Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) MRPL23-AS1 promotes tumor progression and carcinogenesis in osteosarcoma by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling via inhibiting microRNA miR-30b and upregulating myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9)

Integrative bioinformatics approach identifies novel drug targets for hyperaldosteronism, with a focus on SHMT1 as a promising therapeutic candidate

Primary aldosteronism (PA), characterized by autonomous aldosterone overproduction, is a major cause of secondary hypertension with significant cardiovascular complications. Current treatments mainly focus on symptom management rather than addressing underlying mechanisms. This study aims to discover novel therapeutic targets for PA using integrated bioinformatics and experimental validation approaches. We employed a systematic approach combining: gene identification through transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS); causal inference using summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) and two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses; additional analyses included phenome-wide association analysis, enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, drug repurposing, molecular docking and clinical validation through aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) tissue. Through systematic screening and prioritization, we identified 163 PA-associated genes, of which seven emerged as potential drug targets: CEP104, HIP1, TONSL, ZNF100, SHMT1, and two long non-coding RNAs (AC006369.2 and MRPL23-AS1). SHMT1 was identified as the most promising target, showing significantly elevated expression in APAs compared to adjacent non-tumorous tissues. Drug repurposing analysis identified four potential SHMT1-targeting compounds (Mimosine, Pemetrexed, Leucovorin, and Irinotecan), supported by molecular docking studies. The integration of multiple bioinformatics methods and experimental validation successfully identified novel drug targets for hyperaldosteronism. SHMT1, in particular, represents a promising candidate for future therapeutic development. These findings provide new opportunities for developing causative treatments for PA, though further clinical validation is warranted.

The role of lncRNA and miRNA on the effects of occurrence and development of osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a common primary malignant bone tumor with a high incidence in children and adolescents, with high invasiveness and lung metastases. Even after traditional surgical excision, chemoradiotherapy, and comprehensive treatment, the survival rate of patients is still low, and the prognosis is not ideal. As an important part of non-coding RNA family, lncRNA and miRNA have significant regulatory effects on the growth, proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells. Therefore, exploring the roles of lncRNAs and miRNAs in the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma is of great help for the subsequent diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of osteosarcoma. This paper mainly reviews the current research progress on the effects and mechanisms of lncRNAs and miRNAs on osteosarcoma cells, in order to provide new ideas for future research on the development process, treatment methods, and prognosis of osteosarcoma.

High Expression of MRPL23 Is Associated with Poor Survival in Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the expression and prognostic significance of the MRPL23 protein and mRNA in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and adjacent non-tumorous tissues. The goal was to assess the impact of MRPL23 expression on tumor behavior, progression, and patient outcomes.

METHODS

Using immunohistochemistry (IHC), MRPL23 protein expression was analyzed in 99 cases of ccRCC and 30 adjacent non-tumorous tissues. mRNA levels were assessed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Correlations between MRPL23 expression and clinicopathological features were examined, and survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

MRPL23 protein expression was significantly lower in ccRCC tissues compared to normal tissues. In contrast, mRNA levels of MRPL23 were significantly elevated in ccRCC tissues. Expression levels were correlated with clinicopathological features, including gender, tumor grade, pT status, and disease stage, underlining their impact on tumor progression. Elevated MRPL23 protein expression was associated with poorer overall survival (OS) in ccRCC patients and remained an independent prognostic marker for adverse outcomes after adjustment for confounding variables. While high MRPL23 mRNA expression was also linked to worse OS, it did not retain its status as an independent prognostic factor after adjustments.

CONCLUSION

MRPL23 protein expression is a potential independent prognostic biomarker in ccRCC, emphasizing its utility in predicting patient outcomes and potentially guiding therapeutic decisions. These findings highlight the importance of further research into the role of MRPL23 in ccRCC pathogenesis and its potential as a therapeutic target.

Non-Muscle Myosin II A: Friend or Foe in Cancer?

Non-muscle myosin IIA (NM IIA) is a motor protein that belongs to the myosin II family. The myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) gene encodes the heavy chain of NM IIA. NM IIA is a hexamer and contains three pairs of peptides, which include the dimer of heavy chains, essential light chains, and regulatory light chains. NM IIA is a part of the actomyosin complex that generates mechanical force and tension to carry out essential cellular functions, including adhesion, cytokinesis, migration, and the maintenance of cell shape and polarity. These functions are regulated via light and heavy chain phosphorylation at different amino acid residues. Apart from physiological functions, NM IIA is also linked to the development of cancer and genetic and neurological disorders. MYH9 gene mutations result in the development of several autosomal dominant disorders, such as May-Hegglin anomaly (MHA) and Epstein syndrome (EPS). Multiple studies have reported NM IIA as a tumor suppressor in melanoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; however, studies also indicate that NM IIA is a critical player in promoting tumorigenesis, chemoradiotherapy resistance, and stemness. The ROCK-NM IIA pathway regulates cellular movement and shape via the control of cytoskeletal dynamics. In addition, the ROCK-NM IIA pathway is dysregulated in various solid tumors and leukemia. Currently, there are very few compounds targeting NM IIA, and most of these compounds are still being studied in preclinical models. This review provides comprehensive evidence highlighting the dual role of NM IIA in multiple cancer types and summarizes the signaling networks involved in tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we also discuss the role of NM IIA as a potential therapeutic target with a focus on the ROCK-NM IIA pathway.

Unveiling the enigmatic role of MYH9 in tumor biology: a comprehensive review

Non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (MYH9), a member of the non-muscle myosin II (NM II) family, is widely expressed in cells. The interaction of MYH9 with actin in the cytoplasm can hydrolyze ATP, completing the conversion of chemical energy to mechanical motion. MYH9 participates in various cellular processes, such as cell adhesion, migration, movement, and even signal transduction. Mutations in MYH9 are often associated with autosomal dominant platelet disorders and kidney diseases. Over the past decade, tumor-related research has gradually revealed a close relationship between MYH9 and the occurrence and development of tumors. This article provides a review of the research progress on the role of MYH9 in cancer regulation. We also discussed the anti-cancer effects of MYH9 under special circumstances, as well as its regulation of T cell function. In addition, given the importance of MYH9 as a key hub in oncogenic signal transduction, we summarize the current therapeutic strategies targeting MYH9 as well as the ongoing challenges.

Exploring the nexus between MYH9 and tumors: novel insights and new therapeutic opportunities

The myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) gene, located on human chromosome 22, encodes non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NM IIA). This protein is essential to various cellular events, such as generating intracellular chemomechanical force and facilitating the movement of the actin cytoskeleton. Mutations associated with thrombocytopenia in autosomal dominant diseases first highlighted the significance of the MYH9 gene. In recent years, numerous studies have demonstrated the pivotal roles of MYH9 in various cancers. However, its effects on cancer are intricate and not fully comprehended. Furthermore, the elevated expression of MYH9 in certain malignancies suggests its potential as a target for tumor therapy. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of literature summarizing MYH9's role in tumors and the therapeutic strategies centered on it, necessitating a systematic analysis. This paper comprehensively reviews and analyzes the pertinent literature in this domain, elucidating the fundamental structural characteristics, biological functions, and the nexus between MYH9 and tumors. The mechanisms through which MYH9 contributes to tumor development and its multifaceted roles in the tumorigenic process are also explored. Additionally, we discuss the relationship between MYH9-related diseases (MYH9-RD) and tumors and also summarize tumor therapeutic approaches targeting MYH9. The potential clinical applications of studying the MYH9 gene include improving early diagnosis, clinical staging, and prognosis of tumors. This paper is anticipated to provide novel insights for tumor therapy.

