH3 expression, construct a prognostic model, and perform functional and translational analyses. Immunohistochemistry was used to validate CDH3 protein expression in clinical samples. Additional analyses included correlations with clinicopathological parameters, immune infiltration (TIDE, TISIDB), functional enrichment (KEGG, GSEA), drug sensitivity (GSCA), and molecular docking (MOE). Single-cell sequencing (CancerSEA, HPA) was also conducted to explore CDH3's role at the single-cell level.

RESULTS

CDH3 expression was significantly elevated in CRC tissues and correlated with poor prognosis, recurrence, and metastasis. CDH3 expression was associated with the infiltration of resting immune cells, particularly dendritic cells, and enrichment analysis revealed its critical role in CRC metastasis through extracellular matrix (ECM) and local adhesion pathways. Notably, afatinib emerged as a promising candidate for targeting CDH3 via "drug repositioning," a process involving the repurposing of existing drugs for new therapeutic applications.

CONCLUSION

This study provides novel insights into CDH3's role in CRC metastasis and its potential as a therapeutic target. The translational potential of CDH3, including its integration with immunotherapy and drug repositioning strategies, offers a promising avenue for the treatment of metastatic CRC.

Tumor-associated macrophage-derived exosome miR-194 confers cisplatin resistance in GC cells

OBJECTIVE

At all stages of gastric cancer (GC), cisplatin is the first-line chemotherapeutic agent, but its efficacy remains limited, with a response rate of less than 20%, largely because of resistance to the drug. It aims to determine whether macrophage-derived exosomes are involved in the mechanism of cisplatin resistance, in order to identify potential methods for reversing resistance and improving patient outcomes.

METHODS

Macrophages induced by IL-13 and IL-4 were characterized using flow cytometry, then co-cultured with GC cells and cisplatin. Cell viability and apoptosis were subsequently evaluated through CCK-8 assays and flow cytometry. Exosome miR-194, derived from M2 macrophages, was characterized and co-cultured with gastric cancer cells and cisplatin to assess cell survival. Furthermore, a mouse GC model was established, and miR-194 was injected to observe tumor growth.

RESULTS

Results indicate that M2 macrophages enhance cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells mainly through miR-194, as demonstrated by CCK-8 and apoptosis assays. Cellular uptake experiments demonstrated that miR-194 can transfer from macrophages to GC cells and exert functional effects. Western blotting and PCR analysis further confirmed that macrophage-derived miR-194 inhibits apoptosis in GC cells and enhances cisplatin resistance by downregulating PTEN.

CONCLUSION

Macrophage-derived miR-194 promotes cisplatin resistance in GC cells by inhibiting apoptosis through PTEN downregulation. These findings provide new insights and theoretical backing for clinical treatment strategies in GC.

LncRNA NONHSAT042241 inhibits rheumatoid synovial proliferation, inflammation and aggression via inactivating WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the effect of NONHSAT042241 on the function of rheumatoid arthritis -fibroblast-like synoviocyte (RA-FLS) and the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

RA-FLS was treated with NONHSAT042241 overexpression and NONHSAT042241 knockdown lentiviruses. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, Transwell assay, western-blot, ELISA, and qRT-PCR were used to measure the changes of cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, secretion of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assay, RNA pull-down assay, mass spectrometry (MS) and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) were used to find the target proteins that bond to NONHSAT042241, and western-blot was used to detect the expression of related proteins of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

RESULTS

Overexpression of NONHSAT042241 inhibited the proliferation of RA-FLS (p < 0.05), invasion, secretion of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1and IL-6) and MMPs (MMP-1 and MMP-3) (p < 0.05), and elevated the level of pro-apoptotic factors (Bax and cleaved caspase3), while NONHSAT042241 knockdown had the opposite effect. NONHSAT042241 can directly bind to hnRNP D, and down-regulated the expression of β-catenin (p < 0.05), p-GSK-3β (p < 0.05), Cyclin D1 (p < 0.05), PCNA (p < 0.05), and thus reduced the cell proliferation.

CONCLUSION

NONHSAT042241 may inhibit FLS-mediated rheumatoid synovial proliferation, inflammation and aggression. The underlying mechanisms may be that NONHSAT042241 inhibits the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Noncoding RNAs and programmed cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma: Significant role of epigenetic modifications in prognosis, chemoresistance, and tumor recurrence rate

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer with a high death rate in the world. The molecular mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of HCC have not been precisely defined so far. Hence, this review aimed to address the potential cross-talk between noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and programmed cell death in HCC. All related papers in the English language up to June 2023 were collected and screened. The searched keywords in scientific databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, were HCC, ncRNAs, Epigenetic, Programmed cell death, Autophagy, Apoptosis, Ferroptosis, Chemoresistance, Tumor recurrence, Prognosis, and Prediction. According to the reports, ncRNAs, comprising long ncRNAs, microRNAs, circular RNAs, and small nucleolar RNAs can affect cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis, as well as cell death-related processes, such as autophagy, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and apoptosis in HCC by regulating cancer-associated genes and signaling pathways, for example, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase/MAPK, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. It seems that ncRNAs, as epigenetic regulators, can be utilized as biomarkers in diagnosis, prognosis, survival and recurrence rates prediction, chemoresistance, and evaluation of therapeutic response in HCC patients. However, more scientific evidence is suggested to be accomplished to confirm these results.