Research progress on the role of lncRNA, circular RNA, and microRNA networks in regulating ferroptosis in osteosarcoma

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) do not participate in protein-coding. Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death mediated by reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. Recent studies have shown that ncRNAs such as microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs, and ferroptosis are involved in the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma (OS). Studies have confirmed that ncRNAs participate in the development of OS by regulating the ferroptosis. However, systematic summary on this topic are still lacking. This review summarises the potential role of ncRNAs in the diagnosis, treatment, drug resistance, and prognosis of OS and the basis for diagnosing, preventing, and treating clinical OS and developing effective drugs. This review summarises the latest research progress on ncRNAs that regulate ferroptosis in OS, attempts to clarify the molecular mechanisms by which ncRNAs regulate ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of OS, and elaborates on the involvement of ferroptosis in OS from the perspective of ncRNAs.

Osteosarcoma in a ceRNET perspective

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most prevalent and fatal type of bone tumor. It is characterized by great heterogeneity of genomic aberrations, mutated genes, and cell types contribution, making therapy and patients management particularly challenging. A unifying picture of molecular mechanisms underlying the disease could help to transform those challenges into opportunities.This review deeply explores the occurrence in OS of large-scale RNA regulatory networks, denominated "competing endogenous RNA network" (ceRNET), wherein different RNA biotypes, such as long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs and mRNAs can functionally interact each other by competitively binding to shared microRNAs. Here, we discuss how the unbalancing of any network component can derail the entire circuit, driving OS onset and progression by impacting on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor growth and metastasis, and even chemotherapeutic resistance, as distilled from many studies. Intriguingly, the aberrant expression of the networks components in OS cells can be triggered also by the surroundings, through cytokines and vesicles, with their bioactive cargo of proteins and non-coding RNAs, highlighting the relevance of tumor microenvironment. A comprehensive picture of RNA regulatory networks underlying OS could pave the way for the development of innovative RNA-targeted and RNA-based therapies and new diagnostic tools, also in the perspective of precision oncology.

MYH9: A key protein involved in tumor progression and virus-related diseases

The myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9) gene encodes the heavy chain of non-muscle myosin IIA (NMIIA), which belongs to the myosin II subfamily of actin-based molecular motors. Previous studies have demonstrated that abnormal expression and mutations of MYH9 were correlated with MYH9-related diseases and tumors. Furthermore, earlier investigations identified MYH9 as a tumor suppressor. However, subsequent research revealed that MYH9 promoted tumorigenesis, progression and chemoradiotherapy resistance. Note-worthily, MYH9 has also been linked to viral infections, like severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Epstein-Barr virus, and hepatitis B virus, as a receptor or co-receptor. In addition, MYH9 promotes the development of hepatocellular carcinoma by interacting with the hepatitis B virus-encoding X protein. Finally, various findings highlighted the role of MYH9 in the development of these illnesses, especially in tumors. This review summarizes the involvement of the MYH9-regulated signaling network in tumors and virus-related diseases and presents possible drug interventions on MYH9, providing insights for the use of MYH9 as a therapeutic target for tumors and virus-mediated diseases.

Identification of Long Non-Coding RNA Profiles and Potential Therapeutic Agents for Fibrolamellar Carcinoma Based on RNA-Sequencing Data

BACKGROUND

Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare type of liver cancer that primarily affects adolescents and young adults without prior liver disease or viral infections. Patients with FLC generally have non-specific symptoms, are often diagnosed at a later stage, and experience a higher frequency of metastases compared to patients with other liver cancers. A fusion transcript of DNAJB1 and PRKACA, which can lead to increased activity of PKA and cellular proliferation, has been identified in all FLC patients, but the exact mechanism through which FLC develops remains unclear. In this study, we investigated common lncRNA profiles in various FLC samples using bioinformatics analyses.

METHODS

We analyzed differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs from three RNA sequencing datasets. Using lncRNAs and DE mRNAs, we predicted potential lncRNA target genes and performed Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG analyses with the DE lncRNA target genes. Moreover, we screened for small-molecule compounds that could act as therapeutic targets for FLC.

RESULTS

We identified 308 DE lncRNAs from the RNA sequencing datasets. In addition, we performed a trans-target prediction analysis and identified 454 co-expressed pairs in FLC. The GO analysis showed that the lncRNA-related up-regulated mRNAs were enriched in the regulation of protein kinase C signaling and cAMP catabolic processes, while lncRNA-related down-regulated mRNAs were enriched in steroid, retinol, cholesterol, and xenobiotic metabolic processes. The analysis of small-molecule compounds for FLC treatment identified vitexin, chlorthalidone, triamterene, and amiloride, among other compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified potential therapeutic targets for FLC, including lncRNA target genes as well as small-molecule compounds that could potentially be used as treatments. Our findings could contribute to furthering our understanding of FLC and providing potential avenues for diagnosis and treatment.

Self-Renewal and Pluripotency in Osteosarcoma Stem Cells' Chemoresistance: Notch, Hedgehog, and Wnt/β-Catenin Interplay with Embryonic Markers

Osteosarcoma is a highly malignant bone tumor derived from mesenchymal cells that contains self-renewing cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are responsible for tumor progression and chemotherapy resistance. Understanding the signaling pathways that regulate CSC self-renewal and survival is crucial for developing effective therapies. The Notch, Hedgehog, and Wnt/β-Catenin developmental pathways, which are essential for self-renewal and differentiation of normal stem cells, have been identified as important regulators of osteosarcoma CSCs and also in the resistance to anticancer therapies. Targeting these pathways and their interactions with embryonic markers and the tumor microenvironment may be a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome chemoresistance and improve the prognosis for osteosarcoma patients. This review focuses on the role of Notch, Hedgehog, and Wnt/β-Catenin signaling in regulating CSC self-renewal, pluripotency, and chemoresistance, and their potential as targets for anti-cancer therapies. We also discuss the relevance of embryonic markers, including SOX-2, Oct-4, NANOG, and KLF4, in osteosarcoma CSCs and their association with the aforementioned signaling pathways in overcoming drug resistance.

A spotlight on the interplay of signaling pathways and the role of miRNAs in osteosarcoma pathogenesis and therapeutic resistance

Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most common bone cancers that constantly affects children, teenagers, and young adults. Numerous epigenetic elements, such as miRNAs, have been shown to influence OS features like progression, initiation, angiogenesis, and treatment resistance. The expression of numerous genes implicated in OS pathogenesis might be regulated by miRNAs. This effect is ascribed to miRNAs' roles in the invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Important OS-related mechanistic networks like the WNT/b-catenin signaling, PTEN/AKT/mTOR axis, and KRAS mutations are also affected by miRNAs. In addition to pathophysiology, miRNAs may influence how the OS reacts to therapies like radiotherapy and chemotherapy. With a focus on how miRNAs affect OS signaling pathways, this review seeks to show how miRNAs and OS are related.

Circ_0000395 Promoted CRC Progression via Elevating MYH9 Expression by Sequestering miR-432-5p

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been listed as the fourth deadly cancer. Circular RNA hsa_circRNA_001046, also termed as hsa_circ_0000395 (circ_0000395), has been shown to be upregulated in CRC. Nevertheless, the function of circ_0000395 in CRC progression is unclear. 42 CRC patients were enrolled in the study. Detection of circ_0000395 expression in tissues and cells was executed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Evaluation of circ_0000395 function was performed using loss-of-function experiments in vitro and in vivo. The regulatory mechanism of circ_0000395 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and validated by dual-luciferase reporter and RIP assays. Exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation and validated by western blotting, TEM, and NTA. Circ_0000395 was strongly expressed in CRC samples and cell lines. Also, circ_0000395 repressed CRC growth in mouse models in vivo and induced CRC cell apoptosis, restrained CRC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT in vitro. Mechanistically, circ_0000395 sequestered miR-432-5p to regulate MYH9 expression. Furthermore, miR-432-5p knockdown reversed circ_0000395 silencing-mediated effects on CRC cell malignant phenotypes. MYH9 overexpression counteracted the inhibiting effects of miR-432-5p upregulation on CRC cell malignant phenotypes. Additionally, CRC cells derived from exosomal circ_0000395 promoted cancer cell malignant phenotypes. Our findings demonstrated that circ_0000395 sequestered miR-432-5p to elevate MYH9 expression, resulting in facilitating CRC progression, manifesting a potential therapeutic target for CRC.

Non Coding RNAs as Regulators of Wnt/β-Catenin and Hippo Pathways in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is an inherited cardiomyopathy histologically characterized by the replacement of myocardium by fibrofatty infiltration, cardiomyocyte loss, and inflammation. ACM has been defined as a desmosomal disease because most of the mutations causing the disease are located in genes encoding desmosomal proteins. Interestingly, the instable structures of these intercellular junctions in this disease are closely related to a perturbed Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Imbalance in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling and also in the crosslinked Hippo pathway leads to the transcription of proadipogenic and profibrotic genes. Aiming to shed light on the mechanisms by which Wnt/β-catenin and Hippo pathways modulate the progression of the pathological ACM phenotype, the study of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has emerged as a potential source of actionable targets. ncRNAs comprise a wide range of RNA species (short, large, linear, circular) which are able to finely tune gene expression and determine the final phenotype. Some share recognition sites, thus referred to as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), and ensure a coordinating action. Recent cancer research studies regarding the key role of ceRNAs in Wnt/β-catenin and Hippo pathways modulation pave the way to better understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying ACM.

Long Non-Coding RNA LINC01929 Facilitates Cell Proliferation and Metastasis as a Competing Endogenous RNA Against MicroRNA miR-1179 in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Introduction: Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) constitutes most lung cancers and has a poor prognosis. LncRNAs are a potential repository for the discovery of cancer prognostic markers. This study explored the role of LINC01929 in NSCLC, both the clinical prognostic significance and the mechanism of its influence on cells.

Materials and Methods: LINC01929 levels in 143 pairs of NSCLC tissues and non-cancerous tissues were detected by RT-qPCR. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression assays were generated for evaluating the prognostic values of LINC01929. To evaluate the cellular function, an XTT assay and transwell invasion assays were performed.

Results: LINC01929 was up-regulated in NSCLC tissues compared with healthy tissues. A positive correlation was observed between LINC01929 expression level and tumor T (p = 0.002) or N stage (p = 0.010). Patients with higher LINC01929 levels had shorter overall survival (p = 0.009). Compared with other factors, high LINC01929 expression was significantly associated with poor survival in univariate Cox analysis (HR: 2.485, 95%CI: 1.220–5.060, p = 0.012). After multivariate Cox regression assays, LINC01929 was a independent prognostic factor (HR: 3.021, 95%CI: 1.377–6.628, p = 0.006). miR-1179 was a target miRNA of LINC01929. Inhibited expression of LINC01929 significantly reduced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cells by targeting miR-1179.

Discussion: This study revealed the upregulation of LINC01929 in NSCLC. This study supports previous studies showing LINC01929 as a potential prognostic factor for NSCLC.

MicroRNA miR-331-3p suppresses osteosarcoma progression via the Bcl-2/Bax and Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathways and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition by targeting N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (MGAT1)

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a high-grade malignant disease that is a prevalent primary malignant sarcoma of the bone. The purpose of this investigation was to therefore elucidate the association between miR-331-3p and OS development and to identify a potential underlying mechanism. Key genes involved in OS were selected using GSE65071 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA). Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were conducted to detect miR-331-3p, MGAT1, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), Bcl-2/Bax and Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathways related proteins. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and TargetScan were used for validating interaction between MGAT1 mRNA and miR-331-3p. Biological effects of miR-331-3p and MGAT1 on OS cells were detected employing MTT, Transwell, wound healing and flow cytometry, respectively. MiR-331-3p was under-expressed in OS, and up-regulation or inhibition of its expression could significantly inhibit or promote the malignant phenotypes of OS cells. Furthermore, we found that MGAT1, a target of miR-331-3p, had elevated expression in OS. Interestingly, MGAT1 could partially alleviate the effect of miR-331-3p in vitro. Collectively, miR-331-3p acts as an critical tumor suppressor through inhibiting MGAT1, results in suppressed Wnt/β-Catenin pathway and decreased proliferation of OS cells; leads to increased apoptosis via Bcl-2/Bax pathway and inhibited migration and invasion ability via the EMT.

S100 calcium-binding protein A10 contributes to malignant traits in osteosarcoma cells by regulating glycolytic metabolism via the AKT/mTOR pathway

As an aggressive musculoskeletal malignancy, osteosarcoma (OSa) is popular among young adults and teenagers worldwide. S100 calcium-binding protein A10 (S100A10) functioned as a novel tumor-promoting protein in several human cancers. However, its role in OSa remains obscure. In this study, gene and protein levels were respectively determined by RT-qPCR or Western blotting. OSa cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis were evaluated via CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays. To assess the glycolysis level, glucose consumption and lactate production were detected. It was found S100A10 was highly expressed in OSa tissues and cell lines. Besides, S100A10 facilitated proliferation and metastasis, and inhibited apoptosis in OSa cells. In addition, S100A10 regulated OSa cell proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis via mediating the glycolysis process. Furthermore, S100A10-mediated AKT/mTOR signaling accelerated glycolysis, thereby promoting malignant behaviors in OSa cells. Taken together, our findings indicated that S100A10 might promote malignant phenotypes of OSa cells by accelerating glycolysis and activating the AKT/mTOR signaling, providing a promising target for OSa treatment.

Major Role for Cellular MicroRNAs, Long Noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and the Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded BART lncRNA during Tumor Growth In Vivo

This study assessed the effects of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and one form of virally encoded BART long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) on cellular expression in epithelial cells grown in vitro and as tumors in vivo determined by high-throughput RNA sequencing of mRNA and small RNAs. Hierarchical clustering based on gene expression distinguished the cell lines from the tumors and distinguished the EBV-positive tumors and the BART tumors from the EBV-negative tumors. EBV and BART expression also induced specific expression changes in cellular microRNAs (miRs) and lncRNAs. Multiple known and predicted targets of the viral miRs, the induced cellular miRs, and lncRNAs were identified in the altered gene set. The changes in expression in vivo indicated that the suppression of growth pathways in vivo reflects increased expression of cellular miRs in all tumors. In the EBV and BART tumors, many of the targets of the induced miRs were not changed and the seed sequences of the nonfunctional miRs were found to have homologous regions within the BART lncRNA. The inhibition of these miR effects on known targets suggests that these induced miRs have reduced function due to sponging by the BART lncRNA. This composite analysis identified the effects of EBV on cellular miRs and lncRNAs with a functional readout through identification of the simultaneous effects on gene expression. Major shifts in gene expression in vivo are likely mediated by effects on cellular noncoding RNAs. Additionally, a predicted property of the BART lncRNA is to functionally inhibit the induced cellular miRs.

LINC01315 accelerates the growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colorectal cancer cells via activating the Wnt/β-catenin signal

The pathological roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) have been corroborated. To date, the pathological contributions of LINC01315 in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) property of CRC are still ambiguous. By silencing LINC01315, we disclosed that LINC01315 promoted the growth, metastatic characteristics, and the EMT of CRC cells in vitro. Mechanistically, LINC01315 activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. LINC01315 bound to the β-catenin promoter and activated its transcription. In rescue experiments, ectopic overexpression of β-catenin counteracted the inhibiting effector-triggered by LINC01315 deletion. In summary, this preliminary study brings new insights to the pathological significance of the LINC01315/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in CRC.

Upregulated long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1094 (LINC01094) is linked to poor prognosis and alteration of cell function in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) showed high cancer-related mortality in recent years partly due to the absence of an effective prognostic predictor. This research intended to evaluate the prognostic value and potential role of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1094 (LINC01094) in CRC. In this work, we evaluated the LINC01094 level in 122 CRC patients’ tissues and in human CRC cell lines. We explored the ability of LINC01094 in overall survival and progression-free survival estimate. The effect of LINC01094 dysregulation on the CRC cells was investigated. LINC01094 is highly expressed in CRC tissues and cells than normal ones. This high expression was correlated with absent vascular invasion, positive lymph node metastasis, and advanced TNM stage. With the result of Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox’s proportional hazard analysis, LINC01094 was an effective biomarker for CRC overall survival. Downregulation of LINC01094 impeded the malignant biological behavior (proliferation, invasion, and migration) of CRC cells, while overexpression of LINC01094 boosted that maybe by sponging miR-1266-5p. LINC01094 might function as an oncogene in CRC and allowed the discovery of a new biomarker for prognosis and therapy of CRC.

Long non-coding RNA long intergenic non-coding 00641 mediates cell progression with stimulating cisplatin-resistance in osteosarcoma cells via microRNA-320d/myeloid cell leukemia-1 axis

As a staple chemotherapy medicine, cisplatin (DDP) is extensively applied in cancer patients, but its drug resistance is limited. Numerous studies have elucidated that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) performs as a pivotal agent in osteosarcoma (OS). Nevertheless, lncRNA long intergenic non-coding 00641 (LINC00641)’s functions in DDP resistance for OS remain obscure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of LINC00641 on drug resistance of OS. The tissues of both clinical cancer patients and the normal control were gathered. Detection of LINC00641, microRNA-320d (miR-320d) and myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL1) was conducted. After the selection of OS cell lines, the detection of cell advancement was applied. Series of experiments were conducted to verify the interaction of LINC00641, miR-320d and MCL1. Xenografted tumor model in vivo was utilized to determine the function of LINC00641. The data displayed, LINC00641 was prominently elevated in OS tissues and cells, especially in DDP-resistant tumors and cell lines. Knock-down LINC00641 was able to attenuate progression of DDP-resistant OS cells thus dampening their drug resistance toward DDP. Moreover, knock-downing LINC00641 gene was also able to manifest antagonism toward DDP-resistance in vivo. On the grounds of bioinformatics prediction, a direct binding of LINC00641 with miR-320d existed, whose target was MCL1. Meanwhile, LINC00641 modulated MCL1 via targeting miR-320d. Additionally, repressive LINC00641 blocked MCL1 via emulative interaction with miR-320d, thus expediting DDP-sensitivity of OS cells. All in all, it is found that LINC00641 is available to escalate drug resistance of DDP-resistant OS cells via mediation of miR-320d/MCL1 axis.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 facilitates the proliferation and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cells by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 (LRP8) is involved in the development of multiple tumors, including lung cancer. However, the exact mechanism by which LRP8 exerts its oncogenic role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains elusive. Hence, in this study, we aimed to unravel the expression and role of LRP8 in the progression of NSCLC. We used online bioinformatics databases to identify the expression of LRP8 in multiple types of lung cancer. We validated LRP8 expression in NSCLC cell lines and tissues by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The functions of LRP8 in NSCLC carcinogenesis and progression were determined using in vitro and in vivo systems. The Wnt pathway activator LiCl was further used to validate the regulatory role of LRP8 in Wnt/β-catenin signaling. We demonstrated that LRP8 was markedly overexpressed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, and its overexpression significantly correlated with poor clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. Moreover, LRP8 depletion suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and impeded tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, LPR8 knockdown elicited tumor-suppressive functions by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which was partially reversed by LiCl. Hence, our study revealed that LRP8 facilitates NSCLC cell proliferation and invasion via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and thus LRP8 could be a novel therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Long noncoding RNA MRPL23-AS1 suppresses anoikis in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma in vitro

Distant lung metastasis is the main factor that affects the survival rate of patients with salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). Anoikis resistance is a feature of tumor cells that easily metastasize. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MRPL23 antisense RNA 1 (MPRL23-AS1) is related to lung metastasis in SACC, but its role in anoikis resistance is unknown.After altering MPRL23-AS1 expression in SACC cells, anoikis resistance was detected by calcein AM/PI staining and annexin V/PI flow cytometry. The apoptosis marker activated caspase-3 and the bcl-2/bax ratio were detected by Western blotting. The relationship between MPRL23-AS1 and the promoter of the potential downstream target gene p19INK4D was identified by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-PCR assay. p19INK4D expression in patient tissues was determined using qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.The functional experiments showed that MPRL23-AS1 could promote anoikis resistance in vitro. MRPL23-AS1 recruited the EZH2 to the promoter region of p19INK4D, inhibited p19INK4D expression, and promoted tumor cell anoikis resistance. p19INK4D overexpression did not affect anoikis in attached cells; however, it attenuated the anoikis resistance effect of MPRL23-AS1 in suspension cells. p19INK4D expression was significantly lower in SACC tissues than in normal tissues.The novel MRPL23-AS1/p19INK4D axis may be a potential SACC biomarker or therapeutic target.

Long non-coding RNA BRCAT54 sponges microRNA-21 in vestibular schwannoma to suppress cell proliferation

BRCAT54 (also known as MRPS30 divergent transcript) is an anti-tumor long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in lung cancer, while its role in vestibular schwannoma (VS) is unclear. We predicted that BRCAT54 could interact with microRNA (miR)-21, which suppresses VS cell proliferation. This study was then carried out to study the interaction between BRCAT54 and miR-21 in VS. A total of 56 VS samples and 42 normal vestibular nerve (VN) samples were included in this study. The expression of BRCAT54 and miR-21 in these samples were analyzed with RT-qPCR. Subcellular location of BRCAT54 in primary VS cells was analyzed by subcellular fractionation assay. The direct interaction between BRCAT54 and miR-21 was analyzed through RNA pull-down assay. Overexpression assay was performed to explore the interaction between BRCAT54 and miR-21. The role of BRCAT54 and miR-21 in primary VS cell proliferation was analyzed using BrdU assay. We found that BRCAT54 was downregulated in VS samples than that in VN samples, while miR-21 was upregulated in VS samples. BRCAT54 and miR-21 were not closely correlated. BRCAT54 was detected in both nuclear and cytoplasm samples, and BRCAT54 directly interacted with miR-21. However, BRCAT54 and miR-21 did not affect the expression of each other. BRCAT54 suppressed primary VS cell proliferation and inhibited the role of miR-21 in promoting cell proliferation. Therefore, BRCAT54 may sponge miR-21 to suppress cell proliferation in VS.

Knockdown of ADORA2A antisense RNA 1 inhibits cell proliferation and enhances imatinib sensitivity in chronic myeloid leukemia

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) exert important regulatory roles in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential role and molecular mechanism of lncRNA ADORA2A antisense RNA 1 (ADORA2A-AS1) in CML. We found that the expression of ADORA2A-AS1 was upregulated in CML. Further, knockdown of ADORA2A-AS1 inhibited the proliferation, induced apoptosis, arrested cell cycle, and enhanced imatinib sensitivity in CML cells. Besides, ADORA2A-AS1 promoted the expression of transforming growth factor-beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1) and ATP binding cassette subfamily C member 2 (ABCC2) via sponging miR-665, thereby exerting a tumor-promoting activity. Collectively, our results confirmed the oncogenic effect of ADORA2A-AS1 in CML, indicating that ADORA2A-AS1 is a promosing therapeutic target for CML.

DNA topoisomerase II alpha promotes the metastatic characteristics of glioma cells by transcriptionally activating β-catenin

DNA topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A) reportedly plays a crucial role in several cancers, however, the precise regulatory role of TOP2A in metastatic characteristics of glioma is still poorly understood. Herein, we sought to elucidate the mechanisms by which TOP2A affects the metastatic phenotypes of glioma. We observed that a high level of TOP2A expression was dramatically linked with inferior survival in glioma patients while silencing of TOP2A impaired glioma cell proliferation and aggressiveness. TOP2A was found to directly interact with β-catenin and facilitated its translocation into the nucleus. Mechanistically, TOP2A effectively induced glioma cell growth and invasion in a β-catenin-dependent manner. Overall, we pinpoint TOP2A as a critical activator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in glioma, promoting cell growth, migration, and invasion.

MicroRNA-128-3p suppresses interleukin-1β-stimulated cartilage degradation and chondrocyte apoptosis via targeting zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 in osteoarthritis

Accumulating studies have suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Nevertheless, the specific function of miR-128-3p in OA remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that miR-128-3p was decreased and ZEB1 was increased in OA. Additionally, miR-128-3p expression was negatively correlated with ZEB1. miR-128-3p overexpression or ZEB1 silencing attenuated extracellular matrix degradation and cell apoptosis, and increased the proliferation of IL-1β-activated CHON-001 cells. Furthermore, ZEB1 was directly targeted by miR-128-3p. In addition, ZEB1 upregulation restored the effects of miR-128-3p overexpression on OA progression. Overall, our findings suggested that miR-128-3p might regulate the development of OA via targeting ZEB1.

Long non-coding RNA taurine up regulated 1 promotes osteosarcoma cell proliferation and invasion through upregulating Ezrin expression as a competing endogenous RNA of micro RNA-377-3p

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant tumor of bone mainly occurring in children and young people, which has a high rate of recurrence and metastasis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have capabilities in regulating target gene expression in various tumors served as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to sponge microRNAs (miRNAs). In addition, Ezrin (EZR) is a member of ERM (ezrin/Radixin/moesin) protein family that contributes to the progression of multiple tumors. Previous studies have correlated lncRNA taurine upregulated 1 (TUG1) or Ezrin with OS. However, the correlation between lncRNA TUG1 and Ezrin in OS remains unclear. The expressions of lncRNA TUG1 and Ezrin were upregulated in OS tissues and cells determined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB), respectively. In addition, both lncRNA TUG1 and Ezrin promoted OS cell proliferation identified by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and clone formation assay, and enhanced OS cell invasion detected using Transwell assay for cell invasion. Moreover, lncRNA TUG1 upregulated Ezrin expression through sponging miR-377-3p determined by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and WB. In conclusion, our work revealed that lncRNA TUG1 promoted OS cell proliferation and invasion through upregulating Ezrin expression as a ceRNA of miR-377-3p, which might provide novel therapeutic targets for OS therapy.

circATP2A2 promotes osteosarcoma progression by upregulating MYH9

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a highly metastatic primary malignant tumor. CircRNA hsa_circ_0028173 (circATP2A2) has been uncovered to be related to the advancement of OS. However, the biological role of circATP2A2 in OS has not been validated. circATP2A2 and MYH9 were upregulated while miR-335-5p was downregulated in OS. OS patients with high circATP2A2 expression displayed a shorter overall survival and the area under curve of circATP2A2 was 0.77, manifesting that circATP2A2 might be a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. circATP2A2 silencing repressed OS cell proliferation and glycolysis in vivo and constrained OS cell proliferation, glycolysis, migration, and invasion in vitro. circATP2A2 regulated MYH9 expression through sponging miR-335-5p. MiR-335-5p inhibitor reversed the repressive effect of circATP2A2 knockdown on OS cell malignancy and glycolysis. MYH9 overexpression overturned miR-335-5p upregulation-mediated OS cell malignancy and glycolysis. circATP2A2 accelerated OS cell malignancy and glycolysis through upregulating MYH9 via sponging miR-335-5p, offering a promising target for OS treatment.

SP1-induced lncRNA ZFPM2 antisense RNA 1 (ZFPM2-AS1) aggravates glioma progression via the miR-515-5p/Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) axis

Glioma is a common life-threatening tumor with high malignancy and high invasiveness. LncRNA ZFPM2 antisense RNA 1 (ZFPM2-AS1) was confirmed to be implicated in numerous tumors, while its biological function and mechanism have not been thoroughly understood in glioma. The gene expression was measured by RT-qPCR. Cell proliferation, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis of glioma cells were validated by CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry and TUNEL assays. The effect of ZFPM2-AS1 on tumor growth was verified by in vivo assay. The exploration on ZFPM2-AS1-mediated mechanism was carried out via ChIP, luciferase reporter, and RIP assays. In the present study, ZFPM2-AS1 was demonstrated as a highly-expressed lncRNA in glioma tissues and cells. ZFPM2-AS1 silencing suppressed cell proliferation and cell cycle, but facilitated cell apoptosis. In addition, the inhibitive effect of silenced ZFPM2-AS1 was also observed in tumor growth. Furthermore, we found that SP1 interacted with ZFPM2-AS1 promoter to transcriptionally activate ZFPM2-AS1 expression. Moreover, ZFPM2-AS1 was identified as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-515-5p to target SOD2. Rescue assays verified that SOD2 overexpression partially abolished the suppressive impact of ZFPM2-AS1 silencing on glioma cell growth. In conclusion, this study corroborated the regulatory mechanism of SP1/ZFPM2-AS1/miR-515-5p/SOD2 axis in glioma, indicating that targeting ZFPM2-AS1 might be an effective way to treat glioma.

MicroRNA hsa-miR-150-5p inhibits nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis by suppressing PYCR1 (pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1)

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare cancer type, but with a low five-year survival rate. Dysregulation of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1) and microRNA hsa-miR-150-5p is involved in the development of various cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of the hsa-miR-150-5p-PYCR1 axis in nasopharyngeal cancer remains unclear. To identify the mechanism of the hsa-miR-150-5p-PYCR1 axis, the expression of hsa-miR-150-5p and PYCR1 in nasopharyngeal cancer tissues and cells was first measured by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The luciferase and RNA pull-down assays were used to confirm the interaction between hsa-miR-150-5p and PYCR1. The overexpression of hsa-miR-150-5p and PYCR1 was detected by cell viability, proliferation, western blotting, migration, and invasion in nasopharyngeal cancer cells. The expression levels of hsa-miR-150-5p was reduced in the nasopharyngeal cancer tissues and cells and were negatively correlated with the PYCR1 levels. The upregulation of hsa-miR-150-5p significantly repressed cell growth and promoted apoptosis. However, the upregulation of PYCR1 expression significantly promoted nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis, which could abolish the inhibitory effect of hsa-miR-150-5p. In conclusion, we clarified that hsa-miR-150-5p attenuated nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis by reducing the PYCR1 expression levels. This provides a new perspective of nasopharyngeal cancer involving both hsa-miR-150-5p and PYCR1 for the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer.

Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) CASC9/microRNA(miR)-590-3p/sine oculis homeobox 1 (SIX1)/NF-κB axis promotes proliferation and migration in breast cancer

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)–microRNA–mRNA signaling axes have recently been shown to have a key role in the development of breast cancer (BC). In this study, we investigated how the cancer susceptibility candidate 9 (CASC9) gene affects the cell growth, invasion, migration, and apoptosis of BC cells. The levels of microRNA-590-3p (miR-590-3p), CASC9, and the sine oculis homeobox 1 (SIX1) gene were determined through qRT-PCR. We conducted cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays to assess cell proliferation, transwell assays to detect cell migration/invasion, and flow cytometry to evaluate cell apoptosis. StarBase v2.0 was used to predict interactions between miR-590-3p and SIX1 or CASC9, and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to verify these predictions. CASC9 protein was overexpressed in BC cells and tissues, while CASC9 knockdown inhibited BC cell growth, invasion, and migration and promoted apoptosis. Additionally, we verified that CASC9 competes for binding with miR-590-3p. Moreover, SIX1 was determined to be a target of miR-590–3p, and SIX1 expression was inhibited by miR-590-3p overexpression. CASC9 enhanced BC development by downregulating miR-590-3p and upregulating SIX1 during the activation of the NF-κB pathway. These data suggest that the CASC9/miR-590-3p/SIX1/NF-κB axis is involved in breast cancer progression, providing insight into the function of CASC9 in breast cancer development.

Exosomal lncRNA Nuclear Paraspeckle Assembly Transcript 1 (NEAT1)contributes to the progression of allergic rhinitis via modulating microRNA-511/Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4 Group A Member 2 (NR4A2) axis

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. However, the biological roles of lncRNA Nuclear Paraspeckle Assembly Transcript 1 (NEAT1) in AR are still unclear. The mRNA levels of NEAT1, miR-511, and Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4 Group A Member 2 (NR4A2) were detected by RT-qPCR. The protein levels of exosomal markers were examined by western blot. ELISA was used to assess the levels of GM-CSF, eotaxin-1, and MUC5AC. The cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated by CCK-8 and TUNEL assays. In this study, we found that the NEAT1 level was highly expressed in AR and IL-13-treated HNECs. NEAT1 interference significantly suppressed levels of GM-CSF, eotaxin-1, and MUC5AC and apoptosis rate, but promoted the viability of IL-13-treated human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs). Moreover, exosomes containing NEAT1 induced inflammatory cytokine production and apoptosis, while NEAT1 depletion abrogated these effects. In addition, NEAT1 directly interacted with miR-511, and the inhibition of miR-511 partially restored the inhibitory effects of NEAT1 silencing on inflammatory cytokine, mucus production, and apoptosis in IL-13-stimulated HNECs. Furthermore, miR-511 could bind to the 3ʹUTR of NR4A2, and the inhibition of miR-511 increased levels of inflammatory factors and apoptosis rate, which was counteracted by depleting NR4A2. In conclusion, our data revealed that exosomal NEAT1 contributed to the pathogenesis of AR through the miR-511/NR4A2 axis. These findings might offer novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of AR.

Overexpressing long non-coding RNA OIP5-AS1 ameliorates sepsis-induced lung injury in a rat model via regulating the miR-128-3p/Sirtuin-1 pathway

Sepsis, resulting from infections, is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome with a high fatality rate. The present study revolves around probing into the function and molecular mechanism of long non-coding RNA OIP5 antisense RNA 1 (lncRNA OIP5-AS1) in modulating acute lung injury (ALI) mediated by sepsis. Here, a sepsis model was constructed using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery in vivo. The alveolar macrophage cell line NR8383 and the alveolar type II cell line RLE-6TN were dealt with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for in-vitro experiments. We discovered that OIP5-AS1 and Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) were markedly down-regulated in sepsis models elicited by CLP or LPS, while miR-128-3p experienced a dramatic up-regulation. OIP5-AS1 overexpression attenuated NR8383 and RLE-6TN cell apoptosis triggered by LPS and suppressed the expressions of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in NR8383 and RLE-6TN cells, whereas miR-128-3p overexpression resulted in the opposite phenomenon. Moreover, OIP5-AS1 overexpression relieved lung edema, lung epithelial cell apoptosis, infiltration of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-labeled polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), inflammatory responses triggered by CLP in vivo. Mechanistically, miR-128-3p, which targeted SIRT1, was hobbled by OIP5-AS1. All in all, OIP5-AS1 overexpression enhanced sepsis-induced ALI by modulating the miR-128-3p/SIRT1 pathway, which helps create new insights into sepsis treatment.

Analysis of microRNA expression in CD133 positive cancer stem‑like cells of human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a primary malignant tumor of bone occurring in young adults. OS stem cells (OSCs) play an important role in the occurrence, growth, metastasis, drug resistance and recurrence of OS. CD133 is an integral membrane glycoprotein, which has been identified as an OSC marker. However, the mechanisms of metastasis, chemoresistance, and progression in CD133(+) OSCs need to be further explored. In this study, we aim to explore differences in miRNA levels between CD133(+) and CD133(-) cells from the MG-63 cell line. We found 20 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) (16 upregulated and 4 downregulated) in CD133(+) cells compared with CD133(-) cells. Hsa-miR-4485-3p, hsa-miR-4284 and hsa-miR-3656 were the top three upregulated DEmiRNAs, while hsa-miR-487b-3p, hsa-miR-493-5p and hsa-miR-431-5p were the top three downregulated DEmiRNAs. In addition, RT-PCR analysis confirmed that the expression levels of hsa-miR-4284, hsa-miR-4485-3p and hsa-miR-3656 were significantly increased, while the expression levels of hsa-miR-487b-3p, hsa-miR-493-5p, and hsa-miR-431-5p were significantly decreased in CD133(+) cells compared with CD133(-) cells. Moreover, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis revealed that predicted or validated target genes for all 20 DEmiRNAs or the selected 6 DEmiRNAs participated in the "PI3K-Akt signaling pathway," "Wnt signaling pathway," "Rap1 signaling pathway," "Cell cycle" and "MAPK signaling pathway". Among the selected six DEmiRNAs, miR-4284 was especially interesting. MiR-4284 knockdown significantly reduced the sphere forming capacity of CD133(+) OS cells. The number of invasive CD133(+) OS cells was markedly decreased after miR-4284 knockdown. In addition, miR-4284 knockdown increased the p-β-catenin levels in CD133(+) OS cells. In conclusion, RNA-seq analysis revealed DEmiRNAs between CD133(+) and CD133(-) cells. MiRNAs might play significant roles in the function of OSCs and could serve as targets for OS treatment. MiR-4284 prompted the self-renewal and invasion of OSCs. The function of miR-4284 might be associated with the Wnt signaling pathway.

α-Actinin1 promotes tumorigenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of gastric cancer via the AKT/GSK3β/β-Catenin pathway

α-Actinin1 (ACTN1), an actin cross-linking protein, is implicated in cytokinesis, cell adhesion, and cell migration. In addition, it is involved in the tumorigenesis and development of certain cancers, such as breast cancer. We explored the function of ACTN1 in gastric cancer (GC), which has largely remained unclear. High-throughput sequencing and public microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed the upregulation of ACTN1 in gastric cancer with a poor prognosis. These results were further verified by western blotting (WB), Real-Time Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and immunohistochemistry. We constructed loss and gain of function gastric cancer cells, which revealed the effect of ACTN1 over-expression on promoting GC cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and inhibited apoptosis. Mechanistic studies revealed that ACTN1 regulates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumorigenesis of gastric cancer via the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway, confirmed by the inhibitor of AKT MK2206. Altogether, these results demonstrated that ACTN1 could be a promising candidate for gastric cancer treatment.

Long non-coding RNA FGD5-AS1 contributes to cisplatin resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma via sponging microRNA-153-3p by upregulating Twinfilin Actin Binding Protein 1 (TWF1)

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) FGD5 antisense RNA 1 (FGD5-AS1) was reported to exert critical roles in multiple cancers. The current work aimed to determine the role of FGD5-AS1 in cisplatin (DDP) resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The levels of FGD5-AS1, miR-153-3p, and twinfilin actin binding protein 1 (TWF1) were analyzed using RT-qPCR. CCK-8, colony formation, Transwell, and TUNEL assays were used to examine the IC₅₀ value of DDP, cell viability, invasion, and apoptosis. The interaction between miR-153-3p and TWF1 or FGD5-AS1 was determined by luciferase reporter and RIP assays. In our study, we found that FGD5-AS1 level was elevated in DDP-resistant HCC tissues and cell lines. FGD5-AS1 silencing improved the sensitivity of HCC cells to DDP. Moreover, FGD5-AS1 directly bound to miR-153-3p and FGD5-AS1 addition neutralized the inhibitory impacts of miR-153-3p supplementation on DDP resistance in the HCC cells. In addition, knockdown of TWF1 inhibited DDP resistance of HCC cells, which was reversed by miR-153-3p deletion. Lastly, FGD5-AS1 interference decreased TWF1 expression level, which was rescued by miR-153-3p inhibition. Our study exhibited that FGD5-AS1 promoted DDP resistance through modulating the miR-153-3p/TWF1 axis in HCC cells. This could be an effective treatment strategy for HCC patients.

Long non-coding RNA ZFAS1 alleviates bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity by regulating the miR-421/zinc finger protein564 (ZNF564) axis

This research aimed to explore the biological role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ZFAS1 in bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity. The levels of lncRNA ZFAS1, miR-421, and zinc finger protein 564 (ZNF564) were detected by RT-qPCR. MTT and TUNEL assays were utilized to evaluate cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. Caspase-3 activity was measured by the caspase-3 activity assay kit. The binding ability between miR-421 and ZFAS1 or ZNF564 was confirmed by Rip and dual-luciferase reporter assays. In this study, it was found that the levels of ZFAS1 and ZNF564 were gradually upregulated and miR-421 expression was downregulated with increasing concentrations of bupivacaine. Functional assays indicated that the silencing of ZFAS1 suppressed cell viability and facilitated cell apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells, while overexpression of ZFAS1 had the opposite effects. Moreover, it was identified that miR-421 was a target of ZFAS1, and ZFAS1 regulated the bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity via miR-421. In addition, we confirmed that ZNF564 was a downstream target of miR-421. The upregulation of miR-421 decreased the cell viability, and increased the cell apoptosis rate and caspase-3 activity, while the upregulation of ZND564 partially abolished these effects. Finally, it was demonstrated that ZFAS1 could upregulate the expression of ZNF564 by targeting miR-421. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that ZFAS1 alleviated bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity through the miR-421/ZNF564 axis, suggesting a new strategy for the amelioration of bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity.

Fermitin family homolog 2 (Kindlin-2) affects vascularization during the wound healing process by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in vascular endothelial cells

Kindlin-2 is a member of the FERM-containing cytoskeletal protein family that regulates cell–matrix interactions. Previous studies have shown that Kindlin-2 recruits focal adhesion proteins and regulates integration by binding to the focal adhesion region of the integrin β-segment. Although Kindlin-2 has been reported to be involved in various skin diseases and many kinds of tumors, its role in the skin wound healing process remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of Kindlin-2 in the regulation of wound healing. The effects of Kindlin-2 on wound healing were studied by a wound healing model, kindlin-2 (±) mice. The effects of Kindlin-2 on cell migration, cellular tube formation, and cell adhesion and spreading were evaluated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with downregulated Kindlin-2 expression. We found that the expression of kindlin-2 was elevated in wound healing tissues and that interfering with the expression of Kindlin-2 delayed the wound healing process and reduced neovascularization. We found that the wound healing of kindlin-2 (±) mice was delayed, with a decreased number of new blood vessels. Furthermore, depletion of Kindlin-2 impaired HUVEC spreading, migration and tube formation. Intriguingly, we found that kindlin-2 binds to β-catenin in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and cooperates with β-catenin to enter the nucleus from the cytoplasm, activating the downstream Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Taken together, these results help to elucidate the mechanism of Kindlin-2 in the regulation of the wound healing process and provide a theoretical basis for further study of wound healing and abnormal healing.

Long non-coding RNA DDX11-AS1 promotes esophageal carcinoma cell proliferation and migration through regulating the miR-514b-3p/RBX1 axis

Esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) is one of the most aggressive malignancies with extremely high morbidity and mortality. At present, limited advancement in ESCA treatment has achieved. Therefore, it is urgent to explore the pathogenesis and progression mechanism of ESCA to provide the basis for the formulation of novel therapeutic strategies. Previous studies have found that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) DDX11-AS1 expression enhances the paclitaxel resistance of ESCA cells. However, the mechanisms underlying the drug resistance conferred by lncRNA DDX11-AS1 in ESCA remains to be elucidated. Our research aims to clarify the role and mechanism of lncRNA DDX11-AS1 in regulating the progression of ESCA. We found that the expression of lncRNA DDX11-AS1 in ESCA tissues and cell lines was significantly upregulated. Subsequently, silencing lncRNA DDX11-AS1 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of ESCA cells, and induced the level of cell apoptosis. In terms of mechanism, our data showed that miR-514b-3p/RING box protein 1 (RBX1) axis played a crucial role in the oncogenic function of lncRNA DDX11-AS1. LncRNA DDX11-AS1 expression impaired the inhibitory function of miR-514b-3p on RBX1 through sponging effect. Taken together, our data support the notion that lncRNA DDX11-AS1 promotes the progression of ESCA through miR-514b-3p/RBX1 axis. Our research uncovers the novel regulatory role of lncRNA DDX11-AS1 in ESCA and lays a theoretical basis for developing novel treatment strategy of ESCA.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles prevent the development of osteoarthritis via the circHIPK3/miR-124-3p/MYH9 axis

Background

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may play a vital role in a variety of biological processes, including cartilage regeneration. However, few studies reported their potential in the development of osteoarthritis (OA) previously. In this study, we explored the biological roles and underlying mechanism of MSCs-EVs in OA.

Results

Co-culture experiments revealed that MSCs-EVs could promote the expression of collagen type II alpha 1 chain (COL2A1), SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9) and Aggrecan while negatively regulate the expression of chondrocyte hypertrophy markers matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP-13) and RUNX family transcription factor 2 (Runx2) in mouse chondrocytes in the OA model. Besides, the results of cell experiments indicated that MSCs-EVs could notably weaken the suppression of chondrocyte proliferation, migration and the promotion of chondrocyte apoptosis via interleukin1β (IL-1β) induction. In addition, MSCs-circHIPK3-EVs (EVs derived from MSCs overexpressing circHIPK3) considerably improved IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury. Mechanistically, we elucidated that circHIPK3 could directly bind to miR-124-3p and subsequently elevate the expression of the target gene MYH9.

Conclusion

The findings in our study demonstrated that EVs-circHIPK3 participated in MSCs-EVs-mediated chondrocyte proliferation and migration induction and in chondrocyte apoptosis inhibition via the miR-124-3p/MYH9 axis. This offers a promising novel cell-free therapy for treating OA.

Graphic abstract

MIR205 host gene (MIR205HG) drives osteosarcoma metastasis via regulating the microRNA 2114-3p (miR-2114-3p)/twist family bHLH transcription factor 2 (TWIST2) axis

Osteosarcoma (OS) is an aggressive malignant tumor with a high rate of lung metastasis and a lack of therapeutic targets. Although the anomalous expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been extensively documented in human cancer, its contribution to OS metastasis remains poorly understood. In this study, we found that MIR205 host gene (MIR205HG) was significantly elevated in human OS tissues, especially in metastatic OS tissues. Stable knockdown of MIR205HG inhibited OS cell invasion and lung metastatic foci formation, but did not affect cell viability. The vast majority of MIR205HG was situated in the cytosol, and served as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that directly bound to microRNA 2114–3p (miR-2114-3p), resulting in increased twist family bHLH transcription factor 2 (TWIST2) level. Pre-clinically, high MIR205HG was linked with dismal overall and relapse-free survival. Functionally, the attenuated cell invasion caused by MIR205HG knockdown was effectively rescued by miR-2114-3p silencing or TWIST2 overexpression. Overall, our findings suggest that the previously uncharacterized regulatory axis of MIR205HG/miR-2114-3p/TWIST2 plays a critical role in promoting OS metastasis, which implies a potential therapeutic target in OS patients with metastasis.

Long non-coding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) sponges microRNA-124-3p to up-regulate phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) to accelerate the progression of Parkinson's disease

Reportedly, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) are crucial modulators in neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we investigated the role of lncRNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) in Parkinson's disease (PD). In-vitro PD model was established based on SH-SY5Y cells treated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). NEAT1, microRNA (miR) -124-3p and phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) expression levels were examined by qRT-PCR. CCK-8 assay and LDH release assay were adopted to delve into the cell viability and cytotoxicity, respectively. Besides, western blot was utilized to determine mTOR, p-mTOR and PDE4B expression levels. ELISA was executed to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were used to probe the relationship between miR-124-3p and NEAT1 or PDE4B. We demonstrated that, in SH-SY5Y cells treated with MPP+, NEAT1 and PDE4B expression levels were raised, while miR-124-3p expression was repressed; NEAT1 depletion or miR-124-3p overexpression increased the cell viability and suppressed cell injury. Besides, miR-124-3p was confirmed as the direct target of NEAT1, and its down-regulation counteracted the impact of NEAT1 depletion on SH-SY5Y cells. PDE4B was as the downstream target of miR-124-3p, and its overexpression weakens the impact of miR-124-3p on SH-SY5Y cells. Additionally, NEAT1 decoyed miR-124-3p to modulate PDE4B expression. Collectively, in MPP+-induced SH-SY5Y cells, NEAT1 depletion increases cell viability, represses cytotoxicity and reduces inflammatory response by regulating miR-124-3p and PDE4B expression levels, suggesting that NEAT1 may be a promising target for treating PD.